THIS CR ISSUE CR BY DATE GO TO
Next Digest New Search
Prev Digest HomePage
CR Date Table Help[Page: D811] GPO's PDF
Measures Introduced:
Fifteen bills and four resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2701-2715, S. Res. 413-414, and S. Con. Res. 129-130.
Pages S8548-49
Measures Passed:
U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act:
By 85 yeas to 13 nays (Vote No. 159), Senate passed S. 2677, a bill to implement the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement.
Pages S8506-16
Page S8569
Page S8569
Page S8569
Pages S8569-72
Pages S8572-74
Nomination:
Senate continued consideration of the nomination of Henry W. Saad, of Michigan, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.
Pages S8516-35
Page S8574
Nomination:
Senate began consideration of the nomination of Richard A. Griffin, of Michigan, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.
Pages S8535-36
Page S8536D812
Nomination:
Senate began consideration of the nomination of David W. McKeague, of Michigan, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit.
Pages S8535-36
[Page: D812] GPO's PDF
A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination and, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of July 21, 2004, a vote on cloture will occur on Thursday, July 22, 2004.
Page S8536
Treaty Approved:
The following treaty having passed through its various parliamentary stages, up to and including the presentation of the resolution of ratification, upon division, two-thirds of the Senators present and having voted in the affirmative, the resolution of ratification was agreed to:
Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment and Protocol to Convention on International Interests in Mobile Equipment with declarations (Treaty Doc. 108-10).
Page S8568
Nominations Confirmed:
Senate confirmed the following nominations:
Juan Carlos Zarate, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
Stuart Levey, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of the Treasury for Enforcement.
Thomas Fingar, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (Intelligence and Research).
Robert Clark Corrente, of Rhode Island, to be United States Attorney for the District of Rhode Island for the term of four years.
Page S8575
Nominations Received:
Senate received the following nominations:
Lloyd O. Pierson, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development.
Lloyd O. Pierson, an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the African Development Foundation for a term expiring September 22, 2009.
1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.
4 Army nominations in the rank of general.
1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral.
Pages S8574-75
Messages From the House:
Page S8541
Measures Placed on Calendar:
Page S8541
Measures Read First Time:
Page S8542
Executive Communications:
Pages S8542-44
Petitions and Memorials:
Pages S8544-48
Executive Reports of Committees:
Page S8548
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S8549-50
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S8550-66
Additional Statements:
Pages S8539-41
Authority for Committees to Meet:
Pages S8566-68
Record Votes:
One record vote was taken today. (Total--159)
Page S8510
Adjournment:
Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 6:16 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, July 22, 2004. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S8574.)
NOMINATIONS:
Committee on Armed Services:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Vice Admiral Timothy J. Keating, USN, for appointment to the grade of admiral and to be Commander, United States Northern Command/Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command; Lieutenant General Bantz J. Craddock, USA, for appointment to the grade of general and to be Commander, United States Southern Command; Peter Cyril Wyche Flory, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy, and Valerie Lynn Baldwin, of Kansas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Army for Financial Management and Comptroller, who was introduced by Senator Roberts, and Representatives Hobson, and Jerry Lewis, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.
NMS AND MARKET STRUCTURE
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine regulation of the national market system and developments in market structure, focusing on proposals to modernize the national market system to improve the regulatory structure of U.S. equity markets, after receiving testimony from William H. Donaldson, Chairman, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Robert Greifeld, NASDAQ Stock Market, Inc., David F. Harris, American Stock Exchange, LLC, Edward J. Nicoll, Instinet Group, Inc., and John Thain, New York Stock Exchange, Inc., all of New York, New York; and Gerald D. Putnam, Archipelago Holdings, LLC, Chicago, Illinois.
