[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 164 (Wednesday, November 12, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1268-D1269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
ONGOING MILITARY OPERATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to receive 
a briefing to examine ongoing military operations and areas of key 
concern around the world from Lieutenant General Norton A. Schwartz, 
USAF, Director for Operations, J-3, and Major General Ronald L. 
Burgess, Jr., USA, Director for Intelligence, J-2, both of the Joint 
Staff; William J. Luti, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Near 
East and South Asian Affairs; and Ruben Jeffrey, Representative and 
Executive Director of the Coalition Provisional Authority.
FINANCIAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS BOARD
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on 
Securities and Investment concluded a hearing on the Financial 
Accounting Standards Board and small business growth, focusing on 
establishing and improving general-purpose standards of financial 
accounting and reporting for both public and private enterprises, after 
receiving testimony from Senator Ensign; Robert H. Herz, Financial 
Accounting Standards Board, Norwalk, Connecticut; Peter A. Salg, QSC 
Restaurants, Inc., Fort Collins, Colorado, on behalf of the 
International Franchise Association; James K. Glassman, American 
Enterprise Institute, and Jeannine Kenney, National

[[Page D1269]]

Cooperative Business Association, both of Washington, D.C.; Richard E. 
Forrestel, Jr., Cold Spring Construction Company, Akron, New York, on 
behalf of the Associated General Contractors of America; Walter K. 
Moore, Genentech, Inc., San Francisco, California; and Mark Heesen, 
National Venture Capital Association, Arlington, Virginia.
TOBACCO SETTLEMENT FUNDS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded 
a hearing to examine State use of tobacco settlement funds, focusing on 
the growing number of non-participating tobacco manufacturers, the 
prevention and control of tobacco use, and cigarette taxes, after 
receiving testimony from Delaware State Representative Deborah Hudson, 
Dover, on behalf of the National Conference of State Legislatures; 
Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore, Jackson; and Matthew Louis 
Myers, Tobacco-Free Kids, Raymond C. Scheppach, National Governors 
Association, and Cheryl G. Healton, American Legacy Foundation, all of 
Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably 
reported the following business items:
  S. 1072, to authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety 
programs, and transit programs, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute; and
  The nomination of Rixio Enrique Medina, of Oklahoma, to be a Member 
of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported the 
nominations of Michael O'Grady, of Maryland, and Jennifer Young, of 
Ohio, both to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, 
and Bradley D. Belt, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the 
Social Security Advisory Board.
NOMINATION
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to 
examine the nomination of Scott J. Bloch, of Kansas, to be Special 
Counsel, Office of Special Counsel, after the nominee, who was 
introduced by Senator Brownback, testified and answered questions in 
his own behalf.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEE PROTECTION OF DISCLOSURES ACT
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to 
examine S. 1358, to amend chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, to 
clarify the disclosure of information protected from prohibited 
personnel practices, require a statement in non-disclosure policies, 
forms, and agreements that such policies, forms, and agreements conform 
with certain disclosure protections, provide certain authority for the 
Special Counsel, after receiving testimony from Senator Grassley; Peter 
Keisler, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, Department of 
Justice; and Elaine Kaplan, Bernabei and Katz, PLLC, Thomas Devine, 
Government Accountability Project, Stephen M. Kohn, National 
Whistleblower Center, and William L. Bransford, Shaw, Bransford, 
Veilleux and Roth, P.C., on behalf of the Senior Executives 
Association, all of Washington, D.C.
NOMINATIONS:
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
the nominations of Judith C. Herrera, to be United States District 
Judge for the District of New Mexico, who was introduced by Senators 
Domenici and Bingaman, F. Dennis Saylor IV, to be United States 
District Judge for the District of Massachusetts, who was introduced by 
Senator Kennedy, Sandra L. Townes, to be United States District Judge 
for the Eastern District of New York, who was introduced by Senator 
Schumer, and Domingo S. Herraiz, of Ohio, to be Director of the Bureau 
of Justice Assistance, Department of Justice, who was introduced by 
Senator DeWine, after the nominees testified and answered questions in 
their own behalf.
TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 2989, making 
appropriations for the Departments of Transportation and Treasury, and 
independent agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004.