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Thursday, June 17, 2004


Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS



[Page: D635]   GPO's PDF

Senate


Chamber Action


Routine Proceedings, pages S6971-S7028

Measures Introduced: Twelve bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2535-2546, S. Res. 382, and S. Con. Res. 119. 

Page S6977

Measures Reported: S. 2537, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. (S. Rept. No. 108-280)
S. 2013, to amend section 119 of title 17, United States Code, to extend satellite home viewer provisions, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

Page S6997

Measures Passed:

Authorizing Senate Chamber Photograph: Senate agreed to S. Res. 382, authorizing the taking of a photograph in the Chamber of the United States Senate. 

Page S6977

National Defense Authorization Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 2400, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2005 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Services, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 

Pages S6913-41, S6945, S6971-85

Adopted:
Murray Modified Amendment No. 3427, to facilitate the availability of child care for the children of members of the Armed Forces on active duty in connection with Operation Enduring Freedom or Operation Iraqi Freedom. 
Pages S691-185

By 55 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 125), Warner Amendment No. 3453 (to Amendment No. 3354), to require the Secretary of Defense to prescribe and apply criteria for operationally realistic testing of fieldable prototypes developed under the ballistic missile defense spiral development program. 
Pages S6928-41

Reed Amendment No. 3354, to require baselines for and testing of block configurations of the Ballistic Missile Defense System. 
Pages S6928-41

Warner Modified Amendment No. 3450 (to Amendment No. 3352), to provide for funding the increased number of Army active-duty personnel out of fiscal year 2005 supplemental funding. 
Pages S6913, S6946-51

Sessions Amendment No. 3371, to provide for increased support of survivors of deceased members of the uniformed services. 
Pages S6951-54

By 93 yeas to 4 nays (Vote No. 129), Reed Amendment No. 3352, to increase the end strength for active duty personnel of the Army for fiscal year 2005 by 20,000 to 502,400. 
Pages S6913, S6965-66

Warner (for Alexander) Modified Amendment No. 3173, to provide for the supplemental subsistence allowance, imminent danger pay, family separation allowance, and certain federal assistance to be cumulative benefits; and to require a report on availability of social services to members of the Armed Forces. 
Pages S6971-72

Levin (for Daschle) Amendment No. 3202, to provide relief for mobilized military reservists from certain Federal agricultural loan obligations. 
Page S6972

Warner (for Ensign) Modified Amendment No. 3440, to promote a thorough investigation of the United Nations Oil-for-Food Program. 
Page S6972

Levin (for Clinton/Talent) Modified Amendment No. 3163, to provide for improved medical readiness of the members of the Armed Forces. 
Pages S6972-75, S6979-80

Warner (for Inhofe) Modified Amendment No. 3199, to authorize United Service Organizations, Incorporated (USO) to procure supplies and services from the General Services Administration supplies and services on the Federal Supply Schedule. 
Page S6975

[Page: D636]   GPO's PDF

Levin (for Feinstein) Modified Amendment No. 3172, to express the sense of the Senate that perchlorate contamination of ground and surface water is becoming increasingly problematic to the public health of people in the United States. 

Page S6975

Warner (for Bond) Modified Amendment No. 3245, to require two reports on operation of the Federal Voting Assistance Program and the military postal system together with certain actions to improve the military postal system. 
Page S6975

Levin (for Leahy) Modified Amendment No. 3285, to amend title 32, United States Code, to provide for the use of members of the National Guard on full-time National Guard duty for carrying out homeland security activities in support of Federal agencies. 
Pages S6975-76

Warner (for Allard/Pryor) Amendment No. 3254, to repeal a requirement for an officer to retire upon termination of service as Superintendent of the Air Force Academy. 
Page S6976

Levin (for Akaka) Modified Amendment No. 3413, to amend the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Scholarship Pilot Program. 
Page S6976

