[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 131 (Tuesday, November 16, 2004)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1069-D1070]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
IRAQ STORAGE SITES
Committee on Armed Services: on Wednesday, November 10, Committee met 
in closed session to receive a briefing regarding the al Qaqaa 
munitions storage site in Iraq, an overview of security of munitions 
storage sites in Iraq, and an update on the status of protective 
equipment for vehicles and military personnel serving in Iraq from 
Colonel William M. Caniano, USA, Assistant Director for Intelligence, 
J-2, Rear Admiral Mark D. Hamitcheck, USN, Vice Director for Logistics, 
J-4, and Brigadier General David M. Rodriguez, USA, Deputy Director for 
Regional Operations, J-3.

[[Page D1070]]


ARCTIC CLIMATE IMPACT
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded 
a hearing to examine the research of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration on climate change impacts, focusing on the ice sheets 
that are Greenland and Antarctica, which store 77% of the Earth's fresh 
water, after receiving testimony from Ghassem Asrar, Deputy Associate 
Administrator, Science Mission Directorate, and Drew T. Shindell, 
Research Physicist, Earth Sciences Directorate, both of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration; Scott Borg, Section Head, 
Antarctic Sciences Section, Office of Polar Programs, National Science 
Foundation; Robert W. Corell, University of Alaska Fairbanks, and Susan 
Joy Hassol, Basalt, Colorado, both on behalf of the Arctic Climate 
Impact Assessment; Igor Krupnik, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, 
D.C.; and Mark Serrez, University of Colorado National Snow and Ice 
Data Center, Boulder.
INSURANCE BROKERAGE PRACTICES
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Financial 
Management, the Budget, and International Security concluded an 
oversight hearing to examine insurance brokerage practices, including 
potential conflicts of interest and the adequacy of the current 
regulatory framework, after receiving testimony from New York Attorney 
General Eliot L. Spitzer, New York; Connecticut Attorney General 
Richard Blumenthal, Hartford; Gregory Serio, New York Superintendent of 
Insurance, Albany, on behalf of the National Association of Insurance 
Commissioners; John Garamendi, California Insurance Commissioner, 
Sacramento; Albert R. Counselman, Riggs, Counselman, Michaels and 
Downes, Baltimore, Maryland, on behalf of the Council of Insurance 
Agents and Brokers; Alex Soto, InSource, Inc., Miami, Florida, on 
behalf of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America; 
Ernst N. Csiszar, Property Casualty Insurers Association of America, 
and J. Robert Hunter, Consumer Federation of America, both of 
Washington, D.C.; Janice Ochenkowski, Jones Lang LaSalle, Chicago, 
Illinois, on behalf of the Risk and Insurance Management Society.
NOMINATIONS:
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
the nominations of Thomas B. Griffith, of Utah, to be United States 
Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, who was introduced 
by Senators Hatch and Bennett, Paul A. Crotty, to be United States 
District Judge for the Southern District of New York, who was 
introduced by Senators Schumer and Clinton, and J. Michael Seabright, 
to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii, who was 
introduced by Senators Inouye and Akaka, after the nominees testified 
and answered questions in their own behalf.
FLU VACCINE MARKET
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine 
liability and licensing issues relating to the flu vaccine market, 
focusing on the ongoing efforts of the Food and Drug Administration to 
ensure the safety, effectiveness, and availability of influenza and 
other vaccines licensed in the United States, after receiving testimony 
from Lester M. Crawford, Acting Commissioner, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Mitchell L. Cohen, Director, Coordinating Center 
for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 
both of the Department of Health and Human Services; Peter R. Paradiso, 
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Collegeville, Pennsylvania; and Frank A. Sloan, 
Duke University Center for Health Policy, Law, and Management, Terry 
Sanford Institute of Public Policy, Durham, North Carolina.