[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 53 (Wednesday, April 27, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D413-D416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
ASIAN SOYBEAN RUST
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Rural 
Development and Research and the Subcommittee on General Farm 
Commodities and Risk Management held a joint hearing to Review the 
Impact of Asia Soybean Rust on the U.S. farm sector. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the USDA: Joseph Glauber, Deputy 
Chief Economist; and Joseph J. Jen, Under Secretary, Research, 
Education, and Economics; Jim Jones, Director, Office of Pesticide 
Programs, EPA; 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 held a 
hearing on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Panel: SAMHSA, 
NIDA, NIMH, and NIAAA. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of Health and Human Services: Charles G. Curie, 
Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration; Nora D. Volkow, M.D., Director, National Institute on 
Drug Abuse; Thomas R. Insel, M.D., Director, National Institute on 
Mental Health; and Faye Calhoun, M.D., Deputy Director, National 
Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.

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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 Railroad Administration and on AMTRAK. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Transportation: Robert Jamison, Acting Administrator, Federal Railroad 
Administration; Jeff Rosen, General Counsel; and Roger Nober, Chairman, 
Surface Transportation Board; and David Gunn, CEO, AMTRAK.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing, and Related Programs held a hearing on State Department FY 
2006 Budget Request. Testimony was heard from Robert Zoellick, Deputy 
Secretary, Department of State.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; LONG-TERM CARE AND MEDICAID
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health approved for 
full Committee action the following measures: H.R. 1812, to amend the 
Public Health Service Act to authorize a demonstration grant program to 
provide patient navigator services to reduce barriers and improve 
health care outcomes; H.R. 184, Controlled Substances Export Reform Act 
of 2005; H.R. 869, To amend the Controlled Substances Act to lift the 
patient limitation on prescribing drug addiction treatments by medical 
practitioners in group practices; and H. Res. 169, amended, Recognizing 
the importance of sun safety.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing entitled ``Long-Term Care and 
Medicaid: Spiraling Costs and the Need for Reform.'' Testimony was 
heard from Mark D. McClellan, M.D., Administrator, Centers for Medicare 
and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; Douglas 
Holtz-Eakin, Director, CBO; Kathryn G. Allen, Director, Health Care--
Medicaid and Private Health Insurance Issues, GAO; Carol V. 
O'Shaughnessy, Specialist in Social Legislation, Domestic Social Policy 
Division, CRS, Library of Congress; and public witnesses.
INTERNET PROTOCOL COMMUNICATIONS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet held a hearing on How Internet Protocol-Enabled 
Services Are Changing the Face of Communications: A View from 
Government Officials. Testimony was heard from Lewis K. Billings, 
Mayor, Provo City, Idaho; Kenneth Fellman, Mayor, Arvada, Colorado; 
Diane Munns, Commissioner, State Utilities Board, Iowa; Charles M. 
Davidson, Commissioner, Public Service Commission, Florida; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 1768, To amend the provision of law establishing the Presidential 
9/11 Heroes Medals of Valor to make certain technical corrections to 
carry out the intent of the provision; H.R. 358, amended, Little Rock 
Central High School Desegregation 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin 
Act; H.R. 1185, amended, Federal Deposit Insurance Reform Act of 2005; 
H.R. 1224, amended, Business Checking Freedom Act of 2005; and H.R. 68, 
amended, NASA and JPL 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act.
STEROID USE IN SPORTS
Committee on Government Reform: Continued hearings on Steroid Use in 
Sports Part II: Examining the National Football League's Policy on 
Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the National Football League: Paul Tagliabue, 
Commissioner; Harold Henderson, Executive Vice President, Labor 
Relations; and Gene Upshaw, Executive Director, Players Association; 
John Lombardo, M.D., NFL Advisor, Anabolic Steroids and Related 
Substances; Bryan S. Finkle, M.D., NFL Consulting Toxicologist on 
Anabolic Steroids and Related Substances; Linn Goldberg, M.D., 
Professor of Medicine, Health Sciences, Oregon University; Gary I. 
Wadler, Associate Professor, Clinical Medicine, School of Medicine, New 
York University; Steve Courson, former NFL Player, Pittsburgh Steelers 
and Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Bobby Barnes, Head Football Coach, Buckeye 
Union High School, Arizona; and Willie Stewart, Head Football Coach, 
Anacostia High School, District of Columbia.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AUTHORIZATION ACT OF FISCAL YEAR 2006
Committee on Homeland Security: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 
1817, Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
2006.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; MILLENNIUM CHALLENGE ACCOUNT
Committee on International Relations: By unanimous consent, the 
Chairman was authorized to request consideration of the following 
measures under suspension of the rules in the House: H. Con. Res. 127,

