Wednesday, July 20, 2005 [[Page D783]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate passed H.R. 3057, Foreign Operations Appropriations. The House passed H.R. 2601, Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006 and 2007. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S8503-S8588 Measures Introduced: Thirteen bills were introduced, as follows: S. 1427-1439. Pages S8558-59 Measures Passed: Foreign Operations Appropriations: By 98 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 197), Senate passed H.R. 3057, making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S8510-36 Adopted: McConnell (for Lugar/Leahy) Amendment No. 1293, to promote reform of the multilateral development banks. Pages S8510-13 By a unanimous vote of 98 yeas (Vote No. 195), Landrieu Modified Amendment No. 1245, to express the sense of the Senate regarding the use of funds for orphans, and displaced and abandoned children. Pages S8510, S8513-16, S8517-22, S8529 By 86 yeas to 12 nays (Vote No. 196), Chambliss Amendment No. 1271, to prevent funds from being made available to provide assistance to a country which has refused to extradite certain individuals to the United States. Pages S8510, S8529-30 Schumer Amendment No. 1304, to require a report to Congress on mergers or acquisitions between certain United States and foreign companies. Pages S8522-26, S8530 McConnell (for Feingold/Collins) Modified Amendment No. 1255, to extend the termination date of Office of the Special Inspector General of Iraq Reconstruction, and to provide as an emergency requirement additional funds for the Office. Pages S8530-31 Dodd Amendment No. 1305, to require the Secretary of State to report to Congress on a plan for holding elections in Haiti in 2005 and 2006. Pages S8526-29, S8531 Biden/Lugar Amendment No. 1301, to provide support to the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty Preparatory Commission and to provide an offset. Pages S8529, S8531 McConnell (for Biden) Modified Amendment No. 1252, to require a report on assistance for United States citizens who are victims of crime in foreign countries. Pages S8531-32 McConnell (for Byrd) Amendment No. 1306, to modify the responsibilities and authorities applicable to the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Pages S8532-33 McConnell (for Leahy) Amendment No. 1307, to require that funds made available for the United Nations Population Fund be used for certain purposes. Page S8533 McConnell (for Frist) Amendment No. 1308, to provide that funds appropriated for nonproliferation, anti-terrorism, demining and related programs and made available for the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty International Monitoring System may be made available to the Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security for use in certain nonproliferation efforts and counterproliferation efforts. Pages S8533-35 By unanimous-consent, notwithstanding passage of the bill, Salazar Modified Amendment No. 1263, to increase the accountability and effectiveness of international police training. Pages S8535-36 Senate insisted on its amendments, requested a conference with the House thereon, and the Chair was authorized to appoint the following conferees on the part of the Senate: Senators McConnell, Specter, Gregg, Shelby, Bennett, Bond, DeWine, Brownback, [[Page D784]] Cochran, Leahy, Inouye, Harkin, Mikulski, Durbin, Johnson, Landrieu, and Byrd. Page S8536 Department of Defense Authorization: Senate began consideration of S. 1042, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S8536-45 Adopted: Warner/Levin Amendment No. 1315, to authorize the National Defense University to award the degree of Master of Science in Joint Campaign Planning and Strategy. Pages S8542-43 Warner/Levin Amendment No. 1318, to authorize a pilot program on expanded public-private partnerships for research and development. Page S8543 Warner/Levin Amendment No. 1319, to modify the requirements for reports on program to award prizes for advanced technology achievements. Pages S8543-44 Warner Amendment No. 1320, to make a technical correction relating to the Science, Mathematics, and Research for Transformation (SMART) Defense Education Program. Page S8544 Warner (for McConnell) Amendment No. 1324, to authorize the construction of chemical demilitarization facilities. Pages S8544-45 Warner Amendment No. 1321, to establish certain qualifications for individuals who serve as Regional Directors of the TRICARE program. Page S8544 Warner/Levin Amendment No. 1322, to make technical corrections to certain authorizations of appropriations. Page S8544 Levin/Collins Amendment No. 1325, to require a strategic human capital plan for civilian employees of the Department of Defense. Page S8545 Warner (for Graham) Amendment No. 1323, to clarify the amendment relating to the grade of the Judge Advocate General of the Army. Page S8544 Pending: Warner Amendment No. 1314, to increase amounts available for the procurement of wheeled vehicles for the Army and the Marine Corps and for armor for such vehicles. Pages S8540-42 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill on Thursday, July 21, 2005, following the cloture vote on the nomination of Thomas C. Dorr (listed below). Page S8587 Dorr Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the nomination of Thomas C. Dorr, of Iowa, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development, at 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, July 21, 2005, with 1 hour for debate, followed by a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination. Page S8587 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: William Robert Timken, Jr., of Ohio, to be Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany. 4 Air Force nominations in the rank of general. 