106th Congress (1999 - 2000)

January 6 - December 3, 1999

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

1999/01/06
Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 6, 1999; pages D1 - D 8

Committee Meetings

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Rules: Met for organizational purposes. 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Ways and Means: Met for organizational purposes. 



1999/01/07
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 7, 1999;  pages D10 - D11

Committee Meetings


COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Commerce: Met for organizational purposes. 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Met for organizational purposes. 

SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT COMPANY TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT; COMMITTEE
ORGANIZATION

Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported H.R. 68, Small Business
Investment Company Technical Corrections Act of 1999. 

Prior to this action, the Committee held a hearing on this legislation.
Testimony was heard from Lee Mercer, President, National Association of Small
Business Investment Companies. 

The Committee also met for organizational purposes. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the following
bills: H.R. 98, to amend chapter 443 of title 49, United States Code, to
extend the aviation war risk insurance program; and H.R. 99, to amend title
49, United States Code, to extend Federal Aviation Administration programs
through September 30, 1999. 

The Committee also met for organizational purposes. 



1999/01/08
Daily Digest - Friday, January 8, 1999; pages D14 - D16

Committee Meetings

CHINA--CRACKDOWN ON DISSIDENTS

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Nipping Democracy in
the Bud: The New Crackdown on Dissidents in China. Testimony was heard from
the following former Prisoners of Conscience, People's Republic of China: Wei
Jingsheng; Liu Nianchun; Yao Zhenxian; and Xu Shuiliang. 



1999/01/12
Daily Digest - Tuesday, January 12, 1999; pages D17 - D18

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



1999/01/14
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 14, 1999; pages D20 - D22

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



1999/01/15
Daily Digest - Friday, January 15, 1999; pages D24 - D26

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



1999/01/16
Daily Digest - Saturday, January 16, 1999; pages D27 - D28

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



1999/01/19  [This entry typed into file.]
Daily Digest - Tuesday, January 19, 1999;  pages D29 - D55

Committee meetings

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on International Relations:  Met for organizational purposes.

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Resources:  Met for organizational purposes.



1999/01/20
Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 20, 1999; pages D57 - D60

Committee Meetings

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Agriculture: Met for organizational purposes. 

STATE OF U.S. MILITARY FORCES; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the state of U.S. military
forces. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of
Defense: Gen. Henry H. Shelton, USA, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen.
Dennis J. Reimer, USA, Chief of Staff, Army; Adm. Jay L. Johnson, USN, Chief
of Naval Operations; Gen. Michael E. Ryan, USAF, Chief of Staff, Air Force;
and Gen. Charles C. Krulak, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps. 

Prior to the hearing, the Committee met for organizational purposes. 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Met for organizational purposes. 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on the Budget: Met for organizational purposes. 

The Committee also approved an oversight plan for the 106th Congress and
created a Task Force on Social Security. 

YEAR 2000 PROBLEM

Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on Oversight of the Year 2000
Problem: Status of Federal, State, Local and Foreign Governments. Testimony
was heard from John Koskinen, Chairman, President's Council on the Year 2000
Conversion; Joel Willemssen, Director, Accounting and Information Management
Division, GAO; and Lawrence K. Gershwin, National Intelligence Officer for
Science and Technology, National Intelligence Council. 

HUMAN RIGHTS IN CHINA

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Human Rights in China.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of State:
Harold Hongju Koh, Assistant Secretary, Democracy, Human Rights and Labor;
Susan L. Shirk, Deputy Assistant Secretary, East Asian and Pacific Affairs;
Louisa Coan, Senior Program Officer for Asia, National Endowment for
Democracy; and public witnesses. 

OUTLOOK--U.S. ECONOMY IN 1999

Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on the Outlook for the State of
the U.S. Economy in 1999. Testimony was heard from Alan Greenspan, Chairman,
Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System. 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security met for
organizational purposes. 



1999/01/21
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 21, 1999; pages D62 - D64

Committee Meetings

PRESERVING AND STRENGTHENING SOCIAL SECURITY

Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on Preserving and Strengthening
Social Security. Testimony was heard from Jack Kemp, former Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development; Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, Sr., CEO and President,
Rainbow/PUSH Coalition; and Alicia Munnell, Peter F. Drucker, Chair,
Management Sciences, Boston College. 



1999/01/22
Daily Digest - Friday, January 22, 1999; pages D65 - D68

Committee Meetings

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA--NEW VISIONS

Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on New Visions for the District
of Columbia. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the District
of Columbia: Anthony Williams, Mayor; and Linda Cropp, Chair, City Council;
and Alice Rivlin, Chair, District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and
Management Assistance Authority. 



1999/01/23
Daily Digest - Saturday, January 23, 1999; pages D69 - D70

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 
                                           [Page: D70]


1999/01/25
Daily Digest - Monday, January 25, 1999; pages D71 - D72

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



1999/01/26
Daily Digest - Tuesday, January 26, 1999; pages D73 - D76

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



1999/01/27
Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 27, 1999; pages D78 - D80

Committee Meetings

STATE AND COMMUNITY EDUCATION REFORMS

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing on Straight Talk:
Leadership in State and Community Education Reforms. Testimony was heard from
Senator Voinovich and Tom Ridge, Governor, State of Pennsylvania. 



1999/01/28
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 28, 1999; pages D81 - D86

Committee Meetings

IMPLEMENTING SCHOOL REFORM--STATES AND COMMUNITIES

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing on Implementing
School Reform in the States and Communities. Testimony was heard from Pat
Forgione, Jr., Commissioner, National Center for Education Statistics,
Department of Education; Lisa Graham Keegan, Superintendent of Public
Instruction, Department of Education, State of Arizona; Nancy S. Grasmick,
Superintendent of Schools, Department of Education, State of Maryland; Gery
Chico, President, Chicago School Reform Board of Trustees, Chicago, Illinois;
and a public witness. 



1999/01/29
Daily Digest - Friday, January 29, 1999; pages D87 - D88

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



1999/02/02
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 2, 1999; pages D89 - D94

Committee Meetings

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Appropriations: Met for organizational purposes. 

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing on the
House of Representatives, the Office of Compliance and on the Financial
Managers Council. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
House of Representatives: Jay Eagen, Chief Administrative Officer; Jeff
Trandahl, Clerk; Wilson S. Livingood, Sergeant at Arms; John W. Lainhart, IV,
Inspector General; and John F. Eisold, M.D., Attending Physician; the
following officials of the Office of Compliance: Virginia Seitz, member, Board
of Directors; and Ricky Silberman, Executive Director; and the following
officials of the Financial Managers Council: Richard Brown, Deputy Assistant
Comptroller General, Operations, GAO; and John Webster, Director, Financial
Services, Library of Congress. 

YEAR 2000 NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on fiscal year 2000 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. 

Hearings continue February 10. 

TRANSFER BUREAU OF RECLAMATION FACILITIES TO LOCAL IRRIGATION AUTHORITIES

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on the
transfer of title of Bureau of Reclamation facilities to local irrigation
authorities. Testimony was heard from Eluid Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of
Reclamation, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. 

FAA SHORT-TERM EXTENSION

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing one hour of
general debate on H.R. 99, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend
Federal Aviation Administration programs through September 30, 1999, equally
divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on
Transportation and Infrastructure. The rule waives clause 4(a) of Rule XIII
(requiring a three-day layover of the committee report) and sections 302(f)
(prohibiting consideration of legislation providing new budget authority in
excess of a subcommittee's 302(b) allocation) and 303(a) (prohibiting
consideration of legislation providing new budget authority or contract
authority for a fiscal year until the budget resolution for that fiscal year
has been agreed to) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 against the
consideration of the bill. 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 7 of Rule XVI (prohibiting
nongermane amendments) and sections 302(f) and 303(a) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974 against the amendment in the nature of a substitute. 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 of the Whole to postpone votes during
consideration of the bill, and to reduce votes 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 Shuster and Representative Oberstar. 

MANDATES INFORMATION ACT

Committee on Rules: Ordered reported, amended, H.R. 350, Mandates Information
Act of 1999. 

MANDATES INFORMATION ACT

Committee on Rules: Subcommittee on Rules and Organization of the House and
Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process held a joint hearing on H. R.
350, Mandates Information Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from
Representatives Condit, Portman and Boehlert; James L. Blum, Acting Director,
CBO; and public witnesses. 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight met for organizational
purposes. 

IMPACTS OF CURRENT SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on
impacts of the current Social Security system. Testimony was heard from public
witnesses. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

                                           [Page: D92]

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade met for organizational
purposes. 



1999/02/03
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 3, 1999; p. D95 - D100

Committee Meetings

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing on the
Joint Economic Committee, the GAO, the GPO, the Joint Committee on Taxation,
the Architect of the Capitol, and the Capitol Police Board. Testimony was
heard from Representatives Saxton and Archer; David M. Walker, Comptroller
General, GAO; Michael F. DiMario, Public Printer, GPO; Alan M. Hantman,
Architect of the Capitol; the following officials of the Capitol Police Board:
James W. Ziglar, Sergeant at Arms, Senate, Chairman; Wilson Livingood,
Sergeant at Arms, House of Representatives, and Alan M. Hantman, Architect of
the Capitol, both Board members; and Gary L. Abrecht, Chief, U.S. Capitol
Police. 

                                           [Page: D97]

U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS

Committee on Armed Services: Met in executive session to hold a hearing on
threats to U.S. national security. Testimony was heard from George Tenet,
Director, CIA.; and Lt. Gen. Patrick M. Hughes, USA, Director, Defense
Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

OVERSIGHT PLAN

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Approved an Oversight Plan for
the 106th Congress. 

CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP ACT IMPLEMENTATION

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial
Institutions and Consumer Credit held an oversight hearing on the National
Credit Union Administration's implementation of the Credit Union Membership
Access Act of 1998. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
National Credit Union Administration: Norman D'Amours, Chairman; Yolanda Wheat
and Dennis Dollar, both Board Members; and public witnesses. 

PRESIDENT'S BUDGET SUBMISSION

Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the President's Budget Submission
for Fiscal Year 2000. Testimony was heard from Jacob J. Lew, Director, OMB. 

NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY ACT AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINE SAFETY ACT
REAUTHORIZATIONS

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing on
reauthorization of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act and the Hazardous
Liquid Pipeline Safety Act. Testimony was heard from Kelley Coyner,
Administrator, Research and Special Programs, Department of Transportation;
and public witnesses. 

WIRELESS PRIVACY ENHANCEMENT ACT; WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY
ENHANCEMENT ACT

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and Consumer
Protection held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 514, Wireless Privacy
Enhancement Act of 1999 and H.R. 438, Wireless Communications and Public
Safety Enhancement Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from Thomas Surgue,
Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief, FCC; Maureen Finnerty, Associate
Director, Parks Operations and Education, Department of the Interior; John
Parsons, Associate Regional Director, National Capital Region, National Park
Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION; OVERSIGHT PLAN

Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R.
391, Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act Amendments of 1999; H.R. 433,
District of Columbia Management Restoration Act of 1999; H.R. 416, Federal
Retirement Coverage Corrections Act; H.R. 437, Presidential and Executive
Office Financial Accountability Act of 1999; and H.R. 436, Government Waste,
Fraud and Error Reduction Act of 1999. 

