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National Journal's CongressDailyAM
Issue date: June 7, 2001 ---------------------------- CongressDailyAM is now on the Web: http://www.nationaljournal.com/pubs/congressdaily/ It's easy to use, plus you also get access to the afternoon edition, Markup Reports, the searchable archive of stories and more. You may need a username and password to access the site. If you don't have them, call 800-207-8001 today. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- HEALTH Senate Transition Could Rekindle Generic Drug Reform Effort While drug patent reform legislation has been on the shelf for the past few years, the changing political dynamics in the Senate--coupled with the drive to find a way to reduce drug costs--may soon mean a renewed effort on the issue. The House Energy and Commerce Committee is considering changes to the 1984 drug patent law as part of the broader Medicare prescription drug bill it is drafting, several key sources said. The idea would be to save the government money by removing some barriers faced by generic copies of brand-name drugs when they are ready to go to market, sources said. But any changes to the Hatch-Waxman law--named for its sponsors, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, and Rep. Henry Waxman, D- Calif.--could open up a multitude of other drug patent issues that have bogged down reform for years. "That type of dynamic might make you have to choose between one [bill] or the other," said a prescription drug industry source. The brand-name drug industry so far has been reluctant to back efforts to change the Hatch-Waxman law. But the generic- drug industry said it would welcome the change. "If Congress is going to take full advantage of the savings that generic drugs offer as it examines potential ways to bring drug costs down to pay for a Medicare drug benefit, it makes great sense" to enact a generic drug bill, said a lobbyist for the generic drug industry. Recent bills to speed generic drugs to market introduced by Sens. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. and John McCain, R-Ariz., and by Reps. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, could save as much as $70 billion, sponsors estimate. CBO has yet to score them. But the actual savings of such a bill are hard to estimate, particularly when balanced against the research cuts drug companies say they could be forced to make. The research-based pharmaceutical industry estimates that it will spend about $30.5 billion on research and development this year, compared with $2 billion in 1980. The industry says it develops about 45 percent of the world's drugs in the United States. The Energy and Commerce Committee is planning a hearing next Wednesday on generic drugs, nonprescription drugs, and other issues. But a spokesman warned observers not to read too much into the scheduling of the hearing. "In noticing the hearing, no one should try to read between the lines," the spokesman said. "Right now, we're looking at a wide range of options. In the end, our goal is to address the issue of escalating prices without harming research and innovation." Hatch-Waxman reform also may get a boost from the switch to Democratic control in the Senate. While aides said no official discussions have taken place on moving a generic-drug bill since this week's Democratic takeover, members of at least three panels--the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, the Commerce Committee and the Judiciary Committee--have expressed interest. And Hatch issued a warning before stepping down as chairman. "To those who would propose to change the 1984 legislation, I would urge you to consider that this is a carefully balanced bill and caution against making changes that tilt the balance," Hatch told a May 25 hearing. "Yet, no law is so perfect that it cannot stand improvement as it gets tested by the realities of a changing marketplace and society." Newly installed Judiciary Chairman Leahy introduced a bill earlier this year that would require generic-drug companies that enter deals with brand-name companies to keep their products off the market to submit the terms of the deal to the FTC and the Justice Department. Leahy will hold oversight hearings on the issue this year, a spokesman said. -- By April Fulton -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ENERGY Armey, Watts Differ Over Energy Strategy After weeks of sustained Democratic attacks on Republican energy policy, House Majority Leader Armey and Republican Conference Chairman J.C. Watts of Oklahoma--both of whom represent oil-rich states--clashed publicly this week on what action Congress should take to address the rising costs and diminishing supplies of the nation's energy. Responsible for House communications strategy, Watts called on House Resources Chairman Hansen and Energy and Commerce Chairman Tauzin Monday to schedule hearings on the "volatile prices" facing energy consumers this year. "We need to get answers from energy company executives including producers, suppliers, refiners, transporters, distributors and retailers, with the goals of finding solutions to these price fluctuations and bringing price stability to the public," Watts wrote in letters to the chairmen. Responding to a reporter's question Tuesday, Armey said he opposed committee hearings to look at allegations of "price gouging" by the energy industry. "I would not personally see the need," Armey said. "Why would one hold hearings on what I characterize as cheap political demagoguery? And that is what it is." Armey added: "If people want to look at the companies, point their fingers at them, that's just nonsense. I don't care who it comes from. It is just nonsense." Without specifically recommending hearings, Watts again urged Republican members Wednesday "to provide the American people with answers about the current energy crunch," saying he favored the measures proposed under President Bush's energy plan. "While Democrats overstate the role government should play in energy policy, Republicans cannot forget that it does have a role," Watts wrote in his latest memo. "While price caps are not an option, we must insist on price accountability." The Watts memo, based on New Models polling data produced by Republican pollster David Winston, reflects GOP concerns about the Democratic energy assault. Republicans also are frustrated by the attention given to the party switch of Sen. James Jeffords, I-Vt., instead of the Republican $1.35 trillion tax cut. "It complicates efforts to talk about tax relief and education when the political media coverage overwhelmingly focused on Jeffords," a Watts aide said. To keep the GOP tax relief message alive, Watts suggested in his Wednesday memo that members tout the rebate checks the Treasury Department will begin mailing to taxpayers this summer. "From public service announcements to franked mailings, the possibilities are endless, and Conference is developing a number of resources for you to use," Watts wrote. In his memo, Watts also urged members to "redouble" their efforts to talk about the passage of education reform. "There is no reason for us to stop talking to the public about education just because the vote was gaveled," he wrote. An Armey spokesman said Wednesday there was no rift between Armey and Watts. "It's just a question of exploring options," the spokesman said. -- By Mark Wegner -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- APPROPRIATIONS Ag Approps Panel Sticks To Caps, Kills School Lunch Program In the first test of FY02 appropriations spending limits, House Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee Republicans defeated a $300 million proposal Wednesday to continue the international school lunch food-aid program. After strong pleas from House Appropriations Chairman Young and Subcommittee Chairman Henry Bonilla, R-Texas, not to break the caps, the subcommittee voted 8-7 against the amendment sponsored by subcommittee ranking member Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio, to the FY02 Agriculture appropriations bill. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo., voted with the Democrats in favor of the proposal. Voting against the amendment clearly made Republican subcommittee members nervous. Rep. James Walsh, R-N.Y., quickly proposed report language that the subcommittee "strongly urges" the Agriculture Department to continue the program, formally known as the Global Food for Education Initiative. Former Sen. George McGovern, D-S.D., now U.S. ambassador to the world food agencies in Rome, and former Senate Majority Leader Dole have promoted it. Kaptur asked Walsh to change the "strongly urges" wording to "expects," and the report language passed unanimously. However, after the markup session, Kaptur said that she does not know what impact the report language will have. She is "inclined" to re- offer the amendment in full committee. Bonilla initially suggested the report language, but House Appropriations ranking member David Obey, D-Wis., pressed for the vote, saying that if the subcommittee "can't get together on food aid to kids who need it," he did not know what measures it could agree on. The Clinton administration started the international school lunch initiative, using its administrative authority to distribute surplus commodities. It did not have to be scored in FY01, subcommittee staff director Hank Moore explained. Both Obey and Kaptur said they are concerned that the Bush administration has not stated a clear position on the school lunch initiative yet. They believe a directive from the subcommittee would encourage USDA officials to make a commitment for next year. The subcommittee later approved the bill, which provides $74.2 billion for all programs, of which $15.5 billion is discretionary funding. The rest is for mandatory farm and nutrition programs. Excluding $3.6 billion in emergency appropriations in the FY01 bill, it contains a 7 percent increase. Kaptur, who has had testy relations with Bonilla, said the bill was "better than we expected." -- By Jerry Hagstrom -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- APPROPRIATIONS Dem Appropriators Criticize Administration's NSF Funding Request A Senate appropriations panel Wednesday criticized the administration's request for funding for the National Science Foundation, saying it was inadequate to fully support the agency's research efforts and failed to move toward the panel's goal of doubling NSF funding over five years, National Journal's Technology Daily reported. "I am disappointed in the administration's overall research and development budget, and the NSF proposal in particular," said Senate VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski, D-Md. "This is the first time in the NSF's 50-year history that an administration has requested Congress to cut NSF's research budget below the previous year's level." The administration requested $4.47 billion for NSF in FY02, a $56 million increase, or 1.3 percent, which is less than the rate of inflation. NSF's budget would have to rise by about $600 million in FY02 to meet the goal of doubling in five years, Mikulski said. She asked NSF Director Rita Colwell, "Is this [$56 million increase] what you wanted, or is this what you got?" Colwell defended the budget request, saying it focuses on areas the administration has identified as priorities, such as education and training. But she also added that she fully supports the panel's efforts to double NSF's budget. The NSF proposal calls for an 11 percent increase for education and human resources, including $200 million for math and science partnerships and $26.2 million for a program that puts graduate students in K-12 classrooms. The proposal also would increase stipends for graduate fellowships. "We are losing our best and brightest science students to other fields," said Eamon Kelly, chairman of the National Science Board, who expressed support for the budget proposal. "Even our future workers who are not directly engaged in scientific endeavors will need to be scientifically literate to perform their tasks." Mikulski agreed with the panelists about the importance of science and math education and worker literacy. But she also noted the value of funding basic research in science and technology, saying that if NSF had not done the work it began 50 years ago, "I don't believe we'd have the information technology we have today." Colwell noted that the budget request would increase NSF's support for nanoscale science and engineering research by 16.1 percent. "Nanotechnology ... could change the way almost everything is designed, from medicines to computers to automobiles." The budget request would increase funding for research and related areas by 0.5 percent, to $3.33 billion. Members of the House Science Research Subcommittee Wednesday afternoon characterized that funding level as inadequate. "About the kindest thing I can say about this budget request is that it's disappointing," said Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, D- Texas. Testifying at the House hearing, NSF Deputy Director Joseph Bordogna said the budget's focus on "people" was intentional. "NSF is as much about building a world-class workforce as it is about discovery," he said. "It is important to emphasize that research and education are pursued in an integrated way and that synergy between the programs in each of these accounts is fundamental to NSF's mission." -- By Robert Lamb -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- APPROPRIATIONS Despite Shrunken Surplus, GOP Sees Increased FY02 Cushion Despite CBO's reduced estimate of next year's surplus, Republican budget writers said they still plan on an FY02 budget cushion of about $27.5 billion--even after setting aside the politically untouchable Medicare trust-fund surplus. GOP budget experts expect the cushion to come from smaller- than-allowed costs of the FY02 share of the $1.35 trillion tax cut. The experts explained their estimates of the figures in response to a recent CongressDaily article indicating that the FY02 cushion may have sagged to as low as $1 billion, based on CBO's revised surplus estimates. Democrats, meanwhile, countered that the tax cut, which President Bush plans to sign today, relies on an accounting gimmick in FY02 to make additional money available. In FY03 and beyond, this could cause Congress to tap the Medicare trust-fund surplus--despite language in the budget resolution that bars Congress from doing so. In an analysis that House Budget ranking member John Spratt, D-S.C., planned to release today, Democrats charge that the $1.35 trillion tax cut "exhausts the available surplus in 2003 through 2006 and jeopardizes the solvency of Social Security and Medicare," even assuming Congress adheres to the spending limits in the budget resolution. The FY02 budget resolution approved by Congress used CBO's January baseline to project a total FY02 budget surplus of $218.6 billion, with an on-budget surplus of $47.7 billion, of which $35.9 billion comes from the Medicare Part A trust-fund surplus. The remaining $11.8 billion of the surplus was left as a reserve to cover expenses not already built into the budget, including the increase in defense spending expected to result from Defense Secretary Rumsfeld's strategic review. Last week, CBO released its analysis of the president's budget, using a revised baseline that reduced its estimate of the surplus by $9 billion. In April, CBO recalculated the FY02 Medicare trust fund at $37.6 billion--or $1.7 billion larger than estimated in January. Taken together, CBO's most recent estimates of the total surplus and Medicare surplus component would reduce the size of the FY02 reserve by $10.7 billion, leaving only $1.1 billion in the reserve. The budget resolution allowed for taxes to be cut by $65.3 billion in FY02. But the final tax package that Congress enacted, as scored by the Joint Committee on Taxation, carries an FY02 price tag of just $37.8 billion--meaning that $27.5 billion budgeted for, but not "spent," in the tax bill should be included in the available FY02 surplus. CBO's January baseline produced a reserve of nearly $12 billion for FY02, assuming the tax bill would use up the entire $65.3 billion provided in the budget. Because the tax bill actually cost $27.5 billion less, the reserve instead would amount to about $39 billion, using the January surplus estimates. Using the less generous May baseline and the more-than-$1 billion reserve it produces, the