5 Army nominations in the rank of general. Page S8588 Messages From the House: Page S8549 Measures Referred: Page S8549 Executive Communications: Pages S8549-50 Petitions and Memorials: Pages S8550-58 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S8558 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S8559-60 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S8560-73 Additional Statements: Pages S8548-49 Amendments Submitted: Pages S8573-82 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S8582 Authority for Committees to Meet: Pages S8582-83 Privilege of the Floor: Pages S8583-84 Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--197) Pages S8529 S8530 S8535 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 7:15 p.m. until 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, July 21, 2005. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S8587.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) FOOD AND AGRICULTURE SECURITY Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded a hearing to examine biosecurity preparedness and efforts to address agroterrorism threats, after receiving testimony from Charles F. Conner, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; Maureen I. McCarthy, Director, Office of Research and Development, Science and Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; John E. Lewis, Deputy Assistant Director, Counterterrorism Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice; Robert E. Brackett, Director, Center for Food Safety [[Page D785]] and Applied Nutrition, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; John L. Sherwood, University of Georgia Department of Plant Pathology, Athens; James A. Roth, Iowa State University Center for Food Security and Public Health, Ames; James Lane, Ford County Undersheriff, Dodge City, Kansas; and Mark J. Cheviron, Archer Daniels Midland Company, Decatur, Illinois. HEALTH INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Federal role and budget implications relating to health information technology, which integrates the disciplines of medicine, computer technology, and business management, focusing on preventing medical errors, providing clinicians with better clinical decision-making tools, the treatment of patients, tracking health outcomes, and coordinating public health activities, after receiving testimony from Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services. CLIMATE CHANGE POLICY Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Global Climate Change and Impacts concluded a hearing to examine the climate policy of the United States, focusing on the climate-related science and technology budget request for fiscal year 2006, after receiving testimony from James R. Mahoney, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; Daniel Reifsnyder, Director, Office of Global Climate Change, Department of State; David W. Conover, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy and International Affairs, Department of Energy; and Ralph J. Cicerone, President, National Academy of Sciences. LANDS BILLS Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests concluded a hearing to examine S. 703, to provide for the conveyance of certain Bureau of Land Management land in the State of Nevada to the Las Vegas Motor Speedway, S. 997, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge Forest, Montana, to Jefferson County, Montana, for use as a cemetery, S. 1131, to authorize the exchange of certain Federal land within the State of Idaho, S. 1170, to establish the Fort Stanton-Snowy River National Cave Conservation Area, S. 1238, to amend the Public Lands Corps Act of 1993 to provide for the conduct of projects that protect forests, and H.R. 1101, to revoke a Public Land Order with respect to certain lands erroneously included in the Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, California, after receiving testimony from Senator Ensign; Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Lawrence E. Benna, Deputy Director, Operations, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; Idaho State Controller Keith L. Johnson, Boise; and Penelope J. Boston, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: H.R. 1428, to authorize appropriations for the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation; S. 1250, to reauthorize the Great Ape Conservation Act of 2000, with an amendment; S. 1409, to amend the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996 to modify the grant program to improve sanitation in rural and Native villages in the State of Alaska, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 1265, to make grants and loans available to States and other organizations to strengthen the economy, public health, and environment of the United States by reducing emissions from diesel engines, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 1400, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act and the Safe Drinking Water Act to improve water and wastewater infrastructure in the United States, with amendments; S. 1339, to reauthorize the Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program Act of 1994; S. 1340, to amend the Pittman-Robertson Wildlife Restoration Act to extend the date after which surplus funds in the wildlife restoration fund become available for apportionment; S. 158, to establish the Long Island Sound Stewardship Initiative; S. 1410, to reauthorize the Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act; S. 1415, to amend the Lacey Act Amendments of 1981 to protect captive wildlife and make technical corrections; The nominations of Marcus C. Peacock, of Minnesota, to be Deputy Administrator, Granta Y. Nakayama, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator, and Susan P. Bodine, of Maryland, to be Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste, all of the Environmental Protection Agency. NOMINATIONS Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Robert