105th Congress (1997 - 1998)

January 27, 1998 - December 19, 1998

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

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

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NATIONAL DEFENSE REPORT

Committee on Armed Services: Committee held hearings to examine certain
national security requirements of the United States, including the force
structure necessary to meet those requirements, receiving testimony from
Phillip Odeen, Chairman, Richard L. Armitage, Robert M. Kimmitt, Andrew
F. D30Krepinevich, and Gen. Robert W. RisCassi, all Members of the
National Defense Panel; and Adm. William A. Owens, USN (Ret.). 

                                [Page: D30]

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings to examine the current
outlook for the United States economy and the budget for fiscal years
1999 through 2008, receiving testimony from June E. O'Neill, Director,
Congressional Budget Office. 

Committee will meet again tomorrow. 

EDUCATION FUNDING REFORM

Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings to examine certain
Federal education spending reform proposals, receiving testimony from
Frank T. Brogan, Florida Department of Education, Tallahassee, on behalf
of the Education Leaders Council; Madeleine D. Manigold, Texas Education
Agency, Austin; Henry Der, California Department of Education,
Sacramento; and Cozette Buckney and Philip J. Hansen, both of Chicago
Public Schools, Chicago, Illinois. 

Committee recessed subject to call. 

IRS REFORM

Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings on proposals and
recommendations to restructure and reform the Internal Revenue Service,
and a related measure H.R. 2676, receiving testimony from Robert E.
Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury; and Charles O. Rossotti, Commissioner,
Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of
Richard W. Fisher, of Texas, to be Deputy United States Trade
Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, Donald C. Lubick, of
Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, and L. Paige
Marvel, of Maryland, and Michael B. Thornton, of Virginia, each to be a
Judge of the United States Tax Court, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf. 

Mr. Fisher was introduced by Senators Hutchison, Lugar, and Graham, and
Ms. Marvel was introduced by Senator Sarbanes. 

NATIONAL SECURITY

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee concluded open and closed
hearings to examine current and projected worldwide threats to United
States national security, after receiving testimony from George J.
Tenet, Director, Central Intelligence Agency; Robert M. Bryant, Deputy
Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice;
Phyllis E. Oakley, Assistant Secretary of State of Intelligence and
Research; and Lt. Gen. Patrick M. Hughes, USA, Director, Defense
Intelligence Agency. 

                                [Page: D31]

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NATIONAL DEFENSE REPORT

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine
certain national security requirements of the United States, including
the force structure necessary to meet those requirements, after
receiving testimony from James R. Schlesinger, former Secretary of
Defense. 

NATIONAL SECURITY: NATO

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine
national security implications of enlarging NATO and the continued
deployment of United States forces in Bosnia, after receiving testimony
from Henry Kissinger, former Secretary of State and former National
Security Advisor. 

FINANCIAL MARKET CIRCUIT BREAKERS

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Securities concluded oversight hearings to examine the Department of
Treasury's views on "circuit breakers" in United States financial
markets, the name commonly given to coordinated trading halts in the
equity and equity-derivative markets that are required when large price
moves of predetermined magnitude occur, after receiving testimony from
John D. Hawke, Jr., Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic
Finance; Susan M. Phillips, Member, Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System; Arthur Levitt, Chairman, Securities and Exchange
Commission; Brooksley Born, Chairperson, Commodity Futures Trading
Commission; James L. Cochrane, New York Stock Exchange, Inc., and James
F. Duffy, American Stock Exchange, Inc., both of New York, New York; M.
Scott Gordon and Jack Sandner, both of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange,
and Edward J. Joyce, Chicago Board Options Exchange, all of Chicago,
Illinois; and Richard G. Ketchum, National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., Washington, D.C. 

ECONOMIC OUTLOOK

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
current outlook for the United States economy and the implications for
monetary policy, after receiving testimony from Alan Greenspan,
Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 

EDUCATION FUNDING REFORM

Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings to examine the impact
of research and technology on elementary and secondary education,
receiving testimony from Senator Bingaman; Eleanor Johnson, Assistant
Director for Education and Employment Issues, General Accounting Office;
Steven H. Goldman, Ball Foundation, Glen Ellyn, Illinois; Robert E.
Slavin, Center for Research on the Education of Students Placed at
Risk/Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland; Harold Hodgkinson,
Institute for Educational Leadership, and Thomas K. Glennan, Jr., RAND,
both of Washington, D.C.; Michael Moe, Montgomery Securities, San
Francisco, California; and James S. Lanich, Technology For Learning/Los
Angeles County Office of Education, Downey, California. 

Committee recessed subject to call. 

IRS REFORM 

Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings on proposals and
recommendations to restructure and D38reform the Internal Revenue
Service, including related measures S. 1096 and H.R. 2676, receiving
testimony from Representative Portman; Donald C. Alexander, Akin, Gump,
Strauss, Hauer & Feld, Sheldon S. Cohen, Morgan, Lewis & Bockius, Fred
T. Goldberg, Jr., Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, and Margaret M.
Richardson, Ernst & Young, each a former Commissioner of Internal
Revenue, Michael E. Mares, American Institute of Certified Public
Accountants, and Stefan F. Tucker, Tucker, Flyer & Lewis, on behalf of
the American Bar Association, all of Washington, D.C.; Douglas C.
Burnette, National Society of Accountants, Alexandria, Virginia; Paul
Cherecwich, Jr., Thiokol Corporation, Ogden, Utah, on behalf of the Tax
Executives Institute, Inc.; and Bryan E. Gates, Clearwater, Florida, on
behalf of the National Association of Enrolled Agents. 

         [Page: D38]

Hearings continue on Thursday, February 5. 

MEDICARE FRAUD 

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on
Investigations resumed hearings to examine fraud in the Medicare
program, focusing on the enrollment process administered by the Health
Care Finance Administration, receiving testimony from John M. Frazzini,
former Investigator, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations; John E.
Hartwig, Deputy Inspector General for Investigations, Cathy E. Colton,
Assistant Regional Inspector General for Investigations (Miami,
Florida), and Susan A. Frisco, Special Agent (New York City), all of the
Office of Inspector General, and H. Donna Dymon, Nurse Consultant (San
Francisco, California), and Dewey Price, Team Leader (Miami, Florida),
both of Operation Restore Trust, both of the Health Care Financing
Administration, all of the Department of Health and Human Resources; and
an incarcerated witness. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

AUTHORIZATIONS--DEFENSE 

Committee on Armed Services: Committee held hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense and the future years defense program, receiving testimony from
William S. Cohen, Secretary of Defense; William J. Lynn III, Under
Secretary of Defense (Comptroller); and Gen. Henry H. Shelton, USA,
Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. 
Hearings continue on Thursday, February 5. 

1999 BUDGET 

Committee on the Budget: Committee held hearings to examine the
President's proposed budget for fiscal year 1999, receiving testimony
from Robert E. Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury; and Jack Lew, Deputy
Director, Office of Management and Budget. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management concluded hearings on S. 1253, to provide Federal
land management agencies the authority and capability to manage Federal
lands effectively in accordance with the principles of multiple use and
sustained yield, after receiving testimony from William H. Meadows,
Wilderness Society, Washington, D.C. 

NOMINATIONS 

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings
on the nominations of Donald J. Barry, of Wisconsin, to be Assistant
Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife, and Sallyanne Harper,
of Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, Environmental Protection
Agency, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own
behalf. 

ANTI-PERSONNEL LANDMINE BANS 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine the
military implications of certain initiatives to prevent the United
States from making use of anti-personnel landmines, receiving testimony
from Gen. Carl E. Mundy, USMC (Ret.), former Commandant; Gen. Frederick
J. Kroesen, USA (Ret.), former Commander-in-Chief, Europe; and Gen.
Raymond G. Davis, USMC (Ret.), former Assistant Commandant. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NOMINATION

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, USAF, for reappointment as Vice
Chairman of D56the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after the nominee testified
and answered questions in his own behalf. 

