[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 24, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D280-D284]
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 Food and Nutrition Service. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the USDA: Eric M. Bost, Under Secretary, Kate 
Coler, Deputy Under Secretary, both with the Food, Nutrition, and 
Consumer Services; Robert Salazar, Administrator, Food and Nutrition 
Service; Eric Hentges, Executive Director, Center for Nutrition Policy 
and Promotion; 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 Legal Activities; DEA; 
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of Justice: James 
Comey, Deputy Attorney General; Karen Tandy, Administrator, DEA; and 
Edgar Domenech, Acting Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and 
Firearms.

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  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on U.S. Marshals Service and 
Federal Prison System. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of Justice: Benigno G. Rayna, Director, U.S. Marshals 
Service; and Harley G. Lappin, Director, Bureau of Prisons.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Nuclear Waste Disposal and Environmental 
Management. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Energy: Margaret Chu, Director, Office of Civilian 
Radioactive Waste Management; and Jessie Roberson, Assistant Secretary, 
Environmental Management.
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on Emergency Preparedness and Response. Testimony was heard 
from Michael Brown, Under Secretary, Emergency Preparedness and 
Response, Department of Homeland Security.
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 Health 
Resources and Services Administration. Testimony was heard from 
Elizabeth James Duke, M.D., Administrator, Health Resources and 
Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services.
  The Subcommittee held a hearing on the Administration for Children 
and Families. Testimony was heard from Wade F. Horn, Assistant 
Secretary, Administration for Children and Families, Department of 
Health and Human Services.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Secretary of Education. 
Testimony was heard from Roderick R. Paige, Secretary of Education.
TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury 
and Independent Agencies held a hearing on OMB. Testimony was heard 
from Joshua Bolton, Director, OMB.
VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent 
Agencies held a hearing on Chemical Safety Hazard Investigation Board. 
Testimony was heard from Carolyn W. Merritt, Chair, U.S. Chemical 
Safety and Hazard Investigation Board.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Corporation for National and 
Community Service. Testimony was heard from David Eisner, CEO, 
Corporation for National and Community Service.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2005 
National Defense Authorization budget request from the Department of 
Defense. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: GEN James L. Jones, USMC, Commander, U.S. 
European Command; and GEN James T. Hill, USA, Commander, U.S. Southern 
Command.
PRE-POSITIONED EQUIPMENT PROGRAMS--USA AND USMC
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
on the Pre-positioned Equipment Programs of the United States Army and 
United States Marine Corps. Testimony was heard from BG Jerome Johnson, 
USA, Director, Plans, Operations and Readiness, and BG Kevin T. Ryan, 
Director, Strategy, Plans and Policy, both with the Department of the 
Army; BG Robert B. Neller, USMC, Director, Operations Division (PO), 
Plans, Policy and Operations, U.S. Marine Corps; William M. Solis, 
Director, Defense Capabilities and Management, GAO; and a public 
witness.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--MILITARY PERSONNEL 
POLICY
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Total Force held a hearing 
on the Fiscal Year 2005 National Defense Authorization budget request--
Military Personnel Policy, Benefits and Compensation Overview. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: Charles S. Abell, Principal Deputy Under Secretary, Personnel 
and Readiness; LTG Franklin L. Hagenbeck, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, 
G1, Headquarters, Department of the Army; VADM Gerald Hoewing, USN, 
Chief, Naval Personnel and Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Manpower 
and Personnel; and LTG Garry L. Parks, USMC, Deputy Commandant, 
Manpower and Reserve Affairs, U.S. Marine Corps, both with the 
Department of the Navy; LTG Richard Brown, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, 
Personnel, Headquarters, U.S. Air Force; Derek B. Stewart, Director, 
Defense, Capabilities and Management, GAO; and public witnesses.