Prior to this action, the Committee met for organizational purposes and
approved an Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress. 

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Committee on House Administration: Approved an Oversight Plan for the 106th
Congress and a Drug Testing Policy for the House of Representatives. 

The Committee also considered other pending committee business. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; OVERSIGHT--MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AIRPORT EXPANSION;
OVERSIGHT PLAN

Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 149,
amended, Omnibus Parks Technical Corrections Act of 1999; H.R. 171, to
authorize appropriations for the Coastal Heritage Trail Route in New Jersey;
and H.R. 193, Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic River Act. 

The Committee also held an oversight hearing on the impact of the expansion of
the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on the Minnesota Valley
National Wildlife Refuge. Testimony was heard from Senator Grams;
Representative Ramstad; Dan Ashe, Assistant Director, Refuges and Wildlife,
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; Lynn Pickard,
Manager, Community and Environmental Needs Division, FAA, Department of
Transportation; and public witnesses. 

The Committee approved an Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress. 

MANDATES INFORMATION ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 350, Mandates Information Act of 1999. The rule waives points
of order against consideration of the bill for failure to comply with clause
4(a) of rule XIII (requiring a three day layover of the committee report) and
section 306 of the Congressional Budget Act (prohibiting consideration of
legislation within the D98Budget Committee's jurisdiction, unless reported by
the Budget Committee). 

                                           [Page: D98]

The rule considers the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by
the Committee on Rules now printed in the bill, as an original bill for the
purpose of amendment which is considered as read. The rule waives points of
order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute for failure to
comply with section 306 of the Congressional Budget Act. 

The rule allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to accord priority
in recognition to those members who have preprinted their amendments in the
Congressional Record prior to their consideration. The rule allows the
chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone recorded votes and to
reduce to five minutes the voting time on any postponed question, provided
that the voting time on the first in any series of questions is not less than
15 minutes. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without
instructions. 

PAPERWORK ELIMINATION ACT; MICROLOAN PROGRAM TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT;
COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 439,
Paperwork Elimination Act; and H.R. 440, Microloan Program Technical
Corrections Act. 

Prior to this action, the Committee met for organizational purposes. 

GROUND TRANSPORTATION--PRESENT AND FUTURE TRENDS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Ground
Transportation held a hearing on Present and Future Trends in Ground
Transportation. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION; OVERSIGHT PLAN

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Met for organizational purposes. 

The Committee also approved an Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress. 

SSI FRAUD AND ABUSE; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a hearing on
SSI fraud and abuse. Testimony was heard from Representative Filner; the
following officials of the SSA: John Dyer, Principal Deputy; and James G.
Huse, Jr., Acting Inspector General; Cynthia Fagnoni, Director, Income
Security Issues, GAO; and public witnesses. 

Prior to this action, the Subcommittee met for organizational purposes. 

IMPACTS OF CURRENT SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security continued
hearings on impacts of the current Social Security system, with emphasis on
Social Security protections for women. Testimony was heard from Barbara
Bovbjerg, Associate Director, Income Security Issues, Health, Education, and
Human Services Division, GAO; and public witnesses. 

Hearings continue February 10th. 

AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT; U.S. TRADE RELATIONS WITH SUB-SAHARAN
AFRICA

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade approved for full Committee
action H.R. 434, African Growth and Opportunity Act. 

The Subcommittee also held a hearing on U.S. trade relations with Sub-Saharan
Africa. Testimony was heard from Senator Gramm; Representative Jackson of
Illinois; William Daley, Secretary of Commerce; Robert Rogowsky, Director of
Operations, U.S. International Trade Commission; Jack Kemp, former Secretary
of Housing and Urban Development; Andrew Young, former U.S. Ambassador to the
United Nations; and public witnesses. 



1999/02/04
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 4, 1999; pages D102 - D108

Committee Meetings

U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS

Committee on Armed Services: Met in executive session to conclude hearings on
threats to U.S. national security. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the CIA: John Gannon, Chairman, National Intelligence Council;
and the following National Intelligence Officers: Robert Walpole, Strategic
and Nuclear Programs; Ben Bonk, Near East and South Asia; Barry Lowenkron,
Europe; and Mary Tighe, East Asia. 

EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT--ESTABLISH OFFICE OF MANAGEMENT

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management,
Information, and Technology held a hearing on a proposal to establish an
Office of Management in the Executive Office of the President. Testimony was
heard from G. Edward DeSeve, Acting Deputy Director, Management, OMB; the
following officials of the Congressional Research Service, Library of
Congress: Virginia McMurty, Specialist, American National Government; and
Ronald C. Moe, Specialist, Government Organization and Management; Paul
Posner, Director, Budget Issues, Accounting and Information Management, GAO;
and public witnesses. 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on International Relations: Continued to meet for organizational
purposes. 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION; OVERSIGHT PLAN

Committee on the Judiciary: Met for organizational purposes. 

The Committee approved an Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held a
hearing on the following bills: H.R. 15, Otay Mountain Wilderness Act of 1999;
H.R. 150, Education Land Grant Act; and H.R. 154, 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 Representatives Bilbray, Hayworth and Hefley;
the following officials of the Department of the Interior: Tom Fry, Acting
Director, Bureau of Land Management; and Stephen Saunders, Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Paul Brouha, Associate Deputy Chief,
Forest Service, USDA; and public witnesses. 

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Science: Met for organizational purposes. 

                                          [Page: D105]

FINANCIAL NEEDS OF AIRPORTS, FAA, AND AVIATION SYSTEM

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held
a hearing on the financial needs of airports, the FAA, and the aviation
system, focusing on the financial commitment needed to enhance the safety of
our airports and air traffic control systems. Testimony was heard from public
witnesses. 

Hearings continue February 10. 

OVERSIGHT--COAST GUARD EXPENDITURES; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard
and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on oversight of U.S. Coast Guard
Expenditures. Testimony was heard from Rear Adm. Thad Allen, USCG, Director of
Resources, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation. 

Prior to this action, the Subcommittee met for organizational purpose. 

PRESIDENT'S FISCAL YEAR 2000 BUDGET

Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on the President's Fiscal Year
2000 Budget. Testimony was heard from Robert E. Rubin, Secretary of the
Treasury. 



1999/02/06
Daily Digest - Saturday, February 6, 1999; pages D110 - D112

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 



1999/02/08
Daily Digest - Monday, February 8, 1999; pages D114 - D118

Committee Meetings

No Committee meetings were held. 



1999/02/09
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 9, 1999; pages D120 - D124

Committee Meetings

AFRICA--AMERICA'S STAKE IN TRADE AND INVESTMENT

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a hearing on
America's stake in trade and investment in Africa. Testimony was heard from
Rosa Whitaker, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Africa, and public
witnesses. 

COMMUNITY PROTECTION AND HAZARDOUS FUELS REDUCTION ACT

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held a
hearing on the Community Protection and Hazardous Fuels Reduction Act of 1999.
Testimony was heard from Barry T. Hill, Associate Director, Resources
Community and Economic Development Division, GAO; Larry Payne, Assistant
Deputy State and Private Forestry, Forest Service, USDA; and public witnesses. 

SMALL BUSINESS PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT AMENDMENTS

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 391, Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act Amendments of 1999.
The rule waives section 303 of the Congressional Budget Act (prohibiting
consideration of legislation providing new budget authority or contract
authority for a fiscal year until the budget resolution for that fiscal year
has been agreed to) against the consideration of the bill. The rule provides
that the bill 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 Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the bill, and to reduce
votes 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 Burton and Representatives
Horn, McIntosh, Kucinich and Turner. 

PRESIDENTIAL AND EXECUTIVE OFFICE FINANCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 437, Presidential and Executive Office Financial Accountability
Act of 1999. The rule provides that the bill 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 of the Whole to postpone votes during
consideration of the bill, and to reduce votes 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 Burton and Representatives Horn, McIntosh, Kucinich and Turner. 

GOVERNMENT WASTE, FRAUD AND ERROR REDUCTION ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 436, Government Waste, Fraud and Error Reduction Act of 1999.
The rule waives section 303 of the Congressional Budget Act (prohibiting
consideration of legislation providing new budget authority or contract
authority for a fiscal year until the budget resolution for that fiscal year
has been agreed to) against the consideration of the bill. The rule provides
that the bill 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 of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the bill,
and to reduce votes 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
Burton and Representatives Horn, McIntosh, Kucinich and Turner. 

COMMITTEE BUDGET AND OVERSIGHT PLANS

Committee on Rules: Committee approved its budget for 1999 and 2000 and
adopted its Oversight plans for the 106th Congress. 



1999/02/10
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 10, 1999; pages D125 - D130

Committee Meetings

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; REVIEW LIVESTOCK PRICES; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 17,
Selective Agricultural Embargoes Act of 1999; and H.R. 609, to amend the
Export Apple and Pear Act to limit the applicability of the Act to apples. 

The Committee also held a hearing to review livestock prices. Testimony was
heard from Keith Collins, Chief Economist, USDA; and public witnesses. 

Prior to those actions, the Committee met for organizational purposes and
approved the Committee's Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies began appropriation
hearings. Testimony was heard from Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture. 

DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive session
to hold hearings on European Command and U.S. Central Command. 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. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on the
Forest Service. Testimony was heard from Ronald E. Stewart, Deputy Chief,
Programs and Legislation, Forest Service, USDA; and Barry T. Hill, Associate
Director, Energy, Resources, and Science Issues, Resources Community and
Economic Development Division, GAO. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education began D127appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from Donna
Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services. 

                                          [Page: D127]

The Subcommittee held a hearing on the Health Care Financing Administration.
Testimony was heard from and the following officials of the Department of
Health and Human Services: Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, Administrator, Health Care
Financing Administration; and Dennis P. Williams, Deputy Assistant Secretary,
Budget. 

LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS

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

The Subcommittee held a hearing on the Library of Congress and CBO. Testimony
was heard from the following officials of the Library of Congress: James H.
Billington, Librarian; and Donald L. Scott, Deputy Librarian; and the
following officials of the CBO: Dan L. Crippen, Director; and Barry B.
Anderson, Deputy Director. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

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

FINANCIAL SERVICES ACT

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Began hearings on H.R. 10,
Financial Services Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing on H.R.
45, Nuclear Waste Policy Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives Gibbons
and Berkley; Lake H. Barrett, Acting Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive
Waste Management, Department of Energy; Jared Cohon, Chairman, U.S. Nuclear
Waste Technical Review Board; Shirley Ann Jackson, Chairman, NRC; Robert
Perciasepe, Assistant Administrator, Air and Radiation, EPA; Stuart E.
Schiffer, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Commercial Litigation Branch,
Civil Division, Department of Justice; Kenny Guinn, Governor, State of Nevada;
Kevin Phillips, Mayor, Caliente, Nevada; and public witnesses. 