PUBLIC LANDS/NATIONAL FORESTS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources:
Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests concluded a D813hearing to examine S. 738, to designate certain public lands in Humboldt, Del Norte, Mendocino, Lake, Napa, and Yolo Counties in the State of California as wilderness, to designate certain segments of the Black Butte River in Mendocino County, California as a wild or scenic river, S. 1614, to designate a portion of White Salmon River as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, S. 2221, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange certain National Forest System land in the State of Oregon, S. 2253, to permit young adults to perform projects to prevent fire and suppress fires, and provide disaster relief, on public land through a Healthy Forest Youth Conservation Corps, S. 2334, to designate certain National Forest System land in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico as components of the National Wilderness Preservation System, S. 2408, to adjust the boundaries of the Helena, Lolo, and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests in the State of Montana, and S. 2622, to provide for the exchange of certain Federal land in the Santa Fe National Forest and certain non-Federal land in the Pecos National Historical Park in the State of New Mexico, after receiving testimony from Senator Boxer; Representative Thomas; Mark Rey, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment Minerals; Chad Calvert, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Lands and Minerals Management; Art Pope, Northwest Youth Corps, Eugene, Oregon; John Woolley, Humboldt County Supervisor, Eureka, California; and Don Amador, BlueRibbon Coalition, Inc., Oakley, California.
[Page: D813] GPO's PDF
TAX GAP
Committee on Finance:
Committee held a hearing to examine bridging the difference between what taxpayers pay voluntarily and what they are supposed to pay, focusing on increasing the effectiveness of the Internal Revenue Service, simplifying the tax administration system, the ``underground economy'', tax shelters, and ways that data sharing and analysis may enhance tax compliance and improve immigration eligibility decisions, receiving testimony from Raymond T. Wagner Jr., Member, Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board, Pamela J. Gardiner, Acting Inspector General for Tax Administration, Mark W. Everson, Commissioner of Internal Revenue, Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate, Taxpayer Advocate Service, Internal Revenue Service, all of the Department of the Treasury; Michael Brostek, Director, Strategic Issues, Government Accountability Office; Nicholas P. Godici, Commissioner for Patents, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce; Robert M. Morgenthau, District Attorney of New York County, New York, New York; Debbie Langsea, California Franchise Tax Board, Sacramento; Joseph Bankman, Stanford Law School, Stanford, California; Dale Brown, Incline Village, Nevada; and an anonymous witness.
Hearings recessed subject to the call.
MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANK
Committee on Foreign Relations:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine United States efforts to prevent, detect, and punish corruption associated with development assistance provided by the Multilateral Development Banks, focusing on the United States Department of Treasury's role and internal efforts, after receiving testimony from John B. Taylor, Under Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs; Richard Thornburgh, Kirkpatrick and Lockhart, former United States Attorney General, and Kimberly Ann Elliott, Institute for International Economics, all of Washington, DC; and Guido Penzhorn; Durban Bar, Durban, South Africa.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Governmental Affairs:
Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 1230, to provide for additional responsibilities for the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Homeland Security relating to geospatial information, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 2347, to amend the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999 to permanently authorize the public school and private school tuition assistance programs established under the Act, with an amendment;
H.R. 4012, to amend the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999 to reauthorize for five additional years the public school and private school tuition assistance programs established under the Act;
S. 2409, to provide for continued health benefits coverage for certain Federal employees, with an amendment;
S. 2628, to amend chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, to clarify the disclosures of information protected from prohibited personnel practices, require a statement in nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements that such policies, forms, and agreements conform with certain disclosure protections, provide certain authority for the Special Counsel;
S. 2536, to enumerate the responsibilities of the Officer for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties of the Department of Homeland Security, to require the Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to designate a senior official to investigate civil rights complaints, with an amendment;
S. 2635, to establish an intergovernmental grant program to identify and develop homeland security information, equipment, capabilities, technologies, D814and services to further the homeland security of the United States and to address the homeland security needs of Federal, State, and local governments, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
