[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 30 (Wednesday, March 10, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D213-D216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Research, Education and Extension. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the USDA: Joseph J. Jen, Under Secretary, 
Education and Economics; Edward B. Knipling, Acting Administrator, 
Agricultural Research Service; Colien Hefferan, Administrator, 
Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service; Susan E. 
Offutt, Administrator, Economic Research Service; R. Ronald Bosecker, 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Services; and Stephen 
B. Dewhurst, Budget Officer.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, JUDICIARY AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, 
Judiciary and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department of State, 
Administration of Foreign Affairs. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of State: Richard L. Armitage, 
Deputy Secretary; and Grant Green, Under Secretary, Management.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
Army Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of the Army: Les Brownlee, Acting Secretary; and Gen. 
Peter Schoomaker, USA, Chief of Staff.
  The Subcommittee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on 
Army Acquisition Programs. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of the Army: Gen. Claude M. Boulton, USA, 
Assistant Secretary Acquisitions, Logistics and Technology; and Brig. 
Gen. Jeffrey Sorenson, USA, Deputy, Systems Management to the Assistant 
Secretary of the Army.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. 
Testimony was heard from John Paul Woodley, Assistant Secretary of the 
Army (Civil Works) and the following officials of the U.S. Army Corps 
of Engineers: LTG. Robert B. Flowers, USA, Chief, Engineers; MG. Carl 
A. Strock, Director, Civil Works; and Robert F. Vining, Chief, Programs 
Management Division, Civil Works Directorate.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing and Related Programs held a hearing on the Secretary of 
State. Testimony was heard from Colin L. Powell, Secretary of State.
INTERIOR AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior and Related 
Agencies held a hearing on Indian Health Services. Testimony was heard 
from Charles W. Grim, D.D.S., Director, Indian Health Services, 
Department of Health and Human Services.
LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education and Related Agencies held a hearing on the Centers 
for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Testimony was heard from Dennis 
Smith, Acting Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services, Department of Health and Human Services.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Agency for Healthcare 
Research and Quality. Testimony was heard from Carolyn Clancy, M.D., 
Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of 
Health and Human Services.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held 
a hearing on Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: Dove S. Zakheim, Under 
Secretary, Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer; and Raymond F. DuBois, 
Deputy Under Secretary, Installations and Environment.
TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury 
and Independent Agencies held a hearing on GSA. Testimony was heard 
from Stephen A. Perry, Administrator, GSA.
FISCAL YEAR 2005 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--TOTAL 
FORCE ADEQUACY
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Total Force held a hearing 
on the Fiscal Year 2005 National Defense Authorization Budget Request 
on the

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Adequacy of the Total Force. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: Lt. Gen. James E. Cartwright, 
USMC, Director, Force Structure, Resources and Assessment (J8), Joint 
Chiefs of Staff; Lt. Gen. Richard A. Cody, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, 
G-3. Headquarters; and Lt. Gen. Franklin L. Hagenbeck, USA, Deputy 
Chief of Staff, G1, Headquarters, both with the Department of the Army; 
Vice Adm. Kevin P. Green, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Plans, 
Policy and Operations, Headquarters; and Vice Adm. Gerald Hoewing, USN, 
Chief of Naval Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Manpower 
and Personnel, Headquarters, both with the Department of the Navy; Lt. 
Gen. Duncan J. McNabb, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs, 
Headquarters; and Lt. Gen. Richard Brown, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, 
Personnel, Headquarters, both with the Department of the Air Force; Lt. 
Gen. Jan C. Huly, USMC, Deputy Commandant, Plans, Policies and 
Operations, Headquarters; Lt. Gen. Garry L. Parks, USMC, Deputy 
Commander, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters, both with the 
U.S. Marine Corps.
CHILD NUTRITION IMPROVEMENT AND INTEGRITY ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported, as amended, 
H.R. 3873, Child Nutrition Improvement and Integrity Act.
HEALTH CARE PRIORITIES REVIEW
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Held a hearing entitled ``A Review of 
the Administration's FY2005 Health Care Priorities.'' Testimony was 
heard from Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of Health and Human Services.
OVERSIGHT--SATELLITE HOME VIEWER IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``Oversight of the Satellite 
Home Viewer Improvement Act.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
COIN AND MEDAL MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and 
International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology approved for full 
Committee action the following measures: H.R. 1914, Jamestown 400th 
Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act of 2003; H.R. 2131, To award a 
congressional gold medal to President Jose Maria Aznar of Spain; H.R. 
2768, John Marshall Commemorative Coin Act; and H.R. 3277, Marine Corps 
230th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act.
  Prior to this action, the Committee held a hearing on these measures. 
Testimony was heard from William H. Rehnquist, Chief Justice, United 
States Supreme Court; Richard L. Armitage, Deputy Secretary, Department 
of State, J. Steven Griles, Deputy Secretary; Department of the 
Interior; and Gen. Carl E. Mundy, Jr., USMC (Ret.), 30th Commandant of 
the Marine Corps.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY--MAKING FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT A PRIORITY
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Efficiency 
and Financial Management held an oversight hearing entitled ``Making 
Financial Management a Priority at DHS.'' Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Clark Kent 
Ervin, Inspector General; and Andrew Maner, Chief Financial Officer.
FUTURE OF U.S.-LIBYAN RELATIONS
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Weapons of Mass 
Destruction, Terrorism, Human Rights and the Future of U.S.-Libyan 
Relations. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of State: William J.Burns, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
Near Eastern Affairs; and Paula A. DeSutter, Assistant Secretary, 
Bureau of Verification and Compliance; and public witnesses.
HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES--REVIEW STATE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Human Rights 
Practices Around the World: A Review of the State Department's 2003 
Annual Report. Testimony was heard from Lorne W. Craner, Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Department of 
State; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--FOREST SERVICE BUDGET
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held 
an oversight hearing on the Fiscal Year 2005 President's Budget for the 
Forest Service. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
USDA: Mark Rey, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment; and 
Dale Bosworth, Chief, Forest Service.
BROADCAST DECENCY ENFORCEMENT ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 9 to 2, a structured rule 
providing ninety minutes of general debate on H.R. 3717, Broadcast 
Decency Enforcement Act of 2004, equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Energy and 
Commerce. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of 
the