unspent portion of the tax bill would take the FY02 reserve to almost $29 billion. In both cases, the reserve represents the size of the surplus after the Social Security and Medicare Part A trust funds are set aside. In the analysis being issued today, Democrats say the size of the tax cut "means that funding priorities like defense modernization, a Medicare prescription drug benefit or education--priorities that even Republicans support--will require a choice between two equally undesirable outcomes: Either the resources must come from funds already dedicated to Social Security and Medicare, or funding of other national priorities must be severely cut--simply because the tax cut is too big." The Democratic analysis uses CBO's May baseline and includes the discretionary spending levels and policies assumed in the budget resolution, adjusted to reflect the actual cost of the enacted tax bill as scored by the Joint Committee on Taxation. It projects an available surplus, outside the Social Security and Medicare trust funds, of $24 billion in FY02 (a figure that accounts for $5 billion in debt service costs)--but a deficit of $5 billion in FY03 and a $2 billion deficit in FY04. As for the FY02 surplus, Democrats counter that Republicans were only able to show a surplus by using a $33 billion accounting maneuver that merely moved money from FY01 to FY02. As part of the effort to keep the tax bill in compliance with the budget resolution, a provision delays the deadline for corporate estimated-tax payments from September 15 to October 1, 2001--effectively making the $33 billion in estimated revenue available on the first day of FY02, instead of at the end of FY01. -- By Lisa Caruso -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- TRADE Anti-NAFTA Coalition Plans To Fight Chilean Trade Pact Effort Among the trade battles the Bush administration could be facing this year is the establishment of a free-trade agreement with Chile. A group of labor and environmental organizations known as the Chilean Fair Trade Coalition will announce plans today to step up lobbying against the deal. The coalition includes the International Brotherhood of Teamsters and Friends of the Earth, along with a number of labor groups from Chile. The Bush administration would like to see an agreement with Chile worked out by the end of the year. It is expected that such an agreement would be based largely on the North American Free Trade Agreement, which many labor, environmental and human rights groups charge has adversely affected U.S. jobs and environmental standards in the business corridor along the U.S.-Mexican border. Among members who have championed the cause of expanded trade with Chile are Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn. and Phil Gramm, R- Texas. Both have offered legislation to bring Chile into NAFTA. Once the administration presents Congress with a proposed trade deal, sources said the debate would be reminiscent of the bitter NAFTA controversy. While significant differences remain between the United States and Chile over the details of the deal, the administration has stressed the importance of moving toward the establishment of a Free Trade Area of Americas, and the Chilean pact would help advance that effort. In addition, such a pact would help Chile play a higher- profile role in South American political and economic affairs than its rival, Brazil. To help bring about the FTAA, many observers believe it is essential for the president to have broad presidential trade- negotiating authority. Formerly known as fast track, the proposal is moving up on the congressional agenda. House Majority Leader Armey said this week he would like to see a measure on the floor as soon as July, and Senate Finance Chairman Baucus also has noted the importance of presidential trade-negotiating authority. But Baucus has insisted that labor and environmental matters be taken into account. This week, the Business Roundtable sent a policy paper to Congress members. It outlines a spate of bilateral trade agreements in recent years--often without U.S. participation and at the expense of the United States. To shore up the U.S. role in trade matters, the Business Roundtable recommends renewal of what the Bush administration calls "trade promotion authority" as quickly as possible. -- By Stephen Norton -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- TECHNOLOGY High-Tech Companies Planning To Add Voice To Privacy Debate With the Democratic takeover of the Senate stirring speculation that federal privacy legislation will take on a higher priority in the chamber, members of the Silicon Valley lobbying group TechNet are moving to become more engaged in the issue, National Journal's Technology Daily reported. In a conference call earlier this week, lobbyists for high- tech companies including Hewlett-Packard, Cisco Systems, Sun Microsystems and Accenture decided to try to craft some privacy principles, without advocating or opposing any particular legislation. The list then could be used to educate senators on how to view any particular privacy bill. "Companies are still trying to decide whether they should get behind a piece of legislation or not," said one person familiar with the TechNet call. The ascension of new Senate Commerce Chairman Hollings, who sponsored a tough privacy bill in the 106th Congress, fueled speculation among several privacy advocates and business groups that the chances for action on privacy legislation have improved. Expectations for action in 2001 had dimmed over the past six months, as the complexity of privacy legislation became apparent and Republican leaders showed little appetite for moving a bill. But several high-tech lobbyists said Hollings has expressed personal interest in protecting consumers' privacy and could become more aggressive on the issue. Other observers said Hollings is likely to have higher priorities, such as transportation and television violence. A spokesman for Hollings has said the senator is still mulling his priorities. Neither Hollings nor new Commerce ranking member John McCain, R-Ariz., have re-introduced the privacy bills they sponsored in the 106th Congress. TechNet Executive Vice President Connie Correll said the organization's members are working on opening a dialogue with Hollings to discuss privacy and other tech issues the committee is expected to consider. She also said TechNet had been planning to develop privacy principles. Correll declined to comment on which TechNet members would be developing the group's privacy principles. She also would not comment on what direction the group might pursue. The tech industry has been divided on what policy stance to take on privacy, with some companies and associations taking a stronger stance on the need for a basic privacy bill and others advocating a free-market approach to determining a solution to privacy protection. Meanwhile, the makeup of the Commerce Committee remains uncertain while Republican and Democratic leaders negotiate an agreement on committee assignments. Hollings is officially the chairman, but any freshman members, such as Sen. George Allen, R-Va., currently have no seats on Senate committees because committee membership temporarily is based on the organizational structure adopted for the 106th Congress. -- By Bara Vaida -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- AGRICULTURE Agricultural Conservation Groups Call For New Farm Programs Representatives of agricultural conservation, wildlife and industry groups presented conflicting proposals on the conservation title of the next farm bill Wednesday, when they testified before the House Agriculture Conservation, Credit, Rural Development and Research Subcommittee. Craig Cox, executive vice president of the Soil and Water Conservation Society, called for doubling the Agriculture Department budget for existing conservation programs and starting a new $3 billion "stewardship-based farm and ranch program" to pay farmers for continuing or starting to use good conservation practices. If the current Freedom to Farm program is continued, Cox said, farmers should have the option of signing land stewardship contracts rather than continuing with the Freedom to Farm program. Cox said the new spending should be focused