Warner (for Snowe) Amendment No. 3246, to permit qualified HUBZone small business concerns and small business concerns owned and controlled by service-disabled veterans to participate in the mentor-protege program of the Department of Defense. 
Page S6976

Levin (for Bingaman) Modified Amendment No. 3390, to express the sense of Congress on the Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons of Mass Destruction. 
Pages S6976-77

Warner (for Snowe) Modified Amendment No. 3273, to revise and extend the authority for an advisory panel on review of Government procurement laws and regulations. 
Page S6977

Levin (for Bingaman) Modified Amendment No. 3284, to require an independent report on the efforts of the National Nuclear Security Administration to understand the aging of plutonium in nuclear weapons. 
Page S6977

Warner (for McConnell/Snowe) Modified Amendment No. 3434, to express the sense of the Senate on the effects of cost inflation on the value range of the contracts to which a small business contract reservation applies. 
Page S6977

Levin (for Dodd/DeWine) Amendment No. 3401, to amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of 1974 to provide financial assistance for the improvement of the health and safety of firefighters, promote the use of life saving technologies, and achieve greater equity for departments serving large jurisdictions. 
Pages S6977, S6978-79

Warner (for Campbell) Modified Amendment No. 3237, to ensure fairness in the standards applied to members of the Army in the awarding of the Combat Infantryman Badge and the Combat Medical Badge for service in Korea in comparison to the standards applied to members of the Army in the awarding of such badges for service in other areas of operations. 
Page S6977

Levin (for Nelson (FL)) Modified Amendment No. 3279, to require a report on any relationships between terrorist organizations based in Colombia and foreign governments and organizations. 
Pages S6977-78

Rejected:
By 42 yeas to 57 nays (Vote No. 124), Boxer Amendment No. 3368, to allow deployment of the ground-based midcourse defense element of the national ballistic missile defense system only after the mission-related capabilities of the system have been confirmed by operationally realistic testing. 
Pages S6918-28

By 44 yeas to 53 nays (Vote No. 130), Biden Amendment No. 3379, to provide funds for the security and stabilization of Iraq by suspending a portion of the reduction in the highest income tax rate for individual taxpayers. 
Pages S6954-65, S6966

Pending:
Bond Modified Amendment No. 3384, to include certain former nuclear weapons program workers in the Special Exposure Cohort under the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program and to provide for the disposal of certain excess Department of Defense stocks for funds for that purpose. 
Pages S6913, S6966

Brownback Amendment No. 3235, to increase the penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane language. 
Pages S6980-81

Burns Amendment No. 3457 (to Amendment No. 3235), to provide for additional factors in indecency penalties issued by the Federal Communications Commission. 
Pages S6981-84

During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action:
The pending motion to invoke cloture on the bill was vitiated. 
Page S6985

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at 9:30 a.m, on Friday, June 18, 2004. 
Page S6968

Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
By unanimous vote of 99 yeas (Vote No. Ex. 126), James L. Robart, of Washington, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Washington. 

Pages S6941-42, S6969

[Page: D637]   GPO's PDF

By 98 yeas 1 nay (Vote No. Ex. 127), Roger T. Benitez, of California, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California. 

Pages S6942-44, S6969

By unanimous vote of 99 yeas (Vote No. Ex. 128), Jane J. Boyle, of Texas, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas. 
Pages S6944-45, S6969

Alan Greenspan, of New York, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for a term of four years. (Reappointment) 
Page S6969

Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
Albert A. Frink, Jr., of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce.
John Ripin Miller, of Washington, to be Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, with the rank of Ambassador at Large. (New Position)
Robert Allen Pittman, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Human Resources and Administration).
Routine lists in the Army. 

