[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 111 (Thursday, July 24, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D888-D891]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
TOBACCO QUOTA BUYOUT
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review Tobacco Quota 
Buyout. Testimony was heard from Representatives Fletcher and Kingston; 
and public witnesses.
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM--REVIEW OPERATIONS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations, 
Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing to review operations 
of the Food Stamp Program. Testimony was heard Eric M. Bost, Under 
Secretary, Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, USDA.
TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported the Transportation, 
Treasury and Independent Agencies appropriations for fiscal year 2004.
CYBER TERRORISM
Committee on Armed Services; Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on hearing on Cyber Terrorism: 
The New Asymmetric Threat. Testimony was heard from Robert Lentz, 
Director, Information Assurance, Department of Defense; Robert F. 
Dacey, Director, Information Technology Team, GAO; and public 
witnesses.

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LONG-TERM FEDERAL OBLIGATIONS--ECONOMIC EFFECTS
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Economic Effects of Long-
Term Federal Obligations. Testimony was heard from Douglas J. Holtz-
Eakin, Director, CBO; and a public witness.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH LEGISLATION
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections approved for full Committee action the following bills: 
H.R. 2728, Occupational Safety and Health Small Business Day in Court 
Act of 2003; H.R. 2729, Occupational Safety and Health Review 
Commission Efficiency Act of 2003; and H.R. 2730, to amend the 
Occupational Safety and Health Act to provide for an independent review 
of citations issued by the Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration.
``ISSUES RELATING TO EPHEDRA-CONTAINING DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS''
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and 
Consumer Protection and the Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Issues Relating to Ephedra-
containing Dietary Supplements.'' Testimony was heard from Mark B. 
McClellan, M.D., Commissioner, FDA, Department of Health and Human 
Services; and J. Howard Beales III, Director, Bureau of Consumer 
Protection, FTC.
FAIR AND ACCURATE CREDIT TRANSACTIONS ACT
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 
2622, Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003.
  The Committee also approved and forwarded to the Committee on the 
Budget the following: ``Changes in Law to Eliminate Waste, Fraud, and 
Abuse.''
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following 
measures: H.R. 2309, to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 2300 Redondo Avenue in Signal California, as 
the ``J. Stephen Horn Post Office Building;'' H. Con. Res. 235, 
celebrating the life and achievements of Lawrence Eugene ``Larry'' 
Doby; and H. Res. 315, congratulating Rafael Palmeiro of the Texas 
Rangers for hitting 500 major league home runs and thanking him for 
being a role model for the Cuban American community, as well as for all 
Americans.
OVERSIGHT--THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN--PUTTING CUSTOMERS FIRST
Committee on Government Reform: Held an oversight hearing entitled 
``The Thrift Savings Plan: Putting Customers First?'' Testimony was 
heard from Andrew Saul, Chairman, Federal Retirement Thrift Investment 
Board; Edward P. McPherson, Chief Financial Officer, USDA; Alan 
Lebowitz, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Program Operations, Employee 
Benefits Security Administration, Department of Labor; and public 
witnesses.
ANTITRUST ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES
Committee on the Judiciary: Task Force on Antitrust held an oversight 
hearing on ``The Antitrust Enforcement Agencies: The Antitrust Division 
of the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Competition of the 
Federal Trade Commission.'' Testimony was heard from R. Hewitt Pate, 
Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice; 
and Timothy J. Muris, Chairman, FTC.
OVERSIGHT--PATENT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing on ``Patent Quality 
Improvement.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ABANDONED MINE LANDS PROGRAM
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held an oversight hearing on the Abandoned Mine Lands Program. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Kanjorski and Holden; Jeffrey 
Jarrett, Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and 
Enforcement, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
MARINE MAMMAL PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 2693, Marine Mammal 
Protection Act of 2003. Testimony was heard from Rebecca Lent, Deputy 
Assistant Administrator, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
Department of Commerce; Marshall Jones, Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; David Cottingham, 
Executive Director, Marine Mammal Commission; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held 
a hearing on the following measures: H.R. 1005, PILT and Refuge Revenue 
Sharing Permanent Funding Act; H.R. 1723, Caribbean National Forest Act 
of 2003; H.R. 2707, Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration 
Act; and