on land kept in production rather than idled in the Conservation Reserve Program. The increased spending would require a "dramatically expanded" Natural Resources and Conservation Service staff to provide technical services, he said. A larger administrative staff also would be needed to analyze the stewardship "contracts" farmers would have to take out with the government to get the money, Cox said. Cox said the society's proposal, based on two years of interviews and focus groups with a variety of people in agriculture, would be available to farmers throughout the country, unlike the current commodity programs, which concentrate assistance in the Plains and the South. The proposal envisions large-scale assistance to ranchers with grazing land and to growers of specialty crops. Asked his views on limits to conservation payments, Cox said he believes the money should go those who deliver "environmental goods and services" to the taxpayer. The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture testified in favor of block grants to state governments to develop assistance to farmers appropriate to each state. Wildlife groups asked for an expansion of the land-idling Conservation Reserve Program to 45 million acres. But the National Grain and Feed Association, which represents agricultural suppliers, said the CRP should not be expanded beyond the current 36.4 million acres. After the hearing, Subcommittee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., said in a statement that the conservation proposals would be costly. "The interesting fact is that if we add up what the majority of groups asked for in the commodity title, plus what most groups have asked for or are going to ask for in a conservation title, we will have already spent more money than was budgeted for the entire farm bill," Lucas said. "That is why I want to focus on what is working and what is not working; what is being done efficiently and effectively and what is not." -- By Jerry Hagstrom -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- SENATE LEADERSHIP Dorgan: Democrats Will Rule Senate With A `Different Tone' Democrats will seek to promote a "different tone and a different style" as the majority party, although the new political realities will force changes in the legislative agenda and relationships that shape the Capitol, according to Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D. "The Bush agenda is an agenda that is not really central to what we have to do in the next few weeks," Dorgan, who co-chairs the Democratic Policy Committee, said Wednesday during a wide- ranging interview with CongressDaily. Dorgan said after acting on managed care legislation, the Senate would quickly have to begin to focus on moving the FY02 appropriations bills. On energy issues, a top Bush administration priority, Dorgan said the president's plan "is not a balanced plan." He said the Congress would have to grapple with energy issues in a way that is "much more significant than any of us thought." Dorgan, who met with newly installed Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Bingaman Wednesday, said Democratic legislation would focus on production, conservation, renewable energy, and efficiency of appliances. Emphasizing an area of agreement with the White House, he said there were opportunities to join on incentives to encourage production. "My hope is we don't debate the production issue over ANWR," he said in a reference to oil drilling in the Alaska National Wildlife Refuge. He said Democrats were interested in using the tax code to encourage conservation--but did not say how they would offset costs of any tax credits the energy bill might include. Democrats and Republicans face a tight budget environment because much of the budget surplus is off the table because of the tax cut. But he gave no indication that Democrats planned to revisit the $1.35 trillion tax bill that President Bush will sign today. "The budget is passed. The tax cut is passed. That largely settled those fiscal policy issues for the year." Dorgan said. Dorgan, who will chair the Senate Treasury-Postal Appropriations Subcommittee, predicted little change at the Appropriations Committee with Democrats now running the show. Citing his friendly working relationship with subcommittee ranking member Ben Nighthorse Campbell, R-Colo., Dorgan noted that "most subcommittees work together in a bipartisan way," and anticipated little change in the panel's spending priorities under his chairmanship. The real problems are likely to come at the end of the year, when appropriators are bumping up against the budget caps at the same time they are trying to move the two largest spending bills--Defense and Labor-HHS. With little room to maneuver, Congress might again be forced to declare some spending as emergencies in order to keep from busting the budget, or round up the 60 votes needed in the Senate to raise the caps. The Senate faces similar constraints with the nearly $7 billion FY01 supplemental Bush sent to Capitol Hill last week. With only $500 million in offsets, the supplemental uses up nearly the entire $6.5 billion by which Congress raised the FY01 in the budget resolution. Any more spending added to the supplemental therefore would have to be offset or declared an emergency. But OMB Director Daniels has already laid down the gauntlet-- cautioning Congress Tuesday not to bid up the supplemental or use emergency declarations or other accounting gimmicks to spend beyond the 4 percent increase for FY02 the administration has called for. Otherwise, be prepared for presidential vetoes, Daniels warned this week. In remarks that echoed the private grumblings of other appropriators, Dorgan said: "Mitch Daniels is sounding his political horn these days. I would sooner he just get down to business and work with us, and back off the politics just a little bit." Dorgan shied away from major political predictions about how the year would unfold, although he reflected on several new trends. "[Majority Leader] Daschle will play a much more pivotal role in national politics now than he did as minority leader," he said. Dorgan said Vermont Sen. James Jeffords' switch to independent status is "not likely to be repeated in this Congress" by other senators. A close confidant of the new leader, Dorgan praised Daschle for his decentralized leadership style. "He brings people in. He meets ... He has the patience of Job," declared Dorgan. Dorgan said the policy committee that he and Daschle chair will switch from playing occasional "defense" to developing more of an issues agenda. Dorgan chided Minority Leader Lott for stifling Democratic amendments when Republicans were in the majority. "Senator Lott was someone who was concerned with having absolute control on the floor of issues," he said, adding that Democratic leaders have discussed how they will operate differently. "I suspect you will see legislation coming to the floor of the Senate without the restrictions Senator Lott imposed." Dorgan said. Dorgan acknowledged that Democrats had to try to accommodate Republicans because they hold such a narrow majority. "There's certainly a danger of high expectations," he said. "Nothing much has changed, except the majority leader and the committee chairs. The Republicans learned and we understand that it's not easy to get things done in a Senate that's evenly split." -- By Geoff Earle and Lisa Caruso -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- SENATE LEADERSHIP Organizing Talks Continue; Daschle Asks Monday-Friday Schedule A team of five Republican senators met for a second time Wednesday with Senate Majority Leader Daschle to negotiate a new organizing resolution to reflect Democratic control of the Senate--and for the second straight day the two sides described "productive" and "cordial" talks but reported no final agreement. "We had a good meeting and that's all I can say," Daschle said late Wednesday. Sen. Phil Gramm, R-Texas, said the negotiating team had another "good, productive meeting" with Daschle, adding: "I believe we're making progress. Everybody wants to solve this thing...I think we pretty well have done what we want to do." Moderate GOP Sen. Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island said he believed "some reality has set in" among his Republican colleagues, many of whom were urging a hard line in the negotiations earlier this week. "There were a lot less aggressive tones today [in a meeting of the GOP Conference] than even back in January," when the power- sharing agreement was negotiated for a 50-50 Senate. "[And] it was a much more logical conversation" than earlier in the week, he said. "There wasn't much of a moderate/conservative split in there." One change will soon become evident in the Senate. Daschle said the chamber would begin working on a Monday-through-Friday schedule. Throughout the day Wednesday, Republicans continued to raise the issue of judicial and other nominees, although the demand for written assurances that such nominations would receive a floor vote seemed to recede as the day progressed. Still, Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pa., said there was "broad concern within the [GOP] Conference that members of the new majority have made statements that would change the precedent on nominees." Santorum said he had "never called for a rules change" to address the issue, but said he was concerned by comments he attributed to Judiciary Chairman Leahy that nominees can be disqualified simply because they are conservatives. "We need to confirm with the Democratic side that there will be no break with precedent," he said. But Santorum agreed that the operating resolution should be resolved within "another day or so." Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., a senior member of the Judiciary Committee, was dismissive of the idea that Bush administration nominees should receive any special consideration. "Bill Lan Lee is my answer to that," he said, in reference to a Clinton administration Justice Department nomination that Republicans refused to bring forward for a vote. "We will hear from the Justice Department [on judicial nominees] and we will have full and fair hearings. But there is no presumption to be on the Supreme Court." GOP Policy Committee Chairman Larry Craig of Idaho, said one of the options Republicans were discussing was dealing with their concerns about nominations "for the record," either through a "dialogue" on the Senate floor or through some other type of understanding. He predicted that negotiations could be completed today, although he said his guess was it would not be voted on until next week. "The option is to take the appropriate time," Craig said. Craig agreed with statements by Daschle that the two parties might try to reach an understanding that if Republicans were to regain control, the now defunct 50-50 power sharing resolution would again take effect. "That's probably fairly close," said Craig, who also seemed to indicate that Democrats had reacted favorably to some GOP suggestions. "We've asked for several things that they think are fair that we think are fair." But he also acknowledged that as the minority party, Republicans had limited tools at their disposal. "We cannot scalp Pat Leahy," he said of the Judiciary Committee chairman. -- By Charlie Mitchell and Geoff Earle -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- POLITICS Morella Declines Governor Bid; Focus Shifts To Ehrlich Rep. Constance Morella, R-Md., disclosed Tuesday that she would not run for governor in 2002--while all but saying that she will seek re-election to a ninth term, the Baltimore Sun reported. "My concentration has always been in my district, I like where I am," said Morella, who was first elected in 1986 to her Montgomery County-based seat. The decision turns the statewide spotlight on GOP Rep. Robert Ehrlich, who plans to make an announcement this summer on whether he will seek the governor's office. But pollster Keith Haller said Morella's announcement is a big setback for the Maryland Republican Party--because polls showed her to be a formidable statewide candidate, and because Democrats would have a hard time as portraying the politically moderate Morella as out of the mainstream. Ehrlich as regarded as more conservative. But Haller added, "Ehrlich now has a wide-open opportunity to assume the Republican mantle should he believe it's politically feasible." The leading contender for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination is Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, daughter of the late Sen. Robert Kennedy, D-N.Y. Even though she has taken herself out of contention for governor, Morella may still face a member of the Kennedy dynasty next year: state Del. Mark Shriver, son of Special Olympics founder Eunice Kennedy Shriver, has announced he will seek Morella's House seat. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- POLITICS Davis Appeals To GOP Lawmakers For Donations To Forbes National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Tom Davis of Virginia appealed to GOP House members Wednesday for donations to the congressional bid of state Sen. Randy Forbes in a forthcoming Virginia special election. Davis noted that 71 GOP members have already contributed to the Forbes campaign, and urged the remaining 150 GOP Conference members to pony up as well. Forbes is running against Democratic state Sen. Louise Lucas in the June 19 special election for the 4th District seat of the late Democratic Rep. Norman Sisisky. The politically marginal district stretches across southern Virginia from the Richmond area to Portsmouth. A NRCC spokesman confirmed the Davis request, saying, "It's a close race, and we need all the help we can get." House Majority Whip DeLay Wednesday also briefed the GOP Conference of his ROMP and STOMP programs. ROMP--the Retain Our Majority Program--encourages safe incumbents to contribute excess campaign contributions to vulnerable GOP members. STOMP--the Strategic Task Force for Organizing and Mobilizing People--is designed to build a grassroots response to such traditional Democratic allies as organized labor and environmental activists. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- POLITICS In Mich., GOP Keeps Searching For Levin Foe Having already been turned down by a number of potential candidates, Michigan Republicans are continuing their search for a 2002 candidate to take on Democratic Sen. Carl Levin--who Wednesday assumed the chairmanship of the Armed Services Committee with the Senate's shift to Democratic control. Businessman Jim Nicholson, who lost a 1996 bid for the GOP nomination against Levin, told The Detroit News that "it will take brave people" to consider going against Levin, while adding, "And I may be one of them." Nicholson said he would not decide until late this year. Another possible Levin challenger getting high marks from the state GOP headquarters is businessman David Brandon, a close ally of GOP Gov. John Engler who is a University of Michigan trustee. A party spokesman said Brandon is "a guy with a good story who would be a good candidate." Another close Engler associate--Dan Pero, a former Engler chief of staff who managed two of the governor's campaigns--last month took himself out of the running. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- POLITICS Backus Moving From DNC To DCCC Jenny Backus says she decided to leave her post as spokeswoman for the Democratic National Committee to move to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee because "I wanted the opportunity to work directly on House races, which are essential." DCCC Chairwoman Nita Lowey of New York has tapped the veteran political operative to head the committee's communications shop for the 2002 cycle, effective June 22. Backus replaces Erik Smith, who left the DCCC recently to serve as communications director for House Minority Leader Gephardt. Backus said she will miss working with DNC Chairman Terry McAuliffe, but added that she wanted more contact with "up and coming stars" in the Democratic Party, and said the new job will help her learn the country's new redistricting map. Before joining the DNC, Backus worked on the 1998 campaign of Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., in which he defeated now-GOP Sen. John Ensign by a mere 428 votes. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- COLUMN: ON THE MONEY A Train Wreck Wrecker? When you ask most people how this year's appropriations season will go, they let out a groan reminiscent of Lurch on "The Addams Family." But not Mitch Daniels. The OMB director still thinks everything may turn out OK--although he is a little less optimistic now that the Democrats have taken over the Senate. "We're very serious about this being an orderly process," Daniels said in an interview this week. Asked if the process can be smooth, Daniels said, "We'll find out." But he also said, "I'm confident we were on our way to that and I'm confident we can still do it." He conceded that working with Democrats leading the Senate may be different from working with the Republicans, but said, "We'll have to be flexible where we can be." For the past few years of the Clinton administration, then-OMB Director Lew started the season with a speech in which he projected gloom and doom: The budget resolution contained false numbers....They were too low....Nobody believed that was the amount the government really would spend....We would end up in a budget confrontation at the end of the fiscal year, and the confrontation would drag into November or later.... Many predict the same endgame this year. They contend education, defense and other priorities will exceed the budget resolution, and the spending caps will be increased. Daniels is making it clear that that is not acceptable. Rather than start with a speech, he opened the appropriations season with an op-ed piece in the Washington Post, in which he emphasized that the administration wants to stick with this year's budget resolution. In this week's interview, Daniels said he is trying to change the way OMB interacts with Congress to try to convince members. Republicans used to complain that OMB only entered the appropriations process at the end--when the president threatened a veto and the endgame negotiations had to begin. Daniels said OMB is trying to work with Congress at the start of the process. Asked when his office became involved, he commented, "Have been, are, will be." OMB officials already have met with appropriations subcommittee staff and will continue to do so throughout the process, Daniels said. The new strategy was a careful calculation, he said. As a former Senate staffer, he certainly realizes that members carefully protect their prerogatives. And he kept saying OMB would be only as involved as appropriators want them to be. But having said that, Daniels added, "From the beginning, it seemed clear to me that we wanted to be in body contact with the appropriators all the way, and we have been." However, he is not sure how the appropriations dynamic changes with changeover in the Senate. "This moves the needle a little bit, but not far." As Republicans have been fond of pointing out, the membership of the Senate has not changed. But of course, being bipartisan means swallowing hard sometimes and being willing to compromise--even on pork barrel projects, a particular target of the administration. President Bush has made it clear he wants to cut down on earmarked projects. In the supplemental spending bill sent to Congress this month, Bush proposed to rescind some $93 million earmarked last year for I-49 in Arkansas--money put in the Transportation bill to try to help the unsuccessful re-election campaign of former appropriator Rep. Jay Dickey, R-Ark. The proposed rescission has been criticized--and clearly is a sign that Bush is targeting such projects. Even so, Daniels said the administration realizes it is going to have to be somewhat pragmatic. "We called a lot of attention to the sixfold explosion of earmarks, which is a distinctly bipartisan phenomenon," Daniels said. But he quickly added: "We do think this trend ought to be reined in, but we're realistic. To the extent that this is a lubricant to the process or a bipartisan process, we recognize that a lot of it will go on." Although Democrats have repeatedly criticized this year's budget process, Daniels believes it worked "fine." But Bush has proposed a series of budget reforms--ranging from a two-year budget cycle to an automatic continuing resolution that would go into effect if Congress did not complete the 13 annual funding bills by the end of the year. Daniels said that reform of the CR process would be a good place to start. Appropriators have said they believe an automatic CR takes away all of the incentive to complete the 13 individual bills. The administration believes just the opposite. "The president interprets it as a way to move the process to conclusion to avoid end-of-session chaos," said Daniels. And of course, end-of-session chaos is something everyone-- especially the president--would like to avoid. -- By David Baumann -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- COLUMN: HOUSE RACE HOTLINE A Very Special Time Of Year 2001 hardly has been an "off year" in the House, with a total of six special elections slated--and it's only June. However, unlike in most presidential inaugural years, just one of the six special elections resulted from a job offer with the administration. The remaining special elections resulted from two resignations--both by members of the president's party--and three deaths. As expected, former state Sen. Diane Watson won Tuesday's special election in California's heavily Democratic 32nd District. That race, along with last month's special election in Pennsylvania's heavily Republican 9th District, set the pattern for the majority of 2001 special elections. They hold heavily competitive primaries--or district conventions--with the eventual winner cruising to victory in the special general election. The exception to that rule is in Virginia's 4th District, which is known as "the only game in the country." The race to replace the late Democratic Rep. Norman Sisisky matches two state senators in a district that President Bush carried by just 500 votes last November. While pressure to hold the seat lies with the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, the Republicans boast a home- field advantage, with fellow Virginia Rep. Tom Davis at the helm of the National Republican Congressional Committee and Gov. James Gilmore leading the Republican National Committee. Voters will head to the polls June 19. Here is your primer on the remaining primary-to-watch specials: Massachusetts 09: In February, the late Democratic Rep. Joe Moakley announced he would not run for re-election in 2002 due to incurable leukemia, so potential candidates had been jockeying for his seat well before his death on Memorial Day. The current frontrunner--at least in the media--is Max Kennedy, one of the younger sons of the late Sen. Robert Kennedy, D-N.Y. But the "frontrunner" title is very tenuous: The Kennedy clan publicly expressed concern about Max's bid after early missteps. Early speculation circulated that Kennedy's chief competitor, state Sen. Stephen Lynch, would run as an independent, to avoid a crowded Democratic primary that would give Kennedy an advantage. Then he would take on Kennedy one-on-one. Some observers believe that if a Kennedy is beatable, it would be in a special election primary held this year--not in a regular primary held 15 months from now. Acting GOP Gov. Jane Swift has yet to announce a special election. Arkansas 03: Originally, the race to replace GOP Rep. Asa Hutchinson, Bush's appointment to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration, was set up to be a race between two of Arkansas' political families--the Hutchinsons and the Huckabees. However, not one but two of GOP Gov. Mike Huckabee's candidates have dropped out. Meanwhile, Hutchinson's nephew, former state Rep. Jim Hendren, dropped out, only to decide the next day that he was back in. When the seat opened up, a member of another political family, state Sen. Gunner DeLay, said he would defer to Hendren. However, after Hendren's indecision, House Majority Whip DeLay's cousin moved ahead with plans to run. While this is a solidly Republican seat--then-President Clinton couldn't even carry his hometown district in 1996--a number of Democrats are considering bids, because in a special, you just never know. The date of this special election has not been set yet, since Hutchinson is not resigning from the seat until he is confirmed by the Senate. Florida 01: After a fake retirement announcement was the subject