Page S6969

Messages From the House: 

Page S6995

Measures Referred: 

Page S6995

Executive Communications: 

Pages S6995-97

Executive Reports of Committees: 

Page S6997

Additional Cosponsors: 

Pages S6997-S7000

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: 

Pages S7000-24

Additional Statements: 

Pages S6994-95

Amendments Submitted: 

Pages S7024-25

Notices of Hearings/Meetings: 

Page S7025

Authority for Committees to Meet: 

Page S7026

Privilege of the Floor: 

Pages S7026-27

Record Votes: Seven record votes were taken today. (Total--130) 

Pages S6928, S6941, S6942, S6944, S6945, S6965-66, S6966

Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 9:24 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, June 18, 2004. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6968.)

Committee Meetings


(Committees not listed did not meet)

APPROPRIATIONS: HOMELAND SECURITY


Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill (S. 2537) making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005.

BOND MARKETS REGULATION


Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the regulation of the bond markets, focusing on fixed-income market transparency, Trade Reporting and Compliance Engine (TRACE) enabling investors to access current price information for U.S. corporate bonds, and State, local, and Internal Revenue Service regulation of municipal issuers, after receiving testimony from Annette L. Nazareth, Director, Division of Market Regulation, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Doug Shulman, National Association of Securities Dealers, New York, New York; Christopher A. Taylor, Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board, Alexandria, Virginia; Micah S. Green, Bond Market Association, Washington, D.C.; Christopher M. Ryon, Vanguard Group, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania; Arthur Warga, University of Houston C.T. Bauer College of Business, Houston, Texas.

BUSINESS MEETING


Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 894, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 230th Anniversary of the United States Marine Corps, and to support construction of the Marine Corps Heritage Center;
S. 976, to provide for the issuance of a coin to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the Jamestown settlement; and
The nomination of Alan Greenspan, of New York, to be Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

BORDER SECURITY


Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine federal efforts to enhance border security, focusing on technological advancements and national border control and cross-agency law enforcement initiatives, after receiving testimony from Senator Kyl; Representative Kolbe; Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary for Border and Transportation Security, Charles E. McQueary, Under Secretary for Science and Technology, and Mary Delaquis, Port Director, Customs and Border Protection, all of the Department of Homeland Security; Roger Di Rosa, Refuge Manager, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; George Happ, Alaska EPSCoR, University of Alaska-Fairbanks; and Ned Norris, Jr., Tohono O'Odham Nation, Sells, Arizona. 

[Page: D638]   GPO's PDF

U.S. SPACE EXPLORATION POLICY


Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the final report of the President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy, focusing on a transformation of NASA, building an international space industry, a discovery-based science agenda, and educational initiatives to support youth and teachers inspired by space exploration, after receiving testimony from Edward C. Aldridge, Jr., Chairman, President's Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy; Paul D. Spudis, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland; Marie T. Zuber, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Earth Atmospheric and Planetary Sciences, Cambridge; Laurie A. Leshin, Arizona State University College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Tempe; and Lester L. Lyles, Columbus, Ohio.

ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAM


Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Environmental Management Program of the Department of Energy and issues associated with accelerated cleanup, focusing on concerns over activities at the Hanford Site involving occupational medical services and potential exposures to tank farm vapors, development of risk-based end states, and waste incidental to reprocessing, after receiving testimony from Jessie H. Roberson, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, Glenn S. Podonsky, Director, Office of Security and Safety Performance Assurance, and Gregory H. Friedman, Inspector General, all of the Department of Energy.

WATER MANAGEMENT


Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power concluded a hearing to examine S. 1211, to further the purposes of title XVI of the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, the ``Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act'', by directing the Secretary of the Interior to undertake a demonstration program for water reclamation in the Tularosa Basin of New Mexico; S. 2460, to provide assistance to the State of New Mexico for the development of comprehensive State water plans; S. 2508, to redesignate the Ridges Basin Reservoir, Colorado, as Lake Nighthorse; S. 2511, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a feasibility study of a Chimayo water supply system, to provide for the planning, design, and construction of a water supply, reclamation, and filtration facility for Espanola, New Mexico; and S. 2513, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance to the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority for the planning, design, and construction of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System, after receiving testimony from John W. Keys III, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Mayor David M. Lansford, Clovis, New Mexico; and John R. D'Antonio, Jr., New Mexico State Engineer, Santa Fe.

