[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 85 (Thursday, June 23, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D664-D665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
IRAQI SECURITY FORCES PROGRESS
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Progress of the 
Iraqi Security Forces. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of Defense: Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary; GEN 
Richard B. Myers, USAF, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; GEN John 
Abizaid, USA, Commander, Central Command; and GEN George W. Casey, Jr., 
USA, Commander, Multi-National Forces--Iraq.
NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled ``Reauthorization of the 
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.'' Testimony was heard 
from Jeffrey W. Runge, M.D., Administrator, National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, Department of Transportation; and public 
witnesses.
BANKING ON RETIREMENT SECURITY
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial Institutions 
and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled ``Banking on Retirement 
Security: A Guaranteed Rate of Return.'' Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
FIRST RESPONDERS ANTI-TERRORISM TRAINING
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Science and Technology and the Subcommittee on Management, Integration, 
and Oversight held a joint hearing entitled ``The National Training 
Program: Is Anti-Terrorism Training for First Responders Efficient and 
Effective.'' Testimony was heard from Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner, 
Police Department, City of New York; Shawn Reese, Analyst in American 
National Government, Government and Finance Division, CRS, Library of 
Congress; and public witnesses.
TORTURE VICTIMS RELIEF ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global 
Human Rights and International Operations hearing on Implementing the 
1998 Torture Victims Relief Act. Testimony was heard from Lloyd 
Feinberg, Manager, Victims of Torture Fund, U.S. Agency for 
International Development, Department of State; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global 
Human Rights and International Operations approved for full Committee 
action the following measures: H.R. 2017, Torture Victims Relief 
Reauthorization Act of 2005; H. Con. Res. 168, amended, Condemning the 
Democratic People's Republic of Korea for the abductions and continue 
captivity of citizens of the Republic of Korea and Japan as acts of 
terrorism and gross violations; and H. Res. 333, Supporting the goals 
and ideals of a National Weekend of Prayer and Reflection for Darfur, 
Sudan.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security approved for full Committee action the following 
bills: H.R. 184, Controlled Substances Export Reform Act of 2005; H.R. 
869, to amend the Controlled Substances Act to lift the patent 
limitation on prescribing drug addition treatments by medical 
practitioners in group practices; and H.R. 3020, United States Parole 
Commission Extension and Sentencing Commission Authority Act of 2005.
POTENTIAL OIL SOURCES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held an oversight hearing entitled ``The Vast North American Resource 
Potential of

[[Page D665]]

Oil Shale, Oil Sands, and Heavy Oils,'' Part 1. Testimony was heard 
from Russell George, Executive Director, Department of Natural 
Resources, State of Colorado; and public witnesses.
MIGRATORY BIRD AND GREAT APE CONSERVATION MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans held a 
hearing on the following bills: H.R. 518, Neotropical Migratory Bird 
Conservation Improvement Act of 2005; and H.R. 2693, Great Ape 
Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2005. Testimony was heard from 
Marshall Jones, Assistant Director, United States Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
VETERANS' COMPENSATION COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT ACT; OVERSIGHT--
VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH COSTS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 
1220, Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2005.
  The Committee also held an oversight hearing to examine the budget 
modeling and methodologies used by the Department of Veterans Affairs 
to develop and forecast veterans' health care cost and utilization 
projections for future years. Testimony was heard from Jonathan B. 
Perlin, M.D., Under Secretary, Health, Department of Veterans Affairs; 
John Kokulis, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs for Health 
Budgets and Financial Policy, Department of Defense; representatives of 
veterans organizations; and public witnesses.
REVIEW TAX DEDUCTION FOR FACADE EASEMENTS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
to review the Tax Deduction for Facade Easements. Testimony was heard 
from Steven T. Miller, Tax-Exempt and Government Entities Division, 
IRS, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses.
SOCIAL SECURITY--PROTECTING AND STRENGTHENING
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security continued 
hearings on Protecting and Strengthening Social Security. Testimony was 
heard from James B. Lockhart, Deputy Commissioner, SSA; Barbara 
Bovbjerg, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, GAO; 
Patrick J. Purcell, Specialist in Social Legislation, Domestic Social 
Policy Division, CRS, Library of Congress; and public witnesses.
BRIEFING--GLOBAL UPDATES
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a Briefing on Global Updates. The Committee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.