[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 170 (Friday, November 21, 2003)]
[Daily Digest]
[Page D1324]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving a 
requirement of 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 
or before the legislative day of January 31, 2004, providing for 
consideration or disposition of any of the following:
  (A) A bill or joint resolution making continuing appropriations for 
the fiscal year 2004, or any amendment thereto, or any conference 
report thereon; 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.
CONVENING DAY FOR 2ND SESSION OF THE 108TH CONGRESS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing 1 
hour of debate in the House on H. J. Res. 464, appointing the day for 
the Convening of the Second Session of the One Hundred Eight Congress, 
equally divided and controlled by the Majority Leader and the Minority 
Leader or their designees. The rule provides one motion to recommit.
CONFERENCE REPORT--MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG AND MODERNIZATION ACT OF 
2003
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 8 to 4, a rule waiving all 
points of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 1, 
Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003, and against 
it consideration. The rule provides that the conference report shall be 
considered as read. Testimony was heard Chairmen Thomas and Tauzin; 
Representatives Johnson of Connecticut, Rangel, Dingell, Pelosi, Jones 
of Ohio, Brown of Ohio, Pallone, Schakowsky, and Jackson-Lee of Texas.
BRIEFING--INTELLIGENCE UPDATE
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Intelligence Update on Iraq. The Committee was 
briefed by departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
HEALTHY FORESTS RESTORATION ACT
Conferees on Thursday, November 20, 2003, agreed to file a conference 
report on the differences between the Senate and House passed versions 
of H.R. 1904, to improve the capacity of the Secretary of Agriculture 
and the Secretary of the Interior to conduct hazardous fuels reduction 
projects on National Forest System lands and Bureau of Land Management 
lands aimed at protecting communities, watersheds, and certain other 
at-risk lands from catastrophic wildfire, to enhance efforts to protect 
watersheds and address threats to forest and rangeland health, 
including catastrophic wildfire, across the landscape.
MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG, IMPROVEMENT, AND MODERNIZATION ACT
Conferees on Thursday, November 20, 2003, agreed to file a conference 
report on the differences between the Senate and House passed versions 
of H.R. 1, to amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide 
for a voluntary prescription drug coverage program under the medicare 
program, to modernize, strengthen, and improve the medicare program, to 
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a deduction to 
individuals for amounts contributed to health savings accounts, to 
amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to 
abbreviated applications for the approval of new drugs and the 
importation of prescription drugs.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS ACT
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 2800, making 
appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004.