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bill. The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute recommended by the Committee on Energy and Commerce now 
printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment, and shall be considered as read. The rule waives 
all points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute. The rule makes in order only those amendments to the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute which are printed in 
the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution. The rule 
provides that the amendments made in order may be offered only in the 
order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated 
in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the 
time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the 
proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall 
not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or 
in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order 
against the amendments printed in the report. Finally, the rule 
provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony 
was heard from Chairman Barton and Representatives Upton, Markey, 
Stupak, Price of North Carolina, Hinchey, Inslee and Watson.
SPACE EXPLORATION--PERSPECTIVES ON PRESIDENT'S VISION
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on Perspectives on the President's 
Vision for Space Exploration. Testimony was heard from Lennard Fisk, 
Chairman, Space Studies Board, National Academy of Sciences; and public 
witnesses.
SPIKE IN METAL PRICES
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Spike in Metal 
Prices: What Does it Mean for Small Manufacturers?'' Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation approved for full Committee action, 
as amended, H.R. 3879, Coast Guard Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2005.
SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER AND INDIVIDUAL TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER 
MISMATCHES AND MISUSE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight and the 
Subcommittee on Social Security held a joint hearing on Social Security 
Number and Individual Taxpayer Identification Number Mismatches and 
Misuse. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Treasury: Mark Everson, Commissioner; and Nina Olson, 
National Taxpayer Advocate, both with the IRS; and Pamela Gardiner, 
Acting Inspector General, Tax Administration; the following officials 
of the SSA: James B. Lockhart III, Deputy Commissioner; and Patrick P. 
O'Carroll, Assistant Inspector General, Investigations; and Michael 
Brostek, Director, Tax Issues, GAO.
INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY BUDGET REVIEW
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Intelligence Community Budget overview. Testimony was 
heard from departmental witnesses.
IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN--COMMUNITY-MILITARY COORDINATION
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism 
and Homeland Security met in executive session to hold a hearing on 
Intelligence Community-Military Coordination in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY PROPOSED INFORMATION ANALYSIS BUDGET
Select Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence and 
Counterterrorism held a hearing entitled ``The Department of Homeland 
Security Proposed Information Analysis Budget for Fiscal Year 2005.'' 
Testimony was heard from Patrick M. Hughes, Assistant Secretary, 
Information Analysis, Department of Homeland Security.

Joint Meetings
STRENGTHENING RETIREMENT SECURITY
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
issues relative to helping Americans save, focusing on the Save More 
Tomorrow plan (SmarT), Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs), the 
Commission to Strengthen Social Security, improving financial 
education, and promoting automatic savings, after receiving testimony 
from Richard H. Thaler, University of Chicago Graduate School of 
Business, Chicago, Illinois; Robert C. Pozen, MFS Investment 
Management, Boston, Massachusetts; Ric Edelman, Edelman Financial 
Services, Fairfax, Virginia; and Peter R. Orszag, Urban-Brookings Tax 
Policy Center, Washington, D.C.
LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATIONS: VFW
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint 
hearings with the House Committee

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on Veterans' Affairs to examine the legislative presentation of the 
Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, after receiving 
testimony from Edward S. Banas, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United 
States, Washington, D.C.