[Senate Report 109-48]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




109th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session                                                     109-48
_______________________________________________________________________
 
                              R E P O R T

                           ON THE ACTIVITIES

                                 of the

                          COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

                                 of the

                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                               during the

                             108th CONGRESS

                              pursuant to

                    Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules

                                 of the

                          UNITED STATES SENATE




                 March 30, 2005.--Ordered to be printed
         Filed under authority of the order of March 17th, 2005


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                          COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

                  CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa, Chairman

ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah                 MAX BAUCUS, Montana
TRENT LOTT, Mississippi              JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West 
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine              Virginia
JON KYL, Arizona                     KENT CONRAD, North Dakota
CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming                JAMES M. JEFFORDS (I), Vermont
RICK SANTORUM, Pennsylvania          JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico
BILL FRIST, Tennessee                JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts
GORDON SMITH, Oregon                 BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, Arkansas
JIM BUNNING, Kentucky                RON WYDEN, Oregon
MIKE CRAPO, Idaho                    CHARLES E. SCHUMER, New York

             Kolan Davis, Staff Director and Chief Counsel

                Russell Sullivan, Ranking Staff Director

                                  (ii)
?

                 [108th Congress--Committee Membership]

                          COMMITTEE ON FINANCE

                  CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa, Chairman

ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah                 MAX BAUCUS, Montana
DON NICKLES, Oklahoma                JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West 
TRENT LOTT, Mississippi              Virginia
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine              TOM DASCHLE, South Dakota
JON KYL, Arizona                     JOHN BREAUX, Louisiana
CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming                KENT CONRAD, North Dakota
RICK SANTORUM, Pennsylvania          BOB GRAHAM, Florida
BILL FRIST, Tennessee                JAMES M. JEFFORDS (I), Vermont
GORDON SMITH, Oregon                 JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico
JIM BUNNING, Kentucky                JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts
                                     BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, Arkansas

             Kolan Davis,  Staff Director and Chief Counsel

                Russell Sullivan, Ranking Staff Director

                             SUBCOMMITTEES

                                 ______

                       TAXATION AND IRS OVERSIGHT

                    DON NICKLES, Oklahoma, Chairman

ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah                 KENT CONRAD, North Dakota
TRENT LOTT, Mississippi              JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine              BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, Arkansas
CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming                JOHN BREAUX, Louisiana
RICK SANTORUM, Pennsylvania          MAX BAUCUS, Montana
GORDON SMITH, Oregon                 JAMES M. JEFFORDS (I), Vermont

                                 ______

                          INTERNATIONAL TRADE

                    CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming, Chairman

ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah                 MAX BAUCUS, Montana
CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa            JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West 
GORDON SMITH, Oregon                 Virginia
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine              KENT CONRAD, North Dakota
BILL FRIST, Tennessee                BOB GRAHAM, Florida
TRENT LOTT, Mississippi              JAMES M. JEFFORDS (I), Vermont
JIM BUNNING, Kentucky                TOM DASCHLE, South Dakota
                                     JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts

                                 (iii)
?

                   SOCIAL SECURITY AND FAMILY POLICY

                 RICK SANTORUM, Pennsylvania, Chairman

CHARLES E. GRASSLEY, Iowa            JOHN BREAUX, Louisiana
JON KYL, Arizona                     TOM DASCHLE, South Dakota
JIM BUNNING, Kentucky                JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts
DON NICKLES, Oklahoma                JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West 
OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine              Virginia
BILL FRIST, Tennessee                JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico
                                     BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, Akansas

                                 ______

                              HEALTH CARE

                       JON KYL, Arizona, Chairman

OLYMPIA J. SNOWE, Maine              JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER IV, West 
BILL FRIST, Tennessee                Virginia
JIM BUNNING, Kentucky                TOM DASCHLE, South Dakota
DON NICKLES, Oklahoma                BOB GRAHAM, Florida
CRAIG THOMAS, Wyoming                JAMES M. JEFFORDS (I), Vermont
RICK SANTORUM, Pennsylvania          JEFF BINGAMAN, New Mexico
GORDON SMITH, Oregon                 JOHN F. KERRY, Massachusetts
ORRIN G. HATCH, Utah                 BLANCHE L. LINCOLN, Arkansas
TRENT LOTT, Mississippi              JOHN BREAUX, Louisiana
                                     MAX BAUCUS, Montana

                                 ______

                  LONG-TERM GROWTH AND DEBT REDUCTION

                     GORDON SMITH, Oregon, Chairman

TRENT LOTT, Mississippi              BOB GRAHAM, Florida
JON KYL, Arizona                     KENT CONRAD, North Dakota

                                  (iv)
?

      

                         LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                                       U.S. Senate,
                                      Committee on Finance,
                                    Washington, DC, March 30, 2005.
Hon. Emily Reynolds,
Secretary, U.S. Senate,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Ms. Reynolds: In accordance with rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the United States Senate and the pertinent 
unanimous consent order pertaining to this rule, I am 
transmitting herewith a report on the activities of the 
Committee on Finance of the United States Senate for the 108th 
Congress.

            Sincerely,
                                     Charles E. Grassley, Chairman.

                                  (v)
                                     



                            C O N T E N T S

                               __________
                                                                   Page

108th Congress--Committee Membership.............................   iii
Letter of Transmittal............................................     v
Committee Jurisdiction...........................................     1
Rules of Procedure...............................................     2
Tax--Summary of Activities.......................................     5
    Hearings and Meetings........................................     7
    Full Committee Field Hearings................................    11
    Full Committee Executive Meetings............................    12
Trade--Summary of Activities.....................................    14
    Hearings and Meetings........................................    15
    Subcommittee on International Trade Hearings and Meetings....    17
    Subcommittee on International Trade Field Hearings...........    17
    Joint Subcommittee Hearing with Health Care Subcommittee.....    18
    Full Committee Executive Meetings............................    18
    Informal Meetings............................................    19
Health--Summary of Activities....................................    20
    Hearings and Meetings........................................    21
    Full Committee Field Hearings................................    23
    Full Committee Executive Meetings............................    23
Social Security--Summary of Activities...........................    25
    Full Committee Hearings and Meetings.........................    25
    Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy............    25
    Full Committee Executive Meetings............................    26
Committee on Finance Oversight Activities........................    27
    Hearings and Meetings........................................    28
    Other Oversight and Investigation Initiatives................    30
Calendar of Hearings.............................................    47
Bills and Resolutions Referred and Considered....................    51
Status Charts of Legislative Activities:
    Senate Bills and Resolutions.................................    52
    House Bills and Resolutions..................................    56
Full Committee Business Meetings.................................    58
Calendar of Nominations..........................................    63
Reports, Prints, and Studies.....................................    77
Official Communications..........................................    79

                                 (vii)

  
109th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session                                                     109-48

======================================================================



 
 REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DURING THE 108TH 
                                CONGRESS

                                _______
                                

                 March 30, 2005.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

  Mr. Grassley, from the Committee on Finance, submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

    This report reviews the legislative and oversight 
activities of the Committee on Finance during the 108th 
Congress. These activities parallel the broad scope of 
responsibilities vested in the Committee by the Legislative 
Reorganization Act of 1946, as amended, rule XXV(k) of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, and additional authorizing 
resolutions.

                         COMMITTEE JURISDICTION

    Rule XXV(i) of the Standing Rules of the Senate requires 
reference to this Committee of all proposed legislation, and 
other matters, dealing with (i) Committee on Finance, to which 
committee shall be referred all proposed legislation, messages, 
petitions, memorials, and other matters relating to the 
following subjects:
          1. Bonded debt of the United States, except as 
        provided in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
          2. Customs, collection districts, and ports of entry 
        and delivery.
          3. Deposit of public moneys.
          4. General revenue sharing.
          5. Health programs under the Social Security Act and 
        health programs financed by a specific tax or trust 
        fund.
          6. National social security.
          7. Reciprocal trade agreements.
          8. Revenue measures generally, except as provided in 
        the Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
          9. Revenue measures relating to the insular 
        possessions.
          10. Tariffs and import quotas, and matters related 
        thereto.
          11. Transportation of dutiable goods.

                                  (1)

                            COMMITTEE RULES

                         I. RULES OF PROCEDURE

    Rule 1.  Regular Meeting Days.--The regular meeting day of the 
committee shall be the second and fourth Tuesday of each month, except 
that if there be no business before the committee the regular meeting 
shall be omitted.
    Rule 2.  Committee Meetings.--(a) Except as provided by paragraph 3 
of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate (relating to special 
meetings called by a majority of the committee) and subsection (b) of 
this rule, committee meetings, for the conduct of business, for the 
purpose of holding hearings, or for any other purpose, shall be called 
by the chairman. Members will be notified of committee meetings at 
least 48 hours in advance, unless the chairman determines that an 
emergency situation requires a meeting on shorter notice. The 
notification will include a written agenda together with materials 
prepared by the staff relating to that agenda. After the agenda for a 
committee meeting is published and distributed, no nongermane items may 
be brought up during that meeting unless at least two-thirds of the 
members present agree to consider those items.
      (b) In the absence of the chairman, meetings of the committee may 
be called by the ranking majority member of the committee who is 
present, provided authority to call meetings has been delegated to such 
member by the chairman.
    Rule 3.  Presiding Officer.--(a) The chairman shall preside at all 
meetings and hearings of the committee except that in his absence the 
ranking majority member who is present at the meeting shall preside.
      (b) Notwithstanding the rule prescribed by subsection (a) any 
member of the committee may preside over the conduct of a hearing.
    Rule 4.  Quorums.--(a) Except as provided in subsection (b) one-
third of the membership of the committee, including not less than one 
member of the majority party and one member of the minority party, 
shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.
      (b) Notwithstanding the rule prescribed by subsection (a), one 
member shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting a 
hearing.
    Rule 5.  Reporting of Measures or Recommendations.--No measure or 
recommendation shall be reported from the committee unless a majority 
of the committee is actually present and a majority of those present 
concur.
    Rule 6.  Proxy Voting; Polling.--(a) Except as provided by 
paragraph 7(a)(3) of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate 
(relating to limitation on use of proxy voting to report a measure or 
matter), members who are unable to be present may have their vote 
recorded by proxy.
      (b) At the discretion of the committee, members who are unable to 
be present and whose vote has not been cast by proxy may be polled for 
the purpose of recording their vote on any rollcall taken by the 
committee.
    Rule 7.  Order of Motions.--When several motions are before the 
committee dealing with related or overlapping matters, the chairman may 
specify the order in which the motions shall be voted upon.
    Rule 8.  Bringing a Matter to a Vote.--If the chairman determines 
that a motion or amendment has been adequately debated, he may call for 
a vote on such motion or amendment, and the vote shall then be taken, 
unless the committee votes to continue debate on such motion or 
amendment, as the case may be. The vote on a motion to continue debate 
on any motion or amendment shall be taken without debate.
    Rule 9.  Public Announcement of Committee Votes.--Pursuant to 
paragraph 7(b) of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate 
(relating to public announcement of votes), the results of rollcall 
votes taken by the committee on any measure (or amendment thereto) or 
matter shall be announced publicly not later than the day on which such 
measure or matter is ordered reported from the committee.
    Rule 10.  Subpoenas.--Subpoenas for attendance of witnesses and the 
production of memoranda, documents, and records shall be issued by the 
chairman, or by any other member of the committee designated by him.
    Rule 11.  Nominations.--In considering a nomination, the Committee 
may conduct an investigation or review of the nominee's experience, 
qualifications, and suitability, to serve in the position to which he 
or she has been nominated. To aid in such investigation or review, each 
nominee may be required to submit a sworn detailed statement including 
biographical, financial, policy, and other information which the 
Committee may request. The Committee may specify which items in such 
statement are to be received on a confidential basis. Witnesses called 
to testify on the nomination may be required to testify under oath.
    Rule 12.  Open Committee Hearings.--To the extent required by 
paragraph 5 of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate (relating 
to limitations on open hearings), each hearing conducted by the 
committee shall be open to the public.
    Rule 13.  Announcement of Hearings.--The committee shall undertake 
consistent with the provisions of paragraph 4(a) of Rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate (relating to public notice of committee 
hearings) to issue public announcements of hearings it intends to hold 
at least one week prior to the commencement of such hearings.
    Rule 14.  Witnesses at Hearings.--(a) Each witness who is scheduled 
to testify at any hearing must submit his written testimony to the 
staff director not later than noon of the business day immediately 
before the last business day preceding the day on which he is scheduled 
to appear. Such written testimony shall be accompanied by a brief 
summary of the principal points covered in the written testimony. 
Having submitted his written testimony, the witness shall be allowed 
not more than 10 minutes for oral presentation of his statement.
      (b) Witnesses may not read their entire written testimony, but 
must confine their oral presentation to a summarization of their 
arguments.
      (c) Witnesses shall observe proper standards of dignity, decorum 
and propriety while presenting their views to the committee. Any 
witness who violates this rule shall be dismissed, and his testimony 
(both oral and written) shall not appear in the record of the hearing.
      (d) In scheduling witnesses for hearings, the staff shall attempt 
to schedule witnesses so as to attain a balance of views early in the 
hearings. Every member of the committee may designate witnesses who 
will appear before the committee to testify. To the extent that a 
witness designated by a member cannot be scheduled to testify during 
the time set aside for the hearing, a special time will be set aside 
for the witness to testify if the member designating that witness is 
available at that time to chair the hearing.
    Rule 15.  Audiences.--Persons admitted into the audience for open 
hearings of the committee shall conduct themselves with the dignity, 
decorum, courtesy and propriety traditionally observed by the Senate. 
Demonstrations of approval or disapproval of any statement or act by 
any member or witness are not allowed. Persons creating confusion or 
distractions or otherwise disrupting the orderly proceeding of the 
hearing shall be expelled from the hearing.
    Rule 16.  Broadcasting of Hearings.--(a) Broadcasting of open 
hearings by television or radio coverage shall be allowed upon approval 
by the chairman of a request filed with the staff director not later 
than noon of the day before the day on which such coverage is desired.
      (b) If such approval is granted, broadcasting coverage of the 
hearing shall be conducted unobtrusively and in accordance with the 
standards of dignity, propriety, courtesy and decorum traditionally 
observed by the Senate.
      (c) Equipment necessary for coverage by television and radio 
media shall not be installed in, or removed from, the hearing room 
while the committee is in session.
      (d) Additional lighting may be installed in the hearing room by 
the media in order to raise the ambient lighting level to the lowest 
level necessary to provide adequate television coverage of the hearing 
at the then current state of the art of television coverage.
      (e) The additional lighting authorized by subsection (d) of this 
rule shall not be directed into the eyes of any members of the 
committee or of any witness, and at the request of any such member or 
witness, offending lighting shall be extinguished.
      (f) No witness shall be required to be photographed at any 
hearing or to give testimony while the broadcasting (or coverage) of 
that hearing is being conducted. At the request of any such witness who 
does not wish to be subjected to radio or television coverage, all 
equipment used for coverage shall be turned off.
    Rule 17.  Subcommittees.--(a) The chairman, subject to the approval 
of the committee, shall appoint legislative subcommittees. All 
legislation shall be kept on the full committee calendar unless a 
majority of the members present and voting agree to refer specific 
legislation to an appropriate subcommittee.
      (b) The chairman may limit the period during which House-passed 
legislation referred to a subcommittee under paragraph (a) will remain 
in that subcommittee. At the end of that period, the legislation will 
be restored to the full committee calendar. The period referred to in 
the preceding sentences should be 6 weeks, but may be extended in the 
event that adjournment or a long recess is imminent.
      (c) All decisions of the chairman are subject to approval or 
modification by a majority vote of the committee.
      (d) The full committee may at any time by majority vote of those 
members present discharge a subcommittee from further consideration of 
a specific piece of legislation.
      (e) Because the Senate is constitutionally prohibited from 
passing revenue legislation originating in the Senate, subcommittees 
may mark up legislation originating in the Senate and referred to them 
under Rule 16(a) to develop specific proposals for full committee 
consideration but may not report such legislation to the full 
committee. The preceding sentence does not apply to nonrevenue 
legislation originating in the Senate.
      (f) The chairman and ranking minority members shall serve as 
nonvoting ex officio members of the subcommittees on which they do not 
serve as voting members.
      (g) Any member of the committee may attend hearings held by any 
subcommittee and question witnesses testifying before that 
subcommittee.
      (h) Subcommittee meeting times shall be coordinated by the staff 
director to insure that--
          (1) no subcommittee meeting will be held when the committee 
        is in executive session, except by unanimous consent;
          (2) no more than one subcommittee will meet when the full 
        committee is holding hearings; and
          (3) not more than two subcommittees will meet at the same 
        time.
    Notwithstanding paragraphs (2) and (3), a subcommittee may meet 
when the full committee is holding hearings and two subcommittees may 
meet at the same time only upon the approval of the chairman and the 
ranking minority member of the committee and subcommittees involved.
      (i) All nominations shall be considered by the full committee.
      (j) The chairman will attempt to schedule reasonably frequent 
meetings of the full committee to permit consideration of legislation 
reported favorably to the committee by the subcommittees.
    Rule 18.  Transcripts of Committee Meetings.--An accurate record 
shall be kept of all markups of the committee, whether they be open or 
closed to the public. This record, marked as ``uncorrected,'' shall be 
available for inspection by Members of the Senate, or members of the 
committee together with their staffs, at any time. This record shall 
not be published or made public in any way except:
      (a) By majority vote of the committee after all members of the 
committee have had a reasonable opportunity to correct their remarks 
for grammatical errors or to accurately reflect statements made.
      (b) Any member may release his own remarks made in any markup of 
the committee provided that every member or witness whose remarks are 
contained in the released portion is given a reasonable opportunity 
before release to correct their remarks.
    Notwithstanding the above, in the case of the record of an 
executive session of the committee that is closed to the public 
pursuant to Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the record 
shall not be published or made public in any way except by majority 
vote of the committee after all members of the committee have had a 
reasonable opportunity to correct their remarks for grammatical errors 
or to accurately reflect statements made.
    Rule 19.  Amendment of Rules.--The foregoing rules may be added to, 
modified, amended or suspended at any time.

                                  TAX

                         SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

    In the first session, the Finance Committee worked actively 
in the following areas of Federal taxation: (i) tax incentives 
for economic growth and job creation, (ii) tax benefits for 
military personnel, (iii) pensions and retirement security, 
(iv) energy tax incentives, (v) charitable giving incentives, 
(vi) international reform, (vii) family tax relief, (viii) 
transportation, and (ix) oversight. In the area of economic 
growth, the Committee held conceptual hearings on 
Administration proposals in February 2003 and marked up S. 2, 
the ``Jobs and Growth Tax Act of 2003'' in May 2003. This 
legislation was conferenced and signed into law on May 28, 
2003. In February 2003, the Committee marked up and reported S. 
351, the ``Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act of 2003.'' The 
substance of the Committee's bill passed the Senate in March 
2003 (H.R. 1307) and the Congress in November 2003 (H.R. 3365, 
the ``Military Family Tax Relief Act of 2003''). The President 
signed the bill into law on November 11, 2003. In the area of 
pensions and retirement security, the Committee held a hearing 
in March 2003, on issues related to the funding of defined 
benefit plans. In September 2003, the Committee marked up an 
original bill the National Employee Savings and Trust Equity 
Guarantee Act (``NESTEG'') to reform pension and retirement 
savings laws that was favorably reported by voice vote. In 
October 2003, the Committee recalled the bill to examine 
certain issues related to company-owned life insurance (COLI) 
after a hearing on the issue. Related to energy, the Committee 
marked up and reported out the ``Energy Tax Incentives Act of 
2003'' (S. 1149) in April and May 2003, respectively. The 
Senate passed the bill in July 2003. The Committee also 
conducted a hearing and marked up the ``Volumetric Ethanol 
Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) Act of 2003'' in August and September 
2003, respectively. The Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2003 and 
the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit (VEETC) Act of 2003 
were reported favorably out of conference but not agreed to by 
the full Senate in November 2003. In February 2003, the Finance 
Committee acted on charitable giving incentives and marked up 
S. 476, the ``Savings for Working Families Act of 2003'' 
(CARE). This legislation passed the Senate during the 108th 
Congress but did not reach conference. The Finance Committee 
began a review of international tax reform in July 2003 with 
hearings and marked up S. 1637, the ``Jumpstart Our Business 
Strength (JOBS) Act'' in October 2003. Family tax incentives 
passed the Senate in the form of a Grassley-Lincoln amendment 
to H.R. 1308 on June 5, 2003 (entitled the ``Relief for Working 
Families Tax Act of 2003''). In the transportation area, the 
Federal highway program expired in September 2003. The Finance 
Committee marked up and the Senate passed a five-month 
extension of the highway program to February 29, 2004 (Pub. L. 
No. 108-88). In June 2003, the Committee also marked up the 
revenue title of S. 824, the ``Aviation Investment and 
Revitalization Vision Act,'' which reauthorized the aviation 
trust fund. Oversight hearings were conducted in the following 
areas during the first session: U.S. border patrol (January 
2003), the Joint Committee on Taxation's report on the 
investigation of Enron's tax and compensation practices 
(February and April 2003), paid preparers (April 2003), 
charitable car donations (April 2003), and tax shelters 
(October 2003).
    In the second session, the Finance Committee worked 
actively in the following areas of Federal taxation: (i) 
international reform, (ii) energy tax incentives, (iii) family 
tax relief and extension of expiring provisions, (iv) pension 
and retirement security, (v) transportation, (vi) tax 
administration, (vii) education, (viii) rural tax incentives, 
(ix) taxation of bonds issued by American Samoa, and (x) 
oversight. The Senate passed an expanded version of S. 1637, 
the ``Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act of 2003'' in 
May 2004 which was successfully conferenced and signed into law 
on October 22, 2004. In the energy area, portions of the 
``Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2003'' and VEETC were 
incorporated into the JOBS bill that was signed in October 
2004. H.R. 1308 was successfully conferenced and signed into 
law on October 4, 2004 and renamed the ``Working Families Tax 
Relief Act of 2004'' (Pub. L. No. 108-311). In the pension and 
retirement security area, the Committee marked up a modified 
version of the NESTEG bill (S. 2424) and ordered the bill 
favorably reported by voice vote on February 2, 2004. Several 
provisions of the NESTEG bill were incorporated in the 
conference agreement on the ``Pension Funding Equity Act of 
2004'' (H.R. 3108), which was signed into law by President Bush 
on April 10, 2004 (Pub. L. No. 108-218). In the transportation 
area, the Finance Committee marked up a revenue title to S. 
1072, ``The Safe, Accountable, Flexible and Efficient 
Transportation Equity Act of 2003,'' a bill to reauthorize the 
highway program, in February 2004. The Senate passed S. 1072 
including the revenue title in February 2004, but Congress 
failed to resolve differences between the House and Senate-
passed bills during the remainder of the session. Five 
additional extensions were passed by Congress during the second 
session extending the program to April 30, 2004 (Pub. L. No. 
108-202), June 30, 2004 (Pub. L. No. 108-224), July 31, 2004 
(Pub. L. No. 108-263), September 30, 2004 (Pub. L. No. 108-
280), and May 31, 2005 (Pub. L. No. 108-310). In the tax 
administration area, the Committee passed S. 882, the ``Tax 
Administration Good Government Act'' in May 2004. The Senate 
passed the bill as an amendment to H.R. 1528 on May 19, 2004. 
Additional hearings were held on the role of higher education 
in global competitiveness in July 2004 and the use of tax 
incentives to preserve rural communities in August 2004. In 
July 2004, the Committee marked up and reported out H.R. 982, 
which clarified the tax treatment of bonds issued by the 
Government of American Samoa. The President signed the bill 
into law on October 16, 2004. Oversight hearings were conducted 
in the following areas during the second session: terrorist 
financing (May 2004), charity oversight and reform (June 2004), 
bridging the tax gap (July 2004), and Indian jails (September 
2004).