LAW ENFORCEMENT TREATIES


Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Council of Europe Convention on Cybercrime (the ``Cybercrime Convention'' or the ``Convention''), which was signed by the United States on November 23, 2001 (Treaty Doc. 108-11), United Nations Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime (the ``Convention''), as well as two supplementary protocols: (1) the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, Especially Women and Children, and (2) the Protocol Against Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air, which were adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on November 15, 2000. The Convention and Protocols were signed by the United States on December 13, 2000, at Palermo, Italy (Treaty Doc. 108-16), Inter-American Convention Against Terrorism (``Convention'') adopted at the Thirty-second Regular Session of the General Assembly of the Organization of American States (``OAS'') Meeting in Bridgetown, Barbados, and signed by thirty countries, including the United States, on June 3, 2002 (Treaty Doc. 107-18), and Protocol of Amendment to the International Convention on the Simplification and Harmonization of Customs Procedures done at Brussels on June 26, 1999 (Treaty Doc. 108-6), after receiving testimony from Michael T. Schmitz, Acting Assistant Commissioner for International Affairs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; Bruce Swartz, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice; and Samuel M. Witten, Deputy Legal Adviser, Department of State.

INTERNET PHARMACIES


Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing to examine the danger of purchasing pharmaceuticals over the Internet, focusing on the extent to which consumers can purchase pharmaceuticals over the Internet without a medical prescription, the importation of pharmaceuticals into the United States, and whether pharmaceuticals from foreign services are counterfeit, expired, unsafe, or illegitimate, receiving testimony from Marcia Crosse, Director, Health Care--Public Health and Military Healthcare Issues, and Robert J. Cramer, Managing Director, Office of D639Special Investigations, both of the General Accounting Office; Rudolph W. Giuliani, Giuliani Partners, LLC, New York, New York; Marvin D. Shepherd, University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy; Francine H. Haight, Orange County, California; and Elizabeth Carr, Sacramento, California. 

[Page: D639]   GPO's PDF

Hearings continue on Thursday, June 24.

BUSINESS MEETING


Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 2013, to amend section 119 of title 17, United States Code, to extend satellite home viewer provisions, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
The nomination of Henry W. Saad, of Michigan, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.
Also, committee failed to approve the issuance of a subpoena to Attorney General John Ashcroft to obtain certain documents.

BUSINESS MEETING


Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to consider pending intelligence matters.
Committee recessed subject to the call.

House of Representatives


Chamber Action


Measures Introduced: 9 public bills, H.R. 4603-4611; and 4 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 453-456, were introduced. 

Pages H4506-07

Additional Cosponsors: 

Page H4507

Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
H.R. 4471, to clarify the loan guarantee authority under title VI of the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act of 1996 (H. Rept. 108-550);
H.R. 3797, to authorize improvements in the operations of the government of the District of Columbia (H. Rept. 108-551, Pt. 1); and
H.R. 3751, to require that the Office of Personnel Management study and present options under which dental and vision benefits could be made available to Federal employees and retirees and other appropriate classes of individuals, amended (H. Rept. 108-552). 

Page H4506

Chaplain: The prayer was offered today by Rev. Greg Surratt, Pastor, Seacoast Christian Community Church in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. 

Page H4291

Journal: Agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal of Wednesday, June 16 by a recorded vote of 342 ayes to 67 noes, with one voting ``present'', Roll No. 260. 

Pages H4291, H4433-34

American Jobs Creation Act of 2004: The House passed H.R. 4520, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove impediments in such Code and make our manufacturing, service, and high-technology businesses and workers more competitive and productive both at home and abroad, by a recorded vote of 251 ayes to 178 noes, Roll No. 259. 

