[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 48 (Wednesday, April 20, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D378-D380]
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 the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). 
Testimony was heard from David Eisner, CEO, Corporation for National 
and Community Service.
DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, AND HUD, THE JUDICIARY, 
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, 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 Federal Motor Carriers Safety Administration. Testimony 
was heard from Annette M. Sandberg, Administrator, Federal Motor 
Carriers Safety Administration, Department of Transportation.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing, and Related Programs held a hearing on U.S. Agency for 
International Development. Testimony was heard from Andrew S. Natsios, 
Administrator, U.S. AID.
SCIENCE, THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE, JUSTICE, AND COMMERCE, AND RELATED 
AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Science, The Departments 
of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies held a hearing on 
NASA. Testimony was heard from Frederick D. Gregory, Deputy 
Administrator, NASA.
VIDEO AND DATA INTERNET COMMUNICATIONS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``How Internet Protocol-
Enabled Services Are Changing the Face of Communications: A Look at 
Video and Data Services.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
GENERATIONS WORKING TOGETHER: FINANCIAL LITERACY AND SOCIAL SECURITY 
REFORM
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Generations 
Working Together: Financial Literacy and Social Security Reform.'' 
Testimony was heard from former Senator Alan Simpson of Wyoming; and 
former Representatives Tim Penny of Minnesota; and Barbara Kennelly of 
Connecticut; and public witnesses.
ELECTRONIC CHECK CLEARING
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``Implementation of the 
Check Clearing for the 21st Century Act.'' Testimony was heard from 
Louise L. Roseman, Director, Division of Reserve Bank Operations and 
Payment Systems, Federal Reserve Board, Federal Reserve System; and 
public witnesses.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY CYBERSECURITY ENHANCEMENT ACT
Committee on Homeland Security:. Subcommittee on Economic Security, 
Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity approved for full 
Committee action H.R. 285, Department of Homeland Security 
Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2005.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on this 
measure. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Management, 
Integration, and Oversight held a hearing entitled ``Management 
Challenges Facing the Department of Homeland Security.'' Testimony was 
heard from Richard L. Skinner, Acting Inspector General, Department of 
Homeland Security; Norman Rabkin, Managing Director, Homeland Security 
and Justice, GAO; James S. Gilmore III, Chairman, National Council on 
Readiness and Preparedness; and public witnesses.

[[Page D379]]


HOMELAND SECURITY DEPARTMENT NUCLEAR DETECTION
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear 
and Biological Attacks concluded hearings entitled ``DHS Coordination 
of Nuclear Detection Efforts, Part II.'' Testimony was heard from Vayl 
Oxford, Acting Director, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, Department 
of Homeland Security.
527 REGULATION
Committee on House Administration: Held a hearing on Regulation of 527 
Organizations. Testimony was heard from Representatives Shays, Meehan, 
Pence and Wynn; and public witnesses.
FOCUS ON A CHANGING JAPAN
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific held a hearing entitled ``Focus on a Changing Japan.'' 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MIDDLE EAST AND THE UNITED NATIONS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Middle East and 
Central Asia held a hearing on the Middle East and the United Nations. 
Testimony was heard from Philo L. Dibble, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of 
State; Richard S. Schifter, former U.S. Representative to the United 
Nations Human Rights Commission, and Deputy U.S. Representative to the 
United Nations Security Counsel; and Richard S. Williamson, former U.S. 
Ambassador and Alternate Representative for Special Political Affairs 
to the United Nations.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE; GANGS AND CRIME IN LATIN AMERICA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Western 
Hemisphere approved for full Committee action H. Res. 193, Expressing 
support to the organizers and participants of the historic meeting of 
the Assembly to Promote the Civil Society in Cuba on May 20, 2005, in 
Havana.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Gangs and Crime in Latin 
America. Testimony was heard from Adolfo A. Franco, Assistant 
Administrator, Bureau of Latin America and Caribbean, U.S. Agency for 
International Development; Chris Swecker, Assistant Director, Criminal 
Investigation Division, FBI, Department of Justice; John P. Torres, 
Deputy Assistant Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, 
Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; OVERSIGHT--INDUSTRY COMPETITION
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following measures: 
H.R. 1279, amended, Gang Deterrence and Community Protection Act; and 
H. Res. 210, Supporting the goals of World Intellectual Property Day, 
and recognizing the importance of intellectual property in the United 
States and Worldwide.
  The Committee began markup of H.R. 800, Protection of Lawful Commerce 
in Arms Act.
  The Committee also held an oversight hearing on Industry Competition 
and Consolidation: The Telecom Marketplace Nine Years After the Telecom 
Act. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PATENT QUALITY IMPROVEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and 
Intellectual Property held an oversight hearing entitled ``Committee 
Print Regarding Patent Quality Improvement.'' Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
GUAM WAR CLAIMS REVIEW COMMISSION IMPLEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS
Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 1595, To implement the 
recommendations of the Guam War Claims Review Commission. Testimony was 
heard from the following former Delegates from Guam: Ben Garrido Blaz; 
and Robert Underwood; and the following officials of Guam: Felix P. 
Camacho, Governor; Antonio R. Unpingco and Benjamin J. Cruz, both 
Senators, Legislature.
UNITED STATES TSUNAMI WARNING AND EDUCATION ACT
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Environment, Technology, and 
Standards approved for full Committee action H.R. 1674, United States 
Tsunami Warning and Education Act.
FUTURE MARKET FOR COMMERCIAL SPACE
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a 
hearing on the Future Market for Commercial Space. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--AIR TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT BY FOREIGN COUNTRIES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held an oversight hearing on Air Traffic Management by Foreign 
Countries. Testimony was heard from Gerald L. Dillinghman, Director, 
Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.

[[Page D380]]


OVERSIGHT--DEEPWATER IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held an oversight hearing on 
Deepwater Implementation. Testimony was heard from ADM Thomas A. 
Collins, USCG, Commandant, United States Coast Guard, Department of 
Homeland Security; and Margaret T. Wrightson, Director, Homeland 
Security and Justice Issues, GAO.
OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL CEMETERY ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance 
and Memorial Affairs an oversight hearing on the National Cemetery 
Administration. Testimony was heard from Richard Wannemacher, Jr., 
Acting Under Secretary, Memorial Affairs, National Cemetery 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION AND EMPLOYMENT PROGRAM
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held an oversight hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs' 
Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program. Testimony was heard 
from Cynthia Bascetta, Director, Veterans' Health and Benefits Issues, 
GAO; Judy Caden, Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment 
Program, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and public witnesses.
OVERVIEW--TAX-EXEMPT SECTOR
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on an Overview of the Tax-
Exempt Sector. Testimony was heard from David M. Walker, Comptroller 
General, GAO; Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, CBO; Sheldon S. Cohen, 
former Commissioner, IRS, Department of the Treasury; and pubic 
witnesses.