[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 66 (Tuesday, May 21, 2002)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D522-D524]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
GROUNDWATER--MTBE CONTAMINATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and 
Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled ``MTBE Contamination in 
Groundwater: Identifying and Addressing the Problem.'' Testimony was 
heard from Ben Grumbles, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of 
Water, EPA; Timothy Miller, Chief, National Water Quality Assessment 
Program, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior; John B. 
Stephenson, Director, EPA; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEES--CAFETERIA BENEFIT PLANS
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Civil Service, Census 
and Agency Organization held a hearing on ``More Value for Federal 
Employees: Cafeteria Benefit Plans.'' Testimony was heard from Dennis 
G. Jacobs, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Second Circuit; and public 
witnesses.
HEALTHCARE--RACIAL DISPARITIES
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug 
Policy and Human Resources held a hearing entitled ``Racial

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Disparities in Healthcare: Confronting Unequal Treatment.'' Testimony 
was heard from Delegate Christensen; the following officials of the 
Department of Health and Human Services: Ruben King-Shaw, Jr., Deputy 
Administrator, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Carolyn 
Clancy, Associate Director, Agency for Health Care Research and 
Quality; John Ruffin, M.D., Director, National Center on Minority 
Health and Health Disparities; and Nathan Stinson, Jr., M.D., Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Minority Health; and public witnesses.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 8 to 2, an open rule on H.R. 
4775, making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2002. providing one hour of general debate equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order 
against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the 
amendments printed in the Rules Committee report shall be considered as 
adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives 
points of order against provisions in the bill, except as specified in 
the rule. The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in 
recognition to Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the 
Congressional Record. 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 provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. The rule provides that House Concurrent Resolution 353, 
as adopted by the House, shall have force and effect as though adopted 
by Congress. Testimony was heard from Chairman Young of Florida and 
Representatives Callahan, LaTourette, Thune, Moran of Kansas, Rehberg, 
Obey, Lowey, Kaptur, Farr of California, Skelton, Frost, Peterson of 
Minnesota, Clayton, Pomeroy, McGovern, Turner and Carson of Oklahoma.
CUSTOMS BORDER SECURITY ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing 
one hour of general debate on H.R. 3129, Customs Boarder Security 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 it shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill. 
The rule waives all points of order against the committee amendment in 
the nature of a substitute. The rule makes in order only those 
amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the 
resolution. The rule provides that the amendments printed in the report 
may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered 
only the member designated in the report, 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 amendments printed in the report. 
Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Thomas and 
Representative Rangel.
CONFERENCE REPORT--BIOTERRORISM PREPAREDNESS ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote, a rule waiving all points of 
order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 3448, 
Bioterrorism Preparedness Act of 2002 and against its consideration. 
The rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as 
read. Conference report to accompany testimony was heard from Chairman 
Tauzin.
SBA PROGRAMS--SUGGESTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENTS
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment and 
Government Programs held a hearing on Suggestions for improvements in 
SBA programs: veterans and disaster loans sales, focusing on the 
progress made by the National Veterans Business Development Corporation 
and on H.R. 3263, Veterans' Small Business Relief Act of 2001. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the SBA: William 
Elmore, Associate Administrator, Veterans Business Development; and 
Ronald E. Bew, Associate Deputy Administrator, Capital Access; and 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management 
approved for full Committee action the following: H.R. 4770, amended, 
Ronald C. Sheffield Federal Property Protection Act of 2002; and 11(b) 
Resolutions for Anniston, Alabama, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, San 
Antonio, Texas, Greenville, South Carolina.
RELIEVING HIGHWAY CONGESTION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing

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on Relieving Highway Congestion through Capacity Enhancements and 
Increased Efficiency. Testimony was heard from Mary E. Peters, 
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Department of 
Transportation; and public witnesses.
TAX RELIEF INCENTIVES--RENEWAL COMMUNITIES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
on Tax Relief Incentives for Renewal Communities. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Watts of Oklahoma and Davis of Illinois; Roy A. 
Bernardi, Assistant Secretary, Community Planning and Development, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development; Eric Solomon, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Regulatory Affairs, Department of the Treasury; 
and public witnesses.