105th Congress (1997 - 1998)
January 7, 1997 - December 15, 1997
Senate Committee Meetings by Date
Compiled from the Congressional Record's Daily Digests via Thomas at thomas.loc.gov
You may search all Digest meeting records, from 1985 to the present, using
NCSU's U.S. Congressional Committee Meetings Index.
This database of committee hearings from the "Daily Digest" is not exhaustive, particularly so for field hearings.
1997/01/07
Daily Digest, Tuesday, January 7, 1997; pages D1 - D26
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to consider
pending committee business.
Committee recessed subject to call.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/01/09
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 9, 1997; pages D27 - D32
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
AIR BAG SAFETY
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings to
examine air bag safety, receiving testimony from Senator Kempthorne; Ricardo
Martinez, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; James
Hall, Chairman, and Elaine B. Weinstein, Chief, Safety Studies Division, both
of the National Transportation Safety Board; Joan Claybrook, Public Citizen,
Andrew Card, Susan M. Cischke, Chrysler Corporation, Lou Camp, Ford Motor
Company, and Bob Lange, General Motors Corporation, all on behalf of the
American Automobile Manufacturers Association, and Janet Dewey, Air Bag Safety
Campaign, all of Washington, D.C.; Philip Hutchison, Association of
International Automobile Manufacturers, and Brian O'Neill, Insurance Institute
for Highway Safety, D30both of Arlington, Virginia; Charles H. Pulley,
Automotive Occupant Restraints Council, Lexington, Kentucky; Kathleen Jones,
Blacksburg, Virginia; and Robert Sanders, Parents Coalition for Air Bag
Warnings, Baltimore, Maryland.
[Page: D30]
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
GULF WAR ILLNESSES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee held hearings to examine Persian
Gulf War illnesses, receiving testimony from Jesse Brown, Secretary of
Veterans Affairs, Kenneth Kizer, Under Secretary for Health, and Stephen L.
Lemons, Acting Under Secretary for Benefits, all of the Department of Veterans
Affairs; George J. Tenet, Acting Director, Nora Slatkin, Executive Director,
and Sylvia Copeland, Executive Officer, Office of Weapons, Technology, and
Proliferation, all of the Central Intelligence Agency; and Joyce C. Lashof,
Chair, and Philip J. Landrigan, Member, both of The Presidential Advisory
Committee on Persian Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses.
Committee recessed subject to call.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/01/20
Daily Digest - Monday, January 20, 1997; pages D34 - D36
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/01/21
Daily Digest - Tuesday, January 21, 1997; pages D37 - D40
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings to examine the state of the
United States economy and economic outlook, receiving testimony from Alan
Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
[Page: D38]
NOMINATION
Committee on Foreign Relations: On Monday, January 20, committee ordered
favorably reported the nomination of Madeleine Korbel Albright, of the
District of Columbia, to be Secretary of State.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/01/22
Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 22, 1997; pages D41 - D44
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee ordered favorably
reported an original resolution (S. Res. 20) requesting $1,747,544 for
operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28,
1998, and $1,792,747 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998
through February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress, and
announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee on Production
and Price Competitiveness: Senators Cochran (Chairman), Roberts, Helms,
Grassley, Gramm, Kerrey, Daschle, Johnson, and Landrieu. Subcommittee on
Marketing, Inspection, and Product Promotion: Senators Coverdell (Chairman),
Helms, Cochran, McConnell, Baucus, Kerrey, Landrieu. Subcommittee on Forestry,
Conservation, and Rural Revitalization: Senators Santorum (Chairman),
Grassley, Coverdell, Roberts, Craig, Conrad, Leahy, Daschle, and Baucus.
Subcommittee on Research, Nutrition, and General Legislation: Senators
McConnell (Chairman), Gramm, Craig, Santorum, Leahy, Conrad, and Johnson.
NOMINATION
Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nomination of William S. Cohen, of Maine, to be Secretary of Defense.
Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on the nomination of Mr.
Cohen, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators McCain, Snowe, and
Collins, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
NOMINATION
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the nomination of Andrew M. Cuomo, of New York, to be Secretary of Housing
and Urban Development, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators
D'Amato and Moynihan and Henry G. Cisneros, Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported an original resolution requesting $3,448,034 for operating
expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and
$3,539,227 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998 through
February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress, and
approved subcommittee chairmen and the creation of the following new
subcommittee: Subcommittee on Manufacturing and Competitiveness.
NOMINATION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of William M. Daley, of Illinois, to be Secretary
of Commerce, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators Moseley-Braun
and Durbin and Representative Hyde, testified and answered questions in his
own behalf. Testimony was also received from Donald Rumsfeld, Chicago,
Illinois.
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on S.J. Res. 1,
proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a
balanced budget, after receiving testimony from Senators Craig, Lautenberg,
Graham, Conrad, Bryan, and Dorgan; former Senator Paul Simon; Stuart M.
Gerson, former Assistant and Acting Attorney General, Department of Justice;
David R. Malpass, Bear, Stearns Company, Inc., New York, New York; Alan B.
Morrison, Public Citizen, Washington, D.C.; and Eugene Lehrmann, American
Association of Retired Persons, Madison, Wisconsin.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee ordered favorably reported
an original resolution requesting $4,113,888 for operating expenses for the
period from March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and $4,223,533 for the
period from March 1, 1998 through February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress, and
announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee on Children and
Families: Senators Coats (Chairman), Gregg, Frist, Hutchinson, Collins,
D43McConnell, Jeffords, Dodd, Bingaman, Wellstone, Murray, Reed, and Kennedy.
[Page: D43]
Subcommittee on Aging: Senators Gregg (Chairman), Hutchinson, Warner,
Jeffords, Mikulski, Murray, and Kennedy. Subcommittee on Public Health and
Safety: Senators Frist (Chairman), Jeffords, Coats, DeWine, Enzi, Collins,
Kennedy, Harkin, Mikulski, Bingaman, and Reed. Subcommittee on Employment and
Training: Senators DeWine (Chairman), Jeffords, Enzi, Warner, McConnell,
Wellstone, Kennedy, Dodd, and Harkin.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/01/23
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 23, 1997; pages D46 - D48
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
EDUCATION ACHIEVEMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education and Related Agencies concluded hearings to examine the role of
the Federal Government in assisting certain students improve their academic
standing, focusing on approaches to improving English language skills and the
use of ebonics, after receiving testimony from Representative Waters; Carolyn
M. Getridge, Oakland Unified School District, and Toni Cook and Michael
Lampkins, both of the Oakland Board of Education, all of Oakland, California;
Amos C. Brown, National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc., San Francisco,
California; Orlando L. Taylor, Howard University Graduate School of Arts and
Sciences, and Michael Casserly, Council of the Great City Schools, both of
Washington, D.C.; Robert L. Williams, Washington University, St. Louis,
Missouri; William Labov, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and
Armstrong Williams, Los Angeles, California.
MEDICARE REFORM
Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings on proposals to reform the
Medicare system and budget implications of Medicare policy, receiving
testimony from Jacob J. Lew, Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget;
Gail R. Wilensky, Project HOPE, Bethesda, Maryland, former Administrator,
Health Care Financing Administration; H. Edward Frech III, University of
California, Santa Barbara; and Karen Davis, Commonwealth Fund, New York, New
York.
Committee will meet again on Tuesday, January 28.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
resolution requesting $4,362,646 for operating expenses for the period from
March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and $4,480,028 for operating expenses
for the period from March 1, 1998 through February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/01/27
Daily Digest - Monday, January 27, 1997; pages D49 - D50
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/01/28
Daily Digest - Tuesday, January 28, 1997; pages D52 - D56
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
resolution requesting $4,953,132 for operating expenses for the period from
March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and $5,082,521 for operating expenses
for the period from March 1, 1998 through February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress, and
announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee on Agriculture,
Rural Development, and Related Agencies: Senators Cochran (Chairman), Specter,
Bond, Gorton, McConnell, Burns, Bumpers, Harkin, Kohl, Byrd, and Leahy.
Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and Judiciary: Senators Gregg
(Chairman), Stevens, Domenici, McConnell, Hutchison, Campbell, Hollings,
Inouye, Bumpers, Lautenberg, and Mikulski. Subcommittee on Defense: Senators
Stevens (Chairman), Cochran, Specter, Domenici, Bond, McConnell, Shelby,
Gregg, Hutchison, Inouye, Hollings, Byrd, Leahy, Bumpers, Lautenberg, Harkin,
and Dorgan.
[Page: D53]
Subcommittee on District of Columbia: Senators Faircloth (Chairman),
Hutchison, and Boxer. Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development: Senators
Domenici (Chairman), Cochran, Gorton, McConnell, Bennett, Burns, Craig, Reid,
Byrd, Hollings, Murray, Kohl, and Dorgan. Subcommittee on Foreign Operations:
Senators McConnell (Chairman), Specter, Gregg, Shelby, Bennett, Campbell,
Stevens, Leahy, Inouye, Lautenberg, Harkin, Mikulski, and Murray. Subcommittee
on Interior: Senators Gorton (Chairman), Stevens, Cochran, Domenici, Burns,
Bennett, Gregg, Campbell, Byrd, Leahy, Bumpers, Hollings, Reid, Dorgan, and
Boxer. Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education:
Senators Specter (Chairman), Cochran, Gorton, Bond, Gregg, Faircloth, Craig,
Hutchison, Harkin, Hollings, Inouye, Bumpers, Reid, Kohl, and Murray.
Subcommittee on Legislative Branch: Senators Bennett (Chairman), Stevens,
Craig, Dorgan, and Boxer. Subcommittee on Military Construction: Senators
Burns (Chairman), Hutchison, Faircloth, Craig, Murray, Reid, and Inouye.
Subcommittee on Transportation: Senators Shelby (Chairman), Domenici, Specter,
Bond, Gorton, Bennett, Faircloth, Lautenberg, Byrd, Mikulski, Reid, Kohl, and
Murray. Subcommittee on Treasury, General Government, and Civil Service:
Senators Campbell (Chairman), Shelby, Faircloth, Kohl, and Mikulski.
Subcommittee on VA-HUD and Independent Agencies: Senators Bond (Chairman),
Burns, Stevens, Shelby, Campbell, Craig, Mikulski, Leahy, Lautenberg, Harkin,
and Boxer.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
The nomination of Andrew M. Cuomo, of New York, to be Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development; and
An original resolution (S. Res. 28) requesting $2,853,725 for operating
expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and
$2,928,278 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998 through
February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedures for the 105th Congress, and
announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee on Securities:
Senators Gramm (Chairman), Shelby, Allard, Bennett, Faircloth, Dodd, Johnson,
Kerry, and Bryan. Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Regulatory
Relief: Senators Faircloth (Chairman), Allard, Enzi, Shelby, Mack, Grams,
Gramm, Bryan, Johnson, Boxer, Moseley-Braun, and Reed. Subcommittee on
International Finance: Senators Grams (Chairman), Hagel, Gramm, Bennett,
Moseley-Braun, Boxer, and Reed. Subcommittee on Housing Opportunity and
Community Development: Senators Mack (Chairman), Faircloth, Enzi, Shelby,
Allard, Hagel, Kerry, Reed, Dodd, Bryan, and Moseley-Braun. Subcommittee on
Financial Services and Technology: Senators Bennett (Chairman), Hagel, Mack,
Grams, Enzi, Boxer, Kerry, Dodd, and Johnson.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings on the Congressional Budget
Office assessment of the United States economy and budget for fiscal years
1998-2007, receiving testimony from June E. O'Neill, Director, Congressional
Budget Office.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably
reported an original resolution (S. Res. 26) requesting $2,431,871 for
operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28,
1998, and $2,494,014 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998
through February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress, and
announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee on
Transportation and Infrastructure: Senators Warner (Chairman), Robert Smith,
Kempthorne, Bond, Inhofe, Thomas, Baucus, Moynihan, Reid, Graham, and Boxer.
Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste Control, and Risk Assessment: Senators Robert
Smith (Chairman), Warner, Inhofe, Allard, Sessions, Lautenberg, Moynihan,
Boxer, and Graham. Subcommittee on Drinking Water, Fisheries and Wildlife:
Senators Kempthorne (Chairman), Thomas, Bond, Warner, Hutchinson, Reid,
Lautenberg, Lieberman, and Wyden. Subcommittee on Clean Air, Wetlands, Private
Property, and Nuclear Safety: Senators Inhofe (Chairman), Hutchinson, Allard,
Sessions, Graham, Lieberman, and Boxer.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
resolution (S. Res. 27) requesting $3,329,727 for operating expenses for the
period from March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and $3,416,328 for
operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998 through February 28,
1999.
[Page: D54]
Committee designated the following committee members to serve on the Joint
Committee on Taxation: Senators Roth, Chafee, Grassley, Moynihan, and Baucus;
and the following committee members to serve as congressional advisers on
trade policy and negotiations: Senators Roth, Chafee, Grassley, Moynihan, and
Baucus.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress, and
made the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee on Health Care:
Senators Gramm (Chairman), Roth, Chafee, Grassley, Hatch, D'Amato, Nickles,
Jeffords, Rockefeller, Baucus, Conrad, Graham, Moseley-Braun, Bryan, and
Kerrey. Subcommittee on International Trade: Senators Grassley (Chairman),
Roth, Chafee, Hatch, D'Amato, Murkowski, Gramm, Lott, Mack, Moynihan, Baucus,
Rockefeller, Breaux, Conrad, Graham, Moseley-Braun, and Kerrey. Subcommittee
on Long-Term Growth, Debt and Deficit Reduction: Senators Mack (Chairman),
Murkowski, Lott, Graham, and Bryan. Subcommittee on Social Security and Family
Policy: Senators Chafee (Chairman), Nickles, Gramm, Jeffords, Breaux,
Moynihan, Rockefeller, and Moseley-Braun. Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS
Oversight: Senators Nickles (Chairman), Roth, Grassley, Hatch, D'Amato,
Murkowski, Lott, Jeffords, Mack, Baucus, Moynihan, Breaux, Conrad, Bryan, and
Kerrey.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine the findings and
recommendations of the Advisory Commission to Study the Consumer Price Index,
receiving testimony from Michael J. Boskin, Stanford University, Stanford,
California, Ellen R. Dulberger, IBM Personal Computer Company, Somers, New
York, Robert J. Gordon, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, and Zvi
Griliches and Dale Jorgenson, both of Harvard University, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, all on behalf of the Advisory Commission to Study the Consumer
Price Index.
Hearings will continue on Thursday, January 30.
NOMINATION/ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee ordered favorably reported
the following business items:
The nomination of Alan M. Hantman, of New Jersey, to be Architect of the
Capitol;
An original resolution requesting $1,339,106 for operating expenses for the
period from March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and $1,375,472 for
operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998 through February 28,
1999;
An original resolution (S. Res. 31) providing for members on the part of the
Senate of the Joint Committee on Printing (Senators Warner, Cochran,
McConnell, Ford, and Inouye), and the Joint Committee of Congress on the
Library (Senators Stevens, Warner, Cochran, Moynihan, and Feinstein); and
An original resolution (S. Res. 32) to authorize the printing of a collection
of the rules of the committees of the Senate.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress.
Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on the nomination of Mr.
Hantman (listed above), after the nominee testified and answered questions in
his own behalf.
COMMITTEE BUDGET
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session and ordered
favorably reported an original resolution (S. Res. 30) requesting $2,506,182
for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28,
1998, and $2,574,036 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998
through February 28, 1999.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/01/29
Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 29, 1997; pages D57 - D59
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings on proposals for
long-term reform of the Social Security system, after receiving testimony from
Edward M. Gramlich, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Thomas W. Jones,
TIAA-CREF, New Canaan, Connecticut; Carolyn L. Weaver, American Enterprise
Institute, Alexandria, Virginia; C. Eugene Steuerle, Urban Institute,
Washington, D.C.; and Theodore R. Marmor, Yale University, New Haven,
Connecticut.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported the nomination of William M. Daley, of Illinois, to be
Secretary of Commerce, and a routine list in the U.S. Coast Guard.
Also, committee concluded hearings on the nomination of Rodney E. Slater, of
Arkansas, to be Secretary of Transportation, after the nominee, who was
introduced by Senators Warner, Bumpers, and Hutchinson and Representatives
Berry and Hutchinson, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported an original resolution (S. Res. 34) requesting $2,637,966 for
operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28,
1998, and $2,707,696 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998
through February 28, 1999.
[Page: D58]
Also, committee announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee
on Energy Research, Development, Production and Regulation: Senators Nickles
(Chairman), Domenici (Vice Chairman), Craig, Grams, Gorton, Campbell, Gordon
Smith, Ford, Bingaman, Graham, Wyden, Johnson, and Landrieu. Subcommittee on
Forests and Public Land Management: Senators Craig (Chairman), Burns (Vice
Chairman), Domenici, Thomas, Kyl, Gordon Smith, Dorgan, Graham, Wyden,
Johnson, and Landrieu. Subcommittee on National Parks, Historic Preservation,
and Recreation: Senators Thomas (Chairman), Campbell (Vice Chairman), Grams,
Nickles, Burns, Bingaman, Akaka, Graham, and Landrieu. Subcommittee on Water
and Power: Senators Kyl (Chairman), Gordon Smith (Vice Chairman), Gorton,
Campbell, Craig, Akaka, Ford, Dorgan, and Wyden.
NOMINATION
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported S.J. Res. 5,
waiving certain provisions of the Trade Act of 1974 relating to the
appointment of the United States Trade Representative.
Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Charlene Barshefsky, of the District of Columbia, to be United States Trade
Representative, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators
Moseley-Braun and Breaux and Representative Crane, testified and answered
questions in her own behalf.
NOMINATION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination
of Bill Richardson, of New Mexico, to be the Representative of the United
States to the United Nations with the rank of Ambassador, and the
Representative of the United States in the Security Council of the United
Nations, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators Domenici, Hatch,
and Bingaman and Representatives Gilman, Hamilton, and Menendez, testified and
answered questions in his own behalf.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee met and adopted its rules of
procedure for the 105th Congress.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
AUTHORIZATION--INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings on S.
216, authorizing funds for fiscal years 1998 through 2002 for programs of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, after receiving testimony from
Judith E. Heumann, Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services; Madeleine Will, Chevy Chase, Maryland, former
Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services; Michael Remus, Kansas Board of Education, Topeka, on behalf of the
National Association of State Directors of Special Education; Elisabeth T.
Healey, Pittsburgh School Board, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Daniel Sullivan,
New Hampshire School Board, Nashua; Anne Bryant, National School Boards
Association, Alexandria, Virginia; David Wolk, Rutland City School District,
Rutland, Vermont, on behalf of the American Association of School
Administrators; Stanley S. Herr, University of Maryland, Baltimore; Michael
Brown, Hope High School, Hope, Arizona, on behalf of the National Association
of Secondary School Principals; Marcia Reback, Rhode Island Federation of
Teachers, Providence; Robert Chase, National Education Association,
Washington, D.C.; and Gerald Hime, Council for Exceptional Children, Reston,
Virginia.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Small Business: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
resolution requesting $1,084,471 for operating expenses for the period from
March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and $1,112,732 for operating expenses
for the period from March 1, 1998 through February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress.
GULF WAR ILLNESSES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee resumed hearings to examine the
status of Persian Gulf War veterans' illnesses, receiving testimony from Gen.
H. Norman Schwarzkopf, USA (Ret.); and Bernard D. Rostker, Special Assistant
to the Deputy Secretary of Defense for Gulf War Illnesses.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence
community.
Committee will meet again on Wednesday, February 5.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Special Committee on Aging: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
resolution requesting $1,133,674 for operating expenses for the period from
March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and $1,162,865 for operating expenses
for the period from March 1, 1998 through February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress.
[Page: D59]
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/01/30
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 30, 1997; pages D61 - D66
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATIONS/ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
An original resolution (S. Res. 38) requesting $2,704,397 for operating
expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and
$2,776,389 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998 through
February 28, 1999; and 591 military nominations in the Army, Navy, Marine
Corps, and Air Force.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress, and
announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee on Acquisition
and Technology: Senators Santorum (Chairman), Bob Smith, Snowe, Roberts,
Lieberman, Kennedy, and Bingaman. Subcommittee on Airland Forces: Senators
Coats (Chairman), Warner, Kempthorne, Inhofe, Santorum, Roberts, Glenn,
Bingaman, Byrd, Lieberman, and Cleland. Subcommittee on Personnel: Senators
Kempthorne (Chairman), McCain, Coats, Snowe, Cleland, Kennedy, and Robb.
Subcommittee on Readiness: Senators Inhofe (Chairman), McCain, Coats, Roberts,
Robb, Glenn, and Cleland. Subcommittee on Seapower: Senators Warner
(Chairman), McCain, Bob Smith, Santorum, Snowe, Kennedy, Byrd, Robb, and
Lieberman. Subcommittee on Strategic Forces: Senators Bob Smith (Chairman),
Warner, Kempthorne, Inhofe, Bingaman, Glenn, and Byrd.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine the findings
and recommendations of the Advisory Commission to Study the Consumer Price
Index with regard to a more accurate measure of the cost of living, after
receiving testimony from Katharine G. Abraham, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Department of Labor; and Michael J. Boskin, Stanford University,
Stanford, California.
NOMINATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Federico PenAE6a, of Colorado, to be Secretary of Energy, after
the nominee, who was introduced by Senator Campbell and Representative Skaggs,
testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
NOMINATION/ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of
Charlene Barshefsky, of the District of Columbia, to be United States Trade
Representative, with the rank of Ambassador.
Also, committee held hearings to examine the fiscal health of the nation and
the welfare of the American population, focusing on the accuracy of the
consumer price index, receiving testimony from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
NOMINATIONS/ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
The nominations of Dennis K. Hays, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Suriname, Genta Hawkins Holmes, of California, to be Ambassador to
Australia, Arma Jane Karaer, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to Papua New
Guinea, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as
Ambassador to the Solomon Islands, and as Ambassador to the Republic of
Vanuatu, Madeleine May Kunin, of Vermont, to serve concurrently and without
additional compensation as Ambassador to the Principality of Liechtenstein,
John Francis Maisto, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Venezuela, Anne W. Patterson, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
El Salvador, John Stern Wolf, of Maryland, for the rank of Ambassador during
his tenure of service as United States Coordinator for Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation, Madeleine K. Albright, of the District of Columbia, and Edward W.
Gnehm, Jr., of Georgia, both to be U.S. Representatives to the 51st Session of
the United Nations General Assembly, Karl F. Inderfurth, of North Carolina,
and Victor Marrero, of New York, both to be Alternate U.S. Representatives to
the 51st Session of the United Nations General Assembly, and 3 Foreign Service
Officer Promotion lists received in the Senate on January 21, 1997 and a
Foreign Service Officer Promotion list received in the Senate on January 28,
1997; and
An original resolution (S. Res. 37) requesting $2,710,573 for operating
expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and
$2,782,749 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998 through
February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress.
COMMITTEE BUDGET
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported an
original resolution (S. Res. 39) D63requesting $11,050,721 for operating
expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and
$4,653,386 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998 through
February 28, 1999.
[Page: D63]
BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT/SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported S.J. Res. 1,
proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require a
balanced budget.
