[Congressional Record Volume 147, Number 167 (Wednesday, December 5, 2001)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1208-D1209]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
HOMELAND SECURITY: NUCLEAR/BIOLOGICAL/CHEMICAL THREATS
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Re-Structuring Government 
for Homeland Security: Nuclear/Biological/Chemical Threats. Testimony 
was heard from Scott R. Lillibridge, M.D., Special Assistant to the 
Secretary, Bioterrorism, Department of Health and Human Services; and 
the following officials of the Department of Energy: Joseph S. Mahaley, 
Director, Office of Security Affairs; and Kenneth E. Baker, Principal 
Deputy Administrator, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, National 
Nuclear Security Administration.
NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS--SECURITY ISSUES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing titled ``A Review of Security Issues at 
Nuclear Power Plants.'' Testimony was heard from Richard A. Meserve, 
Chairman, NRC; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug 
Policy, and Human Resources held a hearing on ``Federal Law 
Enforcement: Long Term Implications of Homeland Security Need.'' 
Testimony was heard from Adm. James M. Loy, USCG, Commandant, U.S. 
Coast Guard, Department of Transportation; and the following officials 
of the Department of Justice: Robert Bonner, Commissioner, INS; Asa 
Hutchinson, Administrator, DEA; and Frank Gallagher, Deputy Assistant 
Director, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI.
DEBT COLLECTION IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, 
Financial Management, and Intergovernmental Affairs held a hearing on 
``The Debt Collection Improvement Act of 1996: How Well is it 
Working?'' Testimony was heard from James Moseley, Deputy Secretary, 
USDA; Gary T. Engel, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, GAO; 
and Richard L. Gregg, Commissioner, Financial Management Service, 
Department of the Treasury.
ANTHRAX--POTENTIAL SOURCES
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Russia, Iraq, 
and Other Potential Sources of Anthrax, Smallpox and Other Bioterrorist 
Weapons. Testimony was heard from Richard Spertzel, former Head, 
Biological Weapons Inspections, United Nations Special Commission on 
Iraq; and public witnesses.
HELP AMERICA VOTE ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Held a hearing on H.R. 3295, Help America 
Vote Act of 2001. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
BIPARTISAN TRADE PROMOTION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a record vote of 7 to 3, a closed rule 
providing one hour of debate in the House on H.R. 3005, Bipartisan 
Trade Promotion Authority Act of 2001, 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 the amendment recommended by the 
Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill, modified by the 
amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying 
the resolution, shall be considered as adopted. Finally, the rule 
provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony 
was heard from Chairman Thomas and Representatives Rangel, Levin, 
Waters, and Wu.
CONFERENCE REPORT--DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report on H.R. 2944, making 
appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other 
activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues of said 
District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and against its 
consideration.

[[Page D1209]]

The rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as 
read.
CONSIDERATION OF SUSPENSIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote, a resolution providing that 
certain suspensions will be in order at any time on the legislative day 
of Thursday, December 6, 2001.
SCIENCE OF BIOTERRORISM
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on Science of Bioterrorism: Is the 
Federal Government Prepared?'' Testimony was heard from John H. 
Marburger III, Director, Office of Science and Technology; Linda 
Fisher, Deputy Administrator, EPA; Anna Johnson-Winegar, Deputy 
Assistant to the Secretary, Chemical and Biological Defense, Department 
of Defense; and Donald A. Henderson, M.D., Director, Office of Public 
Health Preparedness, Department of Health and Human Services.

Joint Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Conferees on Tuesday, December 4, agreed to file a conference report on 
the differences between the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 
2944, making appropriations for the government of the District of 
Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against 
the revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
2002.
AUTHORIZATION--INTELLIGENCE
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 2883, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2002 for intelligence and intelligence-
related activities of the United States Government, the Community 
Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and 
Disability System.