[Page: D814] GPO's PDF
S. 2657, to amend part III of title 5, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of programs under which supplemental dental and vision benefits are made available to Federal employees, retirees, and their dependents, to expand the contracting authority of the Office of Personnel Management;
S. 2639, to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act;
S. 2275, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 (6 U.S.C. 101 et seq.) to provide for homeland security assistance for high-risk nonprofit organizations, with amendments;
S. 593, to ensure that a Federal employee who takes leave without pay in order to perform service as a member of the uniformed services or member of the National Guard shall continue to receive pay in an amount which, when taken together with the pay and allowances such individual is receiving for such service, will be no less than the basic pay such individual would then be receiving if no interruption in employment had occurred, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 3797, to authorize improvements in the operations of the government of the District of Columbia;
S. 2688, to provide for a report of Federal entities without annually audited financial statements;
S. 2501, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 73 South Euclid Avenue in Montauk, New York, as the ``Perry B. Duryea, Jr. Post Office'';
H.R. 4427, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 73 South Euclid Avenue in Montauk, New York, as the ``Perry B. Duryea, Jr. Post Office'';
S. 2640, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1050 North Hills Boulevard in Reno, Nevada, as the ``Guardians of Freedom Memorial Post Office Building'' and to authorize the installation of a plaque at such site;
S. 2673, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1001 Williams Street, Ignacio, Colorado, as the ``Leonard C. Burch Post Office Building'';
S. 2682, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 222 West 8th Street, Durango, Colorado, as the ``Ben Nighthorse Campbell Post Office Building'';
H.R. 3340, to redesignate the facilities of the United States Postal Service located at 7715 and 7748 S. Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as the ``James E. Worsham Post Office'' and the ``James E. Worsham Carrier Annex Building'', respectively;
H.R. 4222, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 550 Nebraska Avenue in Kansas City, Kansas, as the ``Newell George Post Office Building'';
H.R. 4327, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7450 Natural Bridge Road in St. Louis, Missouri, as the ``Vitilas `Veto' Reid Post Office Building''; and
The nominations of Neil McPhie, of Virginia, to be Chairman, and Barbara J. Sapin, of Maryland, to be a Member, both of the Merit Systems Protection Board.
NATIVE AMERICAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Indian Affairs:
Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 519, to establish a Native American-owned financial entity to provide financial services to Indian tribes, Native American organizations, and Native Americans, after receiving testimony from David W. Anderson, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs; Mark F. Brown, Mohegan Indian Tribe, Uncasville, Connecticut; Julie Kitka, Alaska Federation of Natives, Anchorage, Alaska; Chester Carl, National American Indian Housing Council, Washington, D.C.; Haunani Apoliona, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Honolulu, Hawaii; and Katherine A. Spilde, Harvard University Project on American Indian Economic Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs:
Committee ordered favorably reported the following bills:
S. 2301, to improve the management of Indian fish and wildlife and gathering resources, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
S. 2382, to establish grant programs for the development of telecommunications capacities in Indian country, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Also, committee approved the motion to authorize the issuance of subpoenas by the Chairman and grant the Chairman and Vice Chairman the authority to issue additional subpoenas during the period of July 23, 2004 through September 7, 2004, pursuant to In re Tribal Lobbying Matters, et al. inquiry.
INDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Indian Affairs:
Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the proposed reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, after receiving testimony from Representative D815Hayworth; Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Charles Grim, Director of the Indian Health Service, each of the Department of Health and Human Services.
[Page: D815] GPO's PDF
RADIATION EXPOSURE COMPENSATION
Committee on the Judiciary:
Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Radiation Exposure Compensation Program, focusing on compensation to individuals, or their surviving beneficiaries, who contracted certain specified cancers or other specified serious diseases as a possible result of their exposure to radiation, after receiving testimony from Jeffrey S. Bucholtz, Deputy Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, and Dianne Spellberg, Acting Director, Radiation Exposure Compensation Act Program, both of the Department of Justice; Rita Torres, Surprise, Arizona; Jeffrey Thompson, Jacksonville, Arkansas; and Helen Bandley Houghton, San Antonio, Texas.
Measures Introduced:
11 public bills, H.R. 4879-4889; 2 private bills, H.R. 4890-4891; and 3 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 476, and H. Res. 736-737, were introduced.
