Wednesday, February 14, 2007 [[Page D188]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S1929-S1982 Measures Introduced: Twenty-three bills and one resolution were introduced, as follows: S. 579-601, and S. Res. 81. Page S1958 Measures Passed: Continuing Appropriations: By 81 yeas to 15 nays (Vote No. 48), Senate passed H.J. Res. 20, making further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2007, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S1933-51, S1953 Withdrawn: Reid Amendment No. 237, to change an effective date. Pages S1933, S1953 Reid Amendment No. 238 (to Amendment No. 237), of a technical nature. Pages S1933, S1953 During consideration of this measure on Tuesday, February 13, 2007, Senate also took the following action: The following fell when Senate invoked cloture on the bill: Reid Motion to recommit (No. 239) the bill to the Committee on Appropriations, with instructions to report back forthwith, with an amendment, to change an effective date. Pages S1933, S1953 Reid Amendment No. 240 (to the instructions of the motion to recommit), of a technical nature. Pages S1933, S1953 Reid Amendment No. 241 (to Amendment No. 240), of a technical nature. Page S1953 Illinois State University Sesquicentennial: Committee on Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 53, congratulating Illinois State University as it marks its sesquicentennial, and the resolution was then agreed to. Page S1981 Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act Amendments: Senate agreed to S. Res. 50, amending Senate Resolution 400 (94th Congress) to make amendments arising from the enactment of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 and to make other amendments. Page S1981 Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that at 10:20 a.m., on Thursday, February 15, 2007, Senate begin consideration of the nominations of Norman Randy Smith, of Idaho, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, and Marcia Morales Howard, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida; that debate run concurrently until 10:30 a.m., with the time equally divided and controlled between the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, or their designees; that at 10:30 a.m., Senate vote on the confirmations of the nominations. Page S1982 Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination: By unanimous vote of 96 yeas (Vote No. EX. 47), Nora Barry Fischer, of Pennsylvania, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania. Pages S1951-52, S1982 Messages from the House: Page S1957 Messages Referred: Page S1957 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Page S1958 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S1958 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S1958-59 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S1960-80 Additional Statements: Page S1957 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S1980-81 Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--48) Pages S1952, S1953 Adjournment: Senate convened at 12 noon, and adjourned at 6:05 p.m., until 10 a.m., on Thursday, February 15, 2007. Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) IRANIAN ACTIVITIES Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing regarding Iranian activities in Iraq from Eric S. Edelman, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; Lieutenant General Douglas E. [[Page D189]] Lute, USA, Director for Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff; Lieutenant General Michael D. Maples, USA, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency; and David Satterfield, Senior Advisor to the Secretary of State, Coordinator for Iraq, Department of State. MONETARY POLICY REPORT Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the semiannual Monetary Policy Report to the Congress, after receiving testimony from Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. TAX COMPLIANCE Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the President's fiscal year 2008 budget proposals on tax compliance, after receiving testimony from Mark W. Everson, Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury. OVERSEAS SWEATSHOP ABUSES Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism concluded a hearing to examine overseas sweatshop abuses, focusing on their impact on U.S. workers and the need for anti-sweatshop legislation, including S. 367, to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit the import, export, and sale of goods made with sweatshop labor, after receiving testimony from David J. Socolow, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, Trenton; Betty Fuentes, International Labor Rights Fund, and Daniel T. Griswold, Cato Institute, both of Washington, D.C.; Sheikh Nazma, and Charles Kernaghan, both of the National Labor Committee, New York, New York; James D. English, United Steelworkers, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Steven A. Jesseph, Worldwide Responsible Apparel Production, Arlington, Virginia. DEEPWATER PROGRAM Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard concluded an oversight hearing to examine recent setbacks to the Coast Guard Deepwater Program, focusing on efforts to improve management and address certain operations challenges, after receiving testimony from Admiral Thad W. Allen, Commandant, and Captain Kevin P. Jarvis, (Ret.), both of the U.S. Coast Guard, and Richard L. Skinner, Inspector General, all of the Department of Homeland Security; Stephen L. Caldwell, Acting Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office; Leo S. Mackay, Lockheed Martin Maritime Systems and Sensors, Arlington, Virginia; and Philip A. Teel, Northrop Grumman Ship Systems, Pascagoula, Mississippi. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: S. 558, to provide parity between health insurance coverage of mental health benefits and benefits for medical and surgical services, with an amendment; S. 556, to reauthorize the Head Start Act; and The nomination of Leon R. Sequeira, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Labor. JUDICIAL SECURITY AND INDEPENDENCE Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine judicial security and independence, including S. 378, to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect judges, prosecutors, witnesses, victims, and their family members, S. 197, to authorize salary adjustments for justices and judges of the United States for fiscal year 2007, S. 344, to permit the televising of Supreme Court proceedings, and S. 352, to provide for media coverage of Federal court proceedings, after receiving testimony from Associate Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, United States Supreme Court. COMMITTEE FUNDING RESOLUTIONS Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded a hearing on proposed legislation authorizing expenditures by the Select Committee on Intelligence, the Committee on Foreign Relations, and the Committee on Finance, after receiving testimony from Senators Rockefeller, Bond, Lugar, and Grassley. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community. Committee recessed subject to the call. [[Page D190]] House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 24 public bills, H.R. 1038- 1061; and 6 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 65; and H. Res. 159-160, 162-164 were introduced. Pages H1667-68 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H1668-69 Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows: H. Res. 161, providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules (H. Rept. 110-13). Page H1667 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative Capuano to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H1567 Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. Carl Toti, Senior Pastor, Trinity Church, Lubbock, Texas. Page H1567 Disapproving of the decision of the President announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq: The House continued debate on H. Con. Res. 63, to disapprove of the decision of the President announced on January 10, 2007, to deploy more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq. Further proceedings were postponed. Pages H1571-H1614, H1623-66 H. Res. 157, the rule providing for consideration of the resolution, was agreed to on Tuesday, February 13. In Memory of the late Honorable Charlie Norwood of Georgia: The House agreed to H. Res. 159, expressing the condolences of the House on the death of the Honorable Charlie Norwood, a Representative from the State of Georgia. Pages H1614-23 Whole Number of the House: The Chair announced to the House that, in light of the adoption of H. Res. 159, the whole number of the House is adjusted to 434. Page H1623 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H1623. Quorum Calls--Votes: There were no yea-and-nay- votes, and there were no recorded votes. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and at 12:01 a.m., Thursday, February 15th, pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 159, it stands adjourned in memory of the late Honorable Charlie Norwood. Committee Meetings USDA FARM BILL PROPOSALS Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review the proposals of the USDA for the 2007 Farm bill. Testimony was heard from Mike Johanns, Secretary of Agriculture. Prior to the hearing, the Committee met for organizational purposes. The Committee approved an Oversight Plan for the 110th Congress. FY 2008 NATIONAL DEFENSE BUDGET REQUEST--DEPARTMENT OF THE ARMY Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Budget request from the Department of the Army. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Army: Francis J. Harvey, Secretary; and GEN Peter Schoomaker, USA, Chief of Staff. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND AND THE GLOBAL TERROR THREAT Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on the challenges for the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) posed by the global terrorist threat. Testimony was heard from Jarret Brachman, Director of Research, Combating Terrorism Center, U.S. Military Academy, Department of the Army; and public witnesses. MEMBERS DAY Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Members Day. Testimony was heard from Representatives Peterson of Minnesota, Goodlatte, Cardoza, Dicks, Carson, Ehlers, Holt, Boyda of Kansas, Buchanan, Larsen of Washington, Wolf, Hayes, Higgins, Turner, Christensen, Filner, Oberstar, Honda, Altmire, Walz of Minnesota, Ellsworth, Boozman, Watson and Bishop of Utah. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; OVERSIGHT PLAN Committee on Education and Labor: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 800, Employee Free Choice Act; and H.R. 493, as amended, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007. The Committee approved an Oversight Plan for the 110th Congress. UNINSURED CHILDREN Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``Covering the Uninsured Through the Eyes of a Child.'' Testimony was [[Page D191]] heard from Chris L. Peterson, Specialist in Social Legislation, Domestic Social Policy Division, CRS, Library of Congress; and public witnesses. ISRAELI-PALESTINIAN PROCESS--NEXT STEPS Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia held a hearing on Next Steps in Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY DIRECTORATE--UNDERSTANDING BUDGET AND STRATEGIC AGENDA Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, Preparedness, and Response Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Understanding the Budget and Strategic Agenda of the Science and Technology Directorate.