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Thursday, March 20, 2003


Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS





[Page: D270]   GPO's PDF

Senate


Chamber Action


Routine Proceedings, pages S4043-S4223

Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and five resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 670-680, and S. Res. 95-96, and S. Con. Res. 25-27. 

Pages S4165-66

Measures Reported:

S. 671, to amend the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to modify temporarily certain rates of duty, to make other technical amendments to the trade laws. (S. Rept. No. 108-28)
S. Res. 48, designating April 2003 as ``Financial Literacy for Youth Month''.
S. Res. 52, recognizing the social problem of child abuse and neglect, and supporting efforts to enhance public awareness of the problem, with an amendment.
S. Res. 58, expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should designate the week beginning June 1, 2003, as ``National Citizen Soldier Week''.
S. 330, to further the protection and recognition of veterans' memorials. 

Page S4165

Measures Passed:

Commending President and Armed Forces: By a unanimous vote of 99 yeas (Vote No. 61), Senate agreed to S. Res. 95, commending the President and the Armed Forces of the United States of America. 

Pages S4075-S4107

Iraqi Scientists Immigration Act: Senate passed S. 205, to authorize the issuance of immigrant visas to, and the admission to the United States for permanent residence of, certain scientists, engineers, and technicians who have worked in Iraqi weapons of mass destruction programs. 
Pages S4222-23

Congressional Budget Resolution: Senate continued consideration of S. Con. Res. 23, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2004 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2003 and for fiscal years 2005 through 2013, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: 

Pages S4044-75, S4109-4152

Adopted:
By 51 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 62), Kyl/Sessions Modified Amendment No. 288, to provide financial security to family farm and small business owners by ending the unfair practice of taxing someone at death. 
Page S4109

By 80 yeas to 19 nays (Vote No. 64), Rockefeller Amendment No. 275, to express the sense of the Senate concerning State fiscal relief. 
Pages S4111-12

Rejected:
Graham (FL)/Dorgan/Stabenow Amendment No. 294, to provide a meaningful prescription drug benefit in Medicare that is available to all beneficiaries. (By 55 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 63), Senate tabled the amendment.) 
Pages S4109-10

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that with respect to amendment No. 294 (listed above), that the names be reversed, and that Senator Graham's name appear first as the one proposing the amendment.
Pending:
Schumer Amendment No. 299, to provide immediate assistance to meet pressing homeland security needs by providing funding in 2003 for first responders, port security, bioterrorism preparedness D271and prevention, border security and transit security, the FBI; to restore the elimination of funding of the COPS program, firefighter equipment grants, Byrne Grants and Local Law enforcement grants; to provide a sustained commitment of resources for homeland security needs without reducing funding to other key domestic law enforcement and public safety priorities; and to reduce the deficit. 
Pages S4046-63

[Page: D271]   GPO's PDF

Brownback Amendment No. 282, to express the sense of the Senate that a commission be established to review the efficiency of Federal agencies. 

Pages S4063-71

Conrad (for Feingold/Corzine) Amendment No. 270, to set aside a reserve fund for possible military action and reconstruction in Iraq. 
Pages S4071-75

Breaux Amendment No. 339, to reduce tax cuts by $375 billion and to reduce projected deficits by $464 billion. 
Pages S4113-25

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for a series of votes on certain amendments to begin at 9:45 a.m., on Friday, March 21, 2003. 
Page S4107

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the resolution at 9:30 a.m., on Friday, March 21, 2003. 
Page S4107

Messages From the President: Senate received the following messages from the President of the United States:
Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the additional steps taken with respect to the national emergency which was declared in Executive Order 12722 of August 2, 1990 by exercising the statutory authority to confiscate and vest certain property of the Government of Iraq and its agencies, instrumentalities, or controlled entities; to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-28) 

Page S4163

Messages From the House: 

Pages S4163-64

Measures Referred: 

Page S4164

Measures Read First Time: 

Page S4164

Executive Communications: 

Pages S4164-4165

Executive Reports of Committees: 

Page S4165

Additional Cosponsors: 

Pages S4166-4168

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: 

Pages S4168-4181

Additional Statements: 

Pages S4159-63

Amendments Submitted: 

Pages S4181-S4221

Authority for Committees to Meet: 

Page S4221

Privilege of the Floor: 

Page S4221

Record Vote: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--64) 

Pages S4106, S4109, S4110, 4112

Adjournment: Senate met at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 11:30 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, March 21, 2003. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S4107.)