of a radio station's April Fool gag, GOP Rep. Joe Scarborough fooled us all in late May by announcing he would resign in September. Scarborough took the seat from Democrats in 1994 GOP landslide, and Republicans are heavily favored to hold this district. In fact, the chief of staff to former Democratic Rep. Earl Hutto is running as a Republican. To date, things appear to be in a minor mess, as no fewer than 18 candidates are currently looking at the race--including a father and a son running against each other. GOP Gov. Jeb Bush has set a special election for October 16, with the primary July 24 and a runoff Sept. 4. Meanwhile, in Ohio's 17th District, talk is already swirling about a potential special election if indicted Democratic Rep. James Traficant is convicted. The Warren Tribune-Chronicle speculated that after the case goes to trial next February, the state "might be able to fit either the primary for the special election or the special election itself" on May 7--which would coincide with the regular primary for Congress. Add the fact that redistricting would have two different sets of voters in Ohio's 17th District, and this special election could be the most special--or at least most interesting--of them all. -- By Charles Todd and Maureen Hurley Schweers -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ENVIRONMENT Administration Will Address Global Warming, Rice Says White House National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice indicated Wednesday that the administration will advance ideas about global warming before President Bush leaves for Europe next week, but she was unclear about whether Bush himself will speak on the issue, as many expect. Rice said Bush would be ready to share "what we've learned thus far" with the allies during his trip. Rice, who briefed reporters on the trip agenda, said the Cabinet-level group mulling the issue has not determined what it will tell the president before he embarks. But she indicated that whatever information it gives Bush, the group will not issue final recommendations before he meets with European leaders, who have criticized his decision to scrap the Kyoto treaty. Rice confirmed that Bush believes global warming is taking place but added that the advisory group--which includes EPA Administrator Whitman, Energy Secretary Abraham, Treasury Secretary O'Neill, Interior Secretary Norton and White House National Economic Council Director Larry Lindsey--is trying to "understand better what we don't know." Rice said the panel is exploring the evidence that "sequestration"--the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere by plant life--can "play a role in dealing with emissions,"among other proposals. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- POLITICS Moderate Republicans Help Dems Win First Senate Vote Moderate Republicans helped Senate Democrats win their first vote since Democrats took control of the chamber Wednesday on an amendment, sponsored by Sen. Paul Wellstone, D-Minn., to the education bill. It requires states to develop quality, peer- reviewed tests before receiving grants. But Democrats may face a more difficult challenge today. Wellstone, along with Sen. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., is planning to offer an amendment to prevent states from being required to comply with President Bush's plan to test every child in grades 3-8, unless the federal government fully funds Title I. Title I provides funds to educate poor and disadvantaged students, and Democrats have argued that traditionally it has been underfunded. Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Chairman Kennedy, who is managing the bill on the floor, will oppose the so-called "trigger" amendment because it would "undercut the bill," a spokesman said. "Senator Kennedy shares Sen. Wellstone's concern.... However, efforts to secure additional funding should not set back the efforts to put into place the quality assessments," said a spokesman. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- TRADE Bush Orders Permits For Firms To Truck International Cargo President Bush ordered Wednesday that U.S. businesses owned by Mexican citizens be permitted to truck international cargo between points within the United States. The order, in a memorandum to Transportation Secretary Mineta that will be published in the Federal Register, implements a portion of a NAFTA arbitration panel decision against U.S. treatment of Mexican trucking firms. The order does not affect the right of Mexican trucks to enter the United States, a portion of the decision that has not yet been implemented. Under Wednesday's order, Mexican-owned enterprises also will be allowed to provide bus service within the United States. Bush directed the Transportation Department to "expeditiously" implement the order. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- COMMERCE New Democrat Coalition To Kick-Start `E-Genda' Five members of the New Democrat Coalition are scheduled to kick-start their e-commerce "e-genda" by introducing a House resolution calling for businesses, government agencies and Congress members to incorporate the Platform for Privacy Preferences technology into their Web sites, a technology policy analyst for the Progressive Policy Institute told National Journal's Technology Daily. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., is expected to introduce a resolution supported by California Reps. Calvin Dooley and Ellen Tauscher, as well as Reps. James Moran of Virginia and Rick Larsen of Washington. All five lawmakers also are expected to announce that their Web sites are compliant with P3P, a technology that its supporters say will help users preserve their online privacy. The new Democrats' "e-genda" will be released later this month. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- TECHNOLOGY Coble Introduces Measure Reauthorizing Patent Office House Judiciary Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property Subcommittee Chairman Howard Coble, R-N.C., introduced a bill to reauthorize the Patent and Trademark Office in FY02 and enable the PTO to keep all the revenue it raises from patent fees, National Journal's Technology Daily reported. The measure, introduced Tuesday, would prohibit the practice, commonplace since 1992, of diverting to other federal programs the money the PTO raises from patent and trademark application fees. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=- FLOOR SCHEDULE *SENATE* Convenes at 9:30 a.m. to resume consideration of education legislation. A vote is expected at 11:30 a.m., with other votes throughout the day. *HOUSE* Convenes at 10 a.m. for the swearing-in of Rep.-elect Diane Watson, D-Calif. and to consider Coast Guard reauthorization. The last vote is expected at 1 p.m. TODAY =SENATE COMMITTEES= ARMED SERVICES Pending Nominations Full committee hearing on the nominations of Susan Morrisey Livingstone to be undersecretary of the Navy; Jessie Hill Roberson to be assistant Energy secretary for environmental management; Thomas Christie to be director of operational test and evaluation, Defense Department. 216 HSOB. 9:30 a.m. Contact: 202-224-3871. (Revised.) Future Years Defense Seapower Subcommittee hearing to receive testimony on Navy and Marine Corps equipment requirements in review of the defense authorization request for FY02 and the future years defense program. 232-A RSOB. 2 p.m. Contact: 202-224-3871. Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Mental Health Parity Full committee hearing to examine mental health parity. 430 DSOB. 10 a.m. Contact: 202-224-5375. =HOUSE COMMITTEES= APPROPRIATIONS Bureau of Prisons Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on FY02 appropriations for Bureau of Prisons. H-309, Capitol. 2 p.m. Contact: 202-225-2771. FY02 Appropriations Interior Subcommittee markup on FY02 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction. (No new date announced.) B-308 RHOB. 10 a.m. Contact: 202-225-2771. Architect Appropriations Legislative Subcommittee hearing on FY02 appropriations. (No new date announced.) H-140, Capitol. 11 a.m. Contact: 202-225-2771. (Postponed.) GOP Appropriations Legislative Subcommittee hearing on FY02 appropriations for the House of Representatives. (No new date announced.) H-140, Capitol. 