M. Kimmitt, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of the Treasury, Randal Quarles, of Utah, to be Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance, Sandra L. Pack, [[Page D786]] of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Management, and Kevin I. Fromer, of Virginia, to be Deputy Under Secretary of the Treasury for Legislative Affairs, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. NOMINATIONS Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Charles E. Johnson, of Utah, and Suzanne C. DeFrancis, of Maryland, both to be an Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, and Alex Azar II, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services. IRAQ ECONOMIC PROGRESS Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine economic progress in Iraq, focusing on oil production and distribution infrastructure and combating corruption in the Iraqi oil industry, after receiving testimony from Keith Crane, RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia; and Fareed Mohamedi, PFC Energy, and Frederick D. Barton, Center for Strategic and International Studies, both of Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: S. 1420, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to medical device user fees, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and S. 1418, to enhance the adoption of a nationwide interoperable health information technology system and to improve the quality and reduce the costs of health care in the United States, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and The nomination of Kathie L. Olsen, of Oregon, to be Deputy Director of the National Science Foundation. REPORTERS' PRIVILEGE LEGISLATION Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine issues and implications relating to proposed reporters' shield legislation, focusing on freedom of the press, the use of confidential sources by journalists, and state laws that recognize the rights of reporters to those sources, after receiving testimony from Senators Lugar and Dodd; Representative Pence; Matthew Cooper, Time Magazine, Inc., and Lee Levine, Levine, Sullivan, Koch, and Schulz, LLP, both of Washington, D.C.; Norman Pearlstine, Time Inc., William Safire, New York Times Company, and Floyd Abrams, Cahill Gordon and Reindel, LLP, all of New York, New York; and Geoffrey R. Stone, University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, Illinois. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community. MEDICAID Special Committee on Aging: Committee held a hearing to examine solutions to save money in Medicaid, focusing on the government's system for purchasing prescription drugs under the Medicaid program, features of the process by which Medicaid purchases prescription drugs in the fee-for-service sector of the program, including the way it reimburses pharmacies for drug purchases and the rebate it receives from drug manufacturers, and how prices that Medicaid pays for drugs compare with the prices paid by other purchasers, receiving testimony from Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, Congressional Budget Office; Julie Stone-Axelrad, Analyst in Social Legislation, Domestic Social Policy Division, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; Vincent J. Russo, Vincent J. Russo and Associates, PC, Westbury, New York, on behalf of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys; Mark Gibson, Oregon Health and Science University Center for Evidence-based Policy, Portland; and Margaret A. Murray, Association for Community Affiliated Plans, Washington, D.C. Hearings recessed subject to the call. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 13 public bills, H.R. 3358- 3370; 1 private bill, H.R. 3371; and 5 resolutions, H.J. Res. 61; H. Con. Res. 211; and H. Res. 371-373 were introduced. Pages H6204-05 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H6205-06 [[Page D787]] Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 3200, to amend title 38, United States Code, to enhance the Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance program (H. Rept. 109-177); H. Res. 369, providing for consideration of H.R. 3199, to extend and modify authorities needed to combat terrorism (H. Rept. 109-178); and H. Res. 370, providing for consideration of H.R. 3070, to reauthorize the human space flight, aeronautics, and science programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (H. Rept. 109-179). Page H6204 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Foley to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H6109 Chaplain: The prayer was offered today by Dr. Kenneth L. Samuel, Pastor, Victory Baptist Church in Stone Mountain, Georgia. Page H6109 Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures: Permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to honor Constantino Brumidi: H. Con. Res. 202, permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to honor Constantino Brumidi on the 200th anniversary of his birth; and Pages H6115-17 Calling for free and fair parliamentary elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan: Debated on July 18: H. Res. 326, calling for free and fair parliamentary elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan, by a 2/3 yea and nay vote of 416 yeas to 1 nay, Roll No. 400. Page H6173 Foreign Relations Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 2006 and 2007: The House passed H.R. 2601, to authorize appropriations for the Department of State for fiscal years 2006 and 2007, by a recorded vote of 351 ayes to 78 noes, Roll No. 399. The bill was also considered yesterday, July 19. Pages H6117-73 Rejected the Menendez motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on International Relations with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 203 ayes to 227 noes, Roll No. 398. Pages H6170-72 Pursuant to the rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on