Committee Meetings


(Committees not listed did not meet)

NOMINATION


Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded hearings to examine the nomination of Vernon Bernard Parker, of Arizona, to be an Assistant Secretary of Agriculture for Civil Rights, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators McCain and Kyl, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.

APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the Judiciary concluded hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2004 for the Department of Commerce, after receiving testimony from Donald L. Evans, Secretary of Commerce.

APPROPRIATIONS: FOREST SERVICE


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior concluded hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2004 for the Department of Agriculture Forest Service, after receiving testimony from Dale N. Bosworth, Chief, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.

APPROPRIATIONS: EPA


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies concluded hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2004 for the Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION: ENERGY


Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2004 for the Department of Defense, focusing on atomic energy defense activities of the Department of Energy, after receiving testimony from Spencer Abraham, Secretary of Energy. 

[Page: D272]   GPO's PDF

REAL ESTATE SETTLEMENT PROCEDURES ACT


Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine issues relating to the Department of Housing and Urban Development's proposed rule on the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act, focusing on the effort to better protect consumers and increase homeownership by making the home financing process more transparent, simpler, and less costly, after receiving testimony from Mel Martinez, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENTS


Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air, Climate Change, and Nuclear Safety concluded hearings to examine S. 385, to amend the Clean Air Act to eliminate methyl tertiary butyl ether from the United States fuel supply, to increase production and use of renewable fuel, and to increase the Nation's energy independence, and other proposed legislation amending the Clean Air Act regarding fuel additives and renewable fuels, gasoline, water contamination, and the oil and natural gas industry, after receiving testimony from Jeffrey R. Holmstead, Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency; David K. Garman, Assistant Secretary for Renewable Energy, and Mary Hutzler, Director, Office of Integrated Analysis and Forecasting, Energy Information Administration, both of the Department of Energy; Paul J. Granger, Plainview Water District, Plainview, New York; Craig Perkins, Environmental and Public Works Management, Santa Monica, California; Fred Yoder, Plain City, Ohio, on behalf of the National Corn Growers Association; Edward Murphy, American Petroleum Institute, Bob Slaughter, National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, Scott H. Segal, Bracewell and Patterson, on behalf of the Oxygenated Fuels Association, all of Washington, D.C.; Richard Wagman, G.A. & F.C. Wagman, York, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association; and A. Blakeman Early, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the American Lung Association.

EMBASSY SECURITY


Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine how to make embassies safer in areas of conflict, focusing on federal efforts to provide secure diplomatic and consular facilities for U.S. Government personnel overseas, the Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program, and related provisions of the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2004 for the Department of State, after receiving testimony from Charles E. Williams, Director and Chief Operating Officer, Overseas Buildings Operations Bureau, and Francis X. Taylor, Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security and the Office of Foreign Missions, both of the Department of State; and Jess T. Ford, Director, International Affairs and Trade, General Accounting Office.

CARGO CONTAINERS SECURITY


Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine securing seaport cargo containers from terrorist attack by implementing and using the Container Security Initiative, Operations Safe Commerce, and the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism, focusing on the coordination between agencies regulating seaport commerce, the standardization of procedures between and within agencies, intelligence information available to port managers, departmental funding, and providing qualified and well trained personnel for port security programs, after receiving testimony from Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Border and Transportation Security; Peter W. Hall, United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, Department of Justice; Stephen E. Flynn, Independent Task Force on Homeland Security Imperatives, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, New York; Jeffrey W. Monroe, Department of Ports and Transportation, Portland, Maine; and Michael O'Hanlon, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.

