[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 65 (Tuesday, May 11, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D482-D484]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FASTER AND SMARTER FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ACT OF 2004
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on H.R. 3266, Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 
2004. Testimony was heard from Representative Cox; Andrew T. Mitchell, 
Deputy Director, Office of Domestic Preparedness, Department of 
Homeland Security; and William Raub, Acting Assistant Secretary, 
Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and Human Services.
``DOE NUCLEAR SECURITY: WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES, AND WHAT'S NEXT?''
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``DOE Nuclear Security: What are 
the Challenges, and What's Next?'' Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Energy: Kyle E. McSlarrow, 
Deputy Secretary; Ambassador Lynton Brooks, Administrator, National 
Nuclear Security Administration; and Glenn Podonsky, Director, Office 
of Security and Safety Performance Assessment; Robin M. Nazzaro, 
Director, Natural Resources and Environment, GAO; and a public witness.
TERRORIST FINANCING AND MONEY LAUNDERING
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug 
Policy and Human Resources held a hearing entitled ``Terrorist 
Financing and Money Laundering Investigations: Who Investigates and How 
Effective Are They?'' Testimony was heard from Marcy Forman, Deputy 
Assistant Director, Financial Investigations, U.S. Immigration and 
Customs Enforcement, Department of Homeland Security; the following 
officials of the Department of Justice: Donald C. Semesky, Chief, 
Office of Financial Operations, DEA; Michael Morehart, Section Chief, 
Terrorist Financing Operations Section, FBI; and John Roth, Chief, 
Criminal Division's Asset Forfeiture and Money Laundering Section; the 
following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Dwight Sparlin, 
Director, Operations, Policy, and Support for the Criminal 
Investigations Branch, IRS; Bob Warner, Chief of Staff, FinCEN; and 
Daniel Glaser, Director, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Section; 
Richard Stana, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, GAO; and a 
public witness.

[[Page D483]]


COMBATING TERRORISM
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, 
Emerging Threats and International Relations held a hearing entitled 
``Combating Terrorism: Training and Equipping Reserve Component 
Forces.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: ISG Gerald Neill, 323 Military Intelligence 
Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Maryland; SSG Juan SanchezLopez, 2nd 
Battalion 23rd Marine Reserves; SP Michael Tanguay, 143 Military Police 
Company, National Guard, Connecticut; LTG Steve J. Novotny, 530th 
Military Police Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve, Nebraska; BG Louis Weber, 
Director of Training, U.S. Army; LTG James R. Helmly, Chief of Army 
Reserve; LTG Roger C. Schultz, Director, Army National Guard; and LTG 
Edward Hanlon, Commandant, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; and 
public witnesses.
BRIEFING--CURRENT ISSUES IN WORLD HUNGER
Committee on International Relations: Held a briefing on Current Issues 
in World Hunger. The Committee was briefed by Ambassador Tony Hall, 
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.
THE AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
Committee on International Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa held a 
hearing on The African Growth and Opportunity Act: Building Trade 
Capacity. Testimony was heard from Emmy Simmons, Assistant 
Administrator, Bureau for Economic Growth, Agriculture, and Trade, AID, 
Department of State; Florizelle H. Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade 
Representative for Africa; and a public witness.
PRIVATE RELIEF MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border 
Security, and Claims approved for full Committee action private relief 
bills.
MEDICARE CHRONIC CARE IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
the Medicare Chronic Care Improvement Program. Testimony was heard from 
Mark McClennan, M.D., Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, 
Services, Department of Health and Human Services; and public 
witnesses.
DISPOSITION OF UNUSED HEALTH BENEFITS IN CAFETERIA PLANS AND FLEXIBLE 
SPENDING ARRANGEMENTS; IMPROVE PATIENT ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE SERVICES 
AND IMPROVE MEDICAL CARE; AND SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing for 
consideration of H.R. 4279, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 
to provide for the disposition of unused health benefits in cafeteria 
plans and flexible spending arrangements, under a modified closed rule. 
The rule provides one hour of debate in the House on H.R. 4279 equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of 
the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule provides for consideration of 
the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of the 
Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution, if offered by 
Representative Rangel of New York or his designee, which shall be 
considered as read and shall be separately debatable for one hour 
equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. The 
rule waives all points of order against the amendment printed in part A 
of the report. The rule provides one motion to recommit H.R. 4279 with 
or without instructions.
  Section 2 of the resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4280, 
to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved 
medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system 
places on the health care delivery system, under a closed rule. The 
rule provides one hour of debate in the House on H.R. 4280 with 40 
minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary and 20 minutes 
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. The rule provides one 
motion to recommit H.R. 4280.
  Section 3 of the resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 4281, 
Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2004, under a modified closed 
rule. The rule provides one hour of debate in the House on H.R. 4281 
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Education and the Workforce. The rule 
provides for consideration of the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute printed in part B of the Rules Committee report accompanying 
the resolution, if offered by Representative Kind of Wisconsin or his 
designee, which shall be considered as read and shall be separately 
debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the proponent 
and an opponent. The

[[Page D484]]

rule waives all points of order against the amendment printed in part B 
of the report. The rule provides one motion to recommit H.R. 4281 with 
or without instructions.
  Section 4 of the resolution provides that in the engrossment of H.R. 
4279 the clerk shall add the texts of H.R. 4280 and H.R. 4281 as passed 
by the House, as new matter at the end of H.R. 4279, and then lay H.R. 
4280 and H.R. 4281 on the table. Finally, the rule provides that if 
H.R. 4279 is disposed of without reaching the stage of engrossment, 
H.R. 4280 shall be treated in the manner specified for H.R. 4279 and 
only H.R. 4281 shall be laid on the table. Testimony was heard from 
Chairman Boehner and Representatives McCrery, Greenwood, Shadegg, Smith 
of Texas, Andrews, Kind, Wynn, Scott of Virginia, Sandlin and Baird.
PERMANENTLY EXTEND 10-PERCENT INDIVIDUAL TAX RATE BRACKET
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule 
providing one hour of debate in the House on H.R. 4275, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to permanently extend the 10-percent 
individual income tax rate bracket, equally divided and controlled by 
the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and 
Means. The rule provides for consideration of the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Committee report 
accompanying the resolution, if offered by Representative Rangel of New 
York or his designee, which shall be considered as read, and shall be 
separately debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the 
proponent and an opponent. The rule waives all points of order against 
the amendment printed in the report. Finally, the rule provides one 
motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard 
from Representative Sessions.