Also, committee announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee
on Administrative Oversight and the Courts: Senators Grassley (Chairman),
Thurmond, Sessions, Kyl, Durbin, Feingold, and Kohl. Subcommittee on
Technology, Terrorism and Government Information: Senators Kyl (Chairman),
Hatch, Specter, Thompson, Feinstein, Biden, and Durbin. Subcommittee on
Antitrust, Business Rights, and Competition: Senators DeWine (Chairman),
Hatch, Thurmond, Specter, Kohl, Torricelli, and Leahy. Subcommittee on
Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights: Senators Ashcroft (Chairman),
Hatch, Abraham, Thurmond, Thompson, Feingold, Kennedy, and Torricelli.
Subcommittee on Immigration: Senators Abraham (Chairman), Grassley, Kyl,
Specter, Kennedy, Feinstein, and Durbin. Subcommittee on Youth Violence:
Senators Sessions (Chairman), Thompson, DeWine, Ashcroft, Grassley, Biden,
Torricelli, Kohl, and Feinstein.
FEC AUTHORIZATION/CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee held hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for the Federal Election
Commission and on campaign finance reform proposals, receiving testimony from
John Warren McGarry, Chairman, and Joan D. Aikens and Scott Thomas, both
Commissioners, all of the Federal Election Commission; James Bopp, Jr., Bopp,
Coleson, and Bostrom, Terre Haute, Indiana; and Becky Cain, League of Women
Voters of the United States, Lisa Rosenberg, Center for Responsive Politics,
and Brent Thompson, Fair Government Foundation, all of Washington, D.C.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
COMMITTEE BUDGET
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
resolution requesting $1,143,036 for operating expenses for the period from
March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and $1,143,036 for operating expenses
for the period from March 1, 1998 through February 28, 1999.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/02/03
Daily Digest - Monday, February 3, 1997; pages D68 - D70
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: On Friday, January 31, committee
concluded hearings on the nomination of Rodney E. Slater, of Arkansas, to be
Secretary of Transportation, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator
Hutchinson, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/02/04
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 4, 1997; pages D72 - D77
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
DOD SEXUAL HARASSMENT POLICIES
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine the Army
sexual harassment incidents at Aberdeen Proving Ground and sexual harassment
policies within the Department of Defense, after receiving testimony from Togo
D. West, Jr., Secretary, Gen. Dennis J. Reimer, Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Jared
L. Bates, Inspector General, and Brig. Gen. Daniel L. Doherty, Commanding
General, Criminal Investigation Command, each of the Department of the Army,
Edwin Dorn, Under Secretary (Personnel and Readiness), John H. Dalton,
Secretary of the Navy, and Sheila E. Widnall, Secretary of the Air Force, all
of the Department of Defense.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on the Budget: On Thursday, January 30, committee approved for
reporting an original resolution (S. Res. 44) requesting $3,105,190 for
operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28,
1998, and $3,188,897 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998
through February 28, 1999.
Also, committee adopted its rules of procedure for the 105th Congress.
AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND TAXES
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine the current operation
of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, focusing on excise taxes and proposals
to modify the domestic passenger ticket tax or substitute an alternative
funding system, receiving testimony from Senator McCain; Donald C. Lubick,
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Tax Policy; Louise Frankel Stoll,
Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial Officer,
Department of Transportation; John H. Anderson, Jr., Director, Transportation
Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General
Accounting Office; Stephen A. Alterman, Air Freight Association, and Edward M.
Bolen, General Aviation Manufacturers Association, both of Washington, D.C.;
Geoffrey T. Crowley, Wisconsin Airlines Corporation, Appleton; Herbert D.
Kelleher, Southwest Airlines Company, Dallas, Texas; and Michael E. Levine,
Northwest Airlines, Incorporated, Eagan, Minnesota.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
FLEXIBLE WORKPLACE OPTIONS
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Subcommittee on Employment and
Training held hearings to examine proposals to reform the Fair Labor Standards
Act, focusing on recent changes in the American workforce and the need for
flexible work schedules, and on S. 4, to provide to private sector employees
the same opportunities for time-and-a-half compensatory time off, biweekly
work programs, and flexible credit hour programs as Federal employees
currently enjoy to help balance the demands and needs of work and family, to
clarify the provisions relating to exemptions of certain professionals from
the minimum wage and overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act of
1938, receiving testimony from Senator Hutchison; Sandra J. Boyd, Flexible
Employment Compensation and Scheduling Coalition, Mark Wilson, The Heritage
Foundation, William J. Kilberg, Fair Labor Standards Act Reform Coalition,
Karen Nussbaum, AFL-CIO, and Edith Rasell, Economic Policy Institute, all of
Washington, D.C.; Michael R. Losey, Society for Human Resource Management,
Alexandria, Virginia; and Sallie Larsen and Christine Korzendorfer, both of
TRW Systems Integration Group, Fairfax, Virginia.
Hearings continue on Thursday, February 13.
[Page: D74]
COMMITTEE BUDGET REQUESTS
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee held hearings to receive
testimony from Senators, as indicated, in support of resolutions requesting
funds for operating expenses of their respective committees for periods from
March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and from March 1, 1998 through
February 28, 1999, as follows: Special Committee on Aging: (S. Res. 41),
Senators Grassley and Breaux; Committee on the Budget: (S. Res. 44), Senators
Domenici and Lautenberg; Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:
(S. Res. 29), Senators McCain and Hollings; Committee on Indian Affairs: (S.
Res. 46), Senators Campbell and Inouye; Committee on Banking, Housing, and
Urban Affairs: (S. Res. 28), Senators D'Amato and Sarbanes; and Committee on
Labor and Human Resources: (S. Res. 35), Senators Jeffords and Kennedy.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: On Monday, February 3, committee approved for
reporting an original resolution (S. Res. 45) requesting $2,776,450 for
operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1997 through February 28,
1998, and $1,153,263 for operating expenses for the period from March 1, 1998
through February 28, 1999.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/02/05
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 5, 1997; pages D79 - D84
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BREAST CANCER SCREENING
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education and Related Agencies held hearings to examine the recommendation
of the National Institutes of Health Consensus Development Conference on
Breast Cancer Screening in Women Ages 40-49, receiving testimony from Richard
D. Klausner, Director, National Cancer Institute, and Susan J. Blumenthal,
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health/Assistant Surgeon General, both of the
Department of Health and Human Services; David G. Hoel, Medical University
D80of South Carolina, Charleston; Marilyn Leitch, University of Texas
Southwestern Medical School, on behalf of the American Cancer Society, and
Susan Braun and Diana Rowden, both of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer
Foundation, all of Dallas, Texas; Frances M. Visco, National Breast Cancer
Coalition, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Barbara Monsees, Washington
University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri.
[Page: D80]
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
NOMINATION
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Federico PenAE6a, of Colorado, to be Secretary of Energy, after the nominee
testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
NOMINATION
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the nomination of Janet L. Yellen, of California, to be a Member of the
Council of Economic Advisers, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator
Boxer, testified and answered questions in her own behalf.
EDUCATION REFORM AND ECONOMIC GROWTH
Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings on the President's budget
request for education for fiscal year 1998 and to examine the Federal role in
educational reform, receiving testimony from Marshall S. Smith, Under
Secretary of Education; Eric A. Hanushek, University of Rochester, Rochester,
New York; and Caroline Minter Hoxby, Harvard University, Westborough,
Massachusetts.
Committee will meet again on Friday, February 7.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported the nomination of Rodney E. Slater, of Arkansas, to be
Secretary of Transportation.
Also, committee announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee
on Aviation: Senators Gorton (Chairman), Stevens, Burns, Lott, Hutchison,
Ashcroft, Frist, Snowe, Brownback, Ford, Hollings, Inouye, Bryan, Rockefeller,
Breaux, Dorgan, and Wyden. Subcommittee on Communications: Senators Burns
(Chairman), Stevens, Gorton, Lott, Ashcroft, Hutchison, Abraham, Frist,
Brownback, Hollings, Inouye, Ford, Kerry, Breaux, Rockefeller, Dorgan, and
Wyden. Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Foreign Commerce and Tourism:
Senators Ashcroft (Chairman), Gorton, Abraham, Burns, Brownback, Breaux, Ford,
and Bryan. Subcommittee on Manufacturing and Competitiveness: Senators Abraham
(Chairman), Snowe, Ashcroft, Frist, Brownback, Bryan, Hollings, Dorgan, and
Rockefeller. Subcommittee on Oceans and Fisheries: Senators Snowe (Chairman),
Stevens, Gorton, Hutchison, Kerry, Inouye, and Breaux. Subcommittee on
Science, Technology, and Space: Senators Frist (Chairman), Burns, Hutchison,
Stevens, Abraham, Rockefeller, Kerry, Bryan, and Dorgan. Subcommittee on
Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine: Senators Hutchison (Chairman),
Stevens, Burns, Snowe, Frist, Abraham, Ashcroft, Inouye, Breaux, Dorgan,
Bryan, and Wyden.
NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on S.
104, to reform United States policy with regard to the management and disposal
of spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste, after receiving
testimony from Thomas P. Grumbly, Under Secretary of Energy; Jared L. Cohon,
Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, on behalf of the Nuclear Waste
Technical Review Board; Emmit J. George, Jr., Iowa Utilities Board, Des
Moines, on behalf of the National Association of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners; Susan F. Clark, Florida Public Service Commission, Tallahassee,
on behalf of the Nuclear Waste Strategy Coalition; Michael Mariotte, Nuclear
Information Resource Service, Washington, D.C.; and James T. Rhodes, Virginia
Power, Richmond.
CLEAN AIR--OZONE EXPOSURE
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air,
Wetlands, Private Property and Nuclear Safety held oversight hearings on
science issues with regard to the Environmental Protection Agency proposed
revisions to the ozone and particulate matter national ambient air quality
standards, receiving testimony from George T. Wolff, General Motors Company,
Detroit, Michigan, on behalf of EPA's Clean Air Scientific Advisory
Committee's Panels on Ozone and Particulate Matter; Morton Lippman, New York
University Medical Center, and George D. Thurston, New York University School
of Medicine, both of New York, New York; Daniel B. Menzel, University of
California, Irvine; Roger O. McClellan, Chemical Industry Institute of
Toxicology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina; Anne E. Smith, Decision
Focus Incorporated, Mountain View, California; Joel Schwartz, Harvard
University Medical School, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Ronald E. Wyzga,
Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California.
Hearings will continue on Wednesday, February 12.
[Page: D81]
AIRPORT AND AIRWAY TRUST FUND TAX REINSTATEMENT ACT
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill
(S. 279) to reinstate the Airport and Airway Trust Fund excise taxes.
JUDGESHIP ALLOCATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the
Courts concluded hearings to examine the appropriate allocation of judgeships
in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, after receiving
testimony from J. Harvie Wilkinson III, Chief Judge, and Sam J. Ervin, III,
Circuit Judge, both of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth
Circuit; Gerald Bard Tjoflat, Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals
for the Eleventh Circuit; and Julia Smith Gibbons, Chief Judge, United States
District Court for the Western District of Tennessee, on behalf of the
Committee on Judicial Resources of the Judicial Conference of the United
States.
COMMITTEE BUDGET REQUESTS
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee continued hearings to receive
testimony from Senators, as indicated, in support of resolutions requesting
funds for operating expenses of their respective committees for periods from
March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and from March 1, 1998 through
February 28, 1999, as follows: Committee on Appropriations: (S. Res. 33),
Senator Stevens; Committee on Small Business: (S. Res. 40), Senators Bond and
Kerry; Committee on the Judiciary: (S. Res. 43), Senators Hatch and Leahy;
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: (S. Res. 20), Senators
Lugar and Harkin; Committee on Armed Services: (S. Res. 38), Senators Warner
and Levin; and Committee on Veterans' Affairs: (S. Res. 45), Senators Specter
and Rockefeller.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held open and closed hearings to
examine current and projected national security threats to the United States,
receiving testimony from Toby T. Gati, Assistant Secretary of State for
Intelligence and Research; Lt. Gen. Patrick M. Hughes, USA, Director, Defense
Intelligence Agency; and George J. Tenet, Acting Director of Central
Intelligence.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/02/06
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 6, 1997; pages D86 - D90
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NATIONAL SECURITY
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed hearings to
examine current and projected national security threats to the United States,
after receiving testimony from George J. Tenet, Acting Director of Central
Intelligence; and Lt. Gen. Patrick M. Hughes, Director, Defense Intelligence
Agency.