BUSINESS MEETING


Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 330, to further the protection and recognition of veterans' memorials;
S. Res. 48, designating April 2003 as ``Financial Literacy for Youth Month'';
S. Res. 52, recognizing the social problem of child abuse and neglect, and supporting efforts to enhance public awareness of the problem, with an amendment;
S. Res. 58, expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should designate the week beginning June 1, 2003, as ``National Citizen Soldier Week''; and
The nominations of Cormac J. Carney and James V. Selna, each to be a United States District Judge for the Central District of California, Philip P. Simon and Theresa Lazar Springmann, each to be a United States District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana, and Gregory A. White, to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, Thomas Dyson Hurlburt, Jr., to be United States Marshal for the Middle District of Florida, Christina Pharo, to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of Florida, Dennis Arthur Williamson, to be United States Marshal for the D273Northern District of Florida, and Richard Zenos Winget, to be United States Marshal for the District of Nevada, all of the Department of Justice. 

[Page: D273]   GPO's PDF

Also, Committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 108th Congress and announced the following subcommittee assignments:
Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts: Senators Sessions (Chairman), Grassley, Specter, Craig, Cornyn, Schumer, Leahy, Feingold, and Durbin.
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security: Senators Kyl (Chairman), Hatch, Specter, DeWine, Sessions, Chambliss, Feinstein, Kennedy, Biden, Kohl, and Edwards.
Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights: Senators DeWine (Chairman), Hatch, Specter, Graham (SC), Chambliss, Kohl, Leahy, Feingold, and Edwards.
Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights: Senators Cornyn (Chairman), Kyl, Graham (SC), Craig, Chambliss, Feingold, Kennedy, Schumer, and Durbin.
Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security and Citizenship: Senators Chambliss (Chairman), Grassley, Kyl, DeWine, Sessions, Craig, Cornyn, Kennedy, Leahy, Feinstein, Schumer, Durbin, and Edwards.
Subcommittee on Crime, Corrections and Victims' Rights: Senators Graham (SC) (Chairman), Hatch, Grassley, Sessions, Craig, Cornyn, Biden, Kohl, Feinstein, Durbin, and Edwards.

MEDICARE REFORM: PRESCRIPTION DRUGS


Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine proposals to improve and modernize the current Medicare system, focusing on prescription drugs benefits, regulatory and contractor reforms, and demographic and health care trends, after receiving testimony from Thomas A. Scully, Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; and Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, Congressional Budget Office.

House of Representatives


Chamber Action


Measures Introduced: 40 public bills, H.R. 1372-1411; and 14 resolutions, H.J. Res. 41-42; H. Con. Res. 103-109, and H. Res. 153-157 were introduced. 

Pages H2268-70

Additional Cosponsors: 

Pages H2270-72

Reports Filed: No reports were filed today.

Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. David K. Stewart, Pastor, First United Methodist Church of Wayne, Michigan. 

Page H2133

Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal of Wednesday, March 19 by yea-and-nay vote of 373 yeas to 49 nays with 2 voting ``present'', Roll No. 75. 

Pages H2133, H2135-36

Expressing the Support and Appreciation of the Nation for the President and the Members of the Armed Forces: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 104, expressing the support and appreciation of the Nation for the President and the members of the Armed Forces who are participating in Operation Iraqi Freedom by yea-and-nay vote of 392 yeas to 11 nays with 22 voting ``present'', Roll No. 83. 

Pages H2229-51, H2262-63

Earlier agreed by unanimous consent to consider the concurrent resolution. 
Pages H2227-29

Leave of Absence Granted to Representative Buyer of Indiana: On motion of Speaker Hastert, Representative Buyer was granted a leave of absence for an indefinite period of time on account of military service. Earlier, the Speaker read a letter from Representative Buyer wherein he stated that he had been called to active duty in the United States Army and that pending further orders, he requested immediate indefinite leave of the House of Representatives to accommodate his military duties. 