Pages H4305-H4433

Agreed to the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means, as modified by the amendment printed in H. Rept. 108-549. 
Page H4433

Rejected the Rangel motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Ways and Means with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with amendments by a yea-and-nay vote of 193 yeas to 235 nays, Roll No. 258. 
Pages H4432-33

H. Res. 681, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to by a recorded vote of 230 ayes to 195 noes, Roll No. 257, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 233 yeas to 193 nays, Roll No. 256. 
Pages H4295-S4305

Department of the Interior and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005: The House passed H.R. 4568, making appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, by a yea-and-nay vote of 334 yeas to 86 nays, Roll No. 264. The bill was also considered on Wednesday, June 16. 

Pages H4435-65

Agreed to:
Dicks amendment requiring that the Secretary of the Interior submit a report 30 days after the enactment of this act with a date certain of when and whether the public will have full access to the Statue of Liberty, including all areas that were closed after 9/11. 
Page H4458D640

Rejected: 

[Page: D640]   GPO's PDF

Hinchey amendment (no. 18, printed in the Congressional Record of June 16) that sought to prohibit the use of funds to kill or assist in the killing of bison in the Yellowstone National Park herd (by a recorded vote of 202 ayes to 215 noes, Roll No. 261); 

Pages H4435, H4460-61

Sanders amendment (modified by unanimous consent) that sought to prohibit the use of funds to maintain more than 647 million barrels of crude oil in the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (by a recorded vote of 152 ayes to 267 noes, Roll No. 262); and 
Pages H4440-41, H4461

Holt amendment (no. 4, printed in the Congressional Record of June 15) that sought to prohibit the use of funds to permit recreational snowmobile use in Yellowstone National Park, Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockfeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway (by a recorded vote of 198 ayes to 224 noes, Roll No. 263). 
Pages H4446, H4461-62

Withdrawn:
Jackson-Lee of Texas amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that sought to prohibit the use of funds to eliminate or restrict programs that are for the reforestation of urban areas; and 
Pages H4458-59

Jackson-Lee of Texas amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that sought to prohibit the use of funds appropriated in title I of the bill for construction of the Gregory Lincoln Education Center in Houston, Texas. 
Page H4459

Point of Order sustained against:
Weiner amendment that would have directed the Secretary of the Interior to provide public access to the Statue of Liberty and its interior substantially equivalent to the access provided before September 11, 2001, not later than July 31, 2004. 
Pages H4457-58

H. Res. 674, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed on Wednesday, June 16.

Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005--Rule: The House began consideration of H.R. 4567, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. Further consideration will resume tomorrow, June 18. 

Pages H4465-H4504

Agreed to:
Weldon of Pennsylvania amendment (no. 12, printed in the Congressional Record of June 16) that increases funding for the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters Program; and 
Pages H4478-80

Turner amendment (agreed) that increases funding for customs and border protection. 
Page H4480

Rejected:
Simmons amendment (no. 11, printed in the Congressional Record of June 15) that sought to increase funding for the Coast Guard acquisition, construction, and improvements program; 
Pages H4487-88

DeFazio amendment (no. 17, printed in the Congressional Record of June 16) that sought to strike a provision in title II of the bill relating to the maximum staffing level for full-time equivalent aviation screeners (by a recorded vote of 180 ayes to 228 noes, Roll No. 265); and 
Pages H4483-87, H4503

Sweeney amendment (no. 3, printed in the Congressional Record of June 15) that sought to increase High Threat grants for Urban Areas Security Initiative (by a recorded vote of 171 ayes to 237 noes, Roll No. 266); 
Pages H4489-90, H4503-04

Withdrawn:
Stupak amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that would have increased funding for the Office of State and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness. 
Pages H4480-83

Point of Order sustained against:
Section of the bill on page 14, lines 9-19, concerning the Federal Government's share of costs for aviation security at airports; and 
Page H4483

Language on page 22, lines 22 and 23 of the bill that states ``not withstanding any other provision of law''; 
Page H4489

Sweeney amendment (no. 16, printed in the Congressional Record of June 16) that would have required that any grants to states under the formula-based grant program in excess of any statutorily required minimum amount be distributed based on an assessment of the risk of terrorist threats, vulnerabilities and consequences. 
Page H4489

H. Res. 675, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to on Wednesday, June 16. 
Page H4465

Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on page H4392.

Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and eight recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H4304-05, H4305, H4432-33, H4433, H4434, H4460-61, H4461, H4461-62, H4464-65, H4503 and H4503-04 . There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 12:33 a.m. on Friday, June 18.

Committee Meetings


IRAQI SECURITY FORCES


Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on training of Iraqi security forces. Testimony was heard D641from LTG David H. Petraeus, USA, Chief, Office of Security Transition--Iraq. Department of Defense. 

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U.S. DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE--IMPACT OF DEFENSE TRADE OFFSETS


Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the impact of defense trade offsets on the U.S. defense industrial base. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

SAFEGUARD AGAINST PRIVACY INVASIONS ACT


Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 2929, Safeguard Against Privacy Invasions Act.

E-RATE PROGRAM PROBLEMS


Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Problems with the E-rate Program: Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Concerns in the Wiring of Our Nation's Schools to the Internet.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the FCC: H. Walker Feaster III, Inspector General; Carol E. Mattey, Deputy Chief, Wireline Competition Bureau; and Jane E. Mago, Chief, Office of Strategic Planning and Policy Analysis; the following officials of the Commonwealth of Puerto: Manuel Diaz Saldana, Comptroller; and Cesar A. Rey Hernandez, Secretary, Department of Education

U.S.-EU REGULATORY DIALOGUE


Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology held a hearing entitled, ``The U.S.-EU Regulatory Dialogue: The Private Sector Perspective.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

WAR AGAINST DRUGS AND THUGS


Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``The War Against Drugs and Thugs: A Status Report on Plan Colombia Successes and Remaining Challenges.'' Testimony was heard from John P. Walters, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy; the following officials of the Department of State: Roger F. Noriega, Assistant Secretary, Western Hemisphere Affairs; and Robert B. Charles, Assistant Secretary, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; the following officials of the Department of Defense: Thomas W. O'Connell, Assistant Secretary, Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict; and GEN James T. Hill, USA, Commander, U.S. Southern Command; Karen P. Tandy, Administrator, DEA, Department of Justice; Luis Alberto Moreno, Ambassador to the United States, Republic of Colombia; and public witnesses.

OVERSIGHT--ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION--HELP AMERICAN VOTE ACT IMPLEMENTATION


Committee on House Administration: Held an oversight hearing on the Election Assistance Commission and Implementation of the Help America Vote Act. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Election Assistance Commission: DeForest B. Soaries, Jr., Chairman; Gracia Hillman, Vice Chair; Paul DeGregorio and Ray Martinez, both Commissioners.

MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS; EGYPT-U.S. ECONOMIC ASSISTANCE


Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered and adopted a motion urging the Chairman to request that the following measures be considered on the Suspension Calendar: H. Res. 642, amended, House Commission for Assisting Democratic Parliaments Resolution; and H. Con. Res. 410, Recognizing the 25th anniversary of the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of the Marshall Islands and recognizing the Marshall Islands as a staunch ally of the United States, committed to principles of democracy and freedom for the Pacific region and throughout the world.
The Committee also held a hearing on ``United States Economic Assistance to Egypt: Does It Advance Reform?'' Testimony was heard from David B. Gootnick, Director, International Affairs and Trade, GAO; and public witnesses.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES


Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Europe approved for full Committee action the following measures: H. Con. Res. 415, Urging the Government of Ukraine to ensure a democratic, transparent, and fair election process for the presidential election on October 31, 2004; and H. Res. 652, Urging the Government of the Republic of Belarus to ensure a democratic, transparent, and fair election process for its parliamentary elections in the fall of 2004.

FAMILY MOVIE ACT


Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property held a hearing H.R. 4586, Family Movie Act of 2004. Testimony was heard from Marybeth Peters, Register of Copyrights, Library of Congress; and public witnesses. 

