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Thursday, October 30, 2003


Daily Digest


HIGHLIGHTS








[Page: D1201]   GPO's PDF

Senate


Chamber Action


Routine Proceedings, pages S13613-S13697

Measures Introduced: Seven bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 1798-1804, S. Res. 255, and S. Con. Res. 78.

Page S13660 

Measures Reported:

S. 1663, to replace certain Coastal Barrier Resources System maps. (S. Rept. No. 108-179)
H.R. 274, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to acquire the property in Cecil County, Maryland, known as Garrett Island for inclusion in the Blackwater National Wildlife Refuge. (S. Rept. No. 108-180)
S. 1395, to authorize appropriations for the Technology Administration of the Department of Commerce for fiscal years 2004 through 2005, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 108-181)
S. 1402, to authorize appropriations for activities under the Federal railroad safety laws for fiscal years 2004 through 2008, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 108-182)
S. 1720, to provide for Federal court proceedings in Plano, Texas, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
S. Con. Res. 58, expressing the sense of Congress with respect to raising awareness and encouraging prevention of stalking in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of National Stalking Awareness Month, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute and with an amended preamble.

Page S13659 

Measures Passed:

Continuing Appropriations: Senate passed H.J. Res. 75, making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2004, clearing the measure for the President.

Page S13659 

Healthy Forests Restoration Act: By 80 yeas to 14 nays (Vote No. 428), Senate passed H.R. 1904, to improve the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior to conduct hazardous fuels reduction projects on National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management lands aimed at protecting communities, watersheds, and certain other at-risk lands from catastrophic wildfire, to enhance efforts to protect watersheds and address threats to forest and rangeland health, including catastrophic wildfire, across the landscape, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto:
Pages S13600-11, S13613-37 

Adopted:
Bingaman Amendment No. 2036, to require collaborative monitoring of forest health projects.
Pages S13609-11, S13613-16 

Bingaman Amendment No. 2042, to require best-value contracting criteria in awarding contracts and agreements.
Pages S13616-17 

Cochran Amendment No. 2046, to make certain improvements to the bill.
Page S13631 

[Page: D1202]   GPO's PDF

Notwithstanding passage of the bill, Cochran Amendment No. 2046 was subsequently modified.

Page S13696 

Rejected:
Bingaman Amendment No. 2035, to require the treatment of slash and other long-term fuels management for hazardous fuels reduction projects. (By 58 yeas to 36 nays (Vote No. 422), Senate tabled the amendment.)
Pages S13608-09 

Leahy Amendment No. 2039, to remove certain provisions relating to administrative and judicial review. (By 62 yeas to 33 nays (Vote No. 423), Senate tabled the amendment.)
Pages S13609-11 

Boxer Amendment No. 2043, to increase the minimum percentage of funds allocated for authorized hazardous fuel reduction projects in the wildland-urban interface. (By 61 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 424), Senate tabled the amendment.)
Pages S13617-21 

Murray Amendment No. 2030, to ensure protection of old-growth stands. (By 62 yeas to 32 nays (Vote No. 425), Senate tabled the amendment.)
Pages S13621-24 

Cantwell Modified Amendment No. 2038, to require the Comptroller General to study the costs and benefits of the analysis of alternatives in environmental assessments and environmental impact statements. (By 57 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 426), Senate tabled the amendment.)
Pages S13624-26 

Harkin Amendment No. 2045, to provide authority for title I, relative to hazardous fuels reduction on federal land. (By 61 yeas to 31 nays (Vote No. 427), Senate tabled the amendment.)
Pages S13626-31 

During consideration of this measure today, the Senate also took the following action:
By 36 yeas to 60 nays (Vote No. 421), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to waive section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Bingaman Amendment No. 2031, to provide the Secretary of Agriculture with the authority to borrow funds from the Treasury to pay for firefighting costs that exceed funds available and to provide funding to conduct hazardous fuels reduction and burned area restoration projects on non-Federal lands in and around communities. Subsequently, the point of order that the amendment was in violation of section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, was sustained, and the amendment thus falls.
Pages S13601-05 

Foreign Operation Appropriations Act: Senate passed H.R. 2800, making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto:
Pages S13637-51 

