Thursday, February 3, 2005 [[Page D56]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate confirmed the nomination of Alberto R. Gonzales, of Texas, to be Attorney General. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S909-S994 Measures Introduced: Twenty-five bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 272-296, and S. Res. 36-37. Pages S978-79 Measures Reported: S. Res. 36, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on the Judiciary. S. 5, to amend the procedures that apply to consideration of interstate class actions to assure fairer outcomes for class members and defendants. Page S978 Class Action Fairness Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 3 p.m. on Monday, February 7, 2005, Senate begin consideration of S. 5, to amend the procedures that apply to consideration of interstate class actions to assure fairer outcomes for class members and defendants, and be limited to debate only; further, that during the consideration of the bill, amendments be limited to those which are related to the subject matter of the bill. Page S994 Appointments: Policy Committee to the White House Conference on Aging: The Chair, on behalf of the Democratic Leader, after consultation with the members of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Committee on Aging, pursuant to Public Law 100-175, as amended by Public Laws 102-375, 103-171, and 106-501, appointed the following individual as a member of the Policy Committee to the White House Conference on Aging: Thomas E. Gallagher of Nevada, vice Senator Reid. Page S994 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination: By 60 yeas 36 nays (Vote No. Ex. 3), Alberto R. Gonzales, of Texas, to be Attorney General. Page S960 Executive Communications: Pages S975-78 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S979-80 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S980-92 Additional Statements: Pages S974-75 Authority for Committees to Meet: Pages S992-93 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--3) Page S960 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9 a.m., and adjourned at 6:07 p.m., until 2 p.m., on Monday, February 7, 2005. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of Majority Leader in today's Record on page S994.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) BSE Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the effects of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) on United States imports and exports of cattle and beef, focusing on the minimal-risk rule, the role of science in determining risk, and opening the Japanese market, after receiving testimony from Michael Johanns, Secretary, Keith Collins, Chief Economist, and Ron DeHaven, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, all of the Department of Agriculture. FBI TRILOGY PROJECT Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, the Judiciary, and Related [[Page D57]] Agencies held a hearing to examine the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Trilogy Information Technology Modernization Program, designed to upgrade the FBI's IT infrastructure and replace its case management system with the Virtual Case File (VCF), receiving testimony from Robert S. Mueller III, Director, and Zalmai Azmi, Chief Information Officer, both of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice. Hearing recessed subject to the call. IRAQ SECURITY FORCES Committee on Armed Services: On Wednesday, February 2, Committee received a closed briefing regarding training of Iraqi security forces from Lieutenant General Walter L. Sharp, USA, Director for Strategic Plans and Policy, J-5, The Joint Staff; Peter W. Rodman, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs; and Robert B. Charles, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs. MILITARY OPERATIONS Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine United States military operations and stabilization activities in Iraq and Afghanistan, after receiving testimony from Paul D. Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of Defense; General Richard B. Myers, USAF, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Ronald L. Schlicher, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, Coordinator for Iraq, and Maureen Quinn, former Ambassador, Coordinator on Afghanistan. U.S. ENERGY OUTLOOK Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine global energy trends and their potential impact on U.S. energy needs, security and policy, focusing on the 2005 annual energy outlook, perspectives on emerging world energy trends, including key factors affecting energy supply (such as OPEC and Russia) and energy demand (such as Asia), after receiving testimony from Guy F. Caruso, Administrator, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy; Jeffrey Logan, International Energy Agency, Paris, France; and Andrew J. Slaughter, Shell Oil Company, and Frank A. Verrastro, Center for Strategic and International Studies, both of Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: An original resolution (S. Res. 36) authorizing expenditures by the Committee; and S. 5, to amend the procedures that apply to consideration of interstate class actions to assure fairer outcomes for class members and defendants. SURVIVORS BENEFITS Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine benefits for survivors of those killed in the line of duty, after receiving testimony from Daniel L. Cooper, Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Benefits; Mark L. Ward, Senior Policy Advisor, Casualty, Mortuary and Funeral Affairs Honors, and Thomas R. Tower, Assistant Director of Compensation, both of the Office of the Deputy Under Secretary of Defense; Frederick G. Streckewald, Assistant Deputy Commissioner of Social Security for Program Policy; Bonnie Carroll, Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, Washington, D.C.; Edith G. Smith, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., Arlington, Virginia; Kathleen B. Moakler, National Military Family Association, Alexandria, Virginia; Tiffany Petty, Inkom, Idaho; and Jennifer McCollum, Orange Park, Florida. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community. SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine current and future social security issues, focusing on possible changes to the Social Security system and implications for the program and the federal budget relating to the economy, after receiving testimony from Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, Congressional Budget Office; David M. Walker, Comptroller General, Government Accountability Office; David C. John, The Heritage Foundation Thomas A. Roe Institute for Economic Policy Studies, and John Rother, American Association of Retired Persons, both of Washington, D.C.; and Robert L. Bixby, The Concord Coalition, Arlington, Virginia. [[Page D58]] House of Representatives Chamber Action The House was not in session today. The House will meet at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, February 8. Committee Meetings No committee meetings were held. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2005 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House No committee meetings are scheduled. CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD Week of February 7 through February 12, 2005 Senate Chamber On Monday, at 3 p.m., Senate will begin consideration of S. 5, Class Action Fairness Act, for debate only. Also, Senate may consider a resolution relating to the recent elections in Iraq, with a vote to occur at approximately 5:30 p.m. During the balance of the week Senate will consider any other cleared legislative and executive business. Senate Committees (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Committee on Armed Services: February 10, to hold hearings to examine the proposed Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2006 and the Future Years Defense Program, 9:30 a.m., SH-216. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: February 8, to hold hearings to examine the role of credit rating agencies in capital markets, 10 a.m., SD-538. February 10, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the role of government-sponsored enterprises in the mortgage market, 10 a.m., SD-538. Committee on the Budget: February 8, to hold hearings to examine the Federal budget for the 21st century, 10 a.m., SD-608. February 9, Full Committee, to continue hearings to examine the President's proposed budget for fiscal year 2006, 10 a.m., SD-608. February 10, Full Committee, to continue hearings to examine the President's proposed budget for fiscal year 2006, 10 a.m., SD-608. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: February 8, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests, to hold hearings to examine the implementation of Titles I through III of P.L. 106-393, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, 10 a.m., SD-366. February 9, Full Committee, business meeting to consider pending calendar business, 11:30 a.m., SD-366. Committee on Environment and Public Works: February 9, to hold hearings to examine the President's proposed budget for fiscal year 2006 for the Environmental Protection Agency, 2:30 p.m., SD-406. Committee on Finance: February 8, to hold hearings to examine revenue proposals in the President's proposed budget for fiscal year 2006, 2:15 p.m., SD-215. Committee on Foreign Relations: February 9, to hold closed hearings to examine an update on six-party talks, 11 a.m., S-407, Capitol. February 10, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine lessons learned regarding the tsunami response, 9:30 a.m., SD-419. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: February 9, business meeting to consider S. 172, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the regulation of all contact lenses as medical devices, proposed Reauthorization of the Trauma Care Systems Planning and Development Act, proposed Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act, proposed Foundation for the National Institutes of Health Improvement Act, proposed Children's Hospitals Education Equity and Research Act, proposed legislation relating to High Risk Pool, and certain pending nominations, 10 a.m., SD-430. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: February 7, business meeting to consider the nominations of Michael Chertoff, of New Jersey, to be Secretary of Homeland Security, and Allen Weinstein, of Maryland, to be Archivist of the United States, 6 p.m., S-207, Capitol. Committee on the Judiciary: February 10, to hold hearings to examine bankruptcy reform, 9:30 a.m., SD-226. House Chamber Program to be announced. House Committees Committee on Armed Services, February 9, hearing on the Fiscal Year 2006 National Defense Authorization budget request, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn. Committee on the Budget, February 8, hearing on the President's Budget for Fiscal Year 2006, 10:30 a.m., 210 Cannon. February 9, hearing on Social Security: The Long-Term Budget Implications, 10 a.m., 210 Cannon. Committee on Education and the Workforce, February 9, Subcommittee on 21st Century Competitiveness, to mark up H.R. 27, Job Training Improvement Act of 2005, 10:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. [[Page D59]] Committee on Energy and Commerce, February 9, hearing entitled ``Department of Energy's Fiscal Year 2006 Budget Proposal and the Energy Policy Act of 2005: Ensuring Jobs for Our Future with Secure and Reliable Energy,'' 2 p.m., 2123 Rayburn. February 9, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, hearing entitled ``How Internet Protocol-Enabled Services are Changing the Face of Communications: A View from Technology Companies,'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. February 10, Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, hearing entitled ``The Energy Policy Act of 2005: Ensuring Jobs for Our Future with Secure and Reliable Energy,'' 9:30 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, February 9, Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises, hearing entitled ``Accounting Irregularities at Fannie Mae and the Impact on Investors,'' 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Government Reform, February 9, to meet for organizational purposes, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn; and to hold a hearing entitled ``Financial Report of the United States Government for Fiscal Year 2004,'' 2 p.m., 2247 Rayburn. February 10, hearing entitled ``The Perplexing Shift from Shortage to Surplus: Managing This Season's Flu Shot Supply and Preparing for the Future,'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn; and a hearing entitled ``Fiscal Year 2006 Drug Budget,'' 2 p.m., 2247 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, February 9, hearing entitled ``The Proposed Fiscal Year 2006 Budget: Towards Management Excellence at the Department of Homeland Security,'' 1 p.m., 2212 Rayburn. Committee on House Administration, February 9, to meet for organizational purposes and to consider an Oversight Plan for the 109th Congress, 9:30 a.m., and to hold a hearing on Implementation of the Help America Vote Act, 10 a.m., 1310 Longworth. Committee on International Relations, February 9, to meet for organizational purposes, 10:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. February 10, briefing on The Way Forward in the Middle East Peace Process, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. February 10, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, briefing on The Volcker Interim Report on the United Nations Oil- for-Food Program, time and room to be determined. Committee on the Judiciary, February 10, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, oversight hearing on the ``Implications of the Booker/Fanfan Decisions for the Federal Sentencing Guidelines, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Resources, February 10, hearing on H.R. 512, to require the prompt review by the Secretary of the Interior of the longstanding petitions for Federal recognition of certain Indian tribes, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. February 10, Subcommittee on Water and Power, oversight hearing entitled ``Opportunities and Challenges on Enhancing Federal Power Generation and Transmission,'' 1 p.m., 1334 Longworth. Committee on Science, February 9, hearing on Improving the Nation's Energy Security: Can Cars and Trucks Be Made More Fuel Efficient? 2:30 p.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, February 10, to meet for organizational purposes, and to consider an Oversight Plan for the 109th Congress; followed by a hearing to analyze the impact of the President's Fiscal Year 2006 budget request on small business, 9:30 a.m., 311 Cannon. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, February 9, Subcommittee on Aviation, oversight hearing on Commercial Space Transportation: Beyond the X Prize, 2 p.m., 2167 Rayburn. February 10, Subcommittee on Highways, Transit, and Pipelines, to meet for organizational purposes, 11 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Ways and Means, February 8 and 9, hearings on the President's Budget proposals for Fiscal Year 2006, 10 a.m., on February 8 and 2 p.m., on February 9, 1100 Longworth. February 9, Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures, to meet for organizational purposes, 10 a.m., 1129 Longworth. February 10, Subcommittee on Health, hearing on Medicare payments to physicians, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth. February 10, Subcommittee on Human Resources, hearing on welfare reform reauthorization proposals, 1 p.m., B-318 Rayburn. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, February 9, executive, hearing on Global Updates, 9 a.m., H-405 Capitol. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). 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 at 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 (202) 512ÿ091661.  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. ÿ1AThe Congressional Record paper and 24x  microfiche edition will be furnished by mail to subscribers, free of postage,  at the following prices: paper edition, $217.00 for six months,  $434.00 per year, or purchased for $6.00 per issue, payable in  advance; microfiche edition, $141.00 per year, or purchased for $1.50  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 (866) 512ÿ091800 toll free, (202) 512ÿ091800 (D.C. Area), or  fax to (202) 512ÿ092250. Remit check or money order, made payable to  the Superintendent of Documents, or use VISA, MasterCard, Discover,  American Express, or GPO Deposit Account. ÿ1AFollowing 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. ÿ1AWith 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. ``Periodicals'' postage is paid at Washington, D.C. [[Page D60]] Next Meeting of the SENATE 2 p.m., Monday, February 7 Senate Chamber Program for Monday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 3 p.m.), Senate will begin consideration of S. 5, Class Action Fairness Act, for debate only. Also, Senate may consider a resolution relating to the recent elections in Iraq, with a vote to occur at approximately 5:30 p.m. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2 p.m., Tuesday, February 8 House Chamber Program for Tuesday: To be announced.