                  FULL COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MEETINGS

2003
 Jan. 30, 2003--Hearing on U.S. Borders: Safe or Sieve? 
        Committee heard testimony from GAO and Inspector 
        General of Department of Interior about investigations 
        they conducted regarding the safety of U.S. Borders. 
        Committee also heard from officials from INS, Border 
        Patrol and National Park Service. The hearing focused 
        especially on illegal transport of currency as well as 
        the wide range of Federal agencies responsible for 
        border security.
 Feb. 5, 2003--Hearing on Revenue Proposals in the President's 
        FY 2004 Budget. Treasury Secretary John W. Snow 
        testified on revenue proposals in the Administration's 
        FY 2004 budget.
 Feb. 11, 2003--Hearing on Examination of Proposals for 
        Economic Growth and Job Creation: Incentives for 
        Consumption. This set of hearings focused on the 
        economy and proposals for recovery and sustainable 
        growth. The first hearing evaluated proposals from the 
        Administration and members of Congress intended to 
        stimulate consumption and explored the relative 
        effectiveness, timeliness, and efficiency of those 
        proposals at creating jobs and economic growth. 
        Witnesses included Peter R. Orszag, Joseph A. Pechman 
        Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, The Brookings 
        Institute; Chris R. Edwards, Director of Fiscal Policy 
        Studies, CATO; and Oklahoma State Senator Angela 
        Monson, (D-OK), President, National Conference of State 
        Legislators.
 Feb. 12, 2003--Hearing on Examination of Proposals for 
        Economic Growth and Job Creation: Incentives for 
        Investments. This set of hearings focused on the 
        economy and proposals for recovery and sustainable 
        growth. The second hearing evaluated proposals from the 
        Administration and members of Congress intended to 
        encourage investment and explored the relative 
        effectiveness, timeliness, and efficiency of those 
        proposals at creating jobs and economic growth. 
        Witnesses included former United States Senator Phil 
        Gramm (R-TX), Vice Chairman & Managing Director, UBS 
        Warburg; Leon Panetta, The Panetta Institute; Kevin A. 
        Hassett, Residential Scholar, American Enterprise 
        Institute; and William Gale, Deputy Director and Senior 
        Fellow, the Brookings Institute.
 Feb. 13, 2003--Hearing on Enron: The Joint Committee on 
        Taxation's Investigative Report. Introduction and 
        official release of JCS3-03, ``Report of Investigation 
        of Enron Corporation and Related Entities Regarding 
        Federal Tax and Compensation Issues, and Policy 
        Recommendations,'' requested by the Committee on 
        Finance. The Committee heard testimony of Lindy Paull, 
        Chief of Staff, Joint Committee of Taxation (JCT) 
        regarding the JCT's extensive investigation of Enron 
        and particularly the tax practices at Enron. Committee 
        also heard reaction from a number of experts in 
        academia to the JCT findings and recommendations 
        contained in the report.
 Mar. 11, 2003--Hearing on The Funding Challenge: Keeping 
        Defined Benefit Pension Plans Afloat. This hearing 
        focused on the status of defined benefit pension 
        funding, including an examination of current pension 
        funding rules and the interest rate set to value 
        pension liabilities. Witnesses included Steven 
        Kandarian, Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty 
        Corporation; Marc Schuler, Captain, U.S. Airways; Ron 
        Gebhardtsbauer, Senior Pension Fellow, American Academy 
        of Actuaries; Henry Eickelberger, Staff Vice President, 
        General Dynamics Corporation; Christopher O'Flinn, The 
        ERISA Industry Committee.
 Apr. 1, 2003--Hearing on Taxpayer Alert: Choosing a Paid 
        Preparer and the Pitfalls of Charitable Car Donations. 
        The hearing focused on three issues:
          (1) a follow up to previous hearings on tax schemes 
        and scams that target working families and the IRS' 
        response;
          (2) paid tax preparers ensuring that taxpayers 
        benefit from honest assistance and how to avoid 
        unscrupulous tax preparers; and,
          (3) General Accounting Office's (GAO) report on car 
        donations which highlighted significant taxpayer abuse 
        in the program as well as the fact that charities 
        received very little benefit. The Committee heard from 
        several witnesses including the GAO, the Inspector 
        General for Tax Administration, and the Taxpayer 
        Advocate.
 Apr. 8, 2003--Hearing on Enron: Joint Committee on Taxation 
        Investigative Report Compensation-Related Issues. A 
        follow-on to the February 13, 2003 hearing with a focus 
        on executive and deferred compensation issues raised in 
        the Joint Committee on Taxation Investigative Report on 
        Enron. The Committee heard from JCT as well as Pamela 
        Olson, Assistant Secretary, Tax Policy, Department of 
        the Treasury and others about the findings of the 
        report as well as possible reforms.
Apr. 29, 2003--Republican Member's Meeting on the President's 
        Growth Package.
 May 1, 2003--Member's Meeting on the President's Growth 
        Package.
 May 7, 2003--Republican Member's Meeting on President's Growth 
        Package.
 July 8, 2003--Hearing on an Examination of U.S. Tax Policy and 
        Its Effect on the Domestic and International 
        Competitiveness of U.S.-Based Operations. This hearing 
        examined the effect of repealing the extraterritorial 
        income tax regime on the U.S. domestic manufacturing 
        sector and economy as a whole, and the effect of 
        certain U.S. international tax laws on the domestic 
        operations of U.S. companies and the U.S. operations of 
        foreign companies.
 July 15, 2003--Hearing on an Examination of U.S. Tax Policy 
        and Its Effect on the International Competitiveness of 
        U.S.-Owned Foreign Operations. This hearing examined 
        the effect of U.S. international tax laws on the 
        competitiveness of foreign operations of U.S. 
        companies. The hearing considered the effect of 
        international competitiveness for the U.S. economy, a 
        proposal to encourage repatriation the deferred foreign 
        earnings of U.S. companies, and other reforms of U.S. 
        international tax provisions.
 Sept. 11, 2003--Republican Member's Meeting on Tax. 
        Consideration of a proposal to repeal the 
        extraterritorial income tax regime to comply with a 
        World Trade Organization ruling dated January 2002.
 Sept. 25, 2003--Member's Meeting on Tax. Consideration of a 
        proposal to repeal the extraterritorial income tax 
        regime to comply with a World Trade Organization ruling 
        dated January 2002.
 Oct. 21, 2003--Hearing on ``Shelters: Who's Buying, Who's 
        Selling, and What's the Government Doing About It?'' 
        This hearing focused on the actual mechanics of tax 
        shelters and how they are marketed and sold. The 
        committee heard from witnesses with first-hand 
        knowledge from their position at accounting firms, 
        major corporations and investors. The Committee then 
        heard from government officials, including the 
        Commissioner of the IRS, the Assistant Attorney 
        General, Tax Division, U.S. Department of Justice and 
        the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, about 
        efforts to address abusive tax shelters and their 
        promoters.
 Oct. 23, 2003--Hearing on ``Company Owned Life Insurance.'' 
        This hearing examined the uses of company-owned life 
        insurance or COLI and whether and to what extent 
        legislation may be necessary to address possible abuses 
        with respect to the use of COLI. Witnesses included 
        Greg Jenner, Deputy Assistant Secretary, United States 
        Department of the Treasury; Davi D'Agostino, General 
        Accounting Office, Financial Market Community 
        Investment; Spencer Tillman, Journalist; Frank Keating, 
        President, American Council of Life Insurance; Andrew 
        Pike, Professor of Law and Academic Dean, American 
        University Washington College of Law; and Robert 
        Plybon, President, Association of Advanced Life 
        Underwriters.
2004
Jan. 28, 2004--Member's Meeting on NESTEG.
 Feb. 12, 2004--Hearing on the Revenue Proposals in the 
        President's FY05 Budget. Treasury Secretary John W. 
        Snow testified on revenue proposals in the 
        Administration's FY 2005 budget.
 May 19, 2004--Hearing on Oversight and Nominations: The 
        Treasury Department and Terrorism Financing; to 
        consider the nominations for John O. Colvin, Juan C. 
        Zarate, and Stuart Levey. Committee heard from two 
        senior former government officials as to the role and 
        performance of the Department of the Treasury in 
        addressing terrorism financing, with a particular focus 
        on the use of front companies and charities who launder 
        money as well as the work of the office of Foreign 
        Asset Control.
 June 16, 2004--Hearing on Strengthening Regulations and 
        Oversight to Better Ensure Agriculture Financing 
        Integrity. This hearing focused on a report by the 
        Government Accountability Office (GAO) entitled, ``Farm 
        Program Payments: USDA Needs to Strengthen Regulations 
        and Oversight to Better Ensure Recipients Do Not 
        Circumvent Payment Limitations.'' Congress enacted the 
        Agriculture Reconciliation Act of 1987 to establish 
        eligibility conditions for recipients of farm program 
        payments and to ensure that only entities ``actively 
        engaged in farming'' received payments. GAO found that, 
        ``USDA's regulations to ensure recipients are actively 
        engaged in farming do not specify a measurable standard 
        for what constitutes a significant contribution of 
        active personal management.'' GAO also reported that 
        without some type of measurable standard, USDA makes 
        little attempt to limit recipients who claim active 
        personal management as their qualifying criteria.--Mr. 
        Lawrence J. Dyckman, Director of Natural Resources and 
        Environment, GAO, testified.
 June 22, 2004--Hearing on Charity Oversight and Reform: 
        Keeping Bad Things from Happening to Good Charities. 
        The Committee heard from the Commissioner of the IRS as 
        well as State officials about significant problems 
        involving tax exempt organizations. The Committee then 
        heard from four private sector witnesses who discussed 
        first-hand actual tax scams and schemes that involved 
        charities or improperly benefited insiders at 
        charities. Finally, the Committee heard from outside 
        experts who provided Senators their response to 
        proposed reforms.
 June 24, 2004--Member's Meeting to examine the process for 
        preparing cost estimates on pending and proposed 
        legislation.
 July 21, 2004--Hearing on Bridging the Tax Gap. Committee 
        heard from a number of experts in government and the 
        private sector about the size of the tax gap the 
        difference between the amount of tax due and owing 
        versus the amount actually collected. The committee 
        also heard of possible new ways and innovations to 
        reduce the tax gap. The Committee then heard from the 
        Commissioner of the IRS, the Taxpayer Advocate as well 
        as State officials on their perspectives of how to 
        address the tax gap while balancing respect for 
        taxpayers' rights.
 July 22, 2004--Hearing on the Role of Higher Education 
        Financing in Strengthening U.S. Competitiveness in a 
        Global Economy. This hearing examined the financing of 
        higher education in the United States and the role of 
        Federal tax incentives in helping students and their 
        families meet higher education costs. Witnesses 
        included Susan Dynarski, Harvard University Kennedy 
        School of Government; Peter Corr, Senior Vice President 
        for Science and Technology, Pfizer; Watson Scott Swail, 
        President, Education Policy Institute; Robert Paxton, 
        President, Iowa Central Community College; David 
        Forbes, Dean, School of Pharmacy, University of 
        Montana; Randall Edwards, Treasurer, State of Oregon; 
        Chuck Toth, Director, Education Savings, Merrill Lynch 
        & Co.; James Fadule, President, UPromise Investments.
 Sept. 21, 2004--Hearing on Indian Jails: A Clarion Call for 
        Reform. This oversight hearing focused on a report 
        issued by the Office of Inspector General for the 
        Department of the Interior that exposed deplorable 
        conditions within many detention facilities operated by 
        the Bureau of Indian Affairs. The Inspector General's 
        report found that 79 percent of facilities fell below 
        minimum staffing levels on a regular basis, often 
        placing staff and inmates at risk. The report also 
        found serious health and safety conditions at many 
        facilities resulting from years of inadequate 
        maintenance. The report chronicled 11 fatalities, 236 
        attempted suicides, and 631 escapes at Indian Country 
        jails during the three years preceding the report. 
        Witnesses included the Department of the Interior 
        Inspector General, representatives from the Bureau of 
        Indian Affairs, a representative from the Department of 
        Justice, and two individuals from Indian country who 
        have been personally impacted by these facilities.

                      FULL COMMITTEE FIELD HEARINGS

2003
 Aug. 26, 2003--Field Hearing, Rural Economy, Renewable Energy, 
        and the Role of our Cooperatives in Dallas City, Iowa. 
        This hearing examined the role of cooperatives in our 
        pursuit of renewable energy to diversify our national 
        energy policy. In addition, it reviewed utilizing 
        agricultural products to decrease dependence on the 
        Middle East for oil and to diversify rural economy. 
        Witnesses included Thomas Dorr, Under Secretary for 
        Rural Development for U.S. Department of Agriculture, 
        Tom Gue, Professor of Law, University of South Dakota 
        and Reporter for the National Conference of 
        Commissioners on Uniform State Law regarding 
        cooperatives, Regi Goodale, Director of Regulatory 
        Affairs for the Iowa Association of Electric 
        Cooperatives, John Campbell, Vice-President of 
        Government Relations and Industrial Products for AG 
        Processing, Inc., former Deputy Under Secretary of 
        International Affairs and Commodity Programs for U.S. 
        Department of Agriculture, Josh Blaisdell, Director of 
        Tax for CHS (formerly Cenex Harvest States), and Bob 
        Dinneen, President and CEO of Renewable Fuels 
        Association (RFA).
2004
 Aug. 25, 2004--Field Hearing, Saving America's Great Places: 
        The Role of Tax Incentives in Preserving Rural 
        Communities in Sioux City, Iowa. This hearing examined 
        the ability to update or change tax law to help build 
        rural economic strength. The Witnesses focused on the 
        legislation ``Heartland Investment and Rural Employment 
        Act,'' known as HIRE and discussed updating tax laws 
        and potential new tax incentives focused on small 
        business and rural development. The witnesses included 
        The Honorable Sam Brownback, Senator, United States 
        Senate; Ms. Jean-Mari Peltier, President, National 
        Council of Farmer Cooperatives; Mr. Glen Keppy, 
        Director, CHS Board of Directors; Mr. Peter Froelich, 
        Ph.D, Assistant for Special Projects, Office of the 
        President, Dickinson State University; Mr. Chuck 
        Hassebrook, Executive Director, Center for Rural 
        Affairs; Mr. Kevin Edberg, Executive Director, 
        Cooperative Development Services; and, Mr. Shane 
        Tiernan, Ag/Commercial Loan Development Officer, Grundy 
        National Bank.

                    FULL COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE MEETINGS

2003
 Feb. 5, 2003--Executive Session on the Armed Forces Tax 
        Fairness Act of 2003 and the CARE Act of 2003. The 
        Committee favorably reported S. 351, the Armed Forces 
        Tax Fairness Act of 2003. The Committee favorably 
        reported S. 476, the CARE Act of 2003.
Apr. 2, 2003 Executive Session on S. 1149, Energy Tax 
        Incentives Act of 2003.
 May 8, 2003--Executive Session on a substitute for S. 2, the 
        Jobs and Growth Tax Act of 2003.
 May 13, 2003--Executive Session on an original bill, the text 
        of which was reported by the Committee on Finance on 
        May 8, 2003, for the purposes of meeting Finance 
        Committee reconciliation instructions.
 May 22, 2003--Joint House and Senate Conference on the Growth 
        Package.
 June 5, 2003--Executive Session on revenue title to S. 824, 
        the Aviation Investment and Revitalization Vision Act.
 Sept. 17, 2003--Executive Session on H.R. 743, S. 1548, the 
        Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit Act of 2003, and 
        an original bill entitled the National Employee Savings 
        and Trust Equity Guarantee Act.
 Oct. 1, 2003--Executive Session on S. 1637, the ``Jumpstart 
        Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act of 2003.'' Finance 
        Committee mark-up of a bill to repeal the 
        extraterritorial income tax regime to comply with a 
        World Trade Organization ruling of January 2002.
2004
 Feb. 2, 2004--Executive Session on S. 2424, National Employee 
        Savings and Trust Equity Guarantee Act, Extension of 
        Highway Trust Fund and S. 882, Tax Administration Good 
        Government Act.
 July 20, 2004--Executive Session to consider favorably 
        reporting H.R. 982. The Committee favorably reported 
        H.R. 982, to clarify the tax treatment of bonds issued 
        by the Government of American Samoa.
 Sept. 21, 2004--Conference Meeting with the House on H.R. 
        1308, Tax Relief, Simplification, and Equity Act of 
        2003.
 Sept. 22, 2004--Continuation of Conference Meeting with the 
        House on H.R. 1308, Tax Relief, Simplification, and 
        Equity Act of 2003.
 Sept. 29, 2004--Conference Meeting with the House on H.R. 
        4520, JOBS Act. Public House-Senate conference 
        proceedings to consider a bill to repeal the 
        extraterritorial income tax regime, to create a U.S. 
        manufacturing deduction, to enact certain international 
        tax reforms, to provide for termination of a support 
        program for tobacco farmers, and other matters.
 Oct. 4, 2004--Continuation of Conference Meeting with the 
        House on H.R. 4520, JOBS Act. Public House-Senate 
        conference proceedings to consider a bill to repeal the 
        extraterritorial income tax regime, to create a U.S. 
        manufacturing deduction, to enact certain international 
        tax reforms, to provide for termination of a support 
        program for tobacco farmers, and other matters.
 Oct. 5, 2004--Continuation of Conference Meeting with the 
        House on H.R. 4520, JOBS Act. Public House-Senate 
        conference proceedings to consider a bill to repeal the 
        extraterritorial income tax regime, to create a U.S. 
        manufacturing deduction, to enact certain international 
        tax reforms, to provide for termination of a support 
        program for tobacco farmers, and other matters.
 Oct. 6, 2004--Continuation of Conference Meeting with the 
        House on H.R. 4520, JOBS Act. Public House-Senate 
        conference proceedings to consider a bill to repeal the 
        extraterritorial income tax regime, to create a U.S. 
        manufacturing deduction, to enact certain international 
        tax reforms, to provide for termination of a support 
        program for tobacco farmers, and other matters.

                                 TRADE

                         SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

    During the 108th Congress, the Committee examined and acted 
upon many important issues related to international trade and 
the American economy.
    In the first session, the Committee convened hearings on 
the Administration's trade agenda, U.S.-Cuba economic 
relations, and Mexican barriers to U.S. agricultural exports. 
In addition, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the status of 
the Free Trade Area of the Americas negotiations.
    The Committee also held hearings on S. 1416, the U.S.-Chile 
Free Trade Agreement and S. 1417, the U.S.-Singapore Free Trade 
Agreement, and developed implementing legislation and 
statements of administrative action that were approved by the 
Congress and signed into law. The Committee marked up and 
reported S. 760, the Clean Diamond Trade Act, which was signed 
into law in April 2003, and S. 671, the Miscellaneous Trade and 
Technical Corrections Act. The Committee actively engaged in 
negotiations over S.J. Res. 39, the Burmese Freedom and 
Democracy Act which was passed by the Congress and signed into 
law. The Committee held confirmation hearings for Josette 
Sheeran Shiner to be Deputy United States Trade Representative, 
Executive Office of the President; for James J. Jochum to be 
Assistant Secretary for Import Administration, Department of 
Commerce; and for Daniel Pearson, of Minnesota, and Charlotte 
A. Lane, of West Virginia, to be Members of the United States 
International Trade Commission.
    Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus also 
participated in three meetings of the bipartisan, bicameral 
Congressional Oversight Group. During these meetings members 
met with Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, the United States Trade 
Representative, to discuss priorities and strategies for on-
going international trade negotiations. The Committee convened 
a Member's meeting with Stuart Harbinson, Chairman of the World 
Trade Organization agricultural negotiations where Members of 
the Committee shared their perspective on the proposed 
agricultural negotiating text prior to the WTO Cancun 
Ministerial. A Member's meeting was also held with Ambassador 
Robert B. Zoellick prior to the Ministerial to discuss the 
agenda and negotiating strategies for the WTO Cancun 
Ministerial.
    In the second session, the Committee convened hearings on 
the Administration's trade agenda and on U.S. trade and 
economic policy toward the Middle East. In addition, the 
Subcommittee on International Trade conducted a field hearing 
in Rock Springs, Wyoming, on international trade and the U.S. 
soda ash industry. The Subcommittee on International Trade, in 
conjunction with the Subcommittee on Health Care, conducted a 
hearing on international trade and pharmaceuticals.
    The Committee also held hearings on S. 2610, the U.S.-
Australia Free Trade Agreement and S. 2677, the U.S.-Morocco 
Free Trade Agreement, and developed implementing legislation 
and statements of administrative action that were approved by 
the Congress and signed into law. The Committee secured Senate 
approval for S. 1637, the Jumpstart our Business Strength Act, 
which, among other things, brought the United States into 
compliance with its WTO obligations regarding the tax treatment 
of extraterritorial income. The Committee shepherded S. 2529, 
the Africa Growth and Opportunity Acceleration Act of 2004, 
through the Senate, which was signed into law. The Committee 
considered S.J. Res. 39, Approving Renewal of Import 
Restrictions Contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act 
of 2003. The Committee also led the Senate approval of S. 671, 
the Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act, which, 
among other things: repealed the 1916 Antidumping Act, bringing 
the United States into compliance with its WTO obligations; 
granted the President the authority to provide permanent normal 
trade relations to Armenia; extended normal trade relations to 
Laos; and, enacted the Emergency Protection for Iraqi Cultural 
Antiquities Act, all of which were signed into law as part of 
the bill.
    Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus also 
participated in two meetings of the bipartisan, bicameral 
Congressional Oversight Group where members met with Ambassador 
Robert B. Zoellick, the United States Trade Representative, to 
discuss priorities and strategies for on-going international 
trade negotiations.