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: ADM Jay Cohen, Under Secretary, Science and Technology; and Richard Williams, Chief Financial Officer for Science and Technology. DHS INTELLIGENCE AND TECHNOLOGY BUDGET--FISCAL YEAR 2008 Committe on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment, hearing entitled ``The President's Proposed FY 2008 Budget for the Department of Homeland Security: The Office of Intelligence and Analysis.'' Testimony was heard from Charles E. Allen, Chief Intelligence Officer, Office of Intelligence and Analysis, Department of Homeland Security. PROPOSED IMMIGRATION FEE INCREASE Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law held a hearing on Proposed Immigration Fee Increase. Testimony was heard from Emilio T. Gonzalez, Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security. EXECUTIVE BRANCH REFORM ACT; WHISTLEBLOWER PROTECTION ENHANCEMENT ACT; OVERSIGHT PLAN Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Ordered reported, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 984, Executive Branch Reform Act of 2007; and H.R. 985, Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007. The Committee also approved an Oversight Plan for the 110th Congress. FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT REQUIREMENTS Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives held a hearing on The State of FOIA: Assessing Agency Efforts to Meet FOIA Requirements. Testimony was heard from Linda Koontz, Director, Information Management, GAO; Melanie Ann Pustay, Acting Director, Office of Information and Privacy, Department of Justice. CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 8 to 4, a rule providing that the bill (H.R. 976) to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief for small businesses, and for other purposes, may be considered under suspension of the rules at any time on the legislative day of Friday, February 16, 2007. RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUDGET; OVERSIGHT PLAN Committee on Science and Technology: Held a hearing on the Administration's FY 2008 Research and Development Budget Proposal. Testimony was heard from John H. Murburger, III, Director, Office of Science and Technology. The Committee also approved an Oversight Plan for the 110th Congress. SBA'S RESPONSE TO 2005 GULF COAST HURRICANES Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``The Small Business Administration's Response to the 2005 Gulf Coast Hurricanes.'' Testimony was heard from Representatives Melancon and Baker; Steven Preston, Administrator, SBA; William Shear, Director, Financial Markets and Community Investment, GAO; Bryan McDonald, Director, Governor's Office of Recovery and Renewal, State of Mississippi; and public witnesses. FAA'S BUDGET Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing on the President's Fiscal Year 2008 Federal Aviation Administration's Budget. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Transportation: Marion C. Blakey, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration; and Calvin L. Scovel, III, Inspector General; and Gerald Dillingham, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO. AGENCY BUDGET AND PRIORITIES FISCAL YEAR 2008 Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water Resources and the Environment [[Page D192]] held a hearing entitled ``Agency Budgets and Priorities for FY 2008.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Army: John Paul Woodley, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Civil Works; and LTG Carl A. Strock, USA, Chief of Engineers, Corps of Engineers; Collister Johnson, Jr., Administrator, Saint Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation; Tom Kilgore, Chief Executive Officer, TVA; and Arlen Lancaster, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA. VETERANS AFFAIRS HEALTH BUDGET Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Department of Veterans Affairs Fiscal Year 2008 Health Budget. Testimony was heard from Michael J. Kussman, M.D., Acting Under Secretary for Health, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; representatives of veterans organizations; and public witnesses. U.S. TRADE AGENDA Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on the direction and content of U.S. Trade Agenda. Testimony was heard from Susan C. Schwab, U.S. Trade Representative. SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY BACKLOGS Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on Social Security Administration (SSA) disability claims backlogs. Testimony was heard from Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner, SSA; Sylvester J. Schieber, Chairman, Social Security Advisory Board; and public witnesses. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Armed Services: to hold hearings to examine the current and future readiness of the Army and Marine Corps; there is a possibility of a closed session in SR-222 following the open session, 9:30 a.m., SH-216. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security, to hold hearings to examine the Administration's proposal to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (Part 1), 9:30 a.m., SR-253. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: to hold hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of the Interior, 9:30 a.m., SD-366. Committee on Finance: to hold hearings to examine the Administration trade agenda for 2007, 10 a.m., SD-215. Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Ryan C. Crocker, of Washington, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq, and William B. Wood, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, 9:15 a.m., SD- 628. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: business meeting to consider S. 4, to make the United States more secure by implementing unfinished recommendations of the 9/11 Commission to fight the war on terror more effectively, to improve homeland security, S. 343, to extend the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999, S. 457, to extend the date on which the National Security Personnel System will first apply to certain defense laboratories, a proposed bill to preserve existing judgeships on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, S. 550, to preserve existing judgeships on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, S. 171, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 301 Commerce Street in Commerce, Oklahoma, as the ``Mickey Mantle Post Office Building'', S. 194 and H.R. 49, bills to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1300 North Frontage Road West in Vail, Colorado, as the ``Gerald R. Ford, Jr. Post Office Building'', S. 219 and H.R. 335, bills to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 152 North 5th Street in Laramie, Wyoming, as the ``Gale W. McGee Post Office'', S. 303, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 324 Main Street in Grambling, Louisiana, shall be known and designated as the ``Coach Eddie Robinson Post Office Building'', S. 412 and H.R. 521, bills to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2633 11th Street in Rock Island, Illinois, as the ``Lane Evans Post Office Building'', H.R. 433, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1700 Main Street in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the ``Scipio A. Jones Post Office Building'', H.R. 514, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16150 Aviation Loop Drive in Brooksville, Florida, as the ``Sergeant Lea Robert Mills Brooksville Aviation Branch Post Office'', and H.R. 577, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, as the ``Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post Office Building'', 9 a.m., SD-342. Committee on Indian Affairs: to hold an oversight hearing to examine the President's budget request for fiscal year 2008 for tribal programs, 9:30 a.m., SR-485. Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider the nomination of Beryl A. Howell, of the District of Columbia, and Dabney Langhorne Friedrich, of Virginia, both to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission, S. 316, to prohibit brand name drug companies from compensating generic drug companies to delay the entry of a generic drug into the market, S. 236, to require reports to Congress on Federal agency use of data mining, S. 378, to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect judges, prosecutors, witnesses, victims, and their family members, S. 442, to provide for loan repayment for prosecutors and public defenders, S. Res. 41, honoring and the life and recognizing the accomplishments of Tom Mooney, president of the Ohio Federation of Teachers, S. Res. 47, honoring the life and achievements of George C. Springer, Sr., the Northeast regional [[Page D193]] director and a former vice president of the American Federation of Teachers, S. Res. 49, recognizing and celebrating the 50th anniversary of the entry of Alaska into the Union as the 49th State, S. Res. 53, congratulating Illinois State University as it marks its sesquicentennial, and S. Res. 69, recognizing the African-American spiritual as a national treasure, 10 a.m., S-216, Capitol. Select Committee on Intelligence: to hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. Special Committee on Aging: to hold hearings to examine those Americans born between 1946 and 1964 (baby boomers), focusing on the federal budget and senior citizens, 10 a.m., SD-562. House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, on Secretary of Agriculture, 10 a.m., 2362A Rayburn. Subcommittee on Defense, on Defense Fiscal Year 2007 Supplemental Request, 10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn, and on Fiscal Year 2007 Supplemental Requests for Iraq and Afghan Security Forces Fund, 1:30 p.m., H-140 Capitol. Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Coast Guard Iraq Operations, Port Security and Deepwater, 10 a.m., 2362B Rayburn. Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, (Panel) Overview on America's Workers and Education for the 21st Century, 9:30 a.m., 2212 Rayburn, and (Panel II) Overview on Health Care Access and the Aging of America, 2 p.m., 2359 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies, on Long-Term Health Care Challenges, 10 a.m., 2358 Rayburn, and on Secretary of Veterans' Affairs, 1 p.m., 2358 Rayburn. Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Military Personnel, hearing on overview of recruiting and retention, 2 p.m., 2212 Rayburn. Committee on the Budget, hearing on the U.S. Department of Agriculture Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Priorities, 2 p.m., 210 Cannon. Committee on Financial Services, hearing on Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Foreign Affairs, to mark up the following: H. Res. 98, Honoring the life and achievements of the late Dr. John Garang de Mabior and reaffirming the continued commitment of the House of Representatives to a just and lasting peace in the Republic of Sudan; H.R. 957, To amend the Iran Sanctions Act to expand and clarify the entities against which sanctions may be imposed; H.R. 987, NATO Freedom Consolidation Act of 2007; H.R. 1003, To amend the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 to reauthorize the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy; H. Res. 107, Calling for the immediate and unconditional release of Israeli soldiers held captive by Hamas and Hezbollah; H. Res. 149, Supporting the goals of International Women's Day; and H. Res. 64, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Government of Bangladesh should immediately drop all pending charges against Bangladeshi journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, 9:45 a.m; followed by a hearing on Afghanistan on the Brink: Where Do We Go From Here? 