COMMITTEE BUSINESS SCHEDULED WEEK OF FEBRUARY 16, 2004

*** no committee business scheduled ***

COMMITTEE BUSINESS -- WEEK OF FEBRUARY 9, 2004

*** Meetings/Hearings ***

STATUS OF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM: AN ANALYSIS OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT’S 2003 ANNUAL REPORT – Feb. 10, Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights held hearing. Witnesses: Hon. John V. Hanford III, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, Department of State; Hon. Michael K. Young, Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; Joseph K. Grieboski, Founder and President, Institute on Religion and Public Policy; and Tom Malinowski, Washington Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch.

THE PRESIDENT’S INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS BUDGET REQUEST FOR FY 05 – Feb. 11, Full Committee hearing. Witness: Secretary of State Colin L. Powell.

AFGHANISTAN DRUGS AND TERRORISM AND U.S. SECURITY POLICY – Feb. 12, Full Committee hearing. Witnesses: Rep. Mark Steven Kirk; Hon. Robert B. Charles, Assistant Secretary, Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Department of State; Hon. William B. Taylor, Jr., Coordinator for Afghanistan, Department of State; Hon. Karen P. Tandy, Administrator, DEA; Hon. Thomas W. O’Connell, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict; and Brig. Gen. Gary L. North, USAF, Director of Politico-Military Affairs for Asia-Pacific, Joint Chiefs of Staff.

PREVENTING THE ENTRY OF TERRORISTS INTO THE UNITED STATES – Feb. 13, Subcommittee on International Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Human Rights held field hearing in Los Angeles. Witnesses: Robert Garrity, Deputy Assistant Director, FBI, Ana Hinjosa, Port Director, L.A. International Airport, Department of Homeland Security; David C. Stewart, Consul General, Tijuana, Mexico; Jessica Vaughan, Senior Policy Analyst, Center for Immigration Studies; Hon. Peter K. Nunez, University of San Diego; Bill West, The Investigative Project; and Peggy Sterling, Vice President, American Airlines.

*** Legislation Introduced ***

February 10, 2004

H. R. 3793 (Brown-OH) – Concerning participation of Taiwan in the World Health Organization.

February 11, 2004

H.R. 3810 (Maloney) – To provide a United States voluntary contribution tot he United Nations Population Fund only for the prevention, remedy, and repair of obstetric fistula.

H.R. 3814 (Sessions) – To enhance peace between the Israelis and Palestinians.

H. Con. Res. 363 (Ros-Lehtinen) – Expressing the grave concern of Congress regarding the continuing gross violations of human rights and civil liberties of the Syrian people by the Government of the Syrian Arab Republic.

H. Res. 526 (Ney) – Expressing the sympathy of the House of Representatives for the victims of the devastating earthquake that occurred on December 26, 2003, in Bam, Iran.

H. Res. 527 (Rodriguez) – Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Falcon International Dam, recognizing the dam’s importance as a source of water and power and as a symbol of friendship and cooperation between the United States and the United Mexican States , and urging Mexico to honor all of its obligations under the 1944 Treaty Relating to the Utilization of Waters of the Colorado and Tijuana Rives and of the Rio Grande.

H. Res. 528 (Sherman) – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that France should modify or abandon its ban on religious articles and symbols in state schools and respect the freedom of all to practice their religious faith without state interference.

*** Presidential Messages, Executive and Other Communications Received ***

Report on Countries that are Candidates for Millennium Challenge Account Eligibility in FY04 and Countries that are not Candidates Because of Legal Prohibitions – Feb. 2, 2004, letter from the Millennium Challenge Corporation transmitting report pursuant to Sec. 608(a) of P.L. 108-199; unnumbered.

United States Agency for International Development’s Research Triangle Institute Democracy and Governance Contract in Iraq – Feb. 4, 2004, notification from the Agency for International Development that it will exercise its second year option of the RTI contract in Iraq, pursuant to Sec. 2202(a) of P.L. 108-106; unnumbered.

Transfer of Funds to the Protection of Foreign Missions and Officials (PFMO) Appropriation – Feb. 4, 2004, notification from the Department of State regarding the transfer of $40.5 million pursuant to P.L. 108-106; unnumbered.

United Nations Documents – Feb. 4, 2004, letter from the Department of State transmitting Security Council Resolutions 1522-1526, statements, and reports, pursuant to Sec. 4(b) and 4©) of P.L. 79-264; unnumbered.

Export of Items to Iraq in the National Interest of the United States – Feb. 6, 2004, notification from the Department of State pursuant to Sec. 1504 of P.L. 108-11; Ex. Comm. 6656.

Charter for the Advisory Committee on Leadership and Management – Feb. 10, 2004, notification from the Department of State pursuant to P.L. 92-463; unnumbered.

Annual Report on Anti-Terrorism Assistance Program for FY03 – Feb. 10, 2004, letter from the Department of State transmitting report; unnumbered.

Final Rule – Direct Investment Surveys – Feb. 10, letter from the Department of Commerce transmitting Final Rule pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 301; Ex. Comm. 6672.

Final Rule – Revisions and Clarifications to the Export Administration Regulations – Feb. 10, letter from the Department of Commerce transmitting Final Rule pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 301; Ex. Comm. 6673.

Certification of a Proposed License for the Export of Defense Articles to Australia – Feb. 10, notification from the Department of State pursuant to Sec. 36©) of the AECA; unnumbered.