Adopted:
By 89 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 429), DeWine Amendment No. 1966, to increase assistance to combat HIV/AIDS.
Pages S13638-39 

McConnell Amendment No. 2049, to make certain technical corrections and to provide for international military training assistance for Indonesia.
Page S13648 

McConnell (for Stevens) Amendment No. 2050, to provide assistance for democracy programs in Russia.
Pages S13648-49 

McConnell Amendment No. 1970, to express the sense of the Senate on Burma.
Pages S13649-51 

Rejected:
By 45 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 430), Feinstein Amendment No. 1977, to clarify the definition of HIV/AIDS prevention for purposes of providing funds for therapeutic medical care.
Pages S13644-46 

By 41 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 432), Bingaman/Daschle Amendment No. 2048, to make an additional $200,000,000 available for the Global AIDS Initiative and reduce the amount available for Millennium Challenge Assistance by $200,000,000.
Pages S13645, S13647-48 

During consideration of this measure today, the Senate also took the following action:
By 42 yeas to 50 nays (Vote No. 431), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to waive section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, with respect to Durbin Amendment No. 2047, to increase assistance to combat HIV/AIDS. Subsequently, the point of order that the amendment was in violation of section 302(f) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, was sustained, and the amendment thus falls.
Pages S13639-44, S13646-47 

McConnell (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 2023, to provide for the disclosure of prices paid for HIV/AIDS medicines in developing countries, previously agreed to on Tuesday, October 28, 2003, was modified.
Page S13648 

Senate insisted on its amendment, requested a conference with the House thereon, and the Chair was authorized to appoint the following conferees on the part of the Senate: Senators McConnell, Specter, Gregg, Shelby, Bennett, Campbell, Bond, DeWine, Stevens, Leahy, Inouye, Harkin, Mikulski, Durbin, Johnson, Landrieu, and Byrd.
Page S13651 

A Tribute to Survivors: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 76, recognizing that November 2, 2003, shall be dedicated to ``A Tribute to Survivors'' at the D1203United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, and the resolution was then agreed to.
Pages S13696-97 

Climate Stewardship Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 139, to provide for a program of scientific research on abrupt climate change, to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable allowances that could be used interchangeably with passenger vehicle fuel economy standard credits, to limit greenhouse gas emissions in the United States and reduce dependence upon foreign oil, and ensure benefits to consumers from the trading in such allowances, taking action on the following amendment proposed thereto:

Pages S13572-98 

Rejected:

[Page: D1203]   GPO's PDF

By 43 yeas to 55 nays (Vote No. 420), Lieberman/McCain Amendment No. 2028, in the nature of a substitute.

Pages S13572, S13598 

A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the bill be re-referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.
Page S13598 

Interior Department Appropriations--Conference Report: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that on Monday, November 3, 2003, at a time determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Democratic Leader, Senate begin consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 2691, making appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004; that there be 60 minutes of debate equally divided; and following the use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on adoption of the conference report on Monday, November 3, 2003, at a time determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Democratic Leader.

Page S13643 

Internet Tax Non-Discrimination Act: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at a time determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Democratic Leader, but not before Thursday, November 6, 2003, Senate begin consideration of S. 150, to make permanent the moratorium on taxes on Internet access and multiple and discriminatory taxes on electronic commerce imposed by the Internet Tax Freedom Act.

Pages S13643-44 

Emergency Supplemental, Iraq and Afghanistan Appropriations Act Conference Report--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 11 a.m., on Monday, November 3, 2003, Senate begin consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 3289, making emergency supplemental appropriations for defense and for the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004; with the time until 5 p.m. equally divided and that at 5 p.m. the conference report be adopted.

Page S13697 

Nomination Considered: Senate resumed consideration of the nomination of of Charles W. Pickering, Sr., of Mississippi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit.

Pages S13535-72 

During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action:
By 54 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 419), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to close further debate on the nomination.
Page S13572 

Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
1 Army nomination in the rank of general.
2 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral.
Routine lists in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy.

