[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 76 (Tuesday, June 11, 2002)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D595-D596]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION TO ENHANCE SECURITY AND SAFETY ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air 
Quality approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 3609, 
Pipeline Infrastructure Protection To Enhance Security and Safety Act.
WOMEN'S HEALTH OFFICE ACT; MAMMOGRAPHY QUALITY STANDARDS 
REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health approved for 
full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 1784, amended, Women's 
Health Office Act of 2001; and H.R. 4888, Mammography Quality Standards 
Reauthorization Act of 2002.
INSURANCE REGULATION AND COMPETITION FOR THE 21ST CENTURY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises continued hearings 
entitled ``Insurance Regulation and Competition for the 21st Century,'' 
Part II. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
  Hearings continue June 18.
COMBATING TERRORISM
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, 
Veterans' Affairs, and International Relations held a hearing on 
``Combating Terrorism: Improving the Federal Response.'' Testimony was 
heard from Senators Lieberman and Specter; Representatives Thornberry, 
Harman, Gibbons and Tauscher; Adm. Thomas Collins, USCG, Commandant, 
U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation; Bruce Baughman, 
Director, Office of National Preparedness, FEMA; Douglas Browning, 
Deputy Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury; 
Robert Acord, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service, USDA; John Tritak, Director, Critical Infrastructure Assurance 
Office, Bureau of Industry Security, Department of Commerce; Larry A. 
Mefford, Assistant Director, Cyber Division, FBI, Department of 
Justice; and former Senator Warren Rudman, State of New Hampshire and 
Co-Chairman, U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century.
ANTI-TERRORISM EXPLOSIVES ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and 
Homeland Security began markup of H.R. 4864, Anti-Terrorism Explosives 
Act of 2002.
  Prior to the markup, the Subcommittee held a hearing on this 
legislation. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Treasury: Kenneth Lawson, Assistant Under Secretary 
of Enforcement; and Bradley A. Buckles, Director, Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco and Firearms; and a public witness.
TAX LIMITATION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule on 
H.J. Res. 96, proposing a tax limitation amendment to the Constitution 
of the United States, providing two hours of debate in the House 
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule provides for an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Congressional 
Record if offered by the Minority Leader or his designee, which shall 
be considered as read and shall be separately debatable for one hour 
equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. 
Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Sensenbrenner and 
Representatives Nadler, Tanner, and Stenholm.
PERMANENT MARRIAGE PENALTY RELIEF PROVISIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule on 
H.R. 4019, to provide that the marriage penalty relief provisions of 
the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 shall be 
permanent, providing one hour of debate in the House equally divided 
and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Ways and Means. The rule provides for consideration of the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee 
report accompanying the resolution, if offered by Representative Rangel 
or his designee, which shall be considered as read and shall be 
separately debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the 
proponent and an opponent. The rule waives all points of order against 
the amendment printed in the report. Finally, the rule provides one 
motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Weller and Matsui.
VETERANS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits held a hearing 
on the following: H.R. 3173, Servicemembers and Military Families 
Financial Protection Act of 2001; H.R. 3735, Department of Veterans 
Affairs Overpayment Administration Improvement Act of 2002; H.R. 3771, 
to amend title 38,

[[Page D596]]

United States Code, to provide that monetary benefits paid to veterans 
by States and municipalities shall be excluded from consideration as 
income for purposes of pension benefits paid by the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs; H.R. 4042, Veterans Home Loan Prepayment Protection 
Act of 2002; the Arlington National Cemetery Burial Eligibility Act; 
and a measure providing dependency and indemnity compensation to the 
surviving spouse of a veteran with a totally disabling service-
connected cold-weather injury. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Gutierrez; the following officials of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs: Daniel L. Cooper, Under Secretary, Benefits, Veterans Benefits 
Administration; and Thurman Higginbotham, Deputy Superintendent, 
Arlington National Cemetery; Craig Duehring, Acting Assistant 
Secretary, Reserve Affairs, Department of Defense; representatives of 
veterans organizations; and a public witness.
UNEMPLOYMENT FRAUD AND ABUSE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing on Unemployment Fraud and Abuse. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Labor: D. Cameron Findlay, 
Deputy Secretary; and Gordon S. Heddell, Inspector General; Sigurd R. 
Nilsen. Director, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, GAO; 
Miles Paris, Deputy Director, Program Support, Department of Employment 
Security, State of Illinois; and public witnesses.
SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY PROGRAMS' CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing on Social Security Disability Programs' Challenges and 
Opportunities. Testimony was heard from Martin Gerry, Deputy 
Commissioner, Disability and Income Security Programs, SSA; Robert 
Robertson, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues, 
GAO; former Representative Hall Daub of Nebraska, Chairman, Social 
Security Advisory Board; and public witnesses.
  Hearings continue June 18.

Joint Meetings
9/11 INTELLIGENCE INVESTIGATION
Joint Hearing: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence held joint 
closed hearings with the House Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence to examine events surrounding September 11, 2001, 
receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.