[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 95 (Wednesday, June 25, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D738-D740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
USDA DISTANCE LEARNING AND TELEMEDICINE PROGRAM
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review the USDA Distance 
Learning and Telemedicine Program. Testimony was heard from Thomas C. Dorr, 
Under Secretary, Rural Development, USDA; and public witnesses.
LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION AND RELATED AGENCIES; INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES; 
AND AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported the following appropriations 
for fiscal year 2004: Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and 
Related Agencies; Interior and Related Agencies; and Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies.
GSE OVERSIGHT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, 
and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled ``GSE 
Oversight: The Need for Reform and Modernization.'' Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
SAVING TAXPAYER MONEY THROUGH SOUND FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Saving Taxpayer Money Through Sound 
Financial Management,'' Testimony was heard from Angela M. Antonelli, Chief 
Financial Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Thomas 
C. Dorr, Under Secretary, Rural Development, USDA.
OVERSIGHT--WINNING THE WAR ON FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT--STATUS OF DOD REFORM
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Efficiency and 
Financial Management held an oversight hearing on ``Winning the War on 
Financial Management--Status of the Department of Defense Reform.'' 
Testimony was heard from Gregory D. Kutz, Director, Financial Management 
Assurance, GAO; and the following officials of the Department of Defense: 
Lawrence J. Lanzillotta, Principle Deputy and the Deputy Under Secretary, 
Management Reform, Office of the Under Secretary (Comptroller); and Paul 
Granetto, Director, Defense Financial Auditing Service, Office of the 
Inspector General.
CANADIAN DRUG IMPORTATION
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Human Rights and Wellness 
held a hearing on ``The Practical and Economical Aspects of Canadian Drug 
Importation.'' Testimony was heard from Representative Gutknecht; and public 
witnesses.
U.S. TRADE POLICY AND COMMERCIAL POLICY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific 
held a hearing on U.S. Trade Policy and Commercial Policy in Southeast Asia 
and

[[Page D739]]

Oceania. Testimony was heard from James A. Kelly, Assistant Secretary, 
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; and Ralph F. 
Ives, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Asia-Pacific and APEC Affairs.
TRAFFICKINIG--GLOBAL TRENDS AND TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS REPORT
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Terrorism Nonproliferation and Human Rights held a hearing on ``Global 
Trends in Trafficking and the Trafficking in Persons Report.'' Testimony was 
heard from John Miller, Senior Advisor to the Secretary, Director, Office of 
Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Department of State; and public 
witnesses.
IRAN-LIBYA SANCTIONS ACT--INCREASING THREATS FROM IRAN
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Middle East and 
Central Asia held a hearing on Enforcement of the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act 
and Increasing Security Threats from Iran (Part 1). Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of State: Charles English, Acting 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs; Anna 
Borg, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs; 
and Philo Dibble, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern 
Affairs; and public witnesses.
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2003 HEALTH SAVINGS AND 
AFFORDABILITY ACT OF 2003
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 7 to 3, a rule providing for the 
consideration of H.R. 1, Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 
2003, under a modified closed rule. The rule provides three hours of debate 
in the House on H.R. 1 equally divided among and controlled by the chairmen 
and ranking minority members of the Committee on Energy and Commerce and the 
Committee on Ways and Means. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of H.R. 1. The rule provides for consideration of the 
amendment to H.R. 1 printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the 
resolution, if offered by Representative Rangel of New York 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. 
The rule provides one motion to recommit H.R. 1 with or without 
instructions.
  Section 2 of the resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2596, H.R. 
2596, Health Savings and Affordability Act of 2003, on the legislative day 
of June 26 or June 27, 2003, under a closed rule. The rule provides one hour 
of debate in the House on H.R. 2596 equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The 
rule waives all points of order against consideration of H.R. 2596. The rule 
provides one motion to recommit H.R. 2596 with or without instructions. 
Section 3 of the resolution provides that in the engrossment of H.R. 1, the 
clerk shall add the text of H.R. 2596, as passed by the House as a new 
matter at the end of H.R. 1, and then lay H.R. 2596 on the table. Section 4 
of the resolution provides that during consideration of H.R. 1 and H.R. 
2596, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may 
postpone further consideration of either bill to a time designated by the 
Speaker. Section 5 of the resolution provides that it shall be in order, any 
rule of the House to the contrary notwithstanding, to consider concurrent 
resolutions providing for adjournment of the House and Senate during the 
month of July. Section 6 of the resolution provides that the Committee on 
Appropriations may have until midnight on Thursday, July 3, 2003, to file a 
report to accompany a bill making appropriations for the Department of 
Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, and for other 
purposes. Testimony was heard from Representative Johnson of Connecticut, 
Walden of Oregon, Buyer, Gutknecht, Burgess, Gingrey, Sandlin, Pallone, 
Brown of Ohio, Strickland, Capps, Kaptur, Cooper, Dooley, Sanders, Hastings 
of Florida, McGovern, Larson of Connecticut, and Emanuel.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS, FY 2004
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule on H.R. 2559, 
making appropriations for military construction, family housing, and base 
realignment and closure for the Department of Defense for FY 2004 providing 
one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. Under the 
rules of the House the bill shall be read for amendment by paragraph. The 
rule waives points of order against provisions in the bill for failure to 
comply with clause 2 of rule XXI (prohibiting unauthorized appropriations or 
legislative provisions in an appropriations bill). The rule authorizes the 
Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed 
their amendments in the Congressional Record. Finally, the rule provides one 
motion to recommit with or without instructions.
CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a resolution providing that 
during the remainder of the One Hundred Eighth Congress, the Speaker may 
entertain motions that the House suspend the rules on Wednesdays as though 
under clause 1 of rule XV.

[[Page D740]]


FOREIGN CURRENCY MANIPULATION EFFECT ON SMALL MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the Effect of Foreign 
Currency Manipulation on Small Manufacturers and Exporters. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following bills: H.R. 1572, to designate the historic Federal District Court 
Building located at 100 North Palafox Street in Pensacola, Florida, as the 
``Winston E. Arnow Federal Building''; H.R. 1668, to designate the United 
States courthouse located at 101 North Fifth Street in Muskogee, Oklahoma, 
as the ``Ed Edmondson United States Courthouse,'' H.R. 2144, amended, 
Aviation Security Technical Corrections and Improvements Act of 2003; H.R. 
2443, amended, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2003; H.R. 
2535, amended, Economic Development Administration Reauthorization Act of 
2003; H.R. 2572, Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 2003; H.R. 2571, Rail 
Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act for the 21st Century; and H.R. 
2573, Public Private Partnership Act.
VETERAN'S LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Benefits approved for full 
Committee action, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 1516, to direct the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a national cemetery for veterans 
in southeastern Pennsylvania; and H.R. 2297, to amend title 38, United 
States Code, to modify and improve certain benefits for veterans.
SECURE AMERICA'S BORDERS--ASSESS DHS INITIATIVES
Select Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing entitled ``Assessment 
of DHS Initiatives to Secure America's Borders.'' Testimony was heard from 
Asa Hutchinson, Under Secretary, Border and Transportation Security, 
Department of Homeland Security.
CYBER PROBLEM OVERVIEW
Select Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, 
Science, and Research and Development held a hearing entitled ``Overview of 
the Cyber Problem: A Nation Dependent and Dealing with Risk.'' Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
F