105th Congress (1997 - 1998)

January 27 - December 19, 1998

House Committee Meetings by Date
Compiled from the Congressional Record's Daily Digests via Thomas at thomas.loc.gov

1998/01/27
Daily Digest - Tuesday, January 27, 1998,  pages D1 - D14

Committee Meetings

RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported amended
H.R. 2625, to redesignate Washington National Airport as "Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport." 



1998/01/28
Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 28, 1998,  pages D15 - D34

Committee Meetings

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held an oversight
hearing on National Energy Policy. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Energy: Ernest J. Moniz, Under
Secretary; Patricia F. Dodley, Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy; and
Dan W. Reicher, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy; Cecil H. Underwood, Governor, State of West Virginia; and public
witnesses. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education began hearings on Labor, Health and Human
Services appropriations for fiscal year 1999. Testimony was heard from
public witnesses. 

                                           [Page: D32]

NATIONAL TESTING--PROHIBIT SPENDING FEDERAL EDUCATION FUNDS

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported amended H.R.
2846, to prohibit spending Federal education funds on national testing
without explicit and specific legislation. 

WISCONSIN CHIPPEWA'S CASINO APPLICATION DENIAL

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Held a hearing on the
Department of the Interior's denial of the Wisconsin Chippewa's casino
application. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

DISASTER MITIGATION

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Disaster Mitigation.
Testimony was heard from Representatives Skeen, McKeon and Strickland;
James L. Witt, Director, FEMA; John H. Zirschky, Acting Assistant
Secretary (Civil Works), Department of the Army; and public witnesses. 

ARLINGTON CEMETERY BURIAL--WAIVERS GRANTED

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations held a hearing on waivers granted for burial at Arlington
Cemetery. Testimony was heard from Richard L. Hembra, Assistant
Comptroller General, Health, Education, and Human Services Division,
GAO: John C. Metzler, Jr., Superintendent, Arlington National Cemetery,
Department of the Army; Togo D. West, Jr., Acting Secretary, Department
of Veterans Affairs; Capt. Michael Rosencrans, USCG, Director, National
Maritime Center, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation;
Ambassador Eric J. Boswell, Assistant Secretary, Diplomatic Security,
Bureau of Diplomatic Security, Department of State; and public
witnesses. 

FEDERAL TAX BURDEN REDUCTION PROPOSALS

Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on proposals to reduce the
Federal tax burden on the American public. Testimony was heard from
Representatives Herger, Weller, McIntosh, Salmon, Riley, McCrery and Cox
of California; and public witnesses. 

Hearings continue February 4. 



1998/01/29
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 29, 1998,  pages D36 - D42

Committee Meetings

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was
heard from public witnesses. 

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing
on the House of Representatives and the Office of Compliance. Testimony
was heard from the following officials of the House of Representatives:
Jay Eagen, Chief Administrator Officer; Frank Derville, Associate
Administrator, Office of Finance; Robin H. Carle, Clerk; Jeff Trandahl,
Deputy Clerk; Wilson S. Linvingood, Sergeant at Arms; John W. Lainhardt
IV, Inspector General; Bob Frey, Deputy Inspector General; and John F.
Eisold, M.D., Attending Physician; and the following officials of the
Office of Compliance: Glen Nager, Chairman, Board of Directors; and
Ricky Silberman, Executive Director. 

BRIEFING--WORLD-WIDE THREAT

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security met in
executive session to hold a briefing on World-Wide Threat. The
Subcommittee was briefed by George Tenet, Director, CIA; and Lt. Gen.
Patrick M. Hughes, USA, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency,
Department of Defense. 

TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on Commerce: Held a hearing on the Tobacco Settlement: Views
of Tobacco Industry Executives. Testimony was heard from public
witnesses. 

WISCONSIN CHIPPEWA'S CASINO APPLICATION DENIAL

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Concluded hearings on the
Department of the Interior's denial of the Wisconsin Chippewa's casino
application. Testimony was heard from Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the
Interior. 

OVERSIGHT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held an
oversight hearing on Congress, the Courts and the Constitution.
Testimony was heard from Representatives Lewis of Kentucky, Hostettler,
Frank of Massachusetts and Campbell; Louis Fisher, Senior Specialist,
Separation of Powers, Congressional Research Service, Library of
Congress; and public witnesses. 

                                           [Page: D39]

QUADRENNIAL DEFENSE REVIEW AND NATIONAL DEFENSE PANEL RECOMMENDATIONS

Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held
a hearing on the Quadrennial Defense Review and National Defense Panel
Recommendations. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Department of Defense: Edward L. Warner, III, Assistant Secretary,
Strategy and Threat Reduction; Brig. Gen. James E. Cartwright, USMC,
Deputy Director, Force Structure Resource and Assessment Directorate,
Joint Chiefs of Staff; Lt. Gen. David K. Heebner, USA, Assistant Vice
Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; Brig. Gen. James R. Helmly, USA, Deputy
Chief, U.S. Army Reserve; Maj. Gen. William Navas, USA, Director, Army
National Guard; Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN, Deputy
Chief, Naval Operations, Resources, Warfare Requirements and
Assessments; Rear Adm. George Vaughan, USN, Chief, Naval Reserve; Lt.
Gen. Martin R. Steele, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans, Policy and
Operations; Maj. Gen. Thomas L. Wilkerson, USMC, Commander, Marine
Forces Reserve; Lt. Gen. Lawrence P. Farrell, Jr., USAF, Deputy Chief of
Staff (Plans and Programs); Maj. Gen. Robert A. McIntosh, USAF, Chief,
Air Force Reserve; and Brig. Gen. Paul A. Weaver, Jr., USAF, Director,
Air National Guard; and the following officials of the National Defense
Panel: Ambassador Richard Armitage; Andrew Krepinevich; and Gen. James
McCarthy, USAF (ret.). 

SAFETY ADVANCEMENT FOR EMPLOYEES ACT--THIRD PARTY CONSULTATION PROVISION

Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the third party
consultation provision in the Safety Advancement for Employees (SAFE)
Act. Testimony was heard from Senator Enzi; Representatives Dooley of
California and Stenholm; and public witnesses. 

HCFA--PREPARING FOR 21ST CENTURY 

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on
Preparing the Health Care Financing Administration for the 21st Century.
Testimony was heard from Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, Administrator, Health
Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services;
William J. Scanlon, Director, Health Financing and Systems, GAO; and
public witnesses. 

AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING--MODIFYING CHILD SUPPORT PENALTIES

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a
hearing on modifying child support penalties for automatic data
processing. Testimony was heard from Senator Feinstein; Representative
Cardin, John Monahan, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary,
Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human
Services; Robert Doar, Director, Office of Child Support, Department of
Social Services, State of New York; Leslie L. Frye, Chief, Office of
Child Support, Department of Social Services, State of California;
Wallace N. Dutkowski, Director, Office of Child Support, Department of
Social Services, State of Michigan; and public witnesses. 



1998/02/02
Daily Digest - Monday, February 2, 1998,  pages D44 - D46

Committee Meetings

EAST ASIA ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: On January 30, the
Committee held a hearing on East Asia Economic Conditions. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Department of the Treasury:
Robert E. Rubin, Secretary; and Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary;
William S. Cohen, Secretary of Defense; Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board
of Governors, Federal Reserve System; and public witnesses. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

D.C. MANAGEMENT REFORM: COST, SAVINGS AND NET

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: On January 30, the
Subcommittee on the District of Columbia held a hearing on D.C.
Management Reform: Cost, Savings and Net. Testimony was heard from
Andrew Brimmer, Chairman, D.C. Financial and Responsibility and
Management Assistance Authority; the following officials of the District
of Columbia: Camille Barnett, Chief Management Officer; Anthony
Williams, Chief Financial Officer; Marion D45Barry, Mayor, and Linda
Cropp, Council Chair; and public witnesses. 



1998/02/03
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 3, 1998,  pages D48 - D54

Committee Meetings

TOBACCO SETTLEMENT--IMPACT ON PRODUCERS

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Risk Management and Speciality
Crops held a hearing on proposed tobacco settlement's impact on
producers. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor-Health and Human
Services and Education continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was
heard from public witnesses. 

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing
on Financial Managers Council and the Library of Congress. Testimony was
heard from Richard Brown, Deputy Assistant Comptroller General,
Operations, GAO; and the following officials of the Library of Congress:
John Webster, Director, Financial Services; James H. Billington,
Librarian; Donald L. Scott, Deputy Librarian; Winston Tabb, Associate
Librarian, Library Services; Marybeth Peters, Register of Copyrights;
Daniel P. Mulhollan, Director, Congressional Research Service; and Frank
Kurt Cylke, Director, National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation began
appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from Members of Congress and
public witnesses. 

EAST ASIA ECONOMIC CONDITIONS

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Concluded hearings on East
Asia Economic Conditions. Testimony was heard from Representatives
Visclosky, Stearns, Crapo, Paul and Sanders; and public witnesses. 

ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET SUBMISSION

Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the Administration's FY 1999
Budget Submission. Testimony was heard from Franklin D. Raines,
Director, OMB. 

                                           [Page: D51]

HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on Country Reports on Human
Rights Practices for 1997. Testimony was heard from John Shattuck,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor,
Department of State; Wei Jingsheng, Democracy Advocate and former
political prisoner; and public witnesses. 

RONALD REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 9 to 3, a modified open rule
providing 1 hour of debate on H.R. 2625, Ronald Reagan National Airport.
The rule provides for a 2 hour time limit on the amendment process. The
rule also makes in order the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure amendment in the nature of a substitute as an original
bill for the purpose of amendment, which shall be considered as read. 

The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to
Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional
Record. The rule allows for the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole
to postpone votes during consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting
time to five minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a
fifteen minute vote. Finally, the rules provide for one motion to
recommit, with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from
Chairman Shuster; and Representatives Davis of Virginia, Morella,
Oberstar, Norton and Moran of Virginia. 

COSTS PAYABLE--TASK FORCE ON NATIONAL HEALTH CARE REFORM

Committee on Rules: The Committee granted, by voice vote, an open rule
providing 1 hour of debate on H.J. Res. 107, expressing the sense of the
Congress that the award of attorneys' fees, costs, and sanctions of
$285,864.78 ordered by United States District Judge Royce C. Lamberth on
December 18, 1997, should not be paid with taxpayer funds. The rule
provides that the joint resolution will be considered as read. The rule
permits the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes
during consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting time to five
minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen minute
vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without
instructions. Testimony was heard from Representative Hayworth. 

CHILD SUPPORT PERFORMANCE AND INCENTIVE ACT

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources approved
for full Committee action H.R. 3130, Child Support Performance and
Incentive Act of 1998. 

IRS TAXPAYER ADVOCATE--ANNUAL REPORT TO CONGRESS

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing on
the Annual Report to Congress of the Internal Revenue Service Taxpayer
Advocate. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the IRS,
Department of the Treasury: Charles O. Rossotti, Commissioner; Lee
Monks, Taxpayer Advocate; and the following District Taxpayer Advocates:
Fran Romano, Connecticut-Rhode Island District; Louis Romito, Associate
District Taxpayer Advocate, Pennsylvania District; Janey Tabor, Ohio
District; Sandra Ling, Pacific-Northwest District; and Elayne M.
Goldstein, Midwest District. 



