[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 45 (Thursday, March 20, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D275-D277]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. Testimony was heard 
from Eric Bost, Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services, 
USDA.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, AND STATE AND THE JUDICIARY, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and 
State and The Judiciary, and Related Agencies held a hearing on DEA and 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of Justice: John 
B. Brown III, Acting Administrator, DEA; and Bradley A. Buckles, Acting 
Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
Fiscal Year 2004 Navy/Marine Corps Budget Overview. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Navy: H.T. Johnson, 
Acting Secretary; Adm. Vernon E. Clark, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; 
and Gen. Michael W. Hagee, USMC, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Department of Energy: Nuclear Waste 
Management and Disposal. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Energy: Jessie Roberson, Assistant 
Secretary, Energy, Environmental Management; and Margaret Chu, 
Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management.
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Secretary of Homeland Security. Testimony was heard from Tom 
Ridge, Secretary of Homeland Secretary.
LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on Secretary of Health and Human 
Services. Testimony was heard from Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of 
Health and Human Services.
VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent 
Agencies held a hearing on Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation. 
Testimony was heard from Ellen Lazar, Executive Director, Neighborhood 
Reinvestment Corporation.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Agency for Toxic Substances 
and Disease Registry. Testimony was heard from Henry Falk, Assistant 
Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE 
PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the 2004 fiscal year 
defense authorization budget request for Ballistic Missile Defense 
programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: E.C. ``Pete'' Aldridge, Jr., Under Secretary, 
Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; J.D. Crouch, Assistant 
Secretary, International Security Policy; Lt. Gen. Ronald T. Kadish, 
USAF, Director, Missile Defense Agency; and Thomas P. Christie, 
Director, Operational Test and Evaluation.
MILITARY READINESS AND REVIEW--DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness continued 
hearings on the state of military readiness and review of the fiscal 
year 2004 Defense Authorization budget request. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Defense: H.T. 
Johnson, Acting Secretary, Navy; Brig. Gen. Ronald S. Coleman, USMC, 
Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics (Facilities); 
Rear Adm. Christopher Cole, USN, Office of Chief of Naval Operations, 
Ashore Readiness Division; Rear Adm. Craig McDonald, USN, Deputy 
Director, Naval Reserve; Nelson F. Gibbs, Assistant Secretary, Air 
Force, Installations, Environment and Logistics; Maj. Gen. Earnest O. 
Robbins II, USAF, The Air Force Civil Engineer; Brig. Gen. David A. 
Brubaker, USAF, Deputy Director, Air National Guard; and Brig. Gen. 
William A. Rajczak, USAF, Deputy to the Chief, Air Force Reserve.

[[Page D276]]


NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land 
Forces held a hearing on the fiscal year 2004 national defense 
authorization budget request. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: Glen Lamartin, Director, 
Tactical and Strategic Systems; Claude M. Bolton, Jr., Assistant 
Secretary, Army, Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, Department of 
the Army; Gen. Paul J. Kern, USA, Commanding General, Army Materiel 
Command; and Lt. Gen. Robert Magnus, USMC, Deputy Commander, Programs 
and Resources, U.S. Marine Corps.
WORKFORCE REINVESTMENT AND ADULT EDUCATION ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on 21st Century 
Competitiveness approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 
1261, Workforce Reinvestment and Adult Education Act of 2003.
HIV/AIDS, TB, AND MALARIA--COMBATING GLOBAL PANDEMIC
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on ``HIV/AIDS, TB, and Malaria: Combating a Global Pandemic.'' 
Testimony was heard from Claude Allen, Deputy Secretary, Department of 
Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
ACCOUNTANT, COMPLIANCE, AND ENFORCEMENT STAFFING ACT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises approved for full 
Committee action, as amended, H.R. 658, Accountant, Compliance, and 
Enforcement Staffing Act of 2003.
DEFENSE PRODUCTION ACT REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and 
International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology approved for full 
Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1280, Defense Production Act 
Reauthorization of 2003.
FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ENERGY MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 
1346, to amend the Office of Federal Procurement Policy Act to provide 
an additional function of the Administrator for Federal Procurement 
Policy relating to encouraging Federal procurement policies that 
enhance energy efficiency.
ENERGY DEPARTMENT ACQUISITIONS--DECADE OF FAILURE
Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on ``Breaking Fumes; A 
Decade of Failure in Energy Department Acquisitions.'' Testimony was 
heard from Robin M. Nazzaro, Director, Natural Resources and 
Environment, GAO; and the following officials of the Department of 
Energy: Gregory H. Friedman, Inspector General; and James A. Rispoli, 
Director, Engineering and Construction Management.
U.S. AND SOUTH ASIA CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES FOR AMERICAN POLICY
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on East Asia and the 
Pacific held a hearing on the U.S. and South Asia: Challenges and 
Opportunities for American policy. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of State: Christina Rocca, 
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South Asian Affairs; and Wendy J. 
Chamberlin, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia and the Near East, 
AID.
FEDERAL COURTS IMPROVEMENT ACT; 
E-GOVERNMENT ACT AMENDMENTS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property approved for full Committee action the following 
bills: H.R. 1302, Federal Courts Improvement Act of 2003; and H.R. 
1303, amended, to amend the E-Government Act of 2002 with respect to 
rulemaking authority of the Judicial Conference.
SBA FINANCING PROGRAMS--CHANGES NEEDED
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Changes to SBA 
Financing Programs Needed for Revitalization of Small Manufacturers.'' 
Testimony was heard from Ronald Bew, Associate Administrator, Capital 
Access, SBA; and public witnesses.
PROTECTING COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation met in executive session to hold a hearing on Protecting 
Commercial Aircraft from the Threat of Missile Attacks. Testimony was 
heard from departmental witnesses.
MEDICARE REGULATORY AND CONTRACTING REFORM ACT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health approved for full 
Committee action, as amended, H.R. 810, Medicare Regulatory and 
Contracting Reform Act of 2003.

[[Page D277]]


FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT FUNDS--REVIEW STATE USE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing to Review State Use of Federal Unemployment Funds. Testimony 
was heard from Emily S. DeRocco, Assistant Secretary, Employment and 
Training Administration, Department of Labor; Sigurd R. Nilsen, 
Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues, GAO; Jon 
Brock, Executive Director, Employment Security Commission, State of 
Oklahoma; Melissa DeLisio, Assistant Director, Department of Job and 
Family Services, State of Ohio; Dawn Watson, Secretary, Department of 
Labor, State of Louisiana; and a public witness.
NATIONAL IMAGERY AND MAPPING AGENCY PROGRAM
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on National Imagery and Mapping Agency Program. 
Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
VETERANS' LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATIONS
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint 
hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine 
legislative presentations of certain veterans' organizations, after 
receiving testimony from W.G. Kilgore, AMVETS, Lanham, Maryland; 
Maurice S. Sharp, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Arlington, Texas; 
Thomas H. Corey, Vietnam Veterans of America, Silver Spring, Maryland; 
Colonel Robert F. Norton, USA (Ret.), Military Officers Association of 
America, Alexandria, Virginia; and Raymond G. Boland, National 
Association of State Directors of Veterans' Affairs.