U.S. TERRITORIES AND FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on S.
210, to make technical and other changes to the Organic Act of Guam, the
Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands, and the Compact of Free Association
Act, and to return excess Federal land to the people of Guam, after receiving
testimony from Allen P. Stayman, Director, Office of Insular Affairs,
Department of the Interior; Governor Roy L. Schneider, and Delegate Donna M.
Christian-Green, both of the Virgin Islands; and Governor Carl T.C. Gutierrez,
and Delegate Robert A. Underwood, both of Guam.
COMMITTEE BUDGET REQUESTS
Committee on Rules and Administration:: Committee concluded hearings to
receive testimony from Senators, as indicated, in support of resolutions
requesting funds for operating expenses of their respective committees for
periods from March 1, 1997 through February 28, 1998, and from March 1, 1998
through February 28, 1999, as follows: Committee on Environment and Public
Works: (S. Res. 26), Senators Chafee and Baucus; Committee on Governmental
Affairs: (S. Res. 39), Senators Thompson and Glenn; Select Committee on
Intelligence: (S. Res. 30), Senators Shelby and Kerrey; Committee on Energy
and Natural Resources: (S. Res. 34), Senators Murkowski and Bumpers; Committee
on Finance: (S. Res. 27), Senators Roth and Moynihan; and Committee on Foreign
Relations: (S. Res. 37), Senators Helms and Biden.
HOME-BASED BUSINESSES
Committee on Small Business: Committee held hearings to examine certain
home-based business issues, focusing on independent contractors, home-office
deductions, deductibility of health-care costs, and the experience of women
business owners in seeking investment capital and federal procurement
contracts, receiving testimony from Carolyn A. Stradley, C & S Paving, Inc.,
Marietta, Georgia; Susan Peterson, Susan Peterson Productions Inc.,
Washington, D.C., on behalf of the National Foundation for Women Business
Owners; Phyllis Hill Slater, Hill Slater, Inc., Great Neck, Long Island, New
York, on behalf D88of the National Association of Women Business Owners and
the Women Business Owners Corporation; Andrea C. Silbert, Center for Women and
Enterprise, Boston, Massachusetts; Bill D. Trembly, Trembly Associates, Inc.,
Albuquerque, New Mexico, on behalf of the Manufacturers' Agents National
Association and the Small Business Legislative Council on Independent
Contractor Classification Issues; Bonny Filandrinos, Staffing Solutions, Inc.,
Clayton, Missouri; Sal Risalvato, Riverdale Texaco and Precision Alignment
Center, Riverdale, New Jersey; and Carole Wiedorfer, Carole Wiedorfer CPA,
Baltimore, Maryland, on behalf of the National Association for the
Self-Employed.
[Page: D88]
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/02/07
Daily Digest - Friday, February 7, 1997; pages D92 - D96
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
1998 BUDGET
Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings to examine the President's
proposed budget for fiscal year 1998, receiving testimony from Franklin D.
Raines, Director, Office of Management and Budget.
Hearings continue on Monday, February 10.
Joint Meetings
EMPLOYMENT-UNEMPLOYMENT
Joint Economic Committee: Committee held hearings to examine the
employment-unemployment situation for January and the consumer price index,
receiving testimony from Katharine G. Abraham, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Department of Labor.
Committee recessed subject to call.
1997/02/10
Daily Digest - Monday, February 10, 1997; pages D97 - D100
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
Joint Meetings
PRESIDENT'S ECONOMIC REPORT
Joint Economic Committee: Committee held hearings to examine the United States
economic situation, focusing on the 1997 Economic Report of the President,
receiving testimony from Joseph E. Stiglitz, Chairman, Council of Economic
Advisers.
Hearings will continue on Wednesday, February 26.
1997/02/11
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 11, 1997; pages D101 - D108
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT REFORM
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee held hearings on
S. 257, to amend the Commodity Exchange Act to improve the Act by streamlining
U.S. futures trading law and conforming it to the changing competitive
environment, receiving testimony from Brooksley Born, Chairperson, Commodity
Futures Trading Commission; Roger L. Anderson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of
the Treasury for Federal Finance; Patrick H. Arbor, Chicago Board of Trade,
and Jack F. Sandner, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, both of Chicago, Illinois;
and Daniel Rappaport, New York Mercantile Exchange, and Walter Hines, Coffee,
Sugar, and Cocoa Exchange, both of New York, New York.
Hearings continue on Thursday, February 13.
BOSNIA
Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to receive a
briefing on the situation in Bosnia and the status of United States military
forces participating in the Stabilization Force from John P. White, Deputy
Secretary of Defense; John Kornblum, Assistant Secretary of State for Canadian
and European Affairs; and Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, USA, Chairman, Joint
Chiefs of Staff.
CONSUMER PRICE INDEX
Committee on Finance: Committee resumed hearings to examine the findings and
recommendations of the Advisory Commission to Study the Consumer Price Index,
receiving testimony from Katharine G. Abraham, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Department of Labor; Barry P. Bosworth, Brookings Institution, and
Linda Chavez-Thompson, AFL-CIO, both of Washington, D.C.; Esther Canja,
American Association of Retired Persons, Port Charlotte, Florida; Martin
Feldstein, National Bureau of Economic Research, Cambridge, Massachusetts;
Meredith Bagby, The Third Millennium, New York, New York; and James L. Martin,
60 Plus Association, Arlington, Virginia.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
NOMINATION/SUBCOMMITTEE MEMBERSHIP
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nomination of Bill Richardson, of New Mexico, to be the Representative of the
United States to the United Nations with the rank and status of Ambassador,
and the Representative of the United States in the Security Council of the
United Nations.
Also, committee announced the following subcommittee assignments: Subcommittee
on African Affairs: Senators Ashcroft (Chair), Grams, Frist, Feingold, and
Sarbanes. Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs: Senators Thomas
(Chair), Frist, Lugar, Coverdell, Hagel, Kerry, Robb, Feingold, and Feinstein.
Subcommittee on European Affairs: Senators Gordon Smith (Chair), Lugar,
Ashcroft, Hagel, Thomas, Biden, Wellstone, Sarbanes, and Dodd. Subcommittee on
International Economic Policy, Export and Trade Promotion: Senators Hagel
(Chair), Thomas, Frist, Coverdell, Sarbanes, Biden, and Wellstone.
Subcommittee on International Operations: Senators Grams (Chair), Helms,
Brownback, Gordon Smith, Feinstein, Dodd, and Kerry. Subcommittee on Near
Eastern and South Asian Affairs: Senators Brownback (Chair), Gordon Smith,
Grams, Helms, Ashcroft, Robb, Feinstein, Wellstone, and Sarbanes.
[Page: D103]
Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, Narcotics and Terrorism:
Senators Coverdell (Chair), Helms, Lugar, Brownback, Dodd, Kerry, and Robb.
HEALTH INSURANCE PORTABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY ACT
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded oversight hearings
on the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act (Public Law 104-191), focusing on the Federal and State regulatory process
of implementing insurance reform provisions, after receiving testimony from
Bruce C. Vladeck, Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration,
Department of Health and Human Services; Olena Berg, Assistant Secretary of
Labor, Pension and Welfare Benefits Administration; J. Mark Iwry, Benefits Tax
Counsel, Department of the Treasury; Joy Johnson Wilson, National Association
of Insurance Commissioners, Chris Petersen, Health Insurance Association of
America, Susan E. Nestor, Blue Cross-Blue Shield, and Gail Shearer, Consumers
Union, all of Washington, D.C.; Josephine Musser, National Association of
Insurance Commissioners, Madison, Wisconsin; and Terry Humo, Sedgwick Noble
Lowndes, Roseland, New Jersey, on behalf of the Association of Private Pension
and Welfare Plans.
[Page: D104]
Joint Meetings
VFW PROGRAMS
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint hearings
with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to review the legislative
recommendations of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, after
receiving testimony from James Nier, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United
States, Washington, D.C., who was accompanied by several of his associates.
1997/02/12
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 12, 1997; pages D110 - D116
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee held hearings on proposed legislation
authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for the Department of Defense and the
future years defense program, receiving testimony from William S. Cohen,
Secretary of Defense; John J. Hamre, Comptroller, Department of Defense; and
D111Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, USA, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.
[Page: D111]
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
NOMINATION
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nomination of Janet L. Yellen, of California, to be a Member of
the Council of Economic Advisers.
INVESTMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings to examine the role of
government investment in overall Federal budget policy, receiving testimony
from Robert B. Reich, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts, former
Secretary of Labor; and Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Syracuse University, Syracuse,
New York, on behalf of the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
CLEAN AIR STANDARDS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee held oversight hearings
to examine the national ambient air quality standards for ozone and
particulate matter recently proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency,
receiving testimony from Carol M. Browner, Administrator, Environmental
Protection Agency; and Sally Katzen, Administrator, Office of Information and
Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings on the Administration's budget
and revenue proposals for fiscal year 1998, receiving testimony from Robert E.
Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
MEDICARE
Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Health Care held hearings to examine the
financial soundness of the Medicare program, receiving testimony from Bruce C.
Vladeck, Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration, Department of
Health and Human Services; Joseph R. Antos, Assistant Director for Health and
Human Resources, Linda Bilheimer, Deputy Assistant Director for Health, and
Sandra Christensen, Principal Analyst, all of the Congressional Budget Office;
and Gail R. Wilensky, Project Hope, former Administrator, Health Care
Financing Administration, and Marilyn Moon, Urban Institute, both of
Washington, D.C.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
NUCLEAR DETERRENCE
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International Security,
Proliferation and Federal Services concluded hearings to examine the future of
nuclear deterrence and U.S. policy toward non-proliferation efforts, after
receiving testimony from Walter B. Slocombe, Under Secretary of Defense for
Policy; Gen. Andrew J. Goodpaster, USA (Ret.), Atlantic Council of the United
States; and Richard Perle, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.
TEAM ACT
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings on S.
295, to promote cooperation and teamwork among worker-management relations in
the American labor force, after receiving testimony from William D. Budinger,
Rodel, Inc., Newark, Delaware; J. Thomas Bouchard, Armonk, New York, and
Robert Von Bruns, Melinda Weide, and Michael Scarano, all of Essex Junction,
Vermont, all on behalf of the International Business Machines Corporation;
Charles I. Cohen, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, former Member, National Labor
Relations Board, Jonathan P. Hiatt, AFL-CIO, and Robert Muehlenkamp,
International Brotherhood of Teamsters/AFL-CIO, all of Washington, D.C.;
Robert Sebris, Jr., Sebris Busto, Bellevue, Washington; Samuel Estreicher, New
York University, New York, New York; Michael H. LeRoy, Institute of Labor and
Industrial Relations/University of Illinois, Champaign; and Thomas C. Kohler,
Boston College Law School, Newton, Massachusetts.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee ordered favorably reported an
original resolution (S. Res. 54) authorizing biennial expenditures by
committees of the Senate, in lieu of S. Res. 20, S. Res. 26, S. Res. 27, S.
Res. 28, S. Res. 29, S. Res. 30, S. Res. 33, S. Res. 34, S. Res. 35, S. Res.
37, S. Res. 38, S. Res. 39, S. Res. 40, S. Res. 41, S. Res. 43, S. Res. 44, S.
