| Key Provisions of the
Select Committee Version of the Homeland Security Act |
7/19. The following is a summary of some of the key
technology and cyber security related provisions of HR
5005, the Homeland Security Act of 2002, as approved by
the House Select Committee on
Homeland Security on July 19 by a vote of 5-4.
Cyber Security Entities Transferred. Section 202 of the
bill transfers several cyber security related entities to the
new Department of Homeland Security (DHS). It provides that
"there shall be transferred to the Secretary the
functions, personnel, assets, and obligations of the
following:
(1) The National Infrastructure
Protection Center of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
(other than the Computer Investigations and Operations
Section), including the functions of the Attorney General
relating thereto.
(2) The National
Communications System of the Department of Defense,
including the functions of the Secretary of Defense relating
thereto.
(3) The Critical Infrastructure
Assurance Office of the Department of Commerce, including
the functions of the Secretary of Commerce relating thereto.
(4) The Energy Security and Assurance Program of the
Department of Energy, including the National Infrastructure
Simulation and Analysis Center and the functions of the
Secretary of Energy relating thereto.
(5) The Federal Computer
Incident Response Center of the General Services
Administration, including the functions of the Administrator
of General Services relating thereto."
Computer Security Division. The bill approved by the
Select Committee leaves the CSD at the NIST. President Bush's
original proposal provided for the transfer of the National Institute of Standards
and Technology's (NIST) Computer
Security Division (CSD) to the new DHS. On July 10, the House Science Committee
(HSC) passed a version of the bill that keeps the CSD at the
NIST. However, the House Commerce Committee's bill followed
the President's proposal of transferring the CSD to the DHS.
The Select Committee followed the recommendation of the
Science Committee.
Technology groups, including the Computer & Communications
Industry Association (CCIA) and Software and Information Industry
Association (SIIA), vehemently opposed transferring the
CSD to the DHS. Also, Members of Congress who are active on
technology issues, such as Rep. Bob Goodlatte
(R-VA) and Rep. Rick
Boucher (D-VA), who are Co-Chairs of the Congressional Internet Caucus,
and Rep. Zoe Lofgren
(D-CA), who is a member of the Science Committee, were active
in opposing the transfer. See, for example, July 17 letter
to Rep. Armey.
Private Sector Liaison. Rep. J.C. Watts (R-OK)
offered an amendment to Section 102 of the bill that creates a
"special assistant for private sector liaison". Rep. Bob Portman
(R-OH) stated that private sector entities "have had
frustration accessing the system." Rep. Nancy Pelosi
(D-CA) also spoke in favor of the amendment. This proposal
received bipartisan support, and was approved by a unanimous
voice vote.
Bruce Josten of the U.S.
Chamber of Commerce wrote a letter to the Select Committee
on July 19 stating that "The Watts Amendment will create
within the proposed organization an office with responsibility
for creating and fostering the necessary relationships with
the private sector to enhance the primary mission of the
Department to protect our homeland ..." See also, Chamber
release.
Privacy Officer. Section 205 of the bill approved by
the Select Committee creates a privacy officer for the new
department. This section is based on language provided by the House Judiciary
Committee.
It provides that "The Secretary shall appoint a senior
official in the Department to assume primary responsibility
for privacy policy, including (1) assuring that the use of
information technologies sustain, and do not erode, privacy
protections relating to the use, collection, and disclosure of
personal information; (2) assuring that personal information
contained in Privacy Act systems of records is handled in full
compliance with fair information practices as set out in the
Privacy Act of 1974; (3) evaluating legislative proposals
involving collection, use, and disclosure of personal
information by the Federal Government; (4) conducting a
privacy impact assessment of proposed rules on the privacy of
personal information, including the type of personal
information collected and the number of people affected; and
(5) preparing a report to Congress on an annual basis on
activities of the Department that affect privacy, including
complaints of privacy violations, implementation of the
Privacy Act of 1974, internal controls, and other
matters."
Cyber Security Program. Section
206 of the bill approved by the Select Committee creates a
federal cyber security program. This section is based on
language included in the House Commerce
Committee's version of the bill, approved on July 11. See,
Commerce Committee
Print [PDF]. It was drafted by Rep. Billy Tauzin
(R-LA), the Chairman of the Commerce Committee, Rep. Heather Wilson
(R-NM), Rep. Jane
Harman (D-CA), and others.
This section provides that "The Secretary, acting through
the Under Secretary for Information Analysis and
Infrastructure Protection, shall establish and manage a
program to improve the security of Federal critical
information systems ..."