1998/02/04
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 4, 1998,  pages D55 - D62

Committee Meetings

ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS--U.S. AGRICULTURE

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities held
a hearing on the Asian financial crisis and to its relationship to U.S.
agriculture. Testimony was heard from August Schumacher, Jr., Under
Secretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, USDA. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a
hearing on Inspector General. Testimony was heard from Roger C. Viadero,
Inspector General, USDA. 

                                           [Page: D58]

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held an oversight
hearing on National Park Service, Forest Service and Fish and Wildlife
Service and the Bureau of Land Management. Testimony was heard from,
Barry T. Hill, Associate Director, Energy, Resources and Science, GAO;
the following officials of the Department of the Interior: Robert J.
Williams, Acting Inspector General; John Berry, Assistant Secretary,
Policy, Management and Budget; John Rogers, Deputy Director, Fish and
Wildlife Service; Pat Shea, Director, Bureau of Land Management; and
Robert Stanton, Director, National Park Service; the following officials
of the USDA: Robert Young, Deputy Assistant Inspector General, Audit,
and Robert C. Joslin, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest
Service; I. Michael Heyman, Secretary, Smithsonian Institution; Lawrence
J. Wilker, President, John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts;
Earl A. Powell, III, Director, National Gallery of Art; and Walter
Reich, Museum Director, U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. 

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing
on the Joint Economic Committee, the Architect of the Capitol, the Joint
Committee on Taxation, the GAO and the Capitol Police. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Joint Economic Committee:
Representative Saxton, Chairman; and Christopher Frenze, Executive
Director; the following officials of the Office of the Architect of the
Capitol: Alan M. Hantman, Architect; Stuart Prefnall, Budget Officer;
Robert Miley, Superintendent, House Office Buildings, and Dan Hanlon,
Director, of Engineering; the following officials of the Joint Committee
on Taxation: Representative Archer, Vice Chairman; Mary M. Schmitt,
Deputy Chief of Staff-Law; and Bernard A. Schmitt, Deputy Chief of
Staff-Revenue Analysis; James F. Hinchman, Acting Comptroller General,
GAO; the following members of the U.S. Capitol Police Board: Wilson
Livingood, Sergeant at Arms, House of Representatives; Gregory S. Casey,
Sergeant at Arms, Senate; Alan M. Hantman, Architect of the Capitol; and
Gary L. Abrecht, Chief, U.S. Capitol Police. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor-Health and Human
Services and Education continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was
heard from public witnesses. 

HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE AVAILABILITY ACT

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and
Community Opportunity approved for full Committee action amended H.R.
219, Homeowners' Insurance Availability Act of 1997. 

SUPERFUND PROGRAM STATUS

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials
held a hearing on the Status of the Superfund Program. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Environmental Protection
Issues Division, GAO: Peter F. Guerrero, Director; and Jim Donaghy,
Eileen Larence and Mitchell Karpman, all Assistant Directors; Tim
Fields, Acting Assistant Administrator, EPA; and public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce
Protections approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R.
2864, amended, to require the Secretary of Labor to establish a program
under which employers may consult with State officials respecting
compliance with occupational safety and health requirements; H.R. 2877,
amended, to amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970; and
H.R. 3096, to correct a provision relating to termination of benefits
for convicted persons. 

PATIENT ACCESS ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Held a hearing on Patient
Access to Alternative Treatments: Beyond the FDA. Testimony was heard
from former Representative Berkley W. Bedell of Iowa; and public
witnesses. 

FEDERAL AVIATION YEAR 2000 IMPACTS ON AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL SYSTEM

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Government
Management, Information, and Technology, and the Subcommittee on
Technology of the Committee on Science held a joint hearing on Federal
Aviation Administration at Risk: Year 2000 Impacts on the Air Traffic
Control System. Testimony was heard from Joel Willemssen, Director,
Accounting and Information Management Division, GAO; the following
officials of the Department of Transportation: Ken Mead, Inspector
General and Jane Garvey, Administrator, FAA; and a public witness. 
 
                                           [Page: D59]

DORNAN V. SANCHEZ--CONTESTED ELECTION; COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Committee on House Oversight: Ordered favorably reported a resolution
regarding the Contested Election in the 46th Congressional District of
California. 

The Committee also approved pending committee business. 

DORNAN V. SANCHEZ--CONTESTED ELECTION

Committee on House Oversight: Task Force for the Contested Election in
the 46th Congressional District of California approved for full
Committee action a resolution regarding the Contested Election in the
46th Congressional Election of California. 

U.S. CHINA NUCLEAR COOPERATION AGREEMENT

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Implementation
of the U.S.-China Nuclear Cooperation Agreement. Testimony was heard
from Robert Einhorn, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Non-Proliferation,
Bureau of Politico-Military Affairs, Department of State. 

The Committee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on this
subject. Testimony was heard from John Lauder, Director,
Nonproliferation Center, CIA. 

ASIA--FINANCIAL CRISIS

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the
Pacific and the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade
held a joint hearing on the Financial Crisis in Asia. Testimony was
heard from Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary, Department of the
Treasury; Stuart Eizenstat, Under Secretary, Economic, Business, and
Agricultural Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses. 

CIVIL RIGHTS COMMISSION ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution approved
for full Committee action H.R. 3117, Civil Rights Commission Act of
1998. 

OVERSIGHT--COPYRIGHT LICENSING REGIMES

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual
Property held an oversight hearing regarding copyright licensing regimes
covering retransmission of broadcast signals. Testimony was heard from
public witnesses.  

INTERNET GAMBLING PROHIBITION ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing
regarding Gambling in Cyberspace: a hearing on the legality of gambling
on the Internet, focusing on H.R. 2380, Internet Gambling Prohibition
Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

NURSING RELIEF ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims
approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 2759, Health
Professional Shortage Area Nursing Relief Act of 1997. 

REPRESENTATIVE DELLUMS HONORED

Committee on National Security: Met to honor Rep. Donald V. Dellums. 

PROHIBIT SPENDING EDUCATION FUNDS ON NATIONAL TESTING WITHOUT SPECIFIC
AUTHORITY

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1
hour of debate on H.R. 2846, to prohibit spending Federal education
funds on national testing without explicit and specific legislation. The
rule makes in order the Committee on Education and the Workforce
amendment in the nature of a substitute as an original bill for the
purpose of amendment, which shall be considered as read. The rule
authorizes the Chairman to accord priority in recognition to Members who
have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule
allows for the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes
during consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting time to five
minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen minute
vote. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit with or
without instructions. Chairman Goodling, Representatives Clay and
Martinez. Testimony was heard from 

RONALD REAGAN WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing 1
hour of debate on S. 1575, to rename the Washington National Airport
located in the District of Columbia and Virginia as the Ronald Reagan
Washington National Airport. The rule provides for the consideration of
the bill in the House and that the bill be considered as read. Finally,
the rule provides one motion to recommit. 

ROAD FROM KYOTO

Committee on Science: Held a hearing on the Road from Kyoto Part I:
Where Are We, Where Are We Going, and How Do We Get There? Testimony was
heard from Kathleen A. McGintly, Chair, Council on Environmental
Quality; Jay E. Hakes, Administrator, Energy Information Administration,
Department of Energy; and public witnesses. 

                                           [Page: D60]

BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on the Department of
Veterans Affairs budget request for FY 1999. Testimony was heard from
Togo D. West, Jr., Acting Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs. 

VOCATIONAL REHABILITATION PROGRAMS

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits held a hearing
on the Department of Veterans Affairs Vocational Rehabilitation
Programs. Testimony was heard from Cynthia M. Fagnoni, Associate
Director, Veterans' Affairs and Military Health Care Issues, Health,
Educators, and Human Services Division, GAO; Espiridion Borrego,
Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training Service,
Department of Labor; Joseph Thompson, Under Secretary, Benefits,
Department of Veterans Affairs; representatives of various veterans
organization; and a public witness. 

FEDERAL TAX BURDEN

Committee on Ways and Means: Continued hearings on proposals to reduce
the Federal tax burden on the American public. Testimony was heard from
Representative Thune; June O'Neill, Director, CBO; and public witnesses. 

Hearings continue February 12. 



1998/02/05
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 5, 1998,  pages D63 - D70

Committee Meetings 

FOOD STAMP ACT--ANTI-FRAUD PROVISIONS ENFORCEMENT 

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations,
Nutrition, and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing on the enforcement of
anti-fraud provisions of the Food Stamp Act. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the USDA: Roger C. Viadero, Inspector
General; and Yvette S. Jackson, Administrator, Food and Nutrition
Service; James H. DeAtley, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Texas;
and Christo M. Tolia, Director, Division of Public Assistance Fraud,
Office of the Auditor General, State of Florida. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held an oversight
hearing on the Smithsonian, National Gallery of Art, Kennedy Center and
the Holocaust Museum. Testimony was heard from I. Michael Heyman,
Secretary, Smithsonian Institution; Lawrence J. Wilker, President, John
F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; Earl A. Powell III, Director,
National Gallery of Art; and Walter Reich, Museum Director, U.S.
Holocaust Memorial Museum. 

OVERSIGHT--LABOR DEPARTMENT; LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor-Health and Human
Services, and Education held an oversight hearing on the Department of
Labor. Testimony was heard from Carlotta C. Joyner, Director, Education
and Employment Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division,
GAO. 

The Subcommittee also continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was
heard from public witnesses. 

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing
on the CBO, and the GPO. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the CBO: June E. O'Neill, Director; James L. Blum,
D66Deputy Director; and David M. Delquadro, Personnel Officer; and the
following officials of the GPO: Michael F. DiMario, Public Printer;
Francis J. Buckley, Jr., Superintendent of Documents and William M. Guy,
Budget Officer. 

                                           [Page: D66]

EXAMINATION PARITY AND YEAR 2000 READINESS FOR FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
ACT 

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Ordered reported amended
H.R. 3116, Examination Parity and Year 2000 Readiness for Financial
Institutions Act 

Prior to this action, the Committee held a hearing on this legislation.
Testimony was heard from Norman D'Amours, Chairman, National Credit
Union Administration; Ellen Seidman, Director, Office of Thrift
Supervision, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses. 

CBO FORECASTS 

Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the Congressional Budget
Office Forecasts. Testimony was heard from June E. O'Neill, Director,
CBO. 

OVERSIGHT--ENERGY DEPARTMENT BUDGET 

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held an
oversight hearing on Department of Energy's Proposed Budget for Fiscal
Year 1999. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Department of Energy; Elizabeth A. Moler, Deputy Secretary; and Ernest
Moniz, Under Secretary. 

HIV--PREVENTING TRANSMISSION 

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a
hearing on Preventing the Transmission of the Human Immunodeficiency
Virus (HIV). Testimony was heard from Nettie Mayersohn, Assemblywoman,
State of New York; Beth Meyerson, AIDS Director, Bureau of STD/HIV
Prevention, Department of Health, State of Missouri; Lydia R. Tomoshok,
Scientific Consultant, World Health Organization; and public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on
Employer-Employee Relations, hearing on proposals to provide fairness to
small business and employees, including the following bills; H.R. 2449,
Fair Access to Indemnity and Reimbursement Act; H.R. 1598, Justice on
Time Act of 1997; H.R. 1595, Fair Hearing Act, and H.R. 758, Truth in
Employment Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

CAMPAIGN REFORM 

Committee on House Oversight: Held a hearing on Campaign Reform.
Testimony was heard from Representatives White, Horn, Maloney of New
York, Franks of New Jersey, Bereuter, Ford and Mink of Hawaii. 