International Relations, now printed in the bill and modified by the amendment printed in part A of H. Rept. 109-175, was considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment. Agreed to: Issa amendment (No. 20 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that adds provisions regarding the issuance of U.S. passports and the investigation of the illegal sale of passports; Pages H6118-19 Smith of New Jersey amendment (No. 21A made in order under section two of the rule) that requires the Secretary of State to submit a report on nongovernmental organizations that receive funding under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDs Relief; Pages H6119-22 Mack amendment (No. 25 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that authorizes the Broadcasting Board of Governors to initiate radio and television broadcasts to Venezuela for at least 30 minutes a day of balanced, objective, and comprehensive news programming; Pages H6126-27 Tancredo amendment (No. 27 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that expresses the sense of Congress regarding comments made by Chinese Major General Zhu Chenghu; Pages H6129-30 Watson amendment (No. 29 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that authorizes funding for the State Department to improve intellectual property law and enforcement in developing countries; Pages H6136-37 King of Iowa amendment (No. 22 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that inserts the text of H. Con. Res. 144, regarding Palestinian terrorists, into the bill (by a recorded vote of 423 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 390); Pages H6122-23, H6137 Lantos amendment (No. 24 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) regarding the development of a strategy to counter perception by foreign students that the U.S. is not a welcoming place for them (by a recorded vote of 373 ayes to 56 noes, Roll No. 392); Pages H6124-26, H6138-39 Watson amendment (No. 28 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that states that it be U.S. policy to seek the expeditious transfer of Charles Ghankay Taylor, former President of Liberia, to the Special Court for Sierra Leone to undergo trial (by a recorded vote of 422 ayes to 2 noes, Roll No. 394); Pages H6130-36, H6139-40 Eshoo amendment (No. 32 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that expresses the sense of Congress that special attention should be paid to the welfare of ChaldoAssyrians and other indigenous Christians in Iraq; Pages H6142-44 Fossella amendment (No. 33 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that authorizes the U.S. Interests Sections in Havana to disseminate the names of fugitives living in Cuba and any rewards for their capture; Pages H6144-45 Lantos amendment (No. 36 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that urges the President and Secretary of State to boost efforts that would aid Mexican authorities in the effort to identify remains of murdered young women in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; Pages H6146-47 [[Page D788]] Berkley amendment (No. 30 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that contains a declaration of policy regarding the Palestinian government, and efforts to combat terrorism (by a recorded vote of 330 ayes to 100 noes, Roll No. 395); Pages H6140-42, H6165-66 Rohrabacher amendment (No. 37A made in order under section two of the rule) that expresses the sense of Congress regarding the capture, detention, and interrogation of international terrorists and the detainees at Guantanamo Bay, as being essential to the successful prosecution of the Global War on Terrorism (by a recorded vote of 304 ayes to 124 noes and 2 voting ``present'', Roll No. 396); and Pages H6147-55, H6166 Ros-Lehtinen amendment (No. 38 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) regarding the creation of U.S. policy on the transfer of responsibility to Iraqi forces and the withdrawl of U.S. troops (by a recorded vote of 291 ayes to 137 noes and 2 voting ``present'', Roll No. 397). Pages H6155-65, H6166-67 Rejected: Kucinich amendment (No. 23 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that sought to require the President to direct the U.S. representatives to the U.N. to commence negotiations for an international treaty banning space- based weapons (by a recorded vote of 124 ayes to 302 noes, Roll No. 391); Pages H6123-24, H6137-38 Rogers of Michigan amendment (No. 26 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) regarding management of water in the Great Lakes (by a recorded vote of 156 ayes to 273 noes, Roll No. 393); and Pages H6127-29, H6139 Franks amendment (No. 34 printed in H. Rept. 109-175) that sought to strike section 1019 of the bill, regarding consular and visa services in Pristina, Kosova. Pages H6145-46 H. Res. 365, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to yesterday, July 19. Quorum Calls--Votes: One yea-and-nay vote and 10 recorded votes developed during the proceedings today and appear on pages H6137, H6137-38, H6138-39, H6139, H6139-40, H6165, H6166, H6166-67, H6171-72, H6172-73, H6173. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 10:59 p.m. Committee Meetings AIR FORCE'S FUTURE TOTAL FORCE PLAN Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Air Force's Future Total Force Plan. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: LTG H. Steven Blum, USA, Chief, National Guard Bureau; and the following officials of the U.S. Air Force: LTG Stephen G. Wood, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Programs; LTG Daniel James, III; LTG John A. Bradley, Chief, Air Force Reserve; MG Roger P. Lemke, The Adjutant General of Nebraska; and MG Mason C. Whitney, The Adjutant General of Colorado. DD(X) SURFACE COMBATANT SHIP Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Projection Forces concluded hearings on Department of the Navy FY06 Plans and Programs for the DD(X) Next-Generation Multi-Mission Surface Combatant Ship. Testimony was heard from Paul L. Francis, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, GAO; Ronald O'Rourke, Specialist in National Defense, CRS, Library of Congress; the following officials of the National Security Division, CBO: J. Michael Gilmore, Assistant Director; and Eric J. Labs, Principal Analyst; and public witnesses. PERFORMANCE-BASED BUDGETING Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Performance-Based Budgeting. Testimony was heard from Representatives Cuellar and Conaway; and Clay S. Johnson, III, Deputy Director, Management, OMB. COLLEGE ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITY ACT Committee on Education and the Workforce: Began mark up of H.R. 609, College Access and Opportunity Act. Will continue tomorrow. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported, as amended, the following measures: H.R. 3204, State High Risk Pool Funding Extension Act of 2005; H.R. 3205, Patient Safety and Quality Improvement Act; H.R. 1132, National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act of 2005; H. Res. 220, Recognizing America's Blood Centers and its member organizations for their commitment to providing over half the Nation with a safe and adequate volunteer donor blood supply; H. Res. 261, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should be commended for implementing the Medicare demonstration project to assess the quality of care of cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, and should extend the project, at least through 2006, subject to any appropriate modifications; and H.R. 2355, Health Care Choice Act of 2005. ELECTRONIC WASTE Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials held a hearing [[Page D789]] entitled ``Electronic Waste: An Examination of Current Activity, Implications for Environmental Stewardship, and the Proper Federal Role.'' Testimony was heard from Benjamin Wu, Deputy Under Secretary, Office of Technology, Department of Commerce; Barry Breen, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA; Kendl P. Philbrick, Secretary, Department of the Environment, State of Maryland; Dawn R. Gallagher, Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection, State of Maine; and a public witness. MONETARY POLICY AND THE STATE OF THE ECONOMY Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing on Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy. Testimony was heard from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System. IMPROPER PAYMENTS INFORMATION ACT IMPLEMENTATION Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance, and Accountability held a hearing entitled ``Implementing the Improper Payments Information Act Are We Making Progress?'' Testimony was heard from Linda Combs, Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, OMB; and McCoy Williams, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, GAO. FEDERAL GOVERNMENT INFORMATION QUALITY Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Improving the Information Quality in the Federal Government.'' Testimony was heard from Kimberly T. Nelson, Assistant Administrator and Chief Information Officer, EPA; Tom Melius, Assistant Director, External Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; Jim Scanlon, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary, Science and Data Policy, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. HOMELAND SECURITY INFORMATION SHARING Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment held a hearing entitled ``A Progress Report on Information Sharing for Homeland Security.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Matthew Broderick, Director, Homeland Security Operations Center; and Joshua D. Filler, Director, Office of State and Local Government Coordination; John Cohen, Senior Homeland Security Policy Advisor, Executive Office of Public Safety, State of Massachusetts; and public witnesses. NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing one hour of general debate on H.R. 3070, to reauthorize the human space flight, aeronautics, and science programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, and for other purposes, equally divided and controlled by the Chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Science. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment. The rule waives all points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution. The rule provides that the amendments printed in the report may be considered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments printed in the report. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. USA PATRIOT AND TERRORISM PREVENTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing two hours of general debate on H.R. 3199, to extend and modify authorities needed to combat terrorism, and for other purposes, with one hour and 30 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary and 30 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that in lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of the Rules Committee report shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order [[Page D790]] against the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of the Rules Committee report. The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in part B of the Rules Committee report, which may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments printed in part B of the Rules Committee report. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony has heard from Chairman Sensenbrenner, Chairman Hoekstra and Representatives Flake, Shays, Berman, Nadler, Jackson-Lee, Waters, Harman, Hastings of Florida, Ruppersberger, Lowey, Sanders, Maloney and Baldwin. HYDROGEN ECONOMY FUTURE Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and the Subcommittee on Research held a joint hearing on Fueling the Future: On the Road to the Hydrogen Economy. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Energy: Douglas Faulkner, Acting Assistant Secretary, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and George Crabtree, Director, Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory; and public witnesses. FRAUD IN INCOME TAX RETURN PREPARATION Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing on Fraud in Income Tax Return Preparation. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the IRS, Department of the Treasury: Nancy J. Jardini, Chief, Criminal Investigation; and Nina Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate; and pubic witnesses. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2005 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: business meeting to mark up an original bill regarding the reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 10:30 a.m., SR-328A. Committee on Appropriations: business meeting to consider H.R. 3058, making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, and independent agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, H.R. 2863, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, H.R. 2528, making appropriations for military quality of life functions of the Department of Defense, military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and proposed legislation making appropriations for the government of the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in part against the revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, 2 p.m., SD-106. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: to hold hearings to examine the semiannual monetary policy report to the Congress, 10 a.m., SD-538. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: business meeting to consider S. 1392, to reauthorize the Federal Trade Commission, proposed MarAd, S. 360, to amend the Coastal Zone Management Act, S. 1390, to reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, S. 363, to amend the Nonindigenous Aquatic Nuisance Prevention and Control Act of 1990 to establish vessel ballast water management requirements, S. 1110, to amend the Federal Hazardous Substances Act to require engine coolant and antifreeze to contain a bittering agent in order to render the coolant or antifreeze unpalatable, and the nominations of Rebecca F. Dye, of North Carolina, to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner, Coast Guard officer, and Coast Guard officer of the United States Coast Guard to be a member of the Permanent Commissioned Teaching Staff of the Coast Guard Academy, 10 a.m., SR-253. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: business meeting to consider pending nominations; to be followed by a hearing to examine the current state of climate change scientific research and the economics of strategies to manage climate change, focusing on the relationship between energy consumption and climate change, new developments in climate change research and the potential effects on the U.S. economy of climate change and strategies to control greenhouse gas emissions, 10 a.m., SH-216. Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Long-term Growth and Debt Reduction, to hold hearings to examine the Federal Tax Code's depreciation system focusing on how to amend the current depreciation system to provide simplification and updated guidance for areas such as emerging industries and technologies, and the role that depreciation should play in providing fiscal stimulus or encouraging economic growth for particular industries of the U.S. economy at large, 2:30 p.m., SD-215. Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine United Nations reform, 10 a.m., SD-419. Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Alan W. Eastham, Jr., of Arkansas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi, Katherine Hubay Peterson, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana, and Michael Retzer, of Mississippi, to be Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania, 2:30 p.m., SD-419. [[Page D791]] Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Bioterrorism and Public Health Preparedness, to hold hearings to examine S. 975, to provide incentives to increase research by private sector entities to develop medical countermeasures to prevent, detect, identify, contain, and treat illnesses, including those associated with biological, chemical, nuclear, or radiological weapons attack or an infectious disease outbreak, 10 a.m., SD-430. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: business meeting to consider the nominations of Richard L. Skinner, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, and Edmund S. Hawley, of California, to be Assistant Secretary, both of the Department of Homeland Security, and Brian David Miller, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, General Services Administration, 10:45 a.m., S- 216, Capitol. Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security, to hold hearings to examine U.S. financial involvement relative to the United Nations' Capital Master Plan to renovate the U.N. headquarters in New York City, 2:30 p.m., SD-562. Committee on Indian Affairs: to hold hearings to examine S. 1003, to amend the Act of December 22, 1974, relating to Navajo-Hopi land settlement, 9:30 a.m., SR-485. Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider S. 1389, to reauthorize and improve the USA PATRIOT Act, S. 1088, to establish streamlined procedures for collateral review of mixed petitions, amendments, and defaulted claims, S. 751, to require Federal agencies, and persons engaged in interstate commerce, in possession of data containing personal information, to disclose any unauthorized acquisition of such information, S. 1326, to require agencies and persons in possession of computerized data containing sensitive personal information, to disclose security breaches where such breach poses a significant risk of identity theft, S. 155, to increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to investigation and prosecution of violent gangs, to deter and punish violent gang crime, to protect law-abiding citizens and communities from violent criminals, to revise and enhance criminal penalties for violent crimes, to reform and facilitate prosecution of juvenile gang members who commit violent crimes, to expand and improve gang prevention programs, S. 103, to respond to the illegal production, distribution, and use of methamphetamine in the United States, S. 1086, to improve the national program to register and monitor individuals who commit crimes against children or sex offenses, S. 956, to amend title 18, United States Code, to provide assured punishment for violent crimes against children, a bill entitled the Personal Data Privacy and Security Act and S. 1197, to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, 9:30 a.m., SD-226. Select Committee on Intelligence: to hold hearings to examine the nomination of John S. Redd, of Georgia, to be Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, 2:30 p.m., SH-216. House Committee on Agriculture, hearing to Review Agriculture's Role in a Renewable Fuels Standard, 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth. Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Homeland Security, hearing on U.S. Coast Guard Deepwater Program, 10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn. Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities and the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science and Technology of the Committee on Homeland Security, joint hearing on counter terrorism technology sharing, 2:30 p.m., 2118 Rayburn. Committee on Education and the Workforce, to continue markup of H.R. 609, College Access and Opportunity Act, 9:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``Credit Card Data Processing: How Secure Is It?'' 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Government Reform, hearing entitled ``Controlling Restricted Airspace: An Examination of the Management and Coordination of Our National Air Defense,'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing on Falun Gong and China's Continuing War on Human Rights, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, to mark up H.R. 3127, Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of 2005, 5 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans, hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1494, Electronic Duck Stamp Act of 2005; and H.R. 3179, Junior Duck Stamp Reauthorization Amendments Act of 2005, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Committee on Science,, hearing on U.S. Competitiveness: The Innovation Challenge, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Railroads, oversight hearing on Railroad Grade Crossing Safety Issues, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, oversight hearing on the amendment the Administration submitted to Congress for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Fiscal Year 2006 budget, requesting an additional $1.977 billion for higher-than-expected veterans' health care needs, 2 p.m., 334 Cannon. Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health, hearing on Value-Based Purchasing for Physicians under Medicare, 1 p.m., 1100 Longworth. Joint Meetings Conference: meeting of conferees on H.R. 6, to ensure jobs for our future with secure, affordable, and reliable energy, 1 p.m., 2123 RHOB. 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. 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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 D792]] Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Thursday, July 21 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Thomas C. Dorr, of Iowa, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Rural Development, with 1 hour for debate, followed by a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination to occur at approximately 10:30 a.m.; following which, Senate will continue consideration of S. 1042, Department of Defense Authorization. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Thursday, July 21 House Chamber Program for Thursday: Consideration of H.R. 3070, National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2005 (subject to a rule). Begin consideration of H.R. 3199, USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act of 2005 (subject to a rule). _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Abercrombie, Neil, Hawaii, E1533 Boehlert, Sherwood, N.Y., E1531 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E1531 Cardin, Benjamin L., Md., E1534 Cuellar, Henry, Tex., E1524 Dingell, John D., Mich., E1531 Doolittle, John T., Calif., E1532 Drake, Thelma D., Va., E1523 Etheridge, Bob, N.C., E1524 Evans, Lane, Ill., E1524 Gibbons, Jim, Nev., E1522 Hart, Melissa A., Pa., E1526, E1527, E1531 Holt, Rush D., N.J., E1537 Jefferson, William J., La., E1521 Kelly, Sue W., N.Y., E1523 Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E1524 Kingston, Jack, Ga., E1537 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E1534, E1536, E1537, E1537, E1538 McCrery, Jim, La., E1522 Marchant, Kenny, Tex., E1524 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E1525 Moran, James P., Va., E1533 Neal, Richard E., Mass., E1530 Ney, Robert W., Ohio, E1525, E1526, E1527, E1528, E1529, E1530, E1531, E1532, E1533, E1534 Radanovich, George, Calif., E1524 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E1526, E1528, E1534 Rothman, Steven R., N.J., E1527 Ryun, Jim, Kans., E1523 Skelton, Ike, Mo., E1521, E1525 Solis, Hilda L., Calif., E1522 Stark, Fortney Pete, Calif., E1526, E1528 Van Hollen, Chris, Md., E1526, E1527 Visclosky, Peter J., Ind., E1522 Weller, Jerry, Ill., E1533