Page S13612

Messages From the House:

Pages S13658-59 

Measures Referred:

Page S13658 

Enrolled Bills Presented:

Page S13659 

Executive Reports of Committees:

Pages S13659-60 

Additional Cosponsors:

Pages S13660-61 

Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:

Pages S13661-81

Additional Statements:

Page S13658 

Amendments Submitted:

Pages S13681-95 

Notices of Hearings/Meetings:

Page S13695 

Authority for Committees to Meet:

Pages S13695-96 

Privilege of the Floor:

Page S13696 

Record Votes: Fourteen record votes were taken today. (Total--432)

Pages S13572, S13598, S13605, S13609, S13611, S13621, S13624, S13626, S13630-31, S13637, S13639, S13646, S13647, S13648

Adjournment: Senate met at 9 a.m., and adjourned at 11:44 p.m., until 10 a.m., on Friday, October 31, 2003. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S13611.)

Committee Meetings


(Committees not listed did not meet)

PALESTINIAN EDUCATION


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education concluded a hearing to examine the content of Palestinian education materials, including textbooks and films, and the effect such materials have on the peace D1204process, focusing on the United States foreign aid program in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, and curriculum that promotes principles of human rights, democracy, diversity, tolerance, and pluralism, after receiving testimony from Richard L. Armitage, Deputy Secretary of State; James Kunder, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia and the Near East, U.S. Agency for International Development; Daniel Pipes, U.S. Institute of Peace, and James Zogby, Arab American Institute, both of Washington, D.C.; Itamar Marcus, Palestinian Media Watch, Jerusalem, Israel; Hassan Abdul Rahman, Palestinian Authority, Gaza; and Morton Klein, Zionist Organization of America, New York, New York.

[Page: D1204]   GPO's PDF

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC AND EXCHANGE RATE POLICIES


Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Treasury Department's report to Congress on international economic and exchange rate policy, after receiving testimony from John W. Snow, Secretary of the Treasury.

UNIVERSAL TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE


Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Communications concluded a hearing on the future of Universal Telecommunications Service, focusing on opening local markets to competition and preserving and advancing universal service, as it confronts widespread marketplace and technological developments, after receiving testimony from Michael K. Powell, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission.

NATIONAL PARKS


Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks concluded a hearing to examine S. 1241, to establish the Kate Mullany National Historic Site in the State of New York, S. 1364, to amend the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to authorize the payment of expenses after the death of certain Federal employees in the State of Alaska, S. 1433, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance in implementing cultural heritage, conservation, and recreational activities in the Connecticut River watershed of the States of New Hampshire and Vermont, and S. 1462, to adjust the boundary of the Cumberland Island Wilderness, to authorize tours of the Cumberland Island National Seashore, after receiving testimony from Senator Clinton; Durand Jones, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; Gregory B. Paxton, The Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, Atlanta; Sean McKeon, Northeast Regional Forest Foundation, Brattleboro, Vermont; Hans Neuhauser, Georgia Environmental Policy Institute, Athens, on behalf of The Wilderness Society, Wilderness Watch, and The Georgia Conservancy; and Sharon F. Francis, Connecticut River Joint Commissions, Charlestown, New Hampshire.

CALFED BAY-DELTA PROGRAM


Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power concluded a hearing to examine S. 1097, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to implement the Calfed Bay-Delta Program, focusing on authorizing funding for fiscal years 2004 through 2007, as well as governance and management authorities for a comprehensive, balanced and timely water management program for California, after receiving testimony from Representative Calvert; Bennett W. Raley, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science; Patrick Wright, California Bay-Delta Authority, and David Guy, Northern California Water Association, both of Sacramento; Tom Birmingham, Westlands Water District, Fresno, California; Sunne W. McPeak, Bay Area Council, San Francisco, California; Ron Gastelum, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Tom Graff, Environmental Defense, Oakland, California.

U.S.-SYRIA RELATIONS


Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing to examine U.S. policy directions relating to Syria from J. Cofer Black, Coordinator, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Department of State.

U.S.-SYRIA RELATIONS


Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the current direction of U.S. policy towards Syria, focusing on developing a relationship with Syria in the context of furthering goals toward peace, prosperity and democracy in the Middle East, after receiving testimony from William J. Burns, Assistant Secretary for Near Eastern Affairs, and J. Cofer Black, Coordinator, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, both of the Department of State; and Patrick Clawson, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Richard W. Murphy, Council on Foreign Relations, Murhaf Jouejati, George Washington University, and Flynt L. Leverett, Brookings Institution, Saban Center for Middle East Studies, all of Washington, D.C.

