[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 154 (Wednesday, October 29, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1196-D1198]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported the following measures: H.J. 
Res. 74, recognizing the Agricultural Research Service of the 
Department of Agriculture on the occasion of its 50th anniversary for 
the important service it provides for the Nation; H.R. 1367, amended, 
National Veterinary Medical Services Act; H.R. 2304, amended, to 
resolve boundary conflicts in the vicinity of the Mark Twain National 
Forest in Barry and Stone Counties, Missouri, that resulted from 
private landowner reliance on a subsequent Federal survey; H.R. 3157, 
amended, to provide for the designation of a Department of Agriculture 
disaster liaison to assist State and local employees of the Department 
in coordination with other disaster agencies in response to a federally 
declared disaster area as a result of a disaster; and H.R. 3217, to 
provide for the conveyance of several small parcels of National Forest 
System land in the Apalachicola National Forest, Florida, to resolve 
boundary discrepancies involving the Mt. Trial Primitive Baptist Church 
of Wakulla County, Florida.
IRAQ RECONSTRUCTION AND STABILITY OPERATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on ``Irag Reconstruction 
and Stability Operations: The Way Forward.'' Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
PENSION UNDERFUNDING CRISIS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing on ``The 
Pension Underfunding Crisis: How Effective Have Funding Reforms Been?'' 
Testimony was heard from Barbara Bovbjerg, Director, Education, 
Workforce, and Income Security Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
WORLD BANK LENDING TO IRAN
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and 
International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology held a hearing on 
World Bank lending to Iran. Testimony was heard from William Schuerch, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Development, Department of 
the Treasury; and public witnesses.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY--A NEW HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGEMENT 
SYSTEM
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Civil Service and 
Agency Organization held an oversight hearing entitled ``Decision Time: 
A New Human Resources Management System at the Department of Homeland 
Security.'' Testimony was heard from Ronald L. James, Chief Human 
Capital Officer, Department of Homeland Security; Steven R. Cohen, 
Senior Adviser, Homeland Security, OPM; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Efficiency 
and Financial Management held an oversight hearing entitled ``Agency 
Compliance with FFMIA--Private Sector Views.'' Testimony was heard from 
Sally Thompson, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, GAO; and 
public witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL SLAVERY AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING--ONGOING TRAGEDY
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Human Rights and 
Wellness held a hearing entitled ``The Ongoing Tragedy of International 
Slavery and Human Trafficking: An Overview.'' Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of State: John Miller, 
Director, Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons; and Kent 
Hill, Assistant Administrator, AID; and public witnesses.

[[Page D1197]]


