Thursday, October 20, 2005 [[Page D1063]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate passed H.R. 3058, Transportation/Treasury/HUD/District of Columbia Appropriations. House Committees ordered reported 16 sundry measures. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S11061-S11700 Measures Introduced: Eight bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 1898-1905, and S. Res. 282-283. Pages S11664-65 Measures Reported: Report to accompany S. 1736, to provide for the participation of employees in the judicial branch in the Federal leave transfer Program for disasters and emergencies. (S. Rept. No. 109-158) S. 443, to improve the investigation of criminal antitrust offenses. S. 1086, to improve the national program to register and monitor individuals who commit crimes against children or sex offenses, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 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. Page S11664 Measures Passed: Transportation/Treasury/HUD/DC Appropriations: By 93 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 264), Senate passed 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, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S11603-53 Adopted: Stabenow Amendment No. 2149, to provide resources to the Administration so that the Administration can enforce existing trade agreements and obligations, related to trade violations involving currency manipulation, counterfeiting of manufactured products, and pirating of intellectual property. Page S11603 Coburn Amendment No. 2087, to limit the Department of Housing and Urban Development's funding for conferences. Pages S11607-08 Grassley/Dorgan Modified Amendment No. 2160, to require the division of the court to release the Henry Cisneros independent counsel investigation report and terminate the investigation by the independent counsel. Pages S11621-22, S11627-33 Bond (for Reed) Amendment No. 2162, to require a legal basis for the application of arbitrage bond regulations to reserve funds held by the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water State revolving funds. Page S11633 Bond/Murray Amendment No. 2174, to provide that the Administrator of General Services require all credible sustainable building rating systems that award credits for certified wood products in the rating system be included in the published building design criteria or specifications of any solicitation for offers issued by the General Services Administration for construction of a Federal building or courthouse. Page S11633 Bond (for Ensign) Modified Amendment No. 2146, to provide for free individual tax electronic preparation and filing services by the Internal Revenue Service. Page S11634 Bond (for Clinton/Schumer) Amendment No. 2105, to modify the designation relating to a certain project in the State of New York. Page S11634 Bond (for Clinton/Schumer) Amendment No. 2106, to modify the designation relating to a certain project in the State of New York. Page S11634 Bond (for Voinovich) Modified Amendment No. 2108, to modify certain projects relating to highways in the State of Ohio. Page S11634 [[Page D1064]] Bond (for Voinovich) Amendment No. 2120, to make technical corrections to the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users. Page S11634 Bond/Murray Amendment No. 2175, of a technical nature. Page S11634 Bond/Murray Amendment No. 2176, of a technical nature. Page S11634 Bond Amendment No. 2177, of a technical nature. Page S11635 Bond (for Reid) Amendment No. 2178, to provide for the conveyance of certain public land in Clark County, Nevada for use as a heliport. Page S11635 Bond (for Durbin/Obama) Amendment No. 2179, to require the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to report to Congress on certain properties located in Joliet, Illinois. Page S11635 Bond (for Murray) Amendment No. 2180, of a technical nature. Pages S11635-36 Bingaman Amendment No. 2065, to extend certain apportionments to primary airports. Pages S11616-17, S11638 Bond (for Levin) Amendment No. 2182, to prohibit the use of funds for Federal contracts with expatriated entities. Page S11640 Bond (for Santorum) Amendment No. 2080, to modify provisions relating to certain Federal contracts. Page S11640 Bond (for Schumer) Amendment No. 2122, to allow disabled and non- disabled tenants to keep their section 8 contracts on their properties post foreclosure. Page S11640 Bond (for DeWine) Modified Amendment No. 2083, to appropriate an additional $6,000,000 for the New Car Assessment Program with a corresponding offset in Department of Transportation salaries and expenses. Page S11640 Bond (for Frist) Amendment No. 2183, to fund Habitat for Humanity. Page S11640 Bond (for Murray) Amendment No. 2184, to make available funds to the Washington State Department of Transportation for track and grade crossing improvements under the Bridging the Valley project between Spokane County, Washington and Kootenai County, Idaho. Page S11640 Bond Amendment No. 2185, to eliminate GSA authority to retain proceeds from sale or other conveyance of real and personal property. Page S11640 Bond (for Nelson (FL)/Smith) Amendment No. 2186, to provide the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Treasury should place al-Manar on the Specially Designated Global Terrorist list. Pages S11640-41 Bond (for Lott/Lautenberg) Amendment No. 2187, to modify the provisions on grants to the National Passenger Rail Corporation. Page S11640 Bond (for Lautenberg) Amendment No. 2188, to ensure