[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 89 (Thursday, June 24, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D697-D700]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
DOD--CONTRACTOR SUPPORT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held a hearing 
on contractor support in the Department of Defense. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Michael W. 
Wynne, Acting Under Secretary, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics; 
John J. Young, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Research, Development and 
Acquisition, U.S. Navy; Marvin R. Sambur, Assistant Secretary, 
Acquisition, U.S. Air Force; and Tina

[[Page D698]]

Ballard, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Policy and Procurement, U.S. Army.
DOD--SMALL CALIBER AMMUNITION PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land 
Forces held a hearing on Department of Defense small caliber ammunition 
programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Army: MG Buford C. Blount, III, USA, Assistant Deputy 
Chief of Staff, G-3; BG Paul S. Izzo, USA, Program Executive Officer, 
Ammunition; and BG James Rafferty, USA, Deputy Commander, Joint 
Munitions Command; and public witnesses.
INNOVATIVE HEALTH INSURANCE OPTIONS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-
Employee Relations held a hearing entitled ``Examining Innovative 
Health Insurance Options for Workers and Employers.'' Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 2929, amended, Safeguard Against Privacy Invasions Act; H.R. 2023, 
amended, Asthmatic Schoolchildren's Treatment and Health Management Act 
of 2003; S. 741, Minor Use and Minor Species Animal Health Act of 2004; 
H.R. 4555, amended, Mammography Quality Standards Reauthorization Act 
of 2004; H.R. 3981, amended, To reclassify fees paid into the Nuclear 
Waste Fund as offsetting collections; and H.R. 4600, amended, Junk Fax 
Prevention Act of 2004.
HOSPITAL BILLING AND COLLECTION PRACTICES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``A Review of Hospital Billing 
and Collection Practices.'' Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: Herb Kuhn, 
Director, Center for Medicare Management, Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services; and Lewis Morris, Chief Counsel, Office of Inspector 
General; and pubic witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--PUBLIC ACCOUNTING OVERSIGHT BOARD
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises held an oversight 
hearing on the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, Testimony was 
heard from William J. McDonough, Chairman, Public Company Accounting 
Oversight Board.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; TARGET WASHINGTON: COORDINATING HOMELAND 
SECURITY EFFORTS
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following bills: 
S. 129, amended, Federal Workforce Flexibility Act of 2003; H.R. 3340, 
To redesignate the facilities of the United States Postal Service 
located at 7715 and 7748 S. Cottage Grove Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, 
as the ``James E. Worsham Post Office'' and the ``James E. Worsham 
Carrier Annex Building,'' respectively; H.R. 4327, To designate the 
facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7450 Natural 
Bridge Road in St. Louis Missouri, as the ``Vitilas `Veto' Reid Post 
Office Building;'' and H.R. 4427, To designate the facility of the 
United States Postal Service located at 73 South Euclid Avenue in 
Montauk, New York, as the ``Perry B. Duryea, Jr., Post Office.''
  The Committee also held a hearing entitled ``Target Washington: 
Coordinating Federal Homeland Security Efforts with Local Jurisdictions 
in the National Capital Region. Testimony was heard from Thomas 
Lockwood, Director, Office of National Capital Region Coordination, 
Department of Homeland Security; William O. Jenkins, Director, Homeland 
Security, GAO; George Foresman, Assistant to the Governor for 
Preparedness, State of Virginia; Dennis Schrader, Director, Office of 
Homeland Security, State of Maryland; Barbara Childs-Pair, Director, 
Emergency Management Agency, District of Columbia; and public 
witnesses.
LIVING WITH DISABILITIES
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Human Rights and 
Wellness held a hearing entitled ``Living with Disabilities in the 
United States: A Snapshot.'' Testimony was heard from Representative 
Langevin; Troy Justesen, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Special 
Education and Rehabilitation Services, Department of Education; Don 
Young, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Health Policy, Department 
of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported the following 
bills: H.R. 4303, amended, American Schools Abroad Support Act; and 
H.R. 4654, To reauthorize the Tropical Forest Conservation Act of 1998 
through Fiscal Year 2007.
  The Committee also favorably considered and adopted a motion urging 
the chairman to request that the following measures be considered on 
the Suspension Calendar: H.R. 1587, amended, Viet Nam Human Rights Act 
of 2003; H.R. 4660, to