Excess Defense Articles to Greece – Feb. 10, notification from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the proposed transfer of excess Joint Tactical Information Distribution System Central Ground Equipment to Greece, pursuant to Sec. 516 of the FAA; unnumbered.

Excess Defense Articles to Egypt – Feb. 10, notification from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency of the proposed transfer of excess Hawk Missiles and other equipment to Egypt, pursuant to Sec. 516 of the FAA; unnumbered.

National Emergency with Respect to Iraq – Feb. 11, letter from the Department of the Treasury transmitting six month periodic report pursuant to Sec. 401 ©) of the National Emergencies Act (P.L. 94-412); Ex. Comm. 6731.

Final Rule – Amendment to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations – Feb. 11, letter from the Department of State transmitting report pursuant to Sec. 251 of the Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act of 1996; Ex. Comm. 6732.

Embassy Construction Project in Caracas, Venezuela – Feb. 11, notification from the Department of State that it is undertaking a construction project a the U.S. Embassy, Caracas, Venezuela, pursuant to Sec. 160(a) of P.L. 100-204); unnumbered.

Embassy Construction Project in San Jose, Costa Rica – Feb. 11, notification from the Department of State that it is undertaking a construction project a the U.S. Embassy, San Jose, Costa Rica, pursuant to Sec. 160(a) of P.L. 100-204); unnumbered.

Embassy Construction Project in Luxembourg – Feb. 11, notification from the Department of State that it is undertaking a construction project a the U.S. Embassy, Luxembourg, pursuant to Sec. 160(a) of P.L. 100-204); unnumbered.

Embassy Construction Project in Santiago, Chile – Feb. 11, notification from the Department of State that it is undertaking a construction project a the U.S. Embassy, Santiago, Chile, pursuant to Sec. 160(a) of P.L. 100-204); unnumbered.

Establishment of a UN Peacekeeping Operation for Ivory Coast – Feb. 12, letter from the Department of State transmitting notification pursuant to P.L. 108-199; unnumbered.

Resources Necessary for the Reconstruction of Burma – Feb. 13, letter from the Department of State transmitting report pursuant to the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 (P.L. 108-61); unnumbered.

Expenditure Plan for the Broadcasting Board of Governors – Feb. 13, letter from the Broadcasting Board of Governors transmitting their expenditure plan for FY04, pursuant to P.L. 108-199; unnumbered.

Congressional Notification Transmittal Sheet – Obligation of Funds to Bolivia for the Andean Counterdrug Initiative – Feb. 13, notification from the Department of State of its intent to obligate $1.5 million in funds pursuant to P.L. 105-277, P.L. 106-113, P.L. 106-429, and P.L. 107-115; unnumbered.

Congressional Notification Transmittal Sheet – Obligation of Funds to U.S. - Middle East Partnership Initiative – Feb. 13, notification from the Department of State of its intent to obligate $3.5 million in funds pursuant to P.L. 108-11, and P.L. 108-7; unnumbered.

Congressional Notification Transmittal Sheet – Obligation of Funds to Central and Eastern Europe – Feb. 13, notification from the Department of State of its intent to obligate $110,000 in funds pursuant to Sec. 634A of the FAA; unnumbered.

Visa Viper Committee Status – Feb. 13, letter from the Department of State transmitting report on the status of the terrorist lookout committees (Visa Viper Committees) for the quarter ending December 31, 2003; pursuant to Sec. 304(f) of P.L. 107-173; unnumbered.

Congressional Notification Transmittal Sheet – Obligation of Funds to Sierra Leone – Feb. 13, notification from the Department of State of its intent to obligate $92,500 in funds pursuant to Sec. 660(b)(6) of the FAA; unnumbered.

Determination and Memorandum of Justification Regarding Waivers Relating to the Arab League Boycott – Feb. 13, letter from the Department of State transmitting notification pursuant to Sec. 565(b) of P.L. 103-236; unnumbered.

Twenty First Report to Congress on the Aggregate Number, Locations, Activities, and Lengths of Assignment for All Temporary and Permanent U.S. Military Personnel and U.S. Individual Civilian Contractors Involved in the Anti-Narcotics Campaign in Colombia – letter from the Department of State transmitting CLASSIFIED report pursuant to Sec. 3204(f) of P.L. 106-246; unnumbered.

Congressional Notification Transmittal Sheet – Obligation of Funds to Central and Eastern Europe – Feb. 17, notification from the Department of State of its intent to obligate $4.5 million in funds pursuant to Sec. 634A of the FAA; unnumbered.

Congressional Notification Transmittal Sheet – Obligation of Funds to Central and Eastern Europe – Feb. 17, notification from the Department of State of its intent to obligate $1.5 million in funds pursuant to Sec. 634A of the FAA; unnumbered.

*** Petitions and Memorials ***

Memorial from the Legislature of the Commonwealth of the Mariana Islands Supporting the U.S. in the Fight Against Terrorism – Feb. 6, Memorial 257.

*** Hearings/Markups Printed ***

ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM 2003
(Joint Committee Print – HIRC and SFRC, December 2003)

CENTRAL ASIA: TERRORISM, RELIGIOUS EXTREMISM, AND REGIONAL STABILITY
(October 29, 2003, Hearing before the Subcommittee on the Middle East and Central Asia – Serial No. 108-71)