[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D267-D269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Under Secretary for Rural Development. Testimony was heard 
from Gilbert Gonzalez, Acting Under Secretary, Rural Development, USDA.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on 
Air Force Posture. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of the Air Force: Peter B. Teets, Acting Secretary; and 
GEN John P. Jumper, Chief of Staff.
  The Subcommittee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on 
Air Force Acquisition. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of the Air Force: Peter B. Teets, Acting Secretary; 
and LTG John D. W. Corley, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
Acquisitions.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Department of Homeland 
Security held a hearing on Citizenship and Immigration Services. 
Testimony was heard from Eduardo Aguirro, Jr., Director, Bureau of 
Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Department of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on the Secretary of Labor. Testimony was heard from Elaine L. 
Chao, Secretary of Labor.
DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, AND HUD, JUDICIARY, D.C., AND 
INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of 
Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the 
Judiciary, District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies held a 
hearing on the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Testimony 
was heard from Alphonso R. Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies held a hearing on Bureau of Indian Affairs. Testimony 
was heard from James Casen, Assistant Deputy Secretary, Bureau of 
Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior.
SCIENCE, THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE, JUSTICE, AND COMMERCE, AND RELATED 
AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Science, the Departments 
of State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies held a hearing on the 
SBA. Testimony was heard from Hector V. Barreto, Administrator, SBA.

[[Page D268]]


  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Federal Prison System. 
Testimony was heard from Harley G. Lappin, Director, Bureau of Prisons, 
Department of Justice.
IRAQ--CURRENT OPERATIONS AND POLITICAL TRANSITION
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on current operations and the 
political transition in Iraq. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional 
Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2006 National 
Defense Authorization budget request--United States Special Operations 
Command policy and programs. Testimony was heard from officials of the 
Department of Defense: Thomas W. O'Connell, Assistant Secretary, Special 
Operations/Low Intensity Conflict; and GEN Bryan D. Brown, USA, Commander, 
U.S. Special Operations Command.
HIGHER EDUCATION--TRACKING INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on 21st Century 
Competitiveness and the Subcommittee on Select Education held a joint 
hearing entitled ``Tracking International Students in Higher Education: A 
Progress Report.'' Testimony was heard from Victor X. Cerda, Counsel to the 
Assistant Secretary, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Department of 
Homeland Security; Stephen A. Edson, Managing Director, Visa Services 
Directorate, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State; Randolph C. 
Hite, Director, Information Technology Architecture and Systems Issues, GAO; 
and public witnesses.
NIH PORTFOLIO MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Setting the Path for Reauthorization: Improving Portfolio 
Management at the NIH.'' Testimony was heard from Elias Zerhouni, M.D., 
Director, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services.
SECURITIES ARBITRATION SYSTEM
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, 
and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled ``A Review of 
the Securities Arbitration System.'' Testimony was heard from William 
Francis Galvin, Secretary, MA; and public witnesses.
DEPOSIT INSURANCE REFORM ACT
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and 
Consumer Credit held a hearing on H.R. 1185, Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 
2005. Testimony was heard from Donald E. Powell, Chairman, FDIC.
STEROID USE IN BASEBALL
Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``Restoring Faith in 
America's Pastime: Evaluating Major League Baseball's Efforts to Eradicate 
Steroid Use.'' Testimony was heard from Senator Bunning; Nora D. Volkow, 
M.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, NIH, Department of Health 
and Human Services; the following officials of Major League Baseball: Allan 
H. Selig, Commissioner; and Elliott J. Pellman, M.D., Medical Advisor for 
Major League Baseball, Office of the Commissioner; Sandy Alderson, Executive 
Vice President of Baseball Operations, Major League Baseball; the following 
Major League Baseball baseball players: Curt Schilling, Frank Thomas, Sammy 
Sosa, and Rafael Palmeiro; and the following former Major League baseball 
players: Jose Canseco and Mark McGuire.
AFGHANISTAN--U.S. COUNTERNARCOTICS POLICY
Committee on International Relations: Held an oversight hearing on U.S. 
Counternarcotics Policy in Afghanistan: Time for Leadership. Testimony was 
heard from Maureen E. Quinn, Coordinator on Afghanistan, Department of 
State; Mary Beth Long, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Counternarcotics, 
Department of Defense, and Michael A. Braun, Special Agent, Chief of 
Operations, DEA, Department of Justice.
HUMAN RIGHTS--GLOBAL VIEW
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human 
Rights and International Operations held an oversight hearing on A Global 
Review of Human Rights: Examining the State Department's 2004 Annual Report. 
Testimony was heard from Michael G. Kozak, Acting Assistant Secretary, 
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department of State; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--U.N. AND THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Terrorism and Nonproliferation held an oversight hearing on the United 
Nations and the Fight Against Terrorism. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
  The Subcommittee also held a briefing on this subject. Testimony was heard 
from Stephen J. Stedman, Special Advisor to Secretary-General United 
Nations.
OVERSIGHT--U.N. OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held an oversight hearing on The United Nations Oil-for-Food 
Program: The Cotecna and Saybolt Inspection Firms. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.

