[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 67 (Wednesday, May 7, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D486-D490]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Measures Introduced: 31 public bills, H.R. 7, 1997-2026; 1 private 
bill, H.R. 2027; and 8 resolutions, H.J. Res. 55; H. Con. Res. 163-167, 
and H. Res. 222-223, were introduced.
  Pages H3760-62
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H3762-63
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H. Res. 221, providing for consideration of H.R. 1261, to enhance the 
workforce investment system of the Nation by strengthening one-stop 
career centers, providing for more effective governance arrangements, 
promoting access to a more comprehensive array of employment, training, 
and related services, establishing a targeted approach to serving 
youth, and improving performance accountability (H. Rept. 108-92). 
                                                             Page H3758
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he 
appointed Representative Nethercutt to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for 
today. -
  Page H3685
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. 
Riley P. Green III, Director of

[[Page D487]]

Administration, Alabama Baptist Children's Homes & Family Ministries of 
Birmingham, Alabama.
  Page H3685
Presidential Message--Lifting the Sanctions on the National Union for 
the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA): Read a message from the 
President wherein he announced that he has issued an Executive Order 
that terminates the national emergency with respect to the actions and 
policies of the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola 
(UNITA) and revokes Executive Order 12865 of September 26, 1983, 
Executive Order 13069 of December 12, 1997, and Executive Order 13098 
of August 18, 1998. This will have the effect of lifting the sanctions 
imposed on UNITA in these executive orders--referred to the Committee 
on International Relations and ordered printed (H. Doc. 108-69).- 
                                                             Page H3708
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures: -
  Admiral Donald Davis Post Office, Brookfield, Missouri: Debated on 
May 6, H.R. 1609, to redesignate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 201 West Boston Street in Brookfield, 
Missouri, as the ``Admiral Donald Davis Post Office Building'' (agreed 
to by 2/3 yea and nay vote of 423 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll 
No. 162);-
  Page H3712-
  Servicemembers Civil Relief Act: H.R. 100, amended, to restate, 
clarify, and revise the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil Relief Act of 1940 
(agreed to by 2/3 yea and nay vote of 425 yeas with none voting 
``nay'', Roll No. 163);-
  Pages H3688-H3700, H3712-13
  National Peace Officers' Memorial Service: H. Con. Res. 96, 
authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace 
Officers' Memorial Service (agreed to by 2/3 yea and nay vote of 419 
yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 164);-
  Pages H3701, H3713-14
  Greater Washington Soap Box Derby: H. Con. Res. 53, amended, 
authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington 
Soap Box Derby (agreed to by 2/3 yea and nay vote of 422 yeas with none 
voting ``nay'', Roll No. 168);-
  Pages H3701-03, H3735-36
  Wastewater Treatment Works Security Act: H.R. 866, to amend the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act to enhance the security of 
wastewater treatment works (agreed to by 2/3 yea and nay vote of 413 
yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 169);-
  Pages H3703-05, H3736
Nanotechnology Research and Development Act: The House passed H.R. 766, 
to provide for a National Nanotechnology Research and Development 
Program by yea and nay vote of 405 yeas to 19 nays, Roll No. 167.- 
                                                         Pages H3714-35
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute now 
printed in the bill (H. Rept. 108-89) was considered as an original 
bill for the purpose of amendment.-
Pages H3722-24
Agreed To:
  Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas amendment that ensures that public 
input and outreach are integrated into nanotechnology research on 
societal and ethical concerns by the convening of regular and ongoing 
public discussions through mechanisms such as citizen panels, consensus 
panels, and educational events, as appropriate.-
Page H3730
Rejected:
  Bell amendment no. 1 printed in the Congressional Record of May 6 
that sought to specify that program activities address toxicological 
studies and environmental impact studies as the technology is developed 
(rejected by recorded vote of 209 ayes to 214 noes, Roll No. 165); and 
                                                  Pages H3724-25, H3733
  Bell amendment no. 2 printed in the Congressional Record of May 6 
that sought to specify that program activities be designed to provide 
sustained support for nanotechnology research and development on the 
potential to produce or facilitate the production of clean, inexpensive 
energy (rejected by a recorded vote of 207 ayes to 217 noes, Roll No. 
166).-
Pages H3725-26, H3734
  Withdrawn:
  Eddie Bernice Johnson of Texas amendment was offered but subsequently 
withdrawn that sought to establish citizen advisory panels, with 
membership composed of nonscientific and nontechnical experts from 
different geographic regions of the Nation, to consider societal and 
ethical concerns arising from the development and application of 
nanotechnology; and -
Pages H3726-28
  Jackson-Lee of Texas amendment was offered but subsequently withdrawn 
that sought to establish a Center for Societal, Ethical, Educational, 
Environmental, Legal, and Workforce Issues Related to Nanotechnology to 
coordinate issues, conduct studies, and provide assistance to the 
Interagency Committee.
Pages H3730-32
  Agreed to H. Res. 219, the rule that provided for consideration of 
the bill by voice vote.
Page H3714
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on page 
H3685 .
Referrals: S. Con. Res. 42 was referred to the Committee on 
International Relations.
  Page H3759
Quorum Calls--Votes: Six yea and nay votes and two recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages 
H3712,

