[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 72 (Wednesday, May 14, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D524-D526]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
FARM BILL
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded 
oversight hearings to examine the implementation of the Farm Securities 
and Rural Investment Act of 2002 (P.L. 107-171), including the status 
of implementation of the Agricultural Assistance Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-
7), after receiving testimony from Anne M. Veneman, Secretary of 
Agriculture, who was accompanied by several of her associates.
APPROPRIATIONS: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FOSTER CARE SYSTEM
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the District of Columbia 
concluded hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 
2004 for the government of the District of Columbia, focusing on the 
foster care system, after receiving testimony from Judith Sandalow, 
Children's Law Center, Marilyn R. Egerton, Foster and Adoptive Parent 
Advocacy Center, Sr. Ann Patrick Conrad, Catholic University of America 
National Catholic School of Social Service, and Jacqueline Bowen and 
Joseph Wright, both of Children's National Medical Center, and Damian 
Miller, all of Washington, D.C.
HEALTH CARE ACCESS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education, and Related Agencies concluded hearings to 
examine health care access and affordability and its impact on the 
economy, focusing on the costs of medical benefits and the implications 
for business, and the economic consequences of being uninsured, after 
receiving testimony from John F. Diedrich, Exelon Corporation, Chicago, 
Illinois, on behalf of the National Coalition on Health Care; Leo W. 
Gerard, United Steelworkers of America, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Jack 
Hadley, Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.; Paul Burrow, Oskaloosa, 
Iowa; and Ken Weinstein, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[[Page D525]]


APPROPRIATIONS: DEFENSE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded hearings 
to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2004 for the 
Department of Defense, after receiving testimony from Donald H. 
Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense.
SPACE SHUTTLE ``COLUMBIA'' INVESTIGATION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded 
hearings to examine the status of the Space Shuttle Columbia 
investigation, after receiving testimony from Sean O'Keefe, 
Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; and 
Admiral Harold W. Gehman, Jr., USN (Ret.), Chairman, Columbia Accident 
Investigation Board.
RECLAMATION PROJECTS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: On Tuesday, May 13, 2003, 
Subcommittee on Water and Power concluded hearings to examine S. 520, 
to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain facilities 
to the Fremont-Madison Irrigation District in the State of Idaho, S. 
625, to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct certain 
feasibility studies in the Tualatin River Basin in Oregon, S. 649, to 
amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities 
Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in 
projects within the San Diego Creek Watershed, California, S. 960, to 
amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities 
Act to authorize certain projects in the State of Hawaii and to amend 
the Hawaii Water Resources Act of 2000 to modify the water resources 
study, and S. 993, to amend the Small Reclamation Projects Act of 1956, 
after receiving testimony from Senator Crapo, John W. Keys III, 
Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Joe 
Findaro, Fremont-Madison Irrigation District, Idaho; Brian Brady, 
Irvine Ranch Water District, Irvine, California; Chauncey Ching, 
University of Hawaii, Manoa; and Peter Carlson, Will and Carlson, Inc., 
Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Small Reclamation Program Act 
Coalition.
TISSUE BANK REGULATION
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to 
examine the dangers of tainted human tissue and the need for federal 
regulation of the tissue bank industry, focusing on registering all 
tissue establishments with the FDA, screening of potential donors for 
viruses, and establishing rules for the methods and controls used 
during the processing of human tissue, after receiving testimony from 
Steven L. Solomon, Acting Director, Division of Healthcare Quality 
Promotion, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention, and Jesse L. Goodman, Director, Center for 
Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, both 
to the Department of Health and Human Services; Jeanne V. Linden, 
Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany; and 
Steve and Leslie Lykins, Willmar, Minnesota.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered 
favorably reported the following business items:
  S. 504, to establish academies for teachers and students of American 
history and civics and a national alliance of teachers of American 
history and civics;
  S. 686, to provide assistance for poison prevention and to stabilize 
the funding of regional poison control centers;
  S. 888, to reauthorize the Museum and Library Services Act;
  S. 1015, to authorize grants through the Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention for mosquito control programs to prevent mosquito-borne 
disease; and
  The nominations of John E. Buchanan, Jr., of Oregon, to be a Member 
of the National Museum Services Board, Michael Schwartz, of Illinois, 
to be a Member of the Railroad Retirement Board, and Mary Lucille 
Jordan, of Maryland, and Stanley C. Suboleski, of Virginia, both to be 
Members of the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review Commission.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the 
following business items:
  S. 285, to authorize the integration and consolidation of alcohol and 
substance abuse programs and services provided by Indian tribal 
governments, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
  S. 344, expressing the policy of the United States regarding the 
United States' relationship with Native Hawaiians and to provide a 
process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian 
governing entity, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
  S. 555, to establish the Native American Health and Wellness 
Foundation, with an amendment;
  S. 558, to elevate the position of Director of the Indian Health 
Service within the Department of Health and Human Services to Assistant 
Secretary for Indian Health; and
  S. 702, to amend the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act to 
revise and extend that Act.

[[Page D526]]


INDIAN GAMING REGULATORY ACT
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded oversight hearings to 
examine the implementation of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, 
focusing on the funding and regulatory activities of the National 
Indian Gaming Commission, after receiving testimony from Philip N. 
Hogen, Oglala Sioux Tribe, Pine Ridge, South Dakota, on behalf of the 
National Indian Gaming Commission, who was accompanied by several of 
his associates; and Ernest L. Stevens, Jr., Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin, 
Appleton, on behalf of the National Indian Gaming Association.