Pages H6555-57
Additional Cosponsors:
Page H6557
Reports Filed:
Reports were filed today as follows:
H. Res. 734, providing for consideration of H.R. 3313, to amend title 28, United States Code, to limit Federal court jurisdiction over questions under the Defense of Marriage Act (H. Rept. 108-623);
H. Res. 735, waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 4613) making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005 (H. Rept. 108-624);
H.R. 112, to amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for an additional place of holding court in the District of Colorado (H. Rept. 108-625);
H.R. 4646, to amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for the holding of Federal district court in Plattsburgh, New York, amended (H. Rept. 108-626); and
H.R. 4842, to implement the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (H. Rept. 108-627).
H. Res. 738, providing for consideration of H.R. 4842 to implement the United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement (H. Rept. 108-628);
H. Res. 739, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules (H. Rept. 108-629); and
H. Res. 740, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported to the Committee on Rules (H. Rept. 108-630).
Page H6555
Speaker Pro Tempore:
Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Kirk to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.
Page H6445
Chaplain:
The prayer was offered today by Rev. James Patterson, Pastor Emeritus, Lakewood United Methodist Church in Erie, Pennsylvania.
Page H6445
Military Construction Appropriations Act for FY05:
The House began consideration of H.R. 4837, making appropriations for military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005. Further consideration will resume at a later date.
Pages H6460-69
Pages H6449-57, H6458-59
Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2004--Conference Report:
The House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 2443, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2004 and 2005 for the United States Coast Guard, by a yea-and-nay vote of 425 yeas to 1 nay, Roll No. 404.
Pages H6469-75, H6495-96
Pages H6457-58
Suspensions:
The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures:
Recognizing the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing:
Debated on Tuesday, July 20: H. Res. 723, recognizing the 35th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 416 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 402;
Pages H6459-60D816
Page H6460
Pages H6475-83, H6497
Pages H6483-89
Pages H6489-95, H6498
Pages H6498-H6500
Pages H6500-02
Pages H6502-03
[Page: D816] GPO's PDF
Agreed to amend the title so as to read: to designate the annex to the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Building and United States Courthouse located at 333 Constitution Avenue Northwest in the District of Columbia as the ``William B. Bryant Annex''.
Page H6503
Pages H6508-15
Pages H6518-19
Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed:
The House completed debate on the following measures under suspension of the rules. Further debate will continue on Thursday, July 22.
Commercial Aviation MANPADS Defense Act of 2004:
H.R. 4056, amended, to encourage the establishment of both long-term and short-term programs to address the threat of man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to commercial aviation;
Pages H6503-08
Pages H6515-18
Pages H6519-21
Pages H6521-23
Pages H6523-25
Pages H6525-36
Pages H6496-97
Senate Message:
Message received from the Senate today appears on page H6445.
Senate Referral:
S. 2700 was held at the desk.
Quorum Calls--Votes:
Six yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H6458, H6458-59, H6459-60, H6460, H6495-96, H6497, and H6498. There were no quorum calls.
Recess:
The House recessed at 11:38 p.m. and reconvened at 7:42 a.m. on Thursday, July 22.
Page H6553
Adjournment:
The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:44 a.m. on Thursday, July 22.
[Page: D817] GPO's PDF
FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE SYSTEM
Committee on Agriculture:
Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management held a hearing to review the Federal Crop Insurance System. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the USDA: Keith Collins, Chairman, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation; and Ross Davidson, Administrator, Risk Management Agency.
ARMY TRANSFORMATION
Committee on Armed Services:
Continued hearings on Army Transformation: Implications for the Future, II. Testimony was heard from GEN Peter J. Schoomaker, USA, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army.
SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Armed Services:
Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces held a hearing on Small Business Innovation and Technology. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION FOR THE FUTURE ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce:
Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 4496, Vocational and Technical Education for the Future Act.
METHYL BROMIDE
Committee on Energy and Commerce:
Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality held a hearing entitled ``Methyl Bromide: Update on Achieving the Requirements of the Clean Air Act and Montreal Protocol.'' Testimony was heard from Claudia McMurray, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Environment, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of State; Jeffrey R. Holmstead, Assistant Administrator, Air and Radiation, EPA; the following officials of the USDA: Rodney J. Brown, Deputy Under Secretary, Research, Education and Economics; and Burleson Smith, Director, Pest Management Policy; and public witnesses.