that airports improve their runway safety areas. Page S11641 Bond (for Landrieu) Modified Amendment No. 2168, to make available funds for the conduct of a study and submission of a report relating to catastrophic hurricane evacuation plans. Page S11641 Bond (for Landrieu) Modified Amendment No. 2167, to set aside funds to provide grants to local governments in the State of Louisiana to address increased transportation demands in communities that have experienced significant population growth from hurricane evacuees. Page S11641 Bond (for Coleman) Amendment No. 2189, to improve the safety of all- terrain vehicles in the United States. Page S11641 Coburn Amendment No. 2084, to require that any limitation, directive, or earmarking contained in either the House of Representatives or Senate report accompanying this bill be included in the conference report or joint statement accompanying the bill in order to be considered as having been approved by both Houses of Congress. Page S11607 Bond (for Burns) Amendment No. 2103, to extend the suspended service ticket honor requirement. Page S11641 Bond (for Ensign) Modified Amendment No. 2119, to amend section 40128(e) of title 49, United States Code, to clarify the Lake Mead exemption to the prohibition of commercial air tour operations over national parks. Page S11641 Bond (for Coburn) Amendment No. 2190, to ensure fiscal integrity of the payments made by Federal agencies and to prohibit the use of funds until the Department of Housing and Urban Development has reported specific actions taken to estimate improper payments in the community development block grant program as required under the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002. Pages S11641-42 Bond (for Snowe) Amendment No. 2150, to assist certain flight service station employees of the Federal Aviation Administration. Page S11642 Bond (for Coleman) Amendment No. 2173, to require that purchase card payments to Federal contractors be subjected to the Federal Payment Levy Program and to require improved reporting of air travel by Federal Government employees. Page S11642 Rejected: Coburn Modified Amendment No. 2093, to prohibit any funds under the Act from being used for a parking facility as part of the Joslyn Art Museum Master Plan, in Omaha, Nebraska, for Stand Up for [[Page D1065]] Animals in Westerly, Rhode Island for building construction, and for the Seattle Art Museum in Seattle, Washington for the construction of the Olympic Sculpture Park. (By 86 yeas to 13 nays (Vote No. 260), Senate tabled the amendment.) Pages S11613-16 By 15 yeas to 82 nays (Vote No. 262), Coburn Modified Amendment No. 2165, relative to the reconstruction of the Twin Spans Bridge. Pages S11624-27, S11636-37 By 33 yeas to 61 nays (Vote No. 263), Stevens Amendment No. 2181, to ensure reconstruction of the Twin Spans Bridge. Pages S11636-37 Withdrawn: Dorgan Amendment No. 2133, to restrict enforcement of the Cuban Assets Control Regulations with respect to travel to Cuba. Pages S11623-24 Coburn Amendment No. 2091, to prohibit any funds under the Act from being used for the Seattle Art Museum in Seattle, Washington for the construction of the Olympic Sculpture Park. Pages S11608-13 During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action: By 53 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 261), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion, under section 402(b)(6) of H. Con. Res. 95, Congressional Budget Resolution, to waive provisions of said concurrent resolution with respect to the emergency designation provision in Reed Amendment No. 2077, to provide for appropriations for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. Subsequently, a point of order that the emergency designation provision would violate section 402(b)(5) of H. Con. Res. 95 was sustained and the provision was stricken. Also, the Chair sustained a point of order that the amendment would exceed the subcommittee's 302(b) allocation and the amendment thus falls. Pages S11617-21, S11623 Ensign Amendment No. 2158 (to Amendment No. 2133), to amend title 18, United States Code, to prohibit taking minors across State lines in circumvention of laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions, fell when Dorgan Amendment No. 2133 (listed above) was withdrawn. Page S11615 Senate insisted on its amendment, requested a conference with the House thereon, and the Chair was authorized to appoint the following conferees on the part of the Senate: Senators Bond, Shelby, Specter, Bennett, Hutchison, DeWine, Brownback, Stevens, Domenici, Burns, Allard, Cochran, Murray, Byrd, Mikulski, Reid, Kohl, Durbin, Dorgan, Leahy, Harkin, Landrieu, and Inouye. Page S11696 Foreign Service Grievance Board: Senate passed S. 1905, to clarify Foreign Service Grievance Board procedures. Page S11699 Azerbaijan Elections: Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 260, calling for free and fair parliamentary elections in the Republic of Azerbaijan, and the resolution was then agreed to. Pages S11699-S11700 Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 21, 2005, Senate begin consideration of H.R. 3010, making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, that the committee reported amendment be agreed to as original text for the purpose of further amendment, that no points of order be waived by virtue of this agreement, and that on Friday, October 21, 2005, the bill be considered for debate only. Page S11700 Messages From the House: Page S11663 Measures Read First Time: Pages S11663, S11696-99 Executive Communications: Pages S11663-64 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S11664 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S11665-66 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S11666-73 Additional Statements: Pages S11660-63 Amendments Submitted: Pages S11673-95 Authority for Committees to Meet: Pages S11695-96 Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--264) Pages S11615-16, S11623, S11637, S11653 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 9:01 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, October 21, 2005. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S11700.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) EXON-FLORIO AMENDMENT Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the implementation of the Exon-Florio provision by the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS), Department of the Treasury, which [[Page D1066]] seeks to serve U.S. investment policy through reviews that protect national security while maintaining the credibility of open investment policy, after receiving testimony from Senator Inhofe; Robert M. Kimmitt, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury; David Sampson, Deputy Secretary of Commerce; Stewart Baker, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Policy; E. Anthony Wayne, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic Affairs; Peter Flory, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Policy; Robert D. McCallum, Jr., Acting Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice; Patrick A. Mulloy, Commissioner, United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission; and David Marchick, Covington and Burling, Washington, D.C. PASSENGER RAIL SECURITY Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 1052, to improve transportation security, including public and private sector actions taken since September 11, 2001, and the attacks on rail systems overseas, to enhance the security of passenger and freight rail transportation, after receiving testimony from Edmund Hawley, Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security for Transportation Security; Joseph H. Boardman, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation; Cathleen Ann Berrick, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, Government Accountability Office; Edward R. Hamberger, Association of American Railroads, William L. Crosbie, Amtrak, and Edward Wytkind, Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO), all of Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered favorably reported the following bills: S. 1753, to establish a unified national hazard alert system, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and S. 967, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to ensure that prepackaged news stories contain announcements that inform viewers that the information within was provided by the United States Government, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Also, Committee completed its review of certain spending reductions and revenue increases to meet reconciliation expenditures as imposed by H. Con. Res. 95, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2006, revising appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2005, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 through 2010, and agreed on recommendations which it will make to the Committee on the Budget thereon. ENERGY EFFICIENCY Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 1016, to direct the Secretary of Energy to make incentive payments to the owners or operators of qualified desalination facilities to partially offset the cost of electrical energy required to operate the facilities, and S. 1860, to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to improve energy production and reduce energy demand through improved use of reclaimed waters, after receiving testimony from Douglas L. Faulkner, Acting Assistant Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, James B. Roberto, Deputy Director for Science and Technology, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Les Shephard, Vice President for Energy, Resources and Nonproliferation, Sandia National Laboratories, and Jane C.S. Long, Associate Director, Energy and Environment Directorate, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, all of the Department of Energy; Jim Reynolds, Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority, Key West, on behalf of the U.S. Desalination Coalition; Edmund Archuleta, El Paso Water Utilities, El Paso, Texas, on behalf of the WateReuse Association; Pankaj Parekh, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Los Angeles, California, on behalf of the Awwa Research Foundation; and Colin Sabol, General Electric Infrastructure, Trevose, Pennsylvania. NOMINATIONS Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Benson K. Whitney, of Minnesota, to be Ambassador to Norway, who was introduced by Senators Dayton and Coleman, Roland Arnall, of California, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, who was introduced by Representative Lantos, Susan Rasinski McCaw, of Washington, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Austria, who was introduced by Senator Allen, and Nicholas F. Taubman, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to Romania, who was introduced by Senators Warner and Allen, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. FOREIGN POLICY AND