HIV/AIDS IN AFRICA


Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on African Affairs met jointly with the Committee on D1205Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions' Subcommittee on Children and Families to receive a report from Senator Frist relative to the HIV/AIDS Codel to Africa.

[Page: D1205]   GPO's PDF

ELDER JUSTICE AND PROTECTION


Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Aging concluded a hearing to examine financial abuse and exploitation of the elderly, focusing on issues that elderly consumers face in today's investment marketplace, after receiving testimony from Maryland State Attorney General J. Joseph Curran, Jr., Baltimore; Carol Scott, Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Jefferson City, on behalf of the National Association of State Long-Term Care Ombudsman Programs; Robert B. Blancato, National Committee for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Washington, D.C.; W. Lee Hammond, AARP, Salisbury, Maryland; and Richmond D. Chambers, Chevy Chase, Maryland.

BUSINESS MEETING


Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
S. 1720, to provide for Federal court proceedings in Plano, Texas, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. Con. Res. 58, expressing the sense of Congress with respect to raising awareness and encouraging prevention of stalking in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of National Stalking Awareness Month, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. Con. Res. 76, recognizing that November 2, 2003, shall be dedicated to ``A Tribute to Survivors'' at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; and
The nominations of Dora L. Irizarry, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, William K. Sessions III, of Vermont, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission, and David L. Huber, to be United States Attorney for the Western District of Kentucky, Department of Justice.

AGRICULTURE MONOPSONIES


Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine monopsony issues in agriculture, focusing on the buying power of processors in the nation's agricultural markets, the role of antitrust enforcement in ensuring that agricultural markets are competitive, and the status of producers in an environment of concentrated purchasers of commodities, after receiving testimony from Senator Harkin; R. Hewitt Pate, Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice; DeeVon Bailey, Utah State University Department of Economics and Cooperative Extension Service, Logan; Ronald W. Cotterill, University of Connecticut Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Storrs; and Peter C. Carstensen, University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison.

NOMINATIONS


Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Cynthia R. Church, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Public and Intergovernmental Affairs), who was introduced by Senator Warner, and Robert N. McFarland, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Information and Technology), who was introduced by Senator Hutchison, after each nominee testified and answered questions in their own behalf.

INTELLIGENCE


Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community.
Committee recessed subject to call.

House of Representatives


Chamber Action


Measures Introduced: 21 public bills, H.R. 3406-3427; and 7 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 316-319 and H. Res. 425-427, were introduced.

Pages H10235-37

Additional Cosponsors:

Pages H10237-38 

Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
Conference report on H.R. 3289, making emergency supplemental appropriations for defense and for the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 (H. Rept. 108-337); and
H. Res. 424, waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 3289) making emergency supplemental appropriations for D1206defense and for the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 (H. Rept. 108-338).

Page H10235

Approval of Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal of Thursday, October 29 by a recorded vote of 345 ayes to 58 noes with one voting ``present'', Roll No. 581.

Pages H10137-38 

Motions to Adjourn: The House rejected the McGovern motion to adjourn by a yea-and-nay vote of 86 yeas to 317 nays, Roll No. 580.

Pages H10136-37 

[Page: D1206]   GPO's PDF

The House rejected the Berry motion to adjourn by a recorded vote of 76 ayes to 328 noes, Roll No. 584.

Page H10163 

The House rejected the McGovern motion to adjourn by a yea-and-nay vote of 68 yeas to 346 nays, Roll No. 585.
Pages H10170-71 

The House rejected the Hastings of Florida motion to adjourn by a recorded vote of 54 ayes to 360 noes, Roll No. 588.
Pages H10175-76 

The House rejected the Oberstar motion to adjourn by a yea-and-nay vote of 55 yeas to 360 nays, Roll No. 589.
Pages H10179-80 

The House rejected the Oberstar motion to adjourn by a yea-and-nay vote of 59 yeas to 343 nays, Roll No. 590.
Page H10181 

Continuing Appropriations for FY 2004: The House passed H.J. Res 75, making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2004 by a yea-and-nay vote of 406 yeas to 13 nays, Roll No. 583.