It further provides that the duties under this section are
"(1) to evaluate the increased use by civilian executive
agencies of techniques and tools to enhance the security of
Federal critical information systems, including, as
appropriate, consideration of cryptography; (2) to provide
assistance to civilian executive agencies in protecting the
security of Federal critical information systems, including
identification of significant risks to such systems; and (3)
to coordinate research and development for critical
information systems relating to supervisory control and data
acquisition systems, including, as appropriate, the
establishment of a test bed."
This section also provides that "the Secretary shall
establish, manage, and support a Federal information system
security team whose purpose is to provide technical expertise
to civilian executive agencies to assist such agencies in
securing Federal critical information systems by conducting
information security audits of such systems, including
conducting tests of the effectiveness of information security
control techniques and performing logical access control tests
of interconnected computer systems and networks, and related
vulnerability assessment techniques."
Under Secretary for Science and Technology. Section
301 of the bill approved by the Select Committee creates
an Under Secretary of Science and Technology. This position
will be responsible for numerous tasks, including
"establishing and administering the primary research and
development activities" and "conducting basic and
applied research, development, demonstration, testing, and
evaluation activities" of the DHS. It will also be
responsible for "establishing Federal priorities for
research, development, demonstration, testing, and, as
appropriate, procurement and transitional operation of
technology and systems ... for interoperability of
communications systems for emergency response providers".
FOIA Exemption. The bill approved by the Select
Committee also includes a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
exemption for certain critical infrastructure information
voluntarily shared with the federal government. It is much
longer in words, but much narrower in scope, than the language
contained in Section 204 of the bill as introduced. It is
based on the compromise language recommended by the House Government Reform
Committee on July 11. See, Sections
721-724 of the bill approved by the Select Committee.
However, while the exemption has bipartisan support, and the
concept has been advocated by Rep. Jim Moran (D-VA)
since long before September 11, the Select Committee divided
on party lines on this issue. Rep. Rosa Delauro
(D-CT) offered an amendment to remove the FOIA exemption from
the bill. It was rejected by a vote of 4-5, with all of the
Republicans voting to keep the exemption, and all of the
Democrats voting to remove it.
Rep. DeLauro stated that the FOIA as currently written
"already contains sufficient exemptions from
disclosure". She said that "my concern is that there
is danger in creating new exemptions to FOIA. If important
information about health, and safety issues, could be withheld
from the public. In fact, this exemption is so broad that it
could be used to launder embarrassing information through the
new department, thereby preventing public disclosure."
Rep. DeLauro concluded that "What we should not do is
sacrifice some of our most basic principles. We need to
support principles of open, and of accountable,
government."
All of the other Democrats were out of the room at this time.
It was already evening. The Republicans knew they had the
votes to defeat the DeLauro proposal. They did not respond.
Nevertheless, Rep. Delauro asked for a role call vote. The
other Democrats returned to the room. The Delauro amendment
then failed on a straight party line.
The FOIA exemption contained the bill is strongly supported by
technology companies and trade groups that are in a position
to share critical infrastructure information with the DHS.
Section 724 of the bill passed by the Select Committee
provides, in part, that, notwithstanding the FOIA,
"critical infrastructure information (including the
identity of the submitting person or entity) that is
voluntarily submitted to a covered Federal agency for use by
that agency regarding the security of critical infrastructure
and protected systems, if analysis, warning, interdependency
study, recovery, reconstitution, or other informational
purpose, when accompanied by an express statement specified in
paragraph (2) -- (A) shall be exempt from disclosure under
section 552 of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred
to as the Freedom of Information Act); (B) shall not be
subject to any agency rules or judicial doctrine regarding ex
parte communications with a decision making official; (C)
shall not, without the written consent of the person or entity
submitting such information, be used directly by such agency,
any other Federal, State, or local authority, or any third
party, in any civil action arising under Federal or State law
if such information is submitted in good faith; (D) shall not,
without the written consent of the person or entity submitting
such information, be used or disclosed by any officer or
employee of the United States for purposes other than the
purposes of this subtitle, except" in certain enumerated
situation. |
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| House Select Committee
Approves Homeland Security Act |
7/19. The House Select
Committee on Homeland Security amended and approved HR 5005,
the Homeland Security Act of 2002, by a vote of 5-4 after a
day long meeting. The bill is likely to be taken up by the
full House on Wednesday, or later in the week. The Senate has
yet to act on the proposal.
