[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 126 (Thursday, October 7, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1033-D1034]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MORTGAGE FRAUD--IMPACT ON MORTGAGE LENDERS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community 
Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Mortgage Fraud and its Impact on 
Mortgage Lenders.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Housing and Urban Development: Kenneth M. Donohue, 
Sr., Inspector General; and John C. Weicher, Assistant Secretary, 
Housing/Federal Housing Commissioner; Chris Swecker, Assistant 
Director, Criminal Investigations, FBI, Department of Justice; and 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered the 
following bill and adopted a motion urging the Chairman to request that 
it be considered on the Suspension Calendar: H.R. 2760, as amended, 
Resolution of the Ethiopia-Eritrea Border Dispute Act of 2003.
  The Committee also began discussion of H. Res. 28, Expressing the 
sense of the House of Representatives that the United States should 
declare its support for the Independence of Kosova;
OVERSIGHT--FEDERAL OFFENDER RE-ENTRY
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held an oversight hearing on Federal Offender Reentry 
and Protecting Children from Criminal Recidivists. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Portman and Harris; Ashbel T. Wall II, Director, 
Department of Corrections, State of Rhode Island; and a public witness.
CONFERENCE REPORT--AMERICAN JOBS CREATION ACT OF 2004
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report to accompany, H.R. 4520, 
American Jobs Creation act of 2004, and against its consideration. The 
rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. 
Testimony was heard from Representative McCrery.
SAME-DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES 
COMMITTEE--CONFERENCE REPORT--NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule 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 October 
8, 2004, providing for consideration or disposition of a conference 
report to accompany the bill (H.R. 4200) to authorize appropriations 
for fiscal year 2005 for military activities of the Department of 
Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the 
Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel 
strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for other 
purposes.
SAME-DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES 
COMMITTEE
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule 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 October 
8, 2004, providing for consideration or disposition of a conference 
report to accompany the bill (H.R. 4567) making appropriations for the 
Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 
30, 2005, and for other purposes.
SAME-DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES 
COMMITTEE
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving clause 6(a) 
of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the 
same day it is

[[Page D1034]]

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 October 8, 2004, providing for 
consideration or disposition of a conference report accompany the bill 
(H.R. 4837) making appropriations for military construction, family 
housing, and base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, and for other purposes.
CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing that 
suspensions will be in order at any time on the legislative day of 
Friday, October 8, 2004. The rule provides that the Speaker or his 
designee will consult with the Minority Leader or her designee on any 
suspension considered under the rule.
BRIEFING--IRAQ SURVEY GROUP REPORT
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a Briefing on Iraq Survey Group Report. The Committee was 
briefed by departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
AMERICAN JOBS CREATION ACT
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 4520, to amend the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to remove impediments in such Code and 
make our manufacturing, service, and high-technology businesses and 
workers more competitive and productive both at home and abroad.
APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House 
passed versions of H.R. 4567, making appropriations for the Department 
of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, but 
did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to the call of 
the chair.
NATURAL GAS
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the 
long-run economics of natural gas, focusing on conditions in the 
natural gas market, and strategies to balance the rising demand with 
the limited supply of natural gas, after receiving testimony from 
Daniel Yergin, Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Boston, 
Massachusetts; Paul Sankey, Deutsche Bank, New York, New York; Logan 
Magruder, Berry Petroleum Company's Rocky Mountain and Mid-continent 
Regions, Denver, Colorado, on behalf of the Independent Petroleum 
Association of Mountain States; and William R. Prindle, American 
Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, Washington, D.C.