[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 42 (Tuesday, April 12, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D320-D321]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
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 Pandemic Preparedness and Influenza Vaccine Supply. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Health and Human Services: Julie L. Gerberding, M.D., Director, Centers 
for Disease Control and Prevention; Bruce Gellin, M.D., Director, 
National Vaccine Program; and Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, 
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH.
DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, AND HUD, THE JUDICIARY, 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Departments of 
Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the 
Judiciary, District of Columbia and Independent Agencies held a hearing 
on the Federal Judiciary and on the Supreme Court. Testimony was heard 
from Julia S. Gibbons, Chair, Committee on the Budget, Judicial 
Conference of the United States; Leonidas Ralph Mecham, Director, 
Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts; and the following Supreme 
Court Justices: Anthony M. Kennedy, and Clarence Thomas, both Associate 
Justices.
ENERGY POLICY ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Continued markup of the Energy Policy 
Act of 2005.
  Will continue tomorrow.
FEDERAL CREDIT AGENCIES
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, 
Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing entitled 
``Reforming Credit Rating Agencies: The SEC's Need for Statutory 
Authority,'' Testimony was heard from Annette L. Nazareth, Director, 
Division of Market Regulation, SEC.
NATIONAL SECURITY PERSONNEL SYSTEM
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce and 
Agency Organization, hearing entitled ``NSPS: The New Department of 
Defense Civilian Personnel System--Reaching Readiness.'' Testimony was 
heard from David M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; Charles S. Abell, 
Principal Deputy Under Secretary (Personnel and Readiness), Department 
of Defense; George Nesterczuk, Senior Policy Advisor on the Department 
of Defense, OPM; Neil A. G. McPhie, Chairman, Merit Systems Protection 
Board; and public witnesses.
U.N. OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, 
Emerging Threats and International Relations held a hearing entitled 
``Oil-for-Food: The Inevitable Failure of U.N. Sanctions.'' Testimony 
was heard from Thomas A. Schweich, Chief of Staff, U.S. Mission to the 
United Nations, Department of State; and public witnesses.
U.S. MANUFACTURING--IMPACT OF REGULATION
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs held 
a hearing entitled ``The Impact of Regulation on U.S. Manufacturing.'' 
Testimony was heard from Al Frink, Assistant Secretary, Manufacturing 
and Services, Department of Commerce; John Graham, Administrator, 
Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB; and public 
witnesses.
FIRST RESPONDERS FUNDING
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Science, and Technology held a hearing entitled ``The Need for Grant 
Reform

[[Page D321]]

and The Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2005.'' 
Testimony was heard from J. Richard Berman, Assistant Inspector 
General, Audits, Office of Inspector General, Department of Homeland 
Security; William O. Jenkins, Jr., Director, Homeland Security and 
Justice Issues, GAO; Bryan E. Beatty, Secretary, Department of Crime 
Control and Public Safety, Secretary, State of North Carolina; Michael 
Chapman, Director, Office of Homeland Security, State of Missouri; 
David L. Miller, Administrator, Homeland Security and Emergency 
Management Division, State of Iowa; and a public witness.
DEFENDING AMERICA'S MOST VULNERABLE: SAFE ACCESS TO DRUG TREATMENT AND 
CHILD PROTECTION ACT; GANG DETERRENCE AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security, approved for full Committee the following bills: 
H.R. 1528, Defending America's Most Vulnerable Safe Access to Drug 
Treatment and Child Protection Act of 2005; and H.R. 1279, Gang 
Deterrence and Community Protection Act of 2005.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on H.R. 1528. 
Testimony was heard from Jodi L. Avergun, Chief of Staff, DEA, 
Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL PARKS/SNOWMOBILES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held an 
oversight hearing on Snowmobile Use in the National Park System. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Simpson, Peterson of 
Minnesota, and Holt; Michael D. Snyder, Acting Deputy Director, 
National Park Service, Department of the Interior; and public 
witnesses.
DEATH TAX REPEAL PERMANENCY ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote, a structured rule providing 
one hour of debate in the House on H.R. 8, Death Tax Repeal Permanency 
Act, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule provides 
for consideration of the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution, if 
offered by Representative Pomeroy or his designee, which shall be 
considered as read and shall be separately debatable for one hour 
equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. The 
rule waives all points of order against the amendment printed in the 
report. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instruction. Testimony was heard from Representatives Hulshof 
and Pomeroy.
BANKRUPTCY ABUSE PREVENTION AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Rules: Heard testimony from Chairman Sensenbrenner and 
Representatives Watt, Scott of Virginia, Jackson-Lee of Texas, 
Delahunt, Schiff, Maloney, Woolsey, Hastings of Florida and Emanuel, 
but action was deferred on S. 256, Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and 
Consumer Act of 2005.
CIA BUDGET
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Central Intelligence Program (CIAP) Budget. Testimony 
was heard from departmental witnesses.