Pages H10157-63 

Agreed to H. Res. 417, the rule providing for consideration of the bill on Wednesday, October 29.

Flight 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act--Conference Report: The House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 2115, to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize programs for the Federal Aviation Administration, by a recorded vote of 211 ayes to 207 noes, Roll No. 592.

Pages H10163-70, H10173-89 

Rejected the Oberstar motion to recommit the conference report with instructions to the conference committee by a yea-and-nay vote of 197 yeas to 219 nays, Roll No. 591.
Pages H10187-88 

Agreed to H. Res. 422, the rule providing for consideration of the bill by a recorded vote of 220 ayes to 199 noes, Roll No. 587, after agreeing on a motion to order the previous question by a recorded vote of 222 ayes to 199 noes, Roll No. 586.
Pages H10174-75

Recess: The House recessed at 1:40 p.m. and reconvened at 3 p.m.

Interior Department Appropriations Act for FY 2004--Conference Report: The House agreed to H.R. 2691, making appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004 by a yea-and-nay vote of 216 yeas to 205 nays, Roll No. 595.

Pages H10190-H10205 

Rejected the Hinchey motion to recommit the conference report to the conference committee by a yea-and-nay vote of 190 yeas to 229 nays, Roll No. 594.
Page H10204 

Agreed to H. Res. 418, the rule providing for consideration of the conference report on Wednesday, October 29.

Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures:
Expressing gratitude to the members of the U.S. Armed Forces who were deployed in Somalia in 1993: Debated on Tuesday, October 28, H. Con. Res. 291, expressing deep gratitude for the valor and commitment of the members of the United States Armed Forces who were deployed in Operation Restore Hope to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Somalia in 1993, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 402 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 582;

Pages H10138-39 

Repudiating the anti-Semitic sentiments expressed by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad: Debated on Tuesday, October 28, H. Res. 409, repudiating the recent anti-Semitic sentiments expressed by Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, the outgoing prime minister of Malaysia, which makes peace in the Middle East and around the world more elusive, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 411 yeas with none voting ``nay'' and one voting ``present'', Roll No. 593; and
Pages H10189-90 

Sense of Congress welcoming President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to the United States: Debated on Wednesday, October 29, H. Con. Res. 302, expressing the sense of Congress welcoming President Chen Shui-bian of Taiwan to the United States on October 31, 2003, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 416 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 596.
Pages H10205-06 

Supplemental Appropriations Act for FY 2004--Conference Report: The House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 3289, making emergency supplemental appropriations for defense and for the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, by a yea-and-nay vote of 298 yeas to 121 nays, Roll No. 601.

Pages H10139-57, H10206-31 

Rejected the Obey motion to recommit the conference report with instructions to the conference D1207committee by a yea-and-nay vote of 198 yeas to 221 nays, Roll No. 600.
Pages H10229-30 

[Page: D1207]   GPO's PDF

Agreed to H. Res. 421, the rule waiving clause 6(a) of rule XIII, that requires a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee, by a yea-and-nay vote of 217 yeas and 197 nays, Roll No. 597.

Pages H10206-10 

Agreed to H. Res. 424, the rule providing for consideration of the conference report by a voice vote.
Pages H10211-14 

Energy Policy Act of 2003: The House rejected the Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 6, to enhance energy conservation and research and development, to provide for security and diversity in the energy supply for the American people, by a yea-and-nay vote of 182 yeas to 232 nays, Roll No. 598.

Page H10210 

Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003: The House rejected the Davis of Florida motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 1, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for a voluntary prescription drug benefit under the medicare program and to strengthen and improve the medicare program by a yea-and-nay vote of 195 yeas to 217 nays, Roll No. 599.

Pages H10210-11 

Meeting Hour: The House agreed that when it adjourn today, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 4 for morning-hour debate.

Page H10233 

Calendar Wednesday: The House agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, November 5.

Page H10233 

Library of Congress Trust Fund Board: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of Mrs. Elisabeth DeVos of Grand Rapids, Michigan, to the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board.

Page H10233 

Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H10133.