The bill largely follows President Bush's original
proposal for creating a new Department of Homeland
Security (DHS). However, it contains several technology
related changes. The Select Committee's version includes the House Science Committee's
recommendation to keep the NIST Computer Security Division at
the NIST. It includes the House Commerce
Committee's language creating a new cyber security
program. It includes the House Government Reform
Committee's language creating a FOIA exemption for certain
critical infrastructure information voluntarily shared with
the DHS.
The bill approved by the Select Committee also provides for
several new positions at the DHS that were not provided for by
the President's version of the bill. These include a privacy
officer, an Under Secretary for Science and Technology, and a
special assistant for private sector liaison. The bill also
provides for a Chief Information Officer.
The bill also provides that the federal government will not
have the authority to nationalize drivers' licenses and other
ID cards.
The House created the Select Committee, pursuant to HRes 449,
for the purpose of reporting a bill to the full House creating
the DHS. It is a nine member committee made up of party
leaders. However, first, each of the standing committees with
jurisdiction over various matters addressed in the bill
conducted hearings and adopted their own versions of the bill.
These served as recommendations for the Select Committee.
The purpose of HR 5005 is to create a new government agency,
and to define its responsibilities. However, most of
discussion by the Select Committee at the July 19 mark up
meeting focused on matters outside of the purpose of the bill.
For example, the issue debated the longest had to do with an
extension of time for airports to comply with the baggage
screening requirements of a statute enacted shortly after
September 11. The Select Committee also debated at length a
proposal regarding U.S. companies that incorporate
subsidiaries in other countries for the purpose of lessening
their tax burden.
Also, unlike in many of the standing committees with
jurisdiction, the debate and voting in the Select Committee
was highly partisan. Many key votes, including the vote on
final passage, followed party lines, with the five Republicans
on the Committee, Rep. Dick
Armey (R-TX), Rep.
Tom DeLay (R-TX), Rep.
J.C. Watts (R-OK), Rep.
Deborah Pryce (R-OH), and Rep. Bob Portman
(R-OH), outvoting the four Democrats on the Committee, Rep. Nancy Pelosi
(D-CA), Rep. Martin
Frost (D-TX), Rep.
Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and Rep. Rosa DeLauro
(D-CT).
Rep. Frost asserted that "Armey's bill risks taking a
bipartisan idea and turning it into a controversial
legislative monstrosity -- chock full of unrelated, partisan
and ideological side issues." Since the version of the
bill offered by Rep Armey, and approved by the Select
Committee, included provisions such as a limitation of tort
liability, Rep. Frost's characterization was not without
basis. However, Rep. Frost and other Democrats proceeded to
offer their own "unrelated, partisan and ideological side
issues". Much of the debate was directed towards the
cable television audience. |
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| Senate Passes Tech Guard
Bill |
7/18. The Senate amended and passed S
2037, the Science and Technology Emergency Mobilization
Act, also known as the "Tech Guard" bill.
The bill, sponsored by Sen.
Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen.
George Allen (R-VA), creates a "national emergency
technology guard or 'NET Guard' that includes -- (A) rapid
response teams of volunteers with technology and science
expertise, organized at the local level; and (B) opportunities
for NET Guard volunteers to assist with non-emergency tasks
related to local preparedness and prevention, including
reducing the vulnerability of government information
technology systems".
The Senate Commerce
Committee's Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space
held a hearing on the bill on April 24, 2002. See, stories in TLJ
Daily E-Mail Alert No. 419, April 26, 2002. The full
Committee approved the bill with little discussion on May 17.
Sen. Wyden spoke in the Senate on July 18. He stated that
"as America mobilizes to protect itself from terrorism, a
key weapon in its defensive arsenal is its great technological
prowess. From high tech ``cyber attacks´´ to more
conventional threats, many of the solutions for reducing
America's vulnerabilities at home will be rooted in
technology. And much of the country's science and technology
expertise resides outside the government in the dynamic arena
of private sector entrepreneurship."
"Therefore, it is essential to ensure that America's
antiterrorism efforts tap the tremendous science and
technology talents of the private sector." Wyden added
that the bill "will help forge strong partnerships
between the government and private sector science and
technology experts, in order to provide the best protection
and response for the American people."
Sen. Allen also addressed the bill. He stated that it will
"call upon the ideas of the best and the brightest minds
in the American technology workforce to act as an all
volunteer force to help restore communications and
infrastructure operations after a major national
disaster."