INTERNET POSTING--CHEMICAL WORST-CASE SCENARIOS

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment and the
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a joint hearing on Internet
Posting of Chemical "Worst-Case" Scenarios: A Roadmap for Terrorists?
Testimony was heard from Robert M. Burnham, Section Chief, Domestic Terrorism,
National Security Division, FBI, Department of Justice; Tim Fields, Acting
Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, EPA;
Brett Burdick, Environmental Programs Manager, Department of Emergency
Services, State of Virginia; and public witnesses. 

WIRELESS PRIVACY ENHANCEMENT ACT; WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY
ACT

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer
Protection approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 514,
Wireless Privacy Enhancement Act of 1999; and H.R. 438, amended, Wireless
Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE; COMMITTEE FUNDING; COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported H.R. 221, to amend
the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to permit certain youth to perform
certain work with wood products. 

The Committee also approved the Committee Budget request for the 106th
Congress; and the Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress. 

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS--WASTE AND FRAUD

Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on Waste and Fraud in Federal
Government Programs. Testimony was heard from June Gibbs Brown, Inspector
General, Department of Health and Human Services; Susan Gaffney, Inspector
General, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Roger C. Viadero,
Inspector General, USDA; and David Walker, Comptroller General, GAO. 

BUDGET REQUEST; COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Committee on House Administration: Approved the 106th Committee Budget Request
and considered other pending Committee business. 

KOSOVO--U.S. ROLE

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on U.S. Role in Kosovo.
Testimony was heard from Thomas R. Pickering, Under Secretary, Political
Affairs, Department of State; and Walter B. Slocombe, Under Secretary, Policy,
Department of Defense. 

U.S.-ASIA POLICY CHALLENGES

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
held a hearing on Challenges in U.S.-Asia Policy. Testimony was heard from
Stanley D128Roth, Assistant Secretary, East Asian and Pacific Affairs,
Department of State; and public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D128]

FINANCIAL NEEDS OF AIRPORTS, FAA AND AVIATION SYSTEM

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation
continued hearings on the financial needs of airports, the FAA, and the
aviation system, with emphasis on the economic impact of airports and airport
improvements on the community and the economy. Testimony was heard from
Representative Ford; Gerald L. Dillingham, Associate Director, Transportation
Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, GAO; and
public witnesses. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

HAZARDOUS MATERIALS TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Economic
Development, Public Buildings, Hazardous Materials and Pipeline Transportation
held a hearing on reauthorizing the Hazardous Materials Transportation
Program. Testimony was heard from Representative Pascrell; Kelley Coyner,
Administrator, Research and Special Programs Administration, Department of
Transportation; Chief Jim Fife, Chairman, Fire Commission, State of West
Virginia; Larry Wort, Chief, Bureau of Safety Programs, Division of Traffic
Safety, Department of Transportation, State of Illinois; and public witnesses. 

AGENCY BUDGETS; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Agency Budgets and Priorities for
fiscal year 2000. Testimony was heard from Joseph W. Westphal, Assistant
Secretary, Army, (Civil Works), Department of Defense; the following officials
of the EPA: J. Charles Fox, Assistant Administrator, Water; and Timothy
Fields, Jr., Acting Assistant Administrator, Solid Waste and Emergency
Response; the following officials of the TVA: Kate J. Jackson, Executive Vice
President, Resource Group; and David N. Smith, Chief Financial Officer; Albert
S. Jacquez, Administrator, St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation; Danny
Sells, Associate Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA; and
Nancy Foster, Assistant Administrator, Ocean Services and Coastal Management,
NOAA, Department of Commerce. 

Prior to the hearing, the Subcommittee met for organizational purposes. 

SSI FRAUD PREVENTION ACT

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources approved for full
Committee action H.R. 545, SSI Fraud Prevention Act of 1999. 

ANNUAL REPORT--IRS NATIONAL TAXPAYER ADVOCATE

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing on the
Annual Report of the Internal Revenue Service National Taxpayer Advocate.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the IRS, Department of the
Treasury: Charles O. Rossotti, Commissioner; and W. Val Oveson, National
Taxpayer Advocate; and Cornelia Ashby, Associate Director, Tax Policy and
Administration Issues, General Government Division, GAO. 

IMPACTS OF CURRENT SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security continued
hearings on the impacts of the current social security system. Testimony was
heard from Cynthia Fagnoni, Director, Income Security Issues, Health,
Education and Human Services Division, GAO; and public witnesses. 



1999/02/11
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 11, 1999; pages D132 - D138

Committee Meetings

AGRIBUSINESS CONSOLIDATION

Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review agribusiness consolidation.
Testimony was heard from Mark Drabenstott, Vice President and Director, Center
for the Study of Rural America, Federal Reserve Bank, Kansas City, Missouri;
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 Inspector
General. Testimony was heard from Roger C. Viadero, Inspector General, USDA, 

FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export
Financing and Related Programs held a hearing on Export and Trade Financing
Agencies. Testimony was heard from James A. Harmon, D135President and
Chairman, Export-Import Bank; George Munoz, President and CEO, Overseas
Private Investment Corporation, U.S. International Development Cooperation
Agency; and J. Joseph Grandmaison, Director, Trade and Development Agency. 

                                          [Page: D135]

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on Energy
Conservation. Testimony was heard from Dan Reicher, Assistant Secretary,
Energy, Efficiency, and Renewable Energy, Department of Energy; and Susan
Kladiva, Associate Director, Energy, Resources, and Science Issues, GAO. 

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 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 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: Jeffrey
P. Kopanda, M.D., Director, Center for Disease Control; Nelba Chavez,
Administrator, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; and
John M. Eissenberg, M.D., Administrator, Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research. 

PROTECTION EQUIPMENT AND COUNTERMEASURE DEVICES

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement held a
hearing on protection equipment and countermeasure devices. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Lt. Gen. Paul
J. Kern, USA, Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary, (Research,
Development, and Acquisition); Patrick Neary, Senior Executive Analyst, Deputy
Chief of Staff, Intelligence, both with the U.S. Army; Vice Adm. Conrad C.
Lautenbacher, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, (Resources, Warfare
Requirements, and Assessments); Rear Adm. Lowell E. Jacoby, Director, Naval
Intelligence; and Lt. Jack Daly, Amphibious Group Three, all with the U.S.
Navy; Lt. Gen. John E. Rhodes, USMC, Commander, Combat Development Command;
Michael Decker, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff, (Intelligence), both with the
U.S. Marine Corps; and Lt. Gen. Gregory S. Martin, USAF, Principal Deputy
Assistant Secretary, (Aquisition); and Maj. Gen. Richard R. Paul, USAF,
Commander, Air Force Research Laboratory Command, Air Force Material Command,
both with the U.S. Air Force. 

FINANCIAL SERVICES ACT

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Continued hearings on H.R. 10,
Financial Services Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from Alan Greenspan, Board
of Governors, Federal Reserve System; and public witnesses. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; COMMITTEE BUDGET; COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT

Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 5l4,
Wireless Privacy Enhancement Act of 1999; and H.R. 438, amended, Wireless
Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999. 

The Committee also approved the following: Budget for the 106th Congress and
Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress. 

NURSING HOME RESIDENT PROTECTION AMENDMENTS

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a hearing
on H.R. 540, Nursing Home Resident Protection Amendments of 1999. Testimony
was heard from Representative Davis of Florida; Mike Hash, Deputy
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and
Humans Services; and public witnesses. 

ADMINISTRATION'S EDUCATION PROPOSALS AND PRIORITIES FISCAL YEAR 2000

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing on the
Administration's Education Proposals and Priorities for fiscal year 2000.
Testimony was heard from Richard Riley, Secretary of Education. 

2000 CENSUS OVERSIGHT

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Census held a hearing on
Oversight of the 2000 Census: Examining the Benefits of Post-Census Local
Review. Testimony was heard from Representatives Petri and Sawyer; Everett
Ehrlich, member, U.S. Census Monitoring Board; Kenneth Blackwell, Secretary of
State, State of Ohio; Timothy M. Kaine, Mayor, Richmond, State of Virginia;
and public witnesses. 

POSTAL MODERNIZATION ACT

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Postal Service held a hearing
on H.R. 22, Postal Modernization Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from William
J. Henderson, Postmaster General and CEO, U.S. Postal Service; the following
officials of the Postal Rate Commission: Edward J. Gleiman, Chairman; W.H.
LeBlanc III, Vice Chairman; George A. Omas, Ruth Y. Goldway and Dana B.
Covington, all Commissioners; and public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D136]

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported the following bills:
H.R. 434, amended, African Growth and Opportunity Act; and H.R. 669, Peace
Corps Expansion Act. 

The Committee also approved its Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress. 

AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a hearing on
H.R. 434, African Growth and Opportunity Act. Testimony was heard from Susan
Rice, Assistant Secretary, African Affairs, Department of State. 

NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION ACT

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and
Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 39, Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Act.
Testimony was heard from John Rogers, Deputy Director, Fish and Wildlife, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; Robert McDowell,
Director, Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, Department of Environment
Protection and Energy, State of New Jersey; and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--GETTYSBURG VISITOR CENTER

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held
an oversight hearing on Gettysburg general management plan and visitor center.
Testimony was heard from Denis P. Galvin, Deputy Director, National Park
Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. 

BUDGET REQUEST--SCIENCES AT NASA

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing on
Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Request: The Sciences at NASA. Testimony was heard
from the following officials of NASA: Edward Weiler, Associate Administrator,
Space Science; Ghassem Asrar, Associate Administrator, Earth Science; and
Arnauld Nicogossian, Associate Administrator, Life and Microgravity Sciences
and Applications; and Claude Canizares, Chairman, Space Studies Board,
National Research Council. 

BUDGET REQUEST--TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing to review the
Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Request for the Technology Administration. Testimony
was heard from the following officials from the Department of Commerce: Gary
Bachula, Acting Under Secretary, Technology; Raymond Kammer, Director,
National Institute of Standards and Technology; and Johnnie E. Frazier,
Inspector General. 

SBA'S WOMEN'S BUSINESS CENTER PROGRAM

Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing to review the SBA's Women's
Business Center Program. Testimony was heard from Betsy Myers, Associate
Deputy Administrator, Office of Entrepreneurial Development, SBA; and public
witnesses.  