Res. 45, and S. Res. 46.
NOMINATION
Committee on Small Business: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nomination of Aida Alvarez, of New York, to be Administrator of the Small
Business Administration.
Prior to this action, the committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Ms. Alvarez, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators D'Amato and
Abraham, testified and answered questions in her own behalf.
[Page: D112]
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/02/13
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 13, 1997; pages D118 - D124
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT REFORM
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee resumed hearings
on S. 257, to amend the Commodity Exchange Act to improve the Act by
streamlining U.S. futures trading law and conforming it to the changing
competitive environment, receiving testimony from Jerry L. Osborne, ConAgra,
Omaha, Nebraska, on behalf of the National Grain Trade Council; Ron
Warfield, Illinois Farm Bureau, Bloomington, on behalf of the American Farm
Bureau Federation; Larry Quandt, Illinois Farmers Union, Mason, on behalf of
the National Farmers Union; Kendell W. Keith, National Grain and Feed
Association, Micah S. Green, Public Securities Association, on behalf of the
Bond Market Trade Association, and Ed Rosen, Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and
Hamilton, on behalf of a coalition of investment and commercial banks, all of
Washington, D.C.; Daniel J. Roth, National Futures Association, Laurence E.
Mollner, Dean Witter Reynolds, Inc., on behalf of the Futures Industry
Association, and Alger B. Chapman, Chicago Board Options Exchange, on behalf
of certain securities self-regulatory organizations, all of Chicago, Illinois;
Robert G. Easton, Commodities Corporation Limited, Princeton, New Jersey, on
behalf of the Managed Futures Association; and Gay H. Evans, Bankers Trust
International, on behalf of the International Swaps and Derivatives
Association, Inc., and John J. Finigan Jr., Foreign Exchange Committee, both
of New York, New York.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
BIENNIAL BUDGETING
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings on S. 261, to provide
for a biennial budget process and a biennial appropriations process and to
enhance oversight and the performance of the Federal Government, after
receiving testimony from Senators Ford and Thomas; Louis Fisher, Senior
Specialist, Separation of Powers, Congressional Research Service; John P.
McTague, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan; and Ronald K. Snell, Denver,
Colorado, on behalf of the National Conference of State Legislatures.
AUTHORIZATION--INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Transportation and
Infrastructure held hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for
programs of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991,
receiving testimony from Mortimer L. Downey, Deputy Secretary of
Transportation; Andrew H. Card, Jr., American Automobile Manufacturers
Association, Washington, D.C.; Darrel Rensink, Iowa Department of
Transportation, Des Moines, on behalf of the American Association of State
Highway and Transportation Officials; Damian J. Kulash, Eno Transportation
Foundation, Inc., Lansdowne, Virginia; and Alan E. Pisarki, Falls Church,
Virginia.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET
Committee on Finance: Committee continued hearings to examine the
Administration's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1998, focusing on
spending proposals relating to Medicare, Medicaid and welfare, receiving
testimony from Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Committee recessed subject to call.
NOMINATION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination
of Pete Peterson, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of
Vietnam, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators Graham and McCain,
testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee met and agreed to authorize the
issuance of subpoenas on matters relating to the committee's investigation of
illegal or improper fund raising and spending practices during the 1996
Federal election campaigns.
[Page: D120]
CORPORATE SUBSIDY REFORM
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee held hearings on S. 207, to
review, reform, and terminate unnecessary and inequitable corporate spending
subsidies in the federal budget, receiving testimony from Senators McCain,
Kerry, and Feingold; and Thomas A. Schatz, Citizens Against Government Waste,
Grover G. Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform, Courtney Cuff, Friends of the
Earth, and Dean Stansel, Cato Institute, all of Washington, D.C.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
FLEXIBLE WORKPLACE OPTIONS
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Subcommittee on Employment and
Training concluded hearings on S. 4, to provide private sector employees the
same opportunities for time-and-a-half compensatory time off, biweekly work
programs, and flexible credit hour programs to help balance the demands and
needs of work and family, and to clarify the provisions relating to exemptions
of certain professionals from the minimum wage and overtime requirements of
the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, after receiving testimony from Senator
Ashcroft; Mayor Paul F. Jadin, Green Bay, Wisconsin, on behalf of the United
States Conference of Mayors, and Marilyn Richter, Corporation Counsel of the
City of New York, New York, both on behalf of the Public Sector FLSA
Coalition; James A. Willms, Unicover Corporation, Cheyenne, Wyoming; Donna R.
Lenhoff, Women's Legal Defense Fund, Susan M. Eckerly, National Federation of
Independent Business, and David M. Silberman, Bredhoff and Kaiser, all of
Washington, D.C.; Sandie Moneypenny and Kathleen Fairall, both of the Timken
Company, Randleman, North Carolina; William A. Stone, Louisville Plate Glass
Company, Louisville, Kentucky, on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; and
Diana Thompson, Puyallup, Washington.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/02/24
Daily Digest - Monday, February 24, 1997; pages D125 - D130
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/02/25
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 25, 1997; pages D131 - D138
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
FARM TAX POLICY
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee held hearings to
examine certain taxes affecting American farmers, focusing on estate and
capital gains taxes and their impact on United States agricultural producers,
receiving testimony from Senators Kyl and Hagel; Keith Collins, Chief
Economist, Department of Agriculture; William W. Beach, Heritage Foundation,
and Larry W. Mitchell, National Farmers Union, both of Washington, D.C.; Clark
Willingham, Dallas, Texas, on behalf of the National Cattlemen's Beef
Association and the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition; William Sprague,
Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, Sturgis, on behalf of the American Farm
Bureau Federation; Ralph Grossi, Novato, California, on behalf of the American
Farmland Trust; and Cynthia Cruea, Pierre, South Dakota, on behalf of Women
Involved in Farm Economics.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
APPROPRIATIONS--TREASURY/INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA/HUD and Independent Agencies
held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1998, receiving
testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Kathleen A.
McGinty, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality; John H. Hawke, Jr., Under
Secretary for Domestic Affairs, and Kirsten S. Moy, Director, Community
Development Financial Institutions Fund, both of the Department of the
Treasury; Norman E. D'Amours, Chairman, National Credit Union Administration;
and George Knight, Executive Director, Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation.
Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 4.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee resumed hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for the Department of
Defense and the future years defense program, receiving testimony from Sheila
E. Widnall, Secretary, and Gen. Ronald R. Fogleman, Chief of Staff, both of
the United States Air Force.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
HOMEOWNERS PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee held hearings on
S. 318, to amend the Truth in Lending Act to require automatic cancellation
and notice of cancellation rights with respect to private mortgage insurance
which is required by a creditor as a condition for entering into a residential
mortgage transaction, receiving testimony from Representative Hansen; Michele
Meier, Consumers Union, Washington, D.C.; R. Layne Morrill, Shepherd of the
Hills Realtors, Kimberling City, Missouri, on behalf of the National
Association of Realtors; Kenneth L. Nicholson, Overland Park, Kansas, on
behalf of the Appraisal Institute; Brian L. McDonnell, Navy Federal Credit
Union, Vienna, Virginia, on behalf of the National Association of Federal
Credit Unions and the Credit Union National Association; Ron McCord, American
Mortgage and Investment Company, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on behalf of the
Mortgage Bankers Association of America; Frank J. Sutkowski, Liberty Bank,
Middletown, Connecticut, on behalf of the America's Community Bankers; and
William H. Lacy, Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corporation, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, on behalf of the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
INTERIOR AND FOREST SERVICE BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1998 for the Department of
the Interior and the Forest Service, after receiving testimony from Bruce
Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior; James R. Lyons, Under Secretary for
Natural Resources and Environment, and Michael Dombeck, Chief, Forest Service,
both of the Department of Agriculture; and David Sunding, Senior Economist,
Council of Economic Advisers.
FOREST LAND MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management held hearings on proposed legislation to provide the
D133Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management with the authority and
ability to manage their lands in accordance with the principles of multiple
use and sustained yield, receiving testimony from Barry T. Hill, Associate
Director, Energy, Resources, and Science Issues, Resources, Community, and
Economic Development Division, General Accounting Office; and K. Norman
Johnson, Oregon State University, Corvallis.
[Page: D133]
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
NOMINATION
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of David J. Barram, of California, to be Administrator of the
General Services Administration, after the nominee, who was introduced by
Senator Boxer, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
[Page: D134]
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/02/26
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 26, 1997; pages D139 - D146
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
FARM TAX POLICY
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine certain taxes affecting American farmers, focusing on
estate and capital gains taxes and their impact on United States agricultural
producers, after receiving testimony from Jack Kemp, Empower America, and
Diana Furchtgott-Roth, American Enterprise Institute, both of Washington,
D.C.; Neil E. Harl, Iowa State University, Ames; Bob Ruggles, National Pork
Producers Council, McCook, Nebraska; William W. Barton, Indiana Forestry and
Woodland Owners Association, Poland, on behalf of the American Tree Farm
System, American Forest and Paper Association, and the Forest Industries
Council on Taxation; Otis H. Molz, Farmland Industries, Inc., Kansas City,
Missouri, on behalf of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives; John Dean,
Glenwood State Bank, Glenwood, Iowa, on behalf of the Independent Bankers
Association of America; Tom Bayliss, Eldon C. Stutsman, Inc., Hills, Iowa, on
behalf of the Agricultural Retailers Association; and Paula A. Calimafde,
Small Business Council of America, Bethesda, Maryland.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee continued hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for the Department of
Defense and the future years defense program, receiving testimony from John H.
Dalton, Secretary of the Navy; Adm. Jay L. Johnson, Chief of Naval Operations;
and Gen. Charles C. Krulak, Commandant of the Marine Corps.
Hearings continue on Tuesday, March 4.
MONETARY POLICY
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
to examine the Federal Reserve's semiannual report on monetary policy, after
receiving testimony from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP: APPEALS AND LITIGATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management met to receive testimony on the impact of the proposed Public
Land Management Responsibility and Accountability Restoration Act on the
administrative and judicial appeals of land management decisions of the Forest
Service and the Bureau of Land Management from Pamela Baldwin, Legislative
Attorney American Law Division, Congressional Research Service, Library of
Congress; Lawrence W. Hill, Society of American Foresters, Washington, D.C.;
Kevin Kirschner, Sierra Club Legal Defense Fund, and Bill Meyers, National
Cattlemen's Association, both of Washington, D.C.; Wade Schaefer, Sierra Club,
Bismarck, North Dakota; Tim Coleman, Kettle Range Conservation Group,
Republic, Washington; Mark Rentz, California Forestry Association, Sacramento;
Dan Dessecker, Ruffed Grouse Society, Rice Lake, Wisconsin; and Clark Collins,
Blue Ribbon Coalition, Pocatello, Idaho.
Hearings continue on Wednesday, March 5.
AUTHORIZATION--SURFACE TRANSPORTATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Transportation and
Infrastructure resumed hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for
programs of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act, receiving
testimony from Rodney E. Slater, Secretary of Transportation; and D141William
D. Fay, American Highway Users Alliance, and Hank Dittmar, Surface
Transportation Policy Project, both of Washington, D.C.
[Page: D141]
Hearings continue on Thursday, March 6.
1998 AID BUDGET
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic Policy,
Export and Trade Promotion concluded hearings on the President's proposed
budget request for fiscal year 1998 for development and humanitarian
assistance programs of the Agency for International Development (AID), after
receiving testimony from J. Brian Atwood, Administrator, Agency for
International Development.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee began consideration of S.
295, to promote cooperation and teamwork among worker-management relations in
the American labor force, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet
again on Friday, February 28.