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, hearing on Protecting the Human Rights of Comfort Women, 1:30 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, Committee, hearing entitled ``Lessons Learned and Grading Goals: The Department of Homeland Security of 2007,'' 9 a.m., 311 Cannon. Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, oversight hearing on American Innovation at Risk: The Case for Patent Reform, 2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, hearing entitled ``Making Communities Safer: Youth Violence and Gang Interventions that Work,'' 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, hearing entitled ``Iraq Reconstruction: An Overview,'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives, hearing entitled ``The State FOIA: Assessing Agency Efforts to Meet FOIA Requirements,'' 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, hearing on The National Institute of Standards and Technology's Role in Supporting Economic Competitiveness in the 21st Century, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, hearing entitled ``The Development of Short Sea Shipping in the United States,'' 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, hearing on Filipino Veterans, 10 a.m., 334 Cannon. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, VA Inspector General--Budget and Best Practices, 3 p.m., 334 Cannon. Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Trade, hearing on the U.S.-China trade relationship, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, executive, briefing on Hot-Spots, 11:30 a.m.; and, executive, hearing on Iran's Involvement in Iraq, 2:30 p.m., H-405 Capitol. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. The public proceedings of each House of Congress, as reported by the Official Reporters thereof, are printed pursuant to directions of the Joint Committee on Printing as authorized by appropriate provisions of Title 44, United States Code, and published for each day that one or both Houses are in session, excepting very infrequent instances when two or more unusually small consecutive issues are printed one time. Public access to the Congressional Record is available online through GPO Access, a service of the Government Printing Office, free of charge to the user. The online database is updated each day the Congressional Record is published. The database includes both text and graphics from the beginning of the 103d Congress, 2d session (January 1994) forward. It is available through GPO Access at www.gpo.gov/gpoaccess. Customers can also access this information with WAIS client software, via telnet at swais.access.gpo.gov, or dial-in using communications software and a modem at 202ÿ09512ÿ091661. Questions or comments regarding this database or GPO Access can be directed to the GPO Access User Support Team at: E-Mail: gpoaccess@gpo.gov; Phone 1ÿ09888ÿ09293ÿ096498 (toll-free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091530 (D.C. area); Fax: 202ÿ09512ÿ091262. The Team's hours of availability are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, except Federal holidays. The Congressional Record paper and 24x microfiche edition will be furnished by mail to subscribers, free of postage, at the following prices: paper edition, $252.00 for six months, $503.00 per year, or purchased as follows: less than 200 pages, $10.50; between 200 and 400 pages, $21.00; greater than 400 pages, $31.50, payable in advance; microfiche edition, $146.00 per year, or purchased for $3.00 per issue payable in advance. The semimonthly Congressional Record Index may be purchased for the same per issue prices. To place an order for any of these products, visit the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at: bookstore.gpo.gov. Mail orders to: Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250ÿ097954, or phone orders to 866ÿ09512ÿ091800 (toll free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091800 (D.C. area), or fax to 202ÿ09512ÿ092250. Remit check or money order, made payable to the Superintendent of Documents, or use VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or GPO Deposit Account. Following each session of Congress, the daily Congressional Record is revised, printed, permanently bound and sold by the Superintendent of Documents in individual parts or by sets. With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D194]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 10 a.m., Thursday, February 15 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 10:20 a.m.), Senate will begin consideration of the nominations of Norman Randy Smith, of Idaho, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, and Marcia Morales Howard, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, and at approximately 10:30 a.m. vote on confirmation of the nominations, respectively; following which, Senate will resume morning business. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Thursday, February 15 House Chamber Program for Thursday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Lantos, Tom, Calif., E348 McMorris Rodgers, Cathy, Wash., E347 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E347 Paul, Ron, Tex., E347, E348 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E347, E348