[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 66 (Wednesday, May 18, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D508-D510]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE--VA/ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT 
APPROPRIATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2006; REVISED SUBALLOCATION OF BUDGET 
ALLOCATIONS FISCAL YEAR 2006
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported the following 
appropriations for Fiscal Year 2006: Military Quality of Life, and 
Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies appropriations; and the Energy 
and Water Development, and Related Agencies.
  The Committee approved the Revised Suballocation of Budget 
Allocations for Fiscal Year 2006.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2006
Committee on Armed Services: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1815, 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006.
SCHOOL READINESS ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported, as amended, 
H.R. 2123, School Readiness Act of 2005.
DRUG FREE SPORTS ACT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing on H.R. 1862, Drug Free Sports Act. 
Testimony was heard from Frank Shorter, former Chairman, United States 
Anti-Doping Agency; Donald P. Garber, Commissioner, Major League 
Soccer; Robert Foose, Executive Director, Major League Soccer Players 
Union; Allan H. Selig, Commissioner, Major League Baseball; Donald 
Fehr, Executive Director, Major League Baseball Players Association; 
Gary Bettman, Commissioner, National Hockey League; Robert Goodenow, 
Executive Director, National Hockey League Players Association; David 
Stern, Commissioner, National Basketball Association; and William 
Hunter, Executive Director, National Basketball Players Association.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
INCREASING GENERIC DRUG UTILIZATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Increasing Generic Drug Utilization: Saving Money for 
Patients.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ENHANCING DATA SECURITY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``Enhancing Data Security: 
The Regulators' Perspective.'' Testimony was heard from Lydia B. 
Parnes, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC; Sandra Thompson, 
Deputy Director, Division of Supervision and Consumer Protection, FDIC; 
and Robert M. Fenner, General Counsel, National Credit Union 
Administration.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; KOSOVO: CURRENT AND FUTURE STATUS
Committee on International Relations: Approved a motion authorizing the 
Chairman to request that the following measures be considered under 
suspension of the rules: H. Con. Res. 44, Recognizing the historical 
significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco do Mayo; H. Con. Res. 89, 
Honoring the life of Sister Dorothy Stang; H. Con. Res. 149, amended,

[[Page D509]]

Recognizing the 57th anniversary of the independence of the State of 
Israel; H. Res. 191, Urging the Government of Romania to recognize its 
responsibilities to provide equitable, prompt, and fair restitution to 
all religious communities for property confiscated by the former 
Communist government in Romania; H. Res. 272, Recognizing the historic 
steps India and Palistan have taken toward achieving bilateral peace; 
H. Res. 273, amended, Urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from 
Lebanon, support for free and fair democratic elections in Lebanon, and 
the development of democratic institutions and safeguards to foster 
sovereign democratic rule in Lebanon; H. Res. 282, Expressing the sense 
of the House of Representatives regarding anti-Semitism at the United 
Nations; H. Con. Res. 153, Welcoming His Excellency Hamid Karzi, the 
President of Afghanistan, on the occasion of his visit to the United 
States in May 2005, and expressing support for a strong and enduring 
strategic partnership between the United States and Afghanistan.
  The Committee also held a hearing on Kosovo: Current and Future 
Status. Testimony was heard from R. Nicholas Burns, Under Secretary, 
Political Affairs, Department of State; Mira R. Ricardel, Acting 
Assistant Secretary, International Security Policy, Department of 
Defense; Daniel P. Serwer, Vice-President and Director, Peace and 
Stability Operations, and Balkans Initiate, United States Institute of 
Peace; and public witnesses.
UN PEACEKEEPING REFORM
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global 
Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing on UN 
Peacekeeping Reform: Seeking Greater Accountability and Integrity. 
Testimony was heard from Philo L. Dibble, Principal Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of International Organization Affairs, Department of 
State; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Middle East 
and Central Asia approved for full Committee action the following 
measures: H. Con. Res. 149, amended, Recognizing the 57th anniversary 
of the independence of the State of Israel; H. Res. 273, amended, 
Urging the withdrawal of all Syrian forces from Lebanon, support for 
free and fair democratic elections in Lebanon, and the development of 
democratic institutions and safeguards to foster sovereign democratic 
rule in Lebanon; H. Res. 282, Expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives regarding anti-Semitism at the United Nations; and H. 
Con. Res. 153, Welcoming His Excellency Hamid Karzi, the President of 
Afghanistan, on the occasion of his visit to the United States in May 
2005, and expressing support for a strong and enduring strategic 
partnership between the United States and Afghanistan.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
742, Occupational Safety and Health Employer Access to Justice Act of 
2005; H.R. 2293, To provide special immigrant status for aliens as 
translators with the United States Armed Forces; and H.R. 744, Internet 
Spyware Prevention (I-SPY) Act of 2005.
  The Committee also continued mark up of H.R. 800, Protection of 
Lawful Commerce on Arms Act.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
  Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following measures 
H.R. 38, Upper White Salmon Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; H.R. 125, 
amended, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct 
facilities to provide water for irrigation, municipal, domestic, 
military, and other uses from the Santa Margarita River, California; 
H.R. 362, amended, Ojito Wilderness Act; H.R. 394, amended, To 
direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a boundary study to 
evaluate the significance of the Colonel James Barrett Farm in the 
Commonwealth of Massachusetts and the suitability and feasibility of 
its inclusion in the National Park System as apart of the Minute Man 
National Historical Park; H.R. 432, Betty Dick Residence Protection 
Act; H.R. 481, amended, Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site 
Establishment Act of 2005; H.R. 517, Secure Rural Schools and 
Community Self-Determination Reauthorization Act of 2005; H.R. 539, 
amended, Caribbean National Forest Act of 2005; H.R. 599, amended, 
Federal Lands Restoration, Enhancement, Public Education, and 
Information Resources Act of 2005; H.R. 774, Rocky Mountain National 
Park Boundary Adjustment Act of 2005; H.R. 853, To remove certain 
restrictions on the Mammoth Community Water District's ability to 
use certain property acquired by that District from the United 
States; H.R. 873, Northern Marianas Delegate Act; H.R. 975, Trail 
Responsibility and Accountability for the Improvement of Lands Act; 
H.R. 1084, To authorize the establishment at Antietam National 
Battlefield of a memorial to the officers and enlisted men of the 
Fifth, Sixth, and Ninth New Hampshire Volunteer Infantry Regiments 
and the First New Hampshire Light Artillery Battery who fought in 
the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862; H.R. 1428, amended, 
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Reauthorization Act of 2005; 
H.R. 1492, amended, To provide for the preservation of the historic 
confinement sites where Japanese Americans were detained during 
World War II; H.R. 1797, Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane 
Reservation Grand Coulee Dam Equitable Compensation Settlement Act; 
H.R. 1905, Small Tracts Reform Act; H.R. 2130, Marine Mammal 
Protection Act Amendments of 2005; and H.R. 2362, National Geologic 
Mapping Reauthorization Act of 2005.

