[Congressional Record Volume 148, Number 146 (Wednesday, November 13, 2002)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1144-D1145]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
GILMORE COMMISSION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement, 
hearing on the Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities 
for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction pending the release 
of its fourth report. Testimony was heard from James Gilmore, Chairman, 
Advisory Panel to Assess Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism 
Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction.
``FEDERAL DEBT COLLECTION: IS THE GOVERNMENT MAKING PROGRESS?''
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Efficiency, 
Financial Management and Intergovernmental Relations held an oversight 
hearing on ``Federal Debt Collection: Is the Government Making 
Progress?'' Testimony was heard from James R. 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.
MERCURY IN DENTAL AMALGAMS AND VACCINES
Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing titled ``Mercury in 
Dental Amalgams and Vaccines: An Examination of the Science.'' 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Health and Human Services: Lawrence A. Tabak, Director, National 
Institute of Dental and Craniofascial Research, NIH; and David W. 
Feigal, Director, Center for Devices and Radiological Health, FDA; and 
public witnesses.
AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans and the Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and 
Standards of the Committee on Science held a joint hearing on the 
following bills: H.R. 5395, Aquatic Invasive Species Research Act; and 
H.R. 5396, National Aquatic Invasive Species Act of 2002. Testimony was 
heard from Steve Williams, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Department of the Interior; Timothy R. E. Keeney, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA, Department of Commerce; Capt. 
Michael W. Brown, USCG, Chief, Office of Operating and Environmental 
Standards, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation; and public 
witnesses.
MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ANTITERRORISM ACT CONFERENCE REPORT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report to accompany S. 1214, to amend 
the Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to establish a program to ensure greater 
security for United States seaports, and against its consideration. The 
rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read.

[[Page D1145]]


BANKRUPTCY ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT CONFERENCE 
REPORT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 333, to amend 
title 11, United States Code and against its consideration.
TERRORISM RISK PROTECTION ACT CONFERENCE REPORT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 3210, to 
ensure the continued financial capacity of insurers to provide coverage 
for risks from terrorism and against its consideration. The rule 
provides that the conference report shall be considered as read.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF ANY SPECIAL RULE PROVIDING FOR THE 
CONSIDERATION OR DISPOSITION OF THE INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION 
CONFERENCE REPORT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a resolution waiving clause 
6(a) of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on 
the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) against certain 
resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The resolution applies 
the waiver to any special rule reported on the legislative day of 
Thursday, November 14, 2002, providing for consideration or disposition 
of a conference report to accompany H.R. 4628, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2003 for intelligence and intelligence-
related activities of the United States Government, the Community 
Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and 
Disability System.
ARMED FORCES TAX FAIRNESS ACT OF 2002 MOTION TO CONCUR IN SENATE 
AMENDMENTS WITH AMENDMENTS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing for a 
single motion offered by the chairman of the Committee on Ways and 
Means or his designee that the House concur in each of the Senate 
amendments to H.R. 5063, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
provide a special rule for members of the uniformed services in 
determining the exclusion of gain from the sale of a principal 
residence and to restore the tax exempt status of death gratuity 
payments to members of the uniformed services with the respective 
amendment printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying this 
resolution. The rule waives all points of order against consideration 
of the motion to concur in the Senate amendments with amendments. The 
rule provides 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. Finally, the rule provides that the previous 
question shall be considered as ordered on the motion to final adoption 
without intervening motion or demand for division of the question.

Joint Meetings
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the 
economic outlook of the United States, after receiving testimony from 
Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve 
System.
PORT AND MARITIME SECURITY ACT
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on S. 1214, to amend the 
Merchant Marine Act, 1936, to establish a program to ensure greater 
security for United States seaports.