Sen. Allen added that "This bill will simply add
structure to private sector efforts and encourages the
participation of the Nation's science and technology experts
to respond to national emergencies. Additionally, this bill
creates a ``virtual technology reserve´´ consisting of a
database of private sector expertise and equipment that can be
called upon, at any moment, by emergency officials during a
crisis situation." See also, Allen
release.
Sen. Wyden also reviewed some of the key provisions of the
bill. He said that "The legislation provides for the
creation of a database of private sector science and
technology experts whom government officials may call upon in
emergencies. It provides for the creation of National
Emergency Technology Guard, NET Guard, teams of volunteers
with technology and science expertise, organized in advance
and available to be mobilized on short notice, similar to
existing urban search and rescue teams. It also calls for the
creation of a Center for Civilian Homeland Security Technology
Evaluation, modeled on the existing Technical Support Working Group,
to serve as a single point of contact and clearinghouse for
innovative technologies relating to emergency prevention and
response. The center will have an online portal, so that the
numerous small businesses that have been struggling to
negotiate the maze of bureaucracy will finally have a way to
get their bright technology ideas into the right hands. In
addition, the legislation provides for pilot projects to
improve the interoperability of communications systems used by
fire, law enforcement, and emergency preparedness and response
agencies." |
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| People and Appointments |
7/19. President Bush named Daniel Bartlett Assistant
to the President for Communications, and Michael Gerson
Assistant to the President for Speechwriting and Policy
Advisor. Bartlett was previously the principal deputy to Karen
Hughes, who recently left the White House staff. Before that,
he worked for the Bush campaign. Gerson has been a speech
writer for Bush since 1999. He previously worked for U.S. News
and World Report, Jack Kemp, Bob Dole, and former Sen. Dan
Coats (R-IN). See, White
House release.
7/18. The Senate confirmed Richard Clifton to be a
Judge of the U.S. Court
of Appeal (9thCir).
7/15. The Senate confirmed Lavenski Smith to be a Judge
of the U.S. Court of
Appeals (8thCir).
7/20. WorldCom named Nicholas
Katzenbach and Dennis Beresford to its Board of
Directors. Katzenbach was an Attorney General in the
administration of President Lyndon Johnson. Beresford is an
accounting professor at the Terry College of Business
at the University of Georgia, and a former Chairman of the Financial Accounting Standards
Board. See, WorldCom release. |
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| More News |
7/20. President Bush addressed several issues, including
trade promotion authority, in his Saturday radio
address. He stated that "We must also increase
economic security for American workers through expanded trade.
For over a year now, the United States Congress has debated
trade promotion authority. This week, I met with members of
the House and Senate to urge them to resolve their differences
and approve a bill. If Congress waits, less markets will be
open to American goods, and less jobs will be created for
American workers."
7/19. Securities and Exchange
Commission (SEC) Chairman Harvey
Pitt gave a luncheon speech
in which he addressed recent accounting fraud and pending
legislation.
7/18. Sen. Mike Crapo
(R-ID) and Sen. Kent
Conrad (D-ND) introduced S
2750, a bill pertaining to the provision of telehealth
services. It was referred to the Senate Finance
Committee. Sen. Crapo stated that "Our bill would
allow a wide variety of health care practitioners to provide
telehealth services under Medicare. One of the biggest
challenges for rural practitioners is obtaining the resources
and infrastructure to provide technologically advanced
telehealth services. Our bill would also provide valuable
resources for the development of new telehealth networks in
rural and underserved areas."
7/18. The House
Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and
Consumer Protection held a hearing titled "Are All Online
Travel Sites Good for the Consumer: An Examination of Supplier
Owned Online Travel Sites". See, prepared
statement of Rep.
Billy Tauzin (R-LA), the Chairman of the full Committee,
and prepared
statement of Rep.
Cliff Stearns (R-FL), the Chairman of the Subcommittee.
See also, prepared testimony of witnesses: Sam
Gilliland (Travelocity), Bruce
Wolff (Travelweb), Jonathan
Zuck (Association for Competitive Technology), Mark
Cooper (Consumer Federation of America), and Paul
Ruden (American Society of Travel Agents).
7/17. The Senate
Commerce Committee held a hearing on legislation to
authorize funding for the Federal
Trade Commission (FTC). See, prepared testimony of FTC
Commissioners: Timothy
Muris, Sheila
Anthony, Mozelle
Thompson, Orson
Swindle, and Thomas
Leary. See also, prepared testimony of outside witnesses: Charlie
Mendoza (AARP), Lawrence
Sarjeant (U.S. Telecom Association), Ari
Schwartz (Center for Democracy and Technology), Dennis
Alldridge (Special Olympics), and Lou
Cannon (D.C. Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police). |
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| WorldCom Files Chapter 11
Bankruptcy Petition |
7/21. WorldCom filed
a Chapter 11 petition for bankruptcy in U.S. Bankruptcy Court (SDNY).
