[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 114 (Tuesday, September 21, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D923-D924]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
KEEPING SENIORS HEALTHY
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Keeping Seniors Healthy: New Preventive Benefits in the 
Medicare Modernization Act.'' Testimony was heard from Carolyn Clancy, 
M.D., Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department 
of Health and Human Services; Janet Heinrich, Director, Healthcare/
Public Health Issues, GAO; and a public witness.
PECHANGA BAND OF LUISENO MISSION INDIANS LAND TRANSFER ACT
Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 4908, Pechanga Band of 
Luiseno Mission Indians Land Transfer Act of 2004. Testimony was heard 
from Chad Calvert, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals 
Management, Department of the Interior; and Mark A. Macarro, Tribal 
Chairman, Pechanga Band of Luiseno Indians.
SAME-DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES 
COMMITTEE
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by voice vote, a resolution 
waiving clause 6(a) of rule XIII (requiring a two-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 September 22, 2004, providing for consideration 
or disposition of a conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 1308) 
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to accelerate the increase 
in the refundability of the child tax credit, and for other purposes.
PLEDGE PROTECTION ACT OF 2004
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by voice vote, a structured rule 
providing one hour of general debate on H.R. 2028, Pledge Protection 
Act of 2004, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The rule waives all 
points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides 
that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill shall be considered 
as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be 
considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. The rule makes in 
order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report 
accompanying the resolution. The rule provides that the amendments 
printed in the report 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, 
shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand 
for a division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the 
Whole. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments 
printed in the report. Finally, the rule provides one motion to 
recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Hostettler, Biggert, Akin, Bass, Jackson-Lee, and Watt.

Joint Meetings
AMERICAN LEGION
Joint Hearings: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded a joint 
hearing with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to receive the 
legislative presentation of the American Legion, focusing on budgetary 
recommendations for the Department of Veterans Affairs for FY 2006, 
after receiving testimony from Thomas P. Cadmus, American Legion, 
Washington, D.C.; and Peter Gaytan, National Veterans Affairs and 
Rehabilitation Commission, Bristow, Virginia.
HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): 
Commission concluded a joint hearing with House Committee on Armed 
Services to examine Department of Defense efforts to enforce policies 
to combat trafficking in persons, after receiving testimony from 
Charles S. Abell, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for Personnel and 
Readiness, and Joseph E. Schmitz, Inspector General, both of

[[Page D924]]

the Department of Defense; General Leon J. LaPorte, Commander, U.S. 
Forces Korea; John R. Miller, Director, Office to Monitor and Combat 
Trafficking in Persons, Department of State; Sarah Mendelson, Center 
for Strategic and International Studies, Washington, D.C.; and Martina 
E. Vandenberg, Jenner and Block, Chicago, Illinois.
TAX RELIEF, SIMPLIFICATION, AND EQUITY ACT
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House 
passed versions of H.R. 1308, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 
1986 to accelerate the increase in the refundability of the child tax 
credit, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to 
call.