[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 86 (Thursday, June 12, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D657-D659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security met in 
executive session and approved for full Committee action the Homeland 
Security appropriations for fiscal year 2004.
BRIEFING--IRAQ STATUS OF RECONSTRUCTION AND STABILIZATION
Committee on Armed Services: Held a briefing on the state of 
reconstruction and stabilization operations in

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Iraq. The Committee was briefed by L. Paul Bremer, Administrator, 
Coalition Provisional Authority, (via teleconference); and Lawrence 
DiRita, Special Assistant to the Secretary, Department of Defense.
SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported, as amended, 
H.R. 660, Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003.
SCHOOL READINESS ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Education 
Reform approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 2210, 
School Readiness Act of 2203.
ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENAS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations adopted motions authorizing the issuance of subpoenas 
for certain records and testimony in connection with the Committee's 
investigations into (1) the financial collapse of HealthSouth 
Corporation, and (2) the safety of dietary supplements that are 
manufactured or marketed for use by children.
FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT--CREDIT GRANTNG PROCESS ROLE
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``The Role of FCRA in the 
Credit Granting Process.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
CANADIAN PRESCRIPTION DRUG IMPORTATION
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Human Rights and 
Wellness held a hearing entitled ``Canadian Prescription Drug 
Importation: Is There A Safety Issue?'' Testimony was heard from 
William K. Hubbard, Senior Associate Commissioner, FDA, Department of 
Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 2441, Millennium Challenge Account Authorization 
and Peace Corps Expansion Act of 2003; and H.R. 2330, Burmese Freedom 
and Democracy Act of 2003.
  The Committee also favorably considered and adopted a motion urging 
the chairman to request that the following measures be considered on 
the Suspension Calendar: H.R. 1462, International Disabilty and Victims 
of Warfare and Civil Strife Assistance Act of 2003; H. Res. 58, 
recognizing the accomplishments of Ignacy Jan Paderewski as a musician, 
composer, statesman, and philanthropist and recognizing the 11th 
Anniversary of the return of his remains to Poland; H.R. 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. 194, amended, regarding the importance 
of international efforts to abolish slavery and other human rights 
abuses in the Sudan; H. Res. 199, amended, calling on the Government of 
the People's Republic of China immediately and unconditionally to 
release Dr. Yang Jianli, calling on the President of the United States 
to continue working on behalf of Dr. Yang Jianli for his release; H. 
Res. 237, honoring the life and work of Walter Sisulu, a critical 
leader in the movement to free South Africa of apartheid, on the 
occasion of his death; H. Res. 242, expressing the condolences of the 
House of Representatives to the families of the victims of the 
terrorist suicide bombing attacks that occurred on May 16, 2003, in 
Casablanca, Morocco; H. Res. 264, expressing sympathy for the victims 
of the devastating earthquake that struck Algeria on May 21, 2003; H. 
Con. Res. 49, expressing the sense of the Congress that the sharp 
escalation of anti-Semitic violence within many participating States of 
the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is of 
profound concern and efforts should be undertaken to prevent future 
occurrences; 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. Con. Res. 169, expressing the sense of 
Congress that the United States Government should support the human 
rights and dignity of all persons with disabilities by pledging support 
for the drafting and working toward the adoption of a thematic 
convention on the human rights and dignity of persons with disabilities 
by the United Nations General Assembly to augment the existing United 
Nations human rights system; and H. Con. Res. 209, commending the 
signing of the United States-Adriatic Charter, a charter of partnership 
among the United States, Albania, Croatia, and Macedonia.
PRISON RAPE REDUCTION ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security approved for full

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Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1707, Prison Rape Reduction Act of 
2003.
CAPTIVE WILDLIFE SAFETY ACT; DON'T FEED THE BEARS ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1006, 
Captive Wildlife Safety Act; and H.R. 1472, Don't Feed the Bears Act of 
2003. Testimony was heard from Representatives Peterson of Minnesota. 
McKeon and Moran of Virginia; Matt Hogan, Deputy Director, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; Elizabeth Estill, 
Deputy Chief, Programs, Legislation and Communications, U.S. Forest 
Service, USDA; and public witnesses.
PLANT BIOTECHNOLOGY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Research held a hearing on Plant 
Biotechnology Research and Development in Africa: Challenges and 
Opportunities. Testimony was heard from Speaker Hastert; Rita R. 
Colwell, Director, NSF; Andrew Natsios, Administrator, AID, Department 
of State; and public witnesses.
CHILEAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Tax, Finance, and Exports 
held a hearing on the Chilean Free Trade Agreement. Testimony was heard 
from Manuel Rosales, Assistant Administrator, Office of International 
Trade, SBA; Christopher Padilla, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative 
for Intergovernmental Affairs and Public Liaison; and public witnesses.
COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation approved for full Committee action 
the Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2003.
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT; SPECIAL PROGRAMS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session 
and ordered reported the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2004.
  The Committee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on 
Special Programs. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.