                                [Page: D56]

1999 BUDGET

Committee on the Budget: Committee continued hearings to examine the
President's proposed budget for fiscal year 1999, receiving testimony
from Franklin D. Raines, Director, Office of Management and Budget. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings
on the nominations of Donald J. Barry, of Wisconsin, to be Assistant
Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife, and Margaret Hornbeck
Greene, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the
United States Enrichment Corporation, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf. Ms. Greene was introduced by
Senator Ford. 

ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS

Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine recent
developments in Asian financial markets and the impact on the growth of
the American economy, and on the United States role in ensuring adequate
funding for the International Monetary Fund (IMF), receiving testimony
from Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury; Stuart E.
Eizenstat, Under Secretary of State for Economic, Business and
Agricultural Affairs; Robert B. Zoellick, former Counselor to the
Secretary of the Treasury and former Under Secretary for State for
Economic Affairs; C. Fred Bergsten, Institute for International
Economics, and John H. Makin, American Enterprise Institute, both of
Washington, D.C.; and Allen Sinai, Primark Decision Economics, Inc., New
York, New York. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of M. Margaret McKeown, of Washington, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Richard L. Young, to be United
States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana, Susan Oki
Mollway, to be United States District Judge for the District of Hawaii,
Edward F. Shea, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of Washington, and Jeremy D. Fogel, to be United States
District Judge for the Northern District of California, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Ms.
McKeown was introduced by Senators Gorton and Murray and Representatives
White and Campbell, Mr. Young was introduced by Senator Lugar, Ms.
Mollway was introduced by Senators Akaka and Inouye and Representatives
Abercrombie and Mink, Mr. Shea was introduced by Senators Gorton and
Murray, and Mr. Fogel was introduced by Senator Feinstein. 

REHABILITATION ACT AUTHORIZATION

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported S. 1579, authorizing funds through fiscal year 2004 for
programs of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, with amendments. 

CLASSIFIED DISCLOSURES TO CONGRESS

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held hearings on the
constitutionality of Section 306 of S. 858 (Public Law 105-107) relating
to the encouragement of disclosure of certain information to Congress,
receiving testimony from Louis Fisher, Senior Specialist in American
National Government, Government Division, Congressional Research
Service, Library of Congress; and Peter Raven-Hansen, George Washington
University Law School, Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

TELEMARKETING FRAUD 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and the Judiciary concluded hearings to examine the scope of
telecommunications fraud and abuse and its victimization of the elderly,
after receiving testimony from Robert Pitofsky, Chairman, Federal Trade
Commission; Walter L. Maroney, New Hampshire Attorney General's Office
of Consumer Protection, Concord; Harold Phillips, Charleston County
Sheriff's Department, Charleston, South Carolina; and Helen Boosalis,
Lincoln, Nebraska, on behalf of the American Association of Retired
Persons. 

NOMINATIONS/AUTHORIZATION--DOD 

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nominations of Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, USAF, for appointment as the Vice
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and for appointment to the grade
of General, Maj. Gen. Thomas R. Case, USAF, for appointment in the
United States Air Force to the grade of Lieutenant General, Col. Michael
J. Squier, USA, for appointment in the Reserve of the Army to the grade
of Brigadier General, and Col. Robert L. Echols, USA, for appointment in
the Reserve of the Army to the grade of Brigadier General.  

Also, committee resumed hearings on proposed legislation authorizing
funds for fiscal year 1999 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, USN, Chief of Naval
Operations; and Gen. Charles C. Krulak, USMC, Commandant of the Marine
Corps. 

Hearings continue on Tuesday, February 10. 

IRS REFORM 

Committee on Finance: Committee resumed hearings on proposals and
recommendations to restructure and reform the Internal Revenue Service,
including related measures S.1096 and H.R. 2676, focusing on increasing
Congressional and Executive Branch oversight of the IRS, receiving
testimony from Richard B. Calahan, Deputy Inspector General, Department
of the Treasury; Lynda D. Willis, Director, Tax Policy and
Administration Issues, General Government Division, General Accounting
Office; Bruce A. Strauss, Jacksonville, Florida, former Division Chief,
Collection Division, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the
Treasury; Nina E. Olson, Community Tax Law Project, Richmond, Virginia;
Michael I. Saltzman, White & Case, New York, New York; and Robert S.
Schriebman, Rolling Hills Estates, California. 

Hearings continue on Wednesday, February 11. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 

Joint Meetings 

EMPLOYMENT-UNEMPLOYMENT 

Joint Economic Committee: On Friday, February 6, committee held hearings
to examine the employment-unemployment situation for January, receiving
testimony from Katherine G. Abraham, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor
Statistics, Department of Labor. 

Committee recessed subject to call. 



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

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 1999 for the Department of Agriculture,
receiving testimony from Daniel R. 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. 

Committee will meet again on Tuesday, February 24. 

AUTHORIZATIONS--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Committee resumed hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense and the future years defense program, receiving testimony from
Robert M. Walker, Acting Secretary of the Army; and Gen. Dennis J.
Reimer, USA, Chief of Staff of the Army. 

Hearings continue on Thursday, February 12. 

FDIC

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Financial Services and Technology D77concluded hearings to examine the
efforts of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to bring its
systems and those of its regulated institutions into compliance with the
Year 2000, after receiving testimony from Jack L. Brock, Jr., Director,
Governmentwide and Defense Information Systems, Accounting and
Information Management Division, General Accounting Office; and Michael
J. Zamorski, Deputy Director, Division of Supervision, Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation. 

                                [Page: D77]

U.S. REVENUE

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
impact of recent revenue growth in the United States, after receiving
testimony from James E. Glassman, Chase Securities, Inc., New York, New
York; John G. Wilkins, Coopers and Lybrand, Washington, D.C.; and David
A. Wyss, Standard & Poor's DRI, Lexington, Massachusetts. 

INTERNET INDECENCY

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held
hearings to examine the extent of obscene material available on the
Internet and measures to restrict its access, including S. 1619, to
direct the Federal Communications Commission to study systems for
filtering or blocking certain matter on the Internet, and to require the
installation of such a system on computers in schools and libraries with
Internet access, and S. 1482, to establish a prohibition on commercial
distribution on the World Wide Web of material that is harmful to
minors, receiving testimony from Senators Coats and Murray; Seth
Warshavsky, Internet Entertainment Group, Inc., Seattle, Washington;
Andrew L. Sernovitz, Association for Interactive Media, and Christine
Varney, Hogan & Hartson, both of Washington, D.C.; Elizabeth Whitacker,
Tucson Unified School District, Tucson, Arizona; and a protected
witness. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

COMPUTER SECURITY 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Science, Technology, and Space concluded hearings to examine current
computer security vulnerabilities within civilian federal agencies and
current activities to prevent unauthorized computer access, after
receiving testimony from G. Edward DeSeve, Acting Deputy Director for
Management, Office of Management and Budget; Raymond G. Kammer,
Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of
Commerce; Frank A. Perry, Technical Director and Deputy Director,
Engineering and Interoperability, Defense Information Systems Agency,
Department of Defense; Len Baptiste, Director of Systems Standards and
Evaluation, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury; and
Lee B. Holcomb, Chief Information Officer, National Aeronautics and
Space Administration. 