Pages H2226-27

Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures:
Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act: Debated on March 19, H.R. 1307, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a special rule for members of the uniformed services in determining the exclusion of gain from the sale of a principal residence and to restore the tax exempt status of death gratuity payments to members of the uniformed services (agreed to by \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 422 yeas with none voting ``nay,'' Roll No. 76); and 

Pages H2136-37

Urging that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling on the Pledge of Allegiance be Overturned: D274H. Res. 132, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling in Newdow v. United States Congress is inconsistent with the Supreme Court's interpretation of the first amendment and should be overturned (agreed to by \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 400 yeas to 7 nays with 15 voting ``present,'' Roll No. 77). 
Page H2137

Concurrent Resolution on the Budget: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 95, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2004 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2003 and 2005 through 2013 by yea-and-nay vote of 215 yeas to 212 nays, Roll No. 82. 

Pages H2145-70, H2171-H2227, H2251-2262

[Page: D274]   GPO's PDF

Pursuant to the rule, the Nussle amendment in the nature of a substitute specified in part A of H. Rept. 108-44 was considered as adopted.
Rejected:
Hill (``Blue Dog Coalition'') amendment in the nature of a substitute no. 1 printed in part B of H. Rept. 108-44 that sought to provide for spending at the levels contained in the President's budget as estimated by CBO; include reconciliation for a tax package with tax relief offset by deferring a portion of tax cuts for upper income taxpayers if the budget remains in deficit; directs a Medicare prescription drug benefit of $400 billion; provides an increase in the debt limit of 150 billion but prohibits any further increase in the debt limit of more that $100 billion until CBO certifies that the budget is on path to balance by 2009 (rejected by a recorded vote of 174 ayes to 254 noes, Roll No. 78); 

Pages H2176-89

Toomey (``Republican Study Committee'') amendment in the nature of a substitute no. 2 printed in part B of H. Rept. 108-44 that sought to balance the budget in four years; provide $512 billion in tax relief over the next five years and $1.6 trillion over the next 10 years, all under reconciliation; freezes total discretionary spending for one year and then permits growth at half of the rate of inflation for two years; and within the total level of discretionary spending, defense and homeland security are funded at the requested levels (rejected by a recorded vote of 80 ayes to 342 noes, Roll No. 79); 
Pages H2189-H2204

Cummings (``Congressional Black Caucus and Progressive Caucus'') amendment in the nature of a substitute no. 3 printed in part B of H. Rept. 108-44 that sought to freeze the tax cut; support defense funding commensurate with the President's request; provide $300 billion for economic stimulus; provide for universal single payer healthcare program and $528 billion for Medicare prescription drug benefit; and increase education funding by $20 billion (rejected by recorded vote of 85 ayes to 340 noes, Roll No. 80); 
Pages H2203-13

Spratt (``Democratic Alternative'') amendment in the nature of a substitute no. 4 printed in part B of H. Rept. 108-44, as modified, that sought to restore $98 billion of direct spending cuts and increase funding for homeland security, education, and other priorities; provide $528 billion for a Medicare prescription drug benefit and allows increases to the extent offsets are identified; achieves budget balance in 2010 and adds $573 billion less to the public debt (rejected by recorded vote of 192 ayes to 236 noes, Roll No. 81). 
Pages H2213-26

Earlier agreed to the unanimous consent request made by Representative Spratt that the amendment no. 4 in H. Rept. 108-44 be considered as modified by the form that he placed at the desk. 
Page H2145

The House agreed to H. Res. 151, the rule that provided for consideration of the concurrent resolution by voice vote. 
Pages H2138-45

Presidential Message--National Emergency re Iraq: Message wherein he reported that he has taken additional steps with respect to the national emergency declared in Executive Order 12722 of August 2, 1990, by exercising his statutory authority to confiscate and vest certain property of the Government of Iraq and its agencies, instrumentalities, or controlled entities--referred to the Committee on International Relations and ordered printed (H. Doc. 108-51). 

