[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 169 (Thursday, November 20, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1311-D1313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
NATIONAL ARCHIVES AND RECORDS ADMINISTRATION EFFICIENCY ACT; REPORTS
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported H.R. 3478, National 
Archives and Records Administration Efficiency Act of 2003.
  The Committee also approved the following: a report ``Efforts to 
Rightsize the U.S. Presence Abroad Lack Urgency and Momentum;'' and a 
draft report entitled ``Everything Secret Degenerates: The FBI's Use of 
Murderers as Informants.''
PASSENGER SCREENER TRAINING REVIEW
Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on Knives, Box Cutters 
and Bleach: A Review of Passenger Screener Training, Testing and 
Supervision. Testimony was heard from Stephen McHale, Deputy 
Administrator, Transportation Security Administration, Department of 
Homeland Security; Cathleen A. Berrick, Director, Homeland Security and 
Justice Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
AUTISM--FUTURE CHALLENGES
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Human Rights and 
Wellness held a hearing entitled ``The Future Challenges of Autism: A 
Survey of the Ongoing Initiatives in the Federal Government to Address 
the Epidemic.'' Testimony was heard from Peter Van Dyck, Associate 
Administrator, Office of Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health 
Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human 
Services; and public witnesses.
AUTHORIZE AND ISSUE SUBPOENAS RELATED TO INVESTIGATION OF 527 
ORGANIZATIONS
Committee on House Administration: Adopted a resolution delegating to 
the Chairman the power to authorize and issue subpoenas related to an 
investigation of 527 Organizations.
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS UNDER SADDAM HUSSEIN VICTIMS SPEAK OUT
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Middle East 
and Central Asia held a hearing on Human Rights Violations Under Saddam 
Hussein: Victims Speak Out. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Pryce of Ohio and Hooley of Oregon; Maj. Alvin Schmidt, USMC, Deputy 
Force Protection Officer, First Marine Expeditionary Force, USMC, 
Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--HOMELAND SECURITY
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security, and Homeland Security held an oversight hearing on 
``Homeland Security--the Balance Between Crisis and Consequence 
Management through Training and Assistance,'' including discussion of 
the following bills: H.R. 2512, First Responders Funding Reform Act of 
2003; H.R. 3266, Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 
2003; and H.R. 3158, Preparing America to Respond Effectively Act of 
2003. Testimony was heard from C. Suzanne Mencer, Director, Office of 
Domestic Preparedness, Department of Homeland Security; William Bishop, 
Director, Bureau of Homeland Security, State of Idaho; and Raymond W. 
Kelly, Police Commissioner, City of New York.
OVERSIGHT--JOHN F. CHAFEE COASTAL BARRIER RESOURCES SYSTEM
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the John H. Chafee 
Coastal Barrier Resources System. Testimony was heard from Benjamin N. 
Tuggle, Chief, Division of Federal Program Activities, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; Anthony S. Lowe, 
Director, Mitigation Division and Federal Insurance Administrator, 
FEMA, Department of Homeland Security; and a public witness.
MAKING IN ORDER SUSPENSION AUTHORITY
Committee on Rules: Reported, by voice vote, a resolution providing 
that suspensions will be in order at any time on the legislative day of 
Friday, November 21, 2003. The resolution provides that the Speaker

[[Page D1312]]

or his designee will consult with the Minority Leader or her designee 
on any suspension considered under the rule.
CONFERENCE REPORT--HEALTHY FORESTS RESTORATION ACT OF 2003
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report and against its consideration. 
The rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as 
read. Testimony was heard from Chairman Goodlatte and Representative 
Walden of Oregon.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE 
RELATING TO APPROPRIATIONS BILLS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule 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 rule applies the 
waiver to any special rule reported on the legislative day of November 
21, 2003, providing for consideration or disposition of any of the 
following: (A) A bill or joint resolution making further continuing 
appropriations for the fiscal year 2004, or any amendment thereto; or 
(B) A bill or joint resolution making general appropriations for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, any amendment thereto, or any 
conference report thereon.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE 
RELATING TO THE CONFERENCE REPORT TO ACCOMPANY H.R. 1--MEDICARE 
PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND MODERNIZATION ACT OF 2003
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 7 to 3, a rule 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 rule applies the 
waiver to any special rule reported on the legislative day of November 
21, 2003, providing for consideration or disposition of a conference 
report to accompany H.R. 1, the Medicare Prescription Drug 
Modernization Act of 2003.
CONFERENCE REPORT--INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Rules: On November 19, the Committee granted, by voice 
vote, a rule waiving all points of order against the conference report 
to accompany H.R. 2417, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2004, and against its consideration. The rule provides that the 
conference report shall be considered as read. Testimony was heard from 
Chairman Goss and Representative Harman.
FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2004
Committee on Rules: On November 19, the Committee granted, by voice 
vote, a closed rule providing 1 hour of debate in the House on H.J. 
Res. 78, making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 
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 joint resolution. Finally, 
the rule provides one motion to recommit.
MAKING IN ORDER SUSPENSION AUTHORITY
Committee on Rules: On November 19, the Committee reported, by voice 
vote, a resolution providing that suspensions will be in order at any 
time on the legislative day of Thursday, November 20, 2003. The 
resolution provides that the Speaker or his designee will consult with 
the Minority Leader or her designee on any suspension considered under 
the resolution.
LOWERING BUSINESS COSTS IN U.S.--KEEP OUR COMPANIES HERE
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Lowering the 
Cost of Doing Business in the United States: How to Keep Our Companies 
Here.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--FINANCING PORT INFRASTRUCTURE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held an oversight hearing on Financing Port 
Infrastructure--Who Should Pay? Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Rohrabacher and Ose; and public witnesses.
NON-PROFIT CREDIT COUNSELING ORGANIZATIONS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
on Non-Profit Credit Counseling Organizations. Testimony was heard from 
Mark Everson, Commissioner, IRS, Department of the Treasury; J. Howard 
Beales III, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC; and public 
witnesses.
BRIEFING--GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE UPDATE
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on 
Intelligence Policy and National Security met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on

[[Page D1313]]

Global Intelligence Update. The Subcommittee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.
FASTER AND SMARTER FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ACT
Select Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency 
Preparedness and Response approved for full Committee action, as 
amended, H.R. 3266, Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act 
of 2003.