[Page: D642]   GPO's PDF

OVERSIGHT--DETRIMENTAL IMPACT OF IMMIGRATION BACKLOG


Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims held an oversight hearing entitled ``Families and Businesses in Limbo: The Detrimental Impact of the Immigration Backlog.'' Testimony was heard from Eduardo Aguirre, Director, Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES


Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3102, To utilize the expertise of New Mexico State University, the University of Arizona, and Northern Arizona University in conducting studies under the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 in connection with grazing allotments and range and continuing range analysis for National Forest System lands in New Mexico and Arizona; H.R. 3427, Craig Recreation Land Purchase Act; H.R. 4494, Grey Towers National Historic Site Act of 2004; and S. 2003, To clarify the intent of Congress with respect to the continued use of established commercial outfitter hunting camps on the Salmon River. Testimony was heard from Representative Sherwood; Mark Rey, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA; and public witnesses.

EXAMINE RULE X--ORGANIZATION OF COMMITTEES


Committee on Rules: Subcommittee on Technology and the House concluded hearings to examine Rule X, the Organization of Committees, including its current legislative impact, arrangement, and effectiveness. Testimony was heard from Representatives Goss, Sensenbrenner, Goodlatte, Stenholm, Barton of Texas, Dingell, Manzullo, Young of Alaska and Oberstar.

DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S ENFORCEMENT AGAINST SMALL BUSINESSES


Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight held a hearing on Department of Labor's Enforcement Against Small Businesses. Testimony was heard from Robert Varnell, Deputy Solicitor, Department of Labor; and public witnesses.

DVA--EFFORTS TO ELIMINATE FRAUD, WASTE, ABUSE AND MISMANAGEMENT IN PROGRAMS


Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on efforts to identify and eliminate fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement in programs administered by the Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Gordon H. Mansfield, Deputy Secretary; and Richard J. Griffin, Inspector General; McCoy Williams, Director, Financial Management and Assurance Team, GAO.

HEALTH CARE INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY


Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Health Care Information Technology. Testimony was heard from David Brailer, M.D., National Health Information Technology Coordinator, Department of Health and Human Services; Robert M. Kolodner, M.D., Acting Chief Health Informatics Officer and Deputy Chief Information Officer for Health, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.

FAILURE TO PROTECT CHILD SAFETY


Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a hearing on Failure to Protect Child Safety. Testimony was heard from Christopher J. McCabe, Secretary, Department of Human Resources, State of Maryland; the following officials of the City of Baltimore: Floyd Blair, Interim Director, Department of Social Services; and Peter Beilenson, M.D., Commissioner of Health; and a public witness.

CUSTOMS BUDGET AUTHORIZATIONS AND OTHER CUSTOMS ISSUES


Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on Customs Budget Authorizations and Other Customs Issues. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Robert C. Bonner, Commissioner, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and Michael J. Garcia, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and public witnesses.

BRIEFING--COUNTERNARCOTICS: AFGHANISTAN


Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Human Intelligence, Analysis, and Counterintelligence met in executive session to receive a briefing on Counternarcotics: Afghanistan. The Subcommittee was briefed by departmental witnesses.

BRIEFING--GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE UPDATE


Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Intelligence Policy and National Security met in executive session to receive a briefing on Global Intelligence Update. The Subcommittee was briefed by departmental witnesses.D643

COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY,


JUNE 18, 2004


(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)

Senate


[Page: D643]   GPO's PDF

No meetings/hearings scheduled.

House


No committee meetings are scheduled.

Next Meeting of the
SENATE

9:30 a.m., Friday, June 18

Senate Chamber

Program for Friday: Senate will continue consideration of S. 2400, National Defense Authorization Act. 

[Page: D644]   GPO's PDF


Next Meeting of the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

9 a.m., Friday, June 18

House Chamber

Program for Friday: Continue consideration of H.R. 4567, Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (open rule). 

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