Page H2264

Legislative Program: The Majority Leader announced the Legislative Program for the week of March 24. 

Page H2263

Meeting Hour--Monday, March 24 and Tuesday, March 25: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Monday, March 24 and agreed that when the House adjourns on Monday, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, March 25, for morning hour today. 

Pages H2263-64

Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, March 26. 

Page H2264

Recess: The House recessed at 11 a.m. and reconvened at 12:30 p.m. 

Page H2138

Senate Message: Messages received from the Senate today appear on pages H2133.

Referrals: S. 153 was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and S. 342 was held at the desk. 

Page H2265

Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes and four recorded votes developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages H2135-36, D275H2136-37, H2137, H2189, H2203, H2212, H2226, H2261-62, H2262-63. There were no quorum calls.

Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 3:11 a.m. on Friday, March 21. 

[Page: D275]   GPO's PDF

Committee Meetings


AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies held a hearing on Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. Testimony was heard from Eric Bost, Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, USDA.

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE AND THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and State and The Judiciary, and Related Agencies held a hearing on DEA and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Justice: John B. Brown III, Acting Administrator, DEA; and Bradley A. Buckles, Acting Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on Fiscal Year 2004 Navy/Marine Corps Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Navy: H.T. Johnson, Acting Secretary; Adm. Vernon E. Clark, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; and Gen. Michael W. Hagee, USMC, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps.

ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development held a hearing on Department of Energy: Nuclear Waste Management and Disposal. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Energy: Jessie Roberson, Assistant Secretary, Energy, Environmental Management; and Margaret Chu, Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.

HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a hearing on Secretary of Homeland Security. Testimony was heard from Tom Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Secretary.

LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education held a hearing on Secretary of Health and Human Services. Testimony was heard from Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services.

VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies held a hearing on Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. Testimony was heard from Ellen Lazar, Executive Director, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation.
The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Testimony was heard from Henry Falk, Assistant Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Department of Health and Human Services.

DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAMS


Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the 2004 fiscal year defense authorization budget request for Ballistic Missile Defense programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: E.C. ``Pete'' Aldridge, Jr., Under Secretary, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; J.D. Crouch, Assistant Secretary, International Security Policy; Lt. Gen. Ronald T. Kadish, USAF, Director, Missile Defense Agency; and Thomas P. Christie, Director, Operational Test and Evaluation.

MILITARY READINESS AND REVIEW--DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST


Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness continued hearings on the state of military readiness and review of the fiscal year 2004 Defense Authorization budget request. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: H.T. Johnson, Acting Secretary, Navy; Brig. Gen. Ronald S. Coleman, USMC, Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (Facilities); Rear Adm. Christopher Cole, USN, Office of Chief of Naval Operations, Ashore Readiness Division; Rear Adm. Craig McDonald, USN, Deputy Director, Naval Reserve; Nelson F. Gibbs, Assistant Secretary, Air Force, Installations, Environment and Logistics; Maj. Gen. Earnest O. Robbins II, USAF, The Air Force Civil Engineer; Brig. Gen. David A. Brubaker, USAF, Deputy Director, Air National Guard; and Brig. Gen. William A. Rajczak, USAF, Deputy to the Chief, Air Force Reserve. 

[Page: D276]   GPO's PDF

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST


Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces held a hearing on the fiscal year 2004 national defense authorization budget request. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Glen Lamartin, Director, Tactical and Strategic Systems; Claude M. Bolton, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Army, Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, Department of the Army; Gen. Paul J. Kern, USA, Commanding General, Army Materiel Command; and Lt. Gen. Robert Magnus, USMC, Deputy Commander, Programs and Resources, U.S. Marine Corps.

WORKFORCE REINVESTMENT AND ADULT EDUCATION ACT


Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1261, Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act of 2003.