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Calling on the Federal Republic of Nigeria to transfer Charles Ghankay 
Taylor, former President of the Republic of Liberia, to the Special 
Court for Sierra Leone to be tried for war crimes, crimes against 
humanity, and other serious violations of international humanitarian 
law; H. Res. 195, amended, Recognizing the 60th anniversary of Victory 
in Europe (VE) Day and the Liberation of Western Bohemia; H. Res. 233, 
amended, Recognizing the 60th anniversary of Victory in Europe (V-E) 
Day during World War II; 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; and H. 
Res. 228, amended, Observing the 30th anniversary of the fall of the 
Republic of Vietnam to the Communist forces of North Vietnam.
  The Committee also held a hearing on Millennium Challenge Account: 
Does the Program Match the Vision? Testimony was heard from Paul V. 
Applegarth, Chief Executive Officer, Millennium Challenge Corporation; 
David B. Gootnick, M.D., Director, International Affairs and Trade 
Team, GAO; and a public witness.
EUROPE--ISLAMIC EXTREMISM
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Europe and 
Emerging Threats held a hearing on Islamic Extremism in Europe. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--OFF-RESERVATION TRIBAL GAMING
Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing entitled ``Tribal 
proposals to acquire land-in-trust for gaming across state lines and 
how such proposals are affected by the off-reservation discussion draft 
bill.'' Testimony was heard from Representatives Weller and Jackson of 
Illinois; J. Bradley Burzynski, member Senate, State of Illinois; Craig 
Foltin, Mayor, Lorain, Ohio; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL FOREST REFORESTATION
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held 
an oversight hearing on Reforestation Problems on National Forests: A 
GAO Report on the Increasing Backlog. Testimony was heard from Robin 
Nazzaro, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, GAO; Joel 
Holtrop, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest Service, USDA; Ed 
Shepard, Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning, Bureau 
of Land Management, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
AMENDING HOUSE RULES--REINSTATING CERTAIN PROVISIONS RELATING TO 
PROCEDURES OF THE COMMITTEE ON STANDARDS OF OFFICIAL CONDUCT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing that upon 
adoption of the rule, H. Res. 240, Amending the Rules of the House of 
Representatives to reinstate certain provisions of the rules relating 
to procedures of the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct to the 
form in which those provisions existed at the close of the 108th 
Congress, is hereby adopted.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES 
COMMITTEE
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving clause 6(a) 
of Rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the 
same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) against certain 
resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The rule applies the 
waiver to any special rule reported on the legislative day of April 28, 
2005, providing for consideration or disposition of conference report 
to accompany the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 95) establishing 
the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal 
year 2006, revising appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2005, 
and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 
through 2010 or establishing a separate order relating to budget 
enforcement.
DOE--SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY PRIORITIES
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy held a hearing on Science 
and Technology Priorities for the Department of Energy in Fiscal Year 
2006. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Energy: Robert Shane Johnson, Deputy Director, 
Technology, Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology; Raymond Orbach, 
Director, Office of Science; Mark Maddox, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary Fossil Energy; Kevin Kolevar, Director, Office of Electricity 
and Energy Assurance; and Douglas Faulkner, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.
CLOSING THE TAX GAP--IMPACT ON SMALL BUSINESSES
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Closing the Tax 
Gap and the Impact on Small Businesses.'' Testimony was heard from Mark 
W. Everson, Commissioner, IRS, Department of the Treasury; Thomas M. 
Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy, SBA; and public witnesses.

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MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following bills: H.R. 1412, amended, Delaware River Protection Act of 
2005; H.R. 1496, amended, To return general aviation to Ronald Reagan 
Washington National Airport; H.R. 1630, Amtrak Reauthorization Act of 
2005; and H.R. 1631, Rail Infrastructure Development and Expansion Act 
for the 21st Century.

Joint Meetings
CONCURRENT BUDGET RESOLUTION
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House 
passed versions of H. Con. Res. 95, establishing the congressional 
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2006, revising 
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2005, and setting forth 
appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 through 2010, but 
did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to the call.
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House 
passed versions of H.R. 1268, making emergency supplemental 
appropriations for defense, the global war on terror, and tsunami 
relief, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, but did not 
complete action thereon, and will meet again on Thursday, April 28, 
2005.