[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 138 (Wednesday, October 26, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1098-D1099]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISSISSIPPI RIVER AGRICULTURAL TRANSPORTATION
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review the current impact 
of Mississippi River transportation on agricultural markets. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Army: 
John Paul Woodley, Jr., Assistant Secretary (Civil Works); and MG Don 
T. Riley, USA, Director, Civil Works, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers; 
Floyd Gaibler, Deputy Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural 
Services, USDA; and public witnesses.
REGIONAL POWERS' MILITARY CAPABILITIES AND THREATS TO U.S. INTERESTS
Committee on Armed Services: Regional Powers Panel held a hearing on an 
overview of regional powers' military capabilities and threats to U.S. 
interests. Testimony was heard from James R. Lilley, former Ambassador 
to the People's Republic of China and to the Republic of Korea; and a 
public witness.
RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORIST THREAT
Committee on Armed Services: Terrorism and Radical Islam Gap Panel held 
a hearing on responding to the radical Islamic terrorist threat--the 
Department of Defense's roles, missions, and capabilities in the Global 
War on Terrorism. Testimony was heard from MG Robert H. Scales, Jr., 
USA, (ret.), former Commandant, U.S. Army War College; and a public 
witness.
BUDGET RECONCILIATION
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Approved, as amended, 
amendments to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA); and 
amendments to the Higher Education Act to be transmitted to the 
Committee on the Budget in compliance with the reconciliation directive 
included in section 201(a) of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget 
for Fiscal Year 2006.
  Will continue tomorrow.
BUDGET RECONCILIATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Approved, as amended, reconciliation 
recommendations for Title I, Digital Television Transition Act of 2005, 
for transmission to the Committee on the Budget in compliance with the 
reconciliation directive included in section 201(a) of the Concurrent 
Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2006.
  Will continue tomorrow.
FEDERAL REAL PROPERTY DISPOSAL PILOT PROGRAM AND MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT 
ACT OF 2005
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 
3134, Federal Real Property Disposal Pilot Program and Management 
Improvement Act of 2005.
RESOLUTION--DIRECTING CERTAIN INFORMATION BE PROVIDED RELATING TO 
REAPPORTIONMENT OF AIRPORT SCREENERS
Committee on Homeland Security: Ordered unfavorably reported H. Res. 
463, Of inquiry directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide 
certain information to the House of Representatives relating to the 
reapportionment of airport screeners.
ENSURING OPERABILITY DURING CATASTROPHIC EVENTS
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, 
Science, and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Ensuring Operability 
During Catastrophic Events.'' Testimony was heard from Mark Rey, Under 
Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA; the following 
officials of the Department of Homeland Security: David Boyd, Director, 
SAFECOM, Office of Interoperability and Communications; and Peter 
Fonash, Deputy Manager, National Communications System; Ken Moran, 
Director, Office of Homeland Security, Enforcement Bureau, FCC; and 
Linton Wells, Acting Assistant Secretary, Networks and Information, 
Integration and Chief Information Officer, Department of Defense.
U.S.-INDIA GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the U.S.-India 
Global Partnership: The Impact of Nonproliferation. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
BUDGET RECONCILIATION
Committee on Resources: Approved reconciliation recommendations for 
transition to the Committee on the Budget in compliance with the 
reconciliation directive included in section 201(a) of the Concurrent 
Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2006.

[[Page D1099]]


WORLD TRADE CENTER COLLAPSE INVESTIGATION
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on the Investigation of the World 
Trade Center Collapse: Findings, Recommendations and Next Steps. 
Testimony was heard from William Jeffrey, Director, National Institute 
of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; BUDGET RECONCILIATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the 
following bills: H.R. 1721, To amend the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act to reauthorize programs to improve the quality of coastal 
recreation waters; H.R. 3963, To amend the Federal Water Pollution 
Control Act to extend the authorization of appropriations for Long 
Island Sound; and H.R. 4125, To permit the Administrator of General 
Services to make repairs and lease space without approval of a 
prospectus if the repair or lease is required as a result of damages to 
buildings or property attributable to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane 
Rita.
  The Committee also approved U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Survey 
Resolutions; a Natural Resources Conservation Service Resolution; and 
GSA Capital Investment and Leasing Program Resolutions for Fiscal Year 
2006.
  The Committee approved recommendations for transmittal to the 
Committee on the Budget to comply with Reconciliation Directive 
included in Section 201(a) of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget 
for Fiscal Year 2006.
BUDGET RECONCILIATION
Committee on Ways and Means: Approved Entitlement Reconciliation 
Recommendations, as amended, for transmission to the Committee on the 
Budget in compliance with the reconciliation directive in section 
201(a) of the Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2006.
MILITARY INTELLIGENCE PROGRAM
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Military Intelligence Program. Testimony was heard 
from departmental witnesses.


                             Joint Meetings

U.S. INTERESTS
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): 
On Tuesday, October 25, Commission concluded a hearing to examine how 
the United States can best utilize the Organization for Security and 
Cooperation in Europe in advancing the interests of the United States, 
after receiving testimony from Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of 
State, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs.
APPROPRIATIONS: AGRICULTURE
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 2744, making 
appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug 
Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2006.