[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 96 (Tuesday, July 13, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D756-D758]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COLLEGE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing on H.R. 4283, 
College Access and Opportunity Act of 2004, focusing on Graduation 
Rates and Student Outcomes. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
CONSOLIDATE OFFICES OF COUNTER INTELLLIGENCE AT NNSA AND DOE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air 
Quality held a hearing entitled ``A Hearing to Review Proposals to 
Consolidate the Offices of Counter Intelligence at NNSA and DOE.'' 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Energy: Linton F. Brooks, Administrator, National Nuclear Security 
Administration; and Steve Dillard, Director, Office of 
Counterintelligence; and a public witness.
IMPLEMENT INTERNATIONAL CONVENTIONS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and 
Hazardous Materials, hearing entitled ``POPs, Pic, and LRTAP: the Role 
of the United States and Draft Legislation to Implement These 
International Conventions.'' Testimony was heard from Claudia McMurray, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Environment, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of 
State; Susan B. Hazen, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office 
of Prevention, Pesticides, and Toxic Substances, EPA; and public 
witnesses.

[[Page D757]]


SAMARITAN INITIATIVE ACT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community 
Opportunity held a hearing on H.R. 4057, Samaritan Initiative Act of 
2004. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
REVIEW--OFFICE OF FEDERAL HOUSING ENTERPRISE AND FEDERAL HOUSING 
FINANCE BOARD
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations and the Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and 
Government Sponsored Enterprises held a joint hearing entitled ``A 
Review of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight and 
Federal Housing Finance Board.'' Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: Armando 
Falcon. Jr., Director, Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight; 
and Alicia R. Castaneda, Chairman, Federal Housing Finance Board.
FEDERAL HIRING PROCESS--SHORTENING THE LONG AND WINDING ROAD
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Civil Service and 
Agency Organization concluded hearings entitled ``The Federal Hiring 
Process II: Shortening the Long and Winding Road.'' Testimony was heard 
from Dan Blair, Deputy Director, OPM; David Chu, Under Secretary, 
Personnel and Readiness, Department of Defense; Ed Sontag, Assistant 
Secretary, Administration and Management, Chief Human Capital Officer, 
Department of Health and Human Services; Claudia Cross, Chief Human 
Capital Officer, Director, Office of Human Resources Management, 
Department of Energy; and J. Christopher Mihm, Director, Strategic 
Issues, GAO.
VISA REVOCATIONS
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, 
Emerging Threats and International Relations continued hearings 
entitled ``Visa Revocations II: Still Porous, Slow to Fix.'' Testimony 
was heard from Jess T. Ford, International Affairs and Trade Division, 
GAO; Tony Edson, Managing Director, Office of Visa Services, Department 
of State; the following officials of the Department of Homeland 
Security: Robert M. Jacksta, Executive Director, Border Security and 
Facilitation, Bureau of Customs and Border Protection; and Robert A. 
Schoch, Deputy Assistant Director, National Security Investigations, 
Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Donna A. Bucella, 
Director, Terrorist Screening Center, FBI, Department of Justice.
INFORMATION SHARING--LINKING LAW ENFORCEMENT AND HOMELAND SECURITY WITH 
FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Technology, Information 
Policy, Information Policy, Intergovernmental Relations and the Census 
held an oversight hearing entitled ``Facilitating an Enhanced 
Information Sharing Network that Links Law Enforcement and Homeland 
Security for Federal, State and Local Governments.'' Testimony was 
heard from LTG Patrick Hughes, USA, Assistant Secretary, Information 
Analysis, Department of Homeland Security; Russell Travers, Deputy 
Director, and Associate Director, Defense Issues, Terrorist Threat 
Integration Center; Willie Hulon, Deputy Assistant Director, 
Counterterrorism Division FBI, Department of Justice; Gerald Lynch, 
Executive Director, Middle Atlantic-Great Lakes Organized Crime Law 
Enforcement Network; Mark Zadra, Chief of Investigations, Department of 
Law Enforcement, State of Florida; and Suzanne Peck, Chief Technology 
Officer, District of Columbia.
OVERSIGHT--GAMING
Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on gaming on off-
reservation, restored and newly-acquired lands. Testimony was heard 
from Representative McCrery; Aurene Martin, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--STATUS OF OCEAN OBSERVING SYSTEMS IN U.S.
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the Status of Ocean 
Observing Systems in the United States. Testimony was heard from Rick 
Spinrad, Director, National Ocean Service, NOAA, Department of 
Commerce; Margaret S. Leinen, Assistant Director, Geosciences, NSF; 
Robert Winokur, Technical Director, Oceanographer of the Navy, 
Department of the Navy; and public witnesses.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Heard testimony from Representatives Kolbe, Lowey, 
and Lantos, but action was deferred on H.R. 4818, Foreign Operations, 
Export Financing and Related Programs Appropriations for Fiscal Year 
2005.

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U.S.-AUSTRALIA FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote, a closed rule on H.R. 4759, 
United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, 
providing for two hours of debate in the House equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Ways and Means. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The rule provides that pursuant to section 
151(f)(2) of the Trade Act of 1974, the previous question shall be 
considered as ordered on the bill to final passage without intervening 
motion. Section 2 of the resolution provides that during consideration 
of the bill, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, 
the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to a time 
designated by the Speaker. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Crane.
OVERSIGHT--GSA'S FISCAL YEAR CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND LEASING PROGRAM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management held an 
oversight hearing on GSA's Fiscal Year 2005 Capital Investment and 
Leasing Program. Testimony was heard from F. Joseph Moravec, 
Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, GSA; and Jane R. Roth, Judge, 
U.S. Court of Appeals, Third Circuit and Chairman, Committee on 
Security and Facilities, Judicial Conference.
EXAMINE CHILD WELFARE REFORM PROPOSALS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing to Examine Child Welfare Reform Proposals. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.