DIGITAL TELEVISION TRANSITION
Committee on Energy and Commerce:
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``The Digital Television Transition: What We Can Learn from Berlin.'' Testimony was heard from Mark Goldstein, Director, Physical Infrastructure, GAO; and public witnesses.
MONETARY POLICY AND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Committee on Financial Services:
Held a hearing on Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy. Testimony was heard from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System.
``SHELL GAMES: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE AND ACCOUNTING FOR OIL AND GAS RESERVES''
Committee on Financial Services:
Held a hearing entitled ``Shell Games:
Corporate Governance and Accounting for Oil and Gas Reserves.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Government Reform:
Ordered reported the following measures: H.R. 2449, amended, Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission Act; H.R. 2528, amended, Hudson-Fulton-Champlain 400th Commemoration Commission Act of 2003; H.R. 4324, To amend title 5, United States Code, to eliminate the provisions limiting certain election opportunities available to individuals participating in the Thrift Savings Plan; H.R. 4556, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1115 South Clinton Avenue in Dunn, North Carolina, as the ``General William Carey Lee Post Office Building;'' H.R. 4618, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 10 West Prospect Street in Nanuet, New York, as the ``Anthony I. Lombardi Memorial Post Office Building;'' H.R. 4632, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 19504 Linden Boulevard in St. Albans, New York, as the ``Archie Spigner Post Office Building;'' H.R. 4657, District of Columbia Retirement Protection Improvement Act of 2004; S. 2415, to designate the facility of the D818United States Postal Service located at 4141 Postmark Drive, Anchorage, Alaska as the Robert J. Opinsky Post Office Building;'' H. Res. 695, Expressing the condolences of the House of Representatives to the family and friends of Mattie Stepanek on his passing, and honoring the life of Mattie Stepanek for his braveness, generosity of spirit, and efforts to raise awareness of muscular dystrophy; and H. Res. 717, Honoring former President William Jefferson Clinton on the occasion of his 58th birthday.
[Page: D818] GPO's PDF
CIO'S ROLE IN IT INVESTMENT OVERSIGHT AND INFORMATION MANAGEMENT
Committee on Government Reform:
Subcommittee on Technology, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census held a hearing entitled ``Where's the CIO? The Role, Responsibility and Challenge for Federal Chief Information Officers in IT Investment Oversight and Information Management.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the OMB: Clay Johnson, III, Deputy Director, Management; and Karen Evans, Administrator, Office of E-Government and Information Technology; David Powner, Director, Information Technology Management Issues; Kimberly Nelson, Assistant Administrator, Environmental Information, and Chief Information Officer, EPA; Steven Cooper, Chief Information Officer, Department of Homeland Security; Vance Hitch, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Information Resources Management and Chief Information Officer, Department of Justice; Ira Hobbs, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Information Systems and Chief Information Officer, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses.
HIV/AIDS IN ASIA
Committee on International Relations:
Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held a hearing on HIV/AIDS in Asia. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary:
Ordered reported the following measures: H. Res. 700, adversely, as amended, Directing the Attorney General to transmit to the House of Representatives documents in the possession of the Attorney General relating to the treatment of prisoners and detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay; H.R. 4646, amended, To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for the holding of Federal district court in Plattsburgh, New York; H.R. 112, To amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for an additional place of holding court in the District of Columbia; and H.R. 4586, amended, Family Movie Act of 2004.
OVERSIGHT--ADMINISTRATION OF LARGE BUSINESS BANKRUPTCY REORGANIZATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary:
Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law held an oversight hearing on the Administration of Large Business Bankruptcy Reorganizations: Has Competition for Big Cases Corrupted the Bankruptcy System? Testimony was heard from Roberta A. DeAngelis, Acting United States Trustee--Region 3, Executive Office for United States Trustees, U.S. Trustee Program, Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; GUAM WAR CLAIMS COMMISSION REPORT
Committee on Resources:
Ordered reported, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 1662, Sound Science for Endangered Species Act Planning Act of 2003; and H.R. 2933, Critical Habitat Reform Act of 2003.
