[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 57 (Wednesday, May 4, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D438-D440]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE PROGRAM
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and 
Risk Management, hearing to Review the Federal Crop Insurance Program. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the USDA: Keith 
Collins, Chief Economist and Chairman Federal Crop Insurance 
Corporation; and Ross J. Davidson, Jr. Administrator, Risk Management 
Agency; and public witnesses.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FISCAL YEAR 2006 APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Department of Homeland 
Security approved for full Committee action the Department of Homeland 
Security Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2006.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES FISCAL YEAR 2006 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies approved for full Committee action the Interior, 
Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2006.
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 continued 
appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported the following 
measures: H.R. 869, To amend the Controlled Substances Act to lift the 
patient limitation on prescribing drug addiction treatments by

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medical practitioners in group practices; H.R. 184, Controlled 
Substances Export Reform Act of 2005; H. Res. 169, Recognizing the 
importance of sun safety; H.R. 1812, Patient Navigator Outreach and 
Chronic Disease Prevention Act of 2005; and H. Res. 250, Supporting the 
goals and ideals of National Hepatitis B Awareness Week, 10 a.m., 2123 
Rayburn.
FLU SEASON READINESS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Held a hearing on the State of 
Readiness for the 2005-2006 Flu Season. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: 
Julie Louise Gerberding, M.D., Director, Centers for Disease Control 
and Prevention; Bruce Gellin, M.D., Director, National Vaccine Program; 
and Jesse Goodman, Director, Center for Biologics Evaluation and 
Research, FDA.
ASSESSING DATA SECURITY
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Assessing 
Data Security: Preventing Breaches and Protecting Sensitive 
Information.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
TERRORIST FINANCING/MIDDLE EASTERN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations and the Subcommittee on International Terrorism and 
Nonproliferation of the Committee on International Relations held a 
joint hearing entitled ``Starving Terrorists of Money: The Role of 
Middle Eastern Financial Institutions.'' Testimony was heard from 
Stuart Levey, Under Secretary, Enforcement, Department of the Treasury; 
Paul Simons, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau for Economic 
and Business Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT CHALLENGES
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, 
Finance, and Accountability held a hearing entitled ``Financial 
Management Challenges at the Department of Justice.'' Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of Justice: Paul 
R. Corts, Assistant Attorney General, Administration and Chief 
Financial Officer; and Glenn A. Fine, Inspector General.
OVERSIGHT--9/11 RECOMMENDATIONS IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Middle East 
and Central Asia held a hearing on 9/11 Recommendations Implementation 
Act Oversight, Part 1--Oppressors vs. Reformers in the Middle East and 
Central Asia. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of State: Michael G. Kozak, Acting Assistant Secretary, 
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; and J. Scott Carpenter, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--NEW JOBS IN RECESSION AND RECOVERY
Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Border 
Security, and Claims held an oversight hearing New Jobs in Recession 
and Recovery: Who are Getting Them and Who are Not? Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM--PERSONAL WATERCRAFT USE
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held an 
oversight hearing on Personal Watercraft use in the National Park 
System. Testimony was heard from Representative Westmoreland; Paul 
Hoffman, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish, Wildlife and Parks, 
Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--RURAL ELECTRICITY--ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held an 
oversight hearing entitled ``Stabilizing Rural Electricity Service 
Through Common Sense Application of the Endangered Species Act.'' 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
CONFERENCE REPORT--EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 
2005
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report to accompany 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, and against its consideration. The rule provides that the 
conference report shall be considered as read. The rule authorizes the 
chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary to file a supplemental 
report to accompany H.R. 748. Testimony was heard from Chairman Lewis 
and Representative Peterson of Minnesota.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 921, 
Minority Serving Institution Digital and Wireless Technology 
Opportunity Act of 2005; H.R. 250, amended, Manufacturing Technology 
Competitiveness Act of 2005; and H.R. 1674, amended, United States 
Tsunami Warning and Education Act.

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PUBLIC UTILITIES AND SMALL BUSINESS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Anticompetitive 
Threats from Public Utilities: Are Small Businesses Losing Out?'' 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
AVIATION TRUST FUND--FINANCIAL CONDITION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held an oversight hearing entitled ``Financial Condition of 
the Aviation Trust Fund: Are Reforms Needed?'' Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Transportation: Marion C. 
Blakey, Administrator, FAA; and Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General; 
Gerald Dillingham, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO; and 
public witnesses.
SERVICEMEMBERS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity 
held a hearing on the following: H.R. 419, Hire Veterans Act of 2004; 
H.R. 2046, Servicemembers' Health Insurance Protection Act of 2005; 
Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program Reauthorization Act of 2005; 
and a measure To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide 
protection against double taxation for members of the Armed Forces 
absent from their residence or domicile solely by reason of compliance 
with military orders. Testimony was heard from Craig W. Duehring, 
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Reserve Affairs, Department of 
Defense; John M. McWilliam, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Operations and 
Management, Veterans' Employment and Training Service, Department of 
Labor; Cynthia Bascetta, Director, Veterans' Health and Benefits 
Issues, GAO; T. P. O'Mahoney, Chairman, President's National Hire 
Veterans' Committee; and representatives of veterans organizations.

Joint Meetings
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT
Conferees on Tuesday, May 3, agreed to file a conference report on 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.