1998 SBA BUDGET
Committee on Small Business: Committee held hearings to examine the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1998 for the Small
Business Administration, receiving testimony from Aida Alvarez, Administrator,
Small Business Administration.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
1998 VA BUDGET
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1998 for the Department of
Veterans Affairs, after receiving testimony from Jesse Brown, Secretary of
Veterans Affairs; Kenneth W. Kizer, Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for
Health; John R. Vitikacs, American Legion, Robert E. Wallace, Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States, David W. Gorman, Disabled American
Veterans, and John C. Bollinger, Paralyzed Veterans of America, all of
Washington, D.C.; and Michael E. Naylon, AMVETS, Lanham, Maryland.
1998 INDIAN AFFAIRS AND HEALTH BUDGET
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1998 for the Bureau of
Indian Affairs and the Indian Health Service, after receiving testimony from
Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs; Michael
H. Trujillo, Assistant Surgeon General/Director, Indian Health Service,
Department of Health and Human Services; and W. Ron Allen, National Congress
of American Indians, Washington, D.C.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence
community.
Committee will meet again on Wednesday, March 5.
Joint Meetings
1998 BUDGET/ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1998 and the
Administration's view on the health and direction of the economy, after
receiving testimony from Franklin D. Raines, Director, Office of Management
and Budget.
1997/02/27
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 27, 1997; pages D148 - D154
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--AGRICULTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal
year 1998 for the Department of Agriculture, receiving testimony from Dan
Glickman, Secretary, Richard Rominger, Deputy Secretary, Keith Collins, Chief
Economist, and Stephen B. Dewhurst, Director, Office of Budget and Program
Analysis, all of the Department of Agriculture.
Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 4.
APPROPRIATIONS--AID
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations held hearings
on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1998 for the Agency for
International Development and to review bilateral economic assistance
programs, receiving testimony from J. Brian Atwood, Administrator, Agency for
International Development.
Subcommittee recessed subject to call.
PERSIAN GULF ILLNESS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
Department of Defense response to reports that service members may have been
exposed to chemical agents while serving in the Persian Gulf and to research
efforts into the causes and treatment of Persian Gulf related illnesses, after
receiving testimony from John P. White, Deputy Secretary of Defense; Lt. Gen.
Carlton W. Fulford, Jr., USMC, Commanding General, I Marine Expeditionary
Force (Camp Pendleton, California); Brig. Gen. Daniel R. Zanini, USA, Chief of
Army Staff; Stephen C. Joseph, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Affairs; Elaine L. Larson and Adm. Donald Custis, USN (Ret.), both on behalf
of the Presidential Advisory Committee on Gulf War Veterans' Illnesses; and
Gen. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, USA (Ret.).
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for the Department
of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on ballistic missile
defense programs, receiving testimony from Lt. Gen. Lester L. Lyles, USAF,
Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization, Department of Defense.
Subcommittee recessed subject to call.
TV RATINGS SYSTEM
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings to
examine the impact and adequacy of the current television ratings system,
receiving testimony from Senators Boxer, Coats, Conrad, Leahy, and Lieberman;
Representatives Bono, Burton, Foley, Gallegly, Joseph Kennedy, and Markey;
Joan Dykstra, National PTA, Eddie Fritts, National Association of
Broadcasters, Jack Valenti, Motion Picture Association of America, Robert T.M.
Phillips, American Psychiatric Association, and Andrea Sheldon, Traditional
Values Coalition, all of Washington, D.C.; Lois Salisbury, Children Now,
Oakland, California; Matt Blank, Showtime Network, New York, New York; Joanne
Cantor, University of Wisconsin, Madison; Kevin Saunders, University of
Oklahoma, Norman; and Brian Wilcox, University of Nebraska, Lincoln, on behalf
of the American Psychological Association.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
MEDICARE
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine the views of certain
Congressional advisory commissions on the Administration's proposed budget
request for fiscal year 1998 for Medicare, receiving D150testimony from Joseph
P. Newhouse, Chairman, Prospective Payment Assessment Commission; and Gail R.
Wilensky, Chair, Physician Payment Review Commission.
[Page: D150]
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
MEDICARE
Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Health Care resumed hearings to examine
the financial soundness of the Medicare program and its future status,
receiving testimony from Thomas R. Saving and Andrew J. Rettenmaier, both of
the Private Enterprise Research Center/Texas A&M University, College Station;
Stuart H. Altman, Brandeis University Graduate School for Social Policy,
Waltham, Massachusetts; and Len M. Nichols, Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
1998 STATE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations
concluded hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for
fiscal year 1998 for the Department of State's administration of foreign
affairs, after receiving testimony from Patrick F. Kennedy, Acting Under
Secretary of State for Management.
AUTHORIZATION--HIGHER EDUCATION ACT
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee held hearings to examine the
Administration's postsecondary education policy and proposed legislation
authorizing funds for programs of the Higher Education Act, receiving
testimony from Richard W. Riley, Secretary of Education.
Hearings will continue on Friday, March 14.
HUBZONE ACT
Committee on Small Business: Committee held hearings on S. 208, to provide
Federal contracting opportunities for small business concerns located in
historically underutilized business zones, receiving testimony from Barry N.
Corona, Production Products Manufacturing and Sales, Inc., St. Louis,
Missouri; J. Glynn Loope, Alleghany Highlands Economic Development Authority,
Covington, Virginia; Ursula Powidzki, Baltimore Advisors, Inc., Baltimore,
Maryland, on behalf of the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City; and Fabio
Sampoli, Greater New Haven Chamber of Commerce, New Haven, Connecticut.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
No Joint hearings held.
1997/02/28
Daily Digest - Friday, February 28, 1997; pages D156 - D162
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee resumed markup of S. 295, to
promote cooperation and teamwork among worker-management relations in the
American labor force, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet again
on Wednesday, March 5.
[Page: D157]
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/03/03
Daily Digest - Monday, March 3, 1997; pages D164 - D168
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/03/04
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 4, 1997; pages D169 - D178
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
AUTHORIZATION--NATIONAL SCHOOL LUNCH PROGRAM
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for programs of the
National School Lunch Act, after receiving testimony from Janet Bantly,
Enfield, Connecticut, and Tami J. Cline, Alexandria, Virginia, both of the
American School Food Service Association; Mary Kate Harrison, Hillsborough
County Schools, Tampa, Florida; Dennis Bier, Baylor College of Medicine,
Houston, Texas, on behalf of the Children's Nutrition Research Center; Michael
Berry, Disneyland Resort, Anaheim, California; and Judith L. Dodd, University
of Pittsburgh, Allison Park, Pennsylvania.
[Page: D170]
APPROPRIATIONS--AGRICULTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal
year 1998 for the Department of Agriculture, receiving testimony in behalf of
funds for their respective activities from Thomas J. Billy, Administrator,
Food Safety and Inspection Service, Michael Dunn, Assistant Secretary for
Marketing and Regulatory Programs, Terry L. Medley, Administrator, Animal and
Plant Health Inspection Service, Lon S. Hatamiya, Administrator, Agricultural
Marketing Service, James R. Baker, Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers
and Stockyards Administration, and Dennis Kaplan, Deputy Director for Budget,
Legislative and Regulatory Systems, Office of Budget and Program Analysis, all
of the Department of Agriculture.
Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 11.
APPROPRIATIONS--HHS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1998
for the Department of Health and Human Services, receiving testimony from
Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of Human Services.
Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 20.
APPROPRIATIONS--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1998, receiving
testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Harris
Wofford, Chief Executive Officer, Corporation for National and Community
Service; Frank Nebeker, Chief Judge, Court of Veterans Appeals; Gen. John P.
Herrling, Secretary, American Battle Monument Commission; Steven Dola, Deputy
Assistant Secretary (Management and Budget), DOD-Civil, Cemeterial Expenses,
Department of the Army; and Gil Coronado, Director, Selective Service System.
Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 11.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported 1,634
military nominations in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee resumed hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for the Department of
Defense and the future years defense plan, focusing on Department of the Army
programs, receiving testimony from Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary of the Army;
and Gen. Dennis J. Reimer, USA, Chief of Staff of the Army.
Committee will meet again on Tuesday, March 11.
FINANCIAL DERIVATIVES ACCOUNTING RULES
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Securities
concluded oversight hearings to examine Securities and Exchange Commission and
Financial Accounting Standards Board proposals affecting the accounting
treatment and supplemental disclosures of financial derivatives, after
receiving testimony from Steven M.H. Wallman, Commissioner, Securities and
Exchange Commission; Kenneth Lehn, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, former Chief Economist, SEC; Thomas D. Logan, Basic American,
Inc., Walnut Creek, California, and Patrick M. Montgomery, ULLICO, Washington,
D.C., both on behalf of the Treasury Management Association; William P. Miller
II, Common Fund, Inc., Westport, Connecticut, on behalf of the Association for
Investment Management and Research; and Joseph P. Bauman, Bank of America, San
Francisco, California, on behalf of the International Swaps and Derivatives
Association, Inc.
PRODUCT LIABILITY REFORM
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings on
S. 5, to establish legal standards and procedures for product liability
litigation, receiving testimony from Representatives Campbell and Gekas;
Richard Vuernick, Citizen Action, Victor Schwartz, Crowell and Moring, both of
Washington, D.C.; Lucinda Finley, University of Buffalo School of Law,
Buffalo, New York; Julie Nimens, Schutt Sports, Inc., Litchfield, Illinois;
Steven J. Sharp, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Tom Deushle, Liberty, Missouri; and
Steve Gunther, McLean, Virginia.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
[Page: D171]
SUPERFUND REFORM
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste
Control, and Risk Assessment held oversight hearings to examine liability and
resource issues associated with the cleanup and redevelopment of abandoned or
underutilized industrial and commercial properties, focusing on the current
state of the Brownfields Economic Redevelopment Initiative and proposals to
reform the Superfund program, receiving testimony from Timothy Fields, Jr.,
Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response,
Environmental Protection Agency; Peter F. Guerrero, Director, Environmental
Protection Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division,
General Accounting Office; James M. Seif, Pennsylvania Department of
Environmental Protection, Harrisburg; Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Elizabeth,
New Jersey, on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Mayors; Lorrie Louder, St.
Paul Port Authority, St. Paul, Minnesota, on behalf of the National
Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals; William J. Riley,
Bethlehem Steel Corporation, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the
American Iron and Steel Institute; J. Peter Scherer, Taubman Company,
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, on behalf of the National Realty Committee; and
William K. Wray, Citizens Financial Group, Providence, Rhode Island.
Subcommittee will meet again tomorrow.
MEDICARE/MEDICAID/WELFARE BUDGET
Committee on Finance: Committee resumed hearings on the President's proposed
budget request for fiscal year 1998, focusing on spending proposals relating
to Medicare, Medicaid, and welfare, receiving testimony form Paul N. Van de
Water, Assistant Director for Budget Analysis, Congressional Budget Office;
and Jonathan Ratner, Associate Director, Health Financing and Systems Issues,
Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General Accounting Office.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
S. Res. 19, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding United States
opposition to the prison sentence of Tibetan ethnomusicologist Ngawang
Choephel by the Government of the People's Republic of China; and
The nominations of Pete Peterson, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the
Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Princeton Nathan Lyman, of Maryland, to be
Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs, and a
Foreign Service Officers' promotion list received by the Senate on January 21,
1997.
[Page: D172]
No Joint hearings held.
1997/03/05
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 5, 1997; pages D180 - D190
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE STRUCTURE
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to review strategic planning and management of information technology
at the Department of Agriculture, after receiving testimony from Richard
Rominger, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; Sally Katzen, Administrator, Office
of D181Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget;
and John W. Harman, Assistant Comptroller General and Chief Information
Officer, and Joel C. Willemssen, Director, Accounting and Information
Management Division, both of the General Accounting Office.
[Page: D181]
GLOBAL ASSESSMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held closed hearings to
examine global assessment issues, receiving testimony from Gen. John M.