                  FULL COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MEETINGS

2003
Jan. 7, 2003--Meeting: Congressional Oversight Group with 
        Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, U.S. Trade 
        Representative.
Feb. 12, 2003--Hearing: ``Nomination of Daniel Pearson, to be 
        Member of the United States International Trade 
        Commission; and Nomination of Charlotte A. Lane, to be 
        Member of the United States International Trade 
        Commission.'' Received testimony from two nominees to 
        be Commissioners on the U.S. International Trade 
        Commission. The two nominees were favorably reported by 
        the Committee by voice vote on March 5, 2003.
Mar. 5, 2003--Hearing: ``The Administration's Trade Agenda.'' 
        Received testimony from Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, 
        U.S. Trade Representative, regarding the 
        Administration's international trade agenda. Ambassador 
        Zoellick highlighted the successful effort to pass the 
        Trade Act of 2002, which gave the President the 
        authority to pursue an aggressive international trade 
        policy.
Apr. 11, 2003--Meeting: Congressional Oversight Group with 
        Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, U.S. Trade 
        Representative.
June 17, 2003--Hearing: ``The Implementation of U.S. Bilateral 
        Free Trade Agreements with Singapore and Chile.'' 
        Received testimony from Ambassador Peter F. Allgeier, 
        Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, and a panel of 
        private sector representatives regarding the free trade 
        agreements with Singapore and Chile.
June 26, 2003--Hearing: ``Nomination of Josette Sheeran Shiner, 
        to be Deputy United States Trade Representative, 
        Executive Office of the President, and James J. Jochum, 
        to be Assistant Secretary, Department of Commerce.'' 
        Received testimony from the two nominees. The Deputy 
        U.S. Trade Representative plays a key role in 
        developing and carrying out the Administration's 
        international trade policy. The Assistant Secretary for 
        Import Administration at the U.S. Department of 
        Commerce is responsible for administering the U.S. 
        trade remedy laws. The two nominees were favorably 
        reported by the Committee by voice vote on July 31, 
        2003.
July 10, 2003--Informal Meeting: ``To Review and Make 
        Recommendations on Proposed Legislation Implementing 
        the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement and the U.S.-
        Singapore Free Trade Agreement.'' Considered the draft 
        implementing legislation and draft statements of 
        administrative action that were submitted by the 
        Administration pursuant to the cooperative procedures 
        provided in the Trade Act of 2002 for the approval of 
        trade agreements.
July 10, 2003--Members Meeting with Stuart Harbinson, Chairman 
        of the World Trade Organization Agricultural 
        Negotiations. Reviewed and commented upon the draft 
        agricultural negotiating text written by Mr. Harbinson 
        for the World Trade Organization Ministerial 
        negotiations in Cancun, Mexico.
July 24, 2003--Meeting: Congressional Oversight Group with 
        Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, U.S. Trade 
        Representative.
Sept. 3, 2003--Members Meeting with Ambassador Robert B. 
        Zoellick, U.S. Trade Representative, and the Government 
        Accountability Office. Reviewed the agenda and 
        negotiating strategies for the World Trade Organization 
        Ministerial in Cancun, Mexico.
Sept. 4, 2003--Hearing: ``Regarding U.S.-Cuba Economic 
        Relations.'' Received testimony from Alan Larson, Under 
        Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural 
        Affairs, U.S. Department of State, and Grant D. 
        Aldonas, Under Secretary for International Trade, U.S. 
        Department of Commerce, and a panel of private sector 
        representatives concerning U.S. policy toward Cuba.
Sept. 23, 2003--Hearing: ``Unfulfilled Promises: Mexican 
        Barriers to U.S. Agricultural Exports.'' Received 
        testimony from Ambassador Allen F. Johnson, Chief 
        Agriculture Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade 
        Representative, and a panel of private sector 
        representatives concerning agricultural trade with 
        Mexico and the actions the Government of Mexico has 
        taken to support and protect Mexican farmers against 
        agricultural imports from the United States, 
        notwithstanding Mexico's commitments and obligations 
        under the NAFTA and the WTO.
2004

Mar. 9, 2004--Hearing: ``The Administration's International 
        Trade Agenda.'' Received testimony from Ambassador 
        Robert B. Zoellick, U.S. Trade Representative, 
        regarding the Administration's international trade 
        agenda. Ambassador Zoellick outlined the priorities of 
        the Administration, which include a plan to pursue 
        bilateral, regional and global trade agreements that 
        will open markets for U.S. farmers, manufacturers and 
        service providers.
Mar. 10, 2004--Hearing: ``United States Economic and Trade 
        Policy in the Middle East.'' Received testimony from 
        the Honorable John McCain, United States Senator, Grant 
        D. Aldonas, Under Secretary for International Trade, 
        U.S. Department of Commerce, and Alan Larson, Under 
        Secretary for Economic, Business, and Agricultural 
        Affairs, U.S. Department of State, and a panel of 
        private sector representatives concerning U.S. efforts 
        to encourage economic reform and trade liberalization 
        in the Middle East, and prospects for achieving the 
        President's vision for a Middle East Free Trade Area by 
        2013, thereby promoting greater peace and prosperity in 
        the region.
May 6, 2004--Meeting: Congressional Oversight Group with 
        Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, U.S. Trade 
        Representative.
May 17, 2004--Members' Meeting with Australian Trade Minister 
        Mark Vaile. Discussed the implementation of the U.S.-
        Australia Free Trade Agreement and issues related to 
        passage of the measure in the Senate.
June 3, 2004--Members' Meeting with Australian Prime Minister 
        John Howard. Provided a forum for Senators to meet 
        Prime Minister Howard and discuss Senate consideration 
        of the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
June 15, 2004--Hearing: ``U.S.-Australia and U.S.-Morocco Free 
        Trade Agreements.'' Received testimony from Ambassador 
        Peter F. Allgeier, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, 
        Josette Sheeran Shiner, Deputy U.S. Trade 
        Representative, and Allen Johnson, Chief Agricultural 
        Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, 
        and a panel of private sector representatives 
        concerning the two free trade agreements.
Sept. 8, 2004--Meeting: Congressional Oversight Group with 
        Ambassador Robert B. Zoellick, U.S. Trade 
        Representative.

                  SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE 
                         HEARINGS AND MEETINGS

May 13, 2003--Hearing: ``Status of the Free Trade Area of the 
        Americas: Negotiations and Preparations for the Miami 
        Ministerial.'' Received testimony from Ambassador Peter 
        F. Allgeier, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, and a 
        panel of experts regarding the ongoing negotiations of 
        the Free Trade Area of the Americas, and the 
        preparations for the Miami Ministerial.

                  SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE 
                             FIELD HEARINGS

Apr. 15, 2004--Field Hearing, Rock Springs, Wyoming: 
        ``International Trade and the Impact on the U.S. Soda 
        Ash Industry.'' Received testimony from the Honorable 
        Barbara Cubin, U.S. Congresswoman, and Meredith 
        Broadbent, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for 
        Industry, Market Access and Telecommunications, and a 
        panel of private sector representatives concerning the 
        competitive conditions in the soda ash industry and the 
        challenges faced by Wyoming's soda ash industry in 
        foreign markets

   JOINT HEARING BY THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND THE 
                      SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH CARE

Apr. 27, 2004--Hearing: ``International Trade and 
        Pharmaceuticals.'' Received testimony from Grant D. 
        Aldonas, Under Secretary for International Trade, U.S. 
        Department of Commerce, Josette Sheeran Shiner, Deputy 
        U.S. Trade Representative, and William K. Hubbard, 
        Associate Commissioner for Policy and Planning, Food 
        and Drug Administration, and a panel of private sector 
        representatives concerning the impact of foreign trade 
        and regulatory barriers, including government-set price 
        controls, on the competitiveness of the U.S. 
        pharmaceutical industry.

                    FULL COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE MEETINGS

2003

Feb. 26, 2003--Executive Session: ``To Mark Up an Original Bill 
        Entitled, `Miscellaneous Trade and Technical 
        Corrections Act of 2003.' '' Considered and marked up a 
        trade bill (S. 671) that, among other things: 
        temporarily suspended certain rates of duty for 
        products that are not produced domestically; liquidated 
        or reliquidated certain custom entries; granted duty-
        free treatment to certain hand-made rugs under the 
        Generalized System of Preferences; enhanced the 
        international competitiveness of the U.S. insular 
        possessions; strengthened the protection of U.S. 
        intellectual property rights abroad; and made a number 
        of other technical amendments to U.S. trade laws. The 
        bill was favorably reported by the Committee by voice 
        vote on February 27, 2003.
Apr. 2, 2003--Executive Session: ``To Mark Up the Clean Diamond 
        Trade Act.'' Considered and marked up a bill (S. 760) 
        that implements measures to stop international trade in 
        ``conflict diamonds,'' rough diamonds that are mined 
        and sold by rebel groups in several sub-Saharan African 
        countries. The proceeds from such diamond sales fuel 
        persistent regional conflicts that include well-
        documented human rights violations against local 
        populations. The bill was favorably reported by the 
        Committee by voice vote.
July 17, 2003--Executive Session: ``To Consider Favorably 
        Reporting S. 1416, the U.S.-Chile Free Trade 
        Implementation Act and S. 1417, the U.S.-Singapore Free 
        Trade Implementation Act.'' The Committee's 
        recommendation for the proposed implementing bill for 
        the U.S.-Chile free trade agreement was approved by a 
        unanimous vote of 21-0. The Committee's recommendations 
        for the proposed implementing bill for the U.S.-
        Singapore free trade agreement was also approved by a 
        unanimous vote of 21-0.
2004

June 15, 2004--Executive Session: ``Approving the Renewal of 
        Import Restrictions Contained in the Burmese Freedom 
        and Democracy Act of 2003.'' The Committee voted 
        unanimously to report favorably S.J. Res. 39, Approving 
        Renewal of Import Restrictions Contained in the Burmese 
        Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003.
July 15, 2004--Executive Session: ``To Consider Favorably 
        Reporting S. 2610, the U.S.-Australia Free Trade 
        Implementation Act.'' The Committee's recommendations 
        for the proposed implementing bill for the proposed 
        implementing bill for the U.S.-Australia free trade 
        agreement were disapproved by the Committee by a 
        recorded vote of 4 ayes and 17 nays.
July 20, 2004--Executive Session: To Consider Favorably 
        Reporting S. 2677, the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade 
        Agreement Implementation Act.'' The Committee's 
        recommendations for the proposed implementing bill for 
        the U.S.-Morocco free trade agreement were approved by 
        a unanimous vote of 21-0.

                            INFORMAL MEETINGS

June 23, 2004--Informal Meeting: ``To Review and Make 
        Recommendations on Proposed Legislation Implementing 
        the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement.'' Considered 
        the draft implementing legislation and draft statements 
        of administrative action that were submitted by the 
        Administration pursuant to the cooperative procedures 
        provided in the Trade Act of 2002 for the approval of 
        trade agreements.
July 15, 2004--Informal Meeting: ``To Review and Make 
        Recommendations on Proposed Legislation Implementing 
        the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement.'' Considered the 
        draft implementing legislation and draft statements of 
        administrative action that were submitted by the 
        Administration pursuant to the cooperative procedures 
        provided in the Trade Act of 2002 for the approval of 
        trade agreements.

                                 HEALTH

                         SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

    During the 108th Congress, the Committee under the 
Chairmanship of Senator Grassley finished work begun in the 
107th Congress by approving the most sweeping improvements to 
Medicare since the program's inception nearly 40 years ago. The 
historic Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and 
Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) (P.L. 108-173), which President 
Bush signed into law on December 8, 2003, expanded the types of 
coverage choices available to beneficiaries through the 
Medicare Advantage program and added the first ever voluntary 
prescription drug benefit under Medicare Part D that begins in 
2006. The law created the Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card 
Program to provide beneficiaries with immediate assistance in 
2004 and 2005 to purchase their much needed prescriptions and 
added important new preventive benefits that will improve 
beneficiaries' quality of life.
    The new law also strengthened the rural health care safety 
net with the largest package of rural payment improvements in 
the history of the program. Over a 10-year period, rural health 
care providers, including physicians, hospitals, home health 
agencies, renal dialysis facilities, and ambulance services, 
will receive approximately $25 billion in additional Medicare 
payments. These additional payments will help address long-
standing equity issues and will ensure that beneficiaries 
across the nation have good access to quality care that they 
need and deserve.
    Under the Medicare Advantage program, beneficiaries will be 
able to receive their Medicare benefits through a health plan 
that can them offer better coordinated care, an important 
feature especially for the millions of beneficiaries who live 
with a chronic illness and receive care from multiple 
providers. The MMA recognizes, however, that some beneficiaries 
prefer traditional fee-for-service Medicare and this 
legislation took significant steps to strengthen and revitalize 
this program.
    The Medicare Part D benefit provides voluntary drug 
coverage for all beneficiaries. The benefit provides targeted 
assistance to low income beneficiaries and those with high drug 
costs. Low income beneficiaries will receive coverage of 75-98 
percent of their prescription drug costs with no premium or a 
low monthly premium. All other beneficiaries will have the 
option of enrolling in the Medicare Part D prescription drug 
benefit for a monthly premium of about $35 a month. Under the 
standard benefit package, after paying a $250 deductible, 
beneficiaries would have 75 percent of their medicine bills 
covered up to drug spending of $2,250. The benefit also 
protects beneficiaries from high annual drug costs by providing 
95 percent coverage of prescription costs for those who have 
out of pocket costs in a year of $3,600 or more.
    During the first session of the 108th Congress, the 
Committee developed the structure of the prescription drug 
benefit, private plan participation in the Medicare program and 
other improvements to the overall Medicare program. The 
Committee's work during the second session focused on the MMA's 
implementation. Specifically, the Committee held hearings on 
the administration of the Medicare-Approved Drug Discount Card 
program by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) 
and the proposed rules developed by CMS to implement the 
Medicare Advantage program and the voluntary Part D Medicare 
prescription drug benefit.
    In addition to its work on Medicare, the Committee also 
focused on the reauthorization and reform of the welfare 
program. The Committee held hearings and members' meetings on 
the need for improvements to the existing welfare system.

                  FULL COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MEETINGS

2003
Feb. 27, 2003--Hearing: ``Hearing on the Administration's 
        Medicare and Medicaid Priorities.'' This hearing 
        focused on the Administration's plans to strengthen and 
        improve Medicare, and to make the Medicaid program more 
        flexible. Tommy Thompson, Secretary for the Department 
        of Health and Human Services was the sole witness.
Mar. 12, 2003--Hearing: ``Welfare Reform: Building on 
        Success.'' The purpose of the hearing was to determine 
        what welfare reform policies have been successful in 
        the past and areas in which the next phase of reform 
        needed to be focused. Witnesses included: Tommy 
        Thompson, Secretary for the Department of Health and 
        Human Services, Howard Hendrick, Director of the 
        Department of Health and Human Services for the State 
        of Oklahoma, Marilyn Ray Smith, Deputy Commissioner and 
        IV-D Director, Child Support and Enforcement Division 
        for the Massachusetts Department of Revenue, Larry 
        Temple from the Texas Workforce Commission and Margy 
        Waller, Visiting Fellow, The Brookings Institution.
Apr. 3, 2003--Hearing: ``Purchasing Health Care Services in a 
        Competitive Environment.'' This hearing focused on the 
        issues and concepts associated with competitive bidding 
        structures employed by large health care purchasers. 
        The witness list included: Abby L. Block, Senior 
        Advisor for Employee and Family Policy, Office of 
        Personnel Management, Tom Carrato, Deputy Assistant 
        Secretary of Defense for Health Plan Administration and 
        Chief Operating Officer for the TRICARE Management 
        Activity, Department of Defense, Bruce Bradley, 
        Director of Health Plans Strategy and Public Policy, 
        General Motors, and Lois Quam, CEO, Ovations, United 
        Health Group Company.
June 6, 2003--Hearing: ``Strengthening and Improving the 
        Medicare Program.'' The purpose of the hearing was to 
        explore various policy options to strengthen and 
        improve the Medicare program. Witnesses included: Tom 
        Scully, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and 
        Medicaid Services, Mr. Walton Francis, an author and 
        independent consultant, and Ms. Marilyn Moon from the 
        Urban Institute.
2004
Feb. 4, 2004--Hearing: ``Administration's Health and Human 
        Services Budget Priorities.'' The focus of the hearing 
        was to discuss the Administration's health and welfare 
        budget priorities for fiscal year 2005. Tommy Thompson, 
        Secretary for the Department of Health and Human 
        Services was the only witness.
Apr. 7, 2004--Hearing: ``Strategies to Improve Access to 
        Medicaid Home and Community Based Services.'' The 
        purpose of the hearing was to review proposals to 
        improve access to Medicaid Home and Community Based 
        Services such as President Bush's New Freedom 
        Initiative and the Medicaid Community-Based Attendant 
        Services and Supports Act of 2003, also known as the 
        MiCASSA (ME-Casa) bill. The witness list included: 
        Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), Dennis Smith, Director of 
        the Center for Medicaid and State Operations, 
        Department of Health and Human Services, The Honorable 
        Carol Novak, Member, National Council on Disability, 
        Ray Gerke, Member, Olmstead Real Choices Consumer Task 
        Force, Bruce Darling, Executive Director, Center for 
        Disability Rights, Jan Moss, Mother of two adult 
        children with developmental disabilities, and Di 
        Findley, Executive Director, Iowa Caregivers 
        Association.
June 8, 2004--Hearing: ``Medicare Drug Discount Card: 
        Delivering Savings for Participating Beneficiaries.'' 
        This hearing focused on the implementation of the drug 
        discount program which was part of the Medicare 
        Modernization Act signed in law on December 8, 2003. 
        Witnesses included: Mark B. McClellan, M.D., Ph.D., 
        Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid 
        Services, Kris Gross, Director, Iowa Senior Health 
        Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), Mark Merritt, 
        President, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, 
        James B. Firman, Chair, Access to Benefits Coalition 
        and President and CEO National Council on the Aging, 
        Robert Hayes, President and General Counsel, Medicare 
        Rights Center, and Tom Snedden, Director Pennsylvania's 
        Pharmaceutical Assistance Contract for the Elderly.
Sept. 14, 2004--Hearing: ``Implementing the Medicare 
        Prescription Drug Benefit and Medicare Advantage 
        Program: Perspectives on the Proposed Rules.'' The 
        purpose of the hearing was to provide an opportunity 
        for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to 
        discuss key aspects of the proposed rules to implement 
        Title I (Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit) and Title 
        II (Medicare Advantage Program) of the Medicare 
        Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). Additionally, it was 
        an opportunity for various stakeholders to offer their 
        perspective on the Agency's proposed approaches to 
        implement MMA provisions related to Prescription Drug 
        Plan (PDP) and Medicare Advantage (MA) region size, 
        formularies, and the the retiree drug subsidy, among 
        others. The witness list included: Mark B. McClellan, 
        M.D., Ph.D., Administrator, Centers for Medicare and 
        Medicaid Services, Karen Ignagni, President & CEO, 
        America's Health Insurance Plans, Mark Merritt, 
        President & CEO, Pharmaceutical Care Management 
        Association, Michael J. Fitzpatrick, M.S.W., Executive 
        Director, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, 
        Gerald Shea, Assistant to the President for Government 
        Affairs, AFLCIO, and Larry Burton, Executive Director, 
        President, Business Roundtable.

                     FULL COMMITTEE FIELD HEARINGS

Feb. 20, 2003--Field Hearing in Des Moines, Iowa, ``Welfare 
        Reform: Past Successes, New Challenges.'' The purpose 
        of the hearing was to review the provisions of the 1996 
        welfare reform bill which are working in Iowa and to 
        identify areas in need of strengthening and 
        improvement. Witnesses included: Ms. Donna Littrel, an 
        Insurance Policy Specialist at Aegon Insurance, Ms. Deb 
        Bingaman, Administration of Financial, Health and Work 
        Supports at the Iowa Department of Human Services; Ms. 
        Linda Anderson, a Human Resources Recruiter from Mercy 
        Hospital, Representative Dave Heaton from the Iowa 
        State Legislature; Ms. Sonja Marquez from Boost 4 
        Families and Ron Haskins, former White House policy 
        lead on welfare reform.
Apr. 14, 2003--Hearing: ``A Fair Deal for Rural America: Fixing 
        Medicare Reimbursement.'' The focus of the field 
        hearing was to better understand how and why Medicare 
        underpaid health care providers in rural America and 
        how to better understand what the Senate Finance 
        Committee could do about it. The witness list included: 
        Ms. Gail Wilensky, John M. Olin Senior Fellow and Co-
        Chair of the President's Task Force to Improve Health 
        Care Delivery for Our Nation's Veterans, Project Hope, 
        Ms. Nancy Ann DeParle, Senior Advisor, Commissioner, 
        Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Mr. David 
        Holcomb, President and Chief Executive Officer, Jennie 
        Edmundson Hospital, Mr. Michael Kitchell, McFarland 
        Clinic PC, Mr. John D. Forsyth, Chairman and Chief 
        Executive Officer, Wellmark, Inc., and Mr. Mike Early, 
        President and Chief Executive Officer, Bankers Trust 
        Company.

                   FULL COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE MEETINGS

2003
June 12, 2003--Executive Session: S. 1, the Prescription Drug 
        and Medicare Improvement Act of 2003, was introduced on 
        June 11, 2003. The measure gained bipartisan support 
        both in the Senate Finance Committee, which approved 
        S.1 with an amendment in the nature of a substitute by 
        a vote of 16-5 and the full Senate, which adopted the 
        measure as amended by a vote of 76-21. The Senate 
        incorporated S. 1 into H.R. 1, the Medicare 
        Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act 
        (MMA) and subsequently approved the House companion 
        measure, H.R. 1 by unanimous consent. President Bush 
        signed the MMA into law on December 8, 2003. In brief, 
        the historic MMA added a voluntary prescription drug 
        benefit to Medicare and made several other significant 
        improvements to the program including new coverage 
        choices and preventive benefits. In addition, the MMA 
        took substantial steps toward reducing provider payment 
        inequities that have adversely affected beneficiaries' 
        access to care in certain parts of the country.
June 24, 2003--Executive Session: The Committee favorably 
        reported S. 312, the Availability of SCHIP Allotments 
        for Fiscal Years 1998-2001. On June 26, 2003 the full 
        Senate agreed to this legislation by unanimous consent. 
        This legislation included provisions to extend the 
        availability of allotments for fiscal years 1998 
        through 2001 under the State Children's Health 
        Insurance Program.
September 10, 2003--Executive Session: The full Senate passed 
        S. 622, the Family Opportunity Act of 2004, on May 6, 
        2004. This legislation included provisions to provide 
        families of disabled children with the opportunity to 
        purchase coverage under the Medicaid program for such 
        children. Additionally, this legislation covers many 
        services that these children need on a regular basis, 
        such as physical therapy and medical equipment. Finally 
        this Act takes significant steps to removing barriers 
        to work for families of disabled children by improving 
        access to appropriate health care for their special 
        needs child.
September 10, 2003--Executive Session: The Personal 
        Responsibility and Individual Development for Everyone 
        (PRIDE) Act was reported favorably on September 10, 
        2003 and submitted to the full Senate with an amendment 
        in the nature of a substitute on October 10, 2003. This 
        legislation included provisions to reauthorize and 
        improve the program of block grants to States for 
        temporary assistance for needy families by 
        strengthening work, improving State flexibility and 
        promoting marriage and family as well improve access to 
        quality child care. This legislation was considered by 
        the Senate during the week of March 29, 2004. On April 
        1, 2004 a motion to invoke cloture was not invoked on 
        the committee substitute.
2004
September 15, 2004--Executive Session: The Committee reported 
        S. 333, the John Breaux Elder Justice Act, to the full 
        Senate on September 8, 2004. Provisions included in 
        this legislation would have created an office of Adult 
        Protective Services in the Administration for Children 
        and Family Services (ACF) in the Department of Health 
        and Human Services (DHHS). This office would have also 
        provided funding authorized in the bill to State 
        offices of adult protective services; collected and 
        disseminated data on elder abuse in conjunction with 
        the Bureau of Justice Statistics; developed and 
        disseminated best practices; conducted research related 
        to provision of adult protective services; and provided 
        technical assistance to states.

