[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 81 (Wednesday, June 4, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D611-D612]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FARM BILL--CONSERVATION TITLE IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural 
Development, and Research held a hearing to review conservation 
technical assistance and the implementation of the Conservation Title 
of the 2002 Farm Bill. Testimony was heard from Jim Moseley, Deputy 
Secretary, USDA; and public witnesses.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the District of Columbia 
held a hearing on Fiscal Year 2004 Budget Request. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the District of Columbia: Anthony 
Williams, Mayor; Linda Cropp, Chairman, Council; and Natwar Gandhi, 
Chief Financial Officer.
TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION ACT; READY TO TEACH ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on 21st Century 
Competitiveness approved for full Committee action, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 438, Teacher Recruitment and Retention Act of 
2003; and H.R. 2211, Ready to Teach Act of 2003.
STRENGTHENING PENSION SECURITY
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-
Employee Relations held a hearing on ``Strengthening Pension Security: 
Examining the Health and Future of Defined Benefit Pension Plans.'' 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
WIRELESS E-911 IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``Wireless E-911 
Implementation: Progress and Remaining Hurdles.'' Testimony was heard 
from John B. Muleta, Bureau Chief, Wireless Telecommunications, FCC; 
and public witnesses.
FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``Fair Credit Reporting 
Act: How it Functions for Consumers and the Economy.'' Testimony was 
heard from Howard Beales, Director, Bureau of Consumer Affairs, FTC; 
Dolores Smith, Director, Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, 
Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; William H. Sorell, Attorney 
General, State of Vermont; and public witnesses.
U.S. NONPROLIFERATION POLICY AFTER IRAQ
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on U.S. 
Nonproliferation Policy After Iraq. Testimony was heard from John R. 
Bolton, Under Secretary, Arms Control and International Security, 
Department of State; Alan Zelikoff, Senior Scientist, Center for 
National Security and Arms Control, Sandia National Laboratories; and 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa approved 
for full Committee action the following measures: H. Con. Res. 80, 
expressing the sense of Congress relating to efforts of the Peace Parks 
Foundation in the Republic of South Africa to facilitate the 
establishment and development of transfrontier conservation efforts in 
southern Africa; H. Con. Res. 134, acknowledging the deepening 
relationship between the United States and the Republic of Djibouti and 
recognizing Djibouti's role in combating terrorism; H. Con. Res. 154, 
concerning the transition to democracy in the Republic of Burundi; H. 
Res. 177, amended, commending the people of the Republic of Kenya for 
conducting free and fair elections, for the peaceful and orderly 
transfer of power in their government, and for the continued success of 
democracy in their nation since that transition; H. Res. 237, honoring 
the life and work of

[[Page D612]]

Walter Sisulu, a critical leader in the movement to free South Africa 
of apartheid, on the occasion of his death; and H. Res. 194, amended, 
regarding the importance of international efforts to abolish slavery 
and other human rights abuses in the Sudan.
PROPOSED JOINT COMMITTEE--REVIEW HOUSE AND SENATE RULES, AND OTHER 
MATTERS ASSURING CONTINUING REPRESENTATION AND CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS
Committee on Rules: Ordered reported H. Con. Res. 190, to establish a 
joint committee to review House and Senate rules, joint rules, and 
other matters assuring continuing representation and congressional 
operations for the American people.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee on Technology and the House 
held a hearing on the concurrent resolution. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Dreier and Frost.
ZUNI INDIAN TRIBE WATER RIGHTS SETTLEMENT ACT; AND GRAND TETON NATIONAL 
PARK LAND EXCHANGE ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 8 to 3, a closed rule 
providing that S. 222, Zuni Indian Tribe Water Rights Settlement Act 
shall be debatable in the House for 40 minutes equally divided between 
the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Resources. 
The rule waives all points of order against consideration of S. 222. 
The rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions, 
for S. 222. The rule further provides that S. 273, Grand Teton National 
Park Land Exchange Act, shall be debatable in the House for 40 minutes 
equally divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Resources. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of S. 273. Finally, the rule provides one motion to 
recommit, with or without instructions, for S. 273.
AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES RESEARCH ACT
Committee on Science: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1081, Aquatic 
Invasive Species Research Act.
STAFFING FOR ADEQUATE FIRE AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE FIREFIGHTERS ACT
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on H.R. 1118, Staffing for 
Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters Act of 2003. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESS ADVOCACY IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1772, 
Small Business Advocacy Improvement Act of 2003.
VISA APPROVAL BACKLOG
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the Visa Approval 
Backlog and its impact on American Small Business. Testimony was heard 
from Janice L. Jacobs, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Visa Services, 
Department of State; Robert J. Garrity, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI, 
Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management held an 
oversight hearing on The Administration's Proposal to Reauthorize the 
Economic Development Administration. Testimony was heard from David A. 
Sampson, Assistant Secretary, Economic Development, Department of 
Commerce and a public witness.
WATER: IS IT THE ``OIL'' OF THE 21ST CENTURY?
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment concluded oversight hearings on Water: Is it 
the ``Oil'' of the 21st Century? Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
CIA TECHNICAL PROGRAM
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Human 
Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence met in executive session 
to hold a hearing on CIA Technical Program. Testimony was heard from 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
SERBIA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): 
Commission concluded hearings to examine democracy, human rights, and 
justice in Serbia today, after receiving testimony from Ivan Vujacic, 
Ambassador of Serbia and Montenegro to the United States, Nina Bang-
Jensen, Coalition for International Justice, and Elizabeth Anderson, 
Human Rights Watch, all of Washington, D.C.