ALGERIA'S TURMOIL

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a
hearing on Algeria's Turmoil. Testimony was heard from Ronald Neumann,
Deputy Assistant, Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State; Ramtane
Lamamra, Ambassador, Embassy of Algeria; and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--CIVIL LIABILITY PORTION OF TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on the Judiciary: Held an oversight hearing on the Civil
Liability Portions of the Proposed Tobacco Settlement. Testimony was
heard from David Ogden, Counselor to the Attorney General, Department of
Justice; Gale Norton, Attorney General, State of Colorado, and public
witnesses. 

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION 

Committee on National Security: Held a hearing on the fiscal year 1999
National Defense Authorization budget request. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the Department of Defense: William S. Cohen,
Secretary; and Gen. Henry H. Shelton, USA., Chairman, Joint Chiefs of
Staff. 

RHINO AND TIGER PRODUCT LABELING ACT; RHINOCEROS AND TIGER CONSERVATION
ACT REAUTHORIZATION

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife
& Oceans held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2807, Rhino and
Tiger Product Labeling Act; and H.R. 3113, to reauthorize the Rhinoceros
and Tiger Conservation Act. Testimony was heard from Bruce Babbit,
Secretary of the Interior; and public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands
held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2098, the National Cave and
Karst Research Institute Act of 1997 and H.R. 2989, to direct the
Secretary of the Interior to convey to the St. Jude's Ranch for
Children, Nevada, approximately 40 acres of land in Las Vegas, Nevada,
to be used for the development of facilities for the residential care
and treatment of adjudicated girls. Testimony was heard from Senator
Bingaman; Representatives Skeen; the following officials of the
Department of the Interior: Carson Culp, Assistant Director, Minerals,
Realty and Resource Protection, Bureau of Land Management; and Michael
A. D67Soukup, Associate Director, Natural Resources Stewardship and
Science, National Parks Service; and public witnesses. 

                                           [Page: D67]

SUSPENSIONS

Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 8 to 0, a resolution providing
that suspensions will be in order on Wednesday, February 11, 1998, or on
Thursday, February 12, 1998. The rule provides that the Speaker or his
designee shall consult with the Minority Leader or his designee on any
suspension considered under this resolution. 

NASA POSTURE

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a
hearing on NASA Posture. Testimony was heard from Daniel S. Goldin,
Administrator, NASA. 

PERSIAN GULF WAR VETERANS' ILLNESSES

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on the research,
investigations and programs involving Persian Gulf War veterans'
illnesses. Testimony was heard from Arthur Caplan, member, Presidential
Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses; the following
officials of the Department of Veterans' Affairs: Kenneth W. Kizer,
Under Secretary, Health, and Joseph Thompson, Under Secretary, Benefits;
Bernard Rostker, Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary, Gulf War
Illnesses, Department of Defense; the following officials of the GAO;
Donna Heivilin, Director, Planning and Reporting, National Security and
International Affairs Division, and Stephen Backhus, Director, Veterans'
Affairs and Military Health Care Issues, Health, Education, and Human
Services Division; and public witnesses. 

IRAQ BRIEFING

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to
hold a briefing on Iraq. The Committee was briefed by departmental
witnesses. 



1998/02/09
Daily Digest - Monday, February 9, 1998,  pages D72 - D74

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



1998/02/10
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 10, 1998,  pages D76 - D80

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



1998/02/11
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 11, 1998,  pages D82 - D88

Committee Meetings

FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export
Financing and Related Programs held a hearing on the Secretary of the
Treasury. Testimony was heard from Robert E. Rubin, Secretary of the
Treasury. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a
hearing on the National Transportation Safety Board. Testimony was heard
from James E. Hall, Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board. 

OVERSIGHT--DC AUDIT REPORT/CFO

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on the
District of Columbia held an oversight hearing on the Fiscal Year 1997
District of Columbia Audit Report and the Chief Financial Officer.
Testimony was heard from G. Edward DeSeve, Acting Deputy Director, OMB;
the following officials of the District of Columbia: Marion Barry,
Mayor; Linda Cropp, Chair, City Council and Anthony Williams, Chief
Financial Officer; Andrew Brimmer, Chairman, D.C. Financial and
Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority; and a public
witness. 

QUALITY CHILD CARE FOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEES ACT

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Government
Management, Information, and Technology held a hearing on H.R. 2982,
Quality Child Care for Federal Employees Act. Testimony was heard from
Susan Clampett, Associate Administrator, Management and Workplace
Programs, GSA. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 



1998/02/12
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 12, 1998,  pages D89 - D96

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a
hearing on the Secretary of Agriculture. Testimony was heard from Dan
Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture. 

                                           [Page: D93]

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held a hearing on the Secretary of Labor.
Testimony was heard from Alexis M. Herman, Secretary of Labor. 

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing
on the Joint Committee on Printing. Testimony was heard from
Representative Ney. 

The Subcommittee also continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was
heard from Members of Congress and public witnesses. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held
an Overview hearing. Testimony was heard from William J. Lynn, III,
Under Secretary (Comptroller), Department of Defense. 

NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a
hearing on Medical Programs. Testimony was heard from Edward D. Martin,
M.D., Acting Secretary, Health Affairs, Department of Defense. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a
hearing on the Office of Inspector General. Testimony was heard from
Kenneth Meade, Inspector General, Department of Transportation; and John
Anderson, Director, Transportation Issues, Resources, Community and
Economic Development Division, GAO. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent
Agencies held a hearing on the following: Chemical Safety and Hazard
Investigation Board; DOD-Civil, Cemeterial Expenses, Army and on the
Council on Environmental Quality. Testimony was heard from Paul Hill,
Jr., Chair and CEO, Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board; the
following officials of Arlington National Cemetery: John Metzler,
Superintendent; Rory Smith, Budget Office; Claudia Tornblom, Acting
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Management and Budget; John Zirschky, Acting
Assistant Secretary, Civil Works, Department of the Army; and Kathleen
McGinty, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality. 

NAZI GOLD; COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on the
restitution of art objects seized by the Nazi from Holocaust victims and
on insurance claims of certain Holocaust victims and their heirs.
Testimony was heard from Senators D'Amato, Specter and Torricelli;
Representatives Foley and Engel; Stephen E. Weil, Emeritus Senior
Scholar, Smithsonian Institution; and public witnesses. 

The Committee also considered pending Committee business. 

CLONING--LEGAL, MEDICAL, ETHICAL, AND SOCIAL ISSUES

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a
hearing on Cloning: Legal, Medical, Ethical, and Social Issues.
Testimony was heard from Senator Frist; Representative Ehlers; and
public witnesses. 

MOLTEN METAL TECHNOLOGY FUNDING

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held
a hearing on the Department of Energy's Funding of Molten Metal
Technology. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

CONTRACT AGREEMENTS--OVERSIGHT INVESTIGATION--TEAMSTERS ELECTION

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Approved Contract Agreements
with those providing services to the Committee in relation to the
oversight investigation of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
election. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; PATIENT ACCESS ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS; COMMITTEE
BUSINESS

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Ordered reported the
following measures: 

H.R. 3120, amended, to designate the United States Post Office located
at 95 West 100 South Street in Provo, Utah, as the "Howard C. Nielson
Post Office Building"; H.R. 2766, to designate the United States Post
Office located at 215 East Jackson Street in Painsville, Ohio, as the
"Karl Bernal Post Office Building"; H.R. 2773, to designate the facility
of the United States Postal Service located at 3750 North Kedzie Avenue
in Chicago, Illinois, as the "Daniel J. Doffyn Post Office Building";
H.R. 2836, to designate the building of the United States Postal Service
located at 180 East Kellogg Boulevard in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as the
"Eugene J. McCarthy Post Office Building"; S. 916, to designate the
United States Post Office building located at 750 Highway 28 East in
Taylorsville, Mississippi, as the "Blaine H. Easton Post Office
Building"; and S. 985, to designate the post office located at 194
D94Ward Street in Paterson, New Jersey, as the Larry Coby Post Office". 

                                           [Page: D94]

The Committee concluded hearings on Patient Access to Alternative
Treatments: Beyond the FDA. Testimony was heard from Representatives
DeFazio and Moran of Virginia; Ed Gochenour, Senator, State of Georgia;
and public witnesses. 

The Committee also considered pending committee business. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Government
Management, Information, and Technology approved for full Committee
action amended H.R. 2982, Quality Child Care for Federal Employees. 

Prior to this action, the Subcommittee concluded hearings on this
legislation. Testimony was heard from Representative Gilman. 

The Subcommittee also held a hearing on H.R. 2883, Government
Performance and Results Act Technical Amendments of 1997. Testimony was
heard from J. Christopher Mihm, Assistant Director, Federal Management
and Workforce Issues, General Government Division, GAO; G. Edward
DeSeve, Acting Deputy Director, OMB; and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--PENSION SECURITY

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Human Resources held an
oversight hearing on Pension Security: DOL Erisa Enforcement and the
Limited Scope Audit Exemption. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Labor: Olena Berg, Assistant Secretary,
Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration; and Patricia Dalton, Deputy
Inspector General; David L. Clark, Director, Audit Oversight and
Liaison, GAO; and public witnesses. 

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS BUDGET

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the
Administration's Fiscal Year 1999 International Affairs Budget request.
Testimony was heard from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State. 

SRI LANKA ANNIVERSARY; CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS--U.S. INTERESTS

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the
Pacific approved for full Committee action H. Res. 350, congratulating
the people of Sri Lanka on the occasion of the fiftieth anniversary of
their nation's independence. 

The Subcommittee also held a hearing on U.S. Interests in the Central
Asian Republics. Testimony was heard from Robert W. Gee, Assistant
Secretary, Policy, Department of Energy; and public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International
Operations and Human Rights approved for full Committee action the
following measures: H.R. 2678, amended, International Child Labor
Elimination Act of 1997; and S. Con. Res. 37, expressing the sense of
Congress that Little League Baseball Inc. was established to support and
develop Little League baseball worldwide and should be entitled to all
of the benefits and privileges available to nongovernmental
international organizations. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and
Administrative Law held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2604,
Religious Liberty and Charitable Donation Protection Act of 1997; and
H.R. 2611, Religious Fairness in Bankruptcy Act of 1997. Testimony was
heard from Senator Grassley; Representatives Chenoweth and Packard; and
public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; OVERSIGHT--INTERNET DOMAIN

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual
Property held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2652, Collections
of Information Antipiracy Act; and H.R. 3163, Trade Dress Protection
Act; and an oversight hearing on Internet Domain Name Trademark
Protection. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS

Committee on National Security: Held a hearing on Threats to United
States National Security. Testimony was heard from the following former
Directors of the CIA: James Woolsey; and John Deutch. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife
and Oceans approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R.
2807, amended, Rhino and Tiger Product Labeling Act; H.R. 3113,
Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Reauthorization Act of 1998; and H.R.
3164, amended, Hydrographic Services Improvement Act of 1998. 

OVERSIGHT--TUCSON ROD AND GUN CLUB

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held
an oversight hearing on Tucson Rod and Gun Club, Arizona. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Forest Service, USDA: Michael
Dombeck, Chief, and Robert Joslin, Chief, National Forest Systems; and
public witnesses. 

