Thursday, September 29, 2005 [[Page D988]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate confirmed the nomination of John G. Roberts, Jr., to be Chief Justice of the United States. House Committees ordered reported 13 sundry measures. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S10631-S10771 Measures Introduced: Fifteen bills and three resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 1789-1803, S. Res. 260-261, and S. Con. Res. 55. Pages S10723-24 Measures Reported: Report to accompany H.R. 2863, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006. (S. Rept. No. 109-141) S. 1803, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2006 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Intelligence Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System. (S. Rept. No. 109-142) S. 1725, to strengthen Federal leadership, provide grants, enhance outreach and guidance, and provide other support to State and local officials to enhance emergency communications capabilities, to achieve communications interoperability, to foster improved regional collaboration and coordination, to promote more efficient utilization of funding devoted to public safety communications, to promote research and development by both the public and private sectors for first responder communications, with amendments. Page S10722 Measures Passed: Medicare Cost Sharing and Welfare Extension Act: Committee on Finance was discharged from further consideration of S. 1778, to extend medicare cost-sharing for qualifying individuals through September 2006, to extend the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program, transitional medical assistance under the Medicaid Program, and related programs through March 31, 2006, and the bill was then passed, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: Grassley/Baucus Amendment No. 1894, to eliminate coverage under the Medicare and Medicaid programs for drugs when used for treatment of erectile dysfunction. Page S10696 Department of Defense Appropriations: Senate began consideration of H.R. 2863, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, which will be considered as original text for the purpose of further amendment, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S10656-88, S10699-S10705 Adopted: Harkin Amendment No. 1886, to make available emergency funds for pandemic flu preparedness. Pages S10685-88, S10701 Leahy/Bond Modified Amendment No. 1901, to appropriate $1,300,000,000 for Additional War-Related Appropriations for National Guard and Reserve Equipment for homeland security and homeland security response equipment. Pages S10700-02 Durbin Amendment No. 1908, to ensure that a Federal employee who takes leave without pay in order to perform service as a member of the uniformed services or member of the National Guard shall continue to receive pay in an amount which, when taken together with the pay and allowances such individual is receiving for such service, will be no less than basic pay such individual would then be receiving if no interruption in employment had occurred. Pages S10702-05 Senate expects to continue consideration of the bill on Friday, September 30, 2005. [[Page D989]] Nomination--Joint Referral: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the nomination of Franklin L. Lavin, of Ohio, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, be referred jointly to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Page S10771 Messages From the President: Senate received the following message from the President of the United States: Transmitting, pursuant to law, a notification regarding the proposed use of public safety funds provided to the District of Columbia pursuant to title I of the District of Columbia Appropriations Act, 2005, Public Law 108-335; which was referred to the Committee on Appropriations. (PM-24) Page S10721 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination: By 78 yeas 22 nays (Vote No. EX. 245), John G. Roberts, Jr., of Maryland, to be Chief Justice of the United States. Pages S10631-50 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Gigi Hyland, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National Credit Union Administration Board for a term expiring August 2, 2011. J. Thomas Rosch, of California, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner for the term of seven years from September 26, 2005. Margaret Spellings, of Texas, to be a Representative of the United States of America to the Thirty-third Session of the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization. James Hardy Payne, of Oklahoma, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit. Page S10771 Messages From the House: Page S10721 Measures Read First Time: Page S10721 Executive Communications: Pages S10721-22 Executive Reports of Committees: Pages S10722-23 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S10724-25 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S10725-61 Additional Statements: Pages S10719-21 Amendments Submitted: Pages S10761-69 Authority for Committees to Meet: Pages S10769-70 Privilege of the Floor: Page S10770 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--245) Pages S10649-50 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 8:26 p.m., until 9:30 on Friday, September 30, 2005. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S10771.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) IRAQ Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine United States military strategy and operations in Iraq, after receiving testimony from Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary, General Richard B. Myers, USAF, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, General John P. Abizaid, USA, Commander, U.S. Central Command, and General George W. Casey, USA, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, all of the Department of Defense. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported 3,979 military nominations in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Emil W. Henry, Jr., of New York, to be Assistant Secretary for Financial Institutions, and Patrick M. O'Brien, of Minnesota, to be Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing, both of the Department of the Treasury, Keith E. Gottfried, of California, to be General Counsel, and Kim Kendrick, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary, Keith A. Nelson, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary, and Darlene F. Williams, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary, all of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Israel Hernandez, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, Darryl W. Jackson, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary, Franklin L. Lavin, of Ohio, to be Under Secretary for International Trade, and David H. McCormick, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary for Export Administration, all of the Department of Commerce. COMMUNICATIONS INTEROPERABILITY IN A DISASTER Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held a hearing to examine communications for first responders in disaster, focusing on [[Page D990]] damage wrought by Hurricane Katrina to the communications industry and the Federal Communications Commission's efforts to assist consumers, the industries the agency regulates, and other Federal Agencies during this difficult crisis, including efforts to address public safety interoperability issues, receiving testimony from Kenneth P. Moran, Director, Office of Homeland Security, Enforcement Bureau, Federal Communications Commission; David G. Boyd, Director, Office for Interoperability and Compatibility, Systems Engineering and Development, Directorate of Science and Technology, Department of Homeland Security; Dereck Orr, Program Manager, Public Safety Communications Systems, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Technology Administration, Department of Commerce; and Willis Carter, Shreveport Fire Department, Shreveport, Louisiana, on behalf of the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International. Hearings recessed subject to the call. TREATIES Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Protocol of 1997 Amending MARPOL Convention (Treaty Doc. 108-7), Agreement with Canada on Pacific Hake/Whiting (Treaty Doc. 108- 24), Convention Concerning Migratory Fish Stock in the Pacific Ocean (Treaty Doc. 109-1), Convention Strengthening Inter-American Tuna Commission (Treaty Doc. 109-2), and the Convention on Supplementary Compensation on Nuclear Damage (Treaty Doc. 107-21), after receiving testimony from David A. Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Warren M. Stern, Senior Coordinator for Nuclear Safety, both of the Department of State; Bryan C. Wood-Thomas, Senior Advisor, Office of International Environmental Policy, Environmental Protection Agency; and James Bennett McRae, Assistant General Counsel for Civilian Nuclear Programs, Department of Energy. U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs concluded a hearing to examine United States-Japan relations and future policies, after receiving testimony from Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Richard P. Lawless, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Asian and Pacific Affairs; Amelia Porges, Sidley, Austin Brown & Wood LLP, Washington, D.C.; Stephen P. MacMillan, Stryker Corporation, Kalamazoo, Michigan, on behalf of the Advanced Medical Technology Association; and Gerald Curtis, Columbia University Department of Political Science, New York, New York. DEFENSE TRAVEL SYSTEM Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations concluded a hearing to examine the effectiveness and cost of the Defense Travel System (DTS) of the Department of Defense, focusing on whether DTS can deliver on the increased efficiency and cost savings that were anticipated when the program was established, after receiving testimony from Senator Grassley; Thomas F. Gimble, Acting Inspector General, Scott A. Comes, Director, Strategic and Information Programs Division, Program Analysis and Evaluation, and Zack E. Gaddy, Director, Defense Finance and Accounting Service, all of the Department of Defense; McCoy Williams, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, Government Accountability Office; Thomas A. Schatz, Citizens Against Government Waste, Washington, D.C.; and Robert Langsfeld, The Corporate Solutions Group, Menlo Park, California. PROCUREMENT PROCESS Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security concluded an