ASIA AND THE PACIFIC--CHALLENGE OF TERRORISM
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific and the Subcommittee on International Terrorism, 
Nonproliferation and Human Rights held a joint hearing on the Challenge 
of Terrorism in Asia and the Pacific. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of State: J. Cofer Black, 
Ambassador-at-Large, Coordinator for Counterterrorism; Christina B. 
Rocca, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South Asian Affairs; and Matthew 
P. Daley, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific 
Affairs; Timothy D. Hoyt, Associate Professor, Strategy and Policy, 
Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
U.S. AND EUROPE--IMPORTANCE OF STRONGER RELATIONS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Europe approved 
for full Committee action H. Res. 390, recognizing the continued 
importance of the transatlantic relationship and promoting stronger 
relations with Europe by reaffirming the need for a continued and 
meaningful dialogue between the United States and Europe.
CENTRAL ASIA: TERRORISM, RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM, AND REGIONAL STABILITY
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Middle East 
and Central Asia held a hearing on ``Central Asia: Terrorism, Religious 
Extremism, and Regional Stability.'' Testimony was heard from A. 
Elizabeth Jones, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian 
Affairs, Department of State; Stephen Blank, Professor, Strategic 
Studies Institute, U.S. Army War College, Department of Defense; and 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; AMERICAN SAMOA--PROTECT VOTING RIGHTS OF ARMED 
SERVICES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following measures: H. 
Con. Res. 237, honoring the late Rick Lupe, lead forestry technician 
for the Bureau of Indian Affairs Fort Apache Agency, for his dedication 
and service to the United States and for his essential service in 
fighting wildfires and protecting the environment and communities of 
Arizona; H.R. 154, amended, to exclude certain properties from the John 
H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources; H.R. 265, amended, Mount Rainier 
National Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2003; H.R. 280, amended, 
National Aviation Heritage Act; H.R. 421, Environmental Policy and 
Conflict Resolution Advancement Act of 2003; H.R. 506, amended, 
Galisteo Basin Archaeological Sites Protection Act; H.R. 958, amended, 
Hydrographic Services Amendments of 2003; H.R. 1594, amended, St. Croix 
National Heritage Area Study Act; H.R. 1618, amended, Arabia Mountain 
National Heritage Area Act; H.R. 1629, Upper Missouri River Breaks 
Boundary Clarification Act; H.R. 1648, Carpinteria and Montecito Water 
Distribution Systems Conveyance Act of 2003; H.R. 1732, Williamson 
County Water Recycling Act of 2003; H.R. 1862, amended, Oil Region 
National Heritage Area Act; H.R. 1964, amended, Highlands Stewardship 
Act; H.R. 2408, amended, National Wildlife Refuge Volunteer Act of 
2003; H.R. 2425, amended, Quinault Permanent Fisheries Fund Act; H.R. 
2489, amended, Cowlitz Indian Tribe Distribution of Judgment Funds Act; 
H.R. 2584, to provide for the conveyance to the Utrok Atoll local 
government of a decommissioned National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration ship; H.R. 2707, amended, Salt Cedar and Russian Olive 
Control Demonstration Act; H.R. 2715, to provide for necessary 
improvements to facilities at Yosemite National Park; H.R. 2907, 
amended, Northern Arizona National Forest Land Exchange Act of 2003; 
H.R. 3209, to amend the Reclamation Project Authorization Act of 1972 
to clarify the acreage for which the North Loup division is authorized 
to provide irrigation water under the Missouri River Basin project; S. 
523, Native American Technical Corrections Act of 2003; S. 625, 
Tualatin River Basin Water Supply Enhancement Act of 2003; S. 677, 
Black Canyon of the Gunnison Boundary Revision Act of 2003; S. 924, to 
authorize the exchange of lands between an Alaska Native Village 
Corporation and the Department of the Interior; and S. 1233, National 
Great Black Americans Commemoration Act of 2003.
  The Committee also held a hearing on H.R. 2010, to protect the voting 
rights of members of the Armed Services in elections for the Delegate 
representing American Samoa in the United States House of 
Representatives. Testimony was heard from Aitofele Sunia, Lt. Governor, 
Pago Pago, American Samoa.
CONFERENCE REPORT--FLIGHT 100--CENTURY OF AVIATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 9 to 3, a rule waiving all 
points of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 2115, 
Flight 100--Century of Aviation Reauthorization Act, and against its 
consideration. The rule provides that the conference report shall be 
considered as read. Testimony was heard from Representatives Mica, 
Oberstar and DeFazio.

[[Page D1198]]


SAME-DAY CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE 
RELATING TO EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS CONFERENCE REPORT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 9 to 3, 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 October 30, 2003, providing for consideration or disposition of a 
conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 3289) making emergency 
supplemental appropriations for defense and for the reconstruction of 
Iraq and Afghanistan for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, and 
for other purposes.
NASA'S ORGANIZATIONAL AND MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on NASA's Organizational and 
Management Challenges in the Wake of the Columbia Disaster. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Navy: 
Adm. Frank L. Bowman, USN, Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion (Naval 
Reactors); Rear Adm. Paul Sullivan, USN, Deputy Commander, Ship Design 
Integration and Engineering, Naval Sea Systems Command; Adm. Harold 
Gehman, USN, (Ret), Chairman, Columbia Accident Investigation Board; 
and public witnesses.