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``THE STATE OF U.S. INDUSTRY''
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Held a hearing on ``The State of U.S. 
Industry.'' Testimony was heard from Donald L. Evans, Secretary of 
Commerce.
ZERO DOWNPAYMENT ACT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community 
Opportunity held a hearing on H.R. 3755, Zero Downpayment Act of 2004. 
Testimony was heard from John Weicher, Assistant Secretary, Housing-
Federal Housing Commissioner, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS PROGRAM AND FEDERAL LONG-
TERM CARE INSURANCE PROGRAM
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Civil Service and 
Agency Organization held an oversight hearing entitled ``Oversight of 
the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and the Federal Long-Term 
Care Insurance Program.'' Testimony was heard from Dan G. Blair, Deputy 
Director, OPM; and public witnesses.
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT'S PLAN--CONSOLIDATE AND CO-LOCATE REGIONAL 
AND FIELD OFFICES TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Energy Policy, Natural 
Resources and Regulatory Affairs and the Subcommittee on National 
Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations held a joint 
hearing entitled ``The Homeland Security Department's Plan to 
Consolidate and Co-locate Regional and Field Offices: Improving 
Communication and Coordination.'' Testimony was heard from Asa 
Hutchinson, Under Secretary, Boarder and Transportation Security, 
Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
DIETARY SUPPLEMENTS STATUS
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Human Rights and 
Wellness held a hearing entitled ``10 Years after the Implementation of 
DSHEA: The Status of Dietary Supplements in the United States.'' 
Testimony was heard from Senator Durbin; Robert Brackett, Director, 
Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, FDA, Department of Health 
and Human Services; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--ELECTRONIC GOVERNMENT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Technology, Information 
Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census held an oversight 
hearing entitled ``Electronic Government: A Progress Report on the 
Successes and Challenges of Government-wide Information Technology 
Solutions.'' Testimony was heard from Karen S. Evans, Administrator, E-
Government and Information Technology, OMB; Linda Koontz, Director, 
Information Management, GAO; the following officials of the GSA: Martin 
Wagner, Associate Administrator, Office of Government-wide Policy; and 
M. J. Jameson, Associate Administrator (USA Services), Office of 
Citizen Services and Communication; Norman Enger, Director, E-
Government (E-Payroll), OPM; Kim Nelson, Chief Information Officer (E-
Rulemaking Initiative), EPA; and George Strawn, Chief Information 
Officer (E-Grants), Division of Grants and Agreements, NSF.
PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEERS--SAFETY AND SECURITY
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Safety and 
Security of Peace Corps Volunteers. Testimony was heard from Jess Ford, 
Director, International Affairs and Trade, GAO; the following officials 
of the Peace Corps: Gaddi H. Vasquez, Director; and Charles D. Smith, 
Inspector General; and public witnesses.
SAUDI ARABIA AND THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM FINANCING
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Middle East 
and Central Asia held a hearing on Saudi Arabia and the Fight Against 
Terrorism Financing. Testimony was heard from J. Cofer Black, 
Coordinator, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Department 
of State; Gary M. Bald, Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Unit, FBI, 
Department of Justice; Juan C. Zarate, Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
Executive Office Terrorist Financing and Financial Crime, Department of 
the Treasury; and public witnesses.
GUEST WORKERS IMPACT ON WORKING AMERICANS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border 
Security, and Claims held an oversight hearing entitled ``How Would 
Millions of Guestworkers Impact Working Americans and Americans Seeking 
Employment?'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--FACILITY TITLE TRANSFERS; MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held an 
oversight hearing on the Bureau of Reclamation's Facility Title 
Transfers: Lessons Learned and Future Opportunities. Testimony was 
heard from John Keys III, Commissioner, Bureau of

[[Page D283]]

Reclamation, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on H.R. 3747, Wallowa Lake Dam 
Rehabilitation and Water Management Act of 2004. Testimony was heard 
from John Keys III, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of 
the Interior.
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2005
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing 
for further consideration of H. Con. Res. 393, concurrent resolution 
establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government 
for fiscal year 2005 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for 
fiscal years 2004 and 2006 through 2009. The rule makes in order only 
those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the 
resolution which 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, 
and shall not be subject to amendment. The rule waives all points of 
order against the amendments printed in the report, except that the 
adoption of an amendment in the nature of a substitute shall constitute 
the conclusion of consideration of the concurrent resolution for 
amendment. The rule provides, upon the conclusion of consideration of 
the concurrent resolution for amendment, for a final period of general 
debate not to exceed 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Budget. 
The rule permits the chairman of the Budget Committee to offer 
amendments in the House to achieve mathematical consistency. Finally, 
the rule provides that the concurrent resolution shall not be subject 
to a demand for division of the question of its adoption. Testimony was 
heard from Chairman Nussle and Representatives Hensarling, Jones (NC), 
Goode, Spratt, Hooley, Edwards, Scott (VA), Thompson (CA), Obey, 
Stenholm, Brown (OH), Waters, Gutierrez, Stupak, Woolsey, Jackson-Lee 
(TX), Turner (TX), Reyes, Schiff, Bishop (NY) and Miller (NC).
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BUDGET PRIORITIES
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on the 
Priorities in the Department of Energy Budget for Fiscal Year 2005. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Energy: James Decker, Principal Deputy Director, Office of Science; 
David Garman, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy; Mark R. Maddox, Acting Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy; 
William D. Magwood, IV, Director, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and 
Technology; and James W. Glotfelty, Director, Office of Electric 
Transmission and Distribution.
NATIONAL WINDSTORM IMPACT REDUCTION ACT
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Research and the Subcommittee on 
Environment, Technology and Standards held a joint hearing on H.R. 
3980, National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004. Testimony was 
heard from Anthony Lowe, Administrator, Federal Insurance Mitigation 
Administration, Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate, 
Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT; MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following measures: H. Con. Res. 376, Authorizing the use of the 
Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby; H. Con. Res. 
388, Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace 
Officers' Memorial Service; H. Con. Res. 389, authorizing the use of 
the Capitol Grounds for the D.C. Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch 
Run; H.R. 3550, amended, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users; 
and H.R. 3994, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users.
EMPLOYING VETERANS OF OUR ARMED FORCES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing entitled ``Employing 
Veterans of Our Armed Forces.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2004 ANNUAL REPORTS
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on Board of Trustees 2004 
Annual Reports. Testimony was heard from John W. Snow, Secretary of the 
Treasury; Rick Foster, Chief Actuary, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
Services, Department of Health and Human Services; Stephen C. Goss, 
Chief Actuary, SSA; and Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, CBO.
CIA PROGRAM BUDGET
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Central Intelligence Agency Program Budget. Testimony 
was heard from departmental witnesses.

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HOMELAND SECURITY JURISDICTION
Select Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Rules held a 
hearing entitled ``Homeland Security Jurisdiction: The Perspective of 
Committee Leaders.'' Testimony was heard from members of the following 
House Committees: Intelligence, Chairman Goss and Representative 
Harman; Agriculture, Chairman Goodlatte and Representative Stenholm; 
Energy and Commerce, Chairman Barton and Representative Dingell; 
Government Reform, Chairman Davis and Representative Waxman; 
Transportation and Infrastructure, Representatives Mica and Oberstar; 
Judiciary: Chairman Sensenbrenner; and Ways and Means, Chairman Thomas.