Shalikashvili, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 12.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland Forces held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for the Department
of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on tactical aviation
modernization issues, receiving testimony from Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, USAF,
Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Richard A. Davis, Director, National
Security Analysis, General Accounting Office; and Andrew F. Krepinevich, Jr.,
Director, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, Washington, D.C.
Subcommittee recessed subject to call.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for the Department
of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on recruiting and
retention policies within the Department of Defense and the Military Services,
receiving testimony from Mark Gebicke, Director, Elliot Smith, Assistant
Director, and Beverly Schladt, Senior Evaluator, all of Military Operations
and Capabilities Issues, General Accounting Office; Staff Sgt. Denise
Slaughter, USAF; Aviation Anti-Submarine Warfare Operator 2 Richard Winland,
USN; Staff Sgt. Stephen Simmons, USA; Gunnery Sgt. James Ruffin, USMC;
Frederick F.Y. Pang, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management
Policy; Lt. Gen. Frederick E. Vollrath, USA, Deputy Chief of Army Staff for
Personnel; Vice Adm. Daniel T. Oliver, USN, Chief of Naval Personnel; Lt. Gen.
Carol A. Mutter, USMC, Deputy Chief of Marine Corps Staff for Manpower and
Reserve Affairs; Lt. Gen. Michael D. McGinty, USAF, Deputy Chief of Air Force
Staff for Personnel; Maj. Gen. Alfonso E. Lenhardt, USA, Commanding General,
U.S. Army Recruiting Command; Rear Adm. Barbara E. McGann, USN, Commander,
Navy Recruiting Command; Maj. Gen. Jack W. Klimp, USMC, Commanding General,
Marine Corps Recruiting Command; and Brig. Gen. Walter E. Buchanan, III, USAF,
Commander of Air Force Recruiting Service.
Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 12.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces resumed hearings
on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for the
Department of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on
defense programs to combat the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction,
receiving testimony from Franklin C. Miller, Acting Assistant Secretary of
Defense for International Security Policy.
Subcommittee recessed subject to call.
1998 BUDGET
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
Congressional Budget Office analysis of the President's budget for fiscal year
1998, after receiving testimony from June E. O'Neill, Director, James L. Blum,
Deputy Director, and Paul Von de Water, Assistant Director, Budget Analysis
Division, all of the Congressional Budget Office.
Committee will meet again on Tuesday, March 11.
AVIATION SAFETY
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Aviation
held hearings to examine aviation safety issues, focusing on the
recommendations of the Gore Commission on Aviation Security, receiving
testimony from Nancy McFadden, General Counsel, and Barry Valentine, Acting
Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, both of the Department of
Transportation; Gerald Dillingham, Associate Director, Transportation Issues,
General Accounting Office; Anthony J. Broderick, Catlett, Virginia, former
Federal Aviation Administration Associate Administrator for Regulation and
Certification; Brian Michael Jenkins, Kroll Associates, Los Angeles,
California, and Lt. Gen. James A. Abrahamson, International Air Safety,
Washington, D.C., both on behalf of the White House Commission on Aviation
Safety and Security; and John Meenan, Air Transport Association of America,
Robert W. Hahn, American Enterprise Institute, and Edward Wytkind, AFL-CIO,
all of Washington, D.C.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management met to further receive testimony on the impact of D182the
proposed Public Land Management Responsibility and Accountability Restoration
Act on the administrative and judicial appeals of land management decisions of
the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management from Ross Gorte,
Specialist in Natural Resource Policy, Congressional Research Service, Library
of Congress; Felice Pace, Klamath Forest Alliance, Etna, California; Mike
Francis, Wilderness Society, John Doggett, American Farm Bureau Federation, R.
Denny Scott, United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners, and George Leonard,
all of Washington, D.C.; Andy Stahl, Association of Forest Service Employees
for Environmental Ethics, Eugene, Oregon; Frank Gladics, Western Forest
Industries Association, Portland, Oregon; and Sam Anderson, National Ski Area
Association, Denver, Colorado.
[Page: D182]
Subcommittee will meet again tomorrow.
SUPERFUND REFORM
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste
Control, and Risk Assessment concluded hearings on S. 8, to authorize funds
for and reform the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Liability, and
Compensation Act (Superfund), after receiving testimony from Carol M. Browner,
Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Terry D. Garcia, Acting
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere/National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration; New Mexico Assistant Attorney General Charlie De
Saillan, Environmental Enforcement Division, Santa Fe; Richard Gimello, New
Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Trenton, on behalf of the
National Governors' Association; Linda H. Biagioni, Black and Decker
Corporation, Towson, Maryland; Karen Florini, Environmental Defense Fund,
Washington, D.C.; Barbara Williams, Sunny Ray Restaurant, Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania, on behalf of the National Federation of Independent Business;
Karen O'Regan, Phoenix Environmental Programs, Phoenix, Arizona; Larry L.
Lockner, Shell Oil Company, Houston, Texas, on behalf of the American
Petroleum Institute; Robert Spiegel, Edison Wetlands Association, Edison, New
Jersey; and Rich A. Heig, Kennecott Corporation, Salt Lake City, Utah.
MEDICARE
Committee on Finance: Committee resumed hearings on the President's proposed
budget request for fiscal year 1998 for the Medicare program, receiving
testimony from Jane Baumgarten, North Bend, Oregon, on behalf of the American
Association of Retired Persons; Todd C. Linden, Grinnell Regional Medical
Center, Grinnell, Iowa, on behalf of the American Hospital Association; Alan
R. Nelson, American Society of Internal Medicine, Washington, D.C.; Seymour I.
Schwartz, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, New York, on
behalf of the American College of Surgeons; and Tim Size, Rural Wisconsin
Health Cooperative, Sauk City, on behalf of the National Rural Health
Association.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
HIGH-RISK MANAGEMENT REFORM
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee held hearings on proposals to
develop and implement management reforms to provide Federal agencies with
strategies and techniques to increase effectiveness, reduce costs, and
minimize risks associated with program and administrative management,
receiving testimony from John A. Koskinen, Deputy Director for Management,
Office of Management and Budget; Gene L. Dodaro, Assistant Comptroller
General, Accounting and Information Management Division, General Accounting
Office; and Dwight P. Robinson, Deputy Secretary, and Susan Gaffney, Inspector
General, both of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee ordered favorably reported
S. 295, to promote cooperation and teamwork among worker-management relations
in the American labor force.
BUDGET/OPERATIONS
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee held oversight hearings to
review the budget and operations of the National Gallery of Art and certain
legislative offices, receiving testimony in behalf of their respective
activities from Earl A. Powell III, Director, National Gallery of Art; Gary L.
Sisco, Secretary of the Senate; Gregory S. Casey, Senate Sergeant at Arms; and
Alan M. Hantman, Architect of the Capitol.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
[Page: D183]
No Joint hearings noted.
1997/03/06
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 6, 1997; pages D191 - D204
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the
Judiciary held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1998 for
the Department of State, receiving testimony from Madeleine K. Albright,
Secretary of State.
Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 11.
[Page: D192]
NOMINATION
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Keith R. Hall, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
Space, after the nominee testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the nominations of Yolanda Townsend Wheat, of Missouri, to be a Member of
the National Credit Union Administration Board, Charles A. Gueli, of Maryland,
to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Institute of Building
Sciences, and Jeffrey A. Frankel, of California, to be a Member of the Council
of Economic Advisers, after the nominees testified and answered questions in
their own behalf. Ms. Wheat was introduced by Senator Bond, and Mr. Frankel
was introduced by Senator Boxer.
PRODUCT LIABILITY REFORM
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Consumer
Affairs, Foreign Commerce, and Tourism concluded hearings on proposals to
reform product liability, focusing on the effectiveness of the General
Aviation Revitalization Act of 1974, after receiving testimony from John
Moore, Cessna Aircraft Company, Wichita, Kansas; Bradley Mottier, Unison
Industries, Jacksonville, Florida; Paul Newman, New Piper Aircraft, Inc., Vero
Beach, Florida; Scott Tarry, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale; Robert
Creamer, Citizen Action of Illinois, Chicago; John Petersen, Montgomery County
Action Council, Coffeyville, Kansas; and John Yodice, Aircraft Owners and
Pilots Association, and Edward Bolin, General Aviation Manufacturers
Association, both of Washington, D.C.
NOAA 1998 BUDGET
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Oceans and
Fisheries and the Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Space concluded
joint hearings on the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1998
for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, after receiving
testimony from D. James Baker, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere,
Elbert W. Friday, Jr., Assistant Administrator for Weather Services, Robert S.
Winokur, Assistant Administrator for Satellite and Information Services, and
Andrew H. Moxam, Deputy Chief Financial Officer/Deputy Chief Administrative
Officer, all of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Department of Commerce.
NOMINATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nomination of Federico PenAE6a, of Colorado, to be Secretary of
Energy.
ELECTRIC UTILITIES DEREGULATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee held oversight hearings
to discuss proposals to advance the goals of deregulation and competition in
the electric power industry, receiving testimony from Jeffrey K. Skilling,
Enron Corp., Houston, Texas; Allen Franklin, Georgia Power Company, Atlanta,
on behalf of the Edison Electric Institute; Frederick W. Buckman, PacifiCorp,
Portland, Oregon; Pradeep Mehra, Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, Michigan; James
Kallenberger, Payless ShoeSource, Inc., Topeka, Kansas, on behalf of the
International Mass Retail Association; P. Chrisman Iribe, U.S. Generating
Company, Bethesda, Maryland, on behalf of the Electric Power Supply
Association; Steve Frank, Southern California Edison Company, Rosemead; Daniel
A. Lashof, Natural Resources Defense Council, Washington, D.C.; Sunny
Popowsky, Pennsylvania State Office of Consumer Advocate, Harrisburg; Larry
Hall, KN Energy, Inc., Lakewood, Colorado, on behalf of the Natural Gas Power
Group and the Interstate Natural Gas Association; and Arthur W. Adelberg,
Central Maine Power Company, Augusta, on behalf of the PURPA Reform Group.
Committee will meet again on Thursday, March 13.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management held oversight hearings to discuss the impact of the proposed
Public Land Management Responsibility and Accountability Restoration Act on
the administrative and judicial appeals of land management decisions of the
Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management, receiving testimony from
Sally K. Fairfax, University of California, Berkeley, Randall O'Toole, Thoreau
Institute, Eugene, Oregon; Johanna Wald, Natural Resources Defense Council,
San Francisco, California; Steve Blomeke, National Wildlife Federation,
Bismarck, North Dakota; Charles Graham, Selkirk-Priest Basin Association,
Moscow, Idaho; Jamie Dalton, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Salt Lake
City; Paul Kruse, Wyoming Office of Federal Land Policy, Cheyenne; Paul Frey,
Baton Rouge, Louisiana; and Sue Kupillas, Medford, Oregon.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
[Page: D193]
AUTHORIZATION--TRANSPORTATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Transportation and
Infrastructure resumed hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for
programs of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act and
innovative transportation financing, technology, construction and design
practices, receiving testimony from Representative DeLauro; Mortimer L.
Downey, Deputy Secretary, Jane Garvey, Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration, and Christine Johnson, Director of the Joint Program Office,
Intelligent Transportation Systems, all of the Department of Transportation;
Phyllis F. Scheinberg, Associate Director, Transportation Issues, Resources,
Community, and Economic Development Division, Joseph Christoff, Assistant
Director, and Yvonne Pufahl, Senior Evaluator, all of the General Accounting
Office; Robert E. Skinner, Jr., Executive Director, Transportation Research
Board, National Academy of Sciences; Gerald S. Pfeffer, United Infrastructure
Company, Chicago, Illinois; Daniel V. Flanagan, Jr., Flanagan Consulting
Group, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia, on behalf of the Commission to Promote
Investment in America's Infrastructure; and James Costantino, Intelligent
Transportation Society of America, Washington, D.C.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
IRA'S
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings on proposals to expand
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA's), including S. 197, proposed Savings and
Investment Incentive Act, receiving testimony from Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy
Secretary of the Treasury; William G. Gale, Brookings Institution, Dallas L.