[[Page D488]]

H3712-13, H3713-14, H3733, H3734, H3734-35, H3735-36, and H3736. There 
were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:05 p.m.-

Committee Meetings -----
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing, and Related Programs held a hearing on Global Health Issues. 
Testimony was heard from Tommy Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human 
Services; David Gootnick, M.D., Director, International Affairs and 
Trade, GAO; Richard Feacham, M.D., Executive Director, Global Fund to 
Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Bureau of Customs and Border Protection. Testimony was heard 
from Robert C. Bonner, Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, 
Department of Homeland Security.
LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education, and Related Agencies continued appropriation 
hearings. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
TRANSPORTATION AND TREASURY, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, and 
Treasury, and Related Agencies held a hearing on IRS Fiscal Year 2004 
Compliance Proposals. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the IRS, Department of the Treasury: Mark Everson, Commissioner; and 
Nancy Killefer, Oversight Board Chair; Mike Brostek, Director, Tax 
Issues, GAO; and Bob Greenstein, Executive Director, Center on Budget 
and Policy Priorities.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT -
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Projection Forces approved 
for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1588, National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces approved 
for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1588, National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Total Force approved for 
full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1588, National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004.
RUNAWAY, HOMELESS, AND MISSING CHILDREN PROTECTION ACT--
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Select 
Education approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1925, 
Runaway, Homeless, and Missing Children Protection Act.
SARS: ASSESSMENT, OUTLOOK, AND LESSONS LEARNED
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``SARS: Assessment, Outlook, and 
Lessons Learned.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Health and Human Services: Jerome M. Hauer, Acting 
Assistant Secretary, Public Health Emergency Preparedness; Julie L. 
Gerberding, M.D., Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 
Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National Institute of Allergy and 
Infectious Diseases, NIH; and Murray Lumpkin, M.D., Principal Associate 
Commissioner, FDA; Jan Heinrich, Director, Health Care and Public 
Health Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
  Prior to the hearing, the Subcommittee received a briefing on this 
subject. The Subcommittee received information from David L. Heymann, 
M.D., Executive Director, Communicable Diseases, World Health 
Organization.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community 
Opportunity approved for full Committee action, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 23, Tornado Shelters Act; H.R. 1276, American 
Dream Downpayment Act; and H.R. 1614, HOPE VI Program Reauthorization 
and Small Community Main Street Rejuvenation and Housing Act of 2003.
CIVIL SERVICE AND NATIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL IMPROVEMENT ACT; SERVICES 
ACQUISITION REFORM ACT -
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 1836, Civil Service and National Security 
Personnel Improvement

[[Page D489]]