                                           [Page: D95]

ROAD FROM KYOTO

Committee on Science: Continued hearings on the Road from Kyoto Part 2:
Kyoto and the Administration's Fiscal Year 1999 Budget request.
Testimony was heard from John H. Gibbons, Assistant to the President for
Science and Technology and Director, Office of Science and Technology
Policy; Ernest J. Moniz, Under Secretary, Department of Energy; David M.
Gardiner, Assistant Administrator, Policy, Planning and Evaluation, EPA;
and Gary R. Bachula, Acting Under Secretary, Technology, Department of
Commerce. 

SPACE TRANSPORTATION TECHNOLOGY

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a
hearing on Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology. Testimony
was heard from the following officials of NASA: Richard S. Christiansen,
Acting Associate Administrator, Aeronautics and Advanced Space
Transportation Technology; and Gary E. Payton, Deputy Associate
Administrator (Space Transportation Technology); and a public witness. 

REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ACT COMPLIANCE

Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing to examine Federal Agency
compliance with section 610 of the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Testimony
was heard from L. Nye Stevens, Director, Federal Management and
Workforce Issues, GAO; Enrique Figueroa, Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service, USDA; Nancy E. McFadden, General Counsel, Department
of Transportation; Debra A. Valentine, General Counsel, FTC; and a
public witness. 
 
VA BUDGET

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on the Department of
Veterans Affairs budget request for FY 1999. Testimony was heard from
Frank Q. Nebeker, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals;
Espiridion Borrego, Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and
Training Service, Department of Labor; representatives of veterans
organizations; and a public witness. 

REDUCE FEDERAL TAX BURDEN

Committee on Ways and Means: Concluded hearings on ways to reduce the
Federal tax burden on the American public. Testimony was heard from
Representatives Hulshof and Kucinich; and public witnesses. 

AGRICULTURE TRADE BARRIERS

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held hearing on U.S.
efforts to reduce barriers to trade in agriculture. Testimony was heard
from Representative Thurman; Gus Schumacher, Under Secretary, Farm and
Foreign Agricultural Services, USDA; Peter L. Scher, Special Trade
Negotiator, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; and public
witnesses. 



1998/02/13
Daily Digest - Friday, February 13, 1998,  pages D97 - D98

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 



1998/02/23
Daily Digest - Monday, February 23, 1998,  pages D99 - D106

Committee Meetings

EDUCATION STANDARDS AND TESTING IN THE STATES

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing on Education
Standards and Testing in the States. Testimony was heard from Terry
Branstad, Governor, State of Iowa; Frank Brogan, Commissioner of
Education, State of Florida; Michael Ward, Superintendent of Public
Instruction, State of North Carolina; and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT INVESTIGATION--TEAMSTERS ELECTION

Committee of Education and the Workforce: On February 19, the
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations approved the issuance of
subpoenas duces tecum regarding the oversight investigation of the
International Brotherhood of Teamsters election. 



1998/02/24
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 24, 1998,  pages D108 - D116

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a
hearing on Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services. Testimony was heard
from August Schumacher, Jr., Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services, USDA; and Len Rogers, Acting Assistant
Administrator, Humanitarian Response, AID, U.S. International
Development Cooperation Agency. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Service, and Education held a hearing on Employment and Training
Administration/Veterans Employment. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Labor: Raymond J. Uhalde,
Acting Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training; and Espiridion
Borrego, Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training
Services. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA-HUD and Independent
Agencies held a hearing on Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation and on
the National Credit Union Administration. Testimony was heard from
George Knight, Executive Director, Neighborhood Reinvestment
Corporation; and Norman E. D'Amours, Chairman, National Credit Union
Administration. 

CONDUCT OF MONETARY POLICY

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic
and International Monetary Policy held a hearing to review the Federal
Reserve's conduct of monetary policy (Humphrey-Hawkins). Testimony was
heard from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve
System. 

TEACHER TRAINING

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early
Childhood, Youth and Families held a hearing on Teacher Training.
Testimony was heard from Eugene Hickok, Secretary of Education, State of
Pennsylvania; and public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D113]

FEDERAL RETIREMENT COVERAGE CORRECTIONS ACT

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Civil
Service approved for full Committee action amended the Federal
Retirement Coverage Corrections Act. 

Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on this measure.
Testimony was heard from William E. Flynn, Associate Director,
Retirement and Information Service, OPM; Roger W. Mehle, Executive
Director, Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board; and public
witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--GULF WAR VETERANS HEALTH CONCERNS

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Human
Resources held a oversight hearing on ways to improve the federal
government's approach to research into the health concerns of Gulf War
veterans. Testimony was heard from John Feussner, M.D., Chief Research
and Development Officer, Department of Veterans Affairs; Anna
Johnson-Winegar, Director, Environmental and Life Sciences, Department
of Defense; the following officials of the Department of Health and
Human Services: Drue Barrett, Environmental Hazards and Health Effects
Division and William Reeves, M.D., Branch Chief, Viral Exanthems, both
with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; and Sheila Newton,
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences; Donna Heivilin,
Director, Planning and Reporting, GAO; and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--REFUGEE PROGRAMS

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on Annual Oversight of
Refugee Programs, Policies, and Budget. Testimony was heard from Julia
Taft, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees, and
Migration, Department of State; and public witnesses. 

DEPOT ISSUES

Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Readiness held
a hearing on depot issues. Testimony was heard from Henry L. Hinton,
Jr., Assistant Comptroller, GAO. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands
held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2223, Education Land Grant
Act; H.R. 1728, National Park Service Administrative Amendment of 1997;
and H.R. 2993, to provide for the collection of fees for the making of
motion pictures, television productions, and sound tracks in National
Park System and National Wildlife Refuge System units. Testimony was
heard from Representative Hayworth; Sandra Key, Associate Deputy Chief,
Forest Service, USDA; the following officials of the Department of the
Interior: John M. Berry, Assistant Secretary, Policy Management and
Budget; and Maureen Finnerty, Associate Director, Park Operations and
Education, National Park Service; and public witnesses. 

WITNESS PROTECTION AND INTERSTATE RELOCATION ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1
hour of debate on H.R. 2181, Witness Protection and Interstate
Relocation Act of 1997. The rule provides that the bill will be
considered by title, and each title will be considered as read. The rule
authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who
have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule
allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes
during consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting time to five
minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen minute
vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without
instructions. Testimony was heard from Representative McCollum. 
 
FEDERAL AGENCY COMPLIANCE ACT

Committee on Rules: The Committee granted, by voice vote, an open rule
providing 1 hour of debate on H.R. 1544, Federal Agency Compliance Act.
The rule makes in order the Committee on the Judiciary amendment in the
nature of a substitute as an original bill for amendment purposes which
shall be considered as read. The rule authorizes the Chair to accord
priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed their amendment
in the Congressional Record. The rule allows for the Chairman of the
Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the
bill, and to reduce voting time to five minutes on a postponed question
if the vote follows a fifteen minute vote. Finally, the rule provides
for one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Testimony was
heard from Representative Gekas. 

VETERAN'S LEGISLATION

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits held a hearing
on the following bills: H.R. 3039, Veterans' Transitional Housing
Opportunities Act of 1997; and H.R. 3211, to amend title 38, United
States Code, to enact into law eligibility requirements for burial at
Arlington National Cemetery. Testimony was heard from John McLaurin,
D114Deputy Assistant Secretary (Military Personnel Management and Equal
Opportunity Policy), Department of the Army; Keith Pedigo, Director,
Loan Guaranty Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of
Veterans Affairs; Raymond Boland, Department of Veterans Affairs, State
of Wisconsin; representatives of veterans organizations; and a public
witness. 

                                          [Page: D114]

TREASURY REPORT--INNOCENT SPOUSE RELIEF

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing on
the Treasury Department Report on Innocent Spouse Relief. Testimony was
heard from Donald C. Lubick, Assistant Secretary, Tax Policy, Department
of the Treasury; and Lynda D. Willis, Director, Tax Policy and
Administration Issues, GAO. 

ASIA TRADE ISSUES

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on
Asia Trade Issues. Testimony was heard from Charlene Barshefsky, U.S.
Trade Representative; Stuart E. Eizenstat, Under Secretary, Economic,
Business and Agricultural Affairs, Department of State; David A. Lipton,
Under Secretary, International Affairs, Department of the Treasury; and
public witnesses. 



1998/02/25
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 25, 1998,  pages D118 - D128

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a
hearing on FDA. Testimony was heard from Michael A. Friedman, M.D., Lead
Deputy Commissioner, FDA, Department of Health and Human Services. 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and Judiciary held a hearing on the Legal Services Corporation and on
the Secretary of State. Testimony was heard from the following officials
from Legal Service Corporation; Douglas Eakelely, Chairman; John
Erlenborn, Vice Chairman; and John McKay, President; and Madeleine K.
Albright, Secretary of State. 

FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS
APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export
Financing and Related Programs held a hearing on Security Assistance.
Testimony was heard from Walter B. Slocombe, Under Secretary, Policy,
Department of Defense; and John Holum, Acting Under Secretary, Arms
Control and International Security Affairs, Department of State. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held a hearing on Pension Agencies, the Office
of Inspector D123General (Labor), the Employment Standards
Administration and Bureau of Labor Statistics. Testimony was heard from
the following officials from the Department of Labor: Olena Berg,
Assistant Secretary, Pension Welfare Benefits Administration; Charles
C., Masten, Inspector General; Katherine G. Abraham, Commissioner,
Bureau of Labor Statistics; Bernard E. Anderson, Assistant Secretary,
Employment Standards Administration; and David M. Strauss, Executive
Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. 

                                          [Page: D123]

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held
a hearing on Army Construction. Testimony was heard from Alma Boyd
Moore, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Department of Army. 
 
NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a
hearing on FY 1999, Navy/Marine Corps Budget Overview. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Department of the Navy: John
H. Dalton, Secretary; Adm. Jay L. Johnson, USN, Chief of Naval
Operations; and Gen. Charles C. Krulak, USMC, Commandant of the Marine
Corps. 

The Subcommittee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on FY
1999, Navy/Marine Corps Acquisition Program. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the Department of the Navy: John W. Douglass,
Assistant Secretary (Research, Development and Acquisition); Vice Adm.
Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations
(Resources, Warfare Requirements and Assessments); and Lt. Gen. Jeffrey
W. Oster, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources. 

TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service,
and General Government held a hearing on Treasury Law Enforcement.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of
the Treasury; Robert Rubin, Secretary; Raymond Kelly, Under Secretary,
Enforcement; Sam Banks, Acting Commissioner, Customs Service; John
Magaw, Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; Lew Merletti,
Director, Secret Service; William Baity, Deputy Director, Financial
Crime Enforcement Network; and Ralph Basham Director, Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent
Agencies held a hearing on the Consumer Product Safety Commission and on
the Consumer Information Center. Testimony was heard from Ann Brown,
Chairman, Consumer Product Safety Commission; and Teresa Nasif,
Director, Consumer Information Center, GSA. 

TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and
Consumer Protection held a hearing on the tobacco settlement. Testimony
was heard from public witnesses. 