                            SOCIAL SECURITY

                         SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

    During the 108th Congress, the Committee completed action 
on legislation to provide the Social Security Administration 
with important new tools to fight waste, fraud, and abuse in 
the Social Security and Supplemental Security Income programs, 
increase the ability of disability beneficiaries to return to 
work, and improve the equity and efficiency of both programs. 
The Committee also held a hearing on the status of the Social 
Security trust funds.

                  FULL COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MEETINGS

Apr. 9, 2003--Hearing: ``The 2003 Annual Report of the Board of 
        Trustees of the Federal Old Age and Survivors Insurance 
        and Disability Insurance Trust Funds''. This hearing 
        featured the testimony of Stephen C. Goss, Chief 
        Actuary of the Social Security Administration. The 
        testimony focused on the latest actuarial projections 
        related to the status of the Social Security trust 
        funds. The testimony also highlighted the introduction 
        of a new calculation that measures Social Security's 
        unfunded obligation extended to the infinite horizon.

                    SUBCOMMITTEE ON SOCIAL SECURITY

                           AND FAMILY POLICY

May 5, 2004--Hearing: ``The Benefits of a Healthy Marriage.'' 
        The purpose of the hearing was to hear from 
        practitioners and participants ``on the ground'' who 
        were running and utilizing healthy marriage and 
        fatherhood programs as well as to hear from academics 
        on the research supporting the benefits both 
        economically and overall of healthy marriages for 
        children. Witnesses included: Ms. Julie Baumgardner, 
        Executive Director, First Things First, Chattanooga, 
        TN, Mr. Dwayne Grimes, Center for Fathers, Families, 
        and Workforce Development Program Participants, Mr. 
        Dominick Walker, Center for Fathers, Families, and 
        Workforce Development Program Participants, Mr. Joseph 
        T. Jones, Founder, Center for Fathers, Families, and 
        Workforce Development, Dr. Kathryn Edin, Associate 
        Professor, Department of Sociology, Northwestern 
        University, Dr. Ron Haskins, Senior Fellow of Economic 
        Studies, The Brookings Institution, Ms. Theodora Ooms, 
        Senior Policy Analyst, The Center for Law and Social 
        Policy, and Dr. Scott Stanley, Co-Director, Center for 
        Marital and Family Studies and Adjunct Professor, 
        Department of Psychology, University of Denver.

                   FULL COMMITTEE EXECUTIVE MEETINGS

September 17, 2003--Executive Session: H.R. 743, the Social 
        Security Protection Act of 2003 was reported favorably 
        by the Committee. It passed the Senate by unanimous 
        consent on December 9, 2003. This legislation provides 
        the Social Security Administration with important new 
        tools to fight waste, fraud, and abuse in the Social 
        Security and Supplemental Security Income programs, 
        increase the ability of disability beneficiaries to 
        return to work, and improve the equity and efficiency 
        of both programs.

    Specifically, the bill would impose stricter standards on 
individuals and organizations that serve as Representative 
Payees for Social Security and SSI recipients. The bill would 
enhance provisions of the Ticket to Work program to help 
individuals with disabilities return to employment. The bill 
would also encourage more employers to hire individuals with 
disabilities by expanding eligibility for the Work Opportunity 
Tax Credit.
    The bill would improve representation for claimants of 
disability benefits in the Social Security and SSI programs. 
The bill would expand and improve important provisions in the 
current SSI program that deny benefits to fugitive felons and 
allow SSA to cooperate with law enforcement in order to 
apprehend these and other felons. The bill also closed the 
``last day'' loophole in the application of the Government 
Pension Offset, as recommended by the Government Accountability 
Office.
    The bill would give SSA more flexibility to recover 
overpayments in one program from underpayments made in another 
program. The bill would also require non-citizens to have work 
authorization at the time of application for benefits, or to 
have had work authorization at some point in the past, in order 
to be eligible to receive Social Security benefits. The bill 
would also help protect Social Security employees from harm 
while conducting their duties.
    The bill would improve benefits and simplify administration 
of the SSI program. Finally, the bill would correct, clarify, 
or modify various technical aspects of current law in the 
Social Security, SSI, and Railroad Retirement programs.
    Strong support for similar legislation (H.R. 4070) in the 
107th Congress, led to the introduction of H.R. 743, the 
``Social Security Protection Act of 2003'' in the 108th 
Congress. On March 5, the House of Representatives considered 
H.R. 743, as amended, under suspension of the rules; it failed 
by a vote of 249-180 (a two-thirds vote being required). On 
March 13, 2003, the Committee on Ways and Means ordered 
favorably reported H.R. 743, the ``Social Security Protection 
Act of 2003,'' as amended, by a vote of 35-2. The House of 
Representatives passed H.R. 743 on April 2, 2003, by a vote of 
396-28.
    The Senate Committee on Finance marked up H.R. 743 and 
approved the bill, as modified, on September 17, 2003. H.R. 743 
passed the Senate by unanimous consent on December 9, 2003. It 
passed the House of Representatives on February 11, 2004 by a 
vote of 402 to 19. It was signed into law (P.L. 108-203) on 
March 2, 2004.

                    SUMMARY OF OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES

    One of the important responsibilities the Constitution 
granted to the Congress is to conduct oversight of Executive 
Branch operations. During the 108th Congress, the Committee 
investigated and conducted oversight hearings and activities 
over many important and timely issues facing the nation. 
Oversight is critically important in helping to make government 
more transparent, more accountable, and more effective for the 
taxpayers, program participants, and beneficiaries. Taxpayers 
deserve transparency because they finance the government. 
Government truly is the people's business, and the people have 
a right to know what their government is doing and how it 
spends their money.
    One of the best means for achieving transparency in 
operations is through consistent congressional oversight, in 
conjunction with an aggressive and curious media, and the 
vigilance of the public and brave whistleblowers who speak up 
about the problems and abuses they see. Transparency also helps 
to ensure a high degree of ethics, morality and honesty. As 
former Supreme Court Justice Louis D. Brandeis once said, 
``Sunshine is the best disinfectant.''
    During the 108th Congress, some thirteen oversight hearings 
were conducted by the Finance Committee. In addition, Committee 
staff kept busy with a substantial number of other important 
oversight and investigation activities. The thirteen oversight 
hearings by the Committee include several health care-related 
hearings, such as patient abuse in nursing homes, bogus health 
insurance policies, fraudulent power wheelchair schemes, and 
FDA delays in notifying the public of the increased risks of 
heart attacks associated with the use of Vioxx; assessing lax 
border security and the use of counterfeit identity documents; 
financing terrorism; reviewing Enron's executive compensation 
abuses; exposing abusive tax shelters and charitable donation 
scams; and reforming the conditions in Indian jails.
    Three separate hearings focused on post-September 11, anti-
terrorism issues. The first of these hearings examined border 
security and the effectiveness of the Interior Department, the 
Immigration and Naturalization Service, and the Customs Service 
in policing and protecting our borders and curtailing the 
illegal transport of money, counterfeit funds and other items 
of commerce that could be used to finance terrorism. A second 
hearing also examined the ease by which terrorists can obtain 
and use bogus identity documents--such as Social security cards 
and driver's licenses--to assimilate into American culture and 
thereby continue to bypass screening mechanisms some two years 
after the September 11 attacks. A third oversight and 
nominations hearing looked at the Committee's concerns about 
terrorism financing and what the government can do to stop it.
    The Committee held a series of four oversight hearings 
focusing on health-related issues. The first of these looked at 
neglectful and abusive practices found in some nursing homes 
receiving Medicare and Medicaid funding, which resulted in 
needless suffering and deaths by some of the patients being 
housed there. A second Committee hearing studied the adverse 
impact on individuals and employees of small businesses who 
suddenly discover that what they had thought was a legitimate 
health insurance plan is, in fact, fake insurance that will not 
cover their costly claims, possibly leaving them with huge 
medical bills and no insurance. A third health care-related 
hearing examined the rapidly growing problem of costly and 
bogus claims for the reimbursement by Medicare for unneeded 
power wheelchairs or for wheelchairs that were never provided 
to so-called ``beneficiaries.'' A fourth hearing examined the 
FDA's regulatory role relating to the worldwide withdrawal of 
Vioxx.

                  FULL COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MEETINGS

Jan. 30, 2003--Hearing: ``U.S. Borders: Safe or Sieve?'' This 
        hearing examined the extent to which the responsible 
        government agencies are doing their best to secure the 
        nation's borders. Prior to the attacks on September 11, 
        2001, terrorists had exploited loopholes in the U.S. 
        immigration system and lax security at our ports of 
        entry. Fraudulent IDs are all-too-easy to obtain, and 
        all-too-often unnecessary in order to gain admittance 
        into this country. The focus of this hearing was to 
        assess the vulnerabilities at our borders and to 
        explore ways to strengthen them and thereby better 
        protect the nation and its citizens from terrorist 
        threats. Witnesses included the Government 
        Accountability Office, the Immigration and 
        Naturalization Service, the Border Security and 
        Facilitation Customs Service, and the Department of the 
        Interior.
July 17, 2003--Hearing: ``Nursing Home Quality Revisited: The 
        Good, the Bad and the Ugly.'' The purpose of this 
        follow-up hearing was to examine what is being done to 
        protect the frail, elderly and vulnerable who live in 
        nursing homes all across the country. Many nursing 
        homes are doing a very good job in caring for their 
        patients' daily needs, while a minority of homes fail 
        to provide quality care, resulting in patient neglect 
        and abuse that often leads to needless deaths from such 
        substandard care. Unfortunately, the gap in the quality 
        of care that is being provided in some of these homes 
        can be enormous, so nursing home customers and their 
        families need to be educated about these great 
        differences and vigilant about the operations and 
        practices they find within the nursing home community. 
        Witnesses testifying at the hearing included Government 
        Accountability Office, and the Department of Health and 
        Human Services, among others.
Sept. 9, 2003--Hearing: ``The Alias Among Us: The Homeland 
        Security and Terrorism Threat from Document Fraud, 
        Identity Theft and Social Security Number Misuse.'' 
        This hearing focused on the ease some two years after 
        the September 11 attacks to obtain fraudulent identity 
        documents, including Social Security cards and drivers 
        licenses that can enable terrorists to assimilate 
        easily into American life as part of sleeper cells. 
        With these basic documents, they can open bank 
        accounts, buy guns, get credit cards, take flight 
        lessons, and board airplanes. Witnesses testifying at 
        this hearing included officials from the Department of 
        Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, 
        Federal Bureau of Investigation, Government 
        Accountability Office, and the American Association of 
        Motor Vehicle Administrators.
Mar. 3, 2004--Hearing: ``Health Insurance Challenges: Buyer 
        Beware.'' This hearing examined the problem of 
        unauthorized and bogus health insurance plans that 
        purportedly offer health insurance to small businesses 
        and other individuals seeking affordable health care 
        coverage for themselves or their employees. The 
        Government Accountability Office issued a report that 
        documented a mushrooming growth in bogus health care 
        plans and discussed measures being taken to address the 
        problem. While many of these plans can appear on the 
        surface to be legitimate, regulated insurance 
        companies, they are in fact shell companies that 
        operate Ponzi schemes by accepting premium payments for 
        a time, while delaying most benefit payments until they 
        fold their operations, change their names, and move to 
        another state, leaving individuals with staggering 
        medical bills, no health insurance, and possibly pre-
        existing conditions that may render them no longer 
        insurable by legitimate companies. Witnesses included 
        the Government Accountability Office, the Department of 
        Labor, the Texas Department of Insurance, and other 
        experts in the field.
Apr. 28, 2004--Hearing: ``Taking the Taxpayers for a Ride: 
        Fraud and Abuse in the Power Wheelchair Program.'' This 
        oversight hearing focused on the growing and widespread 
        problem of fraud and abuse within the nearly billion 
        dollar reimbursement program for power wheelchairs for 
        Medicare beneficiaries. Over the preceding four years, 
        the growth in expenditures for power wheelchairs grew 
        by more than 450 percent. Criminal and undercover 
        investigations and studies conducted by the Government 
        Accountability Office, the Office of Inspector General 
        at the Department of Health and Human Services, and the 
        Federal Bureau of Investigations disclosed weak program 
        management and oversight by the Centers for Medicare 
        and Medicaid Services; as well as extensive fraud, 
        program abuse, and overly-aggressive marketing 
        practices by some durable medical equipment suppliers 
        and cooperating health care professionals operating in 
        several areas of the country. Witnesses included 
        representatives from the Government Accountability 
        Office, the Department of Health and Human Services, 
        representatives from professional organizations and 
        industry, and an individual convicted of fraudulently 
        billing Medicare for hundreds of power wheelchairs that 
        were never actually provided to bogus claimants.
Nov. 18, 2004--Hearing: ``FDA, Merck, and Vioxx: Putting 
        Patient Safety First?'' The focus of this hearing was 
        to examine whether the Food and Drug Administration 
        (FDA) had made fundamental mistakes in managing public 
        health risks associated with Vioxx, a pain medication 
        for arthritis. Merck, the manufacturer, withdrew Vioxx 
        on September 30, 2004, over scientific concerns that it 
        dramatically increased the risk for heart attack and 
        stroke. Senator Grassley convened the hearing because 
        the Medicaid program paid in excess of $1 billion per 
        year for Vioxx and on account of his concern that the 
        American public had been kept in the dark by the FDA 
        and Merck about the risks associated with taking this 
        drug, despite earlier red flags.