HIV/AIDS, TB, AND MALARIA--COMBATING GLOBAL PANDEMIC


Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on ``HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria: Combating a Global Pandemic.'' Testimony was heard from Claude Allen, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.

ACCOUNTANT, COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT STAFFING ACT


Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 658, Accountant, Compliance, and Enforcement Staffing Act of 2003.

DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT REAUTHORIZATION


Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1280, Defense Production Act Reauthorization of 2003.

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENERGY MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT


Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1346, to amend the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to provide an additional function of the Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy relating to encouraging Federal procurement policies that enhance energy efficiency.

ENERGY DEPARTMENT ACQUISITIONS--DECADE OF FAILURE


Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on ``Breaking Fumes; A Decade of Failure in Energy Department Acquisitions.'' Testimony was heard from Robin M. Nazzaro, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, GAO; and the following officials of the Department of Energy: Gregory H. Friedman, Inspector General; and James A. Rispoli, Director, Engineering and Construction Management.

U.S. AND SOUTH ASIA CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN POLICY


Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on East Asia and the Pacific held a hearing on the U.S. and South Asia: Challenges and Opportunities for American policy. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of State: Christina Rocca, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South Asian Affairs; and Wendy J. Chamberlin, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia and the Near East, AID.

FEDERAL COURTS IMPROVEMENT ACT; E-GOVERNMENT ACT AMENDMENTS


Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 1302, Federal Courts Improvement Act of 2003; and H.R. 1303, amended, to amend the E-Government Act of 2002 with respect to rulemaking authority of the Judicial Conference.

SBA FINANCING PROGRAMS--CHANGES NEEDED


Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Changes to SBA Financing Programs Needed for Revitalization of Small Manufacturers.'' Testimony was heard from Ronald Bew, Associate Administrator, Capital Access, SBA; and public witnesses.

PROTECTING COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT


Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation met in executive session to hold a hearing on Protecting Commercial Aircraft from the Threat of Missile Attacks. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.

MEDICARE REGULATORY AND CONTRACTING REFORM ACT


Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 810, Medicare Regulatory and Contracting Reform Act of 2003. 

[Page: D277]   GPO's PDF

FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS--REVIEW STATE USE


Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a hearing to Review State Use of Federal Unemployment Funds. Testimony was heard from Emily S. DeRocco, Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration, Department of Labor; Sigurd R. Nilsen, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues, GAO; Jon Brock, Executive Director, Employment Security Commission, State of Oklahoma; Melissa DeLisio, Assistant Director, Department of Job and Family Services, State of Ohio; Dawn Watson, Secretary, Department of Labor, State of Louisiana; and a public witness.

NATIONAL IMAGERY AND MAPPING AGENCY PROGRAM


Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to hold a hearing on National Imagery and Mapping Agency Program. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings


VETERANS' LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATIONS


Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine legislative presentations of certain veterans' organizations, after receiving testimony from W.G. Kilgore, AMVETS, Lanham, Maryland; Maurice S. Sharp, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Arlington, Texas; Thomas H. Corey, Vietnam Veterans of America, Silver Spring, Maryland; Colonel Robert F. Norton, USA (Ret.), Military Officers Association of America, Alexandria, Virginia; and Raymond G. Boland, National Association of State Directors of Veterans' Affairs.

COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY,


MARCH 21, 2003


Senate


No meetings/hearings scheduled.

House


No committee meetings are scheduled.

Next Meeting of the
SENATE

9:30 a.m., Friday, March 21, 2003

Senate Chamber

Program for Friday: Senate will continue consideration of S. Con. Res. 23, Congressional Budget Resolution for Fiscal Year 2004. 

[Page: D278]   GPO's PDF

At 9:45 a.m., Senate will begin a series of votes on certain amendments.

Next Meeting of the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

2 p.m., Monday, March 24

House Chamber

Program for Monday: Pro forma session. 




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