CONFRONTING IRAQ--U.S. OPTIONS

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on U.S. Options in
Confronting Iraq. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

CHINA-HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION; PERUVIAN POPULATION CONTROL PROGRAM

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International
Operations and Human Rights approved for full Committee action amended
H.Res. 364, urging introduction and passage of a resolution on the human
rights situation in the People's Republic of China at the 54th Session
of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. 

The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Peruvian Population Control
Program. Testimony was heard from Mark Schneider, Assistant
Administrator, Latin America and the Carribbean, AID, U.S. International
Development Cooperation Agency; and public witnesses. 

REGULATORY ANALYSIS CREATION ACT; OVERSIGHT: U.S. ATTORNEY

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and
Administrative Law approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 1704,
Congressional Office of Regulatory Analysis Creation Act. 

The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on the Department of
Justice's Executive Office for U.S. Attorney, Environment and Natural
Resources Division, and Executive Office for U.S. Trustees. Testimony
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Justice:
Donna A. Bucella, Director, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys; Karen
E. Schreier, U.S. Attorney for the District of South Dakota and Vice
Chairman, Attorney General's Advisory Committee for U.S. Attorneys; Lois
Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General, Environment and Natural Resources
Division; and Joseph Patchan, Director, Executive Office for the U.S.
Trustees. 

                                          [Page: D124]

FAIR HOUSING AMENDMENTS; OVERSIGHT: CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION DEPARTMENT OF
JUSTICE

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution approved
for full Committee action H.R. 3206, Fair Housing Amendments Act of
1998. 

The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing regarding the Civil
Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. Testimony was heard
from Bill Lann Lee, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Department of
Justice; and public witnesses. 

MARIJUANA-SHOULD NOT BE LEGALIZED FOR MEDICINAL USE

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime approved for full
Committee action a proposed resolution expressing the sense of the House
of Representatives that marijuana is a dangerous and addictive narcotic
and should not be legalized for medicinal use. 

THREAT ASSESSMENT BRIEFING
.

Committee on National Security: Met in executive session to hold a
threat assessment briefing. The Committee was briefed by John A. Gordon,
Deputy Director, CIA; and Lt. Gen. Patrick M. Hughes, USA, Director,
Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense. 

DEPOT ISSUES

Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Readiness
concluded hearings on depot issues. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Defense: J.S. Gansler, Under
Secretary, Acquisition and Technology; and Darleen A. Druyan, Principal
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Air Force, Acquisition and Management,
Department of the Air Force. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on the following bills: H.R.
2756, Kake Tribal Corporation Land Exchange Act; H.R. 2812, Unrecognized
Southeast Alaska Native Communities Recognition Act; H.R. 2924, to amend
the Alaskan Native Claims Settlement Act to provide for selection of
lands by certain veterans of the Vietnam era and by the Elim Native
Corporation; H.R. 3087, to require the Secretary of Agriculture to grant
an easement to Chugrach Alaska Corporation; and H.R. 3088, to amend the
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, regarding Huna Totem Corporation
public interest land exchange. Testimony was heard from Eleanor Towns,
Director of Lands, Forest Service, USDA; John R. Garamendi, Deputy
Secretary, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. 

FOREST SERVICE ROADLESS AREA MORATORIUM

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held
an oversight hearing on the Administration's Forest Service Roadless
Area Moratorium. Testimony was heard from Representatives Hutchinson,
Oberstar, Herger, Stupak and Taylor of North Carolina; Mike Dombeck,
Chief, Forest Service, USDA; and public witnesses. 

WIRELESS TELEPHONE PROTECTION ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1
hour of debate on H.R. 2460, Wireless Telephone Protection Act. The rule
waives clause 2(I)(6) of rule XI requiring a three-day layover of the
committee report. The rule makes in order the Judiciary Committee
amendment in the nature of a substitute as an original bill for the
purpose of amendment, each section of which shall be considered as read.
The rule accords priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed
their amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule further allows
the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during
consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting time to five minutes on
a postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen minute vote. The rule
provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Finally,
the rule provides that after passage of the House bill, it will be in
order to move to insert the House-passed language in the Senate bill
number. Testimony was heard from Representative McCollum. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a
hearing on the following: Department of Energy FY 1999 Budget
Authorization Request; H.R. 1806, to provide for the consolidation of
the Office of Fossil Energy and the Office of Renewable Energy and
Energy Efficiency of the Department of Energy; and S. 965, to amend
title II of the Hydrogen Future Act of 1996 to extend an authorization
contained therein. Testimony was heard from the following officials of
the Department of Energy: Martha A. Krebs, Director, Office of Energy
Research; William D. Magwood, Associate Director, Policy and Analysis,
Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology; Patricia Fry Godley,
Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy; Peter N. Brush, Acting Assistant
Secretary, Environment, Safety and Health; Dan W. Reicher, Assistant
Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and James M.
Owendoff, Acting Assistant Secretary, Environmental Management. 

                                          [Page: D125]

FY 1999 BUDGET REQUEST NASA

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held an
oversight hearing on FY 1999 Budget Request: The Sciences at NASA.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of NASA: Wesley T.
Huntress, Associate Administrator, Space Science; Arnauld E.
Nicogossian, Associate Administrator, Life and Microgravity Sciences and
Applications; Ghassem Asrar. Associate Administrator, Earth Science; and
Joseph Rothenberg, Associate Administrator, Human Space. 

REDUCING SMALL BUSINESS TAX BURDEN

Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on Reducing America's Small
Business Tax Burden. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

GSA BUDGET

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Public
Buildings and Economic Development met and agreed to postpone a hearing
on the GSA FY 1999 Budget, and related issues. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported amended the following
bills: H.R. 3130, Child Support Performance and Incentive Act of 1998;
and H.R. 1432, African Growth and Opportunity Act. 

The Committee also held a hearing on the revenue provisions in the
Administration's FY 1999 Budget. Testimony was heard from Lawrence H.
Summers, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury. 

BUDGET OVERVIEW BRIEFING

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to
hold a briefing on Budget Overview. The Committee was briefed by
departmental witnesses. 



1998/02/26
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 26, 1998,  pages D129 - D138

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURAL TRADE

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
held a hearing to review livestock, dairy, and poultry trade between the
United States, Australia, and New Zealand. Testimony was heard from Lon
Hatamiya, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA; and public
witnesses. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a
hearing on Research, Education and Economics. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the USDA: I. Miley Gonzalez, Under Secretary,
Eileen Kennedy, Acting Deputy Under Secretary and Bob Robinson,
Administrator, Cooperative State Research, all with Research, Education,
and Economics; Donald Bay, Administrator, National Agricultural
Statistics Service; Floyd P. Horn, Administrator, Agricultural Research
Service; Susan Offutt, Administrator, Economic Research Service; and
Stephen B. Dewhurst, Budget Officer. 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and Judiciary held a hearing on the Attorney General and on the USIA.
Testimony was heard from Janet Reno, Attorney General; and the following
officials of the USIA: Joseph Duffy, Director; and David Burke,
Chairman, Board of Broadcasters. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held a hearing on the Occupational Safety and
Health Administration, and on GAO, Department of Health and Human
Services oversight. Testimony was heard from the following officials of
the Department of Labor: Charles N. Jeffress, Assistant Secretary,
Occupational Safety and Health; J. Davitt McAteer, Assistant Secretary,
Mine Safety and Health; and Richard L. Hembra, Assistant Comptroller
General, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, GAO. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction
continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from Members of
Congress and public witnesses. 

NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a
hearing on FY 1999 Army Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of the Army: Robert M. Walker,
Under Secretary and Gen. Dennis J. Reimer, USA, Chief of Staff. 

The Subcommittee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on FY
1999 Army Acquisition Program. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of the Army: Kenneth J. Oscar, Acting
Assistant Secretary (Research, Development and Acquisition); Lt. Gen.
Paul Kern, USA, Military Deputy to the Acting Secretary (Research,
Development and Acquisition); and Lt. Gen. William Campbell, USA,
Director, Information Systems D135for Command, Control, Communications
and Computers. 

                                          [Page: D135]

TREASURY-POSTAL SERVICE, GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service,
and General Government held a hearing on the IRS. Testimony was heard
from Charles O. Rossotti, Commissioner, IRS, Department of the Treasury. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent
Agencies held a hearing on the Court of Veterans Appeals and the
Selective Service System. Testimony was heard from Frank Q. Nebeker,
Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals; and Gil Coronado, Director,
Selective Service System. 

WIRELESS PRIVACY ENHANCEMENT ACT

Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported amended H.R. 2369, Wireless
Privacy Enhancement Act. 

FAIRNESS FOR SMALL BUSINESS AND EMPLOYEES ACT

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on
Employer-Employee Relations approved for full Committee action H.R.
3246, Fairness for Small Business and Employees Act of 1998. 

CAMPAIGN REFORM

Committee on House Oversight: Continued hearings on Campaign Reform.
Testimony was heard from Representatives Calvert, Smith of Michigan,
Price of North Carolina, Slaughter, Linda Smith of Washington, Paul,
Kaptur and Engel. 

NARCOTICS POLICY TOWARD COLOMBIA

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on U.S. Narcotics
Policy Toward Colombia. Testimony was heard from Henry L. Hinton,
Assistant Comptroller General, National Security and International
Affairs, GAO; and the following officials of the DANTI (anti-drug) Unit,
Colombian National Police: Col. Leonardo Gallego, Director; and Lt.
Fernando Lopez, Logistics Support Officer. 

CAMBODIA--UNCERTAIN STATUS OF DEMOCRACY

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the
Pacific held a hearing on Shattered Dream, the Uncertain State of
Democracy in Cambodia. Testimony was heard from Stanley Roth, Assistant
Secretary, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; and
public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--ADMINISTRATIVE TAXATION: FCC'S UNIVERSAL SERVICE TAX

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and
Administrative Law held an oversight hearing on Administrative Taxation:
The FCC's Universal Service Tax. Testimony was heard from Christopher A.
McLean, Deputy Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, USDA; and public
witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--RELIGIOUS FREEDOM--FEDERAL PROTECTION

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held an
oversight hearing regarding the need for federal protection of religious
freedom after Boerne v. Flores. Testimony was heard from public
witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual
Property approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R.
2696, amended, Vessel Hull Design Protection Act; H.R. 2294, amended,
Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1997; H.R. 2281, amended, WIPO
Copyright Treaties Implementation Act; and H.R. 3209, the On-line
Copyright Infringement Liability Limitation Act. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND FAMILY HOUSING BUDGET REQUEST
.

Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Installations &
Facilities held a hearing on FY 1999 budget request for military
construction and military family housing of the Department of Defense.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of
Defense: John B. Goodman, Deputy Under Secretary; and the following
officials of the Department of the Army; Alma Moore, Principal Deputy
Assistant Secretary, (Installations, Logistics, and Environment); Maj.
Gen. David Whaley, USA, Assistant Chief of Staff, Installations
Management; Brig. Gen. James Helmly, USA, Deputy Chief, Army Reserve;
and Col. Michael Squier, USA, Deputy Director, Army National Guard. 