OIL Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian Affairs concluded a hearing to examine the role that petroleum plays in the economy and foreign policy, particularly as it relates to the Middle East, after receiving testimony from Stephen J. Gallogly, Director, Office of International Energy and Commodity Policy, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, and Alan Greeley Misenheimer, [[Page D1067]] Director, Office of Arabian Peninsula and Iran Affairs, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, both of the Department of State; George L. Person, Jr., Director, Office of African and Middle Eastern Affairs, Office of Policy and International Affairs, Department of Energy; Gal Luft, Institute for the Analysis of Global Security, and Robert E. Ebel, Center for Strategic and International Studies, both of Washington, D.C.; and Tom Z. Collina, 20/20 Vision, Silver Spring, Maryland. HURRICANE KATRINA Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee held a hearing to examine the Federal emergency management and the response to Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, receiving testimony from Marty J. Bahamonde, Regional Director, Office of Public Affairs, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security. Hearing recessed subject to the call. GUARDSMEN/RESERVISTS Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: On Wednesday, October 19, Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety concluded a hearing to examine enhancing cooperation between employers and guardsmen/reservists, focusing on civilian and veteran organizations to work together to reach out to soldiers returning from the battlefield, after receiving testimony from Ronald J. Fry, SFC, North Carolina Army National Guard, and Wachovia Corporation, Charlotte, North Carolina; Bobby Hollingsworth, National Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, Washington, D.C.; Dennis Donovan, Home Depot, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia; Christine Bierman, Colt Safety, Fire and Rescue, St. Louis, Missouri; and Lisa Nisenfeld, Southwest Washington Workforce Development Council, Vancouver, Washington. FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Federal employment programs for persons with disabilities, after receiving testimony from Robert A. Lawhead, Employment Link, Boulder, Colorado; Kate Bartlett, Arlington, Massachusetts, on behalf of the National Down Syndrome Society; James Gashel, National Federation for the Blind, Baltimore, Maryland; Tony Young, NISH, Vienna, Virginia; and Mike Nelson, Greeley, Colorado. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: 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. 1086, to improve the national program to register and monitor individuals who commit crimes against children or sex offenses, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 443, to improve the investigation of criminal antitrust offenses; and The nominations of Susan Bieke Neilson, of Michigan, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, John Richard Smoak, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Florida, Brian Edward Sandoval, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada, Harry Sandlin Mattice, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Tennessee, and Margaret Mary Sweeney, of Virginia, and Thomas Craig Wheeler, of Maryland, each to be a Judge of the United States Court of Federal Claims. Also, Committee completed its review of certain spending reductions and revenue increases to meet reconciliation expenditures as imposed by H. Con. Res. 95, establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2006, revising appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2005, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 through 2010, and agreed on recommendations which it will make to the Committee on the Budget thereon. Also, Committee began markup of S. 1789, to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to call. MARRIAGE AMENDMENT Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Property Rights concluded a hearing to examine the constitutional amendment on marriage, after receiving testimony from Scott FitzGibbon, Boston College Law School, Boston, Massachusetts; Christopher E. Harris, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee; Louis Michael Seidman, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, DC.; Richard G. Wilkins, Brigham Young University J. Reuben Clark Law School, Provo, Utah; and Christopher Wolfe, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin. [[Page D1068]] VA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs information technology infrastructure reorganization assessment, focusing on the role of the Chief Information Officer in effectively managing information technology, after receiving testimony from Gordon H. Mansfield, Deputy Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Linda D. Koontz, Director, Information Management Issues, Government Accountability Office; and Paul Wohlleben, Grant Thornton LLP, Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of the Information Technology Association of America. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 34 public bills, H.R. 4090- 4123; and 7 resolutions, H.J. Res. 69; H. Con. Res. 269-272; and H. Res. 504-505 were introduced. Pages H9042-43 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H9043-44 Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today. Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act: The House passed S. 397, to prohibit civil liability actions from being brought or continued against manufacturers, distributors, dealers, or importers of firearms or ammunition for damages, injunctive or other relief resulting from the misuse of their products by others, by a yea-and-nay vote of 283 yeas to 144 nays, Roll No. 534--clearing the measure for the President. Pages H8990-H9011 H. Res. 493, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to on Tuesday, October 18th, by voice vote. Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in memory of the victims of the recent earthquake in Pakistan, India and Afghanistan. Page H9011 Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2006--Motion to Instruct Conferees: The House rejected the DeLauro motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2744, to make appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, which was debated yesterday, October 19th, by a yea-and-nay vote of 209 yeas to 216 nays, Roll No. 535. Page H9011 Appointed as Conferees: Representatives Bonilla, Kingston, Latham, Emerson, Goode, LaHood, Doolittle, Alexander, Lewis of California, DeLauro, Hinchey, Farr, Boyd, Kaptur, and Obey. Page H9011 Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at noon on Monday, October 24th, and when the House adjourns on Monday, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, October 25th, for Morning Hour Debate. Page H9014 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, October 26th. Page H9014 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H8987. Senate Referrals: S. 1736 was referred to the Committee on Government Reform and S. 1894 was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means. Page H9040 Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H9010-11 and H9011. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 4:40 p.m. Committee Meetings VA HEALTHCARE FACILITIES Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life, and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on VA Capital Asset Realignment for Enhanced Services (CARES) Testimony was heard from Jonathan B. Perlin, Under Secretary, Health, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs. [[Page D1069]] ARMY'S UP-ARMOR HIGH MOBILITY MULTIPURPOSE WHEELED VEHICLE Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Army's M1114 Up- Armor High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (UAH) distribution strategy. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Army: Francis J. Harvey, Secretary; and GEN Richard A. Cody, USA, Vice Chief of Staff. AERIAL COMMON SENSOR PROGRAM Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces and the Subcommittee on Technical and Tactical Intelligence of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence held a joint hearing on the Aerial Common Sensor Program. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: John R. Landon, Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Command, Control, Communications, Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance & IT Acquisition Programs); Claude Bolton, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and Technology); MG Barbara Fast, USA, Commanding General/Commandant U.S. Army Intelligence Center and Fort Huachuca; Tom Laux, Program Executive Officer for Air Anti-Submarine Warfare Assault, and Special Mission Programs and RADM Bruce Clingan, USN, Deputy Director, Air Warfare, both with the Department of the Navy. BUDGET RECONCILIATION; PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY. WORK, AND FAMILY PROMOTION ACT; RESOLUTION REQUESTING PRESIDENT TO TRANSMIT TO THE HOUSE INFORMATION RELATING TO CONTRACTS FOR SERVICES OR CONSTRUCTION RELATING TO HURRICANE KATRINA Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported, as amended, to the Committee on the Budget amendments to the Social Security Act, Welfare Reform regarding the Committee's Instructions pursuant to the Conference Report on H. Con. Res. 95, Establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2006, revising appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year 2005, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 through 2010. The Committee also ordered reported the following: H.R. 240, amended, Personal Responsibility, Work, and Family Promotion Act of 2005; and ordered unfavorably reported H. Res. 467, Requesting that the President transmit to the House of Representatives information in his possession relating to contracts for services or construction related to Hurricane Katrina recovery that relate to wages and benefits to be paid to workers. COMBATING METHAMPHETAMINES Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials held a joint hearing entitled ``Comprehensively Combating Methamphetamines: Impacts on Health and the Environment.'' Testimony was heard from Stephen L. Johnson, Administrator, EPA; Stephanie Colston, Senior Advisor to the Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; Joseph T. Rannazzisi, Deputy Chief, Office of Enforcement Operations, DEA, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. NATIONAL FLOOD INSURANCE PROGRAM--MANAGEMENT AND OVERSIGHT Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Management and Oversight of the National Flood Insurance Program.'' Testimony was heard from Representatives Baker and Taylor of Mississippi; David I. Maurstad, Acting Director and Federal Insurance Administrator, Mitigation Division, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Emergency Preparedness