TLJ Daily E-Mail Alert No. 1,366, May 9, 2006.
May 9, 2006, Alert No. 1,366.
The report continues that "Smaller public companies also cited other costs of compliance with section 404 and other provisions of the act, such as the use of resources for compliance rather than for other business activities. Moreover, the characteristics of smaller companies, including resource and expertise limitations and lack of familiarity with formal internal control frameworks, contributed to the difficulties and costs they experienced in implementing the act's requirements."
The House Financial Services Committee, which Rep. Oxley chairs, held an oversight hearing on May 3, 2006, that addressed many issues. Rep. Oxley (at right) wrote in his opening statement [PDF] that "It is true that the implementation of the Act's internal control requirements has been more onerous than originally predicted. However, it is critical that we allow our regulators to rectify the implementation difficulties that public companies and their auditors face."
He added, "In this regard, I am encouraged by the efforts that Chairman Cox and the Commission have made and continue to make in engaging in discussions with public companies and auditors about these internal control requirements. Following up on last year's Roundtable, next week the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board will be hosting a Roundtable on Internal Controls to discuss second-year experiences with these provisions."
8 U.S.C. § 1184 pertains to admission of nonimmigrants. Subsection 1184(g)(1)(A) contains the annual limit on H1b visas. These B1b visas, in turn, are addressed at 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(H)(i)(b).
The bill would also amend 8 U.S.C. § 1151(b)(1), which addresses "Aliens not subject to direct numerical limitations". It would add "Aliens who have earned a master's or higher degree from an accredited United States university" and "Aliens who have earned a master's degree or higher in science, technology, engineering, or math and have been working in a related field in the United States in a nonimmigrant status during the 3-year period preceding their application for an immigrant visa under section 203(b)."
The House will meet at 12:30 PM for morning hour, and at 2:00 PM for legislative business. The House will consider numerous non-technology related items under suspension of the rules. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 PM. See, Republican Whip Notice.
The Senate will meet at 9:45 AM. It will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S 1955, the small business health plans bill.
7:45 AM - 3:45 PM. Day one of a two day, partially closed, meeting of the National Science Foundation (NSF). See, notice in the Federal Register: May 3, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 85, at Pages 26117-26118. Location: 4201 Wilson Blvd, Room 1235, Arlington, VA.
7:45 AM - 3:45 PM. Day two of a two day, partially closed, meeting of the National Science Foundation (NSF). The agenda of the 8:15 AM session on May 10 includes several topics, including "Global Environment for Networking Innovations" and "NSF's Cyberinfrastructure Vision", See, notice in the Federal Register: May 3, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 85, at Pages 26117-26118. Location: 4201 Wilson Blvd, Room 1235, Arlington, VA.
9:15 AM - 3:30 PM. The President's National Security Telecommunications Advisory Committee (NSTAC) will meet. Most of this meeting will be closed to the public. From 9:15 through 10:15 AM the NSTAC will discuss in open session the work of the Emergency Communications & Interoperability Task Force, Telecommunications and Electric Power Interdependency Task Force, Legislative and Regulatory Task Force, and Research and Development Task Force. From 10:15 AM through 3:30 PM the NSTAC will meet in closed session to discuss emergency communications & interoperability, international implications of the NGN, and regional coordination, planning, and exercises. See, notice in the Federal Register, April 27, 2006, Vol. 71, No. 81, at Page 24859. Location: Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center.
10:30 AM. The House Ways and Means Committee will meet to mark up the Draft Implementing Proposal [49 pages in PDF] of HR __, the "United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act". See, notice. Location: Room 1100, Longworth Building.
10:30 AM. The House International Relations Committee will hold a hearing titled "A Resurgent China: Responsible Stakeholder or Robust Rival?". The witness will be Robert Zoellick (Deputy Secretary of State). See, notice. Location: Room 2172, Rayburn Building.
9:00 AM. The House Judiciary Committee's (HJC) Subcommittee on Crime will hold a hearing on HR __, the "Cyber-Security Enhancement and Consumer Data Protection Act of 2006". See, notice. The hearing will be webcast by the HJC. Press contact: Jeff Lungren or Terry Shawn at 202-225-2492. Location: Room 2141, Rayburn Building.
9:30 AM. The Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) may hold an executive business meeting. See, notice. The SJC frequently holds, cancels or postpones meetings without notice. Press contact: 224-5225. Location: Room 226, Dirksen Building.
MOVED TO MAY 3. 9:30 AM. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will hold a meeting. The event will be webcast by the FCC. Location: FCC, 445 12th Street, SW, Room TW-C05 (Commission Meeting Room).