NOMINATIONS 

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nominations of Donald J. Barry, of Wisconsin, to be
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife, and Sallyanne
Harper, of Virginia, to be Chief Financial Officer, Environmental
Protection Agency. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items: 

The nominations of Richard W. Fisher, of Texas, to be Deputy United
States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador, Donald C.
Lubick, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, L.
Paige Marvel, of Maryland, to be a Judge of the United States Tax Court,
and Michael B. Thornton, of Virginia, to be a Judge of the United States
Tax Court; and 

S. 1133, to allow tax-free expenditures from education individual
retirement accounts for elementary and secondary school expenses and to
increase the maximum annual amount of contributions to such accounts,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

FOREIGN POLICY/STATE DEPARTMENT BUDGET 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to review
foreign policy issues for 1998 and the President's proposed budget
request for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of State, receiving
testimony from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

INTERNET FRAUD

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on
Investigations held hearings to examine certain incidences of fraud and
deception on the Internet, and how to protect consumers, receiving
testimony from Robert Pitofsky, Chairman, and Jody Bernstein, Director,
Bureau of Consumer Protection, both of the Federal Trade Commission;
Susan Grant, National Fraud Information Center/National Consumers
League, Washington, D.C.; Tatiana Gau, America Online, Inc., Vienna,
Virginia; and Barry D. Wise, Matthews, North Carolina. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

GLOBAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee resumed hearings to examine the
scope and depth of the proposed D78settlement between State Attorneys
General and tobacco companies to mandate a total reformation and
restructuring of how tobacco products are manufactured, marketed, and
distributed in America, focusing on First Amendment issues related to
cigarette advertising regulations and litigation concerning those
restrictions, and civil liability provisions of the proposed settlement,
and related provisions of S. 1530, Placing Restraints on Tobacco's
Endangerment of Children and Teens Act (pending on Senate calendar),
receiving testimony from David W. Ogden, Counselor to the Attorney
General, Department of Justice; Richard A. Daynard, Northeastern
University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts; Martin H. Redish,
Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois; and David S.
Versfelt, Freedom to Advertise Coalition, and Floyd Abrams, both of New
York, New York. 

                                [Page: D78]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

GLOBAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee resumed hearings to
examine the scope and depth of the proposed settlement between State
Attorneys General and tobacco companies to mandate a total reformation
and restructuring of how tobacco products are manufactured, marketed,
and distributed in America, focusing on public health goals, receiving
testimony from Michael P. Eriksen, Director, Office on Smoking and
Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Alan I. Leshner,
Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Marc W. Manley, Division on
Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, John M.
Eisenberg, Administrator, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research,
and William B. Schultz, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, Food and Drug
Administration, all of the Department of Health and Human Services; and
Matthew L. Myers, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids/National Center for
Tobacco-Free Kids, R. Timothy Columbus, Collier Shannon Rill & Scott, on
behalf of the National Association of Convenience Stores, and Scott D.
Ballin, American Lung Association, all of Washington, D.C. 

Hearings continue on Tuesday, February 24. 

SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM

Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
future of the Social Security system and goals to restore its long-term
solvency, after receiving testimony from Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner,
Social Security Administration; Jane L. Ross, Director, Income Security
Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General
Accounting Office; Fidel A. Vargas, Cambridge, Massachusetts, former
Member of the Advisory Council on Social Security; and Timothy J. Penny,
Cato Institute, and Joseph Perkins, American Association of Retired
Persons, both of Washington, D.C. 

No Joint hearings noted



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

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

BANKRUPTCY REFORM 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Financial Institutions and Regulatory Relief concluded hearings on
proposals to reform current bankruptcy law and provide for consumer
bankruptcy protection, including related provisions of S. 1301, H.R.
3150, H.R. 3146, and H.R. 2500, after receiving testimony from Robert
Ginsburg, United States Bankruptcy Judge for the Northern District of
Illinois, on behalf of the National Bankruptcy Review Commission; James
E. Smith, Union State Bank and Trust, Clinton, Missouri, on behalf of
the American Bankers Association; Robert R. Davis, America's Community
Bankers, Washington, D.C.; Dorinda Simpson, American Partners Federal
Credit Union, Reidsville, North Carolina, on behalf of the Credit Union
National Association; Bruce L. Hammonds, MBNA Corporation, Wilmington,
Delaware; Oakley Orser, Belk Stores Services, Inc., Charlotte, North
Carolina, on behalf of the National Retail Federation; Mark Lauritano,
Wharton Economics Forecasting Associates Group, Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; Lawrence M. Ausubel, University of Maryland, College Park;
William E. Brewer, Jr., Raleigh, North Carolina, on behalf of the
National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys; and Gary Klein,
National Consumer Law Center, Boston, Massachusetts. 

EDUCATION REFORM 

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
Federal role in education reform, focusing on broad education reform
strategies, including charter schools, vouchers and private management
and specific reforms to the current federal education establishment,
after receiving testimony from Susan S. Westin, Associate Director,
Advanced Studies and Evaluation Methodology, General Government
Division, General Accounting Office; Chester E. Finn, Jr., Hudson
Institute, Washington, D.C., former Assistant Secretary of Education;
Chris Whittle, Edison Project, New York, New York; Eugene W. Hickok,
Pennsylvania Department of Education, Harrisburg, on behalf of the
Education Leaders Council; David L. Brennan, HOPE Academies, Cleveland,
Ohio; and Henry R. Marockie, West Virginia Department of Education,
Charleston, on behalf of the Council of Chief State School Officers. 

NOMINATIONS 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nominations of Donald J. Barry, of Wisconsin, to be
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife, and Margaret
Hornbeck Greene, of Kentucky, to be a Member of the Board of Directors
of the United States Enrichment Corporation. 

NATIONAL DISCOVERY TRAILS/HISTORIC LIGHTHOUSE PRESERVATION 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings
on S. 1069, to provide for the establishment of the American Discovery
Trail as a component of the National Trails System, and S. 1403, to
provide for the establishment of a national historic lighthouse
preservation program, after receiving testimony from Katherine H.
Stevenson, Associate Director, Cultural Resource Stewardship and
Partnerships, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; Gloria
Manning, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest Service,
Department of Agriculture; Rear Adm. John T. Tozzi, USCG, Assistant
Commandant, Coast Guard Systems, United States Coast Guard, Department
of Transportation; Gordon S. Creed, Deputy Assistant Commissioner,
Office of Property Disposal, Public Buildings Service, General Services
Administration; Reese F. Lukei, Jr., American Discovery Trail Society,
Virginia Beach, Virginia; David Lillard, American Hiking Society, Silver
Spring, Maryland; John Viehman, Anyplace Wild Television, Camden, Maine;
and Richard L. Moehl, Great Lakes Lighthouse Keepers Association,
Dearborn, Michigan.  

IRS REFORM 

Committee on Finance: Committee resumed hearings on proposals and
recommendations to restructure and reform the Internal Revenue Service,
including a related measure H.R. 2676, focusing on proposals to reform
the innocent spouse tax rules, receiving testimony from Richard Beck,
New York Law School, Elizabeth Cockrell, and Svetlana Pejanovic, all of
New York, New York; David Keating, National Taxpayers Union, Alexandria,
Virginia; Marjorie D84O'Connell, O'Connell & Associates, Washington,
D.C.; Karen Andreasen, Tampa, Florida; and Josephine Berman, South
Orange, New Jersey. 

                                [Page: D84]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

KYOTO PROTOCOL--GLOBAL WARMING 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine the
results of the recent Kyoto Conference and implications of the proposed
Kyoto Protocol on global warming, focusing on the President's climate
change technology initiative to reduce greenhouse gas emissions,
receiving testimony from Stuart E. Eizenstat, Under Secretary of State
for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

AUTHORIZATION--AGENCY FOR HEALTH CARE POLICY AND RESEARCH 

Committee on Labor and Human Services: Subcommittee on Public Health and
Safety concluded hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for
the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, focusing on the current
activities and recent products relating to the need for health care
quality improvement, after receiving testimony from John M. Eisenberg,
Administrator, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Department of
Health and Human Services; David Edwards, Eastman Kodak Company,
Rochester, New York; Cary Sennett, National Committee for Quality
Assurance, and Stuart Butler, Heritage Foundation, both of Washington,
D.C.; Barry Greene, Medical Group Management Association, Denver,
Colorado; Paul D. Clayton, Columbia University, New York, New York, on
behalf of the American Medical Informatics Association; and William M.
Tierney, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis. 