oversight hearing to examine certain activities of the General Services Administration, focusing on the procurement process, which includes acquisition of workspace, equipment, technology, furniture, supplies, vehicles, and professional services, after receiving testimony from Stephen A. Perry, Administrator, General Services Administration. NOMINATIONS Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of William F. Tuerk, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, who was introduced by Senator Specter, Robert Joseph Henke, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Management, John M. Molino, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning, Lisette M. Mondello, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Public and Intergovernmental Affairs, who was introduced by Senator Hutchison, and George J. Opfer, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, all of Department of Veterans Affairs, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. DRUG ADVERTISING Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the impact of direct-to-consumer drug advertising on seniors' health and health care [[Page D991]] costs, after receiving testimony from Rachel E. Behrman, Deputy Director, Office of Medical Policy, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Public Health Service, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; Paul Antony, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Donna Sweet, American College of Physicians, and Peter Lurie, Public Citizen, all of Washington, D.C.; and Richard L. Kravitz, University of California Center for Health Services Research in Primary Care Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, California. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 29 public bills, H.R. 3938- 3966; and 7 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 256-257; and H. Res. 472-473, 475-477 were introduced. Pages H8642-43 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H8643-45 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: Conference Report on H.R. 2360, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 (Rept. 109-241); H. Res. 474, waiving points of order against the conference report to accompany the bill (H.R. 2360) making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006 (Rept. 109-242); and H.J. Res. 65, disapproving the recommendations of the Defense Base Closure and Realignment Commission, adversely (Rept. 109-243). Pages H8585-H8626, H8642 Chaplain: The prayer was offered today by Rev. Kevin Gormley, Pastor, St. Peter Church, Marshall, Missouri. Page H8515 Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures which were debated on Wednesday, September 28: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the July, 2005, measures of extreme repression on the part of the Cuban Government: H. Res. 388, to express the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the July, 2005, measures of extreme repression on the part of the Cuban Government against members of Cuba's prodemocracy movement, calling for the immediate release of all political prisoners, the legalization of political parties and free elections in Cuba, urging the European Union to reexamine its policy toward Cuba, and calling on the representative of the United States to the 62d session of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to ensure a resolution calling upon the Cuban regime to end its human rights violations, by a yea-and-nay vote of 393 yeas to 31 nays, Roll No. 503; Pages H8529-30 Expressing the sense of Congress that the United States Supreme Court should speedily find the use of the Pledge of Allegiance in schools to be consistent with the Constitution of the United States: H. Con. Res. 245, to express the sense of Congress that the United States Supreme Court should speedily find the use of the Pledge of Allegiance in schools to be consistent with the Constitution of the United States, by a yea-and-nay vote of 383 yeas to 31 nays with 8 voting ``present'', Roll No. 504; and Pages H8530-31 Recognizing the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week: H. Con. Res. 178, as amended, to recognize the need to pursue research into the causes, a treatment, and an eventual cure for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, supporting the goals and ideals of National Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Awareness Week, by a yea-and-nay vote of 401 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 508. Pages H8584-85 Continuing Appropriations for the Fiscal Year 2006: The House agreed to H.J. Res. 68, making continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2006, by a yea-and-nay vote of 348 yeas to 65 nays, Roll No. 507. Pages H8531-35, H8584 Point of Order sustained against: Obey motion that sought to recommit the bill to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report the resolution back to the House forthwith with amendments. Pages H8534-35 H. Res. 469, the rule providing for consideration of the resolution, was agreed to by voice vote. Pages H8525-28 Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act of 2005: The House passed H.R. 3824, to amend and reauthorize the Endangered Species Act [[Page D992]] of 1973 to provide greater results