TRICARE PROGRAM STATUS

Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held
a hearing on the status and effectiveness of the TRICARE program.
Testimony was heard from the following officials form the Department of
Defense: D. Edward Martin, M.D., Acting Assistant Secretary, (Health
Affairs), Col. Steve E. Phurrough, USA, Lead Agent, TRICARE Central
Region 7/8; Rear Adm. Richard A. Nelson, MC, USN, Lead Agent TRICARE
Region 9; Brig. Gen. Dan L. Locker, USAF, Lead Agent Region 4; and
D136Mr. Stephen P. Backhus, Veterans' Affairs and Military Health Care
Issues, GAO; and public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D136]

DOD MODERNIZATION

Committee on National Security: Subcommittee Military Procurement and
the Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint
hearing on Department of Defense Modernization for FY 1999. Testimony
was heard from Jacques S. Gansler, Under Secretary, Acquisition and
Technology, Department of Defense. 

INTERIOR DEPARTMENT--MISCELLANEOUS BUDGET REQUESTS

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources
held an oversight hearing on the Administration's FY 1999 budget request
for three agencies within the Department of Interior: Office of Surface
Mining, Minerals Management Service, and the Energy and Minerals
programs of the Bureau of Land Management. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of the Interior: Kathy Karpan,
Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement; Cynthia
Quarterman, Director, Minerals Management Service; and Tom Fry, Deputy
Director, Bureau of Land Management. 

OVERSIGHT--NOAA AND NATIONAL MARINE SERVICE BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on the Interior: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation,
Wildlife and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service, NOAA, and National Marine Service FY 1999 Budget
request. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Department of Interior: Don Barry, Assistant Secretary, Fish and
Wildlife and Parks; and John Rogers Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. 

OVERSIGHT--FEE DEMONSTRATION PROGRAMS

Committee on the Interior: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public
Lands held an oversight hearing on Fee Demonstration Programs-Successes
and Failures. Testimony was heard from Representative Herger; John M.
Berry, Assistant Secretary, Policy Management and Budget, Department of
the Interior; Lyle Laverty, Regional Forester, Rocky Mountain Region,
Forest Service, USDA; and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION AND NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS
AND TECHNOLOGY BUDGET REQUESTS

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held an oversight
hearing on the FY 1999 Administration Request for the Technology
Administration and the National Institute of Standards and Technology.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of
Commerce: Gary Bachula, Acting Under Secretary, Technology and Johnnie
E. Frazier, Acting Inspector General; and Susan Kladiva, Associate
Director, Energy, Resources and Science Issues, Resources, Community and
Economic Development Division, GAO. 

TRAVEL AGENTS--STOLEN AIRLINE TICKET STOCKS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation
held a hearing on Issues related to Stolen Airline Ticket Stocks from
Travel Agents. Testimony was heard from Neil J. Gallagher, Deputy
Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI, Department of
Justice; and public witnesses. 

ASSESSING HEALTH CARE QUALITY

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on
Assessing Health Care Quality. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: John
Eisenberg, M.D., Administrator, Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research; and Jeff Kang, M.D., Chief Medical Officer, Center for Health
Plans and Providers, Health Care Financing Administration; and public
witnesses. 

FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a
hearing on the Future of Social Security for this Generation and the
Next. Testimony was heard from Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner, SSA; and
public witnesses. 



1998/02/27
Daily Digest - Friday, February 27, 1998,  pages D140 - D146

Committee Meetings 

No Committee meetings were held. 



1998/03/02
Daily Digest - Monday, March 2, 1998,  pages D147 - D152

Committee Meetings

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Government
Management, Information and Technology held a hearing on the following
measures: Government Waste, Fraud, and Error Reduction Act of 1998; H.R.
2347, Federal Benefit Verification and Integrity Act; and H.R. 2063,
Debt Collection Wage Information Act of 1997. 

Testimony was heard from G. Edward DeSeve, Acting Deputy Director,
Management, OMB; Don Hammond, Acting Fiscal Assistant Secretary,
Department of the Treasury; David Longaknecker, Assistant Secretary,
Postsecondary Education, Department of Education; Karen Lee, Acting
Inspector General, SBA and Chairman of the President's Council on
Integrity and Efficiency, Ad Hoc Committee on Benefit Eligibility
Verification; and a public witness. 



1998/03/03
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 3, 1998,  pages D153 - D162

Committee Meetings

USDA YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE ENHANCEMENT ACT

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations,
Nutrition, and Foreign Agriculture approved for full Committee action
amended H.R. 3280, USDA Year 2000 Compliance Enhancement Act. 

Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on this
legislation. Testimony was heard from Representative Latham; Anne
Thomson Reed, Chief Information Officer, USDA; and Joel Willemssen,
Director, Civil Agencies Information System, Accountant and Information
Management Division, GAO. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a
hearing on Rural Development. Testimony was heard from Jill Long
Thompson, Under Secretary, Rural Development, USDA. 

                                          [Page: D158]

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior continued
appropriation hearings with emphasis on Natural Resources. Testimony was
heard from public witnesses. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held a hearing on the Secretary of Health and
Human Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
Administration and the Inspector General. Testimony was heard from the
following officials from the Department of Health and Human Services:
Donna E. Shalala, Secretary; and Nelba Chavez, Administrator, Substance
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held
a hearing on Navy Construction. Testimony was heard from Robert B.
Pirie, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Installations and Environment,
Department of the Navy. 

NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security met in
executive session to hold a hearing on U.S. Special Operations Command.
Testimony was heard from Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, USA, Commander in
Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a
hearing on the Secretary of Transportation. Testimony was heard from
Rodney E. Slater, Secretary of Transportation. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA-HUD and Independent
Agencies held a hearing on FEMA. Testimony was heard from James Lee
Witt, Director, FEMA. 

EEOC--FUTURE DIRECTION

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on
Employer-Employee Relations, hearing on the Future Direction of the
EEOC. Testimony was heard from Speaker Gingrich; Paul Igasaki, Acting
Chairman, EEOC; and public witnesses. 

GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS ACT TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on Government
Management, Information and Technology began markup of H.R. 2883,
Government Performance and Results Act Technical Amendments of 1997. 

Will continue tomorrow. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES; COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported amended the following
bills: H.R. 2294, Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1997; and H.R. 2696,
Vessel Hull Design Protection Act. 

The Committee approved the Committee's Fiscal Year 1999 Budget views and
estimates for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

The Committee also approved pending Committee business. 

RESALE SYSTEM AND CBO REPORT IMPLICATIONS

Committee on National Security: Special Oversight Panel on Morale,
Welfare and Recreation held a hearing on the resale system and CBO
report implications. Testimony was heard from Deborah Clay-Mendez,
Acting Deputy Assistant Director, CBO; the following officials of the
Department of Defense: Rudy de Leon, Under Secretary, Personnel and
Readiness; Maj. Gen. Richard E. Beale, Jr., (Ret.), Director, Defense
Commissary Agency; Maj. Gen. Allen D. Bunger, Commander, Army and Air
Force Exchange Service; Rear Adm. Paul Soderberg, USN, Commander, Navy
Exchange Service Command; and Mike Tharrington, Director, Morale,
Welfare, and Recreation, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and public
witnesses. 

DOD--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING BUDGET REQUESTS

Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Installations
and Facilities held a hearing on the Administration's fiscal year 1999
budget request for the military construction and military family housing
programs of the Department of Defense. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Defense: Robert B. Pirie, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary, Navy (Installations and Facilities); Rear Adm.
David J. Nash, USN, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command;
Brig. Gen. James M. Hayes, USMC, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff,
Installations and Logistics (Facilities), Headquarters, U.S. Marine
Corps; Rear Adm. John B. Totushek, USN, Deputy Director, Naval Reserve;
Jimmy G. D159Dishner, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Air Force
(Installations); Maj. Gen. Eugene A. Lupia, USAF, The Civil Engineer,
Headquarters, U.S. Air Force; Maj. Gen. Paul A. Weaver, Jr., USAF,
Director, Air National Guard; and Brig. Gen. Ralph S. Clemm, USAF,
Deputy to the Chief, Office of Air Forces Reserve. 

                                          [Page: D159]

SPORTFISHING AND BOATING IMPROVEMENT ACT

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife
and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 2973, Sportfishing and Boating
Improvement Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from Representative Tanner;
Dan Ashe, Assistant Director, External Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. 

PUERTO RICO--FULL SELF GOVERNMENT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 90
minutes of general debate on H.R. 856, to provide a process leading to a
full self government for Puerto Rico, equally divided and controlled by
Representative Young (AK), Representative Miller (CA), Representative
Solomon, and Representative Gutierrez or their designees. The rule makes
in order the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the
Congressional Record and numbered 1, which shall be considered as read.
The rule waives clause 5(a) of rule XXI (prohibiting appropriations in a
legislative bill) against the amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

The rule provides for the consideration, before any other amendment, of
amendment numbered 3, printed in the Congressional Record, which is
debatable for 1 hour equally divided between Representative Serrano and
an opponent. The rule provides for the consideration of amendment
numbered 2, printed in the Congresional Record, which is debatable for
30 minutes equally divided between Representative Serrano and an
opponent. The rule provides that amendments numbered 3 and 2 shall be
considered as read and shall not be subject to a demand for a division
of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole, and that
consideration of those amendments, and all amendments thereto, shall not
exceed one hour. 

The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to
Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional
Record. The rule allows for the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole
to postpone votes during consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting
time to five minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a
fifteen minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit,
with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Young;
and Representatives Rohrabacher, Barr of Georgia, Miller of California,
Romero-Barcelo, Serrano and Gutierrez. 

SBA'S BUDGET--ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN

Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the SBA's fiscal year
1999 Budget and their annual performance plan. Testimony was heard from
Aida Alvarez, Administrator, SBA. 

REPORTS--MEDICARE PAYMENT POLICIES

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on
reports regarding Medicare payment policies. Testimony was heard from
Gail R. Wilensky, Chair, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; William
J. Scanlon, Director, Health Financing and Systems Issues, Health,
Education, and Human Services Division, GAO; and public witnesses. 



1998/03/04
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 4, 1998,  pages D164 - D174

Committee Meetings

FOREST RECOVERY AND PROTECTION ACT

Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported amended H.R. 2515, Forest
Recovery and Protection Act of 1997. 

                                          [Page: D169]

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a
hearing Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. Testimony was heard from
Shirley Watkins, Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services,
USDA. 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State
and Judiciary held a hearing on the Federal Judiciary and the SBA.
Testimony was heard from: Judge John G. Heyburn, II, U.S. District
Court, Western District of Kentucky and Chairman and Judge Robert C.
Broomfield, U.S. District Court, Western District of Arizona and member,
both with the Committee on the Budget, Judicial Conference of the United
States; Leonidas Ralph Mecham, Director, Administrative Office of the
U.S. Courts; Judge Rya W. Zobel, U.S. District Court, District of
Massachusetts and Director, Federal Judiciary Center; and Aida Alvarez,
Administrator, SBA. 

FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS
APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export
Financing, and Related Programs held a hearing on the Secretary of
State. Testimony was heard from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of
State. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior continued
appropriation hearings, with emphasis on Energy Programs. Testimony was
heard from public witnesses. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held a hearing on Health Resources and Services
Administration, on the Health Care Financing Administration and the
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Testimony was heard from the
following officials from the Department of Health and Human Services:
Claude E. Fox, M.D., Acting Administrator, Health Resources and Service
Administration; John M. Eisneberg, M.D., Administrator, Agency for
Health Care Policy and Research, and Nancy-Ann-Min-DeParle,
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held
a hearing on the Air Force. Testimony was heard from Rodney A. Coleman,
Assistant Secretary, Department of the Air Force. 

NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a
hearing on Ballistic Missile Defense. Testimony was heard from Lt. Gen.
Lester L. Lyles, USAF, Director, Ballistic Missile Defense, Department
of Defense. 

The Subcommittee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on the
U.S. Pacific Command/U.S. Forces Korea. Testimony was heard from Adm.
Joseph W. Prueher, USN, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command; and
Gen. John H. Tilelli, Jr., USA, Commander in Chief, U.S. Forces Korea. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a
hearing on the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Transportation: Ricardo Martinez,
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and
Kenneth Wykle, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service,
and General Government held a hearing on Departmental Offices; and the
Treasury Inspector General. Testimony was heard from the following
officials from the Department of Treasury: Robert E. Rubin, Secretary;
Richard B. Calahan, Deputy Inspector General; Raisa Otero-Cesario,
Assistant Inspector General, Investigations; Gary L. Whittington,
Assistant Inspector General, Resources; Dennis S. Schindel, Assistant
Inspector General, Audit; William Pugh, Deputy Assistant Inspector
General, Audit; John Balakos, Associate Inspector General, Program
Audits; Charles Little, Acting Director, Office of Information
Technology; Emilie Bebel, Director, Office of Evaluations; and Lori
Vassar, Counsel to the Inspector General. 

NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent
Agencies held a hearing on the Corporation for National and Community
Service. Testimony was heard from Harris Wofford, CEO, Corporation for
National Community Service. 

                                          [Page: D170]

MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL AGENCY PAYMENTS

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial
Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing to Review the Proposed
Rules Regarding the Management of Federal Agency Payments through the
Use of Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT). Testimony was heard from
Senator Faircloth; Representatives Franks of New Jersey and Kanjorski;
John D. Hawke, Jr., Under Secretary, Domestic Finance, Department of the
Treasury; John Dyer, Principal Deputy, SSA; Robert Gardner, Chief
Financial Officer, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of
Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.  

STATE OF THE ECONOMY

Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the State of the Economy.
Testimony was heard from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors,
Federal Reserve System. 

KYOTO PROTOCOL

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing
on the Kyoto Protocol and Its Economic Implications. Testimony was heard
from Stuart E. Eizenstat, Under Secretary, Economic Business and
Agricultural Affairs, Department of State; and Janet Yellen, Chair,
Council of Economic Advisors. 

COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE COMPETITIONS AND PRIVATIZATION ACT

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and
Consumer Protection began markup of H.R. 1872, Communications Satellite
Competition and Privatization Act of 1997. 

Will continue March 11. 

HIGHER EDUCATION AMENDMENTS

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Postsecondary
Education, Training, and Life-Long Learning approved for full Committee
action amended H.R. 6, Higher Education Amendments of 1998. 

ELECTIONS AND POLICIES--FOREIGN INFLUENCE

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Met in executive session
to hold a hearing on the activities of China and other countries to
influence U.S. policies and elections. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Justice: Janet Reno, Attorney
General and Louis J. Freeh, Director, FBI; George J. Tenet, Director,
CIA; and Lt. General Kenneth A. Minihan, Director, National Security
Agency, Department of Defense. 

GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE RESULTS ACT--TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Government
Management, Information and Technology approved for full Committee
action amended H.R. 2883, Government Performance and Results Act
Technical Amendments of 1997. 

TROPICAL FOREST PROTECTION ACT

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on H.R. 2870,
Tropical Forest Protection Act. Testimony was heard from Representative
Portman; Thomas Fox, Assistant Administrator, Policy and Planning
Bureau, AID, U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency; Mary
Chavez, Director, International Debt Policy, Department of the Treasury;
and public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa approved
for full Committee action the following resolutions: H. Res. 373,
commending democracy in Botswana; and H. Res. 374, amended, expressing
the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the ongoing violence
in Algeria. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; CUBAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western
Hemisphere approved for full Committee action the following resolutions:
H. Con. Res. 222, expressing the sense of Congress, congratulating the
former International Support and Verification Commission of the
Organization of American States (OAS-CIAV) for successfully aiding in
the transition of Nicaragua from a war-ridden state into a newly formed
democracy and providing continued support through the recently created
Technical Cooperation Mission (OAS-TCM) which is responsible for helping
to stabilize Nicaraguan democracy by supplementing institution building;
H. Con. Res. 215, amended, congratulating the people of Co-operative
Republic of Guyana for holding multiparty elections; and H. Res. 362,
amended, commending the visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Cuba. 

Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the visit of
His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Cuba: An Assessment of its Impact on
Religious Freedom in Cuba. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following measures:
H.R. 1704, amended, Congressional Office of Regulatory Analysis Creation
Act; H.J. Res. 78, amended, proposing an amendment to D171the
Constitution of the United States regarding religious freedom; H.R.
3117, amended, Civil Rights Commission Act of 1998; H.R. 2589, amended,
Copyright Term Extension Act; H. Res. 372, expressing the sense of the
House of Representatives that marijuana is a dangerous and addictive
drug and should not be legalized for medicinal use; and H.R. 118,
amended, Traffic Stops Statistics Act of 1997. 

                                          [Page: D171]

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on National Security: Held a hearing on the fiscal year 1999
National Defense authorization budget request. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the Department of Defense: Adm. Joseph W.
Prueher, USN, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command; Gen. John H.
Tilelli, USA, Commander in Chief, U.S. Forces Korea; and Adm. Harold W.
Gehman, Jr., USN, Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

FY 1999 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MODERNIZATION

Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Procurement and
Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint hearing
on FY 1999 Department of Defense, emphasis on Navy and Marine Corps
modernization programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials
of the Department of the Navy: John W. Douglas, Assistant Secretary,
Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition); Vice Admiral Conrad C.
Lautenbacher, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Resources, Warfare
Requirements and Assessments; and Lt. Gen. Jeffrey W. Oster, USMC,
Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

CHILD SUPPORT PERFORMANCE AND INCENTIVE ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified open rule
providing 1 hour of debate on H.R. 3130, Child Support Performance and
Incentive Act of 1998. The rule waives points of order against
consideration of the bill for failure to comply with section 303(a) of
the Congressional Budget Act (Prohibiting consideration of legislation,
as reported, providing new budget authority, changes in revenues, or
changes in the public debt for a fiscal year until the budget resolution
for that year has been agreed to). 

The rule makes in order the Ways and Means Committee amendment in the
nature of a substitute now printed in the bill as an original bill for
the purpose of amendment and provides that it shall be considered as
read. The rule waives points of order against the committee amendment in
the nature of a substitute for failure to comply with section 303(a) of
the Congressional Budget Act. 

The rule provides that no amendment shall be in order unless printed in
the Congressional Record. The rule waives points of order against the
amendment by Mr. Cardin printed in the Congressional Record and numbered
2 for failure to comply with clause 7 of rule XVI (prohibiting
nongermane amendments). The rule allows for the Chairman of the
Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the
bill, and reduce voting time to five minutes on a postponed question if
the vote follows a fifteen minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one
motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard
from Representatives Shaw, Levin and Cardin. 

WIRELESS PRIVACY ENHANCEMENT ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1
hour of debate on H.R. 2369, Wireless Privacy Enhancement Act of 1997.
The rule waives points of order against consideration of the bill for
failure to comply with clause 2(I)(6) of rule XI(3 day availability of
committee reports). 

The rule makes in order the Committee on Commerce amendment in the
nature of a substitute now printed in the bill as an original bill for
the purpose of amendment and provides that it shall be considered as
read. The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to
Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional
Record. The rule allows for the Chairman of the Committee on the Whole
to postpone votes during consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting
time to five minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a
fifteen minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit
with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Bliley
and Representatives Tauzin and Markey. 

MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION

Committee on Science: Held an oversight hearing on Math and Science
Education I; Maintaining the Interest of Young Kids in Science.
Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

NOAA--BUDGET AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held an
oversight hearing on FY 1999 Budget Authorization Request: NOAA.
Testimony was heard from D. James Baker, Under Secretary, Oceans and
Atmosphere and Administrator, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and Joel
Willemsson, Director, Accounting and Information Management Division,
GAO. 

                                          [Page: D172]

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and
Paperwork Reduction, hearing on the Regulatory Fairness Program and the
first annual Report to Congress submitted by the national Small Business
Ombudsman. Testimony was heard from Peter Barca, National Ombudsman,
SBA; and pubic witnesses. 

FY 1999 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE U.S. COAST GUARD

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on the Administration's
FY 1999 budget request for the U.S. Coast Guard. Testimony was heard
from the following officials of U.S. Coast Guard, Department of
Transportation; Adm. Robert E. Kramek, USCG, Commandant; Eric A. Trent,
USCG, Master Chief Petty Officer; and Everette L. Tucker, Jr., USCG,
National Commodore; and public witnesses. 

SUPERFUND ACCELERATION, FAIRNESS EFFICIENCY ACT

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment began markup of H.R. 2727, Superfund
Acceleration, Fairness, and Efficiency Act. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 



1998/03/05
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 5, 1998,  pages D176 - D184

Committee Meetings

ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY INCENTIVES PROGRAMS

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Forestry, Resource
Conservation, and Research held a hearing to review the implementation
of the Environmental Quality Incentives Program. Testimony was heard
from Craig Cox, Acting Deputy Under Secretary, Natural Resources and
Environment, USDA. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a
hearing on Departmental Administration, the Chief Financial Officer and
the Chief Information Officer. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the USDA: Pearlie Reed, former Acting Assistant Secretary,
Administration; Sally Thompson, Chief Financial Officer; and Anne F.
Reed, Chief Information Officer. 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and Judiciary, held a hearing on the FBI and the Secretary of Commerce.
Testimony was heard from Louis J. Freeh, Director, FBI, Department of
Justice; and William M. Daley, Secretary of Commerce. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior continued
appropriation hearings, with emphasis on Indian Programs. Testimony was
heard from public witnesses. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held a hearing on the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, the Administration for Children and Families and
the Administration on Aging. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Health and Human Service; Clarie V.
Broome, M.D., Acting Director, Center for Disease Control and
Prevention; Jeanette C. Takamura, M.D., Assistant Secretary,
Administration on Aging; Olivia A. Golden, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Administration for Children and Families. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held
a hearing on the Quality of Life and the Senior Enlisted from each
Service. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Department of Defense: Sgt. Maj. Robert E. Hall, USA; Master Chief Petty
Officer John Hagan, USN; Sgt. Maj. Lewis Lee, USMC; and Chief Master
Sergeant Eric W. Benken, USAF. 

NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a
hearing on FY 1999 Air Force Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the Department of the Air Force: F. Whitten
Peters, Under Secretary and Gen. Michael E. Ryan, USAF, Chief of Staff. 

The Subcommittee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on FY
1999 Air Force Acquisition Program. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of the Air Force: Arthur L. Money,
Assistant Secretary (Acquisition) and Lt. Gen. George K. Muellner, USAF,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary (Acquisition). 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a
hearing on the Coast Guard. Testimony was heard from Adm. Robert E.
Kramek, USCG, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of
Transportation. 

                                          [Page: D181]

TREASURY-POSTAL SERVICE, GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service,
and General Government held a hearing on Financial Management Services,
the Bureau of Engraving and Printing and the Mint. Testimony was heard
from the following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Richard
Gregg, Commissioner, Financial Management Service; Thomas A. Ferguson,
Associate Director, Research and Development, Bureau of Engraving and
Printing; and Phil Diehl, United States Mint. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent
Agencies held a hearing on Community Development Financial Institutions.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of
Treasury: Robert E. Rubin, Secretary; Ellen Lazar, Director, Community
Financial Development Institutions Fund; and John D. Hawke, Jr., Under
Secretary, Domestic Finance. 

INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND REFORM AND AUTHORIZATION ACT

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Ordered reported amended
H.R. 3114, International Monetary Fund Reform and Authorization Act of
1998. 

SUPERFUND REFORM ACT

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials
held a hearing on H.R. 3000, Superfund Reform Act. Testimony was heard
from Carol M. Browner, Administrator, EPA; Craig O'Connor, General
Counsel, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses. 

TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a
hearing on the Tobacco Settlement. Testimony was heard from public
witnesses. 

STUDENT LOAN INTEREST RATES--DEVELOPING CONSENSUS

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Postsecondary
Education, Training and Life-Long Learning held a hearing on Developing
a Consensus on Student Loan Interest Rates. Testimony was heard from
Representatives Gordon and Kanjorski; David A. Longanecker, Assistant
Secretary, Office of Postsecondary Education, Department of Education;
and Jonathan Gruber, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Analysis,
Department of the Treasury. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce
Protections approved for full Committee action amended the following
bills: H.R. 2888, Sales Incentive Compensation Act; and H.R. 2327, Drive
for Teen Employment Act. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Ordered reported amended
the following bills: H.R. 3249, Federal Retirement Coverage Corrections
Act; and H.R. 2883, Government Performance and Results Act Technical
Amendments of 1997. 

OVERSIGHT--FEC

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Government
Management, Information and Technology held an oversight hearing on the
Federal Election Commission. Testimony was heard from Representative
White; the following officials of the FEC: Joan D. Aikens, Chairman;
John C. Surina, Staff Director; and Lawrence M. Noble, General Counsel;
and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--HEPATITIS C

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Human
Resources held an oversight hearing on Public Health 2000: Hepatitis C,
the Silent Epidemic. Testimony was heard from David Satcher, M.D.,
Surgeon General of the United States, Department of Health and Human
Services; John F. Mazzuchi, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Clinical and
Program Policy, Department of Defense; the following officials of the
Department of Veterans Affairs: Thomas Holohan, M.D., Chief, Patient
Care Services Officer; and Gary Roselle, Program Director, Infectious
Diseases; and public witnesses. 
 
SMALL BUSINESS PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National
Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs held a
hearing on H.R. 3310, Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act of 1998.
Testimony was heard from Jere Glover, Chief Counsel for Advocacy, SBA;
and public witnesses. 

CAMPAIGN REFORM

Committee on House Oversight: Continued hearings on Campaign Reform.
Testimony was heard from Representatives Knollenberg, Cook, Rivers,
Clement, Gekas, Gilchrest and Gejdenson. 

                                          [Page: D182]

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the
Administration's Foreign Assistance Budget request for FY 1999.
Testimony was heard from J. Brian Atwood, Administrator, AID, U.S.
International Development Cooperation Agency.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the
Pacific approved for full Committee action amended the following
resolutions: H. Res. 364, urging the introduction and passage of a
resolution on the human rights situation in the People's Republic of
China at the 54th Session of the United Nations Commission on Human
Rights; H. Res. 361, calling for free and impartial elections in
Cambodia; and H. Con. Res. 218, concerning the urgent need to establish
a cease fire in Afghanistan and begin the transition toward a
broad-based multiethnic government that observes international norms of
behavior. 

MULTILATERAL AGREEMENT ON INVESTMENT

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International
Economic Policy and Trade, hearing on "Multilateral Agreement on
Investment: Win, Lose or Draw for the U.S.?" Testimony was heard from
Alan Larson, Assistant Secretary for Economic and Business Affairs,
Department of State. 

CRISIS--GREAT LAKES

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International
Operations and the Subcommittee on Africa held a joint hearing on the
Ongoing Crisis in the Great Lakes. Testimony was heard from Howard
Wolpe, Special Envoy, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State;
and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--MASS TORTS AND CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual
Property held an oversight hearing regarding mass torts and class action
lawsuits. Testimony was heard from Representative Moran of Virginia;
Anthony J. Scirica, Judge, United States Circuit, U.S. Court of Appeals,
3rd Circuit; and public witnesses. 

NATURALIZATION REFORM ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held
a hearing on H.R. 2837, Naturalization Reform Act of 1998. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Department of Justice: Paul
Virtue, General Counsel, Immigration and Naturalization Service; and
James S. Angus, Acting Executive Director, Office of Naturalization
Operations; and public witnesses. 

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on National Security: Continued hearings on the fiscal year
1999 National Defense authorization budget request. Testimony was heard
from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Gen. Wesley
K. Clark, USA, Commander in Chief, U.S. European Command; and Gen.
Anthony C. Zinni, USMC, Commander in Chief, U.S. Central Command. 

Hearings continue March 12. 

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Procurement and
Subcommittee on Military Research and Development continued joint
hearings on FY 1999 Department of Defense with emphasis on Army
modernization. Testimony was heard from Kenneth J. Oscar, Acting
Assistant Secretary, Research, Development and Acquisition, Department
of the Army. 

Hearings continue March 10. 

OVERSIGHT--ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT

Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on Endangered Species
Act. Testimony was heard from Jamie Rappaport Clark, Director, Fish and
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; and Rolland Schmitten,
Director, National Marine Fisheries Service, Department of Commerce. 

COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION ACT

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health
approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 2458, Community
Protection and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Act of 1997. 

OVERSIGHT--ROAD FROM KYOTO; COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Committee on Science: Continued oversight hearings on the Road From
Kyoto--Part 3: State Department Overview. Testimony was heard from
Stuart E. Eizenstat, Under Secretary, Economic, Business and
Agricultural Affairs, Department of State. 

The committee also approved pending Committee business. 

AVIATION MEDICAL ASSISTANCE ACT

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation
approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 2843, Aviation Medical
Assistance Act of 1997. 

                                          [Page: D183]

FAA'S MODERNIZATION PROGRAMS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation
held a hearing on FAA's modernization programs. Testimony was heard from
Gerald L. Dillingham, Associate Director, Transportation Issues, GAO;
the following officials of the Department of Transportation: Jane
Garvey, Administrator, FAA; and Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General; and
public witnesses. 

GSA BUDGET AND RELATED ISSUES

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Public
Buildings and Economic Development held a hearing on the GSA's FY 1999
budget and related issues. Testimony was heard from Jacob J. Lew, Deputy
Director, OMB; Robert Peck, Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, GSA;
Judge Norman Stahl, Chairman, Security and Facilities Committee, U.S.
Judicial Conference; J. Peter Basso, Acting Assistant Secretary, Budget
and Programs, Department of Transportation; Bernard L. Ungar, Director,
Government Business Operations Issues, GAO; and public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits approved for
full Committee action the following bills; H.R. 3039, Veterans'
Transitional Housing Opportunities Act of 1997; and H.R. 3211, amended,
to amend title 38, United States Code, to enact into law eligibility
requirements for burial at Arlington National Cemetery, H.R. 3213, to
amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify enforcement of veterans'
employment rights with respect to a State as an employer or a private
employer, to extend veterans' employment and reemployment rights to
members of the uniformed services employed abroad by United States
companies. 



1998/03/06
Daily Digest - Friday, March 6, 1998,  pages D185 - D192

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 



1998/03/09
Daily Digest - Monday, March 9, 1998,  pages D194 - D198

Committee Meetings 

No Committee meetings were held. 



1998/03/10
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 10, 1998,  pages D199 - D208

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a
hearing on Food Safety and Inspection Service. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the USDA: Catherine Woteki, Under Secretary,
Caren A. Wilcox, Deputy Under Secretary, Thomas J. Billy, Administrator
and William West, Assistant Deputy Administrator, Management, all with
the Food Safety and Inspection Service; and Stephen B. Durhurst, Budget
Officer. 

ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development held a hearing on the Department of Energy. Testimony was
heard from Federico Pena, Secretary of Energy. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on
the Secretary of the Interior. Testimony was heard from Bruce Babbitt,
Secretary of the Interior. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held a hearing on the Director, National
Institutes of Health. Testimony was heard from Harold E. Varmus, M.D.,
Director, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a
hearing on the FAA. Testimony was heard from Jane F. Garvey,
Administrator, FAA, Department of Transportation. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent
Agencies held a hearing on EPA. Testimony was heard from Carol M.
Browner, Administrator, EPA. 

CHILD NUTRITION PROGRAMS

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early
Childhood, Youth, and Families held a hearing on Child Nutrition
Programs. Testimony was heard from Ed Cooney, Deputy Administrator,
Special Nutrition Programs, Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services,
USDA; Bob Robinson, Director, Issue Area, GAO; Joyce Holmes Benjamin,
Associate Superintendent, Department of Education, State of Oregon; and
public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT INVESTIGATION--TEAMSTERS ELECTION

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations began consideration of the issuance of subpoena duces
tecum in the oversight investigation of the International Brotherhood of
Teamsters election. 

CONGRESSIONAL REVIEW ACT IMPLEMENTATION

Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National
Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs held a
hearing on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs
implementation of the Congressional Review Act. Testimony was heard from
Robert Murphy, General Counsel, GAO; and a public witness. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE; MIDDLE EAST--DEVELOPMENTS

Committee on International Relations: Began markup of H. Con. Res. 277,
directing the President pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers
Resolution to remove United States Armed Forces from the Republic of
Bosnia and Herzegovina. 

Will continue tomorrow. 

The Committee also held a hearing on developments in the Middle East.
Testimony was heard from Martin Indyk, Assistant Secretary, Near Eastern
Affairs, Department of State. 

JUDICIAL REFORM ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Began markup of H.R. 1252, Judicial Reform
Act of 1997. 

Will continue March 24. 

                                          [Page: D204]

CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY ISSUES

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and
Administrative Law held a hearing on the consumer bankruptcy issues in
H.R. 3150, Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1998; H.R. 2500, Responsible
Borrower Protection Bankruptcy Act; and H.R. 3146, Consumer Lenders and
Borrowers Bankruptcy Accountability Act of 1998. Testimony was heard
from Representatives McCollum, Boucher and Moran of Virginia; Edith
Holan Jones, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit; Randall J.
Newsome, U.S. Bankruptcy Judge, Northern District of California; and
public witnesses. 

MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND PANAMA CANAL COMMISSION AUTHORIZATIONS

Committee on National Security: Special Oversight Panel on the Merchant
Marine held a hearing on the fiscal year 1999 Maritime Administration
authorization request and related matters, and the fiscal year 1999
Panama Canal Commission authorization request and related matters.
Testimony was heard from John F. Graykowski, Acting Maritime
Administrator, Department of Transportation; Togo D. West, Jr.,
Chairman, Board, Panama Canal Commission and Secretary of the Army; and
Alberto Aleman, Administrator, Panama Canal Commission. 

MILITARY HOUSING PRIVATIZATION INITIATIVE

Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Installations
and Facilities held a hearing on the implementation of the military
housing privatization initiative. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Defense: John B. Goodman, Deputy Under
Secretary (Industrial Affairs and Installations); Paul W. Jonson, Deputy
Assistant Secretary, Army (Installations and Facilities); Duncan
Holaday, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Navy (Installations an