             OTHER OVERSIGHT AND INVESTIGATION INITIATIVES

USPS Oversight--Inspector General Carla Corcoran
    Amid allegations of waste and mismanagement by the Office 
of Inspector General at the United States Postal Service 
(USPS), the USPS Inspector General, Carla Corcoran resigned. 
Among the complaints to surface were numerous allegations about 
her poor management of her office, cronyism, improper personnel 
practices, and wasteful spending. At the request of Chairman 
Grassley, an investigation was conducted by the President's 
Council on Integrity and Efficiency, an interagency group that 
represents the Inspector General community. The Chairman 
requested the probe following complaints from whistleblowers 
made to the Committee. Allegations against the Inspector 
General included changing audit reports to show that the Postal 
Service was intentionally engaging in wrongdoing, wasting money 
and resources (including almost $1 million on a week-long 
conference) while the Postal Service was downsizing and 
canceling organizational meetings, and verbally abusing and 
humiliating subordinates in front of their peers and 
subordinates.
HHS Oversight--Inspector General Janet Rehnquist
    Following concerns raised by Chairman Grassley and Ranking 
Member Baucus and other Members of Congress about the 
management of the Office of Inspector General (OIG) at the U.S. 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Janet Rehnquist, 
the HHS Inspector General, resigned her position. Her 
resignation followed critical reports prepared by the 
Government Accountability Office (GAO) and the President's 
Council on Integrity and Efficiency (PCIE), an interagency 
group representing the Inspector General community that has 
been granted responsibility to conduct integrity investigations 
involving OIG officials. The GAO report had been requested by 
Chairman Grassley, Ranking Minority Member Baucus and Senator 
Breaux of the Special Committee on Aging. GAO found that the 
Inspector General had exhibited serious lapses in judgment that 
were troubling to her staff and had taken measures that 
fostered an atmosphere of anxiety and distrust. The PCIE report 
focused on specific allegations that the Inspector General had 
improperly requested and/or received a firearm and Supervisory 
Special Agent law enforcement credentials, which she was not 
entitled to carry. Ultimately, the collective effect of the 
results of these two investigations and reports compromised her 
ability to serve as an effective leader of HHS's Office of 
Inspector General, leading to her resignation.
OSC Oversight--Backlog of Whistleblower Cases
    Chairman Grassley sent a letter to William Reukauf, Acting 
Special Counsel at the Office of Special Counsel (OSC), 
concerning press accounts about the growing backlog of OSC 
investigations into allegations by whistleblowers of 
retaliation against them, and requesting a full briefing of the 
Committee's oversight and investigations by OSC. In his letter 
to OSC, Chairman Grassley characterized whistleblowers as being 
a ``national asset.'' However, government secrecy since 
September 11 has restricted information for security reasons, 
which also could easily stop the legitimate disclosure of 
wrongdoing and mismanagement, especially about public safety 
and security, particularly given bureaucracies' instinct to 
cover up their misdeeds and mistakes. Whistleblowers serve as a 
check against this instinct and temptation, and whistleblowing 
is crucial to the protection of the national security. The 
following month, the Chairman sent a second letter to OSC 
requesting an action plan as to how it will reduce its backlog 
of cases. The Committee is continuing to monitor that progress.
CMS Fraud--Tenet Healthcare Corporation
    The Chairman wrote to the Acting Chief Executive Officer 
and President of Tenet Healthcare Corporation (Tenet), Trevor 
Fetter, about allegations of unnecessary heart operations and 
procedures and demanding the production of extensive Tenet 
documents. The letter referred to numerous lawsuits involving 
Tenet that related to overcharging Medicare patients, 
submitting many thousands of false claims for more than $100 
million in wrongfully upcoded Medicare bills, and unnecessary 
surgeries (including angioplasties, coronary bypasses, and 
heart catheterizations) at Tenet's Redding Medical Center, 
potentially resulting in patients' deaths.
    Chairman Grassley also wrote letters to Edward Kangas, 
Chairman of Tenet Healthcare Corporation expressing his concern 
that Tenet might not be conducting the reforms necessary to 
ensure the proper use of taxpayer dollars and the appropriate 
treatment of Medicare beneficiaries. He also urged Tenet to 
comply fully with his prior document request, questioning its 
decision not to provide the Committee with the results of an 
independent study of the Redding Medical Center conducted by 
Mercer Human Resources Consulting, Inc. Senator Grassley's 
letters questioned management changes taken by Tenet that still 
did not seem to significantly and substantially affect the 
structural problems that led to hundreds of lawsuits and 
numerous investigations into alleged patient deaths and 
complications due to unnecessary surgeries.
    Chairman Grassley also sent a letter and a subpoena to Blue 
Cross of California, asking for its data suggesting that 
doctors at two Tenet hospitals (Redding and Modesto, 
California) had performed unnecessary surgeries.
    The Chairman also asked the Inspector General at the 
Department of Health and Human Services to investigate whether 
the Federal health care programs may have paid for unnecessary 
surgeries performed by Tenet Healthcare at its Modesto 
hospital. The Chairman also wrote to Tenet Healthcare 
Corporation directing it to describe the actions it has taken 
to notify all patients who have received medically unnecessary 
surgeries or procedures from Tenet. At this time, Tenet is 
being investigated by the Department of Justice, and the 
Committee's investigation is ongoing.
CMS Quality of Care--Nursing Home Fires
    Chairman Grassley and Majority Leader Frist wrote to Thomas 
Scully, Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services (CMS), raising questions about whether existing 
nursing home fire safety standards are adequate. This concern 
followed a nursing home fire two weeks earlier in Nashville 
that resulted in the deaths of 14 patients. The letter asked 
CMS to assist the Committee in evaluating how well existing 
nursing home fire regulations are working. The Committee also 
asked the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to look at 
Federal fire regulations for nursing homes. Specifically, 
Chairman Grassley asked GAO to: examine why all nursing homes 
are not required to have fire sprinklers installed, review the 
adequacy of Federal fire safety standards for unsprinklered 
homes, and examine Federal and State oversight of nursing home 
fire safety.
    The GAO conducted its review by examining two serious 2003 
nursing home fires in Nashville, Tennessee and Hartford, 
Connecticut that together took 31 lives. Its report, entitled 
Nursing Home Fire Safety: Recent Fires Highlight Weaknesses in 
Federal Standards and Oversight (GAO-04-660), described fire 
safety problems that exist in many nursing homes throughout the 
country. The GAO noted that some 3,000 nursing home fires occur 
every year in the United States. Although relatively few of 
these fires result in multiple deaths, the consequences to the 
nursing home patients can be catastrophic, because many of the 
residents are physically or mentally challenged, confused, or 
bed-ridden. Evacuating residents in the event of a fire can be 
incredibly difficult, labor intensive, and time consuming. 
Recognizing these problems, nursing homes are usually designed 
and constructed with a view to ``defend in place,'' whereby 
their design and construction is supposed to include fireproof 
or fire-retardant materials, the integration of effective smoke 
and fire barriers, and automatic warning and fire suppression 
systems.
    While modern building codes tend to reflect current 
technology that can fully support the ``defend in place'' 
strategy, many nursing homes were built prior to 1971, when 
substantial Federal nursing home fire safety standards were 
initially adopted. Consequently, many older homes have been 
``grandfathered'' in and may be placing their residents at a 
greater risk. GAO found that the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services (CMS) can further compromise nursing home 
safety by granting waivers to homes that do not meet Federal 
fire-safety standards. The GAO reported that waivers had been 
granted for many years to some facilities, despite the fact 
that the homes did not have the required compensating fire 
detection and containment features.
    CMS has recently taken some significant steps to address 
some of the problems, including committing to requiring smoke 
detectors, better review of the waiver process, and better data 
collection from the states. The Committee will monitor CMS' 
progress in this regard.
HHS Fraud--Document Destruction
    Chairman Grassley wrote to Secretary Tommy Thompson, 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), objecting to a 
government proposal that would potentially increase the 
difficulty of qui tam relators under False Claims Act cases by 
allowing drug manufacturers to destroy billing records after 
three years. Chairman Grassley argued that such a short time 
frame would severely limit the ability to make a case because 
documents, including pricing data and other information, would 
no longer be available. Chairman Grassley said that while it 
may be appropriate to set a definite period of time for record-
keeping requirements, three years is too short of a time frame 
because False Claims Act cases are filed under seal, therefore 
drug manufacturers are not necessarily on notice to suspend the 
destruction of documents. According to CMS, approximately 550 
pharmaceutical companies participate in the Medicaid drug 
rebate program. Enforcement of the False Claims Act and its 
whistleblower provisions has returned more than $10 billion to 
the U.S. Treasury since 1986. Chairman Grassley also referred 
his concerns to the Justice Department and to the HHS Inspector 
General. As a result of the Chairman's action, the document 
retention period was extended from three years to 10 years.
CMS Quality of Care--End Stage Renal Dialysis
    Senator Grassley wrote to Health and Human Services 
Secretary Tommy Thompson and Thomas Scully, Administrator of 
the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), about 
poor patient care at a substantial number of dialysis 
facilities and the government's lapses in providing sufficient 
oversight. At the Chairman's request, the Government 
Accountability Office issued a report finding improper staff 
training, inadequate supervision, and sloppy care of patients 
who are afraid to complain because they fear retaliation or of 
being ``dumped'' from their local dialysis treatment center and 
then being forced to travel long distances for their 
constantly-needed dialysis treatments. CMS has prepared revised 
Conditions of Participation and currently is awaiting their 
clearance by the Office of Management and Budget. The Committee 
will continue to monitor improvements at CMS.
HHS Oversight--Improper Medical Payments
    Chairman Grassley wrote to the Inspector General at the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) seeking valid 
statistics about the level of improper Medicare payments being 
made by the government. Specifically, Senator Grassley 
challenged the government's decision to change the methodology 
it uses to determine the improper payment rate, thereby nearly 
cutting in half the statistically valid, but much higher rate 
that it had previously been using. In March 2004, the HHS 
Office of Inspector General confirmed that HHS had corrected 
its earlier methodology.
SSA Fraud--Disability Program
    Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus won Senate 
approval of bipartisan legislation to rein in several sources 
of fraud, waste, and abuse of Social Security programs. 
Specifically, the Chairman and Ranking Member targeted fugitive 
felons who work the system to get Social Security benefits 
while fleeing from justice, as well as financial guardians of 
the disabled who make off with the payments of those in their 
care. The Social Security Protection Act of 2003, promoted by 
the Chairman and signed into Public Law 108-203, gives the 
Social Security Administration important new tools to fight 
waste, fraud and abuse, including making fugitive felons 
ineligible to receive benefits under the Old Age, Survivors and 
Disability Insurance program. The bill provided funds for the 
Social Security Administration to conduct a survey that would 
for the first time produce statistically significant measures 
of the degree to which benefit payments managed by 
representative payees are not being used for the welfare of 
beneficiaries. The bill also closed the ``last day'' loophole 
in the application of the Government Pension Offset, as 
recommended by the Government Accountability Office.
HHS Oversight--Use of Medicaid Consultants
    Chairman Grassley wrote to the Department of Health and 
Human Services (HHS) and the Government Accountability Office 
(GAO) asking for an explanation about consulting firms that 
charge states to help states increase their Medicaid 
reimbursements. Senator Grassley sought details about the size 
and scope of the problem nationwide, and information about 
whether consultants play a legitimate role in State budgeting 
or make the financial situation worse for all taxpayers by 
consuming money meant to help each state's poorest residents. 
The Senator raised concerns that states may, in fact, be 
encouraged by their consultants to increase their Medicaid 
claims, since the consultants are reimbursed on a contingency 
fee basis and, therefore, may be tempted to inflate Medicaid 
claims. GAO is in the process of conducting a review requested 
by Chairman Grassley.
CMS-Fraud-Durable Medical Equipment (Power Wheelchairs)
    Chairman Grassley wrote to the Centers for Medicare and 
Medicaid Services (CMS) inquiring about whether CMS has struck 
the proper balance between policing potential fraud and 
preserving beneficiaries' access to medically necessary power 
wheelchairs. Senator Grassley asked CMS to explain how it 
developed its criteria and procedures for determining 
eligibility of individuals for power wheelchairs. He wanted to 
ensure that any individuals who qualify for a Medicare-financed 
motorized wheelchair should receive one. In January, Senator 
Grassley had asked the Government Accountability Office to 
analyze whether the Medicare reimbursement rules for motorized 
wheelchairs were too loose, enabling some providers to exploit 
the rules and over-bill or defraud Medicare. The Committee 
intends to continue to monitor CMS and its payments for 
motorized wheelchairs.
FDA Oversight--Antidepressants in Children
    Chairman Grassley initiated an investigation into the Food 
and Drug Administration (FDA) concerning the effect of 
antidepressants on children and their possible link to suicide. 
Subsequently, Chairman Grassley wrote to Tommy Thompson, the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services to ask about the FDA's 
decision not to make public the scientific report that 
eventually led to the issuance of a public health advisory 
about anti-depressants and a possible link to suicide among 
children and adolescents. In particular, the Chairman wrote 
that he was troubled by the allegations that the FDA was not 
forthcoming about the dangers associated with the use of 
antidepressants in children and adolescents, and that Dr. 
Andrew Mosholder, an FDA scientist, had been barred from 
publicly presenting his report findings about these dangers. 
Furthermore, the Chairman also said he was troubled that the 
FDA's Office of Internal Affairs had reportedly initiated an 
investigation into uncovering who had provided information to 
the press about Dr. Mosholder's findings.
    Six weeks later, Chairman Grassley wrote to Secretary 
Thompson and Acting Food and Drug Commissioner Lester Crawford 
to inquire about an FDA contract with Columbia University to 
study the risk to children of antidepressants. In his letter, 
Senator Grassley voiced his concern that the Food and Drug 
Administration was attempting (through the outside evaluation 
underway by Columbia University) to undermine the findings of 
the scientist who had identified the possible link between 
child suicide and antidepressants. Chairman Grassley also 
questioned Secretary Thompson and Acting FDA Commissioner 
Crawford about the FDA's handling of information related to 
antidepressants and suicide, and asked a series of additional 
questions about possible efforts by FDA to withhold information 
from the public. Senator Grassley also described new concerns 
about the relationship between the Office of New Drugs and the 
Office of Drug Safety within the Food and Drug Administration.
    In addition, Chairman Grassley sent letters to eight major 
drug makers asking them about the information they had provided 
to the FDA with regard to the anti-depressants they 
manufactured and the rate of suicide among young people taking 
those medications. The manufacturers included Pfizer, Inc., 
Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, GlaxoSmithKline, Bristol-Myers Squibb 
Company, Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., Solvay 
Pharmaceuticals Inc., Eli Lilly & Company, and Forest 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Previously, FDA had asked the 
manufacturers for pediatric trial data regarding their 
antidepressant drugs. The Chairman's letter sought to determine 
if the drug companies withheld any safety information from the 
Food and Drug Administration about those drugs.
    Chairman Grassley also requested that Secretary Thompson 
and Acting Commissioner Crawford consider the prompt adoption 
of new warnings for pediatric antidepressants, including a 
prominent, black-box warning. The recommendations had been made 
by an expert advisory panel looking into the effect of 
antidepressants on adolescents and children. Senator Grassley 
wrote ``I trust that the FDA will very quickly and fully 
consider the Advisory Committee's recommendations about the 
'black box' and 'med guides' before the lives of more children 
are needlessly lost because parents and others lack adequate, 
readily understandable information when they most need it at 
the precise moment when they must make critical life and death 
health care decisions for themselves or their loved ones.''
    A ``black box'' warning is now required on all 
antidepressants that prominently notes suicidal behavior 
concerns, and Chairman Grassley has requested bi-monthly 
briefings for Committee staff by the FDA, including any 
milestones, timetables, and any identified impediments that may 
require a legislative fix.
CMS Quality of Care--Feeding Assistants and Nursing Home Care
    Chairman Grassley joined another Member of Congress and 
wrote to the Secretary Thompson to ask for a report on the use 
of feeding assistants in nursing homes and to secure the 
release of more accurate data to the public about nursing home 
staffing. Under new rules issued in late 2003, feeding 
assistants are now allowed to feed nursing home patients. 
Previously, only trained health care workers could perform this 
job. Senator Grassley emphasized the need to carefully monitor 
the new rules, so that they do not result in malnutrition and 
dehydration of patients in nursing homes. In addition, he said 
that the public availability of accurate staffing data will 
make it easier to compare nursing homes. The Committee will 
continue to keep monitoring the progress made by the Centers 
for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
CMS Fraud--Medicaid Drug Prices
    Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus wrote to 19 
leading drug companies to ask those drug manufacturers 
questions about how they price for Medicaid eight top-selling 
classes of pharmaceutical drugs. Grassley and Baucus said they 
wanted to know if drug companies have been inappropriately 
using an exception to the best-price reporting requirements 
that apply to the Medicaid drug rebate program. To participate 
in the drug rebate program, a drug company must report to the 
government its best price, which is the lowest price its drug 
was sold to any purchaser in the United States. Congress 
created an exception to best-price reporting to encourage drug 
companies to continue making drugs available to charitable 
organizations at cheaper than market rates.
    Grassley said the question is, ``are drug companies abiding 
by both the letter and spirit of the law with regard to that 
exception?'' Senators Grassley and Baucus have been working to 
bring down the high cost of prescription drugs. The drug makers 
who received a letter from Grassley and Baucus were Pfizer, 
Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Inc., 
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, 
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Amgen, Inc., Wyeth 
Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly & Company, Aventis Pharmaceuticals 
Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., TAP 
Parmaceutical Products Inc., Schering-Plough Corporation, 
Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Forest 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi-Synthelabo and Eisai, Inc.
DOJ Oversight--Pharmaceutical Fraud
    Chairman Grassley wrote to Attorney General John Ashcroft 
to request a briefing from the Justice Department about its 
ongoing drug company investigations, including whistleblower 
cases. Senator Grassley's letter said that the Committee has 
been reviewing some of the business practices by drug companies 
participating in the Medicaid drug rebate program. Senator 
Grassley noted that Pfizer, Inc. agreed to pay a Medicaid fraud 
settlement with the Department of Justice (DOJ), totaling $430 
million, including a $240 million criminal fine and $190 
million in civil settlements. Grassley indicated his concern 
that projected Medicaid spending for 2004 is to be over $300 
billion. According to Senator Grassley, Medicaid spending has 
even surpassed Medicare as the largest government health 
program in the United States. He also stated that hundreds of 
billions of taxpayer dollars are at stake and oversight of the 
Medicaid program appears to be a decade or more behind 
oversight of the Medicare program.
    The Chairman indicated that among the most troubling issues 
is the extent to which the drug industry is profiting at the 
expense of America's taxpayers. In fact, Grassley stated his 
concern that every one of these settlements involved Medicaid 
liability and likely represented just the tip of the iceberg. 
With potential astronomical profits, it appears that some drug 
companies are not always abiding by either the spirit or the 
letter of the law. He contended that the Committee will 
continue to examine drug companies' business practices closely 
with respect to Federal programs and the exorbitant costs that 
American taxpayers pay for drugs. He said, ``Any drug company 
that improperly lines its pockets with Medicaid dollars, which 
are intended to benefit low-income Americans, pregnant women 
and poor children, should know that America's taxpayers, myself 
included, expect that it should be held fully accountable.''
CMS Quality of Care--Nursing Home Data
    Chairman Grassley wrote to Mark McClellan, Administrator of 
the CMS, saying that the Federal Government should improve the 
quality of information it makes available to the public about 
the care provided in the nation's nursing homes. Senator 
Grassley noted a report issued by the HHS Inspector General 
that found that Americans who rely on Nursing Home Compare have 
only a one in five chance that the information will be 
accurate. Nursing Home Compare is a Web site that provides 
information about the past performance of every Medicare- and 
Medicaid-certified nursing home in the country. Senator 
Grassley noted that the odds may be even worse for individuals 
and families searching for information about nursing homes 
because the data presented by Nursing Home Compare is based on 
inspection results, and there are serious deficiencies in the 
Federal-State survey and certification process for nursing 
homes. Grassley said that American's struggling with the 
difficult decision to choose a nursing home deserve better 
information than CMS is providing them.
    Senator Grassley had previously written to CMS spelling out 
similar concerns that had been identified by his own 
investigative staff. Included in his staff's findings were 
reports that State surveyors who assess nursing home conditions 
had been pressured to go easy on long-term facilities or to 
overlook, downgrade, or revise adverse findings and 
deficiencies.
HHS Fraud--Administration of the Medicaid 340B Drug Discount Program
    Chairman Grassley wrote to Tommy Thompson, the Secretary of 
Health and Human Services, and Elizabeth Duke, the 
Administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration 
(HRSA) to ask for a complete, detailed, written accounting of 
how HRSA did or did not implement the recommendations made by 
the Department of Health and Human Services' Office of 
Inspector General (OIG) in its recently-issued evaluation 
report entitled: Appropriateness of 340B Drug Prices (OEI-05-
02-00070). The OIG report found that drug companies had 
repeatedly overcharged public hospitals and clinics for low-
income patients, making them pay more than the maximum prices 
that were allowed by Federal law. In just one month, for 
example, the OIG found that 340B entities overpaid drug 
companies more than $41 million for prescription drugs. The 
letter noted that the Committee would maintain close scrutiny 
of the drug pricing practices by many drug companies 
participating in Federal health care programs and asked HRSA 
for detailed information about the 340B overcharges, which 
continue to be reviewed.
DOJ False Claims Act--Pharmaceutical Fraud
    Chairman Grassley wrote to 19 drug companies urging them to 
inform their employees about the provisions of the False Claims 
Act in order to help prevent fraud in Federal health care 
programs. The 19 pharmaceutical companies who received a letter 
from Grassley included Schering-Plough Corporation, Pfizer, 
Inc., GlaxoSmithKline, Johnson & Johnson, Merck & Co., Inc., 
AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP, Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, 
Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, Amgen, Inc., Wyeth 
Pharmaceuticals, Eli Lilly & Company, Aventis Pharmaceuticals 
Inc., Abbott Laboratories, Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., TAP 
Pharmaceutical Products Inc., Boehringer Ingelheim 
Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Forest Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Sanofi-
Synthelabo and Eisai, Inc.
    Senator Grassley, the Senate author of the 1986 
whistleblower amendments strengthening the False Claims Act, is 
a strong proponent of the False Claims Act and the importance 
of whistleblowers. He believes more must be done to deter the 
perception that fraud settlements are the cost of doing 
business with the Federal Government. ``Taxpayers can't 
continue to subsidize those drug companies that rely on ill-
gotten profits.'' It was a whistleblower's complaint about 
Schering-Plough Corporation that led to a settlement by that 
company with the government to pay a fine of $52.5 million and 
more than $290 million to resolve civil liabilities in 
connection with its illegal and fraudulent pricing of its drug, 
Claritin. The Committee is continuing to address those 
companies who feel it is unnecessary to inform their employees 
about the provisions of the False Claims Act in order to 
prevent fraud.
HHS/CMS Oversight of Medicaid Fraud, Waste and Abuse
    Chairman Grassley wrote a letter to Tommy Thompson, 
Secretary of HHS, and Mark McClellan, Administrator of the CMS, 
about a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report entitled: 
Medicaid Program Integrity: State and Federal Efforts to 
Prevent and Detect Improper Payments (GAO-04-707). The GAO 
review had been conducted at Senator Grassley's request. 
Medicaid provides health care to an estimated 53 million low-
income Americans, including children, pregnant women, 
individuals with disabilities and the elderly, and its 
projected spending for FY 2004 was to exceed $300 billion. GAO 
found that Medicaid's size and diversity made it vulnerable to 
fraud and that oversight by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid 
Services (CMS) may be insufficient relative to the risk of 
serious financial loss. For example, GAO disclosed that CMS 
allocated only $26,000 and had only eight employees working on 
Medicaid program integrity.
    Responding to the GAO report, Senator Grassley expressed 
his concern that hundreds of billions of taxpayer dollars are 
at stake, and oversight of the Medicaid program has not kept 
pace with the degree of Medicare oversight. The Senator asked 
CMS to provide more intense oversight of Medicaid and will 
monitor CMS's progress in this regard.
FDA Oversight--Merck (Vioxx)
    Chairman Grassley wrote a letter to Merck & Co., Inc., 
about its communication with the Food and Drug Administration 
(FDA) on Vioxx. Among other things, Senator Grassley questioned 
the communication between the Food and Drug Administration and 
Merck in the weeks leading up to the drug maker pulling its 
arthritis medicine Vioxx from the global marketplace. 
Specifically, Senator Grassley raised concerns about an 
agreement between FDA and Merck to give the drug company a 
``heads up'' whenever FDA planned to publish a drug study that 
might negatively affect the drug company. Grassley said ``The 
issue for doctors and their patients is, did the government 
agency that's supposed to regulate pharmaceuticals have an 
inappropriate agreement with Merck? And did a cozy relationship 
between the FDA and a pharmaceutical company allow a drug with 
known safety risks to stay on the market longer than it should 
have? Part of the answer may rest in what Merck was or was not 
telling the FDA,'' This was part of Senator Grassley's 
congressional investigation of the way that the Food and Drug 
Administration dealt internally with information about problems 
with Vioxx. Three weeks later, Chairman Grassley also sent a 
letter to Lester Crawford, Acting Commissioner of the Food and 
Drug Administration, asking what actions FDA took in response 
to known risks about Vioxx.
    On November 18, 2004, Chairman Grassley held a hearing on 
this particular issue entitled ``FDA, Merck, and Vioxx: Putting 
Patient Safety First?'' The hearing examined whether the FDA's 
relationship with the pharmaceutical industry and whether FDA 
had made fundamental errors in the way it managed the public 
health risks associated with Vioxx, a drug that had been 
costing the Medicaid program more than $1 billion per year.
GSA Oversight--Costs for Relocating Federal Employees
    Chairman Grassley initiated follow-up action on his earlier 
investigation into relocation expenses paid for with taxpayer 
dollars. Accordingly, he sent letters to Joshua Bolton, 
Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and Stephen A. 
Perry, Administrator of the General Services Administration 
(GSA), about his concerns with the high cost, wasteful 
practices, and weak management oversight by the government when 
it pays to move Federal employees to other areas for their 
jobs. ``The Federal Government's employee relocation program 
appears to be costing taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars 
each year,'' Grassley said. ``Yet, no one has the foggiest idea 
how many employees are relocated on the taxpayers' dime, how 
much it's costing the taxpayers, and what taxpayers are really 
getting in return.'' Grassley cited admissions by GSA in a 
draft report it prepared that acknowledges that the results for 
statutorily-required biennial reports were not even published 
over the past six years ``because data quantity and quality 
remained poor in all surveys.'' Grassley said that while many 
government agencies acknowledge that they do not have accurate 
cost data, in those instances where some data are available 
from Federal agencies, the cost for many government moves 
frequently surpasses $100,000, with a number of individual 
relocation moves exceeding $150,000. In fact, at least one 
employee move actually cost the Federal Government more than 
$250,000.
    In his letter, Senator Grassley asked GSA to advise him 
promptly of the names of any agencies that failed to provide 
GSA with accurate and complete data on employee moves, the 
names of invited agencies that were not actively participating 
in the Relocation Best Practices Committee, detailed 
information about the home sale expenses paid by the government 
for employee moves, and the measures that have been taken to 
revise the Relocation Income Tax provisions that result in 
overcompensating Federal employees for their moves.
GAO Oversight--Congressional Protocols
    The Chairman sent several letters to David Walker, the 
Comptroller General of the Government Accountability Office 
(GAO), raising several questions and concerns about GAO's 
proposed draft protocols that describe its working 
relationships with the Congress. Chairman Grassley's specific 
concerns included the significance of the proposed changes. In 
particular, the Chairman questioned whether requests from 
individual Members or from Committee leaders who might be 
operating outside of their committees' strict jurisdictions, 
should be relegated to a priority below that of GAO's own self-
initiated work, as GAO was suggesting. He felt this could be 
troubling, since many issues may overlap or impact the 
jurisdiction of multiple committees. He also questioned whether 
GAO should be the most appropriate entity to determine whether 
another Member should also be included in a requested review, 
rather than deferring to the wishes of the initial requestor.
    In addition, Senator Grassley wrote that he believed that 
it would be inconsistent with the best interest of good 
government to require that Committee leaders approve any GAO 
requests that fall within their Committees' respective areas of 
jurisdiction. The Senator wrote that he could envision 
circumstances that would benefit from a GAO review, but which 
may not have the full support of the Chair, thereby needlessly 
stifling the legitimate gathering of independent data and 
subsequent discussions. Furthermore, the Chairman questioned 
GAO's right not to honor those requests that it did not 
consider to be bipartisan. Finally, Senator Grassley mentioned 
his concerns about possible limitations upon Congress by GAO to 
access to its workpapers. The Chairman recommended that GAO 
reconsider its proposed changes and then hold briefings for 
House and Senate staff. Following its receipt of the Chairman's 
letter, GAO substantially revised its protocols and provided 
briefings to both houses of Congress.
Department of Labor Oversight--Trade Adjustment Assistance
    Chairman Grassley and Ranking Minority Member Baucus asked 
the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to review the 
implementation by Federal, State, and local authorities of the 
Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002. The Trade 
Adjustment Assistance program provides job training, income 
support, and health coverage assistance to workers who have 
lost their jobs due to foreign competition. The Trade 
Adjustment Assistance Reform Act consolidated two prior TAA 
programs, expanded eligibility to new categories of workers, 
and expanded the benefits available to workers in the program. 
In light of reports that some States were experiencing 
difficulties managing the new, consolidated trade adjustment 
assistance program, Senators Grassley and Baucus asked the GAO 
to determine: the extent to which statutorily mandated changes 
are being implemented in a timely and effective manner; provide 
worker participation and benefit utilization rates before and 
after reform implementation; and assess any difficulties faced 
by Federal or State authorities in administering the program. 
The GAO found that the Department of Labor had largely 
completed the implementation phase of the Act, but that 
implementation of some program reforms, such as the Alternative 
Trade Adjustment Assistance program, was delayed in some 
important respects. It also found that certain key provisions 
of the Reform Act may be having unintended negative 
consequences for State administrators and workers, including 
the training enrollment deadlines and the individual 
qualification criteria for the health coverage tax credit and 
alternative trade adjustment assistance. GAO further noted a 
nationwide shortfall in retraining funds relative to the number 
of eligible workers. Finally, GAO noted steps the Department of 
Labor is taking to improve its previously inadequate 
performance measurement system for the TAA program. Following 
up on these findings, Senators Grassley and Baucus have asked 
the GAO to provide additional analysis of the Department of 
Labor's data collection and performance measurement systems and 
to further study the implementation of the Reform Act.
Internal Revenue Service Oversight--Health Coverage Tax Credit
    Chairman Grassley and Ranking Minority Member Baucus asked 
the Government Accountability Office to review the 
implementation of the health coverage tax credit (HCTC) created 
in the Trade Adjustment Assistance Reform Act of 2002. The HCTC 
program provides a 65 percent tax credit toward the purchase of 
health coverage for displaced workers eligible for Trade 
Adjustment Assistance (TAA) and for certain retirees receiving 
pension benefits through the Pension Benefit Guarantee 
Corporation (PBGC). The HCTC is largely operated at the Federal 
level by the Internal Revenue Service, but aspects of its 
administration are the responsibilities of the Department of 
Labor, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the 
PBGC. Each State must provide qualified options for those who 
qualify for the credit but either lack COBRA continuation 
coverage or choose not to enroll in COBRA. Although noting that 
the HCTC program is still relatively new, GAO found that early 
enrollment in the program is well below projected levels. GAO 
identified several possible causes for this low enrollment, 
including restrictive deadlines, complicated enrollment 
requirements, and higher than expected premiums, particularly 
in States permitting medical underwriting of premiums. GAO also 
noted very high administrative costs during the start-up phase 
of the program and proposed legislative or administrative fixes 
for some of the barriers they identified to broader 
participation in the HCTC program. Following up on these 
findings, Senators Grassley and Baucus have asked the GAO to 
provide additional analysis of the experience of workers with 
the HCTC program through a series of case studies.
Terrorism Financing
    Chairman Grassley and Senator Baucus conducted oversight 
activities on terrorism financing to answer the following 
questions:
          (1) Is the Administration effectively coordinating 
        the 20 or more Federal agencies and Departments that 
        work on terrorism financing;
          (2) Should we be concerned that the Department with 
        the greatest expertise, the Treasury Department, is no 
        longer coordinating the interagency effort on terrorism 
        financing, as it did in recent years;
          (3) Does the Treasury Department have the resources 
        it needs for anti-terrorism financing efforts;
          (4) Why Saddam Hussein's $4 billion was not recovered 
        after the invasion of Iraq; and
          (5) Are resources dedicated to track down terrorist 
        funds being used wisely?
    On March 29 the Chairman and Senator Baucus wrote the 
President to express their concern that the terrorism financing 
effort was ``heavy on generals but light on soldiers.'' They 
asked whether there was a lack of direct authority and 
resources to ensure that policy initiatives for which Treasury 
is held accountable are put into practice.
    The Chairman and Senator Baucus also sent a letter to 
Secretary Snow on April 28 asking specific questions about the 
Treasury Department's record since 1995 of assets seized and/or 
frozen, how many Treasury employees are assigned to each 
threat--such as Al Qaeda and Hamas, and the status of the 
search for Saddam Hussein's funds.
    The Finance Committee held an open and a closed hearing on 
terrorism financing issues.
Corporate Investments in Nations Sponsoring Terrorism
    Chairman Grassley and Senator Baucus led an inquiry into 
the practices of U.S. companies in complying with a law which 
sets standards for parent corporations of subsidiaries that 
trade with terrorist states. Letters were sent to a number of 
companies requesting information on what products were sold to 
Iran, whether the company board of directors discussed doing 
business with Iran, and how the corporations acted to comply 
with the law.
    U.S. law allows corporations to set up subsidiaries that 
trade with terrorist states such as Iran and Sudan as long as 
those subsidiaries are not ``controlled'' by the parent 
corporation; nor can the parent corporation approve or 
facilitate such trade. The Committee felt it was essential to 
establish the facts with regard to U.S. corporations whose 
subsidiaries trade with terrorist nations. The war on terror 
makes it important to review the law allowing trade with 
terrorist states and question whether it is the right policy.
Treasury Secretary John Snow
    The Committee examined a potential conflict of interest 
matter involving Treasury Secretary John Snow. The Secretary 
maintained an investment of $10 million in bonds issued by 
Government Sponsored Enterprises (GSE) (Fannie Mae, Freddie 
Mac, Federal Home Loan Bank) during almost 16 months of his 
tenure as Secretary of Treasury, between February 3, 2003 and 
May 14, 2004. During this period the Secretary apparently 
participated in a decisionmaking process which considered 
changes in the laws governing GSE oversight and regulation.
    Secretary Snow contends that he did not know of this 
investment until, upon review of his financial disclosure form 
in May, he was told of a problem by the Department of 
Treasury's ethics counsel. Subsequent to the review of his 
financial disclosure form he divested himself of these bonds.
    The Committee was concerned that the Secretary's internal 
activities on GSE oversight and regulation issues had the 
potential to affect the value of his investments. Because 
potential criminal and civil penalties are provided for 
conflict of interest violations, Senator Baucus referred to the 
Justice Department documents related to the case.
CMS Oversight--Medicaid and SCHIP Waivers
    Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus requested that 
the Government Accountability Office (GAO) report on the 
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) activities to 
approve State proposals to waive certain Federal requirements 
under Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance 
Program (SCHIP). Section 1115 of the Social Security Act gives 
the Secretary of HHS the authority to waive certain Federal 
statutory requirements under the Act. States can apply to the 
Secretary for a waiver of certain requirements that are 
normally attached to receipt of Federal Medicaid or SCHIP 
matching funds. Senators Grassley and Baucus had requested an 
initial GAO report on all section 1115 waivers in 2002 prompted 
by concerns about whether section 1115 waivers were being used 
to restructure the fundamental tenets of the Medicaid and SCHIP 
programs. That report raised substantial concerns about whether 
CMS had inappropriately waived budget-neutrality requirements, 
statutory prohibitions on using Federal SCHIP funds to cover 
childless adults, and due process protocols that mandated an 
open and transparent process for developing and granting 
waivers.
    Senators Grassley and Baucus asked GAO to continue its 
review of CMS' waiver activities. In 2004, GAO issued a second 
report which updated its analysis of new waivers granted since 
July 2002 and analyzed CMS' compliance with SCHIP's statutory 
requirements. GAO found that CMS had approved three more State 
waiver proposals that provided health coverage to childless 
adults in violation of SCHIP's statutory requirements and four 
more State waivers for coverage of parents or legal guardians 
without requiring States to meet the cost-neutrality 
requirements.
    Senators Grassley and Baucus responded to the GAO report by 
writing to Mark McClellan, the Administrator of CMS, in 2004 to 
raise concerns regarding the use of waivers granted to States 
for their Medicaid and SCHIP programs and to ask whether these 
waivers were being used to circumvent the Congressional 
process.
    In August 2004, GAO issued a third report on CMS waiver 
activities, which focused on the approvals of Pharmacy Plus 
demonstration programs by HHS. In this report, GAO found 
further abuses, noting that four waiver programs that had been 
approved violated the budget neutrality requirement and would 
actually increase Federal spending by $1.5 billion over five 
years. GAO also found that CMS had required States to cap 
Medicaid spending as a condition of approval of the waiver, 
which would impose significant financial risks on the affected 
States and could adversely impact access to services for other 
vulnerable populations covered under the State Medicaid 
programs.
    Senator Baucus, joined by Senator Rockefeller, introduced 
the Medicaid and SCHIP Safety and Preservation Act, S. 2222, to 
address a number of the concerns identified in the GAO reports 
on CMS waiver activities. S. 2222 would clarify and ensure that 
Section 1115 of the Social Security Act (the so-called ``1115 
waiver'' authority) could not be applied to erode core 
objectives and statutory requirements of the Medicaid and SCHIP 
programs. The bill would also protect and preserve the 
integrity of Medicaid and SCHIP programs and the viability of 
the health care safety net, and ensure greater transparency and 
public input into the ``1115 waiver'' process.
HHS and SSA Oversight--Transfer of Medicare Administrative Appeals
    Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus wrote to Health 
and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson and Social Security 
Commissioner Jo Anne Barnhart about the insufficiency of their 
Report to Congress: Plan for the Transfer of Responsibility for 
Medicare Appeals, which was submitted pursuant to section 931 
of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvements, and 
Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). Senators Grassley and Baucus 
also requested that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) 
continue monitoring the agencies' implementation of the 
transfer after the GAO submitted its report evaluating the 
joint transfer plan as mandated by the MMA. Senator Grassley 
and Senator Baucus continue to monitor the agencies' progress 
as the mandated transfer date approaches.
Health Savings Accounts
    Ranking Member Baucus and Senator Breaux requested that the 
Government Accountability Office (GAO) review the workings of 
health savings accounts (HSAs), the tax-favored savings 
accounts established in conjunction with high-deductible health 
insurance plans by the Medicare Prescription Drug, 
Improvements, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA). The 
Senators' request to GAO was to determine the effect HSAs have 
on coverage and on health care costs, as well as identifying 
any issues that arise during implementation of HSAs.
Consumer-Driven Health Care
    Ranking Member Baucus requested that the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) conduct an analysis of the Federal 
Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP) consumer-driven health 
care plan, which is offered by the American Postal Workers 
Union, which was introduced as an option for Federal civilian 
employees in 2003. Consumer-driven health care is intended to 
hold down costs by shifting financial responsibility for health 
care to employees and by giving employees more incentives and 
tools to manage their own care. Senator Baucus asked the GAO to 
ensure that the consumer-driven health care plan under FEHBP is 
meeting its goals and providing sufficient coverage.
CMS Oversight: Medicaid UPL and IGT State Financing Arrangements
    Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus requested that 
the Government Accountability Office (GAO) review the policies 
implemented by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services 
(CMS) to protect against misappropriation of Federal funds 
through the upper payment level (UPL) rules and 
intergovernmental transfer (IGT) policies under the Medicaid 
program. Title XIX of the Social Security Act authorizes 
Federal Medicaid funds to be provided to the States to finance 
health care for low-income, elderly, and disabled individuals, 
subject to States' compliance with certain Federal 
requirements. Among these is the requirement that States' 
payment for services be consistent with efficiency, economy, 
and quality of care, and not exceed the upper payment limit of 
what Medicare pays for comparable services. After State abuses 
of UPL payments came to light, Congress responded by passing 
legislation to require the implementation of a rule to curtail 
and phase out the use of UPL arrangements. The final rule in 
2001 provided for varying transition periods for 18 States that 
had relied to some extent on prior UPL arrangements, with some 
transitions extending for up to 8 years. In prior reports, GAO 
had raised concerns about the implementation of this policy. In 
their February 2004 report, GAO found that two of the three 
States permitted to have the longest transition period of eight 
years did not meet CMS' own criteria for qualification. The 
report also raised concerns about whether CMS had provided 
States with sufficient notice and guidance of a uniform 
enforcement policy to avoid future transgressions.
    Senators Grassley and Baucus also requested a GAO analysis 
of the scope of State intergovernmental transfer arrangements. 
In March 2004, GAO issued a report which outlined how some 
State financing arrangements including IGTs had been used by 
States to maximize their Federal Medicaid payments and 
discussed concerns about the extent to which such arrangements 
undermined Medicaid's funding arrangement and the need to 
curtail them.
    Senator Baucus wrote a letter to CMS Administrator Mark 
McClellan raising concerns about CMS' IGT policy and requesting 
further information about how the IGT policy was being applied 
and whether formal uniform guidance would be issued.
Medicaid Long-Term Care Partnerships
    Chairman Grassley and Ranking Member Baucus, along with 
Senator Rockefeller, requested that the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO) review what has happened in the 
four States that have implemented long-term care partnerships. 
Long-term care partnerships allow individuals who purchase 
private long-term care insurance and exhaust their benefits to 
become eligible for Medicaid coverage for long-term care 
services without being subject to the normal asset limits. The 
GAO request focuses on the States' experiences with this 
program, whether any savings have been achieved, and whether 
this program ensures access to appropriate long-term care 
services and provides adequate consumer protections.