WorldCom stated in a release
that "WorldCom and substantially all of its active U.S.
subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for reorganization
under Chapter 11".
Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Chairman Michael Powell
stated in a release that "While I am deeply concerned by
this development, I want to assure the public that we do not
believe this bankruptcy filing will lead to an immediate
disruption of service to consumers or threaten the operation
of WorldCom's Internet backbone facilities. It is my
understanding that WorldCom has obtained funding necessary to
continue operations during the pendency of its bankruptcy
proceeding."
Powell continued that "This Commission will act
vigilantly, and to the full extent of its statutory authority,
to protect the integrity of the telecommunications network and
protect consumers against any abrupt termination of service.
To that end, I am contacting WorldCom to reiterate that the
company's regulatory obligations will continue to apply. We
will continue to gather information relevant to WorldCom's
operations and advise the company of its regulatory
obligations to its customers. This Commission stands ready to
intervene in bankruptcy proceedings as necessary to ensure
that the bankruptcy court is aware of and considers our public
interest concerns."
Powell also addressed the subject of continuity at WorldCom,
and related issues, at a press
briefing on July 16, and in his responses
[PDF] to a letter from Rep.
Ed Markey (D-MA). |
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| Monday, July 22 |
The House will meet at 12:30 PM for morning hour and at 2:00
PM for legislative business. No votes are expected before 6:30
PM. The House will consider a number of measures under
suspension of the rules; none are technology related.
The Senate will meet at 2:00 PM to resume consideration of S
812, the Greater Access to Affordable Pharmaceuticals Act.
9:00 AM. John Sidgmore, P/CEO of WorldCom, will hold a
press conference. WorldCom filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy
petition on July 21. The event will be audio webcast. See, notice.
Location: Hilton Hotel New York, Murray Hill Room, 1335 Avenue
of the Americas, New York, NY.
Day one of a two day seminar hosted by the American Intellectual Property
Law Association on the Patent Cooperation Treaty. See, online
brochure [PDF]. Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott,
Arlington, VA.
2:00 - 4:00 PM. The FCC's Advisory
Committee for the 2003 World Radiocommunication Conference
(WRC-03 Advisory Committee) will hold a meeting. See, notice
in Federal Register. Location: FCC, 6th Floor South Conference
Room (6-B516), 445 12th Street, SW.
7:00 PM. The House Rules
Committee will meet to adopt a rule for consideration of HR
4775, the 2002 Supplemental Appropriations Act.
Deadline to submit comments to the FCC in response
to its Notice of Proposed Rule Making "regarding
the sunset of the statutory requirements under section 272
imposed on Bell Operating Companies (BOCs) when they provide
in-region, interLATA services and seeks comment on whether,
and if so, under what conditions, the structural and
nondiscrimination safeguards established in section 272 should
be extended by the Commission either generally or with respect
to specific states." See, notice
in the Federal Register. |
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| Tuesday, July 23 |
The House will meet at 9:00 AM for morning hour and at 10:00
AM for legislative business.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Banking Committee will hold a hearing on the nominations
of Cynthia Glassman and Roel Campos to be
members of the SEC. Location:
Room 538, Dirksen Building.
TIME CHANGE. 10:00 AM. The
Senate Judiciary
Committee will hold a hearing on pending judicial
nominations. See, notice.
Press contact: Mimi Devlin at 202 224-9437. Location: Room
226, Dirksen Building.
10:45 AM. The Senate
Commerce Committee will hold an executive session. The
agenda includes voting on the nomination of Jonathan
Adelstein to be a Commissioner of the FCC. Press
contact: Andy Davis at 202 224-6654. Location: Room S-216,
Capitol Building.
11:00 AM. The Cato Institute
will host a panel discussion titled "Who Rules the
Root? ICANN, Domain Names, and the Battle over Internet
Governance". The scheduled speakers are Milton
Mueller (author of Ruling
the Root: Internet Governance and the Taming of Cyberspace),
Ira Magaziner (SJS Advisors), Michael Roberts (The Darwin
Group), and Harold Feld (Media
Access Project). Lunch will follow. See, Cato notice.
Location: 1000 Massachusetts Avenue, NW.