[[Page D510]]


DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2006
Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote, an open rule providing for 
consideration of H.R. 2361, a bill making appropriations for the 
Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes. The rule 
provides for one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled 
by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. Under the rules of the House the bill shall 
be read for amendment by paragraph. The rule waives points of order 
against provisions in the bill for failure to comply with clause 2 of 
rule XXI (prohibiting unauthorized appropriations or legislative 
provisions in an appropriations bill), except as specified in the 
resolution. The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in 
recognition to Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the 
Congressional Record. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit 
with or without instructions.
NANOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Research held a hearing on The 
National Nanotechnology Initiative: Review and Outlook. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following measures: H. Con. Res. 145, Expressing the sense of Congress 
in support of a national bike month and in appreciation of cyclists and 
others for promoting bicycle safety and the benefits of cycling; H. 
Res. 243, Recognizing the Coast Guard, the Coast Guard Auxiliary, and 
the National Safe Boating Council for their efforts to promote National 
Safe Boating Week; H.R. 624, To amend the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act to authorize appropriations for sewer overflow control 
grants; H.R. 889, amended, Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act 
of 2005; H.R. 1359, amended, To amend the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act to extend the pilot program for alternative water source 
projects; and H. Con. Res. 152, amended, Commemorating Mystic Seaport: 
the Museum of America and the Sea in recognition of its 75th year.
  The Committee also approved GSA 3314(b) Resolutions.
TELEMEDICINE HEALTH CARE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held an 
oversight hearing on the use and development of telemedicine 
technologies in the Department of Veterans Affairs health care system. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Veterans Affairs: Adam W. Darkins, M.D., Chief Consultant, Office of 
Care Coordination; Ross D. Fletcher, M.D., Chief of Staff, VA Medical 
Center, Washington, DC, Linda Godleski, M.D., VHA Lead for Telemental 
Health, Office of Care Coordination, Associate Chief of Staff for 
Education, VA Health Care System, State of Connecticut; B. Christopher 
Frueh, Staff Psychologist, VA Medical Center, State of South Carolina; 
and Sydney Wertenberger, R.N., Associate Director, Patient Care 
Services, VA Medical Center, Poplar Bluff, Missouri; Carolyn Clancy, 
M.D., Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department 
of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
PROTECT FOSTER CHILDREN ENROLLED IN CLINICAL TRIALS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing on Protections for Foster Children Enrolled in Clinical Trials. 
Testimony was heard from Donald Young, M.D., Acting Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Planning and Evaluation, Department of Health and 
Human Services; Roberta Harris, Deputy Secretary, Department of Health 
and Family Services, State of Wisconsin; and public witnesses.