Thursday, April 21, 2005 [[Page D383]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate passed H.R. 1268, Supplemental Appropriations. The House passed H.R. 6, Energy Policy Act of 2005. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S4041-S4138 Measures Introduced: Twenty-four bills and one resolution were introduced, as follows: S. 866-889, and S. Res. 118. Pages S4108-09 Measures Reported: S. 339, to reaffirm the authority of States to regulate certain hunting and fishing activities. S. 378, to make it a criminal act to willfully use a weapon with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person while on board a passenger vessel, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Page S4108 Measures Passed: Supplemental Appropriations: By a unanimous vote of 99 yeas (Vote No. 109), Senate passed H.R. 1268, making emergency supplemental appropriations for defense, the global war on terror, and tsunami relief, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2005, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S4079-94 Adopted: Corzine Modified Amendment No. 368, to provide additional assistance in Sudan. Page S4080 DeWine Amendment No. 551 (to Amendment No. 564), to make the traumatic injury insurance provision retroactive for servicemembers injured in Iraq. Pages S4081-82 Craig/Akaka Amendment No. 564, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a traumatic injury protection rider to servicemembers insured under section 1967(a)(1) of such title, as amended. Pages S4080-83 Ensign Amendment No. 487, to provide for additional border patrol agents for the remainder of fiscal year 2005. Pages S4079, S4084 Subsequently, the amendment was modified. Page S4087 By 61 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. 108), Bayh Amendment No. 520, to appropriate an additional $213,000,000 for Other Procurement, Army, for the procurement of Up-Armored High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (UAHMMWVs). Pages S4079-80, S4083, S4084-86 Stevens (for DeWine) Amendment No. 565, to express the sense of the Senate that Congress should enact an increase for the period of continued TRICARE coverage of children of members of the uniformed services who die while serving on active duty for a period of more than 30 days and make such increased period applicable to children of members who have died since the commencement of military operations in Afghanistan. Page S4087 Stevens (for Kennedy) Modified Amendment No. 421, to express the sense of the Senate on funding for the continuing development of the permanent magnet motor. Pages S4086-87 Stevens (for Schumer/Boxer) Modified Amendment No. 484, to express the sense of the Senate on funding for the procurement of man-portable air defense (MANPAD) systems. Page S4087 Stevens (for Dodd) Modified Amendment No. 502, to express the sense of the Senate on funding for the replenishment of medical supply needs within the combat theaters of the Army. Page S4087 Stevens (for Frist) Amendment No. 566, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for entry of nationals of Australia. Page S4087 Stevens (for Reid) Amendment No. 389, to reaffirm the authority of States to regulate certain hunting and fishing activities. Page S4086 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 Cochran, Stevens, [[Page D384]] Specter, Domenici, Bond, McConnell, Burns, Shelby, Gregg, Bennett, Craig, Hutchison, DeWine, Brownback, Allard, Byrd, Inouye, Leahy, Harkin, Mikulski, Reid, Kohl, Murray, Dorgan, Feinstein, Durbin, Johnson, and Landrieu. Page S4094 State Mediation Program Reauthorization: Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry was discharged from further consideration of S. 643, to amend the Agricultural Credit Act of 1987 to reauthorize State mediation programs, and the bill was then passed. Page S4138 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: By 98 yeas 2 nays (Vote No. 107), John D. Negroponte, of New York, to be Director of National Intelligence. Pages S4052-74, S4084 Lieutenant General Michael V. Hayden, United States Air Force, to be Principal Deputy Director of National Intelligence. 1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general. Pages S4086, S4138 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: 2 Army nominations in the rank of general. 1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general. A routine list in the Navy. Page S4138 Messages From the House: Page S4106 Measures Referred: Page S4106 Measures Read First Time: Pages S4137-38 Executive Communications: Pages S4106-08 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S4108 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S4109-10 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S4110-35 Additional Statements: Pages S4104-06 Amendments Submitted: Pages S4135-36 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S4136 Authority for Committees to Meet: Page S4137 Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--109) Pages S4084, S4086, S4093-94 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 5:58 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Friday, April 22, 2005. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S4138.