[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 17, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D678-D679]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FOOD SECURITY ACT AMENDMENTS; BIOTECHNOLOGY IN AGRICULTURE
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural 
Development and Research approved for full Committee action, as 
amended, H.R. 11907, to amend the Food Security Act of 1985 to ensure 
the availability of funds to provide technical assistance for certain 
conservation programs of the Department of Agriculture.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing to review Biotechnology in 
Agriculture. Testimony was heard from David Hegwood, Special Counsel to 
the Secretary, USDA; Lester M. Crawford, Deputy Commissioner, Food and 
Drugs, FDA, Department of Health and Human Services; and Stephen L. 
Johnson, Assistant Administrator, Office of Prevention, Pesticides, and 
Toxic Substances, EPA.
HOMELAND SECURITY AND MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS; 
SUBALLOCATION OF BUDGET ALLOCATIONS REPORTS
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported the following 
appropriations for fiscal year 2004; Homeland Security; and Military 
Construction.
  The Committee also approved the following: Revised Suballocation of 
Budget Allocations Report, Fiscal Year 2003; and the Suballocation of 
Budget Allocations Report, Fiscal Year 2004.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies approved 
for full Committee action the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
Drug Administration and Related Agencies appropriations for Fiscal Year 
2004.
ULLICO SCANDAL--IMPLICATIONS FOR U.S. WORKERS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing on ``The 
ULLICO Scandal and its Implications for U.S. Workers.'' Testimony was 
heard from Warren E. Nowlin, Partner, Williams Mullen and Damon 
Silvers, Special Counsel to the Chairman, ULLICO Inc.
  In failing to respond to questions, Robert A. Georgine, former 
President, Chairman and CEO, ULLICO Inc., invoked constitutional 
privileges.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH-FAIRNESS ACT
Committee on Education and Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing on H.R. 1583, Occupational Safety and 
Health-Fairness Act of 2003, focusing on Small Business and Workplace 
Safety. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND MODERNIZATION ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Began consideration of H.R. 2473, 
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003.
  Will continue tomorrow.
FAIR CREDIT REPORTING ACT--BACKGROUND CHECKS AND MEDICAL INFORMATION
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing on the role of FCRA in employee 
background checks and the collection of medical information. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
SECTION 8 HOUSING ASSISTANCE PROGRAM
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community 
Opportunity continued hearings on Section 8 Housing Assistance Program: 
Promoting Decent Affordable Housing for Families and Individuals who 
Rent. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
FEDERAL DEBT MANAGEMENT--ARE AGENCIES USING COLLECTION TOOLS 
EFFECTIVELY?
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Efficiency 
and Financial Management held a hearing on ``Federal Debt Management--
Are Agencies Using Collection Tools Effectively?'' Testimony was heard 
from Richard L. Gregg, Commissioner, Financial Management Service, 
Department of the Treasury; William H. Campbell, Assistant Secretary, 
Management, Department of Veterans Affairs; Theresa S. Shaw, Chief 
Operating Officer, Federal Student Aid, Department of Education; and a 
public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported H. Res. 277, 
expressing support for freedom in Hong Kong.
  The Committee also unfavorably reported H. Res. 260, requesting the 
President to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 
days after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents

[[Page D679]]

or other materials in the President's possession relating to Iraq's 
weapons of mass destruction.
TRANSATLANTIC RELATIONS FUTURE
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Europe held a 
hearing on the Future of Transatlantic Relations: A View from Europe. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RESTORATION ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property held a hearing on H.R. 2344, Intellectual 
Property Restoration Act of 2003. Testimony was heard from MaryBeth 
Peters, Register of Copyrights, Library of Congress; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Recreation and 
Public Lands held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1616, Martin 
Luther King, Junior, National Historic Land Exchange Act; and H.R. 
1964, Highland Stewardship Act. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Lewis of Georgia, Frelinghuysen, Garrett, Kelly and 
Saxton; Randy Jones, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department 
of the Interior; David Tenny, Deputy Under Secretary, Natural Resources 
and the Environment, USDA; and public witnesses.
DEATH TAX REPEAL PERMANENCY ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule 
providing 1 of debate in the House on H.R. 8, Death Tax Repeal 
Permanency Act of 2003. The rule provides for consideration of the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee 
report accompanying the resolution, if offered by Representative 
Pomeroy or his designee, which shall be considered as read and shall be 
separately debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the 
proponent and an opponent. The rule waives all points of order against 
the amendment printed in the report. Finally, the rule provides one 
motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Dunn, Leach, Pomeroy and Hooley of Oregon.
TAXPAYER PROTECTION AND IRS ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by voice vote a modified closed 
rule providing 1 hour of debate in the House on H.R. 1528, Taxpayer 
Protection and IRS Accountability Act of 2003. The rule waives all 
points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides 
that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Ways and Means, as modified by the amendment printed in 
Part A of the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution, shall 
be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against the 
bill, as amended. The rule provides for consideration of the amendment 
printed in Part B of the report, if offered by Representative Rangel or 
his designee, which shall be considered as read and shall be separately 
debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the proponent 
and an opponent. The rule waives all points of order against the 
amendment printed in Part B of the report. Finally, the rule provides 
one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was 
heard from Representative Portman and Visclosky.
SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT
Committee on Rules: Heard testimony from Chairman Boehner and 
Representatives Andrews, Woolsey, Hinojosa, Kind and Kucinich, but 
action was deferred on H.R. 660, Small Business Health Fairness Act of 
2003.
TASK FORCE REPORT--IMPROVE HEALTH CARE DELIVERY FOR VETERANS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Concluded hearings on the Report of the 
Administration's Task Force to improve Health Care Delivery for our 
Nation's Veterans. Testimony was heard from Leo S. Mackay, Jr., Deputy 
Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs; David S.C. Chu, Under 
Secretary, Personnel and Readiness, Department of Defense; the 
following officials of the President's Task Force to Improve Health 
Care: Charles R. Anthony, Mack G. Fleming, Susan M. Schwartz, Robert W. 
Spanogle and Harry N. Walters, all Commissioners; and representatives 
of veterans organizations.
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND MODERNIZATION ACT
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 2473, 
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003.
BRIEFING--NSA OPERATIONS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Technical 
and Tactical Intelligence met in executive session to receive a 
briefing on NSA Operations. The Subcommittee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.