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION AND OVERSIGHT PLANS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the following
bills: H.R. 92, to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse
located at 251 North Main Street in Winston Salem, North Carolina, as the
"Hiram H. Ward Federal Building and United States Courthouse"; H.R. 158, to
designate the Federal Courthouse located at 316 North 26th Street in Billings,
Montana, as the "James F. Battin Federal Courthouse"; H.R. 233, to designate
the Federal building located at 700 East San Antonio Street in El Paso, Texas,
as the "Richard C. White Federal Building"; H.R. 396, to designate the Federal
building located at 1301 Clay Street in Oakland, California, as the "Ronald V.
Dellums Federal Building"; H.R. 603, to amend title 38, United States Code, to
clarify the application of the Act popularly known as the "Death on the High
Seas Act"; and H.R. 661, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to prohibit
the commercial operation of supersonic transport category aircraft that do not
comply with stage 3 noise levels in the European Union adopts certain aircraft
noise regulations. 

The Committee also approved the following: further Committee organization and
the Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress. 

FINANCIAL NEEDS OF AIRPORTS, FAA AND AVIATION SYSTEM

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation
concluded hearings on the financial needs of airports, the FAA, and the
aviation system, focusing on the benefits to passengers and private pilots
from increased funding for airport improvements and air traffic control
modernization. Testimony was heard from Jane F. Garvey, Administrator, FAA,
Department of Transportation; Fred Vogt, Director, Aeronautics Division,
Department of Transportation, State of Tennessee; and public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D137]

COAST GUARD AND FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION BUDGETS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard
and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on the Coast Guard and Federal
Maritime Commission fiscal year 2000 Budgets. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation:
Adm. James M. Loy, USCG, Commandant; and Master Chief Petty Officer Vincent
Patton, III; Edward P. Walsh, Managing Director, Federal Maritime Commission;
and John H. Anderson, Jr., Issue Area Director, Transportation Issues, GAO. 

CAPITOL COMPLEX--FIRE SAFETY ISSUES

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Economic
Development, Public Buildings, Hazardous Materials and Pipeline Transportation
held a hearing on fire safety issues within the Capitol Complex. Testimony was
heard from John W. Lainhart, Inspector General, U.S. House of Representatives;
Herb Franklin, Executive Assistant, Architect of the Capitol; and a public
witness. 

OVERSIGHT--OFFICE OF MOTOR CARRIERS

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Ground
Transportation held a hearing on oversight of the Office of Motor Carriers:
Part One. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department
of Transportation: Jack Basso, Assistant Secretary, Budget and Programs, Chief
Financial Officer; Kenneth R. Wykle, Administrator, and Julie Anna Cirillo,
Program Manager, Motor Carrier and Highway Safety, both with the Federal
Highway Administration. 

VA BUDGET

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2000 Budget
of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was heard from Togo D. West,
Jr., Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and representatives of veterans
organizations. 

FEDERAL RETIREMENT COVERAGE CORRECTIONS ACT; SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM LESSONS
LEARNED; COMMITTEE BUDGET AND OVERSIGHT PLANS


Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported H.R. 416, Federal Retirement
Coverage Corrections Act. 

The Committee also hold a hearing on social security reform lessons learned in
other countries. Testimony was heard from Dan Crippen, Director, CBO; James
Roosevelt, Associate Commissioner, Retirement Policy, SSA; and public
witnesses. 

The Committee approved the following: Committee Budget; and Oversight Plans
for the 106th Congress. 

MEDICARE PROGRAM MANAGEMENT; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on
Management of the Medicare Program. 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
Public Health Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, GAO; and
public witnesses. 

Prior to the hearing, the Subcommittee met for organizational purposes. 

FIGHTING FOREIGN PROTECTIONISM--IMPORTANCE OF TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on the
Importance of Trade Negotiations in Fighting Foreign Protectionism. Testimony
was heard from Charlene Barshefsky, U.S. Trade Representative. 

COUNTERNARCOTICS BRIEFING

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



1999/02/12
Daily Digest - Friday, February 12, 1999; pages D140 - D144

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURAL CREDIT OUTLOOK

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource
Conservation and Credit held a hearing to review agricultural credit outlook.
Testimony was heard from August Schumacher, Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services, USDA; Marsha Pyle Martin, Chairman and CEO, Farm Credit
Administration; and public witnesses. 
 
FINANCIAL SERVICES ACT

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Continued hearings on H.R. 10,
Financial Services Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of the Treasury: Robert Rubin, Secretary; John D.
Hawke, Jr. Comptroller of the Currency; and Ellen Seidman, Director, Office of
Thrift Supervision; Donna Tanoue, Chairman, FDIC; and Harvey J. Goldschmid,
General Counsel, SEC. 



1999/02/22
Daily Digest - Monday, February 22, 1999; pages D146 - D152

Committee Meetings

DC'S YEAR 2000 CONVERSION COMPLIANCE STATUS

Committee on Government Reform, On February 19, the Subcommittee on the
District of Columbia held a hearing on the Status of the District of
Columbia's Year 2000 Conversion Compliance. Testimony was heard from Jack
Brock, Director, Information Management Issues, Accounting and Information
Management Division, GAO; John Hill, Executive Director, Financial
Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority; and the following
officials of the District of Columbia: Anthony Williams, Mayor; Kathleen
Patterson, member, City Council; and Suzanne Peck, Chief Technology Officer. 



1999/02/23
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 23, 1999;  pages D154 - D162

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA 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 Jane Henney, M.D., Commissioner, FDA, Department of
Health and Human Services. 

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 Administration for Children and Families and on the Administration on
Aging. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of
Health and Human Services: Claud E. Fox, M.D., Administrator, Health Resources
and Services Administration; and Olivia Golden, Assistant Secretary,
Administration for Children and Families. 

TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a hearing on
Surface Transportation Safety. Testimony was heard from Phyllis
D158Scheinberg, Associate Director, Transportation Issues, GAO; Jim Hall,
Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board; and the following officials of
the Department of Transportation: Kenneth Mead, Inspector General; Kenneth
Wykle, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration; Ricardo Martinez,
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and Charles
Hunnicutt, Assistant Secretary, Aviation and International Affairs, Office of
the Secretary; and public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D158]

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: James E.
Johnson, Under Secretary, Enforcement; Bruce J. Bowen, Acting Director, U.S.
Secret Service; W. Ralph Basham, Director, Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center; John W. Magaw, Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; and
Raymond Kelly, Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
held a hearing on the Consumer Product Commission, the Consumer Information
Center and on the Office of Inspector General, FDIC. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the Consumer Product Safety Commission: Ann Brown,
Chairman; Mary Sheila Gall, Vice Chairman; and Thomas H. Moore, Commissioner;
the following officials of the GSA: Teresa Nasif, Director, Consumer
Information Center, Beth Newberger, Associate Administrator, Public Affairs;
and Bill Early, Director of Budget; and Gaston Gianni, Jr., Inspector General,
FDIC. 

DEFENSE INFORMATION SUPERIORITY AND INFORMATION ASSURANCE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement and the
Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint hearing on
Defense Information Superiority and Information Assurance. Testimony was heard
from the following officials of the Department of Defense: John Hamre, Deputy
Secretary; Art Money, Senior Civilian Official, Assistant Secretary (Command,
Control, Communications and Intelligence); Adm. Archie R. Clemins, USN,
Commander-in-Chief, Pacific Fleet; Vice Adm. Arthur K. Cebrowski, USN,
President, Naval War College; Lt. Gen. John L. Woodward, USAF, Director,
Command, Control, Communications and Computers Systems, The Joint Staff; Lt.
Gen. William H. Campbell, USA, Director, Information Systems, Command,
Control, and Computers, Department of the Army; Vice Adm. Robert J. Natter,
USN, Director, Space, Information Warfare, Command and Control, Department of
the Navy; Lt. Gen. William J. Donahue, USAF, Director, Headquarters
Communications and Information, Department of the Air Force; and Lt. Gen. John
E. Rhodes, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command,
U.S. Marine Corps. 

VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS--IMPACT OF FAIR LABOR STANDARDS ACT

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce
Protections held a hearing on Impact of the Fair Labor Standards Act on
Volunteer Firefighters. Testimony was heard from Representative Bateman; and
public witnesses. 

Y2K TECHNOLOGY CHALLENGE: WILL THE POSTAL SERVICES DELIVER?

Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on the Postal Service, the
Subcommittee on Government Management, Information, and Technology, and the
Subcommittee on Technology of the Committee on Science held a joint hearing on
"Y2K Technology Challenge: Will the Postal Services Deliver?" Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the U.S. Postal Service: Karla W.
Corcoran, Inspector General; and Norman E. Lorentz, Senior Vice President and
Chief Technology Officer; and Jack L. Brock, Director, Governmentwide and
Defense Information Systems, Accounting and Information Management Division,
GAO. 

OVERSIGHT--MINING, THE AMERICAN ECONOMIC AND NATIONAL SECURITY

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an
oversight hearing on Mining, the American Economy and National Security--The
Role of Public Lands in Maintaining a National Asset. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the U.S. Geological Service, Department of the
Interior: Michael J. McKinley and W. David Menzie, both with the Minerals
Information Team; and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--FOREST SERVICE BUDGET; EMIGRANT WILDERNESS PRESERVATION ACT

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held an
oversight hearing on the Forest Service Budget for Fiscal Year 2000. Testimony
was heard from the following officials of the USDA: James R. Lyons, Under
Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment; and Mike Dombeck, Chief, Forest
Service. 

                                          [Page: D159]

The Subcommittee also held a hearing on H.R. 359, Emigrant Wilderness
Preservation Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from Gloria Manning, Acting
Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest Service, USDA; and public
witnesses. 

WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC SAFETY ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 438, Wireless Communications and Public Safety Act of 1999. The
rule waives points of order against consideration of the bill for failure to
comply with clause 4(a) of rule XIII (requiring a three-day layover of the
committee report). 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 each section 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 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 Representatives Tauzin and Markey. 

WIRELESS PRIVACY ENHANCEMENT ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 514, Wireless Privacy Enhancement Act of 1999. The rule waives
points of order against consideration of the bill for failure to comply with
clause 4(a) of rule XIII (requiring a three-day layover of the committee
report). The rule further provides that each section of the bill 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 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 Representatives Tauzin and Markey. 

FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE MANAGEMENT IMPROVEMENT ACT; BUDGET VIEWS AND
ESTIMATES

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 409, Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of
1999. The rule further provides that each section of the bill 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 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 Representatives Horn, Portman, and
Turner. 

The Committee also adopted Committee Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal
Year 2000 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL EARTHQUAKE HAZARDS REDUCTION PROGRAM AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Basic Research held an oversight hearing
on National Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program reauthorization. Testimony
was heard from Michael J. Armstrong, Associate Director, Mitigation, FEMA; P.
Patrick Leahy, Chief Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the
Interior; Joseph Bordogna, Acting Deputy Director, NSF; Raymond Kammer,
Director, National Institute for Standards and Technology, Department of
Commerce; and public witnesses. 

CLEAN WATER ACT--GOVERNORS' PERSPECTIVES

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Governors' Perspectives on the
Clean Water Act. Testimony was heard from the following Governors: George E.
Pataki, State of New York; Jim Geringer, State of Wyoming; and Parris N.
Glendening, State of Maryland. 