CLASSIFIED DISCLOSURES 

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session and
ordered favorably reported an original bill to encourage the disclosure
to Congress of certain classified and related information. 

Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings to examine the
constitutionality of certain classified disclosures to Congress as
contained in Public Law 105-107, Intelligence Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1998, after receiving testimony from Louis Fisher, Senior
Specialist, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and
Randolph Moss, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal
Counsel, Department of Justice. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/02/12

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

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE 

Committee on Armed Services: Committee resumed hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on Air Force
programs, receiving testimony from F. Whitten Peters, Acting Secretary
of the Air Force; and Gen. Michael E. Ryan, USAF, Chief of Staff of the
Air Force. 

Committee recessed subject to call. 

UNFUNDED MANDATES 

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings on the
implementation of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (P.L. 104-4), and on
S. 389 and provisions of H.R. 1010, measures to establish a point of
order against congressional consideration of bills that contain
private-sector mandates with costs over the $100 million threshold,
regardless of whether federal funding is provided, and to direct the
Congressional Budget Office to provide expanded cost information for
private-sector mandates above the threshold, after receiving testimony
from Representatives Condit and Portman; James L. Blum, Deputy Director,
Congressional Budget Office; R. Bruce Josten, U.S. Chamber of Commerce,
and Sharon Buccino, Natural Resources Defense Council, both of
Washington, D.C.; and John Nicholson, Company Flowers, Arlington,
Virginia. 
NOMINATION 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of Winter D. Horton Jr., of Utah, to be a
Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public
Broadcasting, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator Bennett,
testified and answered questions in his own behalf. 

SATELLITE CARRIER FEES 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on S. 1422, to provide for a one-year delay in an increase in
the copyright fees satellite carriers pay for superstation and network
affiliate signals delivered to satellite TV households, after receiving
testimony from Fritz Attaway, Motion Picture Association of America, and
Gene Kimmelman, Consumers Union, both of Washington, D.C.; Eddy W.
Hartenstein, DirecTV, Inc., El Segundo, California; and Larry Wetsit,
Nemont Telephone Cooperative, Inc./Nemont Communications, Inc., Scobey,
Montana. 

AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Aviation concluded hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds
for the Airport Improvement Program, after receiving testimony from Todd
Hauptli, American Association of Airport Executives, Alexandria,
Virginia; David Plavin, Airports Council International-North America,
and Edward A. Merlis, Air Transport Association of America, both of
Washington, D.C.; Robert Kunkel, National Association of State Aviation
Officials, Silver Spring, Maryland; and David Roberts, BAA Indianapolis,
Indianapolis, Indiana. 

PUBLIC LANDS/NATIONAL MONUMENTS 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S.
62, to prohibit further extension or establishment of any national
monument in Idaho without full public participation and an express Act
of Congress, S. 477, to require an Act of Congress and the consultation
with the Governor and State legislature prior to the establishment by
the President of national monuments in excess of 5,000 acres, S. 691, to
ensure that the public and the Congress have the right and opportunity
to participate in decisions that affect the use and management of all
public lands, H.R. 901, to preserve the sovereignty of the U.S. over
public lands D91and acquired lands owned by the United States, and to
preserve State sovereignty and private property rights in non-Federal
lands surrounding those public lands and acquired lands, and H.R. 1127,
to provide for congressional review of national monument status and
consultation, after receiving testimony from John D. Leshy, Solicitor,
Department of the Interior; Rafe Pomerance, Deputy Assistant Secretary
of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific
Affairs; William Perry Pendley, Mountain States Legal Foundation, and
John F. Shepherd, Holland and Hart, both of Denver, Colorado; and Edward
M. Norton, National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Theodore
Roosevelt, IV, Lehman Brothers, on behalf of the National Parks and
Conservation Association, both of Washington, D.C. 

                                [Page: D91]

ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine the
International Monetary Fund's role in the Asia financial crisis,
receiving testimony from Robert E. Rubin, Secretary, and Lawrence H.
Summers, Deputy Secretary, both of the Department of the Treasury; and
Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ADOPTION REFORM 

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of
Government Management, Restructuring, and the District of Columbia
concluded hearings to examine certain recommendations to reform the
adoption and foster care system in the District of Columbia, after
receiving testimony from Representative Camp; Rochelle Chronister,
Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, Topeka; and
Ernestine F. Jones, District of Columbia Child and Family Services,
Judith Meltzer, Center for the Study of Social Policy, Thomas Wells,
Consortium for Child Welfare, Debora D. Caruth, and Gordon Henry
Gosselink, all of Washington, D.C  

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

The nominations of Jeremy D. Fogel, to be United States District Judge
for the Northern District of California, Edward F. Shea, to be United
States District Judge for the Eastern District of Washington, Richard L.
Young, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of
Indiana, Beverly Baldwin Martin, to be United States Attorney for the
Middle District of Georgia, and Hiram Arthur Contreras, to be United
States Marshal for the Southern District of Texas; and 

S. Res. 148, designating 1998 as the "Onate Cuartocentenario", the 400th
anniversary
commemoration of the first permanent Spanish settlement in New Mexico,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

AUTHORIZATION--EDUCATION OF THE DEAF ACT 

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for Gallaudet University and the
National Technical Institute for the Deaf as contained in the Education
of the Deaf Act, after receiving testimony from Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services; I. King Jordan, Gallaudet University, Robert R.
Da Vila, National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Sarah E. Snyder,
Alexander Graham Bell Association for the Deaf, and Nancy J. Bloch,
National Association of the Deaf, all of Washington, D.C.; Megan Clancy,
Boston, Massachusetts; Mollie Easter, Algona, Iowa; Rebecca Ellis,
Putney, Vermont, Meghan Rainone, Marlton, New Jersey; Matthew Hamill,
Loveland, Ohio; and Kathryn Hoheusle, Bethel, New York. 

IRS REFORM: TAXPAYER RIGHTS 

Committee on Small Business: Committee held hearings on proposals to
restructure and reform the Internal Revenue Service and improve taxpayer
rights, including the proposed Putting the Taxpayer First Act of 1998,
receiving testimony from C. Virginia Kirkpatrick, CVK Personnel
Management and Training Specialists, and Edith B. Quick, Quick Tax and
Accounting Service, both of St. Louis, Missouri; Ron Morgan, Husch and
Eppenberger, Kansas City, Missouri; Roger N. Harris, Padgett Business
Services, Athens, Georgia; Jack Doll, Marjon, Inc., Frederick, Maryland,
on behalf of the National Federation of Independent Business; and Nancy
Workman, Workman Construction Company, and Elizabeth A. Nielson, Nielson
& Associates, both of Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

TOBACCO SETTLEMENT: NATIVE AMERICAN PROVISIONS 

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on proposed
tobacco settlement provisions with regard to tobacco-related activities
on Indian lands as contained in S. 1414 and S. 1530 (both pending on
Senate calendar), and S. 1415, bills to reform and restructure the
process by which tobacco products are manufactured, marketed, and
distributed, to prevent the use of tobacco products by minors, and to
redress the adverse health effects of tobacco use, after receiving
testimony from W. Craig D92Vanderwagen, Director, Clinical and
Preventive Services, Office of Public Health, Indian Health Service,
Department of Health and Human Services; Thomas LeClaire, Director,
Office of Tribal Justice, Department of Justice; Washington State
Attorney General Christine Gregoire, Olympia; Colorado Attorney General
Gale Norton, Denver; Gary Lasley, Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, Macy; Mark
Hutton, Hutton & Hutton, Wichita, Kansas, on behalf of the Lower Brule
Sioux Tribe; Alex Tallchief Skibine, University of Utah College of Law,
Salt Lake City; and Franklin Ducheneaux, Ducheneaux, Taylor &
Associates, Washington, D.C. 

