[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 26, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D153-D155]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
POST-CONFLICT IRAQ
Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to receive 
a briefing to discuss the planning for post-conflict Iraq and potential 
U.S. military operations in the Philippines from Douglas J. Feith, 
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; and Ryan Crocker, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs.

[[Page D154]]


FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE REFORM
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded 
hearings to examine reform proposals for the Federal Deposit Insurance 
System, focusing on benefits and costs of deposit insurance, impact of 
mergers and consolidations between banks and thrifts, fund management, 
and premium pricing issues, after receiving testimony from Alan 
Greenspan, Chairman of the Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; 
Donald E. Powell, Chairman of the Board of Directors, Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation; and Peter R. Fisher, Under Secretary for 
Domestic Finance, John D. Hawke, Jr., Comptroller of the Currency, and 
James E. Gilleran, Director, Office of Thrift Supervision, all of the 
Department of the Treasury.
2004 BUDGET: MEDICARE AND MEDICAID
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine the 
President's Fiscal Year 2004 Budget proposal for Medicare and Medicaid, 
enhancing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) and Foster 
Care, and strengthening the Child Support Enforcement Program, after 
receiving testimony from Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of Health and 
Human Services.
SUV SAFETY
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded 
hearings to examine issues involving Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) 
safety, including data relating to vehicle rollovers, crash 
compatibility, and seatbelt use, receiving testimony from Jeffrey W. 
Runge, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
Department of Transportation; Joan B. Claybrook, Public Citizen, former 
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 
Department of Transportation, and Christopher Tinto, Toyota Motor North 
America, both of Washington, D.C.; R. David Pittle, Consumers Union, 
Yonkers, New York; Brian O'Neill, Insurance Institute For Highway 
Safety, Arlington, Virginia; Robert C. Lange, General Motors 
Corporation, Warren, Michigan; and Susan Cischke, Ford Motor Company, 
Dearborn, Michigan.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably 
reported the following business items:
  S. 273, to provide for the expeditious completion of the acquisition 
of land owned by the State of Wyoming within the boundaries of Grand 
Teton National Park;
  S. 302, to revise the boundaries of the Golden Gate National 
Recreation Area in the State of California, to restore and extend the 
term of the advisory commission for the recreation area; and
  S. 426, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain 
parcels of land acquired for the Blunt Reservoir and Pierre Canal 
features of the initial stage of the Oahe Unit, James Division, South 
Dakota, to the Commission of Schools and Public Lands and the 
Department of Game, Fish, and Parks of the State of South Dakota for 
the purpose of mitigating lost wildlife habitat, on the condition that 
the current preferential leaseholders shall have an option to purchase 
the parcels from the Commission.
  Also, Committee approved the views and estimates of the Committee 
with respect to those portions of the budget for fiscal year 2004 
within their jurisdiction.
2004 BUDGET: EPA
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings 
to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2004 
for the Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from 
Christine Todd Whitman, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Finance: Committee began markup of an original bill 
entitled ``Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003,'' 
but did not take final action thereon, and recessed subject to call.
TERRORIST THREAT INTEGRATION CENTER
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to 
examine the President's proposal to create a Terrorist Threat 
Integration Center, to consolidate terrorist-related intelligence, 
after receiving testimony from Gordon England, Deputy Secretary of 
Homeland Security, Pasquale J. D'Amuro, Executive Assistant Director 
for Counterterrorism/Counterintelligence, Federal Bureau of 
Investigation, Department of Justice, and Winston P. Wiley, Associate 
Director, Central Intelligence for Homeland Security, Central 
Intelligence Agency, all on behalf of the Senior Steering Group.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the 
following business items:
  S. 162, to provide for the use of distribution of certain funds 
awarded to the Gila River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community; and
  S. 222, to approve the settlement of the water rights claims of the 
Zuni Indian Tribe in Apache County, Arizona.

[[Page D155]]


2004 BUDGET: INDIAN AFFAIRS
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine 
the Presidents proposed budget request for Fiscal Year 2004 for Indian 
Programs, after receiving testimony from Tex Hall, National Congress of 
American Indians, Russell Sossamon, National American Indian Housing 
Council, and Gary Edwards, National Native American Law Enforcement 
Association, all of Washington, D.C.; Julia Davis-Wheeler, National 
Indian Health Board, and Kay Culbertson, Indian Health and Family 
Services, on behalf of the National Council of Urban Indian Health, 
both of Denver, Colorado; John Cheek, National Indian Education 
Association, Alexandria, Virginia; and Ron McNeil, Sitting Bull 
College, Fort Yates, North Dakota, on behalf of the American Indian 
Higher Education Consortium.
2004 BUDGET: VETERANS' PROGRAMS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine 
the President's proposed budget request for Fiscal Year 2004 for the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, focusing on health care system 
priorities, after receiving testimony from Anthony J. Principi, 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Philip Wilkerson, American Legion, 
Dennis Cullinan, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Carl 
Blake, Paralyzed Veterans of America, all of Washington, D.C.; Rick 
Surratt, Disabled American Veterans, Cold Spring, Kentucky; and Richard 
Jones, AMVETS, Lanham, Maryland.