[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 152 (Wednesday, November 16, 2005)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1225-D1228]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AVIAN INFLUENZA ISSUES
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review issues related to the 
prevention, detection, and eradication of avian influenza. Testimony was 
heard from W. Ron DeHaven, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection 
Service, USDA.
U.S. IMMIGRATION POLICY--IMPACT ON AMERICAN ECONOMY
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing on U.S. Immigration 
Policy and Its Impact on the American Economy. Testimony was heard from 
Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, CBO; and public witnesses.
COPYRIGHT USE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled ``Fair Use: Its Effects on 
Consumers and Industry.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SUPERFUND LAWS AND ANIMAL AGRICULTURE
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous 
Materials held a hearing entitled ``Superfund Laws and Animal Agriculture.'' 
Testimony was heard from Barry Breen, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office 
of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA; Kelly Hunter Burch, Chief of 
Environmental Protection Unit and Assistant Attorney General, Office of the 
Attorney General, State of Oklahoma; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported, as amended, the following 
bills: H.R. 3422, Small Public Housing Authority Act; H.R. 2695, Safe 
Housing Identity Exception for the Lives of Domestic Violence Victims Act; 
H.R. 4320, National

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Flood Insurance Program Commitment to Policyholders and Reform Act of 2005; 
H.R. 4314, Terrorism Risk Insurance Revision Act of 2005; and H.R. 3505, 
Financial Services, Regulatory Relief Act.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; INVESTIGATIVE REPORT--RAFAEL PALMEIRO'S TESTIMONY
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following: H.R. 3934, 
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 80 
Killian Road in Massapequa, New York, as the ``Gerard A. Fiorenza Post 
Office;'' H.R. 4101, To designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 170 East Main Street in Patchogue, New York, as the 
``Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy Post Office Building''; H.R. 4107, To 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1826 
Pennsylvania Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``Maryland State Delegate 
Lena K. Lee Post Office Building;'' H.R. 4108, To designate the facility of 
the United States Postal Service located at 3000 Homewood Avenue, Baltimore, 
Maryland, as the ``State Senator Verda Welcome and Dr. Henry Welcome Post 
Office Building;'' H.R. 4109, amended, To designate the United States Postal 
Service located at 6101 Liberty Road in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``United 
States Representative Parren J. Mitchell Post Office;'' H.R. 4152, To 
designate the United States Postal Service located at 320 High Street in 
Clinton, Massachusetts, as the ``Raymond J. Salmon Post Office;'' H. Con. 
Res. 218, Recognizing the centennial of sustained immigration from the 
Phillippines to the United States and acknowledging the contributions of our 
Filipino-American community to our country over the last century; H.R. 4295, 
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
12760 South Park Avenue in Riverton, Utah, as the ``Mont and Mark Stephensen 
Veterans Memorial Post Office Building; H. Con. Res. 289, Supporting the 
goal and mission of American Recycles Day; and H. Res. 487, Supporting the 
goals and ideals of Korean American Day.
  The Committee also approved an Investigative Report, Investigation into 
Rafael Palmeiro's March 17, 2005 Testimony at the Committee on Government 
Reform's Hearing: ``Restoring Faith in America's Pastime: Evaluating Major 
League Baseball's Efforts to Eradicate Steroid Use.''
HIGH GAS PRICES--AMERICAN WORKFORCE
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce and Agency 
Organization held a hearing entitled ``Mitigating the Impact of High Gas 
Prices on the American Workforce.'' Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Wolf and Moran of Virginia; Daniel A. Green, Deputy Associate Director, 
Employee and Family Support Policy, OPM; Dan Matthews, Chief Information 
Officer, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses.
BORDER SECURITY AND TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2005
Committee on Homeland Security: Began markup of H.R. 4312, Border Security 
and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2005.
  Will continue tomorrow.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; U.S.-INDIA GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP
Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered and adopted a 
motion urging the chairman to request that the following measures be 
considered on the Suspension Calendar: H. Con. Res. 190, Expressing the 
sense of the Congress that the Russian Federation should fully protect the 
freedoms of all religious communities without distinction, whether 
registered and unregistered, as stipulated by the Russian Constitution and 
international standards; H. Con. Res. 275, Expressing the sense of Congress 
regarding the education curriculum in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; H. Con. 
Res. 280, Mourning the horrific loss of life caused by the floods and 
mudslides that occurred in October 2005 in Central America and Mexico and 
expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should do everything 
possible to assist the affected people and communities; H. Con. Res. 284, 
amended, Expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the 2005 
presidential and parliamentary elections in Egypt; H. Con. Res. 294, Calling 
on the international community to condemn the Laogai, the system of forced 
labor prison camps in the People's Republic of China, as a tool for 
suppression maintained by the Chinese Government; H. Res. 438, amended, 
Urging member states of the United Nations to stop supporting resolutions 
that unfairly castigate Israel and to promote within the United Nations 
General Assembly more balanced and constructive approaches to resolving 
conflict in the Middle East; H. Res. 456, Expressing support for the 
memorandum of understanding signed by the Government of the Republic of 
Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement on August 15, 2005, to end the conflict 
in Aceh, a province in Sumatra, Indonesia; H. Res. 458, Remembering and 
commemorating the lives and work of Maryknoll Sisters Maura Clarke and Ita 
Ford, Ursuline Sister Dorothy Kazel, and Cleveland Lay Mission Team Member 
Jean Donovan, who were executed by members of the armed forces of El 
Salvador on December 2, 1980; H. Res. 479, amended, Recognizing the 50th 
Anniversary of the Hungarian Revolution that began on October 23, 1956 and 
reaffirming the friendship between the people and governments of the United 
States and Hungary; H. Res. 499, Condemning the murder of American 
journalist Paul Klebnikov on July 9, 2004, in Moscow and the murders of 
other members of the media in the Russian Federation; H. Res. 529, amended, 
Recommending the integration