                                [Page: D92]

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Securities concluded hearings on S. 1260, to limit the conduct of
securities class actions under State law by setting national standards
for stocks that are traded on the national markets, after receiving
testimony from Boris Feldman, Wilson, Sonsini, Goodrich & Rosati, Palo
Alto, California; Richard W. Painter, Cornell Law School, Ithaca, New
York; Michael Morris, Sun Microsystems, Inc., D100Mountain View,
California; Mary Rouleau, Consumer Federation of America, and John F.
Olson, Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, both of Washington, D.C.; and J. Harry
Weatherly, Jr., Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, on behalf of the
Government Finance Officers Association. 

                               [Page: D100]

CHILD CARE SYMPOSIUM

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Subcommittee on Children and
Families met to discuss certain child care and parenting issues,
receiving testimony from Olivia A. Golden, Assistant Secretary for
Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services; Diane G.
Fisher, Terrace Park, Ohio, and Anita K. Blair, Arlington, Virginia,
both on behalf of the Independent Women's Forum, Arlington, Virginia;
Jay Belsky, Pennsylvania State University, University Park; Armand M.
Nicholi, Jr., Harvard Medical School/Massachusetts General Hospital,
Boston; Danielle Crittenden, Women's Quarterly, Darcy Olsen, Cato
Institute, Helen Blank, Children's Defense Fund, Charmaine Yoest, Family
Research Council, Robert Rector, Heritage Foundation, all of Washington,
D.C.; Ellen Galinsky, Families and Work Institute, New York, New York;
Maggie Gallagher, Institute for American Values, Westchester, New York;
Wade Horn, National Fatherhood Initiative, Gaithersburg, Maryland; Heidi
Brennan, Mothers at Home, and Brenda Hunter, both of Vienna, Virginia;
Michael Lotito, Society for Human Resource Management, Alexandria,
Virginia; and Stanley I. Greenspan, Reading, Massachusetts. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

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 1999 for the Department of Agriculture,
receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities
from I. Miley Gonzalez, Under Secretary for Research, Education and
Economics, Eileen Kennedy, Acting Deputy Under Secretary for Research,
Education and Economics, Donald Bay, Administrator, National Agriculture
Statistics Service, Floyd P. Horn, Administrator, Agricultural Research
Service, Susan Offutt, Administrator, Economic Research Service, Bobby
H. Robinson, Administrator, Cooperative State Research, Education, and
Extension Service, and Dennis Kaplan, Deputy Director, Budget,
Legislation, and Regulatory Systems, all of the Department of
Agriculture. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, February 26. 

APPROPRIATIONS--JUSTICE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and Judiciary, and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of Justice, receiving
testimony from Janet Reno, Attorney General, and Stephen R. Colgate,
Assistant Attorney General for Administration, both of the Department of
Justice. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, February 26. 

OPERATIONAL READINESS 

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held hearings to
examine the status of the operational readiness of the United States
military forces including the availability of resources and training
opportunities necessary to meet our national security requirements,
receiving testimony from Vice Admiral Herbert A. Browne, Jr., II, USN,
Commander, III Fleet; Maj. Gen. Marvin R. Esmond, USAF, Commander, Air
Force Air Warfare Center, Nellis Air Force Base; Maj. Gen. Ronald G.
Richard, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Air Ground Combat
Center; Brig. Gen. Dean W. Cash, USA, Commanding General, National
Training Center and Fort Irwin; Col. Thomas Matthews, USA, Commander,
Aviation Brigade, 101st Airborne Division; Capt. Thomas Kilcline, USN,
Commander, Carrier Air Group 14; Col. Stephen Bozarth, USAF, Commander,
388th Fighter Wing Operations Group; and Col. Emerson N. Gardner, USMC,
Commander, 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM 

Committee on the Budget: Committee's Task Force on Social Security
concluded hearings to discuss the Administration's plans to safeguard
Social Security in the context of the Federal budget, after receiving
testimony from Franklin D. Raines, Director, Office of Management and
Budget; Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury; and
Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner, Social Security Administration. 

GLOBAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee resumed
hearings to examine the proposed settlement between State Attorneys
General and tobacco companies to mandate a total reformation and
restructuring of how tobacco products are manufactured, marketed, and
distributed in America, receiving testimony from Geoffrey C. Bible,
Philip Morris Companies, Inc., Steven F. Goldstone, RJR Nabisco, Inc.,
and Laurence A. Tisch, Loews Corporation, all of New York, New York;
Nicholas G. Brookes, Brown and Williamson Tobacco Corporation,
Louisville, Kentucky; and Vincent A. Gierer, Jr., UST Inc., Greenwich,
Connecticut. 

Hearings continue on Thursday, February 26. 

                               [Page: D110]

GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded oversight
hearings to examine the National Park Service's proposal to develop a
visitor center and museum facility complex at the Gettysburg National
Military Park in Pennsylvania, after receiving testimony from Senators
Specter and Santorum; Denis P. Galvin, Deputy Director, National Park
Service, Department of the Interior; Ralph W. Tarr, Andrews & Kurth,
Washington, D.C., former Solicitor, Department of the Interior; Walter
L. Powell, Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association, and Keith G.
Dorman, Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg, both of Gettysburg,
Pennsylvania; Richard Moe, National Trust for Historic Preservation,
Washington, D.C.; and Dennis E. Frye, Association for the Preservation
of Civil War Sites, New York, New York. 

NATO ENLARGEMENT 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine
Administration views on the proposed Protocols to the North Atlantic
Treaty of 1949 on the Accession of Poland, Hungary, and the Czech
Republic (these protocols were opened for signature at Brussels on
December 16, 1997, and signed on behalf of the United States and other
parties to the North Atlantic Treaty) (Treaty Doc. 105-36), receiving
testimony from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State; William S.
Cohen, Secretary of Defense; and Gen. Henry H. Shelton, Chairman, Joint
Chiefs of Staff. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

REGULATORY IMPROVEMENT ACT 

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee resumed hearings on S. 981,
to provide for the analysis of major regulatory rules by Federal
agencies, receiving testimony from Bruce Alberts, President, National
Academy of Sciences and Chairman, National Research Council; Ohio
Governor George V. Voinovich, Columbus, and Nebraska Governor Ben
Nelson, Lincoln, both on behalf of the National Governors' Association;
Milton Russell, Joint Institute for Energy and Environment/University of
Tennessee, Knoxville; Nancy Donley, Chicago, Illinois, and Sue Doneth,
Marshall, Michigan, both on behalf of Safe Tables Our Priority; Lester
M. Crawford, Georgetown University, Warren Belmar, American Bar
Association, Franklin E. Mirer, United Auto Workers, Karen Florini,
Environmental Defense Fund, and Robert E. Litan, Brookings Institution,
all of Washington, D.C.; and Michael A. Resnick, National School Boards
Association, Alexandria, Virginia. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution,
Federalism, and Property Rights concluded hearings to examine whether
term limits or campaign finance reform would provide true political
reform, after receiving testimony from Missouri State Representative
Joan Bray, Jefferson City; James A. Buchen, Wisconsin Manufacturers and
Commerce, Madison; Donald Simon, Common Cause, David Keene, American
Conservative Union, and Paul Jacob, US Term Limits, all of Washington,
D.C.; Bradley A. Smith, Capital University Law School, Columbus, Ohio;
and Rod Pacheco, Riverside, California. 