and Response Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; and William O. Jenkins, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, GAO. NATIONAL GUARD AT HOME AND ABROAD--CRITICAL RULE Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``The Critical Role of the National Guard at Home and Abroad.'' Testimony was heard from the following Governors: Edward Rendell, Pennsylvania; and Dirk Kempthorne, Idaho; David M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; the following officials of the Department of Defense: Thomas F. Hall, Assistant Secretary, Reserve Affairs; and LTG David F. Melcher, Deputy Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; LTG H. Steven Blum, USA, Chief, National Guard Bureau; MG Allen Tackett, USA, State Adjutant General, West Virginia; and MG Raymond Rees, USA, State Adjutant General, Oregon. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 3256, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3038 West Liberty Avenue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the ``Congressman James Grove Fulton Memorial Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3368, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at [[Page D1070]] 6483 Lincoln Street in Gagetown, Michigan, as the ``Gagetown Veterans Memorial Post Office;'' H.R. 3548, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located on Franklin Avenue in Pearl River, New York, as the ``Heinz Ahlmeyer, Jr., Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3770, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 205 West Washington Street in Knox, Indiana, as the ``Grant W. Green Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3825, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 770 Trumbull Drive in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the ``Clayton J. Smith Memorial Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3989, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 37598 Goodhue in Dennison, Minnesota, as the ``Albert Harold Quie Post Office;'' H.R. 4053, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 545 North Rimsdale Avenue in Covina, California, as the ``Lillian Kinkella Keil Post Office;'' S. 37, To extend the special postage stamp for breast cancer research for 2 years; H.R. 1455, To amend titled 45 and title 3, United States Code, to include the Department of Homeland Security and the Secretary of Homeland Security in the lists of executive departments and officers; H.R. 3496, amended, National Capital Transportation Amendments Act of 2005; and H.R. 4057, To provide that attorneys employed by the Department of Justice shall be eligible for compensatory time of for travel under section 5550b of title 5, United States Code. LONDON BOMBINGS Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity held a hearing on the London Bombings: Protecting Civilian Targets from Terrorist Attacks. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Robert Jamison, Deputy Administrator, Transportation Security Administration; and Robert Stephan, Assistant Secretary, Infrastructure Protection Division. MITIGATING CATASTROPHIC EVENTS--EFFECTIVE MEDICAL RESPONSE Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack held a hearing entitled ``Mitigating Catastrophic Events through Effective Medical Response.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT--FIVE YEAR ASSESSMENT Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing on African Growth and Opportunity Act: A Five-Year Assessment. Testimony was heard from Florizelle Liser, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Africa; and public witnesses. SOUTH ASIA EARTHQUAKE Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific held a hearing on South Asia Earthquake: Impact and Humanitarian Response. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of State: Christina B. Rocca, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of South Asian Affairs; and Michael E. Hess, Assistant Administrator, Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development; and Peter F. Verga, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Homeland Defense, Department of Defense. OVERSIGHT--VOTING RIGHTS ACT Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held an oversight hearing entitled `` The Voting Rights Act: An Examination of the Scope and Criteria for Coverage under the Special Provisions of the Act.'' Testimony was heard from Michael S. Steele, Lieutenant Governor of Maryland; J. Gerald Hebert, former Acting Chief, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. WATER SUPPLY VULNERABILITIES Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight hearing entitled ``Water Supply Vulnerabilities in the Sacramento/San Joaquin River System.'' Testimony was heard from Kirk Rodgers, Regional Director, Mid-Pacific Region, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; BG Joseph Schroedel, USA, Commander and Division Engineer, South Pacific Division, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army; Mike Chrisman, Secretary, Resources Agency, State of California; and public witnesses. SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND GLOBAL ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS Committee on Science: Held a hearing on Science, Technology, and Global Economic Competitiveness. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--DISASTER REBUILDING HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT INFRASTRUCTURE--GULF COAST AFTER KATRINA Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines an oversight hearing on Rebuilding Highway and Transit Infrastructure on the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Transportation: J. Richard Capka, Acting Administrator, Federal [[Page D1071]] Highway Administration; and Susan E. Schruth, Associate Administrator, Federal Transit Administration. OVERSIGHT--DISASTER PROTECTION GULF COAST RECOVERY Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held an oversight hearing entitled ``Expert Views on Hurricane and Flood Protection and Water Resources Planning for a Rebuilt Gulf Coast.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army: John Paul Woodley, Jr., Assistant Secretary (Civil Works); and LTG Carl A. Strock, USA, Chief; Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Water, EPA; and public witnesses. VETERANS LEGISLATION Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 3665, amended, Veterans Housing Improvement Act of 2005; H.R. 1691, To designate the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Appleton, Wisconsin, as the ``John H. Bradley Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic;'' and H.R. 4061, Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Management Improvement Act of 2005. OVERSIGHT--VA's DISABILITY COMPENSATION CLAIMS PROCESS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held an oversight hearing on variances in disability compensation claims decisions made by the VA Regional Offices, the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder claims review; and United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit decision Allen v. Principi. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Jon A. Wooditch, Acting Inspector General, Audits; Steven H. Brown, M.D., Director, Compensation and Pension Examination Project; and Ronald R. Aument, Deputy Under Secretary, Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration; Cynthia A. Bascetta, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues, GAO; and John M. Garcia, Secretary, Department of Veterans' Services, State of New Mexico. BRIEFING--GLOBAL UPDATES/HOTSPOTS Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to receive a Briefing on Global Updates/Hotspots. The Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses. BRIEFING--AERIAL COMMON SENSOR PROGRAM Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to receive a Briefing on Aerial Common Sensor Program. The Committee was briefed by departmental witnessers. Joint Meetings ECONOMIC OUTLOOK Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the current economic outlook, focusing on the effects of the recent Gulf Coast hurricanes on the economy of the United States since a significant portion of U.S. oil and gas production is concentrated in the Gulf area, after receiving testimony from Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers; David F. Seiders, National Association of Home Builders, Washington, D.C.; and Mickey D. Levy, Bank of America, and Brad Setser, Roubini Global Economics, LLC, both of New York, New York. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2005 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House No committee meetings are scheduled. 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. 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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 D1072]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Friday, October 21 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will begin consideration of H.R. 3010, Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES Noon, Monday, October 24 House Chamber Program for Monday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Baird, Brian, Wash., E2152 Becerra, Xavier, Calif., E2149 Bishop, Timothy H., N.Y., E2138 Bordallo, Madeleine Z., Guam, E2149 Brown, Sherrod, Ohio, E2140 Brown-Waite, Ginny, Fla., E2134, E2135 Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr., Ala., E2144 Cummings, Elijah E., Md., E2150 Davis, Jim, Fla., E2141 DeLauro, Rosa L., Conn., E2138 Diaz-Balart, Mario, Fla., E2148 English, Phil, Pa., E2148 Everett, Terry, Ala., E2137 Filner, Bob, Calif., E2143 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E2152 Gibbons, Jim, Nev., E2150 Granger, Kay, Tex., E2139 Green, Gene, Tex., E2133, E2135 Hastings, Alcee L., Fla., E2144 Herseth, Stephanie, S.D., E2142 Hoyer, Steny H., Md., E2142 Kennedy, Mark R., Minn., E2141 King, Steve, Iowa, E2149 Kingston, Jack, Ga., E2142 Langevin, James R., R.I., E2143 Lantos, Tom, Calif., E2151 Lewis, Jerry, Calif., E2142 LoBiondo, Frank A., N.J., E2147 Lofgren, Zoe, Calif., E2143 McKinney, Cynthia A., Ga., E2144 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E2139 Miller, George, Calif., E2140 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E2148 Moran, James P., Va., E2138 Myrick, Sue Wilkins, N.C., E2147 Ortiz, Solomon P., Tex., E2137 Paul, Ron, Tex., E2140 Pence, Mike, Ind., E2139 Regula, Ralph, Ohio, E2136, E2149 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E2133, E2135 Rohrabacher, Dana, Calif., E2147 Sanchez, Linda T., Calif., E2148 Schiff, Adam B., Calif., E2139 Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr., Wisc., E2141 Simpson, Michael K., Idaho, E2136 Tancredo, Thomas G., Colo., E2140 Tauscher, Ellen O., Calif., E2149 Towns, Edolphus, N.Y., E2133, E2134, E2135, E2136 Udall, Mark, Colo., E2133, E2134, E2136, E2137 Weller, Jerry, Ill., E2143 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E2152 Young, Don, Alaska, E2150