[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 43 (Wednesday, March 31, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D326-D329]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, JUDICIARY AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, 
Judiciary and Related Agencies held a hearing on FCC. Testimony was 
heard from Michael Powell, Chairman, FCC.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the SEC. Testimony was heard 
from William H. Donaldson, Chairman, SEC.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive 
session to hold a hearing on Missile Defense. Testimony was heard from 
LTG Ronald Kadish, USAF, Director, Missile Defense Agency, Department 
of Defense.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Contributions of the Army Corps of 
Engineers in the Restoration of Iraq and Afghanistan. Testimony was 
heard from LTG Robert B. Flowers, USA, Chief, Corps of Engineers, 
Department of the Army.
HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a 
hearing on U.S. Coast Guard. Testimony was heard from ADM Thomas H. 
Collins, USCG, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, 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 the Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention. Testimony was heard from Julie 
Louise Gerberding, M.D., Director, Centers for Disease Control and 
Prevention, and Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease 
Registry, Department of Health and Human Services.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held 
a hearing on the Pacific Command. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: ADM Thomas B. Fargo, 
USN, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command; and GEN Leon J. LaPorte, USA, 
Commander, Republic of Korea-U.S. Combines Forces Command and Command 
Forces Korea.
VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent 
Agencies held a hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Testimony was heard from Anthony J. Principi, Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--DOD
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2005 
National Defense Authorization budget request of the Department of 
Defense. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: ADM Thomas B. Fargo, USN, Commander, U.S. 
Pacific Command; and GEN Leon J. Laporte, USA, Commander, U.S. Forces 
Korea.

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NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--DOD'S BUSINESS 
TRANSFORMATION EFFORTS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2005 
National Defense Authorization budget request--Department of Defense's 
Business Transformation Efforts. Testimony was heard from Gregory D. 
Kutz, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, GAO; the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: JoAnn Boutelle, Deputy Chief 
Financial Officer; Margaret E. Myers, Principal Deputy Under Secretary 
(Comptroller) and the Deputy Under Secretary, Management Reform; Gary 
L. Winkler, Director, Enterprise Integration, CIO/G6, Department of the 
Army; David M. Wennergren, Chief Information Officer, Department of the 
Navy; John M. Gilligan, Chief Information Officer, Department of the 
Air Force; BG John R. Thomas, USMC, Director C/4 Chief Information 
Officer, U.S. Marine Corps; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST--RESERVE COMPONENT 
TRANSFORMATION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Total Force held a hearing 
on the Fiscal Year 2005 National Defense Authorization budget request 
on Reserve Component Transformation and Relieving the Stress on the 
Reserve Component. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Defense: Albert C. Zapanta, Chairman, Reserve Forces 
Policy Board; Thomas F. Hall, Assistant Secretary, Reserve Affairs; LTG 
H. Steven Blum, USA, Chief, National Guard Board; LTG Roger C. Schultz, 
USA, Director, Army National Guard and LTG James Helmly, USA, Chief, 
U.S. Army Reserve, all with the Department of the Army; VADM John G. 
Cotton, USN, Director, U.S. Naval Reserve and LTG Dennis M. McCarthy, 
USMC, Commander, Marine Forces Reserve, both with the Department of the 
Navy; and LTG Daniel James III, USAF, Director, Air National Guard and 
LTG James E. Sherrard III, USAF, Chief, Air Force Reserve, both the 
Department of the Air Force.
U.S.-CHINA TRADE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled ``U.S.-China Trade: 
Preparations for the Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade.'' 
Testimony was heard from Charles W. Freeman III, Deputy Assistant U.S. 
Trade Representative; and public witnesses.
REVIEW TARGETING PROGRAM FOR SEA CARGO
Committee on Energy Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``A Review to Assess Progress 
with the Bureau of Customs and Border Protection's Targeting Program 
for Sea Cargo.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Homeland Security: Jayson Ahern, Assistant 
Commissioner; Vera Adams Port Director, Long Beach, CA., and Kevin 
McCabe, Chief Inspector, Newark, New Jersey, all with the Bureau of 
Customs and Border Protection, and Clark Kent Ervin, Inspector General; 
and a public witness.
INCREASE INSURANCE CHOICES FOR CONSUMERS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled 
``Working with State Regulators to Increase Insurance Choices for 
Consumers.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--``10 YEARS OF GPRA--RESULTS DEMONSTRATED''
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Efficiency 
and Financial Management held an oversight hearing entitled ``10 Years 
of GPRA--Results, Demonstrated.'' Testimony was heard from Patricia 
Dalton, Director, Strategic Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported the following 
bills: H.R. 4019, Concerning participation of Taiwan in the World 
Health Organization; H.R. 4011, amended, North Korea Human Rights Act 
of 2004; H.R. 4060, Peace Corps Safety and Security Act of 2004; H.R. 
4061, Assistance for Orphaned and Vulnerable Children in Developing 
Countries Act of 2004.
  The Committee also favorably considered the following measures and 
adopted a motion urging the Chairman to request that they be considered 
on the Suspension Calendar: H.R. 4053, United States International 
Leadership Act of 2003; H. Res. 402, Expressing the sense of the House 
of Representatives regarding the urgent need for freedom, democratic 
reform, and international monitoring of elections, human rights, and 
religious liberty in the Lao People's Democratic Republic; H. Res. 535, 
amended, Expressing the concern and support of the House of 
Representatives for local elected officials under threat of 
assassination, kidnapping, forcible displacement, and coercion by 
terrorist organizations in the Republic of Colombia; H. Res. 563, 
amended, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding

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the one-year anniversary of the human rights crackdown in Cuba; H. Res. 
576, amended, Urging the Government of the People's Republic of China 
to improve its protection of intellectual property rights; H. Con. Res. 
326, Expressing the sense of Congress regarding the arbitrary detention 
of Dr. Wang Bingzhang by the Government of the People's Republic of 
China and urging his immediate release; H. Con. Res. 336, Expressing 
the sense of Congress that the continued participation of the Russian 
Federation in the Group of 8 nations should be conditioned on the 
Russian Government voluntarily accepting and adhering to the norms and 
standards of democracy; H. Con. Res. 352, Recognizing the contributions 
of people of Indian origin to the United States and the benefits of 
working together with India towards promoting peace, prosperity, and 
freedom among all countries of the world; H. Con. Res. 378, Calling on 
the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam to immediately and 
unconditionally release Father Thaddeus Nguyen Van Ly; and H. Con. Res. 
398, Expressing the concern of Congress over Iran's development of the 
means to produce nuclear weapons.
BELARUS AND ITS FUTURE
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Europe held a 
hearing on Belarus and Its future: Democracy or Soviet-Style 
Dictatorship? Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ANABOLIC STEROID CONTROL ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 3866, 
Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004.
OVERSIGHT--LEGAL SERVICES CORPORATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held an oversight hearing on the Legal Services 
Corporation: Inquiry into the Activities of the California Rural Legal 
Assistance Program and Testimony Relating to the Merits of Client Co-
Pay. Testimony was heard from Helaine M. Barnett, President, Legal 
Services Corporation; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property approved for full Committee action, as amended, 
the following bills: H.R. 4077, Piracy Deterrence and Education Act of 
2004; H.R. 3632, Anti-Counterfeiting Amendments of 2003; and H.R. 3754, 
Fraudulent Online Sanctions Act.
OVERSIGHT--BUREAU OF INDIAN AFFAIRS--FEDERAL RECOGNITION AND 
ACKNOWLEDGMENT PROCESS
Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on the Federal 
recognition and acknowledgment process by the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Johnson of Connecticut; R. Lee 
Fleming, Director, Office of Federal Acknowledgment, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT: A LEGACY FOR USERS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing 
for further consideration of H.R. 3550, Transportation Equity Act: A 
Legacy for Users. The rule provides for no further general debate 
except for the final period of ten minutes following consideration of 
the bill for amendment contemplated in the order of the House of March 
30, 2004. The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure now printed in the bill, modified by the amendments 
printed in part A of the Rules Committee report accompanying the 
resolution, shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the 
Committee of the Whole. The rule provides that the bill, as amended, 
shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further 
amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points 
of order against provisions in the bill, as amended. The rule makes in 
order only those amendments printed in part B of the Rules Committee 
report 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 or demand for division of the 
question. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments 
printed in the report. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions. Section 2 of the resolution provides that the 
amendment considered as adopted under the first section of the 
resolution shall be considered an amendment offered under section 411 
of House Concurrent Resolution 95.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTION REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE 
CONCERNING TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT: A LEGACY FOR USERS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving clause 6(a) 
of rule XIII (requiring a two-

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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 Thursday, April 1, 2004, providing for 
consideration or disposition of the bill (H.R. 3550) to authorize funds 
for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit 
programs, and for other purposes.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science: Ordered reported, as amended, the following 
bills: H.R. 3980, National Windstorm Impact Reduction Act of 2004; and 
H.R. 4030, Congressional Medal for Outstanding Contributions in Math 
and Science Education Act. of 2004.
  The Committee also began markup of H.R. 3970, Green Chemistry 
Research and Development Act of 2004.
  Will continue tomorrow.
RAILROAD ECONOMIC REGULATION STATUS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads held a hearing on the Status of Railroad Economic Regulation. 
Testimony was heard from Roger Nober, Chairman, Surface Transportation 
Board, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses.
DOV'S EMPLOYMENT PRACTICES--PROCEDURES FOR BACKGROUND CHECKS AND 
CREDENTIALING
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on current Department of Veterans Affairs 
employment practices with regard to procedures for background checks 
and credentialing. Testimony was heard from Cynthia Grubbs, R.N., 
Director, Office of Policy and Planning, Bureau of Health Professions, 
Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and 
Human Services; Cynthia A. Bascetta, Director, Health Care--Veterans' 
Health and Benefits Issues, GAO; and Frances M. Murphy, M. D., Deputy 
Under Secretary, Health Policy Coordination, Veterans Health 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs
BRIEFING IRAQ WMD UPDATE
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Iraq Weapons of Mass Destruction Update. The 
Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses.
COUNTERINTELLIGENCE BUDGET
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Counterintelligence Budget. Testimony was heard from 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
2005 BUDGET
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House 
passed versions of S. Con. Res. 95, setting forth the congressional 
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2005 and 
including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2006 
through 2009, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject 
to the call.