                          CALENDAR OF HEARINGS


Jan. 28, 2003.....................  Nomination of John W. Snow, of
                                     Virginia, to be Secretary of the
                                     U.S. Treasury
Jan. 30, 2003.....................  U.S. Borders: Safe or Sieve?
Feb. 5, 2003......................  Revenue Proposals in the President's
                                     FY 2004 Budget
Feb. 11, 2003.....................  Examination of Proposals for
                                     Economic Growth and Job Creation:
                                     Incentives for Consumption
Feb. 12, 2003.....................  Examination of Proposals for
                                     Economic Growth and Job Creation:
                                     Incentives for Investment
Feb. 12, 2003.....................  Nominations of Joseph Robert Goeke,
                                     to be Judge of the U.S. Tax Court,
                                     the Judiciary; Glen L. Bower, to be
                                     Judge of the U.S. Tax Court, the
                                     Judiciary; Daniel Pearson, to be
                                     Member of the U.S. International
                                     Trade Commission; Charlotte A.
                                     Lane, to be Member of the U.S.
                                     International Trade Commission; and
                                     Raymond T. Wagner, Jr. to be Member
                                     of the Department of the Treasury,
                                     Oversight Board
Feb. 13, 2003.....................  Enron: The Joint Committee on
                                     Taxation's Investigative Report
Feb. 20, 2003.....................  Welfare Reform: Past Successes, New
                                     Challenges (Field Hearing in Des
                                     Moines, IA)
Feb. 27, 2003.....................  Examining the Administration's
                                     Fiscal Year 2004 Health Care
                                     Priorities
Mar. 5, 2003......................  The Administration's Trade Agenda
Mar. 11, 2003.....................  The Funding Challenge: Keeping
                                     Defined Benefit Pension Plans
                                     Afloat
Mar. 12, 2003.....................  Welfare Reform: Building on Success
Mar. 18, 2003.....................  Nomination of Mark W. Everson, to be
                                     Commissioner of the Internal
                                     Revenue, U.S. Department of the
                                     Treasury
Apr. 1, 2003......................  Taxpayer Alert: Choosing a Paid
                                     Preparer and the Pitfalls of
                                     Charitable Car Donation
Apr. 1, 2003......................  Nominations of Mark Van Dyke Holmes,
                                     Diane L. Kroupa, Robert Allen
                                     Wherry, Jr., and Harry A. Haines to
                                     be Judges of the U.S. Tax Court
Apr. 3, 2003......................  Purchasing Health Care Services in a
                                     Competitive Environment
Apr. 8, 2003......................  Enron: Joint Committee on Taxation
                                     Investigative Report, Compensation
                                     and Related Issues
Apr. 9, 2003......................  2003 Annual Report of the Board of
                                     Trustees of the Federal Old Age and
                                     Survivors Insurance and Disability
                                     Insurance Trust Funds
Apr. 14, 2003.....................  A Fair Deal for Rural America:
                                     Fixing Medicare Reimbursement
May 13, 2003......................  Status of the Free Trade Area of the
                                     Americas: Negotiations and
                                     Preparations for the Miami
                                     Ministerial (Subcommittee on
                                     International Trade)
June 6, 2003......................  Strengthening and Improving the
                                     Medicare Program
June 17, 2003.....................  Implementation of U.S. Bilateral
                                     Free Trade Agreements with
                                     Singapore and Chile
June 26, 2003.....................  Nominations of Josette Sheeran
                                     Shiner, to be Deputy U.S. Trade
                                     Representative, Executive Office of
                                     the President and James J. Jochum,
                                     to be Assistant Secretary,
                                     Department of Commerce
July 8, 2003......................  Examination of U.S. Tax Policy and
                                     Its Effect on the Domestic and
                                     International Competitiveness of
                                     U.S.-Based Operations
July 15, 2003.....................  An Examination of U.S. Tax Policy
                                     and Its Effect on the International
                                     Competitiveness of U.S.-Owned
                                     Foreign Operations
July 17, 2003.....................  Nursing Home Quality Revisited: The
                                     Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
July 30, 2003.....................  Nominations of Robert Stanley
                                     Nichols, to be Assistant Secretary
                                     for Public Affairs, Department of
                                     the Treasury, and Teresa M. Ressel,
                                     to be Assistant Secretary for
                                     Management, Department of the
                                     Treasury
Aug. 26, 2003.....................  Rural Economy, Renewable Energy, and
                                     the Role of our Cooperatives
Sept. 4, 2003.....................  U.S.-Cuba Economic Relations
Sept. 9, 2003.....................  The Alias Among Us: The Homeland
                                     Security and Terrorism Threat from
                                     Document Fraud, Identity Theft, and
                                     Social Security Number Misuse
Sept. 23, 2003....................  Unfulfilled Promises: Mexican
                                     Barriers to U.S. Agricultural
                                     Exports
Oct. 21, 2003.....................  Tax Shelters: Who's Buying, Who's
                                     Selling, and What's the Government
                                     Doing About It?
Oct. 23, 2003.....................  Company Owned Life Insurance
 Nov. 4, 2003.....................  Nominations of Michael O'Grady to be
                                     Assistant Secretary of Health and
                                     Human Services, Assistant Secretary
                                     for Planning and Evaluation,
                                     Department Health and Human
                                     Services; Jennifer Baxendell Young
                                     to be Assistant Secretary of Health
                                     and Human Services, Assistant
                                     Secretary for Legislation,
                                     Department for Health and Human
                                     Services; and Bradley D. Belt, to
                                     be Member of the Social Security
                                     Advisory Board, Social Security
                                     Administration
Nov. 18, 2003.....................  Nomination of Arnold I. Havens, to
                                     be General Counsel for the
                                     Department of the Treasury
Feb. 4, 2004......................  Administration's Health and Human
                                     Services Budget Priorities
Feb. 10, 2004.....................  Nomination of Samuel W. Bodman, to
                                     be Deputy Secretary of the
                                     Treasury, U.S. Department of the
                                     Treasury
Feb. 12, 2004.....................  Revenue Proposals in the President's
                                     FY '05 Budget
Mar. 3, 2004......................  Health Insurance Challenges: ``Buyer
                                     Beware''
Mar. 8, 2004......................  Nominations of Mark B. McClellan, to
                                     be Administrator of the Center for
                                     Medicare and Medicaid Services;
                                     Brian Roseboro, to be Under
                                     Secretary of the Department of the
                                     Treasury; Donald Korb, to be Chief
                                     Counsel for the Internal Revenue
                                     Service and Assistant General
                                     Counsel in the Department of the
                                     Treasury; and Mark J. Warshawsky,
                                     to be Assistant Secretary, U.S.
                                     Department of the Treasury
Mar. 9, 2004......................  Administration's International Trade
                                     Agenda
Mar. 10, 2004.....................  U.S. Economic and Trade Policy in
                                     the Middle East
Apr. 7, 2004......................  Strategies to Improve Access to
                                     Medicaid Home- and Community-Based
                                     Services
Apr. 15, 2004.....................  International Trade and the Impact
                                     on the U.S. Soda Ash Industry
                                     (Field Hearing in Rock Springs, WY)
Apr. 27, 2004.....................  International Trade and
                                     Pharmaceuticals (Subcommittee on
                                     International Trade and the
                                     Subcommittee on Health Care)
Apr. 28, 2004.....................  Taking the Taxpayers for a Ride:
                                     Fraud and Abuse in the Power
                                     Wheelchair Program
May 5, 2004.......................  Benefits of a Healthy Marriage
May 19, 2004......................  Nominations of John O. Colvin, to be
                                     Judge, U.S. Tax Court, the
                                     Judiciary; Juan C. Zarate, to be
                                     Assistant Secretary for Terrorism
                                     Finance, U.S. Department of the
                                     Treasury; and Stuart Levey to be
                                     Under Secretary for Enforcement,
                                     U.S. Department of the Treasury
May 19, 2004......................  Treasury Department and Terrorism
                                     Financing
June 8, 2004......................  Medicare Drug Card: Delivering
                                     Savings for Participating
                                     Beneficiaries
June 15, 2004.....................  United States-Australia and United
                                     States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement
June 16, 2004.....................  Strengthening Regulations and
                                     Oversight to Better Ensure
                                     Agriculture Financing Integrity
June 22, 2004.....................  Charity Oversight and Reform:
                                     Keeping Bad Things From Happening
                                     to Good Charities
July 7, 2004......................  Nominations of J. Russell George, to
                                     be Inspector General for Tax
                                     Administration, U.S. Department of
                                     the Treasury; Patrick P. O'Carroll,
                                     Jr., to be Inspector General,
                                     Social Security Administration;
                                     Timothy Bitsberger, to be Assistant
                                     Secretary of the Treasury, U.S.
                                     Department of the Treasury; and
                                     Paul Jones, to be Member of the
                                     Internal Revenue Service Oversight
                                     Board, U.S. Department of the
                                     Treasury
July 21, 2004.....................  Bridging the Tax Gap
July 22, 2004.....................  The Role of Higher Education
                                     Financing in Strengthening U.S.
                                     Competitiveness in a Global Economy
Aug. 25, 2004.....................  Saving America's Great Places: The
                                     Role of Tax Incentives in
                                     Preserving Rural Communities
Sept. 14, 2004....................  Implementing the Medicare
                                     Prescription Drug Benefit and
                                     Medicare Advantage Program:
                                     Perspectives on the Proposed Rules

Sept. 21, 2004....................  Indian Jails: A Clarion Call for
                                     Reform
Oct. 8, 2004......................  Nomination of Anna Escobedo Cabral
                                     to be U.S. Treasurer, U.S.
                                     Department of the Treasury
Nov. 18, 2004.....................  FDA, Merck, and Vioxx: Putting
                                     Patient Safety First?


             BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS REFERRED AND CONSIDERED

    There were 749 Senate bills and 17 House bills referred to 
the Committee for consideration during the 108th Congress. In 
addition, 19 Senate and House resolutions (joint, concurrent, 
or simple resolutions) were referred to the Committee.

                                                                      STATUS OF BILLS ON WHICH LEGISLATIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN
                                                                                  SENATE BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                             Conference Report Agreed to in--
    Bill No.                  Title                  Reported in      Passed  Senate     Reported in       Passed House    ------------------------------------  Signed Into Law  Public Law No.
                                                       Senate                               House                                Senate             House
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
S. 312           Availability of SCHIP            June 24, 2003     June 26, 2003*
(H.R. 2854)       Allotments for Fiscal Years     S. Rpt. 108-78    (See H.R. 2854)
                  1998 through 2001

S. 351           Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act    Feb. 11, 2003
(H.R. 1307)       of 2003                         (without written
                                                   rpt.)