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: OMB Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Treasury, The Judiciary, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2006, after receiving testimony in behalf of funds for the respective activities of Joshua B. Bolten, Director, Office of Management and Budget. METHAMPHETAMINE ABUSE Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine methamphetamine abuse, focusing on behavioral and health effects of the drug, and prevention and treatment strategies, after receiving testimony from Charles G. Curie, Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, and Nora D. Volkow, Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health, both of the Department of Health and Human Services; Vicki Sickels, Iowa Lutheran Hospital, Des Moines; and Richard E. Steinberg, WestCare Foundation, Inc., Sylva, North Carolina. Nominations: Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of Lieutenant General Michael V. Hayden, United States Air Force, for appointment to the grade of general. Prior to this action, committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Kenneth J. Krieg, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, who was introduced by Senator Sununu; and Lieutenant General Michael V. Hayden (listed above), who was introduced by Senators Roberts and Collins, after each nominee testified and answered questions in their own behalf. DOD HEALTH CARE COSTS Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel concluded a hearing to examine present and future costs of Department of Defense health care, and national health care trends in the civilian sector, after receiving testimony from Senator Coburn; David S.C. Chu, Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, and William Winkenwerder, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs, both of the Department of Defense; David Blumenthal, Massachusetts General Hospital Institute for Health Policy, and Harvard Medical School, Boston; Robert S. Galvin, [[Page D385]] General Electric Company, Stamford, Connecticut; and Susan D. Hosek, Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, California. HOUSING GOVERNMENT-SPONSORED ENTERPRISES Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine proposals to improve the regulation of Housing Government-Sponsored Enterprises, focusing on proposed policies to improve the balance of federal costs and benefits from the operations of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks, after receiving testimony from Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, Congressional Budget Office; David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, Government Accountability Office; Armando Falcon, Jr., Director, Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Department of Housing and Urban Development; and Ronald A. Rosenfeld, Chairman, Federal Housing Finance Board. HUD: BUDGET Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation concluded a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2006 for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, after receiving testimony from Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. BUDGET PROCESS REFORM Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine structural deficits and federal budget process reform, focusing on the United States economy, procedural restraints on budget-making mechanisms, the aging U.S. population, and medical care costs, after receiving testimony from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. AMTRAK REAUTHORIZATION Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine concluded a hearing to examine the proposed reauthorization of Amtrak, focusing on intercity passenger rail service reform, after receiving testimony from Jeffrey A. Rosen, General Counsel, and Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General, both of the Department of Transportation; and David M. Laney and David L. Gunn, both of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak). NOMINATION Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nomination of Robert J. Portman, of Ohio, to be United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators DeWine, Voinovich, and Bunning, testified and answered questions in his own behalf. DEVELOPMENT BANK ANTI-CORRUPTION Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine anti-corruption strategies of the African Development Bank, Asian Development Bank and European Bank on Reconstruction and Development, focusing on corporate culture and environment that features enhanced corporate governance, internal controls and compliance that promotes good governance in its countries of operation, after receiving testimony from Paul W. Speltz, Asian Development Bank, Manila, Philippines; Mark Sullivan, III, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, London, United Kingdom; Hemantha Withanage, Center for Environmental Justice, and Sri Lankan Working Group on Trade and International Financial Institutions, Colombo, Sri Lanka; and Ted Devine, Government Accountability Project, Washington, D.C. FEDERAL WORKFORCE FLEXIBILITIES Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia concluded an oversight hearing to examine governmentwide workforce flexibilities available to federal agencies including the implementation, use by agencies, and training and education related to using the new flexibilities, after receiving testimony from Marta Brito Perez, Associate Director for Human Capital Leadership and Merit System Accountability, Office of Personnel Management; Eileen R. Larence, Director, Strategic Issues, Government Accountability Office; Jeffery K. Nulf, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Administration; Evelyn M. White, Acting Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Administration and Management; Rafael DeLeon, Director, Office of Human Resources, Environmental Protection Agency; and Vicki A. Novak, Assistant Administrator for Human Capital Management and Chief Human Capital Officer, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. PRESIDENT'S MANAGEMENT AGENDA Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security concluded a hearing to examine the President's Management Agenda, including Federal financial performance, best practices, and program accountability, after receiving testimony from David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United [[Page D386]] States, Government Accountability Office; and Clay Johnson, III, Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget. EARLY EDUCATION Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: On Wednesday, April 20, 2005, Subcommittee on Education and Early Childhood Development held a hearing to examine the Federal role to improve the effectiveness and