Act; and H.R. 1837, Services Acquisition Reform Act of 2003.
U.N. SHOULD REMOVE ECONOMIC SANCTIONS AGAINST IRAQ; FOREIGN RELATIONS 
AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered and adopted 
a motion urging the Chairman to request that the following measure be 
considered on the Suspension Calendar: H. Con. Res. 160, expressing the 
sense of Congress that the United Nations should remove the economic 
sanctions against Iraq completely and without condition.
  The Committee also began markup of H.R. 1950, Foreign Relations 
Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005.
  Will continue tomorrow.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following measures: 
H.R. 1086, Standards Development Organization Advancement Act of 2003; 
H.R. 1437, to improve the United States Code; H.R. 1529, Involuntary 
Bankruptcy Improvement Act of 2003; S. 330, Veterans Memorial 
Preservation and Recognition Act of 2003; H.R. 982, to clarify the tax 
treatment of bonds and other obligations issued by the Government of 
American Samoa; H. Res. 180, supporting the goals and ideals of 
``National Correctional Officers and Employees Week'' and honoring the 
service of correctional officers and employees; S.J. Res. 8, expressing 
the sense of Congress with respect to raising awareness and encouraging 
prevention of sexual assault in the United States and supporting the 
goals and ideals of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention 
Month; and H.R. 1954, amended, Armed Forces Naturalization Act of 2003.
  The Committee also approved Rules for consideration of Private Claims 
and Private Immigration bills.
FLAG PROTECTION CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution approved 
for full Committee action H.J. Res. 4, proposing an amendment to the 
Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit 
the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on H.J. Res. 4. 
Testimony was heard from Lt. Antonio J. Scannella, Police Department, 
Port Authority of New York; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
1497, amended, Sikes Act Reauthorization Act of 2003; H.R. 1835, 
amended, National Security Readiness Act of 2003; and H.R. 1189, to 
increase the waiver requirement for certain local matching requirements 
for grants provided to American Samoa, Guam, the Virgin Islands, or the 
Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
WORKFORCE INVESTMENT AND ADULT EDUCATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing 
1 hour of general debate on H.R. 1261, Workforce Reinvestment and Adult 
Education Act of 2003. The rule provides that the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and 
the Workforce now printed in the bill shall be considered as an 
original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as 
read. 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 considered only in the 
order printed in the report, may be offered only by a 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 a 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 Boehner and Representatives George Miller of 
California, Kildee, Tierney, Holt, Van Hollen, Ryan of Ohio, Kaptur, 
Faleomavaega, DeLauro, Edwards, Hastings of Florida, Millender-McDonald 
and Hooley of Oregon.
ARE BIG BUSINESSES BEING AWARDED CONTRACTS INTENDED FOR SMALL 
BUSINESSES?
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Are Big 
Businesses Being Awarded Contracts Intended for Small Businesses?'' 
Testimony was heard from Angela Styles, Administrator, Office of 
Procurement Policy, OMB; Fred C. Armendariz, Associate Deputy 
Administrator, SBA; Felipe Mendoza, Associate Administrator, GSA; David 
E. Cooper, Contracting Issues Director, GAO; and public witnesses.

[[Page D490]]


OVERSIGHT--HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT NEEDS--
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways, Transit and Pipelines held an oversight hearing on Highway 
and Transit Needs: The State and Local Perspective. Testimony was heard 
from the following Governors: Paul E. Patton, Kentucky; Edward G. 
Rendell, Pennsylvania; and Jennifer M. Granholm, Michigan; the 
following Mayors, Victor Ashe, Knoxville, Tennessee; William Brooks, 
Belle Isle, Florida; Beverly O'Neill, Long Beach, California; Greg 
Nickells, Seattle, Washington; and Elizabeth G. Flores, Laredo, Texas; 
and Bill Hansell, Commissioner, Umatilla County, Oregon.
TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY WATER COMMISSION ACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on H.R. 135, Twenty-First 
Century Water Commission Act of 2003 Testimony was heard from 
Representative Linder; Lt. Gen. Robert B. Flowers, USA, Chief of 
Engineers, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army; 
Kathryn J. Jackson, Executive Vice President, TVA; and public 
witnesses.
VETERANS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits approved for 
full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 241, Veterans 
Beneficiary Fairness Act of 2003; H.R. 761, Disabled Servicemembers 
Adapted Housing Assistance Act of 2003; H.R. 1257, Selected Reserve 
Home Loan Equity Act; H.R. 1460, amended, Veterans Entrepreneurship Act 
of 2003; H.R. 1683, Veterans Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act 
of 2003; and H.R. 1949, Vendee Loan Restoration Act.
VA'S PROGRESS ON THIRD PARTY COLLECTIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on VA's Progress on Third Party 
Collections. Testimony was heard from Leo S. Mackay, Deputy Secretary, 
Department of Veterans Affairs; Cynthia Bascetta, Director, Veterans' 
Health and Benefits Issues, GAO; representative of a veterans 
organization; and public witnesses.-