[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 135 (Wednesday, October 10, 2001)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D998-D1000]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive 
session and approved for full Committee action the Defense 
appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002.
ELECTRICITY TRANSMISSION POLICY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air 
Quality held a hearing entitled ``Electricity Transmission Policy,'' 
focusing on transmission siting, incentives, and reliability. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
  The Subcommittee continued hearings on this subject, focusing on 
Regional Transmission Organizations, Open Access, and Federal 
Jurisdiction. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

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FEDERAL BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS PROGRAMS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``A Review of Federal 
Bioterrorism Preparedness Programs from a Public Health Perspective.'' 
Testimony was heard Scott Lillibridge, Special Assistant for 
Bioterrorism, Office of the Secretary, Department of Health and Human 
Services; Bruce Baughman, Director, Planning and Readiness Division, 
FEMA; Jan Heinrich, Director, Health Care and Public Health Issues, 
GAO; Lew Stringer, Medical Director, Division of Emergency Management, 
State of North Carolina; and public witnesses.
DEBT COLLECTION IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, 
Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations held a hearing on 
``The Debt Collection Improvement Act: How Well is it Working?'' 
Testimony was heard from Gary T. Engel, Director, Financial Management 
and Assurance, GAO; Richard L. Gregg, Commissioner, Financial 
Management Service, Department of the Treasury; Claude A. Allen, Deputy 
Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services; William D. Hansen, 
Deputy Secretary, Department of Education; and Leo S. Mackay, Jr., 
Deputy Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
ANTI-TERRORISM--ROLE OF DIPLOMACY
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the Role of 
Public Diplomacy in Support of the Anti-Terrorism. Testimony was heard 
from Charlotte Beers, Under Secretary, Public Diplomacy and Public 
Affairs, Department of State; Marc Nathanson, Chairman, Broadcasting 
Board of Governors; and a public witness.
CAUCASUS AND CASPIAN REGION: U.S. INTERESTS AND POLICY
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Europe held a 
hearing on The Caucasus and Caspian Region: Understanding U.S. 
Interests and Policy. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
WESTERN HEMISPHERE'S RESPONSE TO TERRORIST ATTACK
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Western 
Hemisphere held a hearing on the Western Hemisphere's Response to the 
September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attack on the United States. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of State: Francis 
X. Taylor, Ambassador-at-Large, Office of the Coordinator for 
Counterterrorism; Robert Noriega, Ambassador to the OAS; James F. Mack, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Narcotics and Law 
Enforcement Affairs; and Curt Struble, Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended, the following 
bills: H.R. 1408, Financial Services Antifraud Network Act of 2001; 
H.R. 1840, to extend eligibility for refugee status of unmarried sons 
and daughters of certain Vietnamese refugees; and H.R. 1552, Internet 
Tax Nondiscrimination Act.
LABOR, HHS AND EDUCATIONAPPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 3061, making appropriations for the Departments 
of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related 
agencies for fiscal year 2002 ending September 30, 2002. The rule 
waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule 
provides that the bill shall be considered for amendment by paragraph. 
The rule waives clause 2 of rule XXI (prohibiting unauthorized or 
legislative provisions in an appropriations bill) against provisions in 
the bill.
  The rule makes in order the amendment printed in the report of the 
Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution, which may be offered 
only by a Member designated in the report and only at the appropriate 
point in the reading of the bill, shall be considered as read, shall be 
debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives 
all points of order against the amendment printed in the report. The 
rule waives points of order during consideration of the bill against 
amendments for failure to comply with clause 2(e) of rule XXI 
(prohibiting non-emergency designated amendments to be offered to an 
appropriations bill containing an emergency designation).
  The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to 
Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional 
Record. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions.
CYBER SECURITY
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on Cyber Security--How Can We 
Protect American Computer Networks From Attack? Testimony was heard 
from Robert Weaver, Assistant Special-Agent-in-Charge, U.S. Secret 
Service, Director, Electronic Crimes Task

[[Page D1000]]

Force, New York, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses.
JUMPSTARTING ECONOMY--SMALL BUSINESSES ROLE
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the Role Small 
Businesses Can Play in Jump-Starting the Economy. Testimony was heard 
from Hector Barreto, Administrator, SBA; and public witnesses.
TERRORISM--ARE AMERICA'S WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT AT RISK
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment, hearing on Terrorism: Are America's Water 
Resources and Environment at Risk? Testimony was heard from Michael 
Parker, Assistant Secretary (Civil Works), Corps of Engineers, 
Department of the Army; Marianne Lamont Horinko, Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency, EPA; Ronald Dick, 
Director, National Infrastructure Protection Center, FBI, Department of 
Justice; Glenn L. McCullough, Jr., Chairman, Board of Directors, TVA; 
Beverly O'Neill, Mayor, City of Long Beach, California; Jeffrey J. 
Danneels, Department Manager, Security Systems and Technology Center, 
Sandia National Laboratories; and public witnesses.
VETERANS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 2716, Homeless Veterans Assistance Act of 2001; 
and H.R. 2792, Disabled Veterans Service Dog and Health Care 
Improvement Act of 2001.
CONFLICT DIAMONDS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on 
``Conflict Diamonds.'' Testimony was heard from Senator DeWine; 
Representatives Hall of Ohio and Wolf; Alan W. Eastham, Special 
Negotiator for Conflict Diamonds, Department of State; James E. 
Mendenhall, Deputy General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade 
Representative; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--INTERIOR
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 2217, making 
appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002.