coordination of early childhood education programs, including the Head Start program, the Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF), and increasing food security and reducing hunger, receiving testimony from Wade F. Horn, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Children and Families; Raymond Simon, Assistant Secretary of Education for Elementary and Secondary Education; and Kate Coler, Deputy Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services. Hearing recessed subject to the call. SMALL BUSINESS HEALTH FAIRNESS ACT Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine easing costs and expanding access relating to small businesses and health insurance, focusing on S. 406, to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 to improve access and choice for entrepreneurs with small businesses with respect to medical care for their employees, after receiving testimony from Sandy Praeger, Commissioner of Insurance, Topeka, Kansas, on behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Mitchell Blake, Ward & Blake Architects, Jackson, Wyoming, on behalf of the National Federation of Independent Business; Joseph E. Rossmann, Associated Builders and Contractors, Inc., Arlington, Virginia, on behalf of the Association Health Plan Coalition; Karen Ignagni, America's Health Insurance Plans, Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: S. 378, to make it a criminal act to willfully use a weapon with the intent to cause death or serious bodily injury to any person while on board a passenger vessel, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 629, to amend chapter 97 of title 18, United States Code, relating to protecting against attacks on railroads and other mass transportation systems, with an amendment; S. 339, to reaffirm the authority of States to regulate certain hunting and fishing activities; and The nominations of Priscilla Richman Owen, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and Janice R. Brown, of California, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community. Committee recessed subject to call. House of Representatives Chamber Action Measures Introduced: 64 public bills, H.R. 1748-1811; and; 11 resolutions, H.J. Res. 43; H. Con. Res. 137-138, and H. Res. 224-231 were introduced. Pages H2469-72 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H2472-74 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 741, to amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to provide for judicial deference to conclusions of law determined by the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission with respect to an order issued by the Commission, amended (H. Rept. 109-50); H.R. 748, to amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent the transportation of minors in circumvention of certain laws relating to abortion, amended (H. Rept. 109-51); H. Res. 22, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that American small businesses are entitled to a Small Business Bill of Rights, amended (H. Rept. 109-52). Page H2469 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Miller of Michigan to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H2397 Chaplain: The prayer was offered today by Bishop Vicken Aykazian, The Armenian Catholic Church of America in Washington D.C. Page H2397 [[Page D387]] Energy Policy Act of 2005: The House passed H.R. 6, to ensure jobs for our future with secure, affordable, and reliable energy, by a recorded vote of 249 ayes to 183 noes, Roll No. 132. Pages H2399-H2450 Agreed by unanimous consent that debate on the Capps motion to strike be limited to 30 minutes. Page H2415 Agreed to: Ford amendment (No. 16 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that authorizes the EPA to establish a program to encourage the domestic production of hybrid and advanced diesel vehicles; Pages H2401-02 Kucinich amendment (No. 17 printed in H. Rept. 109-49), as modified, that increases the number of project grants to local governments under the pilot program for the Department of Energy's Clean Cities program, and reduces the maximum dollar amount of grants; Pages H2402-03 Millender-McDonald amendment (No. 18 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that establishes a Diesel Truck Retrofit and Fleet Modernization Program; Pages H2403-04 Blumenauer amendment (No. 19 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that establishes a Conserve by Bicycling pilot program within the Department of Transportation; Pages H2404-06 Jackson-Lee amendment (No. 20 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that earmarks $5 million annually for bioenergy training and education targeted to minority and socially disadvantaged farmers and ranchers; Pages H2406-07 Tom Davis of Virginia amendment (No. 21 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that strikes the provision that would create two new, Senate-confirmed, assistant secretary positions in the Energy Department (agreed to extend the time for debate); Pages H2407-09 Walsh amendment (No. 22 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that establishes an annual award for organizations that have advanced the field of renewable energy technology; Pages H2409-10 Engel amendment (No. 23 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that makes producers of ``approved renewable fuels'' eligible for grants to build production facilities for renewable fuels (by a recorded vote of 239 ayes to 190 noes, Roll No. 125); Pages H2410-12, H2414 Israel amendment (No. 24 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that requires the Comptroller General of the U.S. to conduct a study on the impact of the consolidation of gasoline wholesales on the gasoline retail market (by a recorded vote of 302 ayes to 128 noes, Roll No. 126); Pages H2412-13, H2414-15 Holt amendment (No. 26 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that requires the Secretary of Energy, within two years of enactment, to report to Congress on