FOREIGN TERRORISTS IN AMERICA 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information concluded hearings to examine the extent of and
policies to prevent foreign terrorist operations in America, focusing on
certain incidences of terrorist attacks in the United States, including
the bombing incident at the World Trade Center in New York City, after
receiving testimony from Dale L. Watson, Section Chief for International
Terrorism Operations, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Walter D.
Cadman, Counterterrorism Coordinator, Office of Field Operations,
Immigration and Naturalization Service, both of the Department of
Justice; Richard A. Rohde, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of
Investigations, United States Secret Service, Department of the
Treasury; J. Gilmore Childers, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, New York,
New York; Henry J. DePippo, Nixon Hargrave Devans & Doyle, Rochester,
New York; Patrick J. Colgan, Jr., PBL Associates, Wyckoff, New Jersey;
Benjamin Jacobson, Peregrine Group, Miami, Florida; and Steven Emerson,
The Investigative Project, and Omar Ashmawy, both of Washington, D.C. 

GLOBAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT 

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee resumed hearings to
examine the scope and depth of the proposed settlement between State
Attorneys General and tobacco companies to mandate a total reformation
and restructuring of how tobacco products are manufactured, marketed,
and distributed in America, and S. 1648, to provide for reductions in
youth smoking, for advancements in tobacco-related research, and the
development of safer tobacco products, receiving testimony from Charles
N. Jeffress, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and
Health; Lewis A. Grossman, American University Washington College of
Law, Richard M. Cooper, Williams & Connolly, on behalf of R.J. Reynolds
D111Tobacco Company, and Richard A. Levinson, American Public Health
Association, all of Washington, D.C.; Jack E. Henningfield, Pinney
Associates, Bethesda, Maryland, on behalf of the Society of Research on
Nicotine and Tobacco; Jon D. Hanson, Harvard University Law School,
Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Kyle D. Logue, University of Michigan Law
School, Ann Arbor. 

                               [Page: D111]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATION 

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Togo Dennis West Jr., of the District of Columbia, to be
Secretary of Veterans Affairs, after the nominee, who was introduced by
Senator Faircloth, testified and answered questions in his own behalf. 

Joint Meetings 

IMF AND INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC POLICY 

Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
financing, procedures, administration, and economic impact of the
International Monetary Fund, after receiving testimony from Timothy
Geithner, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Affairs;
Charles Calomiris, Columbia University, New York, New York; Allan
Meltzer, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Larry
Lindsey, American Enterprise Institute, and C. Fred Bergsten, Institute
for International Economics, both of Washington, D.C. 



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

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

OPERATIONAL READINESS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness concluded
hearings to examine the status of the operational readiness of the
United States Military Forces including the availability of resources
and training opportunities necessary to meet our national security
requirements, after receiving testimony from Gen. William W. Crouch,
USA, Vice Chief of Staff, United States Army; Adm. Donald L. Pilling,
USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; Gen. Ralph E. Eberhart, USAF, Vice
Chief of Staff, United States Air Force; Gen. Richard I. Neal, USMC,
Assistant Commandant, United States Marine Corps; Lt. Gen. John W.
Hendrix, USA, Commanding General, V Corps, U.S. Army Europe and VII
Army; Vice Adm. Steve Abbot, USN, Commander, Sixth Fleet; Lt. Gen. John
W. Handy, USAF, Commander, 21st Air Force, Air Mobility Command; and Lt.
Gen. Carlton W. Fulford, Jr., USMC, Commanding General, 1 Marine
Expeditionary Force. 

MONETARY POLICY

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the Federal Reserve's report on the economic
situation and monetary policy of the United States, after receiving
testimony from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System. 

BUDGET PROJECTIONS

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine long
term budget projections, focusing on overall policy and Federal
spending, after receiving testimony from Paul L. Posner, Director,
Budget Issues, Accounting and Information Management Division, General
Accounting Office; former Representative Bill Frenzel and Timothy Penny,
both on behalf of the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget, and C.
Eugene Steuerle, Urban Institute, all of Washington, D.C.; and Uwe E.
Reinhardt, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey. 

AUTHORIZATION-RAIL SAFETY

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for programs of the Rail Safety
Act, after receiving testimony from Jolene M. Molitoris, Administrator,
Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation; Robert T.
D120Francis II, Chairman, and Robert Lauby, Director, Office of Railroad
Safety, both of the National Transportation Safety Board; M.B. Oglesby,
Jr., Association of American Railroads, and Dan Pickett, AFL-CIO, both
of Washington, D.C.; Gerri L. Hall, Operation Lifesaver, Inc.,
Alexandria, Virginia; and Lonnie E. Blaydes, Jr., Dallas Area Rapid
Transit, Dallas, Texas, on behalf of the American Public Transit
Association. 

                               [Page: D120]

SPECIALTY FOREST PRODUCTS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management concluded oversight hearings to examine the
harvest of specialty forest products from national forests, focusing on
the Forest Service's progress and plans for managing specialty forest
products, how Native Americans will be able to obtain the plant
materials they depend on, and how community-based solutions can protect
environmental values while meeting the social and economic needs of
local communities, after receiving testimony from Ronald Stewart, Deputy
Chief for Programs and Legislation, Forest Service, Department of
Agriculture; Christina Johnson, Trinity Alps Botanicals, Burnt Ranch,
California; Victor Benavides, Forest Workers and Harvesters Alliance,
White Salmon, Washington; Melissa Borsting, Rogue Institute for Ecology
and Economy, Ashland, Oregon; Bodi K. Shaw, Confederated Tribes, Warm
Springs, Oregon; Carla HighEagle, Nez Perce Tribal Executive Committee,
Lapwai, Idaho; Rebecca Templin Richards, University of Montana,
Missoula; Chris C. Schnepf, University of Idaho, Coeur d' Alene; Keith
A. Blatner, Washington State University, Pullman; and Jason W. Clay,
World Wildlife Fund, Washington, D.C. 

IRS REFORM

Committee on Finance: Committee resumed hearings on proposals and
recommendations to restructure and reform the Internal Revenue Service,
including a related measure H.R. 2676, receiving testimony from Paul C.
Light, Pew Charitable Trusts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Ronald P.
Sanders, George Washington University, Thomas H. Stanton, National
Academy of Public Administration, G. Jerry Shaw, Senior Executives
Association, Robert M. Tobias, National Treasury Employees Union, and
Ray Woolner, Professional Managers Association, all of Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATION

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Robert T. Grey, Jr., of Virginia, for the rank of
Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative
to the Conference on Disarmament, after the nominee testified and
answered questions in his own behalf. 

CASPIAN SEA OIL PIPELINE

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic
Policy, Export and Trade Promotion held hearings on the implementation
of U.S. energy policy in the Caspian region, focusing on the
construction of a Western Caspian Sea oil pipeline, receiving testimony
from Robert W. Gee, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Policy and
International Affairs; Jan Kalicki, Counselor to the Department of
Commerce; Lawrence R. Fisher, Fluor-Daniel Incorporated, Sugar Land,
Texas; and Charles William Maynes, Eursaia Foundation, Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

HIGH-TECH WORKER SHORTAGE AND IMMIGRATION POLICY

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings to examine
United States immigration policy with regard to labor market conditions
in high-technology industries, and the Administration's proposal to
raise the annual quota of H1-B visas, which enable skilled engineers to
enter the United States to work for American high-tech companies, after
receiving testimony from Raymond J. Uhalde, Acting Assistant Secretary
of Labor for Employment and Training; T.J. Rodgers, Cypress
Semiconductor Corporation, San Jose, California; Michael Murray,
Microsoft Corporation, Robert I. Lerman, Urban Institute, both of
Washington, D.C.; Stephen H. Leven, Texas Instruments Incorporated,
Dallas, on behalf of the American Electronics Association; Kenneth M.
Alvares, Sun Microsystems, Inc., Palo Alto, California; Stephen
Director, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; Peter R. Genereaux, Utah
Information Technologies Association, Midvale; Harris N. Miller,
Information Technology Association of America, Arlington, Virginia; and
John R. Reinert, Institute of Electrical and Electronics
Engineers--United States of America, Colorado Springs, Colorado. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Susan Graber, of Oregon, and Richard A. Paez, of
California, each to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth
Circuit, Sam A. Lindsay, to be United States District Judge for the
Northern District of Texas, Hilda G. Tagle, to be United States District
Judge for the Southern District of Texas, and Judith M. Barzilay, of New
Jersey, and Delissa A. Ridgway, of the District of Columbia, each to be
a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. D121Ms.
Graber was introduced by Senators Smith and Wyden, Mr. Paez was
introduced by Senators Feinstein and Boxer, Mr. Lindsay was introduced
by Senator Hutchison, Ms. Tagle was introduced by Senator Hutchison and
Representative Ortiz and Eddie Bernice Johnson, and Ms. Ridgway was
introduced by District of Columbia Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton. 

