[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 49 (Thursday, April 21, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D388-D389]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review Implementation of 
the Secure Rural Schools Act of 2000: A Continuing Commitment to Rural 
Education and Sustainable Forestry. Testimony was heard from Mark E. 
Rey, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA; and 
public witnesses.
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 continued 
appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
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 Department of the Treasury. Testimony was heard from 
John W. Snow, Secretary of the Treasury.
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, on Department of 
State held a hearing on International Organizations. Testimony was 
heard from Kim R. Holmes. Assistant Secretary, International 
Organization Affairs, Department of State.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Education 
Reform held a hearing on Early Childhood Education: Improvement Through 
Integration. Testimony was heard from Marsha Moore, Commissioner, 
Department of Early Care and Learning, State of Georgia; and public 
witnesses.
SARBANES-OXLEY IMPACT
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``The Impact 
of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.'' Testimony was heard from William H. 
Donaldson, Chairman, SEC; and a public witness.
OMB MANAGEMENT WATCH LIST
Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``OMB 
Management Watch List: $65 Billion Reasons to Ensure the Federal 
Government is Effectively Managing Information Technology 
Investments.'' Testimony was heard from Karen Evans, Administrator, 
Electronic Government and Information Technology, OMB; David Powner, 
Director, Information Technology Management Issues, GAO; Dan Matthews, 
Chief Information Officer, Department of Transportation; Robert 
McFarland, Assistant Secretary, Information Technology, Department of 
Veterans Affairs; Rosita Parkes, Chief Information Officer, Department 
of Energy, and Lisa Schlosser, Chief Information Officer, Department of 
Housing and Urban Development.
FASTER AND SMARTER FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ACT
Committee on Homeland Security: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 
1544, Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2005.
COMMITTEE FUNDING RESOLUTION
Committee on House Administration: Ordered reported H. Res. 224, 
providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of 
Representatives in the One Hundred Ninth Congress.
ARAB WORLD--POLITICAL LIBERALIZATION
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Redefining 
Boundaries: Political Liberalization in the Arab World. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.

[[Page D389]]


ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global 
Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing on Zimbabwe: 
Prospects for Democracy after the March 2005 Elections. Testimony was 
heard from Constance Berry Newman, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
African Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--USA PATRIOT ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held an oversight hearing on the Implementation of 
the USA PATRIOT Act: Sections of the Act that Address--Crime, 
Terrorism, and the Age of Technology. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Justice: Laura H. Parsky, 
Deputy Assistant Attorney General; and Steven M. Martinez, Deputy 
Assistant Director, Cyber Division, FBI; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--VISA WAIVER PROGRAM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border 
Security, and Claims held an oversight hearing entitled ``October, 2005 
deadline for Visa Waiver Program Countries to produce Secure Passports: 
Why it matters to Homeland Security.'' Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Elaine 
Dezenski, Acting Assistant Secretary, Policy and Planning, Border and 
Transportation Security Directorate; and Richard L. Skinner, Acting 
Inspector General; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held an 
oversight hearing on the National Historic Preservation Act. Testimony 
was heard from Jan Matthews, Associate Director, Cultural Resources, 
National Park Service, Department of the Interior; John Nau, Chairman, 
Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; and public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment, 
and Government Programs held a hearing entitled ``Removing Obstacles to 
Job Creation: How Can the Federal Government Help Small Businesses 
Revitalize the Economy?'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
CAFTA IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on Implementation of the 
Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Burton, Dreier, Kaptur, 
DeFazio, Peterson of Minnesota, Lungren and Melancon; Peter F. 
Allgeier, Acting U.S. Trade Representative; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
VETERANS PROGRAMS
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint 
hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to review the 
legislative recommendations of certain veterans organizations, after 
receiving testimony from LeRoy Riddell, NCC (SW), USN (Ret.), Retired 
Enlisted Association, Penny Splinter, Gold Star Wives, George R. Kaye, 
and Joseph L. Barnes, both of the Fleet Reserve Association, and Chief 
Master Sergeant James E. Lokovic, USAF (Ret.), Air Force Sergeants 
Association, all of Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Joint Committee on Printing: Committee met and designated Senator Lott 
as Chairman and Representative Ney as Vice-Chairman, and adopted its 
rules of procedure for the 109th Congress.