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of the Republic of Croatia into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization; and 
H. Res. 535, Honoring the life, legacy, and example of Israeli Prime 
Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the tenth anniversary of his death.
  The Committee also held a hearing on the U.S.-India Global Partnership: 
How Significant for American Interests? Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Europe and Emerging 
Threats approved for full Committee action the following resolutions: H. 
Res. 479, amended, Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of the Hungarian 
Revolution that began on October 23, 1956 and reaffirming the friendship 
between the people and governments of the United States and Hungary; H. Res. 
499, Condemning the murder of American journalist Paul Klebnikov on July 9, 
2004, in Moscow and the murders of other members of the media in the Russian 
Federation; and H. Res. 529, amended, Recommending the integration of the 
Republic of Croatia into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 452, To 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the 
suitability and feasibility of designating the Soldiers' Memorial Military 
Museum located in St. Louis, Missouri, as a unit of the National Park 
System; H.R. 1071, amended, Desalination Drought Protection Act of 2005; 
H.R. 1090, amended, To designate a Forest Service trail at Walso Lake in the 
Willamette National Forest in the State of Oregon as a national recreation 
trail in honor of Jim Weaver, a former Member of the House of 
Representatives; H.R. 1190, amended, San Diego Water Storage and Efficiency 
Act of 2005; H.R. 1595, amended, Guam World War II Loyalty Recognition Act; 
H.R. 1728, amended, French Colonial Heritage National Historic Site Study 
Act of 2005; H.R. 2720, Salt Cedar and Russian Olive Control Demonstration 
Act; H.R. 3124, amended, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area Natural 
Gas Pipeline Enlargement Act; H.R. 3153, Upper Colorado and San Juan Basin 
Endangered Fish Recovery Implementation Programs Reauthorization Act of 
2005; H.R. 3626, amended, Arthur V. Watkins Dam Enlargement Act of 2005; 
H.R. 3897, amended, Madera Water Supply and Groundwater Enhancement Project 
Act; H.R. 3929, amended, Dana Point Desalination Project Authorization Act; 
H.R. 4192, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior, to designate the 
President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home in Hope, Arkansas, as a 
National Historic Site and unit of the National Park System; H.R. 4195, 
Southern Oregon Bureau of Reclamation Repayment Act of 2005; H.R. 4292, To 
amend Public Law 107-153 to further encourage the negotiated settlement of 
tribal claims; and S. 362, amended, Marine Debris Research, Prevention and 
Reduction Act.
CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS FY 2006
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing one hour 
of debate on H.J. Res. 72, making continuing appropriations for the fiscal 
year 2006, in the House 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 joint resolution. The rule 
provides one motion to recommit. Finally, the rule provides that H. Res. 542 
is laid on the table.
CONFERENCE REPORT--LABOR, HHS, EDUCATIONAND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS, 
FY 2006
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points of 
order against the conference report on H.R. 3010, Departments of Labor, 
Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2006, and against its consideration. The rule provides 
that the conference report shall be considered as read.
DEFICIT REDUCTION ACT OF 2005
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing 2 hours 
of debate in the House on H.R. 4241, Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, equally 
divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on the Budget. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the amendment printed in 
the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution shall be considered 
as adopted. The rule waives all points of order against provisions in the 
bill, as amended. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. The rule provides that, notwithstanding the operation of the 
previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill 
to a time designated by the Speaker. The rule provides that after passage of 
H.R. 4241, it shall be in order to take from the Speaker's table S. 1932 and 
to consider the Senate bill in the House. The rule waives all points of 
order against S. 1932 and against its consideration. The rule provides for a 
motion to strike all after the enacting clause of S. 1932 and to insert in 
lieu thereof the provisions of H.R. 4241 as passed by the House. The rule 
waives all points of order against the motion to strike and insert.
NOAA WEATHER SATELLITES
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on Ongoing Problems and Future Plans 
for NOAA Weather Satellites. Testimony was heard from VADM Conrad C. 
Lautenbacher, Jr., USN (ret.), Administrator, NOAA, Department of Commerce; 
Ronald M. Sega, Under Secretary, Air Force, Department of Defense; David 
Powner, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, GAO; and a 
public witness.

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INDIVIDUAL TAX PROPOSALS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures held a 
hearing on individuals tax proposals. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Cardin, Foley, Tom Davis of Virginia, Ryun of Kansas, 
Stearns, Fattah, Fossella, Baird, Simmons, Conway, Baldwin, Keller, Garrett, 
Fortuno, Wolf, Gingrey, Weldon of Pennsylvania, Rohrabacher and Wilson of 
South Carolina.
Joint Meetings
COAST GUARD AND MARITIME TRANSPORTATION ACT
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House passed 
versions of H.R. 889, to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for 
fiscal year 2006, to make technical corrections to various laws administered 
by the Coast Guard, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed 
subject to the call.
APPROPRIATIONS: LABOR/HHS/EDUCATION
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between the 
Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 3010, making appropriations for 
the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and 
Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006.
F