conserving and recovering listed species by a recorded vote of 229 ayes to 193 noes, Roll No. 506. Pages H8535-84 Pursuant to the rule that in lieu of the amendment recommended by the Committee on Resources now printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of the Resources Committee Print dated September 26, 2005 shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. Pages H8551-83 Agreed to: Pombo Manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 109-240) that makes a number of technical changes to clarify certain provisions and address issues concerning science, definition of ``jeopardy'', consolidation of ESA related programs, and review of protective regulations. Allows actions authorized under an approved Section 10 permit to be carried out without duplicative consultation. The amendment prevents water stakeholders from being held accountable for impacts due to State actions. The amendment requires the four Power Marketing Administrations to include ESA costs in their monthly billings. The amendment directs the Secretary of Interior to survey certain Federal lands to assess their value for report to Congress. The amendment clarifies conflicting statutes to make ESA the governing statutory authority when receiving a dock building permit. Pages H8560-64 Rejected: George Miller of California amendment in the nature of a substitute (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 109-240) that sought to improve the use of science, providing certainty to landowners, providing flexibility on deadlines for listing species, creating a voluntary conservation program to promote species conservation on private lands, creating a technical assistance program to help small landowners, increasing the role of State and localities, ensuring accountability of the Department of Interior, ensuring that permit and license applicants fully participate in the consultations process, and requiring a balancing of risks in planning for species recovery (by a recorded vote of 206 ayes to 216 noes, Roll No. 505). Pages H8564-83 The amendment in the nature of a substitute, as amended, was adopted. Page H8583 H. Res. 470, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 252 yeas to 171 nays, Roll No. 502, after agreeing to order the previous question without objection. Pages H8517-25, H8528-29 Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Thornberry to act as Speaker pro tempore to sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions through October 6, 2005. Page H8627 Canada--U.S. Interparliamentary Group--Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Members of the House to the Canada--United States Interparliamentary Group: Representative Oberstar, Shaw, Slaughter, Stearns, English of Pennsylvania, Souder, Tancredo and Lipinski. Page H8627 Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he notified Congress of the proposed use of funds for the District of Columbia as provided in title I (Public Law 108-335) under the heading ``Federal Payment for Emergency Planning and Security Costs in the District of Columbia.'' (H. Doc. 109-58). Page H8627 Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourn today, it adjourn to meet at 4 p.m. on Monday, October 3, and when the House adjourns on Monday, it adjourn to meet at 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 6, 2005, for Legislative Business. Page H8640 Senate Message: Messages received from the Senate today appear on pages H8515 and H8584. Senate Referrals: S. 1235. was referred to the Committee on Veteran Affairs; S. 1786 was referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure; and S. 1778 was referred to the Committees on Energy and Commerce and Ways and Means. Page H8640 Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H8529, H8529-30, H8530-31, H8582-83, H8583-84, and H8585. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:42 p.m. Committee Meetings FEDERAL AGRICULTURE POLICY Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management held a hearing to review the current state of the farm economy and the economic impact of Federal policy on agriculture. Testimony was heard from Keith Collins, Chief Economist, USDA, and Chairman, Federal Crop Insurance Corporation; Howard Gruenspecht, Deputy Administrator, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy; and public witnesses. [[Page D993]] OPERATIONS IN IRAQ Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on operations in Iraq. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Donald H. Rumsfeld, Secretary; GEN Richard B. Myers, USAF, Chairman. Joint Chiefs of Staff; GEN John Abizaid, USA, Commander, U.S. Central Command; and GEN George W. Casey, Jr., USA, Commanding General, Multi-National Force--Iraq. UNDERSTANDING THE IRAN THREAT Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on understanding the Iran threat. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. CLOSING THE GAP IN AMERICA'S SCHOOLS: THE NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND ACT Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing entitled ``Closing the Achievement Gap in America's Schools: The No Child Left Behind Act.'' Testimony was heard from Margaret Spellings, Secretary of Education; Deborah Jewell-Sherman, Superintendent, Richmond Public Schools, Richmond, Virginia; and a public witness. HURRICANE KATRINA--ENVIRONMENTAL STATUS Committee on Energy and Commerce:. Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled ``Hurricane Katrina: Assessing the Present Environmental Status.'' Testimony was heard from Marcus C. Peacock, Deputy Administrator, EPA; LTG Carl A. Strock, USA, Chief of Engineers, and Commander, U.S. Corps of Engineers; Henry Falk, M.D., Director, National Center for Environmental Health and Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; Karen Gautreaux, Deputy Secretary, Department of Environmental Quality, State of Louisiana; and public witnesses. DISASTER PUBLIC SAFETY COMMUNICATIONS Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``Public Safety Communications from 9/11 to Katrina: Critical Public Policy Lessons.'' Testimony was heard from Kevin J. Martin, Chairman, FCC; David G. Boyd, Director, SAFECOM Program Office, Science and Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; Vance Hitch, Chief Information Officer, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. MORTGAGE INDUSTRY LICENSING/REGISTRATION Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Licensing and Registration in the Mortgage Industry.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following measures: H.R. 1317, amended, Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act; H.R. 3699, amended, Federal and District of Columbia Government Real Property Act of 2005; H. Res. 15, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness Month; H. Res. 276, Supporting the goals and ideals of Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month; H.R. 3549, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 West 3rd Avenue in Warren, Pennsylvania, as the ``William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3830, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 130 Marion Avenue in Punta Gorda, Florida, as the ``U.S. Cleveland Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3853, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 208 South Main Street in Parkdale, Arkansas, as the ``Willie Vaughn Post Office;'' H.R. 923, amended, Mailing Support to Troops Act of 2005; and H. Res. 389, Supporting the goals of The Year of the Museum. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY/HEALTH CARE Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``The Last Frontier: Bringing the IT revolution in Healthcare.'' Testimony was heard from David J. Brailer, M.D., National Coordinator, Health Information Technology, Department of Health and Human Services; Robert M. Kolodner, M.D., Chief Health Informatics Officer, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; David Powner, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, GAO; and public witnesses. DISASTER PREPAREDNESS/COORDINATION Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Science, and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Incident Command, Control, and Communications during Catastrophic Events.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. EVOLVING COUNTERTERRORISM STRATEGY Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation held a hearing on Evolving Counterterrorism Strategy. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. [[Page D994]] MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 3648, amended, To impose additional fees with respect to immigration services for intracompany transferees; H.R. 1065, as amended, without recommendation, United States Boxing Commission Act; H.R. 3647, amended, To render nationals of Denmark eligible to enter the United States as nonimmigrant traders and investors; and H.R. 1400, amended, Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2005. FOREIGN INFLUENCE/U.S. CONSTITUTION Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution approved for full Committee action H. Res. 97, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that judicial determinations regarding the meaning of the Constitution of the United States should not be based on judgments, laws, of pronouncements of foreign institutions unless such foreign judgments, laws or pronouncements inform an understanding of the original meaning of the Constitution of the United States. DUAL/BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims held an oversight hearing entitled ``Dual Citizenship, Birthright Citizenship, and the Meaning of Sovereignty.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. MARINE DEBRIS RESEARCH, PREVENTION, AND REDUCTION ACT Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans and the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a joint hearing on S. 362, Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act. Testimony was heard from Timothy R. E. Keeney, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, NOAA, Department of Commerce; RADM Tom Gilmour, USCG, Assistant Commandant, Marine Safety and Environmental Protection, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 326, To amend the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area Act of 2000 to adjust the boundary of the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area and to extend the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance under that Act; H.R. 1436, To remove certain