                               [Page: D121]

QUALITY SCHOOL-AGE CARE

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine certain initiatives to mobilize school and community resources
to provide quality programs to address the needs of students during
non-school hours, including the Administration's proposed  expansion of
the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program designed to provide
funds to school-community partnerships to start up or expand
after-school, extended learning programs for school-age children, after
receiving testimony from Gerald N. Tirozzi, Assistant Secretary of
Education for Elementary and Secondary Education; Shepherd Smith,
Institute for Youth Development, Washington, D.C.; Sue Luck, Greater
Burlington YMCA, Burlington, Vermont; Brad Luck, Essex Teen Center,
Essex Junction, Vermont; Arthur W. Sheninger, Hatchery Hill School,
Hackettstown, New Jersey, on behalf of the National Association of
Elementary School Principals; Linda Childears, Young American's Bank,
Denver, Colorado, on behalf of the National Assembly of National
Voluntary Health and Human Welfare Organizations; and Thomas C. Frazier,
Baltimore City Police Department, Baltimore, Maryland, on behalf of
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. 

BUDGET REQUESTS

Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded oversight
hearings to review the strategic plan implementation, including the
budget requests for fiscal year 1999, after receiving testimony on
behalf of funds for their operations from Gary Sisco, Secretary of the
Senate; Gregory S. Casey, Senate Sergeant at Arms; and Alan M. Hantman,
Architect of the Capitol. 

INDIAN PROGRAMS BUDGET

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee held hearings on the President's
proposed budget request for fiscal year 1999 for Indian programs,
receiving testimony from Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of the
Interior for Indian Affairs; Michael H. Trujillo, Assistant Surgeon
General, and Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and
Human Services; Jacqueline L. Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development for Native American Programs; W. Ron
Allen, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Sequin, Washington, on behalf of the
National Congress of American Indians; Chester Carl, Navajo Nation's
Housing Authority, Window Rock, Arizona, on behalf of the National
American Indian Housing Council; Julia A. Davis, Northwest Portland Area
Indian Health Board, Portland, Oregon; John Cheek, National Indian
Education Association, Alexandria, Virginia; and Buford Rolin, National
Indian Health Board, Denver, Colorado. 

Committee will meet again tomorrow. 

Joint Meetings

RADIO FREQUENCY WEAPONS

Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
proliferation and use of radio frequency weapons technology, and their
potential impact on United States infrastructure and economy after
receiving testimony from James F. O'Bryon, Deputy Director, Operational
Test and Evaluation Live Fire Testing, Office of the Secretary of
Defense; Ira W. Merritt, Missile Defense and Space Technology Center,
U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, Huntsville, Alabama; and R.
Alan Kehs, U.S. Army Research Laboratories, Adelphi, Maryland; and David
Schriner, Ridgecrest, California. 



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

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 1999 for the Natural Resources Conservation
Service of the Department of Agriculture, receiving testimony from James
R. Lyons, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and
Thomas A. Weber, Acting Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service,
both of the Department of Agriculture, who were accompanied by several
of his associates. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 3. 

APPROPRIATIONS--STATE DEPARTMENT 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and Judiciary, and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget
estimates D131for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of State,
receiving testimony from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State. 

                               [Page: D131]

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 3. 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense, receiving testimony from John J. Hamre, Deputy Secretary of
Defense. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 4. 

APPROPRIATIONS--CAPITOL POLICE/SECRETARY OF THE SENATE/CBO 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999, receiving
testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Wilson
Livingood, House Sergeant at Arms, Gregory S. Casey, Senate Sergeant at
Arms, Alan M. Hantman, Architect of the Capitol, and Gary L. Abrecht,
Chief of Police, all on behalf of the Capitol Police Board; Gary Sisco,
Secretary of the Senate; and June E. O'Neill, Director, Congressional
Budget Office. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 12. 

APPROPRIATIONS--TREASURY 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Treasury and General
Government held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
1999 for law enforcement programs of the Department of the Treasury,
receiving testimony from Raymond W. Kelly, Under Secretary for
Enforcement, John W. Magaw, Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and
Firearms, Lewis C. Merletti, Director, United States Secret Service,
Samuel Banks, Acting Commissioner, United States Customs Service, Ted F.
Brown, Assistant Commissioner for Criminal Investigation, Internal
Revenue Service, W. Ralph Basham, Director, Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center, and William Baity, Deputy Director, Financial Crimes
Enforcement Network, all of the Department of the Treasury. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 5. 

NOMINATIONS 

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported 1,078
military nominations in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. 

EXPORT PROMOTION 

Committee on the Budget: Committee's International Affairs Task Force
concluded hearings to examine the success of the National Trade Strategy
from the perspective of international affairs funding, after receiving
testimony from David L. Aaron, Under Secretary of Commerce for
International Trade; JayEtta Z. Hecker, Associate Director,
International Relations and Trade Issues, National Security and
International Affairs Division, General Accounting Office; and Edmund
Rice, Coalition for Employment Through Exports, Inc., Washington, D.C. 

GLOBAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee resumed
hearings to examine the scope and depth of the proposed settlement
between States Attorneys Generals and tobacco companies to mandate a
total reformation and restructuring of how tobacco products are
manufactured, marketed, and distributed in America, focusing on those
provisions that would limit the liability of tobacco companies,
receiving testimony from Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore,
Jackson; Kansas Attorney General Carla J. Stovall, Topeka; Colorado
Attorney General Gale Norton, Denver; Stanley M. Chesley, Waite,
Schneider, Bayless & Chesley Co., Cincinnati, Ohio, on behalf of the
Castano Plaintiffs Litigation Committee; Eugene I. Pavalon, Chicago,
Illinois, on behalf of the Association of Trial Lawyers of America; Kris
W. Kobach, University of Missouri at Kansas City School of Law, Kansas
City, Missouri; and Richard F. Scruggs, Scruggs, Millette, Lawson,
Bozeman & Dent, Pascagoula, Mississippi. 

Hearings continue on Tuesday, March 3. 

FAA MODERNIZATION 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Aviation concluded hearings to examine the Federal Aviation
Administration's plans to replace and upgrade the National Airspace
System's equipment and facilities to meet the increase in traffic
volume, enhance the margin of air safety, and increase the efficiency of
the air traffic control system, focusing on its problems in meeting
cost, schedule, and performance goals, after receiving testimony from
Jane F. Garvey, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, FAA;
Gerald L. Dillingham, Associate Director, Transportation Issues,
Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General
Accounting Office; Margaret T. Jenny, US Airways, Arlington, Virginia;
and Phil Boyer, Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association, Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D132]

MEDICARE PRIVATE CONTRACTING 

Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings on S. 1194, to amend title
XVIII of the Social Security Act to clarify the right of medicare
beneficiaries to enter into private contracts with physicians and other
health care professionals for the provision of health services for which
no payment is sought under the medicare program, receiving testimony
from Senators Kyl and Durbin; Representative Cardin; Nancy-Ann Min
DeParle, Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration, Department
of Health and Human Services; Beatrice Braun, Spring Hill, Florida, on
behalf of the American Association of Retired Persons; Kent Masterson
Brown, United Seniors Association, Inc., Fairfax, Virginia; J. Edward
Hill, Tupelo, Mississippi, on behalf of the American Medical
Association; and William A. Reynolds, Missoula, Montana, on behalf of
the American College of Physicians. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

