[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 116 (Thursday, September 23, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D942-D943]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported the following measures: H. Res. 
261, Expressing the support of the House of Representatives for the efforts 
of organizations such as Second Harvest to provide emergency food assistance 
to hungry people in the United States, and encouraging all Americans to 
provide volunteer services and other support for local antihunger advocacy 
efforts and hunger relief charities, including food banks, food rescue 
organizations, food pantries, soup kitchens, and emergency shelters; H. Res. 
481, Recognizing the establishment of Hunters for the Hungry programs across 
the United States and the contributions of those programs to efforts to 
decrease hunger and help feed those in need; H.R. 2119, amended, To provide 
for the use by the State of North Carolina of Federal lands, improvements, 
equipment, and resource materials at the Oxford Research Station in 
Granville County, North Carolina; H.R. 2984, To amend the Agricultural 
Adjustment Act to remove the requirement that processors be members of an 
agency administering a marketing order applicable to pears; H.R. 3372, To 
designate the facility of the Agriculture Research Service of the Department 
of Agriculture located at State Highway 26 West in Poplarville, Mississippi, 
as the ``Thad Cochran Southern Horticultural Laboratory;'' H.R. 3514, 
amended, Pennsylvania National Forest Improvement Act of 2003; S. 33, To 
authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange all or part of 
certain administrative sites and other land in the Ozark-St. Francis and 
Ouachita National Forests and to use funds derived from the sale or exchange 
to acquire, construct, or improve administrative sites; H.R. 4569, To 
provide for the development of a national plan for the control and 
management of Sudden Oak Death, a tree disease caused by the fungus-like 
pathogen Phytophthora ramorum; H.R. 4620, amended, To confirm the authority 
of the Secretary of Agriculture and the Commodity Credit Corporation to 
enter into memorandums of understanding with a State regarding the 
collection of approved State commodity assessments on behalf of the State 
from the proceeds of marketing assistance loans; H.R. 5042, To amend the 
Department of Agriculture Organic Act of 1944 to ensure that the dependents 
of employees of the Forest Service stationed in Puerto Rico receive a high-
quality elementary and secondary education; and S. 1814, To transfer federal 
lands between the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the 
Interior.
DIPLOMA MILLS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on 21st Century 
Competitiveness held a hearing entitled ``Current Safeguards Protecting 
Taxpayers Against Diploma Mills.'' Testimony was heard from Robert Cramer, 
Managing Director, Office of Special Investigations, GAO; and public 
witnesses.
MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 2004
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous 
Materials approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 4940, 
Municipal Solid Waste Responsibility Act of 2004.
PUBLIC HEALTH--FDA'S ROLE IN PROTECTING
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``FDA's Role in Protecting the Public 
Health: Examining FDA's Review of Safety and Efficacy Concerns in Anti-
Depressant Use by Children.'' Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the FDA, Department of Health and Human Services: Andrew 
Mosholder, M.D., Paul Seligman, M.D., Robert Temple, M.D., Thomas Laughen, 
M.D., Tarek Hammad, M.D., and James Knudsen, M.D.
ENCOURAGING SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Encouraging Small Business Growth 
and Access to Capital.'' Testimony was heard from Alan L. Beller, Director, 
Division of Corporation Finance, SEC; and public witnesses.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PIRACY
Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``Intellectual 
Property Piracy: Are We Doing Enough to Protect U.S. Innovation Abroad?'' 
Testimony was heard from Representative Simmons; Loren Yager, Director, 
International Affairs and Trade, GAO; and public witnesses.
U.S. SECURITY POLICY IN AFGHANISTAN ON EVE OF NATIONAL ELECTIONS
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on United States 
Security Policy in Afghanistan on the Eve of National Elections. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Peter 
W. Rodman, Assistant Secretary, International Security Affairs; and LTG 
Walter L. Sharp, USA, Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, The Joint 
Staff; and Robert B. Charles, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International 
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Department of State.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland 
Security approved for full Committee action, as amended, the following 
bills: H.R. 4547, Defending America's Most Vulnerable Safe Access to Drug 
Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2004; S. 1194, Mentally Ill Offender 
Treatment and Crime Reduction Act of 2003; and H.R 4264, Animal Fighting 
Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2004.

[[Page D943]]

OVERSIGHT--ENDANGERED SPECIES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and 
Oceans held an oversight hearing on the Upcoming Thirteenth Regular Meeting 
of the Conference of the Parties (COP13) to the Convention on International 
Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES). Testimony was 
heard from. Craig Manson, Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks, 
Department of the Interior; and Rebecca Lent, Deputy Assistant 
Administrator, Fisheries, NOAA, Department of Commerce.
CONFERENCE REPORT--WORKING FAMILIES TAX RELIEF ACT OF 2004
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
against the conference report to accompany H.R. 1308, Working Families Tax 
Relief Act of 2004, and against its consideration. The rule provides that 
the conference report shall be considered as read. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Weller.
RESOLUTION OF INQUIRY--REQUESTING HHS TO TRANSMIT TO THE HOUSE DOCUMENTS 
RELATING TO THE COST OF MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG LEGISLATION
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported adversely H. Res. 776, Of 
inquiry requesting the President and directing the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services to provide certain documents to the House of Representatives 
relating to estimates and analyses of the cost of the Medicare prescription 
drug legislation.
SELECT TAX ISSUES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures held a 
hearing on Select Tax Issues. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Capps, Isakson, Larson of (CT), Simmons, Wilson (SC), Turner (OH), McCarthy 
(MO), Neugebauer, Weldon (PA), Kucinich, Beauprez, Ryan (OH), Blackburn, 
Emanuel, Sessions and Lofgren.
Joint Meetings
WORKING FAMILIES TAX RELIEF ACT
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between the 
Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 1308, to amend the Internal Revenue 
Code of 1986 to end certain abusive tax practices, to provide tax relief and 
simplification.
F