[[Page D269]]


CHILD INTERSTATE ABORTION NOTIFICATION ACT; OVERSIGHT--U.S. COMMISSION ON 
CIVIL RIGHTS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution approved for 
full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 748, Child Interstate Abortion 
Notification Act.
  The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on the U.S. Commission on 
Civil Rights. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the U.S. 
Commission Civil Rights: Russell Redenbaugh, and Michael Yaki, both 
Commissioners; Kenneth Marcus, Staff Director; and George Harbison, 
Director, Human of Resources and Active Chief of Budget and Finance.
OVERSIGHT--PATENT APPEALS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing on Holmes Group, the Federal 
Circuit, and the State of Patent Appeals. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
STOP COUNTERFEITING IN MANUFACTURED GOODS ACT; ORGANIZED CRIME
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland 
Security approved for full Committee action H.R. 32, Stop Counterfeiting in 
Manufactured Goods Act.
  The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on Responding to Organized 
Crimes Against Manufacturers and Retailers. Testimony was heard from Chris 
Swecker, Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI, 
Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--OFF RESERVATION GAMING RESTRICTIONS
Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on a measure to amend the 
Indian Gaming Regulatory Act to restrict off-reservation gaming. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BUDGET
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held an oversight 
hearing on the Fiscal Year 2006 National Park Service Budget. Testimony was 
heard from Fran Mainella, Director, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science: Ordered reported the following measures: H.R. 1023, 
Charles `Pete' Conrad Astronomy Awards Act; H.R. 1158, To reauthorize the 
Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 
1988; H.R. 28, amended, High-Performance Computing Revitalization Act of 
2005; H. Con. Res. 96, amended, Recognizing the significance of African 
American women in the United States scientific community; and H.R. 798, 
amended, Methamphetamine Remediation Research Act of 2005.
NATURAL GAS PRICES
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Rural Enterprise, Agriculture 
and Technology held a hearing entitled ``The High Price of Natural Gas and 
its Impact on Small Businesses: Issues and Short Term Solutions,'' Testimony 
was heard from Representative Terry; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--COMMUNITY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Economic 
Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management held an oversight 
hearing on The Administration's ``Strengthening America's Communities'' 
Initiative and its impact on economic development. Testimony was heard from 
David A. Sampson, Assistant Secretary, Economic Development, Department of 
Commerce; and public witnesses.
MEDICAL IMAGING SERVICES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
Managing the Use of Imaging Services. Testimony was heard from Mark Miller, 
Executive Director, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; and public 
witnesses.
GLOBAL UPDATES; BUDGET HEARING
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to hold 
a hearing on Global Updates. Testimony was heard from departmental 
witnesses.
  The Committee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on the 
Budget. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.
F