CONGRESSIONAL COMMISSION ON SERVICEMEMBERS AND VETERANS TRANSITION
ASSISTANCE REPORT

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing to receive the Report of the
Congressional Commission on Servicemembers and Veterans Transition Assistance.
Testimony was heard from Anthony J. Principi, Chairman, Congressional
Commission on Servicemembers and Veterans Transition Assistance; and former
Senator Robert Dole of Kansas. 

PRESIDENT'S SOCIAL SECURITY FRAMEWORK

Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on the President's Social Security
Framework. Testimony was heard from Jacob J. Lew, Director, OMB; Kenneth
Apfel, Commissioner, SSA; David M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; the
following officials of D160the CBO: Dan L. Crippen, Director; and Barry B.
Anderson, Deputy Director; Edward Gramlich, member, Board of Governors,
Federal Reserve System; and public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D160]

RUSSIAN DEVELOPMENTS: AN INTELLIGENCE UPDATE BRIEFING

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to
receive a briefing on Russian Developments: An Intelligence Update. The
Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses. 



1999/02/24
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 24, 1999;  pages D163 - D174

Committee Meetings

FOREST SERVICE--FOREST HEALTH MAPS

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight,
Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing to review Forest Service forest health
maps. Testimony was heard from Anne Bartuska, Director, Forest Management,
Forest Service, USDA; LeRoy N. Kline, Forest Health Specialist, Department of
Forestry, State of Oregon; Dave Struble, Director, Insect and Disease
Management, Forest Service, Department of Conservation, State of Maine; and
public witnesses. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Natural
Resources and Environment. Testimony was heard from the following officials of
the Department of Agriculture: James Lyons, Under Secretary, National
Resources and Environment; and Pearlie Reed, Chief, Resources Natural
Conservation Service. 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and
Judiciary held a hearing on Embassy Security and on the Bureau of Prisons.
Testimony was heard from Bonnie Cohen, Under Secretary, Management, Department
of State; and Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons,
Department of Justice. 

DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held an executive hearing
on the fiscal year 2000 Intelligence Budget. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the CIA: George J. Tenet, Director; Joan Avalyn
Dempsey, Deputy Director (Community Management); and David W. Carey, Executive
Director; and the following officials of the Department of Defense: Lt. Gen.
Patrick M. Hughes, USA, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency; Lt. Gen. James
C. King, USA, Director, National Imagery and Mapping Agency; and Lt. Gen.
Kenneth Minihan, USAF, Director, National Security Agency. 

FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export
Financing and Related Programs held a hearing on Hurricane Mitch Supplemental.
Testimony was heard from J. Brian Atwood, Administrator, AID, U.S.
International Development Cooperation Agency; and Peter F. Romero, Acting
Assistant Secretary, Inter-American Affairs, Department of State. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

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

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Heath and Human Services,
and Education, held a hearing on the Director of NIH, on the National Cancer
Institute and on the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication
Disorders. Testimony was heard from the following officials of NIH, Department
of Health and Human Services: D169Harold Varmus, M.D., Director; Richard D.
Klausner, Director, National Cancer Institute; and James F. Battey, Director,
National Institute of Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. 

                                          [Page: D169]

TREASURY-POSTAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and
General Government held a hearing on the IRS, on the Bureau of Engraving and
Printing, and on the U.S. Mint and Financial Management Service. Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Charles
O. Rossotti, Commissioner, IRS; Thomas A. Ferguson, Director, Bureau of
Engraving and Printing; Philip N. Diehl, Director, John P. Mitchell, Deputy
Director, Andrew Cosgarea, Jr., Associate Director, Circulating Coinage, Terry
L. Bowie, Deputy Associate Director for Finance/Deputy Chief Financial
Officer, all with the U.S. Mint; and Richard L. Gregg, Commissioner, Financial
Management Service. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, Independent Agencies,
held a hearing on the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, on
Council on Environmental Quality, and on American Battle Monuments Commission.
Testimony was heard from Paul L. Hill, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Chemical Safety
and Hazard Investigation Board; George Frampton, Council on Environmental
Quality; and Gen. Fred F. Woerner, U.S. Army (Ret.), Chairman, American Battle
Monuments Commission. 

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Continued hearings on the fiscal year 2000
National Defense authorization budget request. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Defense: Gen. Dennis J. Reimer, USA,
Chief of Staff, Department of the Army; Adm. Jay L. Johnson, USN, Chief of
Naval Operations, Department of the Navy; Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart, USAF, Vice
Chief of Staff, Department of the Air Force; and Gen. Charles C. Krulak, USMC,
Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps. 

AGING MILITARY EQUIPMENT

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement held a
hearing on aging military equipment. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Defense: Paul J. Hoeper, Assistant Secretary of
the Army (Research and Development and Acquisition) and Lt. Gen. John G.
Coburn, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, both with the Department of
the Army; H. Lee Buchanan, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research
Development and Acquisition) and Vice Adm. James F. Amerault, USN, Deputy
Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics), both with the Department of the Navy;
Lt. Gen. Gregory S. Martin, USAF, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the
Air Force (Acquisition) and Lt. Gen. John W. Handy, USAF, Deputy Chief of
Staff for Installations and Logistics, both of the Department with the Air
Force; Lt. Gen. Michael J. Williams, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs
and Resources and Maj. Gen. Gary S. McKissock, USMC, Commander, Marine Corps
Material Command, both with Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; Lane Pierrot,
Senior Analyst (National Security Division), CBO; and public witnesses. 

CRITICAL READINESS NEEDS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Readiness held a hearing
on the adequacy of the fiscal year 2000 budget request to meet critical
readiness needs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Department of Defense: Rudy de Leon, Under Secretary (Personnel and
Readiness); Lt. Gen. David K. Heebner, USA, Assistant Vice Chief of Staff,
Department of the Army; Vice Adm. C. C. Lautenbacher, USN, Deputy Chief of
Staff of Naval Operations (Resources, Warfare Requirements and Assessments),
Department of the Navy; Lt. Gen. Roger G. DeKok, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff,
Plans and Programs, Department of the Air Force; and Lt. Gen. M. J. Williams,
USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Resources, Headquarters, U.S.
Marine Corps. 

CONDUCT OF MONETARY POLICY

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on Conduct of
Monetary Policy. Testimony was heard from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of
Governors, Federal Reserve System. 

OVERSIGHT--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held an oversight
hearing on the Department of Energy's Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 2000.
Testimony was heard from Ernest Moniz, Under Secretary, Department of Energy. 

SUPPORTING WELFARE REFORM

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a
hearing on Supporting Welfare Reform: Cracking Down on Deadbeat Parents.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Health
and Human Services: Jack Hartwig, Deputy Inspector General; and John Monahan,
Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, D170Children and Families,
Administration for Children and Families; Nick Young, Director, Child Support
Enforcement Division, State of Virginia; and public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D170]

SATELLITE HOME VIEWER ACT REAUTHORIZATION

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and Consumer
Protection held a hearing on reauthorization of the Satellite Home Viewer Act.
Testimony was heard from Deborah A. Lathen, Chief, Cable Services Bureau, FCC;
and public witnesses. 

ERISA: WORKERS HEALTH INSURANCE

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-Employee
Relations held a hearing on ERISA: A Quarter Century of Providing Workers
Health Insurance. Testimony was heard from Leslie Kramerich, Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Policy, Department of Labor; and public witnesses. 

TEAMSTERS REPORT

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and
Investigations approved a report on the "Financial, Operating, and Political
Affairs of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters". 

COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE

Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on Opening the Mainstream to
Complementary and Alternative Medicine. How much Integration is Really Taking
Place? Testimony was heard from Douglas Kamerow, M.D., Director, Center for
Health Care Technology, Agency for Health Care Policy Research, Department of
Health and Human Services; Thomas V. Holohan, M.D., Chief Patient Care
Services Officer, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans
Affairs; John F. Mazzuchi, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs,
Clinical and Program Policy, Department of Defense; and public witnesses. 

NEW YORK--WINNING WAR ON DRUGS AND CRIME

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy,
and Human Resources held a hearing on "New York Mayor Rudolph Guiliani:
Winning the War on Drugs and Crime". Testimony was heard from Rudolph
Guiliani, Mayor, New York City. 

COMMITTEE BUSINESS

Committee on House Administration: Met in executive session and approved the
following: U.S. Capitol Police Security Enhancement Plan; and the Capitol
Perimeter Security Improvement Plan. 

HURRICANE MITCH AFTERMATH

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
held a hearing on Relief Efforts in Central America in the Aftermath of
Hurricane Mitch. Testimony was heard from Mark L. Schneider, Assistant
Administrator, Latin America; AID, U.S. International Development Cooperation
Agency; Ambassador John P. Leonard, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Central
America, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Department of State; and Gen.
Charles Wilhelm, USMC, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command, Department
of Defense. 

OVERSIGHT--CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS--INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE BUDGET

Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on Contract Support Costs
within Indian Health Service Budget. Testimony was heard from Michael E.
Lincoln, Deputy Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and
Human Services; Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, Department
of the Interior; and public witnesses. 

PEACE CORPS ACT AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 669, to amend the Peace Corps Act to authorize appropriations
for fiscal years 2000 through 2003 to carry out that Act. The rule provides
that the bill 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 one motion to recommit with or
without instructions. 

OVERSIGHT--NOAA BUDGET AUTHORIZATION REQUEST

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment held an
oversight hearing on Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Authorization Request: NOAA.
Testimony was heard from D. James Baker, Under Secretary, Oceans and
Atmosphere and Administrator, NOAA, Department of Commerce; Joel C.
Willemssen, Director, Civil Agencies Information Systems, Accounting and
Information Management Division, GAO; and a public witness. 

OVERSIGHT--NASA POSTURE

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held an oversight
hearing on Fiscal Year D1712000: NASA Posture. Testimony was heard from Daniel
S. Goldin, Administrator, NASA. 

                                          [Page: D171]

SBA'S BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the SBA's Fiscal Year 2000
Budget request. Testimony was heard from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, SBA. 

COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT; FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION AUTHORIZATION ACT

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard
and Maritime approved for full Committee action the following: amended, the
Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1999; and the Federal Maritime Commission
Authorization Act of 1999. 

DISASTER MITIGATION AND COST REDUCTION ACT; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Oversight,
Investigations, and Emergency Management approved for full Committee action
amended H.R. 707, Disaster Mitigation and Cost Reduction Act of 1999. 

Prior to this action, the Subcommittee met for organizational purposes. 

VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICE BUDGET

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits held a hearing on the
budget for the Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and Training Service.
Testimony was heard from Espiridion Borrego, Assistant Secretary, Veterans'
Employment and Training, Department of Labor; and representatives of veterans
organizations. 