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to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to exchange certain lands within 
the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forest in the State of Colorado. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Beauprez, Pearce and Stenholm; 
Elizabeth Estill, Deputy Chief, Programs, Legislation and 
Communications, U.S. Forest Service, USDA; the following officials of 
the Department of the Interior: Chris Kearney, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Policy/International Affairs; and James Tate, Science 
Advisor to the Secretary; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing 
on the following measures: H.R. 2828, Water Supply, Reliability and 
Environmental Improvement Act; and H.R. 2641, Calfed Bay-Delta 
Authorization Act. Testimony was heard from Senator Feinstein; and 
public witnesses.
MAKING EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR FY 2003
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote a modified closed rule 
providing one hour of debate in the House on H.R. 2859, making 
emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2003, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule 
waives all point of order against consideration of the bill. The rule 
provides for consideration of the amendment printed in the 
Congressional Record, if offered by Representative Toomey or his 
designee, which shall be considered as read and shall separately 
debatable for twenty minutes equally divided and controlled by the 
proponent and an opponent. The rule waives all points of order against 
that amendment. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with 
or without instructions.
VA/HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 2004
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 8 to 4, an open rule 
providing one hour of general debate on H.R. 2861, Departments of 
Veterans Affairs and Housing and Urban Development, and Independent 
Agencies Appropriations, 2004, equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. 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), except as specified in the 
resolution. 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. Representatives Smith of New Jersey, 
Simmons, Obey, Mollohan, Edwards, Evans, Hastings of Florida, and 
Rodriguez.
SAME-DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES 
COMMITTEE
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a resolution waiving clause 
6(a) of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on 
the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) against certain 
resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The resolution applies 
the waiver to any special rule reported on the legislative day of July 
25, 2003, providing for consideration or disposition of H.R. 2861, 
making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and 
Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, 
boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2004.
SMALL BUSINESS REAUTHORIZATION AND MANUFACTURING REVITALIZATION ACT
Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 2802, 
Small Business Reauthorization and Manufacturing Revitalization Act of 
2003.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits held a hearing 
on oversight of the Department of Labor's administration of the 
Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) 
under chapter 43 of title 38, United States Code. Testimony was heard 
from Susan LaChance, Manager, Selection, Evaluation, and Recognition, 
U.S. Postal Service; Frederico Juarbe, Jr., Assistant Secretary, 
Veterans' Employment and Training Service, Department of Labor; and 
representatives of veterans' organizations; and public witnesses.
SSA'S SERVICE DELIVERY PLAN
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing on SSA's Service Delivery Plan. Testimony was heard from Jo 
Anne B. Barnhart, Commissioner, SSA; the following officials of the 
GAO: Robert E. Robertson, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income 
Security Issues; and Linda D. Koontz, Director, Information Technology; 
and a public witness.

[[Page D891]]


IRAQ--SUFFICIENCY OF INTELLIGENCE
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Held a hearing on 
Sufficiency of Intelligence on Iraq. Testimony was heard from the 
following former Directors of the CIA: John M. Deutch; and R. James 
Woolsey; John J. Hamre, former Deputy Secretary of Defense; and Anthony 
H. Cordesman, Arleigh A. Burke Chair in Strategy, Center for Strategic 
and International Studies.
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT INFORMATION SHARING CAPABILITIES--
IMPROVEMENTS
Select Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence and 
Counterterrorism held a hearing entitled ``Improvements to Department 
of Homeland Security Information Sharing Capabilities--Vertical and 
Horizontal Intelligence Communications''. Testimony was heard from Bill 
Parrish, Acting Assistant, Information Analysis, Department of Homeland 
Security; V. Phillip Lago, Deputy Executive Secretary, CIA; Steven 
McCraw, Assistant Director, Office of Intelligence, FBI, Department of 
Justice; James Kallstrom, Senior Advisor to the Governor on Counter 
Terrorism, State of New York; George Foresman, Deputy Assistant to the 
Governor for Commonwealth Preparedness, State of Virginia; and a public 
witness.

Joint Meetings
COMMERCIAL HUMAN SPACEFLIGHT
Joint Hearings: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 
Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space concluded joint hearings 
with the House Committee on Science Subcommittee on Space and 
Aeronautics to examine space commercialization, including orbital and 
suborbital flights, understanding the current demand for public space 
travel, and the future of space tourism, after receiving testimony from 
Jeff Greason, XCOR Aerospace, Mojave, California; Jon B. Kutler, 
Quarterdeck Investment Partners, Los Angeles, California; Philip 
McAlister, Futron Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland; Elon Musk, SpaceX, 
El Segundo, California; and Dennis A. Tito, Wilshire Associates, 
Incorporated, Santa Monica, California.
AVIATION ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT
Conferees met on the differences between the Senate and House passed 
versions of H.R. 2115, to amend title 49, United States Code, to 
reauthorize programs for the Federal Aviation Administration, but did 
not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to call.