S. 476           CARE Act of 2003                 Feb. 27, 2003     Apr. 9, 2003*
                                                  S. Rpt. 108-11

S. 622           Family Opportunity Act of 2003   Sept. 30, 2003*   May 6, 2003*       (May 10, 2004--
                                                  S. Rpt. 108-157                       Referred to
                                                                                        Energy and
                                                                                        Commerce)

S. 671           Miscellaneous Trade and          Mar. 20, 2003     (See H.R. 1047)
(H.R. 1047)       Technical Corrections Act of    S. Rpt. 108-28
                  2003

 
S. 753           Tax Court Modernization Act      May 5, 2003
                                                  S. Rpt. 108-42

S. 760           Clean Diamond Trade Act          Apr. 9, 2003*     (See H.R. 1584)
(H.R. 1584)                                       S. Rpt. 108-36
                                                  (Apr. 30, 2003--
                                                   Indef.
                                                   postponed)

S. 882           Tax Administration Good          May 4, 2004       (See H.R. 1528)
(H.R. 1528)       Government Act                  S. Rpt. 108-257*

S. 1149          Energy Tax Incentives Act of     May 23, 2003
                  2003                            S. Rpt. 108-54

S. 1416          U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement  July 22, 2003     (See H.R. 2738)
(H.R. 2738)       Implementation Act              S. Rpt. 108-116
                                                  (Reported
                                                   jointly w/
                                                   Judiciary)

 
S. 1417          U.S.-Singapore Free Trade        July 22, 2003     (See H.R. 2739)
(H.R. 2739)       Agreement Implementation Act    S. Rpt. 108-117
                                                  (Reported
                                                   jointly w/
                                                   Judiciary)

 
S. 1637          Jumpstart Our Business Strength  Nov. 7, 2003*     May 11, 2004*
(H.R. 4520)       (JOBS) Act                      S. Rpt. 108-192   (See H.R. 4520)

S. 2424          National Employee Savings and    May 14, 2004
                  Trust Equity Guarantee Act      S. Rpt. 108-266

S. 2610          U.S.-Australia Free Trade        July 14, 2004     (See H.R. 4759)
(H.R. 4759)       Agreement Implementation Act    S. Rpt. 108-316

S. 2677          U.S.-Morocco Free Trade          July 20, 2004     July 21, 2004
(H.R. 4842)       Agreement Implementation Act    S. Rpt. 108-317   (See H.R. 4842)

S.J. Res. 39     Approving the Renewal of Import  June 15, 2004     (See H.J. Res.
(H.J. Res. 97)    Restrictions Contained in the   S. Rpt. 108-281    97)
                  Burmese Freedom and Democracy
                  Act of 2003

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*With amendments.



                                                                      STATUS OF BILLS ON WHICH LEGISLATIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN
                                                                                   HOUSE BILLS AND RESOLUTIONS
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                             Conference Report Agreed to in--
    Bill No.                  Title                  Reported in      Passed  House      Reported in       Passed Senate   ------------------------------------  Signed Into Law  Public Law No.
                                                        House                               Senate                                House            Senate
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
H.R. 1047        Miscellaneous Trade and          Mar. 4, 2003      Mar. 5, 2003       Mar. 6, 2003     Mar. 4, 2003*       Oct. 8, 2003      Nov. 19, 2003     Dec. 3, 2003      108-429
(S. 671)          Technical Corrections Act of    H. Rpt. 108-771                      S. Rpt. 108-28                       H. Rpt. 108-771   H. Rpt. 108-771
                  2003

H.R. 1307        Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act                      Mar. 20, 2003      (Mar. 20, 2003-- Mar. 27, 2003*
(S. 351)          of 2003                                                               Received in
                                                                                        the Senate)

H.R. 1584        Clean Diamond Trade Act                            Apr. 8, 2003       Apr. 9, 2003     Apr. 10, 2003*                                          Apr. 25, 2003     108-19
(S. 760)                                                                               S. Rpt. 108-36

H.R. 2854        Availability of SCHIP                              July 25, 2003      (July 28, 2003-- July 31, 2003                                           Aug. 15, 2003     108-74
(S. 312)          Allotments for Fiscal Years                                           Received in
                  1998 through 2001                                                     the Senate)

H.R. 1528        Tax Administration Good          Apr. 8, 2003      June 19, 2003*     (June 20, 2003-- May 19, 2003*
(S. 882)          Government Act                  H. Rpt. 108-61                        Fin. Cmte.      (In lieu of S.
                                                                                        discharged)      882)

H.R. 2738        U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement  July 21, 2003     July 24, 2003      (July 24, 2003-- July 31, 2003                                           Sept. 3, 2003     108-77
(S. 1416)         Implementation Act              H. Rpt. 108-224                       placed on
                                                                                        cal.)

H.R. 2739        U.S.-Singapore Free Trade        July 21, 2003     July 24, 2003      (July 24, 2003-- July 31, 2003                                           Sept. 3, 2003     108-78
(S. 1417)         Agreement Implementation Act    H. Rpt. 108-225                       placed on
                                                                                        cal.)

H.R. 4520        American Jobs Creation Act of    June 16, 2004     June 17, 2004*     June 18, 2004    July 15, 2004*      Oct. 7, 2004      Oct. 11, 2004     Oct. 22, 2004     108-357
(S. 1637)         2004                            H. Rpt. 108-548                      S. Rpt. 108-192                      H. Rpt. 108-755   H. Rpt. 108-755
                                                                                       (June 21, 2004--
                                                                                        placed on
                                                                                        cal.)

H.R. 4759        U.S.-Australia Free Trade        July 12, 2004     July 14, 2004                       July 15, 2004                                           Aug. 3, 2004      108-286
(S. 2610)         Agreement Implementation Act    H. Rpt. 108-597

H.R. 4842        U.S.-Morocco Free Trade          July 21, 2004     July 22, 2004                       July 22, 2004                                           Aug. 17, 2004     108-302
(S. 2677)         Agreement Implementation Act    H. Rpt. 108-627

H.J. Res. 97     Approving the Renewal of Import  June 3, 2004      June 14, 2004                       June 24, 2004                                           July 7, 2004      108-272
(S.J. Res. 39)    Restrictions Contained in the
                  Burmese Freedom and Democracy
                  Act of 2003

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*With amendments.



                    FULL COMMITTEE BUSINESS MEETINGS

January 30, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
    The Committee ordered favorably reported the following 
business items:
        Nomination of John Snow to be Secretary of the 
        Treasury, U.S. Department of the Treasury
February 5, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        S. 351, Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act of 2003
        S. 476, Savings for Working Families Act of 2003
February 14, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        Committee Funding Resolution
        Committee Rules
        Adoption of Subcommittees
        Designation of Committee Members to Serve on the Joint 
        Committee on Taxation
        Designation of Committee Members to serve as 
        Congressional Advisors on Trade Policy and Negotiations
February 26, 2003 and February 27, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        An original bill, entitled, the Miscellaneous Trade and 
        Technical Corrections Act of 2003.
March 5, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        The Nomination of Daniel Pearson, to be a Member of the 
        United States International Trade Commission
        The Nomination of Charlotte Lane, to be a Member of the 
        United States International Trade Commission
April 2, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        Energy Tax Incentives Act
        The Clean Diamond Trade Act
        The Tax Court Modernization Act
        The Nomination of Mark Everson, to be Commissioner of 
        Internal Revenue
        The Nomination of Diane Kroupa, to be Judge of the 
        United States Tax Court
        The Nomination of Harry Haines, to be Judge of the 
        United States Tax Court
        The Nomination of Robert Wherry, Jr., to be Judge of 
        the United States Tax Court
        The Nomination of Joseph Goeke, to be Judge of the 
        United States Tax Court
        The Nomination of Raymond T. Wagner, Jr., to be Member 
        of the Oversight Board, U.S. Department of the Treasury
May 8, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        A substitute for S.2, the Jobs and Growth Tax Act of 
        2003.
May 13, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        An original bill, the text of which was reported by the 
        Committee on Finance on May 8, 2003, for the purposes 
        of meeting Finance Committee reconciliation 
        instructions.
June 5, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        A revenue title to S. 824, the Aviation Investment and 
        Revitalization Vision Act.
June 12, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        S. 1, Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement Act of 
        2003
        S. 312, Availability of SCHIP Allotments for Fiscal 
        Years 1998-2001.
July 10, 2003
    Finance Committee Members informally considered the 
following items during a Committee meeting:
        Proposed legislation implementing the U.S.-Singapore 
        Free Trade Agreement and the U.S.-Chile Free Trade 
        Agreement.
July 17, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        Proposed legislation implementing the U.S.-Singapore 
        Free Trade Agreement and the U.S.-Chile Free Trade 
        Agreement.
July 30, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        The Nomination of Josette Shiner, to be Deputy United 
        States Trade Representative, Executive Office of the 
        President
        The Nomination of James Jochum, to be Assistant 
        Secretary, U. S. Department of Commerce
        The Nomination of Robert Nichols, to be Assistant 
        Secretary for Public Affairs, U. S. Department of the 
        Treasury
September 10, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        H.R. 4, Personal Responsibility, Work, and Promotion 
        Act of 2003
        S. 622, The Family Opportunity Act of 2003
September 17, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        H.R. 743, The Social Security Protection Act of 2003
        S. 1548, Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit Act of 
        2003
        S. 2424, National Employee Savings and Trust Equity 
        Guarantee Act.
October 1, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        S. 1637, the ``Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) 
        Act of 2003.''
November 12, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        The Nomination of Michael O'Grady, to be Assistant 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services, U. S. 
        Department of Health and Human Services
        The Nomination of Jennifer Young, to be Assistant 
        Secretary of Health and Human Services, U. S. 
        Department of Health and Human Services
        The Nomination of Bradley Belt, to be Member of the 
        Social Security Advisory Board, Social Security 
        Administration
November 21, 2003
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        The Nomination of Arnold Havens, to be General Counsel 
        for the Department of Treasury, U.S. Department of the 
        Treasury
February 2, 2004
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        S. 2424, National Employee Savings and Trust Equity 
        Guarantee Act, Extension of Highway Trust Fund
        S. 882, Tax Administration Good Government Act.
February 12, 2004
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        The Nomination of Samuel Bodman, to be Assistant 
        Secretary of the Treasury, U.S. Department of the 
        Treasury
March 9, 2004
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        The Nomination of Mark B. McClellan, Administrator, 
        Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
        The Nomination of Brian Roseboro, to be Under 
        Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury
        The Nomination of Mark J. Warshawsky, to be Assistant 
        Secretary, U.S. Department of the Treasury.
March 30, 2004
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        The Nomination of Donald Korb, to be Chief Counsel for 
        the Internal Revenue Service and an Assistant General 
        Counsel, U.S. Department of the Treasury
May 20, 2004
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        The Nomination of John O. Colvin, to be Judge of the 
        United States Tax Court
        The Nomination of Juan C. Zarate, to be Assistant 
        Secretary for Terrorism Finance, U.S. Department of the 
        Treasury
        The Nomination of Stuart Levey, to be Under Secretary 
        for Enforcement, U.S. Department of the Treasury
June 15, 2004
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        S.J. Res. 39, Approving the Renewal of Import 
        Restrictions Contained in the Burmese Freedom and 
        Democracy Act of 2003.
June 23, 2004
    Finance Committee Members informally considered the 
following items during a Committee Meeting:
        Review and make recommendations on proposed legislation 
        implementing the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement
June 24, 2004
    Finance Committee Members informally considered the 
following items during a Committee Meeting:
        Continued Executive Session to review and make 
        recommendations on proposed legislation implementing 
        the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
July 14, 2004
    Finance Committee Members informally considered the 
following items during a Committee Meeting:
        To consider proposed legislation implementing the U.S.-
        Morocco Free Trade Agreement
        S. 2610, the U.S.-Australia Free Trade Agreement.
July 20, 2004
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        S. 2677, the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement;
        H.R. 982, To Clarify the Tax Treatment of Bonds and 
        other Obligations Issued by the Government of American 
        Samoa
        The Nomination of Charles Kolbe, to be Member, IRS 
        Oversight Board
        The Nomination of Timothy Bitsberger, to be Assistant 
        Secretary for Financial Markets, U.S. Department of the 
        Treasury
        The Nomination of Patrick O'Carroll, to be Inspector 
        General, Social Security Administration
        The Nomination of Paul Jones, to be Member, IRS 
        Oversight Board
September 15, 2004 and September 20, 2004
    Finance Committee Members considered the following items 
during an Executive Session:
        S. 333, John Breaux Elder Justice Act
        The Nomination of Joey Russell George, to be Treasury 
        Inspector General for Tax Administration, U.S. 
        Department of the Treasury
                        CALENDAR OF NOMINATIONS

Nov. 16, 2004
WAGNER, JR., RAYMOND THOMAS, to be Member of the Internal 
    Revenue Service Oversight Board, Department of the 
    Treasury; vice Oversight Board for a term expiring 
    September 14, 2009. (Reappointment)

  Nov. 16, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Dec. 8, 2004--Returned to the President under the provisions 
        of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules 
        of the Senate at the sine die adjournment of the 108th 
        Congress.
Oct. 7, 2004
DAMELIN, HAROLD, to be Inspector General, Department of the 
    Treasury, Department of the Treasury; vice Jeffrey Rush, 
    Jr., resigned.

  Oct. 7, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Dec. 8, 2004--Returned to the President under the provisions 
        of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules 
        of the Senate at the sine die adjournment of the 108th 
        Congress.
Sept. 20, 2004
DELGADO-JENKINS, JESUS H., to be Assistant Secretary of the 
    Treasury, Department of the Treasury; vice Teresa M. 
    Ressel, resigned.

  Sept. 20, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Dec. 8, 2004--Returned to the President under the provisions 
        of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules 
        of the Senate at the sine die adjournment of the 108th 
        Congress.
Sept. 10, 2004
JONES, PAUL, to be Member of the Internal Revenue Service 
    Oversight Board, Department of the Treasury; vice Oversight 
    Board for a term expiring September 14, 2008, vice Charles 
    L. Kolbe, term expired, to which position he was appointed 
    during the last recess of the Senate.

  Sept. 10, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Dec. 8, 2004--Returned to the President under the provisions 
        of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules 
        of the Senate at the sine die adjournment of the 108th 
        Congress.
July 22, 2004
CABRAL, ANNA ESCOBEDO, to be Treasurer of the United States, 
    Department of the Treasury; vice Rosario Marin.

  July 22, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Oct. 11, 2004--Senate Committee on Finance discharged by 
        Unanimous Consent.
  Oct. 11, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 934.
  Nov. 21, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
July 22, 2004
JENNER, GREGORY FRANKLIN, to be Assistant Secretary of the 
    Treasury, Department of the Treasury; vice Pamela F. Olson, 
    resigned.

  July 22, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Dec. 8, 2004--Returned to the President under the provisions 
        of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules 
        of the Senate at the sine die adjournment of the 108th 
        Congress.
July 19, 2004
LEVINSON, DANIEL R., to be Inspector General, Department of 
    Health and Human Services; vice Janet Rehnquist, resigned.

  July 19, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Dec. 8, 2004--Returned to the President under the provisions 
        of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules 
        of the Senate at the sine die adjournment of the 108th 
        Congress.
May 13, 2004
COLVIN, JOHN O., to be Judge of the United States Tax Court, 
    the Judiciary.

  May 13, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  May 19, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  May 20, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  May 20, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  May 20, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 695. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  July 22, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
May 11, 2004
BITSBERGER, TIMOTHY S., to be Assistant Secretary of the 
    Treasury, Department of the Treasury; vice Brian Carlton 
    Roseboro, resigned.

  May 11, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  July 7, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  July 20, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  July 20, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  July 20, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 795. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Nov. 21, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Apr. 8, 2004
O'CARROLL, JR., PATRICK P., to be Inspector General, Social 
    Security Administration, Social Security Administration; 
    vice James G. Huse, Jr., retired.

  Apr. 8, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance, and if and when reported, to be 
        sequentially referred to the Committee on Governmental 
        Affairs for not more than 20 days.
  July 7, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  July 20, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  July 20, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  July 20, 2004--Referred to the Committee on Governmental 
        Affairs pursuant to an order of the Senate of January 
        15, 2003.
  Sept. 20, 2004--Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs 
        discharged. Pursuant to an order of the Senate on 
        January 15, 2003.
  Sept. 20, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 813.
  Nov. 21, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Apr. 8, 2004
LEVEY, STUART, to be Under Secretary of the Treasury for 
    Enforcement, Department of the Treasury; vice Jimmy Gurule, 
    resigned.

  Apr. 8, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  May 19, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  May 20, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  May 20, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  May 20, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 698. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  July 8, 2004--Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
        and Urban Affairs by unanimous consent agreement on 
        July 8, 2004.
  July 15, 2004--Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
        Affairs. Hearings held.
  July 20, 2004--Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
        Affairs. Ordered to be reported favorably.
  July 8, 2004--Referred to Senate Committee on Finance. By 
        unanimous consent agreement on July 8, 2004, ordering 
        that when the nomination is reported out by the 
        Committee on Banking, it also be automatically 
        discharged from the Committee on Finance and placed on 
        the Executive Calendar.
  July 20, 2004--Reported by Senator Shelby, Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, without printed 
        report.
  July 20, 2004--Senate Committee on Finance discharged by 
        Unanimous Consent. Agreement of July 8, 2004.
  July 20, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 799. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  July 21, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Mar. 11, 2004
ZARATE, JUAN CARLOS, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, 
    Department of the Treasury; vice Kenneth Lawson, resigned.

  Mar. 11, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  May 19, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  May 20, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  May 20, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  May 20, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 697. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  July 8, 2004--Referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, 
        and Urban Affairs by unanimous consent agreement on 
        July 8, 2004.
  July 15, 2004--Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
        Affairs. Hearings held.
  July 20, 2004--Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban 
        Affairs. Ordered to be reported favorably.
  July 8 , 2004--Referred to Senate Committee on Finance. By 
        unanimous consent agreement on July 8, 2004, ordering 
        that when the nomination is reported out by the 
        Committee on Banking, it also be automatically 
        discharged from the Committee on Finance and placed on 
        the Executive Calendar.
  July 20, 2004--Reported by Senator Shelby, Committee on 
        Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, without printed 
        report.
  July 20, 2004--Senate Committee on Finance discharged by 
        Unanimous Consent. Agreement of July 8, 2004.
  July 20, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 798. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  July 21, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Feb. 26, 2004
McCLELLAN, MARK B., to be Administrator of the Centers for 
    Medicare and Medicaid Services, Centers for Medicare and 
    Medicaid Services; vice Thomas Scully, resigned.

  Feb. 26, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Mar. 8, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Mar. 9, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Mar. 9, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Mar. 9, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 587. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Mar. 12, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Jan. 21, 2004
BELT, BRADLEY D., to be Member of the Social Security Advisory 
    Board, Social Security Administration; vice Stanford G. 
    Ross, term expired, to which position he was appointed 
    during the last recess of the Senate.

  Jan. 21, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.:
  Apr. 26, 2004--Received message of withdrawal of nomination 
        from the President.
Dec. 9, 2003
ROSEBORO, BRIAN CARLTON, to be Under Secretary of the Treasury, 
    Department of the Treasury; vice Peter R. Fisher, resigned.

  Dec. 9, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Mar. 8, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Mar. 9, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Mar. 9, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Mar. 9, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 585. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Apr. 8, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Dec. 9, 2003
KORB, DONALD, to be Chief Counsel for the Internal Revenue 
    Service and Assistant General Counsel in the Department of 
    the Treasury; vice and an Assistant General Counsel in the 
    Department of the Treasury, vice B. John Williams, Jr.

  Dec. 9, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Mar. 8, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Mar. 30, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Mar. 30, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Mar. 30, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 597. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Apr. 8, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Dec. 9, 2003
KOLBE, CHARLES L., to be Member of the Internal Revenue Service 
    Oversight Board, Department of the Treasury; vice Oversight 
    Board for the remainder of the term expiring September 14, 
    2004, vice Steve H. Nickles, resigned.

  Dec. 9, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  July 20, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  July 20, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  July 20, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 796. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  July 22, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Dec. 9, 2003
JONES, PAUL, to be Member of the Internal Revenue Service 
    Oversight Board, Department of the Treasury; vice Oversight 
    Board for a term expiring September 14, 2008, vice Charles 
    L. Kolbe, term expired.

  Dec. 9, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  July 7, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  July 20, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  July 20, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  July 20, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 797. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Nov. 21, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Dec. 9, 2003
JEPSON, ROBERT, to be Member of the Internal Revenue Service 
    Oversight Board, Department of the Treasury; vice Oversight 
    Board for a term expiring September 14, 2008, vice Karen 
    Hastie Williams, term expired.

  Dec. 9, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Sept. 13, 2004--Received message of withdrawal of nomination 
        from the President.
Dec. 9, 2003
BODMAN, SAMUEL W., to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, 
    Department of the Treasury; vice Kenneth W. Dam, resigned.

  Dec. 9, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Feb. 10, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Feb. 12, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Feb. 12, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Feb. 12, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 553. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Feb. 12, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Nov. 25, 2003
WARSHAWSKY, MARK J., to be Assistant Secretary of Treasury, 
    Department of the Treasury; vice Richard Clarida, resigned.

  Nov. 25, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Mar. 8, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Mar. 9, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Mar. 9, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Mar. 9, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 586. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Mar. 12, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Nov. 19, 2003
GEORGE, J. RUSSELL, to be Inspector General for Tax 
    Administration, Department of the Treasury; vice David C. 
    Williams.

  Nov. 19, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  July 7, 2004--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Sept. 15, 2004--Committee on Finance. Committee consideration 
        held.
  Sept. 20, 2004--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Sept. 20, 2004--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Sept. 20, 2004--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Governmental Affairs for not to exceed 20 
        days pursuant to the order of January 15, 2003.
  Oct. 10, 2004--Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs 
        discharged. Pursuant to an order of the Senate of 
        January 15, 2003.
  Oct. 10, 2004--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar pursuant 
        to an order of the Senate of January 15, 2003. Calendar 
        No. 924.
  Nov. 21, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Oct. 29, 2003
HAVENS, ARNOLD I., to be General Counsel for the Department of 
    the Treasury, Department of the Treasury; vice David 
    Aufhauser.

  Oct. 29, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Nov. 18, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Nov. 21, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Nov. 21, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Nov. 21, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 489. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Dec. 9, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Oct. 1, 2003
PEARSON, DANIEL, to be Member of the United States 
    International Trade Commission, United States International 
    Trade Commission; vice Lynn M. Bragg, term expired, to 
    which position he was appointed during the last recess of 
    the Senate.

  Oct. 1, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Dec. 08, 2004--Returned to the President under the provisions 
        of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules 
        of the Senate at the sine die adjournment of the 108th 
        Congress.
Oct. 1, 2003
LANE, CHARLOTTE A., to be Member of the United States 
    International Trade Commission, United States International 
    Trade Commission; vice Dennis M. Devaney, to which position 
    she was appointed during the last recess of the Senate.

  Oct. 1, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Dec. 8, 2004--Returned to the President under the provisions 
        of Senate Rule XXXI, paragraph 6 of the Standing Rules 
        of the Senate at the sine die adjournment of the 108th 
        Congress.
Sept. 8, 2003
O'GRADY, MICHAEL, to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human 
    Services, Department of Health and Human Services; vice 
    Piyush Jindal, resigned.

  Sept. 8, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Nov. 4, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Nov. 12, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Nov. 12, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Nov. 12, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 475. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Dec. 9, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Sept. 3, 2003
YOUNG, JENNIFER, to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human 
    Services, Department of Health and Human Services; vice 
    Scott Whitaker.