VA MEDICAL CARE BUDGET

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on VA
Medical Care Budget for Fiscal Year 2000. Testimony was heard from Thomas L.
Garthwaite, M.D., Deputy Under Secretary, Health, Department of Veterans
Affairs; Nick D. Bacon, Director, Department of Veterans Affairs, State of
Arkansas; and representatives of veterans organizations. 

RESOLUTION CONCERNING SOCIAL SECURITY; YEAR 2000 CONVERSION
EFFORTS--IMPLICATIONS FOR BENEFICIARIES AND TAXPAYERS; BUDGET VIEWS AND
ESTIMATES

Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported amended H.J. Res. 32, expressing
the sense of the Congress that the President and the Congress should join in
undertaking the Social Security Guarantee Initiative to strengthen and protect
the retirement income security of all Americans through the creation of a fair
and modern Social Security Program for the 21st Century. 

The Committee also held a hearing on the Year 2000 Conversion Efforts and
Implications for Beneficiaries and Taxpayers. Testimony was heard from John A.
Koskinen, Chairman, President's Council on Year 2000 Conversion; Kenneth S.
Apfel, Commissioner, SSA; the following officials of the Department of
Treasury: Richard L. Gregg, Commissioner, Financial Management Service; Dennis
S. Schindel, Assistant Inspector General, Audit; Charles O. Rossotti,
Commissioner and Paul Cosgrave, Chief Information Officer, both with the IRS;
John W. Magaw, Director; and Patrick Schambach, Assistant Director, Science
and Technology, and Chief Information Officer, both with the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; and S. W. Hall, Jr., Assistant Commissioner,
and Chief Information Officer, U.S. Customs Service; the following officials
of the Department of Health and Human Services: Olivia Golden, Assistant
Secretary, Children and Families; and Nancy-Ann DeParle, Administrator, Health
Care Financing Administration; the following officials of the GAO: Joel C.
Willemssen, Director, Civil Agencies Information Systems, Accounting and
Information Management Division; James R. White, Director, Tax Policy and
Administration Issues, General Government Division; and Randolph C. Hite,
Associate Director, Governmentwide and Defense Information Systems, Accounting
and Information Management Divisions; and public witnesses.  

The Committee also adopted Committee Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal
Year 2000 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

FBI INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES AND ACTIVITIES; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to
receive an Informal Demonstration: FBI Investigative Techniques and
Activities. 

Prior to the demonstration, the Committee met in executive session for
organizational purposes. 



1999/02/25
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 25, 1999;  pages D175 - D186

Committee Meetings

BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on Agriculture: Approved the Committee Budget Views and Estimates
for Fiscal Year 2000 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive session
to hold a hearing on the U.S. Southern Command. Testimony was heard from Gen.
Charles Wilhelm, USMC, Commander-in-Chief, Southern Command, Department of
Defense. 

                                          [Page: D179]

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on the National Human Genome Research Institute,
the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, the National
Library of Medicine, the National Institute of Child Health and Human
Development, the National Institute of General Medical Sciences, and the
Fogarty International Center. Testimony was heard from the following officials
of the NIH, Department of Health and Human Services: Harold Varmus, M.D.,
Director; Francis S. Collins, M.D., Director, National Human Genome Research
Institute; Donald A. B. Lindberg, M.D., Director, National Library of
Medicine; Marvin Cassman, M.D., Director, National Institute of General
Medical Sciences; and Gerald T. Keusch, M.D., Director, Fogarty International
Center. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held a
hearing on the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Testimony was heard from John J.
Hamre, Deputy Secretary, Department of Defense. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent Agencies
held a hearing on the Neighbor Reinvestment Corporation, the National Credit
Union Administration and the Community Development Financial Institute.
Testimony was heard from George Knight, Executive Director, National
Reinvestment Corporation; Norman E. D'Amours, Chairman, National Credit Union
Administration; and Ellen W. Lazar, Director, Community Development Financial
Institutions, Department of the Treasury. 

NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE DEPLOYMENT

Committee on Armed Services: Ordered reported H.R. 4, to declare it to be the
policy of the United States to deploy a national missile defense. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee in Military Installations and
Facilities held a hearing on the fiscal year 2000 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:
William Lynn, Under Secretary; Mahlon Apgar, IV, Assistant Secretary
(Installations, Logistics and Environment); Maj. Gen. Milton Hunter, USA,
Director, Military Programs, Corps of Engineers; Maj. Gen. Robert L. Van
Antwerp, Jr., USA, Assistant Chief of Staff, Installations Management; Brig.
Gen. James Helmly, USA, Deputy Chief, Army Reserve; and Brig. Gen. Michael
Squier, USA, Deputy Director, National Guard, all with the Department of the
Army; and Randall Yim, Deputy Under Secretary (Installations). 

PAY AND RETIREMENT REFORM PROPOSALS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a hearing
on pay and retirement reform proposals. Testimony was heard from Mark E.
Gebicke, Director, Military Operations and Capabilities Issues, National
Security and International Affairs Division, GAO; Christopher Jehn, Assistant
Director, National Security, CBO; the following officials of the Department of
Defense: Rudy deLeon, Under Secretary, Personnel and Readiness; Lt. Gen. David
Ohle, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Department of the Army; Vice Adm.
Daniel T. Oliver, USN, Chief, Naval Personnel, Department of the Navy; Lt.
Gen. Donald L. Peterson, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Department of the Air
Force; and Lt. Gen. Jack W. Klimp, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and
Reserve Affairs, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and public witnesses. 

LOGISTICS CAPABILITIES AND/OR SHORTFALLS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Readiness held a hearing
on logistics capabilities and/or shortfalls. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of GAO: Jack Brock, Director, Information Management
Issues and David Warren, Director, Defense Management Issues; and the
following officials of the Department of Defense: Lt. Gen. John G. Coburn,
USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics, Department of the Army; Vice Adm. James
Amerault, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics), Department of the
Navy; Lt. Gen. John Handy, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Installations and
Logistics, Department of the Air Force; Maj. Gen. Geoffrey B. Higginbotham,
USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Installations and Logistics, U.S. Marine Corps;
Lt. Gen. Henry T. Glisson, USA, Director, Defense Logistics Agency; and Marvin
Langston, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Chief Information Officer (Policy and
Implementation). 

BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAMS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Research and Development
held a hearing on ballistic missile defense programs. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the Department D180of Defense: Jacques S. Gansler,
Under Secretary, Acquisition and Technology; Lt. Gen. Lester L. Lyles, USAF,
Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization; and Lt. Gen. Gregory S.
Martin, USAF, Principal Deputy, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force. 

                                          [Page: D180]

BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Approved the Committee Budget
Views and Estimates for Fiscal year 2000 for submission to the Committee on
the Budget. 

SOCIAL SECURITY PROPOSAL--MARKET IMPACT

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials held a
hearing on The Market Impact of the Administration's Social Security Proposal.
Testimony was heard from Representatives Sanford, Pomeroy and Smith of
Michigan; and public witnesses. 

MEDICARE+CHOICE: AN EXAMINATION OF THE RISK ADJUSTOR

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a hearing
on Medicare+Choice: An Examination of the Risk Adjustor. Testimony was heard
from Mike Hash, Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration,
Department of Health and Human Services; Bill Scanlon, Director, Health
Financing and Public Health, GAO; Gail R. Wilensky, Chair, Medicare Payment
Advisory Commission; and public witnesses. 

ED-FLEX ROLE IN IMPROVING STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND REDUCING BUREAUCRACY

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early Childhood,
Youth, and Families held a hearing on Putting Performance First: Ed-Flex and
Its Role in Improving Student Performance and Reducing Bureaucracy. Testimony
was heard from Carlotta Joyner, Director, Education and Employment Issues,
GAO; Gregg Stubbs, Assistant Director, Division of Professional Development
and Licensure, Department of Education, State of Ohio; Madeleine Draeger
Manigold, Coordinator, Waivers, Office for the Education of Special
Populations, Education Agency, State of Texas; Michael E. Ward, Superintendent
of Public Instruction, Department of Public Instruction, State of North
Carolina; and a public witness. 

THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS; FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD RETIREMENT
PORTABILITY

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Civil Service approved for
full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 208, to amend title 5, United
States Code, to allow for the contribution of certain rollover distributions
to accounts in the Thrift Savings Plan, to eliminate certain waiting period
requirements for participating in the Thrift Savings Plan; and H.R. 807,
Federal Reserve Board Retirement Portability Act. 

Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on Federal Reserve Board
Retirement Portability. Testimony was heard from Edward W. Kelley, Jr.,
member, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; and William E. Flynn, III,
Associate Director, Retirement and Insurance Services, OPM. 

OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy,
and Human Resources held a hearing on Oversight of the 1999 National Drug
Control Strategy. Testimony was heard from Barry R. McCaffrey, Director,
Office of National Drug Control Policy. 

GAO VIEWS ON DEPARTMENTS--VULNERABILITIES TO WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans
Affairs, and International Relations held a hearing on Vulnerabilities to
Waste, Fraud and Abuse: Inspector General and GAO Views on the Departments of
Defense, State and Veterans Affairs. Testimony was heard from Henry Henton,
Assistant Comptroller, National Security and Internal Affairs Division, GAO;
Eleanor Hill, Inspector General, Department of Defense; Richard J. Griffin,
Inspector General, Department of Veterans Affairs; and Jacquelyn
Williams-Bridgers, Inspector General, Department of State. 

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS BUDGET REQUEST

Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the President's Fiscal
Year 2000 International Affairs Budget Request. Testimony was heard from
Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
approved for full Committee action the following measures: H.R. 825, amended,
United States-Macau Policy Act of 1999; H. Res. 32, expressing support for,
and calling for actions in support for, free, fair, and transparent elections
in Indonesia; and H. Con. Res. 28, amended, expressing the sense of Congress
that the United States should introduce and make all efforts necessary to pass
a resolution criticizing the People's Republic of D181China for its human
rights abuses in China and Tibet at the annual meeting of the United Nations
Commission on Human Rights. 

                                          [Page: D181]

BRAZIL'S ECONOMIC CRISIS

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic
Policy and Trade held a hearing on Brazil's Economic Crisis: Implications for
International Trade. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

COPYRIGHT COMPULSORY LICENSE IMPROVEMENT ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property
held a hearing on H.R. 768, Copyright Compulsory License Improvement Act.
Testimony was heard from William J. Roberts, Jr., Senior Attorney, Office of
the General Counsel, Copyright Office, Library of Congress; and public
witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--INS DECISIONS IMPACTING AGENCY'S ABILITY TO CONTROL CRIMINAL AND
ILLEGAL ALIENS

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held an
oversight hearing on recent Immigration and Naturalization Service decisions
impacting the Agency's ability to control criminal and illegal aliens.
Testimony was heard from Representative Reyes; Doris Meissner, Commissioner,
Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of Justice; Norman J.
Rabkin, Director, Administration of Justice Issues, GAO; and public witnesses. 