10 a.m. Contact: 202-225-2771. (Postponed.) Education and the Workforce Sales Incentive Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing on a resolution on the Sales Incentive Compensation Act. 2175 RHOB. 1 p.m. Contact: 202- 225-4527. Energy and Commerce Imported Pharmaceuticals Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on continuing concerns over imported pharmaceuticals. 2123 RHOB. 10 a.m. Contact: 202-225-2927. (Revised.) Financial Services Accounting Standards Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises Subcommittee hearing on promotion of international capital flow through accounting standards. 2128 RHOB. 10 a.m. Contact: 202- 225-7502. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS HIV/AIDS Combat Full committee hearing on the U.S. Agency for International Development's fight against AIDS. 2172 RHOB. 10 a.m. Contact: 202-225-5021 JUDICIARY Faith-Based Funding Constitution Subcommittee oversight hearing on the constitutional role of faith-based organizations in competitions for federal social service funds. 2141 RHOB. 9:30 a.m. Contact: 202-225-3951. Patent Oversight Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property Subcommittee oversight hearing on the operations of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 2141 RHOB. 2 p.m. Contact: 202-225-3951. Human Cloning Crime Subcommittee oversight hearing on human cloning. 2237 RHOB. 11 a.m. Contact: 202-225-3951 RESOURCES Fisheries Legislation Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee hearing on H.R.896, to ensure the safety of recreational fishermen and other persons who use motor vehicles to access beaches adjacent to the Brigantine Wilderness Area in the Edwin Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge, New Jersey, by providing a narrow transition zone above the mean high-tide line where motor vehicles can be safely driven and parked; H.R.1989, the Fisheries Conservation Act to reauthorize various fishery conservation management programs. 1324 LHOB. 9:30 a.m. Contact: 202-225-2761. National Parks Legislation National Parks, Recreation and Public Lands Subcommittee hearing on H.R.1461, to amend the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 to remove the exemption for nonprofit organizations from the general requirement to obtain commercial use authorizations; H.R.1491, to assist in the preservation of archaeological, paleontological, zoological, geological and botanical artifacts through construction of a new facility for the University of Utah Museum of Natural History, Salt Lake City, Utah. 1334 LHOB. 10 a.m. Contact: 202-225-2761 SCIENCE Pending Legislation Research Subcommittee markup of H.R.100, National Science Education Act; H.R.1858, the National Mathematics and Science Partnership Act. 2318 RHOB. 10 a.m. Contact: 202-225-6371 VETERANS' AFFAIRS GI Bill Enhancement Benefits Subcommittee hearing on H.R.1291, the 21st Century Montgomery GI Bill Enhancement Act. Witness: Veterans Secretary Principi. 334 CHOB. 11:30 a.m. Contact: 202-225-9164. (Revised.) ON THE HILL TODAY EDUCATION Senate Republican Conference pen and pad briefing on upcoming Senate action and strategy on S.1, the Better Education for Students and Teachers Act. Rescheduled from June 6, 2001. Participants: Sens. Judd Gregg, R-N.H. and William Frist, R-Tenn. Senate Print Gallery, Capitol. 10 a.m. Contact: Julie Teer, 202- 224-5316. (New.) Energy Senate Governmental Affairs Committee news conference on "Committee Goals," including energy issues and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission oversight. Participant: Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn. 342 DSOB. 10:15 a.m. Contact: 202-224-2627. (New.) Environment News conference to introduce the National Monuments Fairness Act, which would amend the 1906 Antiquities Act to require state input and congressional authorization in the creation of national monuments of 50,000 acres or more. Participants: House Resources Chairman Hansen, Reps. Michael Simpson, R-Idaho, John Peterson, R-Pa., Greg Walden, R-Ore., Jim Gibbons, R-Nev., Dennis Rehberg, R-Mont., and Bob Stump, R-Ariz. House Triangle, Capitol; rain site, 1334 LHOB. 2 p.m. Contact: 202-226-9019. FOREIGN AFFAIRS News conference on legislation to reauthorize Iran-Libya Sanctions Act which expires in August. Participant: Sen. Gordon Smith, R-Ore. Senate Radio-TV Gallery. 11:15 a.m. Contact: 202- 228-1823. News conference on honor killing legislation. Participants: Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., and Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y. House Triangle, Capitol. 11 a.m. Contact: 202-225-5635. (New.) SOCIAL ISSUES Ceremony to present a Congressional Gold Medal posthumously to Charles Schulz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip Participants:, Rep. Mike Thompson, D-Calif., Welcome and Introduction, Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., Remarks and Reading of the Resolution, Senate Minority Leader Lott, Senate Majority Whip Reid, House Speaker Hastert, Remarks, Hastert and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., presentation of award. Rotunda, Capitol. 2 p.m. Contact: 202-224-9629. (New.) News briefing on issues essential to rural fire departments. Participant: Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, R-Mo.;. 311 CHOB. 10 a.m. Contact: 202-225-4404. (New.) News conference to announce a new effort to pass legislation banning genetic discrimination in the workplace and in health insurance. Participants: Senate Majority Leader Daschle, Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, Edward Kennedy, D- Mass.; Reps. Constance Morella, R-Md., Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y. S-211, Capitol. 10 a.m. Contact: 202-225-3615. (New.) TAXES News conference on the tax bill signing. Participants: House Minority Leader Gephardt and Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y. HC-9, Capitol. 10:30 a.m. Contact: 202-225-0100. (New.) TRANSPORTATION House Committee on Transportation and Commerce. News conference with executives from several major airlines to outline the status of the airlines' efforts in implementing the numerous customer service improvements recommended by the Transportation Department. Participants: House Transportation and Infrastructure Chairman Young and Rep. John Mica, R-Fla.; Carol Hallet, Air Transport Assn. 2167 RHOB. 1 p.m. Contact: 202-225-8767. OFF THE HILL TODAY: COMMERCE Center for International Policy. One-day conference on "U.S. and Cuban Trademarks: Current Status, Prospects and Problems." Participants: 9:15 a.m., Panel I, "Protecting Trademarks in Cuba: How the System Works", 10:45 a.m., Panel II, "The System Threatened: U.S. Violation of Treaty Commitments to Cuba and the Consequences to U.S. Companies"; 12:30 p.m., Gareth Jenkins, editor, Cuba Business, London, luncheon speaker, "The Real Potential Market for U.S. Goods and Services in a Post-Embargo Cuba", 2:15 p.m., Panel III, "Resuming Trade with Cuba: Ensuring a Foundation for the Future." Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Root Room. 9 a.m. Contact: Leah Riley, 202-232-3317. DEFENSE National Defense University Foundation seminar on theater missile defense and national missile defense policy and spending issues. Participants: House Armed Services Chairman Spence. Capitol Hill Club, 300 First St., SE. 8 a.m. Contact: 202-685-2268. (New.) EMPLOYMENT NAACP Federal Sector Task Force news conference in support of the No FEAR (Federal Employment Antidiscrimination and Retaliation) Act of 2001 (H.R.169). Freedom Plaza, Pennsylvania Ave., NW (between 13th and 14th Sts., NW),Washington, DC. 11:30 a.m. Contact: 202-332-3199. (New.) Environment National Park Service, National Park Foundation and Ford Motor Company ceremony to present honorary keys to the historic, and newly refurbished with clean technology, Red Bus #98 of Glacier National Park as part of a series of transportation solutions to emerge from the private-public partnership of the National Park Service, National Park Foundation and Ford Motor Company. Participant: Interior Secretary Norton. Lincoln Memorial, East Side (between the Memorial and the Reflecting Pool), The National
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