  Sept. 3, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Nov. 4, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Nov. 12, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Nov. 12, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Nov. 12, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 474. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Dec. 9, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Sept. 3, 2003
BELT, BRADLEY D., to be Member of the Social Security Advisory 
    Board, Social Security Administration; vice Stanford G. 
    Ross, term expired.

  Sept. 3, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Nov. 4, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Nov. 12, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Nov. 12, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Nov. 12, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 473. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Apr. 26, 2004--Received message of withdrawal of nomination 
        from the President.
July 22, 2003
WEEMS, KERRY N., to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human 
    Services, Department of Health and Human Services; vice 
    Janet Hale, resigned.

  July 22, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Sept. 4, 2003--Received message of withdrawal of nomination 
        from the President.
July 17, 2003
SCHWAB, SUSAN C., to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, 
    Department of the Treasury; vice Kenneth W. Dam, resigned.

  July 17, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Dec. 9, 2003--Received message of withdrawal of nomination 
        from the President.
June 2, 2003
SHINER, JOSETTE SHEERAN, to be Deputy United States Trade 
    Representative, Executive Office of the President; vice Jon 
    M. Huntsman, Jr.

  June 2, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  June 26, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Aug. 1, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  July 31, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  July 31, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 344. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Aug. 1, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Apr. 10, 2003
NICHOLS, ROBERT STANLEY, to be Assistant Secretary, Department 
    of the Treasury; vice Michele A. Davis.

  Apr. 10, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  July 31, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Aug. 1, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  July 31, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  July 31, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 346. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Aug. 1, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Apr. 9, 2003
JOCHUM, JAMES J., to be Assistant Secretary, Department of 
    Commerce; vice Faryar Shirzad.

  Apr. 9, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance (for Import Administration).
  June 26, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Aug. 1, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  July 31, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  July 31, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 345. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Aug. 1, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Apr. 2, 2003
RESSEL, TERESA M., to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, 
    Department of the Treasury; vice Edward Kingman, Jr.

  Apr. 2, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  July 31, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Aug. 1, 2003--Senate Committee on Finance discharged by 
        Unanimous Consent.
  Aug. 1, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Feb. 25, 2003
HOLMES, MARK VAN DYKE, to be Judge of the United States Tax 
    Court, The Judiciary; vice Julian L. Jacobs, term expired.

  Feb. 25, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Apr. 1, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 102. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Apr. 3, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Feb. 25, 2003
KROUPA, DIANE L., to be Judge of the United States Tax Court, 
    the Judiciary; vice Robert P. Ruwe, term expired.

  Feb. 25, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Apr. 3, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Feb. 12, 2003
HAINES, HARRY A., to be Judge of the United States Tax Court, 
    The Judiciary; vice Renato Beghe, retiring.

  Feb. 12, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Apr. 1, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 100. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Apr. 3, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Feb. 6, 2003
WHERRY, JR., ROBERT ALLEN, to be Judge of the United States Tax 
    Court, The Judiciary; vice Laurence J. Whalen, term 
    expired.

  Feb. 6, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Apr. 1, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 99. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Apr. 3, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Jan. 22, 2003
EVERSON, MARK W., to be Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 
    Department of the Treasury; vice Charles Rossotti, term 
    expired.

  Jan. 22, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 103. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  May 01, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Jan. 15, 2003
GOEKE, JOSEPH ROBERT, to be Judge of the United States Tax 
    Court, The Judiciary; vice Herbert L. Chabot.

  Jan. 15, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Feb. 12, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 98. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Apr. 3, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Jan. 13, 2003
SNOW, JOHN W., to be Secretary of the Treasury, Department of 
    the Treasury; vice Paul Henry O'Neill, resigned.

  Jan. 13, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Jan. 30, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Jan. 30, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Jan. 30, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 20. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Jan. 30, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Unanimous Consent 
        Vote.
Jan. 9, 2003
WAGNER, JR., RAYMOND T., to be Member of, Department of the 
    Treasury; vice Oversight Board for the remainder of the 
    term expiring September 14, 2004, vice George L. Farr.

  Jan. 9, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Feb. 12, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Apr. 2, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 104. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Apr. 3, 2003--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Jan. 9, 2003
PEARSON, DANIEL, to be Member of, United States International 
    Trade Commission; vice Lynn M. Bragg, term expired.

  Jan. 9, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Feb. 12, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Mar. 5, 2003--Committee on Finance. Ordered to be reported 
        favorably.
  Mar. 5, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Mar. 5, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 48. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Nov. 21, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Jan. 9, 2003
LANE, CHARLOTTE A., to be Member of, United States 
    International Trade Commission; vice Dennis M. Devaney.

  Jan. 9, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Feb. 12, 2003--Committee on Finance. Hearings held.
  Mar. 5, 2003--Reported by Senator Grassley, Committee on 
        Finance, without printed report.
  Mar. 5, 2003--Placed on Senate Executive Calendar. Calendar 
        No. 49. Subject to nominee's commitment to respond to 
        requests to appear and testify before any duly 
        constituted committee of the Senate.
  Nov. 21, 2004--Confirmed by the Senate by Voice Vote.
Jan. 7, 2003
BOWER, GLEN L., to be Judge of the United States Tax Court, The 
    Judiciary; vice Carolyn Miller Parr, term expired.

  Jan. 7, 2003--Received in the Senate and referred to the 
        Committee on Finance.
  Mar. 22, 2004--Received message of withdrawal of nomination 
        from the President.

                      REPORTS, PRINTS, AND STUDIES

    During the 108th Congress, the Committee and supporting 
Joint Committees, prepared and issued 24 reports, special 
prints, and studies on the following topics:


 
   No.                                 Title

 108-036  Clean Diamond Trade Act (S. 760)
 108-078  Availability of SCHIP Allotments for Fiscal Years 1998 through
           2001 (S. 312)
 108-281  Approving the Renewal of Import Restrictions Contained in the
           Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (S.J. Res. 39)
 108-031  Report on the Activities of the Committee on Finance of the
           United States Senate during the 107th Congress Pursuant To
           Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the United States Senate
 108-042  Tax Court Modernization Act (S. 753)
 108-157  Family Opportunity Act of 2003 (S. 622)
 108-003  Armed Forces Tax Fairness Act of 2003 (S. 351)
 108-317  United States-Morocco Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
           Filed, Under Authority of the Order of the Senate of July 22,
           2004 (S. 2677)
 108-316  United States-Australia Free Trade Agreement Implementation
           Act Filed Under Authority of the Order of the Senate of July
           22, 2004 (S. 2610)
 108-117  United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement Implementation
           Act (S. 1417)
 108-176  Social Security Protection Act of 2003 (H.R. 743)
 108-116  United States-Chile Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act
           (S. 1416)
 108-054  Energy Tax Incentives Act of 2003 (S. 1149)
 108-257  Tax Administration Good Government Act (S. 882)
 108-011  Savings for Working Families Act of 2003 (CARE) (S. 476)
 108-028  Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 2003 (S.
           671)
 108-266  National Employee Savings and Trust Equity Guarantee Act (S.
           2424)
 108-162  Personal Responsibility and Individual Development for
           Everyone Act (PRIDE) (H.R. 4)
 108-192  Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act (S. 1637)
 108-053  Description of the John Breaux Elder Justice Act (Committee
           Print)
 108-696  Working Families Tax Relief Act of 2004 (H.R. 1308) (Committee
           Print)
 108-026  Description of the Jobs and Growth Reconciliation Act of 2003
           (Committee Print)
 108-029  Description of the Prescription Drug and Medicare Improvement
           Act of 2003 (Committee Print)
 108-015  Report of Staff Investigation of Enron Corp. and Related
           Entities Regarding the Guatemalan Power Project (Committee
           Print)



                        OFFICIAL COMMUNICATIONS

    During the 108th Congress, a total of 1,055 official 
communications were submitted to the Committee. Of these, 20 
were Presidential Messages; 945 were Executive Communications--
these communications include reports to advise and inform the 
Congress, required annual or semi-annual agency budget and 
activities summaries, and requests for legislative action. The 
committee also received 90 petitions and memorials. 
      

         STATUS OF BILLS ON WHICH LEGISLATIVE ACTION WAS TAKEN

S. 185, To Establish a Chief Agricultural Negotiator in the Office of 
    the U.S. Trade Representative. Reported in Senate Nov. 3, 1999 
    (Finance Committee discharge). Passed Senate Nov. 3, 1999 (Referred 
    to House Ways and Means Committee Nov. 4, 1999).
S. 262 (H.R. 435), Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 
    1999. Reported in Senate Feb. 3, 1999, Senate Report 106-2. Passed 
    Senate (See H.R. 435).
S. 279 (H.R. 5), Senior Citizen's Freedom to Work Act. Reported in 
    Senate (See H.R. 5).
S. 331 (H.R. 1180), Work Incentives Improvement Act of 1999. Reported 
    in Senate Mar. 26, 1999, Senate Report 106-37. Passed Senate June 
    16, 1999 (Senate incorporated this measure in H.R. 1180 Oct. 21, 
    1999), (Senate Passed H.R. 1180 in lieu of this measure). (See H.R. 
    1180).
S. 494, Nursing Home Residential Security Act of 1999. Reported in 
    Senate Mar. 10, 1999, Senate Report 106-13 (Placed on Senate 
    Calendar).
S. 662 (H.R. 4386), Breast and Cervical Cancer Treatment Act. Reported 
    in Senate June 27, 2000, Senate Report 106-323.
S. 1134, Affordable Education Act of 1999. Reported in Senate May 26, 
    1999, Senate Report 106-54. Passed Senate Mar. 2, 2000.
S. 1254, Steel Trade Enforcement Act of 1999. Reported in Senate June 
    21, 1999 (Without written report). Sept. 10, 1999 (Report filed--
    Senate Report 106-155).
S. 1386, Trade Adjustment Assistance Act. Reported in Senate July 16, 
    1999 (Without written report). July 22, 1999 (Report filed--Senate 
    Report 106-119).
S. 1387, African Growth and Opportunity Act. Reported in Senate July 
    16, 1999 (Without written report). July 20, 1999 (Report filed--
    Senate Report 106-112). Passed Senate (See H.R. 434).
S. 1388, To Extend the Generalized System of Preferences. Reported in 
    Senate July 16, 1999 (Without written report). Aug. 4, 1999 (Report 
    filed--Senate Report 106-137).
S. 1389, U.S.-Caribbean Basin Trade Enhancement Act. Reported in Senate 
    July 16, 1999 (Without written report). Sept. 16, 1999 (Report 
    filed--Senate Report 106-160).
S. 1429, Taxpayer Refund Act of 1999. Reported in Senate July 26, 1999, 
    Senate Report 106-120 (July 30, 1999--returned to Senate Calendar). 
    Passed Senate (Senate incorporated this measure in H.R. 2488, July 
    30, 1999. (Passed H.R. 2488 in lieu of this measure) (See H.R. 
    2488).
S. 1788, Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP Adjustment Act of 1999. Reported 
    in Senate Oct. 26, 1999, Senate Report 106-199 (Placed on Senate 
    Calendar).
S. 1792, Tax Relief Extension Act of 1999. Reported in Senate Oct. 26, 
    1999, Senate Report 106-201. Passed Senate Oct. 29, 1999, (See 
    Conference Report On H.R. 1180--Report 106-478).
S. 1928, Medicare Subvention Demonstration for Veterans Act of 1999. 
    Reported in Senate Nov. 16, 1999, Senate Report 106-222 (Placed on 
    Senate Calendar).
S. 2277 (H.R. 4444), China Permanent Normal Trade Relations. Reported 
    in Senate May 25, 2000, Senate Report 106-305 (See H.R. 4444).
S. 2346 (H.R. 6), Marriage Tax Relief Act of 2000. Reported in Senate 
    Apr. 4, 2000, Senate Report 106-253 (Placed on Senate Calendar). 
    (See H.R. 6).
S. 2742 (H.R. 4717), Tax Exempt Political Disclosure Act. Reported in 
    Senate (June 15, 2000--Introduced in the Senate) (June 16, 2000--
    Read second time and placed on the Calendar).
S. 2839 (H.R. 4810), Marriage Tax Reconciliation Act of 2000. Reported 
    in Senate July 5, 2000, Senate Report 106-329. Passed Senate (July 
    14, 2000 Senate incorporated this measure in H.R. 4810 as an 
    amendment).
S. 3267, Retired Coal Miners Health Benefit Security Act. Reported in 
    Senate Nov. 1, 2000, Senate Report 106-512 (Placed on Senate 
    Calendar).
S. Res. 150, Authorizing Expenditures by the Committee on Finance. 
    Reported in Senate July 15, 1999, (Without written report). 
    Referred to the Committee on Rules.
H.R. 5, Senior Citizen's Freedom to Work Act of 2000. Reported in House 
    Mar. 1, 2000, House Report 106-507 (Ways and Means). Passed House 
    Mar. 1, 2000. Reported in Senate (Mar. 2, 2000, Received In Senate 
    Placed on Calendar). Passed Senate Mar. 22, 2000. Signed Into Law 
    Apr. 7, 2000. To amend title II of the Social Security Act to 
    eliminate the earnings test for individuals who have attained 
    retirement age.
H.R. 6 (S. 2346), Marriage Tax Penalty Relief. Reported in House Feb. 
    7, 2000, House Report 106-493. Passed House Feb. 10, 2000. Reported 
    in Senate (Apr. 11, 2000 Laid before the Senate) (Apr. 27, 2000 
    Cloture motion not invoked).
H.R. 8, Estate Tax Elimination. Reported in House June 6, 2000, House 
    Report 106-651. Passed House June 9, 2000. Reported in Senate (June 
    12, 2000 Received In Senate). Passed Senate July 14, 2000. Signed 
    Into Law (Vetoed by President--Aug. 31, 2000).
H.R. 434, African Growth & Opportunity Act. Reported in House Feb. 16, 
    1999 (International Relations) House Report 106-19 part I, June 17, 
    1999 (Ways and Means) House Report 106-19 part II. Passed House 
    July 16, 1999. Passed Senate Nov. 3, 1999. Conference Report Agreed 
    to in House May 4, 2000, Report 106-606. Conference Report Agreed 
    to in Senate May 11, 2000, Report 106-606. Signed Into Law May 18, 
    2000. To authorize a new trade and investment policy for sub-Sahara 
    Africa, expand trade benefits to the countries in the Caribbean 
    Basin, renew the generalized system of preferences, and reauthorize 
    the trade adjustment assistance programs. May 11, 2000--Cleared for 
    White House. May 15, 2000--Message on Senate action sent to the 
    House. May 16, 2000--Presented to President. May 18, 2000--Signed 
    by President. Became Public Law: 106-200.
H.R. 435 (S.262), Miscellaneous Trade & Technical Corrections Act. 
    Passed House Feb. 9, 1999. Passed Senate May 27, 1999. Signed Into 
    Law June 25, 1999. To make miscellaneous and technical changes to 
    various trade laws, and for other purposes. June 7, 1999--Cleared 
    for White House. June 14, 1999--Presented to President. June 25, 
    1999--Signed by President. Became Public Law: 106-36.
H.R. 1102, Pension Reform Act. Reported in House Sept. 24, 1999, Report 
    106-331, part I. Passed House July 19, 2000 (July 20, 2000 Received 
    In the Senate). Reported in Senate Sept. 13, 2000, Report 106-411.
H.R. 1180 (S.331), Ticket to Work. Reported in House July 1, 1999, 
    House Report 106-220, part I. Passed House Oct. 19, 1999. Passed 
    Senate Oct. 21, 1999. Conference Report Agreed to in House Nov. 18, 
    1999, Report 106-478. Conference Report Agreed to in Senate Nov. 
    19, 1999, Report 106-478. Signed Into Law Dec. 17, 1999. To amend 
    the Social Security Act to expand the availability of health care 
    coverage for working individuals with disabilities, to establish a 
    Ticket to Work and Self-Sufficiency Program in the Social Security 
    Administration, to provide such individuals with meaningful 
    opportunities to work, and for other purposes. Nov. 18, 1999--
    Cleared for White House. Dec. 6, 1999--Presented to President. Dec. 
    17, 1999--Signed by President. Became Public Law: 106-170.
H.R. 1264, Right to Know National Payroll Act. Passed House July 18, 
    2000 (July 19, 2000, Received in the Senate, placed on Calendar).
H.R. 1802, Foster Care Independence Act of 1999. Reported in House June 
    10, 1999, Report 106-182, part I (Ways and Means). Passed House 
    June 25, 1999. Reported in Senate June 30, 1999 (Finance Committee 
    discharged). Passed Senate Nov. 19, 1999.
H.R. 1833, Trade Agency Authorizations, Drug Free Borders, and 
    Prevention of On-Line Child Pornography Act of 1999. Reported in 
    House May 24, 1999, Report 106-161 (Ways and Means). Passed House 
    May 25, 1999. Reported in Senate July 20, 1999 (Without written 
    report) Sept. 10, 1999 (Report filed--Senate Report 106-156). 
    Passed Senate Aug. 5, 1999.
H.R. 2488, Marriage Penalty. Reported in House July 16, 1999, House 
    Report 106-238. Passed House July 22, 1999. Passed Senate July 30, 
    1999. Conference Report Agreed to in House Aug. 4, 1999, Report 
    106-289. Conference Report Agreed to in Senate Aug. 5, 1999, Report 
    106-289. (Vetoed by President--Sept. 23, 1999).
H.R. 2723, Managed Care Improvement Act. Reported in Senate Oct. 7, 
    1999 (Laid on the table), (Text of H.R. 2723 was added as new 
    matter to H.R. 2990).
H.R. 3070 (S. 331), Ticket to Work. Reported in House Oct. 18, 1999, 
    (Ways and Means) Report 106-393, part I.
H.R. 3073, Fathers Count Act of 1999. Reported in House Oct. 28, 1999, 
    Report 106-424, part I. Passed House Nov. 10, 1999. Reported in 
    Senate (Nov. 16, 1999--Received in Senate) (Nov. 19, 1999 Referred 
    to Finance Committee).
H.R. 3075, Medicare Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999. Reported in 
    House Nov. 2, 1999 Report 106-436, part I. Passed House Nov. 6, 
    1999. Reported in Senate (Nov. 8, 1999. Received in Senate) (Nov. 
    19, 1999 Referred to Finance).
H.R. 3916, Telephone Excise Tax. Reported in House May 22, 2000, House 
    Report 106-631. Passed House May 25, 2000. Reported in Senate July 
    5, 2000, Report 106-328 (Placed on Senate calendar).
H.R. 4163, Taxpayer Bill of Rights 2000. Reported in House Apr. 10, 
    2000 Report 106-506. Passed House Apr. 11, 2000. Reported in Senate 
    (Apr. 12, 2000--Received in Senate and referred to Finance 
    Committee).
H.R. 4199, To Terminate the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. Passed House 
    Apr. 13, 2000. Reported in Senate (May 2, 2000--Received in the 
    Senate and referred to Finance Committee).
H.R. 4444, China Permanent Normal Trade Relations. Reported in House 
    May 22, 2000, House Report 106-632. Passed House May 24, 2000. 
    Reported in Senate (July 27, 2000 Cloture on motion to proceed by 
    Senate). Passed Senate Sept. 19, 2000. Signed Into Law Oct. 10, 
    2000. To authorize extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (normal 
    trade relations treatment) to the People's Republic of China, and 
    to establish a framework for relations between the United States 
    and the People's Republic of China. Sept. 19, 2000--Cleared for 
    White House. Oct. 6, 2000--Message on Senate action sent to the 
    House. Oct. 10, 2000--Presented to President. Oct. 10, 2000--Signed 
    by President.
H.R. 4680, Medicare Prescription Drugs. Reported in House June 27, 
    2000, Report 106-703, part I. Passed House June 28, 2000. Reported 
    in Senate (June 29, 2000--Received in Senate) (June 30, 2000--Read 
    second time and placed on Senate Calendar).
H.R. 4717 (S. 2742), 527 and Tax-Exempt Organizations. Reported in 
    House June 27, 2000, Report 106-702 (Placed on Union calendar).
H.R. 4810 (S. 2839), Marriage Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2000. 
    Passed House July 12, 2000. Passed Senate July 18, 2000. Conference 
    Report Agreed to in House July 19, 2000, Report 106-765. Conference 
    Report Agreed to in Senate July 21, 2000, Report 106-765. (Aug. 5, 
    2000 Vetoed by the President).
H.R. 4843, Pension Reform. Reported in House July 17, 2000, Report 106-
    753 (July 19, 2000--Text as reported was considered as adopted in 
    H.R. 1102).
H.R. 4844, Railroad Retirement and Survivors' Improvement Act of 2000. 
    Reported in House July 20, 2000 Committee on Transportation. Report 
    106-777, part I. July 26, 2000, Ways and Means Report 106-777, part 
    II. Passed House Sept. 7, 2000. Reported in Senate Oct. 3, 2000, 
    Report 106-475.
H.R. 4865, Social Security Benefits Tax Relief Act of 2000. Reported in 
    House July 24, 2000, Report 106-780. Passed House July 27, 2000. 
    Reported in Senate (July 23, 2000--Received in the Senate and 
    referred to Finance Committee).
H.R. 4866, Debt Relief Reconciliation. Passed House July 18, 2000. 
    Reported in Senate (July 19, 2000 Received In the Senate and 
    referred to Finance Committee).
H.R. 4868, Miscellaneous Trade & Technical Corrections Act of 2000. 
    Reported in House July 25, 2000, Report 106-789. Passed House July 
    25, 2000. Reported in Senate Oct. 12, 2000, Report 106-503. Passed 
    Senate Oct. 13, 2000. Signed Into Law Nov. 9, 2000. To amend the 
    Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States to modify 
    temporarily certain rates of duty, to make other technical 
    amendments to the trade laws, and for other purposes. Oct. 26, 
    2000--Cleared for White House. Nov. 2, 2000--Presented to 
    President. Nov. 9, 2000--Signed by President. Became Public Law: 
    106-476.
H.R. 4923, Community Renewal. Passed House July 25, 2000. Reported in 
    Senate (July 26, 2000--Received in the Senate) (July 27, 2000--Read 
    first time and placed on Senate Calendar).
H.R. 4986, Foreign Sales Corporation Repeal & Extraterritorial Income 
    Exclusion Act of 2000. Reported in House Sept. 13, 2000 Report 106-
    845. Passed House Sept. 13, 2000. Reported in Senate Sept. 20, 2000 
    Report 106-416. Passed Senate Nov. 1, 2000. Signed Into Law Nov. 
    15, 2000. To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 
    provisions relating to foreign sales corporations (FSCs) and to 
    exclude extraterritorial income from gross income. Nov. 14, 2000--
    Cleared for White House. Nov. 14, 2000--Presented to President. 
    Nov. 15, 2000--Signed by President. Nov. 15, 2000. Became Public 
    Law: 106-519.  deg.