The Committee also held an oversight hearing on the Guam War Claims Commission Report. Testimony was heard from David Cohen, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior; Mauricio J. Tamargo, Chairman, Guam War Claims Review Commission, Foreign Claims Settlement Commission, Department of Justice; Kaleo Moylan, Lt. Gov., Guam; and former Delegate Ben Garrido Blaz, Guam.
MARRIAGE PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Rules:
The Committee granted, by a vote of 7 to 3, a closed rule providing ninety minutes of debate on H.R. 3313, Marriage Protection Act of 2004, in the House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Sensenbrenner and Representatives Stearns, Nadler and Jackson-Lee of Texas.
CONFERENCE REPORT--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2005
Committee on Rules:
Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 4613, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and against its consideration. The rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. Testimony was heard from Representatives Lewis of California and Murtha.
[Page: D819] GPO's PDF
U.S.-MOROCCO FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Committee on Rules:
Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing 2 hours of debate in the House on H.R. 4842, United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that pursuant to section 151(f)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974, the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill to final passage without intervening motion. Section 2 of the resolution provides that during consideration of the bill, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker. Testimony w as heard from Representative English.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION REPORTED BY RULES COMMITTEE PROVIDING EXTENSION OF HIGHWAY PROGRAMS
Committee on Rules:
Granted, by voice vote, a resolution waiving clause 6(a) of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) against certain resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The rule applies the waiver to any special rule reported on the legislative day of July 22, 2004, providing for consideration of a bill to provide an extension of highway, highway safety, motor carrier safety, transit, and other programs funded out of the Highway Trust Fund pending enactment of a law reauthorizing the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION REPORTED BY RULES COMMITTEE PROVIDING CONSIDERATION OF A CONFERENCE REPORT ACCOMPANYING IRC AMENDMENTS--ACCELERATE INCREASE IN REFUNDABILITY OF CHILD TAX CREDIT
Committee on Rules:
Committee granted, by voice vote, a resolution waiving clause 6(a) of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) against certain resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The rule applies the waiver to any special rule reported on the legislative day of July 22, 2004, providing for consideration or disposition of a conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 1308) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to accelerate the increase in the refundability of the child tax credit, and for other purposes.
CYBERSECURITY EDUCATION
Committee on Science:
Held a hearing on Cybersecurity Education--Meeting the Needs of Technology Workers and Employers. Testimony was heard from 2LT David Aparicio, USAF, Electrical Engineer, Air Force Research Laboratory Information Directorate, Department of the Air Force; and public witnesses.
TAX INCENTIVES FOR HOMELAND SECURITY RELATED EXPENSES
Committee on Small Business:
Subcommittee on Rural Enterprises, Agriculture and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Tax Incentives for Homeland Security Related Expenses.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure:
Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 784, amended, Water Quality Investment Act of 2003; H.R. 4470, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Restoration Program; H.R. 4688, To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Program; H.R. 4731, To amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the National Estuary Program; and H.R. 4794, To amend the Tijuana River Valley Estuary and Beach Sewage Cleanup Act to extend the authorization of appropriations.
The Committee also approved the following:
GSA Investment and Leasing Program resolutions; and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Survey resolutions.
VETERANS' LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs:
Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 4768, amended, Veterans Medical Facilities Management Act of 2004; H.R. 4658, amended, Servicemembers Legal Protection Act of 2004; H.R. 1318, To name the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Sunnyside, Queens, New York, as the ``Thomas P. Noonan, Jr., Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic;'' and H.R. 4836, to name the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center in Amarillo, Texas, as the ``Thomas E. Creek Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center.''