use restrictions on property located in Navajo County, Arizona; and H.R. 1972, Franklin National Battlefield Study Act. Testimony was heard from Representative Blackburn; Sue Masica, Associate Director, Park Planning, Facilities and Lands, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. CONFERENCE REPORT--DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 2360, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006, and for other purposes, and against its consideration. The rule provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. ENTREPRENEUR SOLDIERS EMPOWERMENT ACT Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight held a hearing to discuss the Entrepreneur Soldiers Empowerment Act (ESEA). Testimony was heard from Bill Elmore, Office of Veterans Affairs, SBA; John Winkler, Manpower and Personnel, Office of the Secretary, Department of Defense; Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, CBO. PEST MANAGEMENT AND FIRE SUPPRESSION FLEXIBILITY ACT Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing on H.R. 1749, Pest Management and Fire Suppression Flexibility Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives Otter and Cardoza; Benjamin H. Grumbles, Assistant Administrator, Water, EPA; and public witnesses. U.S.-BAHRAIN FREE TRADE Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on the Implementation of the United States-Bahrain Free Trade Agreement. Testimony was heard from Shaun Donnelly, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Europe and the Mediterranean; and public witnesses. MEDICARE VALUE-BASED PURCHASING FOR PHYSICIANS' SERVICES ACT Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on H.R. 3617, Medicare Value-Based Purchasing for Physicians' Services Act of 2005. Testimony was heard from Mark McClellan, M.D., Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. [[Page D995]] Joint Meetings HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 2360, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2005 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of John Hillen, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs, Barry F. Lowenkron, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, both of the Department of State, and Kent R. Hill, of Virginia, and Jacqueline Ellen Schafer, of the District of Columbia, both to be Assistant Administrator, United States Agency for International Development, 9:30 a.m., SD-419. 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. The online database is updated each day the Congressional Record is published. 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Following each session of Congress, the daily Congressional Record is revised, printed, permanently bound and sold by the Superintendent of Documents in individual parts or by sets. With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D996]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Friday, September 30 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will be in a period of morning business. Senate expects to vote on final passage of a continuing resolution; following which, Senate expects to continue consideration of H.R. 2863, Defense Appropriations. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 4 p.m., Monday, October 3 House Chamber Program for Monday: The House will meet in pro forma session at 4 p.m. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Bishop, Timothy H., N.Y., E1981, E1982 Blackburn, Marsha, Tenn., E1989 Boyd, Allen, Fla., E1993, E1996 Brown, Henry E., S.C., E1985 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E1983 Burton, Dan, Ind., E1991 Clyburn, James E., S.C., E1986 Costa, Jim, Calif., E1993, E1996 Davis, Artur, Ala., E1984 Diaz-Balart, Lincoln, Fla., E1999 Emanuel, Rahm, Ill., E1992, E1995, E1997 Engel, Eliot L., N.Y., E2000 Etheridge, Bob, N.C., E1987 Filner, Bob, Calif., E1987 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E1991, E1993, E1995 Gordon, Bart, Tenn., E1988 Grijalva, Raul M., Ariz., E2001 Hart, Melissa A., Pa., E1983 Hastings, Alcee L., Fla., E2000, E2002 Herseth, Stephanie, S.D., E1998 Honda, Michael M., Calif., E1981, E1988, E1990 Hyde, Henry J., Ill., E1986 Inslee, Jay, Wash., E1989 Johnson, Eddie Bernice, Tex., E1999 Kanjorski, Paul E., Pa., E1988 Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E2000 Kingston, Jack, Ga., E1986 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E1992, E1996 Leach, James A., Iowa, E1989 Levin, Sander M., Mich., E1992, E1996, E1998 Lofgren, Zoe, Calif., E1988 McKeon, Howard P. ``Buck'', Calif., E2002 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E1998 Menendez, Robert, N.J., E1985 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E1985 Neal, Richard E., Mass., E1983 Ney, Robert W., Ohio, E1981, E1981, E1982 Poe, Ted, Tex., E1984, E2002 Price, David E., N.C., E1990 Rahall, Nick J., II, W.Va., E1982 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E1984, E1993, E1997 Renzi, Rick, Ariz., E1987 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E1990 Ross, Mike, Ark., E1999 Sanchez, Linda T., Calif., E2001 Schakowsky, Janice D., Ill., E2001 Shuster, Bill, Pa., E1999 Towns, Edolphus, N.Y., E1985 Van Hollen, Chris, Md., E1983 Whitfield, Ed, Ky., E1989 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E1986, E1987