Salisbury, Employee Benefit Research Institute, and John S. Tottie, Citizens
for a Sound Economy, all of Washington, D.C.; R. Glenn Hubbard, Columbia
University, New York, New York, and Steven F. Venti, Dartmouth College,
Hanover, New Hampshire, both on behalf of the National Bureau of Economic
Research; and Robert C. Pozen, Fidelity Investments, Boston, Massachusetts.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
MEDICARE
Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Health Care resumed hearings to examine
the financial soundness of the Medicare program and its long-term status,
receiving testimony from Stuart M. Butler, Heritage Foundation, Robert B.
Helms, American Enterprise Institute, and Michael B. Tanner, Cato Institute,
all of Washington, D.C.; Karen Davis, Commonwealth Fund, New York, New York;
and Lynn Etheredge, Health Insurance Reform Project/George Washington
University, Chevy Chase, Maryland.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
NOMINATION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination
of Karen Shepherd, of Utah, to be United States Director of the European Bank
for Reconstruction and Development, after the nominee, who was introduced by
Senator Hatch, testified and answered questions in her own behalf.
USIA 1998 BUDGET
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations
concluded hearings on the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year
1998 for the United States Information Agency and international broadcasting,
after receiving testimony from Joseph D. Duffey, Director, and Kevin Klose,
President, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, both of the U.S. Information
Agency.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA TAX REFORM
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government
Management, Restructuring, and the District of Columbia concluded hearings to
examine Federal tax policy issues for the District of Columbia, after
receiving testimony from District of Columbia Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton;
District of Columbia Mayor Marion Barry; and Jack Kemp, Empower America,
Daniel J. Mitchell, Heritage Foundation, and William A. Niskanen, Cato
Institute, all of Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
S. Res. 56, designating March 25, 1997 as "Greek Independence Day: A National
Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy'';
S. Res. 60, to commend students who have participated in the William Randolph
Hearst Foundation Senate Youth Program between 1962 and 1997; and
The nominations of Merrick B. Garland, of Maryland, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, Colleen Kollar Kotelly, of
the District of Columbia, to be United States District Judge for the District
of Columbia, Rose Ochi, of California, to be Director, Community Relations
Service, and Lyle Weir Swenson, of South Dakota, to be United States Marshal
for the District of South Dakota.
HEALTH CARE QUALITY
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine health care quality D194and consumer protection issues, focusing on
managed care and fee-for-service plans, after receiving testimony from Bruce
M. Fried, Director, Office of Managed Care, Health Care Financing
Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; Kathleen Sebelius,
Kansas State Office of the Commissioner of Insurance, Topeka; Judith G.
Waxman, Families U.S.A. Foundation, Washington, D.C.; William L. Roper,
Prudential HealthCare, Roseland, New Jersey, on behalf of the American
Association of Health Plans; Mark R. Chassin, Mount Sinai School of Medicine,
New York, New York; Gail Wilensky, Project HOPE, Bethesda, Maryland; James C.
Cubbin, General Motors Corporation, Flint, Michigan; Patricia Salber, Kaiser
Permanente, Oakland, California; and Peter Berman, Los Angeles, California.
[Page: D194]
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee ordered favorably reported S.
Res. 39, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Governmental Affairs,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (As approved by the
committee, the amendment authorizes $4,350,000 for the sole purpose of
conducting an investigation of illegal activities in connection with 1996
Federal election campaigns.)
Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on S. Res. 39 (listed
above), after receiving testimony from Senators Thompson and Glenn.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to consider
pending committee business, but made no announcements, and recessed subject to
call.
BABY BOOMER RETIREMENT
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
challenges of providing health and income security for baby boomers who will
begin retirement in the year 2010, and the impact on Federal programs
affecting the elderly, after receiving testimony from Gail R. Wilensky,
Project HOPE, Bethesda, Maryland; David M. Walker, Arthur Andersen, Atlanta,
Georgia; Dallas L. Salisbury, Employee Benefit Research Institute, and Barry
P. Bosworth, Brookings Institution, both of Washington, D.C.; Madelyn
Hochstein, DYG, Inc., Danbury, Connecticut; Olivia S. Mitchell, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Robert N. Butler, Mount Sinai Medical Center, New
York, New York, on behalf of the Alliance for Aging Research; and H. James
Towey, Commission on Aging With Dignity, Tallahassee, Florida.
Joint Meetings
VETERANS PROGRAMS
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the House Committee
on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint hearings to review the legislative
recommendations of certain veterans organizations, after receiving testimony
from Richard G. Fazakerley, Blinded Veterans of America, James M. Blaylock,
Military Order of the Purple Heart of the USA, Kenneth C. Huber, Paralyzed
Veterans of America, and Robert M. Zweiman, Jewish War Veterans of the USA,
all of Washington, D.C.; and Charles R. Jackson, Non Commissioned Officers
Association of the USA, and Virginia M. Torsch, Retired Officers Association,
both of Alexandria, Virginia.
1997/03/10
Daily Digest - Monday, March 10, 1997; pages D206 - D210
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE MANAGEMENT REFORM
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government
Management, Restructuring, and the District of Columbia concluded hearings to
examine management issues confronting the Department of Commerce and its
progress in implementing management reform directives issued by the Congress,
the Department's Office of Inspector General, and the National Performance
Review, after receiving testimony from Frank DeGeorge, Inspector General, and
Raymond G. Kammer, Jr., Acting Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary
for Administration, both of the Department of Commerce.
Joint Meetings
EMPLOYMENT/UNEMPLOYMENT
Joint Economic Committee: On Friday, March 7, Committee held hearings to
examine the employment-unemployment situation for February and the Consumer
Price Index, receiving testimony from Katharine G. Abraham, Commissioner,
Bureau of Labor Statistics, Department of Labor.
Committee recessed subject to call.
1997/03/11
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 11, 1997; pages D212 - D222
Committee Meetings
( Committees not listed did not meet )
AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for agricultural research, education,
and extension programs of the 1996 Farm Bill, receiving testimony from Bruce
Alberts, President, National Academy of Sciences, on behalf of the National
Research Council; Terry Kinney, York, South Carolina, former Administrator,
Agricultural Research Service, Department of Agriculture; Dennis T. Avery,
Hudson Institute, Churchville, Virginia; R. Rodney Foil, Mississippi State
University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, on behalf of the National
Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges; Richard F. Ross,
Iowa State University, Ames; Samuel L. Donald, University of Maryland-Eastern
Shore, Princess Anne, on behalf of the Association of Research Directors for
the 1890 Land-Grant Universities; Ron McNeil, Sitting Bull College, Fort
Yates, North Dakota, on behalf of the American Indian Higher Education
Consortium; Margaret N. Perry, University of Tennessee, Martin, on behalf of
the American Association of State Colleges and Universities; and Victor L.
Lechtenberg, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, on behalf of the
National Agricultural Research, Extension, Education, and Economics Advisory
Board/Department of Agriculture.
Hearings continue on Thursday, March 13.
APPROPRIATIONS--AGRICULTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal
year 1998, receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective
activities from Mary Ann Keeffe, Acting Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition
and Consumer Services, William E. Ludwig, Administrator, and George A. Braley,
Associate Administrator, both of the Food and Consumer Service, and Dennis
Kaplan, Deputy Director for Budget, Legislative and Regulatory Systems, all of
the Department of Agriculture.
Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 13.
APPROPRIATIONS--SBA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the
Judiciary, and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for
fiscal year 1998 for the Small Business Administration, receiving testimony
from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business Administration.
Subcommittee will meet again tomorrow.
APPROPRIATIONS--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1998 for Navy and Air
Force military construction programs, receiving testimony from Robert B.
Pirie, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment;
and Rodney A. Coleman, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower,
Reserve Affairs, Installation, and Environment.
Subcommittee recessed subject to call.
APPROPRIATIONS--CONSUMER AFFAIRS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA-HUD, and Independent Agencies
held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1998, receiving
testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Ann Brown,
Chairman, Consumer Product Safety Commission; Teresa Nasif, Director, Consumer
Information Center; and Leslie L. Byrne, Special Assistant to the President
and Director, Office of Consumer Affairs.
Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 18.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee resumed hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for the Department of
Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on the military
strategies and operational requirements of the unified commands, receiving
testimony from Gen. J.H. Binford Peay III, USA, Commander-in-Chief, U.S.
Central Command; Gen. Wesley K. Clark, USA, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern
Command; and Gen. Henry H. Shelton, USA, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Special
Operations Command.
Hearings continue on Thursday, March 13.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Acquisition and Technology held
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 for
the Department of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on
science and technology programs, receiving testimony from Paul Kaminski, Under
Secretary for Acquisition and Technology, and D214Anita K. Jones, Director,
Defense Research and Engineering, both of the Department of Defense; John
Douglass, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and
Acquisition; Authur Money, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
Acquisition; Larry Lynn, Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency;
and A. Fenner Milton, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and
Technology.
[Page: D214]
Subcommittee recessed subject to call.
1998 BUDGET
Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings to examine an alternative
budget proposal for fiscal year 1998 by a House coalition, receiving testimony
from Representatives Minge and Stenholm, both on behalf of the Coalition
Budget Task Force.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
MEDICAID REFORM
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine the National
Governors' Association views on the President's proposed budget request for
fiscal year 1998 for Medicaid, focusing on Medicaid cost saving strategies,
children's health, and managed care quality, receiving testimony from Utah
Governor Michael O. Leavitt, Salt Lake City, and Nevada Governor Bob Miller,
Carson City, both on behalf of the National Governors' Association.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
CENSUS 2000
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee held hearings to examine
Department of Commerce plans to provide for an accurate 2000 decennial census,
receiving testimony from William M. Daley, Secretary, Everett M. Ehrlich,
Under Secretary for Economic Affairs, and Martha Farnsworth Riche, Director,
Bureau of the Census, all of the Department of Commerce.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
FEDERAL JOB TRAINING PROGRAMS
Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Subcommittee on Employment and
Training concluded oversight hearings to review the effectiveness of Federal
job training programs and changes needed to meet the skill demands in a
competitive marketplace, after receiving testimony from Raymond J. Uhalde,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor; Arnold R. Tompkins, Ohio Department of
Human Services, Columbus; Robert T. Jones, National Alliance of Business,
Washington, D.C.; Gary Walker, Private Public Ventures, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; and William J. Spring, Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, Boston,
Massachusetts, on behalf of the MASS Jobs Council.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee approved their fiscal year 1998
budgetary views and estimates on programs which fall under the jurisdiction of
the committee which they will make to the Committee on the Budget.
NOMINATION
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee began hearings on the nomination
of Anthony Lake, of Massachusetts, to be Director of Central Intelligence,
where the nominee, who was introduced by Senators Kennedy, Kerry, and McCain,
and former Senator Rudman, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
Joint Meetings
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Joint Hearing: Senate Committees on Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on
Oversight of overnment Management, Restructuring, and the District of Columbia
and Appropriations' ubcommittee on the District of Columbia held joint
hearings with the House Committees on overnment Reform and Oversight's
Subcommittee on the District of Columbia and Appropriations' Subcommittee on
the District of Columbia to examine the financial condition of the government
of the District of Columbia, receiving testimony from Mayor Susan Golding, San
Diego, California; Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, Indianapolis, Indiana; Mayor
Patrick McCrory, Charlotte, D219North Carolina; Mayor Edward Rendell,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Mayor Knox White, Greenville, South Carolina.
[Page: D219]
Committees will meet again on Thursday, March 13.
PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BAN
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on the Judiciary concluded joint hearings with
the House Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on the Constitution on S.
6 and H.R. 929, bills to ban partial birth abortio |