OVERSIGHT--BUDGET REQUESTS

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held an
oversight hearing on the Fiscal Year Budget request of the U.S. Geological
Survey, the Office of Surface Mining, the 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: Charles
Groat, Director, U.S. Geological Survey; Nina Hatfield, Deputy Director,
Bureau of Land Management; Thomas Kitsos, Acting Director, Minerals Management
Service; and Kathy Karpan, Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and
Enforcement. 

NEOTROPICAL MIGRATORY BIRD CONSERVATION ACT; OVERSIGHT--COASTAL ZONE
MANAGEMENT ACT

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and
Oceans approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 39, Neotropical
Migratory Bird Conservation Act. 

The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on the Coastal Zone Management
Act. Testimony was heard from Representative Goss; Terry D. Garcia, Assistant
Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of Commerce; Robert C. Shinn,
Jr., Commissioner, Department of Environmental Protection, State of New
Jersey; and public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands
approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 15, Otay
Wilderness Act of 1999; H.R. 54, to extend the authorization for the Upper
Delaware Citizens Advisory Council; H.R. 150, Education Land Grant Act; H.R.
154, 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; H.R. 449, Gateway Visitor Center Authorization
Act of 1999; H.R. 509, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to
the personal representative of the estate of Fred Steffens of Big Horn County,
Wyoming, certain land comprising the Steffens family property; and H.R. 510,
to direct the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to John R. and Margaret J.
Lowe of Big Horn County, Wyoming, certain land so as to correct an error in
the patent issued to their predecessors in interest. 

OVERSIGHT--HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT BUDGET

Committee on Science, Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held an oversight
hearing on fiscal year 2000 Budget: Human Space Flight. Testimony was heard
from Joe Rothenberg, Associate Administrator, Office of Space Flight,
Headquarters, NASA; Marcia S. Smith, Specialist in Aerospace and
Telecommunications Policy, Congressional Research Service, Library of
Congress; and public witnesses, 

UNSCREWING THE FASTENER QUALITY ACT

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing on Unscrewing
the Fastener Quality Act. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 818,
Disaster Mitigation Coordination Act of 1999; and H.R. 774, Women's Business
Center Amendments of 1999. 

The Committee also approved Committee's Budget Views and Estimates for fiscal
year 2000 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

                                          [Page: D182]

DOMESTIC OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION INCENTIVES

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing on
Incentives for Domestic Oil and Gas Production and Status of the Industry.
Testimony was heard from Donald C. Lubick, Assistant Secretary, Tax Policy,
Department of the Treasury; Jay Hakes, Administrator, Energy Information
Administration, Department of Energy; and public witnesses. 

STEEL TRADE ISSUES

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on Steel
Trade Issues. Testimony was heard from Representatives Cardin, English,
Regula, Visclosky, Traficant, Greenwood, Klink, Stupak, Buyer, Doyle, Berry
and Kucinich; William Daley, Secretary of Commerce; Charlene Barshefsky, U.S.
Trade Representative; and public witnesses. 

BRIEFING--IRAQI DEVELOPMENTS

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to
receive a briefing on Iraqi Developments: An Intelligence Update. The
Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses. 



1999/03/01
Daily Digest - Monday, March 1, 1999;  pages D188 - D192

Committee Meetings

OVERSIGHT--IRS'S FISCAL YEAR 1998 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management,
Information, and Technology held an oversight hearing of the IRS's Fiscal Year
1998 Financial Statements. Testimony was heard from Gregory D. Kutz, Associate
Director, Governmentwide Accounting and Financial Management, Accounting and
Information Management Division, GAO: and the following officials of the
Department of the Treasury: Donna Cunninghame, Chief Financial Officer, IRS;
and Steven App, Deputy Chief Financial Officer. 

OVERSIGHT--Y2K PROBLEM--STATUS AT HHS

Committee on Government Reform: On February 26, the Subcommittee on Government
Management, Information, and Technology held a hearing on Oversight of the
Year 2000 Problem: The Y2K Status of the Department of Health and Human
Services. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department
of Health and Human Services: John J. Callahan, Chief Information Officer; and
Nancy-Ann DeParle, Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration; and
Joel C. Willemssen, Director, Civil Agencies Information Systems, GAO. 

HUMAN RIGHTS PRACTICES--COUNTRY REPORTS

Committee on International Relations: On February 26, the Subcommittee on
International Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on Country Reports on
Human Rights Practices for 1998. Testimony was heard from Harold Hongju Koh,
Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department
of State; and public witnesses. 



1999/03/02
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 2, 1999;  pages D194 - D202

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA 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
USDA: I. Miley Gonzalez, Under Secretary; and Eileen Kennedy, D198Deputy
Assistant Secretary, both with Research, Education, and Economics. 

                                          [Page: D198]

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education, held a hearing on the National Institute on Drug Abuse,
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, and the National Institute
of Nursing Research, and on National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and the
National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the NIH, Department of Health and Human Services:
Alan I. Leshner, M.D., Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse; Enoch
Gordis, M.D., Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism;
Patricia A. Grady, M.D., Director, National Institute of Nursing Research;
Claude Lenfant, M.D., Director, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; and
Kenneth Olden, M.D., Director, National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences. 

TREASURY-POSTAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and
General Government held a hearing on the Executive Office of the President.
Testimony was heard from Mark Lindsay, Director, Office of Administration,
Executive Office of the President; and Jacob Lew, Director, OMB. 

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. 

MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING FISCAL YEAR 2000 BUDGET
REQUEST

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Installations and
Facilities held a hearing on fiscal year 2000 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:
Robert Pirie, Jr., Assistant Secretary (Installations and Facilities); Rear
Adm. Louis M. Smith, USN, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command;
Rear Adm. (Select) John P. McLaughlin, USN, Deputy Director, Naval Reserve,
and Maj. Gen. Geoffrey B. Higginbotham, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff,
Installations and Logistics (Facilities), Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps, all
with the Department of the Navy; Ruby B. DeMesme, Assistant Secretary
(Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations and Environment), Maj. Gen. Eugene
A. Lupia, USAF, The Civil Engineer, Brig. Gen. Craig R. McKinley, USAF, Deputy
Director, Air National Guard and Brig. Gen. Ralph S. Clemm, USAF, Deputy to
the Chief, Office of the Air Force Reserve, all with the Department of the Air
Force.  

DEFENSE REFORM INITIATIVES

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Readiness held a hearing
on Defense reform initiatives, contracting out, and outsourcing. Testimony was
heard from Barry Holman, Assistant Director, National Security and
International Affairs Division, Defense Management, GAO; and the following
officials of the Department of Defense: Stan Z. Soloway, Deputy Under
Secretary (Acquisition Reform); Randall A. Yim, Deputy Under Secretary
(Installations); Maj. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, Jr., USA, Assistant Chief of
Staff, Installations Management, Department of the Army; Vice Adm. James
Amerault, USA, Assistant Chief of Naval Operations (Logistics), Department of
the Navy; Brig. Gen. Richard B. Bundy, USAF, Director, Manpower, Organization
and Quality, Department of the Air Force; and Robert E. Hammond, Assistant
Deputy Chief of Staff, Installations and Logistics, U.S. Marine Corps. 

EFT-99 IMPLEMENTATION

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on General Oversight
and Investigations held a hearing to review implementation of EFT-99, the
federal program designed to facilitate the payment of government benefits by
electronic rather than paper check. Testimony was heard from John Dyer,
Principal Deputy Commissioner, SSA; Donald V. Hammond, Fiscal Assistant
Secretary, Department of the Treasury; Gregory Bitz, Director of Finance,
Finance and Accounting Services Headquarters, Department of Defense; and a
public witness. 

NURSING HOME RESIDENTS PROTECTION AMENDMENTS

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment approved for
full Committee action H.R. 540, Nursing Home Residents Protection Amendments
of 1999. 

OLDER AMERICANS ACT

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Postsecondary
Education, Training, and Life-Long Learning held a hearing on The Older
Americans Act: Meeting the Needs of Our Nation's Seniors. Testimony was heard
from Representatives DeFazio and Kolbe; and public witnesses. 

                                          [Page: D199]

OVERSIGHT--2000 CENSUS

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on the Census held a hearing on
Oversight of the 2000 Census: Examining the America Counts Today (ACT)
Initiatives to Enhance Traditional Enumeration Methods. Testimony was heard
from Representatives Myrick and Meek of Florida; and Kenneth J. Prewitt,
Director, Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce. 

OVERSIGHT--YEAR 2000 PROBLEM

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management,
Information, and Technology, and Subcommittee on Technology of the Committee
on Science held a joint hearing on Oversight of the Year 2000 Problem at the
Department of Defense: How Prepared is Our Nation's Defense? Testimony was
heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Robert J.
Lieberman, Assistant Inspector General, Auditing; and John J. Hamre, Deputy
Secretary; and Jack L. Brock, Director, Governmentwide and Defense Information
Systems, GAO. 

OVERSIGHT--EFFORTS TO REDUCE WASTE, FRAUD AND MANAGEMENT WEAKNESSES BY
CERTAIN DEPARTMENTS

Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, Veterans
Affairs, and International Relations held an oversight hearing on efforts to
address waste, fraud and management weaknesses by the Departments of Defense,
Veterans Affairs, and State. Testimony was heard from the following officials
of the Department of Defense: Nelson Toye, Deputy Chief Financial Officer; and
Standley Z. Soloway, Deputy Under Secretary, Acquisition Reform; Edward A.
Powell, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Financial Management, Department of Veterans
Affairs; and Bert T. Edwards, Chief Financial Officer, Department of State. 

U.S. SHOULD INTRODUCE RESOLUTION CRITICIZING CHINA FOR HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES;
FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations
and Human Rights approved for full Committee action amended H.Con.Res. 28,
expressing the sense of Congress that the United States should introduce and
make all efforts necessary to pass a resolution criticizing the People's
Republic of China for its human rights abuses in China and Tibet at the annual
meeting of the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. 

The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Foreign Relations Authorization for
Fiscal Years 2000-2001: Department of State Management Initiatives. Testimony
was heard from the following officials of the Department of State: Bonnie
Cohen, Under Secretary, Management; and Patrick Kennedy, Assistant Secretary,
Administration.  

BANKRUPTCY LEGISLATION; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported amended H.R. 808, to extend for 3
additional months the period for which chapter 12 of title 11 of the United
States Code is reenacted. 

The Committee also approved the Committee's Budget Views and Estimates for
fiscal year 2000 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

INDEPENDENT COUNSEL REAUTHORIZATION

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
held a hearing on the reauthorization of the Independent Counsel Act.
Testimony was heard from Representatives Dickey, Hastings of Florida and
Thompson of Mississippi; and Eric H. Holder, Jr., Deputy Attorney General,
Department of Justice. 