Senate Referrals: S. 1405 and S. 1659 were ordered held at the desk, and S. 1590 and S. 1718 were referred to the Committee on Government Reform.

Page H10133 

Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 12:37 a.m. on Friday, October 31.

Committee Meetings


U.S. CHEMICAL WEAPONS STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION


Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on Destruction of the U.S. Chemical Weapons Stockpile--Program Status and Issues. Testimony was heard from Henry L. Hinton, Jr., Managing Director, Defense Capabilities Management, GAO; the following officials of the Department of Defense: Patrick Wakefield, Deputy Assistant to the Secretary (Chemical Demilitarization and Counterproliferation); Claude M. Bolton, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology); and Michael A. Parker, Director, U.S. Army Chemical Materials Agency; and Craig Conklin, Chief, Nuclear and Chemical Hazards Branch Preparedness Division, Emergency Preparedness and Response Division, Department of Homeland Security.

ENERGY EMPLOYEES WORKERS' COMPENSATION


Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on ``Energy Employees Workers' Compensation: Examining the Department of Labor's Role in Helping Workers with Energy-Related Occupational Illnesses and Diseases.'' Testimony was heard from Shelby Hallmark, Director, Office of Workers' Compensation Programs, Employment Standards Administration, Department of Labor; John Howard, M.D., Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; and a public witness.

E-COMMERCE--ONLINE WINE SALES


Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled ``E-Commerce: The Case of Online Wine Sales and Direct Shipment.'' Testimony was heard from Todd Zywicki, Director, Office of Policy Planning, FTC; and public witnesses.

REVIEWING U.S. CAPITAL MARKET STRUCTURE


Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled ``Reviewing U.S. Capital Market Structure: Promoting Competition in a Changing Trading Environment.'' Testimony was heard from William H. Donaldson, Chairman, SEC; and public witnesses.

SERVING THE UNDERSERVED IN THE 21ST CENTURY


Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``Serving the Underserved in the 21st Century: The Need for a Stronger, More Responsive Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.'' Testimony was heard from Vice Adm. Richard H. Carmona, M.D., Surgeon General, Department of Health and D1208Human Services; C. Everett Koop, M.D., former Surgeon General; and Julius B. Richmond, M.D., and former Surgeon General; and a public witness.

[Page: D1208]   GPO's PDF

PRIVATE RELIEF BILLS; PROSPECTS FOR AMERICAN WORKERS: IMMIGRATION'S IMPACT


Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims approved for full Committee action private relief bills.
The Committee also held an oversight hearing on ``The Prospects for American Workers: Immigration's Impact.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

OVERSIGHT--GAO REPORT--OIL AND GAS ACTIVITIES ON FEDERAL LANDS


Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the GAO report entitled ``Opportunities to Improve the Management and Oversight of Oil and Gas Activities on Federal Lands.'' Testimony was heard from Barry T. Hill, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, GAO; and David Smith, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Department of the Interior.

OVERSIGHT--INTERNATIONAL COMMISSION--CONSERVATION OF ATLANTIC TUNAS


Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the upcoming 18th Regular Meeting of the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas. Testimony was heard from William T. Hogarth, Assistant Administrator, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Department of Commerce; the following officials of the U.S. International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT): Glenn R. Delaney, Commercial Commissioner; and Robert G. Hayes, Recreational Commissioner; and public witnesses.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES


Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 142, amended, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Inland Empire regional water recycling project, to authorize the Secretary to carry out a program to assist agencies in projects to construct regional brine lines in California, and to authorize the Secretary to participate in the Lower Chino Dairy Area desalination demonstration and reclamation project; H.R. 1156, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to increase the ceiling on the Federal share of the costs of phase I of the Orange County, California, Regional Water Reclamation Project; H.R. 2960, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Brownsville Public Utility Board water recycling and desalinization project; and H.R. 2991, Inland Empire Regional Water Recycling Initiative.
The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the following: H.R. 3334, Riverside-Corona Feeder Authorization Act; the Provo River Project Transfer Act; and S. 212, High Plains Aquifer Hydrogeologic Characterization, Mapping, Modeling and Monitoring Act. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Interior: John Keys III, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation; and Robert Hirsch, Assistant Director, Water Resources, U.S. Geological Survey; and public witnesses.