THIRD PARTY COLLECTIONS PROGRAMS--PATIENT FINANCIAL SERVICES SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs:
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on the VA's progress in its third party collections program and D820implementation of the Patient Financial Services System. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Michael L. Staley, Assistant Inspector General, Auditing; Robert N. McFarland, Assistant Secretary, Office of Information and Technology; Kenneth Ruyle, Chief Business Officer, Veterans Health Administration; and Ken Ray, VISN 8 Chief Financial Officer; the following officials of the GAO: Cynthia A. Bascetta, Director, Health Care--Veterans' Health and Benefits Issues; and McCoy Williams, Director, Financial Management and Assurance Team; and public witnesses.
[Page: D820] GPO's PDF
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER PRIVACY AND IDENTITY THEFT PREVENTION ACT
Committee on Ways and Means:
Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 2971, Social Security Number Privacy and Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2004.
BRIEFING--COUNTERNARCOTICS: LATIN AMERICA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence:
Subcommittee on Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence met in executive session to receive a Briefing: Counternarcotics: Latin America and Southeast Asia. The Subcommittee was briefed by departmental witnesses.
CAUCASUS RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission):
Commission met to receive a briefing on the current state of religious freedom in the Caucasus due to recent events in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia from Paul Crego, Cataloging Specialist, Library of Congress; Eric Rassbach, Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, Washington, D.C.; Andre Carbonneau, Jehovah's Witnesses, Montreal, Canada.
Committee on Appropriations:
Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, to hold hearings to examine activities and funding issues of the Appalachian Council and Working for America Institute, 9:30 a.m., SD-192.
Committee on Armed Services:
to hold hearings to examine the Department of the Army Inspector General Report on Detention Operation Doctrine and Training, 9:30 a.m., SH-216.
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs:
to continue hearings to examine regulation NMS and developments in market structure, 10 a.m., SD-538.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:
business meeting to consider pending calendar business, 9:30 a.m., SR-253.
Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space, to hold hearings to examine space exploration of Saturn, 2:30 p.m., SR-253.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources:
Subcommittee on National Parks, to hold an oversight hearing to examine the implementation of the National Parks Air Tour Management Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-181), 2:30 p.m., SD-366.
Committee on Finance:
to hold hearings to examine the rule of higher education financing in strengthening U.S. competitiveness in a global economy, 10 a.m., SD-215.
Committee on Foreign Relations:
to hold hearings to examine the current situation in Iraq post-transition, 9:30 a.m., SD-419.
Committee on Governmental Affairs:
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, to resume hearings to examine 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 the pharmaceuticals from foreign sources are counterfeit, expired, unsafe, or illegitimate, focusing on the extent to which U.S. consumers can purchase dangerous and often addictive controlled substances from Internet pharmacy websites and the procedures utilized by the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the United States Postal Service, and the Food and Drug Administration, as well as the private sector to address these issues, 9 a.m., SD-342.
Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nomination of Allen Weinstein, of Maryland, to be Archivist of the United States, 3:30 p.m., SD-342.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions:
to hold hearings to examine preparations for possible future terrorist attacks, 10 a.m., SD-430.
Committee on Judiciary:
business meeting to consider pending calendar business, 9:30 a.m., SD-226.
Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine S. 2560, to amend chapter 5 of title 17, United States Code, relating to inducement of copyright infringement, 2 p.m., SD-226.
Select Committee on Intelligence:
to hold hearings to examine intelligence reform, 2:30 p.m., SH-216.
Committee on Agriculture,
to mark up H.R. 4576, Food Promotion Act of 2004, 9:30 a.m., 1300 Longworth.
Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture, hearing to review the USDA's National Animal Identification System, 1 p.m., 1300 Longworth.
Committee on Appropriations,
to mark up the following appropriations for fiscal year 2005: VA, HUD and Independent Agencies; and Transportation, Treasury and Independent Agencies, 10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn.
[Page: D821] GPO's PDF
Committee on Armed Services,
hearing on the Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack, 9 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, hearing on Space Cadre/Space Professionals, 2 p.m., 2118 Rayburn.
Committee on the Budget,
hearing on the U.S. Tax Code's Impact on Revenue Projections and the Federal Budget, 10 a.m., 210 Cannon.