PROHIBITION--COMMERCIAL OPERATION OF SUPERSONIC TRANSPORTATION

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 661, to direct the Secretary of Transportation to prohibit the
commercial operation of supersonic transport category aircraft that do not
comply with state 3 noise levels if the European Union adopts certain aircraft
noise regulations. The rule waives clause 4(a) of Rule XIII (requiring a
three-day layover of the committee report) against consideration of the bill.
The rule provides that the bill shall be open for amendment at any point. The
rule authorizes the chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who
have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional Record. 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 for one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
Testimony was heard from Representatives Duncan and Sherwood. 

"DEATH ON THE HIGH SEAS ACT"--CLARIFY APPLICATION

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 603, to amend title 49, United States Code, to clarify the
application of the Act popularly known as the "Death on the High Seas Act".
The rule provides that each section of the bill shall be considered as
D200read. The rule authorizes the chair to accord priority in recognition to
Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional Record. 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 for one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
Testimony was heard from Representatives Duncan and Sherwood. 

                                          [Page: D200]

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES

Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the following
bills: H.R. 819, Federal Maritime Commission Authorization Act of 1999; and
H.R. 707, amended, Disaster Mitigation and Cost Reduction Act of 1999. 

The Committee also approved the Committee's Budget Views and Estimates for
fiscal year 2000 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. 

REPORT ON MEDICARE PAYMENT POLICIES

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on the
Report on Medicare Payment Policies. Testimony was heard from Gail R.
Wilensky, Chair, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. 



1999/03/03
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 3, 1999;  pages D203 - D212

Committee Meetings

AGRICULTURAL BIOTECHNOLOGY

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Risk Management, Research, and
Specialty Crops held a hearing on agricultural biotechnology. Testimony was
heard from August Schumacher, Under Secretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services, USDA; Jim Murphy, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Agricultural
Affairs; and public witnesses. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Marketing
and Regulatory Programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of
the USDA: Michael V. Dunn, Under Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs;
Craig A. Reed, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service;
Enrique Figueroa, Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service; and James R.
Baker, Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration;
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 Legal Services Corporation and on Secretary of
Commerce. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Legal
Services Corporation: Douglas Eakeley, Chairman; John Erlenborn, Vice
Chairman; and John McKay, President; and William M. Daley, Secretary of
Commerce. 

DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held a hearing on fiscal
year 2000 Department of Defense budget. 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. 

INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on
Recreational Fees. Testimony was heard from Barry T. Hill, Associate Director,
Energy, Resources, and Science Issues, GAO; and the following officials of the
Department of the Interior: Donald J. Barry, Assistant Secretary, Fish and
Wildlife and Parks; Maureen Finnerty, Associate Director, National Park
Service, Park Operations and Education; John Rogers, Deputy Director, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service; Nina Rose Hatfield, Deputy Director, Bureau of Land
Management; and Denny Beschor, National Director, Forest Service, Recreation,
Heritage, and Wilderness Resources, USDA. 

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held a hearing on National Institute of Neurological Disorders
and Strokes, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Institute on
Mental Health, and on National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney
Diseases, the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin
Diseases, and the National Center for Research Resources. Testimony was heard
from the following officials of NIH, Department of D208Health and Human
Services: Gerald D. Fischbach, M.D., Director, National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Strokes; Richard J. Hodes, M.D., Director, National
Institute on Aging; Steven E. Hyman, M.D., Director National Institute of
Mental Health; Phillip Gorden, M.D., Director, National Institute of Diabetes,
Digestive, and Kidney Diseases; and Stephen I. Katz, M.D., Director, National
Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases; and Judith L.
Vaitukaitis, M.D., Director, National Center for Research Resources. 

                                          [Page: D208]

TREASURY-POSTAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, and
General Government held a hearing on Office of National Drug Control Policy
and on U.S. Postal Service. Testimony was heard from Barry McCaffrey,
Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy; and William J. Henderson,
CEO and Postmaster General, U.S. Postal Service. 

VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS

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

NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Continued hearings on the fiscal year 2000
National Defense authorization budget request. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Defense: Adm. Dennis C. Blair, USN,
Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command; and Gen. John Tilelli, USA,
Commander in Chief, U.S. Forces Korea. 

SERVICE AVIATION AND MODERNIZATION

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement and the
Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint hearing on
service aviation modernization plans. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Defense: Maj. Gen. Peter C. Franklin, USA,
Deputy for Systems Management and Horizontal Technology Integration, Office of
the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research, Development and Acquisition);
Rear Adm. John B. Nathman, USN, Director, Air Warfare, Office of the Chief of
Naval Operations; Lt. Gen. Gregary S. Martin, USAF, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition); Maj. Gen, Leslie F. Kenne, USAF,
Program Executive Officer, Joint Strike Fighter; and Lt. Gen. Frederick
McCorkle, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Aviation, Headquarters, U.S. Marine
Corps. 

HEDGE FUNDS

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets,
Securities, and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing on hedge
funds. Testimony was heard from William J. McDonough, President, Federal
Reserve Bank of New York; Brooksley Born, Chair, Commodity Futures Trading
Commission; Lew Sachs, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Government Financial
Policy, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses. 

HUD'S FISCAL YEAR 2000 BUDGET

Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and
Community Opportunity held a hearing on HUD's fiscal year 2000 budget.
Testimony was heard from Saul N. Ramirez, Jr., Deputy Secretary, Department of
Housing and Urban Development; Judy England-Joseph, Director, Housing and
Community Development Division, GAO. 

SOCIAL SECURITY PROPOSAL--MARKET IMPACT

Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials
continued hearings on the Market Impact of the Administration's Social
Security Proposal. Testimony was heard from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of
Governors, Federal Reserve System; and Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary,
Department of the Treasury. 

EDUCATION FLEXIBILITY PARTNERSHIP ACT

Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported amended H.R. 800,
Education Flexibility Partnership Act of 1999. 

FIGHTING CRIME IN THE TRENCHES

Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on Fighting Crime in the
Trenches, Part l, National Problems, Local Solutions: Federalism at Work.
Testimony was heard from Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mayor, City of New York; John F.
Timoney, Commissioner, Department of Police, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and a
public witness. 

COMMITTEE FUNDING

Committee on House Administration: Met and considered committee funding
requests for the following Committees: House Administration; International
Relations; Standards of Official Conduct; Science; Budget; Veterans Affairs;
Transportation and Infrastructure; and Banking and Financial Services. 

                                          [Page: D209]

FOREIGN ASSISTANCE BUDGET REQUEST

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

SOUTH ASIA; CHALLENGES IN U.S. POLICY

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
held a hearing on South Asia: Challenges in U.S. Policy. Testimony was heard
from Karl F. Inderfurth, Assistant Secretary, South Asian Affairs, Department
of State; and public witnesses. 

REASSESSING THE EXPORT ADMINISTRATION ACT

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic
Policy and Trade held a hearing on a New World Order: Reassessing the Export
Administration Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives Cox and Dicks;
William Reinsch, Under Secretary, Bureau of Export Administration, Department
of Commerce; Richard Hogland, Assistant Commissioner, Investigations, U.S.
Customs Service, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses. 

ANTI-DRUG EFFORT IN AMERICAS

Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere
held a hearing on the anti-drug effort in the Americas and implementation of
the Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act. Testimony was heard from Senator
DeWine; Tom Umberg, Deputy Director, Office of Supply Reduction, Office of
National Drug Control Policy; L. Rank Beers, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Department of State;
Donny Marshall, Deputy Administrator, DEA, Department of Justice; Rear Adm.
Raymond Riutta, USCG, Assistant Commandant, Operations, U.S. Coast Guard,
Department of Transportation; and Bonni Tischler, Assistant Commissioner,
Investigations, U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury. 

MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES

Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 15, Otay
Wilderness Act of 1999; H.R. 154, amended, 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; H.R.
449, Gateway Visitor Center Authorization Act of 1999; H.R. 509, amended, to
direct the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to the personal
representative of the estate of Fred Steffens of Big Horn County, Wyoming,
certain land comprising the Steffens family property; and H.R. 510, to direct
the Secretary of the Interior to transfer to John R. and Margaret J. Lowe of
Big Horn County, Wyoming, certain land so as to correct an error in the patent
issued to their predecessors in interest. 

DISASTER MITIGATION AND COST REDUCTION ACT

Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of
debate on H.R. 707, Disaster Mitigation and Cost Reduction Act of 1999. The
rule waives clause 4(a) of Rule XIII (requiring a three-day layover of the
committee report) against consideration of the bill. The rule makes in order
the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure amendment in the nature of
a substitute as an original bill for purpose of amendment, which shall be open
for amendment by title. The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in
recognition to Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the
Congressional Record. The rule further authorizes the Chairman of the
Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the bill, and
to reduce votes 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 Fowler. 

OVERSIGHT--BUDGET AUTHORIZATION REQUESTS

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment held an
oversight hearing on Fiscal Year 2000 Request: Department of Energy Office of
Science; Environment, Safety, and Health; and Environmental Management.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Energy:
Martha A. Krebs, Director, Office of Sciences; Dan M. Berkovitz, Deputy
Assistant Secretary, Planning, Policy and Budget, Office of Environmental
Management; and David M. Michaels, Assistant Secretary, Environment, Safety
and Health; and Victor S. Rezendes, Director, Energy, Natural Resources, and
Science Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, GAO. 

OVERSIGHT--AERO-SPACE TECHNOLOGY BUDGET

Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a oversight
hearing on Fiscal Year 2000 Budget: Aero-Space Technology. Testimony was heard
from the following officials of the Office of Aero-Space Technology, NASA: Sam
Armstrong, Associate Administrator; and Gary Payton, Deputy Associate
Administrator (Space Transportation Technology). 

                                          [Page: D210]

PRIVATE MARKET--INVESTING SOCIAL SECURITY

Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on
Investing Social Security in the Private Market. Testimony was heard from
Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury; and public
witnesses. 

BIOLOGICAL WARFARE THREATS AND CAPABILITIES

Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Held a hearing on Biological
Warfare Threats and Capabilities. Testimony was heard from John Lauder,
Special Assistant to the Director, Nonproliferation, CIA; and public
witnesses. 



1999/03/04
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 4, 1999;  pages D214 - D222

Committee Meetings

LOAN DEFICIENCY PAYMENT PROGRAM

Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities, Resource
Conservation, and Credit held a hearing to review the Loan Deficiency Payment
Program. Testimony was heard from August Schumacher, Jr., Under Secretary,
Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services, USDA; and a public witness. 

AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, held a hearing on
Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Testimony was heard from Brooksley Born,
Chair, Commodity Futures Trading Commission. 

COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the
Judiciary, held a hearing on The Federal Judiciary. Testimony was heard from
the following officials of the Judicial Conference of the United States: Judge
John G. Heyburn II, U.S. District Court, Western District of Kentucky,
Chairman, Committee on the Budget; Judge Lawrence L. Piersol, U.S. District
Court, District of South Dakota, member, Committee on the Budget; Leonidas
Ralph Mecham, Director, Ad