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amend the Millennium Challenge Act of 2003 to extend the authority to 
provide assistance to countries seeking to become eligible countries 
for purposes of that Act; H. Res. 615, amended, Expressing the sense of 
the House of Representatives in support of full membership of Israel in 
the Western European and Others GroupS (WEOG) at the United Nations; H. 
Res. 617, amended, Expressing support for the accession of Israel to 
the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OCED); H. 
Res. 652, Urging the Government of the Republic of Belarus to ensure a 
democratic, transparent, and fair election process for its 
parliamentary elections in the fall of 2004; H. Res. 667, Expressing 
support for freedom in Hong Kong; H. Con. Res. 462, Reaffirming 
unwaivering commitment to the Taiwan Relations Act; H. Con. Res. 304, 
Expressing the sense of Congress regarding oppression by the Government 
of the People's Republic of China of Falun Gong in the United States 
and in China; H. Con. Res. 319, amended, Expressing the grave concern 
of Congress regarding the continuing repression of the religious 
freedom and human rights of the Iranian Baha'i community by the 
Government of Iran; H. Con. Res. 363, amended, Expressing the grave 
concern of Congress regarding the continuing gross violations of human 
rights and civil liberties of the Syrian people by the Government of 
the Syrian Arab Republic; H. Con. Res. 436, amended, Celebrating 10 
years of majority rule in the Republic of South Africa and recognizing 
the momentous social and economic achievements of South Africa since 
the institution of democracy in that country; H. Con. Res. 415, Urging 
the Government of Ukraine to ensure a democratic, transparent, and fair 
election process for the presidential election on October 31, 2004; H. 
Con. Res. 418, Recognizing the importance in history of the 150th 
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the 
United States and Japan; H. Con. Res. 422, Concerning the importance of 
the distribution of food in schools to hungry or malnourished children 
around the world; and S. 2264, Northern Uganda Crisis Response Act.
AFRICA--CONFRONTING WAR CRIMES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a 
hearing on Confronting War Crimes in Africa. Testimony was heard from 
Pierre-Richard Prosper, Ambassador-at-Large, Office of War Crimes 
Issues, Department of State; and public witnesses
TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights held a hearing on 
Trafficking in Persons: A Global Review. Testimony was heard from John 
Miller, Senior Advisor to the Secretary and Director, Office to Monitor 
and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Department of State; and public 
witnesses.
IRANIAN PROLIFERATION
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Middle East 
and Central Asia held a hearing on Iranian Proliferation: Implications 
for Terrorists, their State-Sponsors, and U.S. Counter-proliferation 
Policy, Testimony was heard from John R. Bolton, Under Secretary, Arms 
Control and International Security Affairs, Department of State; Peter 
Flory, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Security 
Affairs, Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--ADMINISTRATIVE CONFERENCE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law continued oversight hearings on the Administrative 
Conference of the United States, II: Why is There a Need to Reauthorize 
the Conference? Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--LIMITING FEDERAL COURT JURISDICTION TO PROTECT MARRIAGE FOR 
THE STATES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held an 
oversight hearing entitled ``Limiting Federal Court Jurisdiction to 
Protect Marriage for the States.'' Testimony was heard from former 
Representative William E. Dannemeyer, State of California; and public 
witnesses.
DC--ADDITIONAL COURT; OVERSIGHT--PATENT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property approved for full Committee action H.R. 112, To 
amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for an additional place 
of holding court in the District of Columbia.
  The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing entitled ``Patent 
Quality Improvement: Post-Grant Opposition.'' Testimony was heard from 
James A. Toupin, General Counsel, Patent and Trademark Office, 
Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 
831, To provide for and approve the settlement of certain land claims 
of the Bay Mills Indian Community; and H.R. 2793, To provide for and 
approve the settlement of certain land claims of the Sault Ste. Marie 
Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Dingell, Rogers of Michigan and Stupak; Aurene

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Martin, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, Department of the 
Interior; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held a hearing on the following: H.R. 4010, National Geologic Mapping 
Reauthorization Act of 2004; and H.R. 4625, To reduce temporarily the 
royalty required to be paid for sodium produced on Federal lands. 
Testimony was heard from P. Patrick Leahy, Associate Director, Geology, 
U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior; and public 
witnesses.
AMERICAN AQUACULTURE AND FISHERIES RESOURCES PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 3320, American Aquaculture 
and Fisheries Resources Protection Act. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Ross; John Hogan, Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing one 
hour of general debate on H.R. 4614, Energy and Water Development 
Appropriations Act, 2005, equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. Under the rules of the House the bill shall 
be read for amendment by paragraph. The rule waives points of order 
against provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of 
rule XXI (prohibiting unauthorized appropriations or legislative 
provisions in an appropriations bill), except as specified in the 
resolution. The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in 
recognition to Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the 
Congressional Record. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit 
with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Hobson, Gibbons, Wilson of New Mexico, Visclosky, Eshoo, and Lofgren.
NUCLEAR R&D--IDAHO NATIONAL LABORATORY
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on Nuclear 
R&D and the Idaho National Laboratory. Testimony was heard from William 
D. Magwood, IV, Director, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and 
Technology, Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
VOTING EQUIPMENT--TESTING AND CERTIFICATION
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Environment, Technology and 
Standards held a hearing on Testing and Certification for Voting 
Equipment: How Can the Process Be Improved? Testimony was heard from 
Hratch Szerjian, Acting Director, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--UPPER MISSISSIPPI AND ILLINOIS RIVERS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held an oversight hearing on Upper 
Mississippi and Illinois Rivers--Recommendations for Navigation 
Improvements and Ecosystem Restoration. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Gutknecht; MG Carl Strock, USA, Director of Civil Works, 
Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army; John Jamian, Deputy 
Administrator, Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation; 
A. J. Yates, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, USDA; 
Benjamin N. Tuggle, Chief, Division of Habitat and Resource 
Conservation; Jerri-Anne Garl, Director, Region 5, EPA; and public 
witnesses.
VETERANS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on the Department of Veterans Affairs Real Property and Facilities 
Management Improvement Act of 2004. Testimony was heard from Anthony J. 
Principi, Secretary of Veterans Affairs; representatives of veterans 
organizations; and public witnesses.
CUSTOMS AND BORDER SECURITY ACT OF 2004
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade approved for full 
Committee action, as amended, H.R. 4418, Customs and Border Security 
Act of 2004.
INFORMATION SHARING AFTER 9/11
Select Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing entitled 
``Information Sharing After September 11: Perspectives on the Future.'' 
Testimony was heard from James Gilmore, Chair, Advisory Panel to Assess 
Domestic Response Capabilities for Terrorism Involving Weapons of Mass 
Destruction; and public witnesses.