potential fuel savings from information technology systems designed to help businesses and consumers to plan their travel and avoid delays; Page H2416 Inslee amendment (No. 28 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that reduces by 50% any royalty payments for wind energy generation on land managed by the Bureau of Land Management; and Pages H2427-28 Kucinich amendment (No. 25 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that authorizes a National Academy of Sciences study on the feasibility of mustard seed as a feedstock for biodiesel (by a recorded vote of 259 ayes to 171 noes, Roll No. 127). Pages H2415-16, H2435 Rejected: Udall of New Mexico (No. 15 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that sought to strike the provision that authorizes $10 million annually for three fiscal years for a program to identify, test, and develop improved techniques for mining uranium and for environmentally restoring uranium-mine sites (by a recorded vote of 204 ayes to 225 noes, Roll No. 124); Pages H2399-H2401, H2413-14 Grijalva amendment (No. 27 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that sought to strike the section which requires the Secretary of the Interior to suspend the collection of royalty payments to the Treasury for offshore oil and gas production on the Outer Continental Shelf in the Gulf of Mexico (by a recorded vote of 203 yeas to 227 noes, Roll No. 128); Pages H2416-18, H2435-36 Capps motion to strike section 1502 regarding MTBE (by a recorded vote of 213 ayes to 219 noes, Roll No. 129); Pages H2418-27, H2436-37 Hastings of Florida amendment (No. 29 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that sought to expand the definition of environmental justice, direct each Federal Agency to establish an office of environmental justice, and reestablish the interagency Federal Working Group on Environmental Justice (by a recorded vote of 185 ayes to 243 noes, Roll No. 130); and Pages H2428-31, H2437 Castle amendment (No. 30 printed in H. Rept. 109-49) that sought to strike a provision that specifies the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, instead of state and local agencies, has the authority to approve the construction, expansion, or operation of any facility that imports or processes natural gas including liquefied natural gas (agreed to extend time for debate) (by a recorded vote of 194 ayes to 237 noes, Roll No. 131. Pages H2431-35, H2437-38 Agreed that in the engrossment of the bill, the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes as may be necessary to reflect the actions of the House. Pages H2452 H. Res. 219, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to yesterday, April 20. [[Page D388]] Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at noon on Monday, April 25, and further, that when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 26 for Morning Hour debate. Page H2450 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, April 27. Page H2450 Quorum Calls--Votes: Nine recorded votes developed during the proceedings today and appear on pages H2413-14, H2414, H2414-15, H2435, H2435-36, H2436-37, H2437, H2437-38, and H2449-50. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:28 p.m. Committee Meetings SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS ACT IMPLEMENTATION Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review Implementation of the Secure Rural Schools Act of 2000: A Continuing Commitment to Rural Education and Sustainable Forestry. Testimony was heard from Mark E. Rey, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA; and public witnesses. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Department of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, TREASURY, AND HUD, THE JUDICIARY, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, and Independent Agencies held a hearing on the Department of the Treasury. Testimony was heard from John W. Snow, Secretary of the Treasury. SCIENCE, THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE, JUSTICE, AND COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies, on Department of State held a hearing on International Organizations. Testimony was heard from Kim R. Holmes. Assistant Secretary, International Organization Affairs, Department of State. EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Education Reform held a hearing on Early Childhood Education: Improvement Through Integration. Testimony was heard from Marsha Moore, Commissioner, Department of Early Care and Learning, State of Georgia; and public witnesses. SARBANES-OXLEY IMPACT Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``The Impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.'' Testimony was heard from William H. Donaldson, Chairman, SEC; and a public witness. OMB MANAGEMENT WATCH LIST Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``OMB Management Watch List: $65 Billion Reasons to Ensure the Federal Government is Effectively Managing Information Technology Investments.'' Testimony was heard from Karen Evans, Administrator, Electronic Government and Information Technology, OMB; David Powner, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, GAO; Dan Matthews, Chief Information Officer, Department of Transportation; Robert McFarland, Assistant Secretary, Information Technology, Department of Veterans Affairs; Rosita Parkes, Chief Information Officer, Department of Energy, and Lisa Schlosser, Chief Information Officer, Department of Housing and Urban Development. FASTER AND SMARTER FUNDING FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ACT Committee on Homeland Security: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1544, Faster and Smarter Funding for First Responders Act of 2005. COMMITTEE FUNDING RESOLUTION Committee on House Administration: Ordered reported H. Res. 224, providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Ninth Congress. ARAB WORLD--POLITICAL LIBERALIZATION Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Redefining Boundaries: Political Liberalization in the Arab World. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. [[Page D389]] ZIMBABWE ELECTIONS Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing on Zimbabwe: Prospects for Democracy after the March 2005 Elections. Testimony was heard from Constance Berry Newman, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--USA PATRIOT ACT Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held an oversight hearing on the Implementation of the USA PATRIOT Act: Sections of the Act that Address--Crime, Terrorism, and the Age of Technology. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Justice: Laura H. Parsky, Deputy Assistant Attorney General; and Steven M. Martinez, Deputy Assistant Director, Cyber Division, FBI; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--VISA WAIVER PROGRAM Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims held an oversight hearing entitled ``October, 2005 deadline for Visa Waiver Program Countries to produce Secure Passports: Why it matters to Homeland Security.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Elaine Dezenski, Acting Assistant Secretary, Policy and Planning, Border and Transportation Security Directorate; and Richard L. Skinner, Acting Inspector General; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL HISTORIC PRESERVATION ACT Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held an oversight hearing on the National Historic Preservation Act. Testimony was heard from Jan Matthews, Associate Director, Cultural Resources, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; John Nau, Chairman, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation; and public witnesses. SMALL BUSINESS GROWTH Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment, and Government Programs held a hearing entitled ``Removing Obstacles to Job Creation: How Can the Federal Government Help Small Businesses Revitalize the Economy?'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. CAFTA IMPLEMENTATION Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on Implementation of the Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (DR-CAFTA). Testimony was heard from Representatives Burton, Dreier, Kaptur, DeFazio, Peterson of Minnesota, Lungren and Melancon; Peter F. Allgeier, Acting U.S. Trade Representative; and public witnesses. Joint Meetings VETERANS PROGRAMS Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to review the legislative recommendations of certain veterans organizations, after receiving testimony from LeRoy Riddell, NCC (SW), USN (Ret.), Retired Enlisted Association, Penny Splinter, Gold Star Wives, George R. Kaye, and Joseph L. Barnes, both of the Fleet Reserve Association, and Chief Master Sergeant James E. Lokovic, USAF (Ret.), Air Force Sergeants Association, all of Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Joint Committee on Printing: Committee met and designated Senator Lott as Chairman and Representative Ney as Vice-Chairman, and adopted its rules of procedure for the 109th Congress. NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D 358) S. 256, to amend title 11 of the United States Code. Signed on April 20, 2005. (P.L. 109-8) COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 22, 2005 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, to hold hearings to examine United States Special Operations Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2006; to be followed by a closed session in S-407, Capitol, 9:30 a.m., SR-222. House Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, hearing entitled ``The National Parks: Will They Survive for Future Generations?'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C.  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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 D390]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Friday, April 22 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will be in a period of morning business. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 12 noon, Monday, April 25 House Chamber Program for Monday: The House will meet at 12 noon on Monday in pro forma session. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Andrews, Robert E., N.J., E713 Baca, Joe, Calif., E712 Baker, Richard H., La., E713 Bilirakis, Michael, Fla., E724 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E727 Cantor, Eric, Va., E721 Capps, Lois, Calif., E723 Cuellar, Henry, Tex., E711, E713, E713, E714, E715, E717 Davis, Lincoln, Tenn., E725 Dingell, John D., Mich., E717 Eshoo, Anna G., Calif., E724 Farr, Sam, Calif., E723 Forbes, J. Randy, Va., E721 Garrett, Scott, N.J., E713 Gordon, Bart, Tenn., E726 Graves, Sam, Mo., E711, E712, E713, E714, E715, E716, E718 Green, Gene, Tex., E731 Green, Mark, Wisc., E715 Hyde, Henry J., Ill., E725 Israel, Steve, N.Y., E723 Kennedy, Patrick J., R.I., E720, E721 Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E719, E721 King, Steve, Iowa, E722 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E718 Langevin, James R., R.I., E715 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E711, E719 McMorris, Cathy, Wash., E714 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E728, E729 Matsui, Doris O., Calif., E716 Menendez, Robert, N.J., E711, E719, E720, E726 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E718 Moore, Gwen, Wisc., E728, E729, E730 Oberstar, James L., Minn., E726 Ortiz, Solomon P., Tex., E719 Pastor, Ed, Ariz., E725 Payne, Donald M., N.J., E727, E728, E729, E730 Pelosi, Nancy, Calif., E720 Price, David E., N.C., E714 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E717 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E722 Rothman, Steven R., N.J., E712 Ruppersberger, C.A. Dutch, Md., E724 Schiff, Adam B., Calif., E728, E730 Shaw, E. Clay, Jr., Fla., E720 Stearns, Cliff, Fla., E712 Thompson, Mike, Calif., E728, E729, E730 Wicker, Roger F., Miss., E725 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E731