Committee on Education and the Workforce,
Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations, hearing entitled ``Genetic Non-Discrimination: Examining the Implications for Workers and Employers,'' 10:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
Committee on Energy and Commerce,
Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials, hearing entitled ``Tapped Out? Lead in the District of Columbia and the Providing of Safe Drinking Water,'' 9:30 a.m., 2322 Rayburn.
Subcommittee on Health, hearing entitled ``Health Information Technology:
Improving Quality and Value of Patient Care,'' 2 p.m., 2322 Rayburn.
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``Problems with the E-rate Program: Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Concerns in the Wiring of Our Nation's Schools to the Internet,'' 10:30 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
Committee on Financial Services,
hearing entitled ``Sarbanes-Oxley: Two Years of Market and Investor Recovery,'' 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
Committee on Government Reform,
hearing entitled ``Contracting and the Rebuilding of Iraq: Part IV,'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources and the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, joint hearing entitled ``Drugs and Security in a Post-9/11 World: Coordinating the Counternarcotics Mission at the Department of Homeland Security,'' 2 p.m., 2247 Rayburn.
Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness, hearing entitled ``Balancing Act:
The Health Advantages of Naturally-Occurring Hormones in Hormone Replacement Therapy,'' 2:30 p.m., 2154 Rayburn.
Committee on House Administration,
hearing on H.R. 4863, To establish the Commission to Establish the National Museum of the American Latino to develop a plan of action for the establishment and maintenance with the Smithsonian Institution of the National Museum of the American Latino in Washington, D.C., 1:30 p.m., 1310 Longworth.
Committee on International Relations,
Subcommittee on Africa, hearing on The Democratic Republic of Congo Peace Accords: One Year Later, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn.
Committee on Resources,
Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health, hearing on the following bills: H.R. 822, Wild Sky Wilderness Act of 2003; H.R. 4806, Pine Springs Land Exchange Act; and H.R. 4838, Health Forest Youth Conservation Corps Act of 2004, 11 a.m., 1334 Longworth.
Committee on Small Business,
Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight, hearing Small Business Liability Reform, 2 p.m., 311 Cannon.
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure,
Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, oversight hearing on Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan--The First Major Projects, 12 p.m., 2167 Rayburn.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs,
hearing on the evolution of VA-DoD collaboration in research and amputee care for veterans of current and past conflicts, and needed reforms in VA blind rehabilitation services, 9:30 a.m., 334 Cannon.
Committee on Ways and Means,
Subcommittee on Health, hearing on Electronic Prescribing, 1 p.m., B-318 Rayburn.
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence,
Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence, executive, Briefing: Technological Superiority in the Intelligence Community, 2 p.m., H-405 Capitol.
Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, executive, Briefing:
Threats to the National Conventions and the Olympics, 9 a.m., H-405 Capitol.
Subcommittee on Terrorism and Homeland Security, executive, Briefing:
Port Security, 10 a.m., H-405 Capitol.
Conference:
meeting of conferees on H.R. 3550, to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, 11 a.m., 2167 RHOB.
Joint Economic Committee:
to hold hearings to examine the demographics of health care, focusing on evidence regarding declining rates of chronic disability and assess the best opportunities for further health promotion, 10 a.m., SD-628.
[Page: D822] GPO's PDF
Program for Thursday:
After the transaction of morning business for statements only (not to extend beyond 60 minutes), Senate will continue consideration of the nominations of Henry W. Saad, of Michigan, to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, with a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination to occur at approximately 11 a.m.; following which, Senate will vote on the motions to invoke cloture on the nominations of Richard A. Griffin, of Michigan, and David W. McKeague, of Michigan, each to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, respectively.
Program for Thursday:
Consideration of H.R. 3313, Marriage Protection Act of 2003 (closed rule, 90 minutes of debate).
Rolled votes on Suspensions considered on Tuesday, July 19, and Wednesday, July 21.
Rolled vote on Stenholm motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1308.
THIS CR ISSUE CR BY DATE GO TO
Next Digest New Search
Prev Digest HomePage
CR Date Table Help