CONFERENCE REPORT--EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS


Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 3289, making emergency supplemental appropriations for defense and for the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, and against its consideration. The rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. Testimony was heard from Chairman Young and Representative Obey.

SPACE WEATHER


Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and Standards held a hearing on ``What is Space Weather and Who Should Forecast It?'' Testimony was heard from Ernest Hildner, Director, Space Environment Center, NOAA, Department of Commerce; John M. Grunfeld, Chief Scientist, NASA; Col. L. Benson, Jr., USAF, Air Force Weather Agency, Department of the Air Force; and public witnesses.

MATH SCIENCE PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM IMPLEMENTATION


Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Research held a hearing on Implementation of the Math Science Partnership Program: Views from the Field. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

UNSOLICITED COMMERCIAL E-MAIL (SPAM)--IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES


Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight held a hearing on the impact of unsolicited commercial e-mail (spam) on D1209small businesses. Testimony was heard from J. Howard Beales III, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC; and public witnesses.

[Page: D1209]   GPO's PDF

OVERSIGHT--FAA'S AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MODERNIZATION PROGRAM STATUS


Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held an oversight hearing on The Status of the Federal Aviation Administration's Air Traffic Control Modernization Programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Transportation: Kenneth R. Mead, Inspector General; and Charles Keegan, Associate Administrator, FAA; Gerald Dillingham, Director, Civil Aviation Issues, GAO; and a public witness.

U.S.-CHINA ECONOMIC RELATIONS


Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on United States-China Economic Relations and China's Role in the Global Economy. Testimony was heard from John B. Taylor, Under Secretary, International Affairs, Department of the Treasury; N. Gregory Mankiw, Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers; Ambassador Josette Shiner, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, CBO; Loren Yager, Director, Office of International Affairs and Trade, GAO; and Robert Rogowsky, Director, Office of Operations, U.S. International Trade Commission.
Hearings continue tomorrow.

SECURING FREEDOM AND THE NATION


Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Held a hearing entitled ``Securing Freedom and the Nation: Collecting Intelligence Under the Law, Constitutional and Public Policy Consideration.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT


Select Committee on Homeland Security: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 2886, Department of Homeland Security Financial Accountability Act.

STRENGTH THROUGH KNOWLEDGE


Select Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Science, and Research and Development held a hearing entitled ``Strength Through Knowledge: Homeland Security Science and Technology; Setting and Steering a Strong Course.'' Testimony was heard from Parney C. Albright, Assistant Secretary, Plans, Programs and Budgets, Department of Homeland Security.

Joint Meetings


EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL, IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN APPROPRIATIONS ACT


Conferees on Wednesday, October 30, 2003, agreed to file a conference report on the differences between the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 3289, making emergency supplemental appropriations for defense and for the reconstruction of Iraq and Afghanistan for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004.

NEW PUBLIC LAWS


(For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D 1186)
H.R. 1900, to award a congressional gold medal to Jackie Robinson (posthumously), in recognition of his many contributions to the Nation, and to express the sense of the Congress that there should be a national day in recognition of Jackie Robinson. Signed on October 29, 2003. (Public Law 108-101).
H.R. 3229, to amend title 44, United States Code, to transfer to the Public Printer the authority over the individuals responsible for preparing indexes of the Congressional Record. Signed on October 29, 2003. (Public Law 108-102).
S. 1591, to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 48 South Broadway, Nyack, New York, as the ``Edward O'Grady, Waverly Brown, Peter Paige Post Office Building''. Signed on October 29, 2003. (Public Law 108-103).

COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY,


OCTOBER 31, 2003


(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)

Senate


No meetings/hearings scheduled.

House


Committee on Ways and Means, to continue hearings on United States-China Economic Relations and China's Role in the Global Economy, 9 a.m., 1100 Longworth.

[Page: D1210]   GPO's PDF

Next Meeting of the
SENATE

10 a.m., Friday, October 31

Senate Chamber

Program for Friday: Senate will be in a period of morning business.

Next Meeting of the
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

12:30 p.m., Tuesday, November 4

House Chamber

Program for Tuesday: To be announced.


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