1:30 PM. Boyden
Gray, who participated in the selection of judges for
former President Bush, will hold a press conference on judicial
nominations. For more information, contact Phil Smith at
202 661-6350. Location: Murrow Room, National Press Club, 529 14th
St. NW, 13th Floor.
RESCHEDULED FOR 10:00 AM. 2:00
PM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on pending
nominations.
3:00 PM. The House
Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Court, Intellectual
Property and the Internet will hold a hearing on HR 1203,
the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Reorganization Act of 2001.
This bill would create a new 12th Circuit, thereby relieving
Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington from
being included in the 9th Circuit. Location: Room 2141,
Rayburn Building.
Deadline to file reply comments with the FCC's Spectrum Policy Task Force
in response to its request for comments on spectrum policy,
including taking steps toward market oriented allocation and
assignment policies, interference, efficient use of spectrum,
public safety communications, and international issues. See, Public
Notice [PDF].
Day two of a two day seminar hosted by the American Intellectual Property
Law Association on the Patent Cooperation Treaty. See, online
brochure [PDF]. Location: Crystal Gateway Marriott,
Arlington, VA. |
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| Wednesday, July 24 |
The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business.
The House may begin consideration of HR
5005, the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
9:00 AM. Day one of a two day meeting of the Bureau of Industry and Security's
Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee. The meeting
will be partially open, and partially closed to the public.
The agenda of the open portion of the meeting includes (1) a
presentation on encryption in network management software, (2)
a presentation on changes to the mass market encryption
regulation, and (3) a discussion of the GAO report on advances
in China's semiconductor industry. The BIS was formerly known
as the Bureau of Export Administration. See, notice
in the Federal Register. Location: Hoover Building, Room 3884,
14th Street between Pennsylvania Ave. and Constitution Ave.,
NW.
9:30 AM. The Senate
Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a business
meeting to consider withdrawals of amendments to S 2452
[273 pages in PDF], the National Homeland Security and
Combatting Terrorism Act of 2002. Location: Room 342, Dirksen
Building.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Communications will
hold a hearing titled "Competition and the Cable
Industry". Sen.
Daniel Inouye (D-HI) will preside. The scheduled witnesses
include Robert Sachs (National
Cable & Telecommunications Association), Rodger
Johnson (Knology), David Baker (Earthlink), Gene
Kimmelman (Consumers Union),
and James Gleason (American
Cable Association). Press contact: Andy Davis at 202
224-6654. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.
12:00 NOON. The Congressional
Internet Caucus Advisory Committee will host a panel
discussion on the future of Internet technologies. The
speakers will be Nicholas
Negroponte, Walter
Bender and Andrew
Lippman, all of the MIT
Media Laboratory. Sen.
Conrad Burns (R-MT) and Rep. Michael Capuano
(D-MA) will make introductions. RSVP to rsvp @netcaucus.org or
Danielle at 202 638-4370. Lunch will be served. Location:
Reserve Officers Association, First and Constitution Ave., NE.
2:30 PM. The Senate
Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Science, Technology,
and Space will hold a hearing to examine women in science
and technology. Location: Room 253, Russell Building.
3:00 PM. Rep. Billy
Tauzin (R-LA), the Chairman of the House Commerce
Committee, Rep. Fred
Upton (R-MI), the Chairman of the Telecom and Internet
Subcommittee, and others, will hold a press conference on a cyber
security report prepared by the Business Software Alliance.
Press contact: Ken Johnson or Peter Sheffield at 202 225-5735.
Location: Room 2218, Rayburn Building. |
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| Thursday, July 25 |
The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business.
The House may consider HR
5005, the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
9:00 AM. Day two of a two day meeting of the Bureau of Industry and Security's
Information Systems Technical Advisory Committee. See, notice
in the Federal Register. Location: Hoover Building, Room 3884,
14th Street between Pennsylvania Ave. and Constitution Ave.
NW.
10:00 AM. The Senate
Judiciary Committee will hold an oversight hearing on the Department of Justice. See, notice.
Press contact: Mimi Devlin at 202 224-9437. Location: Room
226, Dirksen Building. |
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| Friday, July 26 |
The House will meet at 10:00 AM for legislative business.
The House may consider HR 5005,
the Homeland Security Act of 2002.
Deadline to submit reply comments to the FCC regarding
its Declaratory Ruling and Second Further Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking clarifying that providers of Internet protocol
telecommunications relay services are eligible for
reimbursement from the Interstate TRS Fund. See, FCC
notice [PDF]. |
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