U.S. TRADE SANCTIONS IN ASIA 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asia and Pacific
Affairs held hearings to examine whether unilateral trade sanctions are
an effective tool of United States foreign policy in Asia, receiving
testimony from Frank D. Kittredge, National Foreign Trade Council, Inc.,
Ernest H. Preeg, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Ernest
Z. Bower, US-ASEAN Business Council, Inc., Arthur T. Downey, Baker
Hughes, Incorporated, on behalf of the National Association of
Manufacturers, and Douglas H. Paal, Asia Pacific Policy Center, all of
Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

DRUG CERTIFICATION 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere,
Peace Corps, Narcotics and Terrorism held hearings to examine the
effectiveness of the certification process under the Foreign Service Act
used by the United States to assess how other nations cooperate in their
counternarcotics efforts, receiving testimony from Thomas A.
Constantine, Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration, Department
of Justice; John P. Walters, Philanthropy Roundtable, Washington, D.C.;
Richard B. Craig, Kent State University, Kent, Ohio; and Rensselaer W.
Lee III, Global Advisory Services, McLean, Virginia. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

MERIT SYSTEM PROTECTION ACT 

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International
Security, Proliferation and Federal Services concluded hearings on S.
1495, to strengthen the ability of the Office of Personnel Management to
obtain judicial review of a final order or decision of the Merit Systems
Protection Board within 60 days after receiving notice thereof, after
receiving testimony from Lorraine Lewis, General Counsel, Office of
Personnel Management; David M. Cohen, Director, Commercial Litigation
Branch of the Civil Division, Department of Justice; and Robert M.
Tobias, National Treasury Employees Union, and Mark D. Roth, American
Federation of Government Employees (AFL-CIO), both of Washington, D.C. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

The nominations of M. Margaret McKeown, of Washington, to be United
States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Thomas J. Umberg, of
California, to be Deputy Director for Supply Reduction, Office of
National Drug Control Policy, Randall Dean Anderson, to be United States
Marshal for the District of Utah, and Robert A. Miller, of South Dakota,
to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute; 

H.R. 1534, to simplify and expedite access to the Federal courts for
injured parties whose rights and privileges, secured by the United
States Constitution, have been deprived by final actions of Federal
agencies, or other government officials or entities acting under color
of State law; to prevent Federal courts from abstaining from exercising
Federal jurisdiction in actions where no State law claim is alleged; to
permit certification of unsettled State law questions that are essential
to resolving Federal claims arising under the Constitution; and to
clarify when government action is sufficiently final to ripen certain
Federal claims arising under the Constitution, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute; 

S. 1605, to establish a matching grant program to help States, units of
local government, and Indian tribes to purchase armor vests for use by
law enforcement officers, with an amendment; 

S. 1244, to amend Federal bankruptcy law with respect to avoidance by
the trustee in bankruptcy of fraudulent transfers and obligations to
cite circumstances under which a transfer of a charitable contribution
to a qualified religious or charitable unit shall not be considered to
be fraudulent, and to prohibit the trustee from avoiding such charitable
contributions when acting as lien creditors and successor to certain
creditor and purchasers, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute; and 

S. Res. 181, expressing the sense of the Senate that on March 2, every
child in America should be in the company of someone who will read to
him or her. 

                               [Page: D133]

ANTITRUST OVERSIGHT 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights
and Competition held oversight hearings to review the state of antitrust
enforcement within the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice,
and proposals to improve international antitrust enforcement, including
increasing criminal fines for corporate price-fixing conspiracies,
receiving testimony from Joel I. Klein, Assistant Attorney General,
Antitrust Division, Department of Justice. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 4. 

MEDICAL CONFIDENTIALITY 

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings on
proposed legislation to protect the confidentiality of medical
information, including S. 1368, to provide individuals with access to
health information of which they are the subject, ensure personal
privacy with respect to personal medical records and health care-related
information, impose criminal and civil penalties for unauthorized use of
personal health information, and to provide for the strong enforcement
of these rights, after receiving testimony from Senators Bennett and
Leahy; Kathleen Sebelius, Kansas Department of Insurance, Topeka, on
behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Janlori
Goldman, Georgetown University Medical Center, and Christine Brunswick,
National Breast Cancer Coalition, both of Washington, D.C.; Michael L.
Rhodes, Intermountain Health Care, Salt Lake City, Utah; and Bonnie
Rogers, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, on behalf of the American
Association of Occupational Health Nurses. 

TRIBAL PRIORITY ALLOCATIONS 

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded oversight hearings to
examine Tribal Priority Allocation funding as contained in the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1999 for the Bureau
of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior, after receiving testimony
from Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian
Affairs; John Washakie, Eastern Shoshone Tribe of the Wind River
Reservation, Fort Washakie, Wyoming, on behalf of the Shoshone Business
Council; Andrew L. Othole, Pueblo of Zuni, Zuni, New Mexico; Edward K.
Thomas, Central Council of Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes of Alaska,
Juneau; Bernida Churchill, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Indians, Onamia,
Minnesota; and James T. Martin, United South and Eastern Tribes, Inc.,
Nashville, Tennessee. 

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 4. 

Joint Meetings 

VETERANS PROGRAMS 

Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint
hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the
legislative recommendations of certain veteran organizations, receiving
testimony from Elizabeth R. Carr, Blinded Veterans Association, Kenneth
C. Huber, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Jack Berman, Jewish War
Veterans, Louis C. Tebbe, Military Order of the Purple Heart, and
Charles R. Jackson, Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA,
all of Washington, D.C. D137 



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

Committee Meetings 

( Committees not listed did not meet ) 

BUDGET REQUESTS 

Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee held hearings on budget
requests for fiscal year 1999, receiving testimony on behalf of funds
for their respective operations from Earl A. Powell III, Director,
National Gallery of Art; Michael F. DiMario, Public Printer, Government
Printing Office; and Daniel P. Mulhollan, Director, Congressional
Research Service, Library of Congress. 

Committee will meet again on Wednesday, March 4. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

IRAQ 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South
Asian Affairs held hearings to examine the current situation in Iraq and
whether Saddam Hussein can be forced out of power, receiving testimony
from R. James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence; Ahmed
Chalabi, Iraqi National Congress, London, England; and Zalmay Khalilzad,
Rand Corporation, and Richard N. Haass, Brookings Institution, both of
Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

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 1999 for rural programs of the Department of
Agriculture, receiving testimony from Jill Long Thompson, Under
Secretary for Rural Development, Wally Beyer, Administrator, Rural
Utilities Service, Jan E. Shadburn, Administrator, Rural Housing
Service, Dayton J. Watkins, Administrator, Rural Business-Cooperative
Service, and Robert Armstrong, Executive Director, Alternative
Agricultural Research and Commercialization Corporation, all of the
Department of Agriculture. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 10. 

APPROPRIATIONS--FBI/DEA/INS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and the Judiciary, and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of Justice, receiving
testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Louis
J. Freeh, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Thomas A.
Constantine, Administrator, Drug Enforcement Administration, and Doris
Meissner, Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service, all of
the Department of Justice. 

Subcommittee will meet again tomorrow. 

APPROPRIATIONS--DOE DEFENSE PROGRAMS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
1999 for Department of Energy defense programs, receiving testimony from
Victor H. Reis, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Defense Programs. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 10. 

APPROPRIATIONS--IMF SUPPLEMENTAL 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations held
hearings on proposed supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1998 for the International Monetary Fund, receiving
testimony from Robert E. Rubin, Secretary, and Lawrence H. Summers,
Deputy Secretary, both of the Department of the Treasury; and Alan
Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 17. 

APPROPRIATIONS--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for Army and
defense agency military construction programs, receiving testimony from
Alma B. Moore, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations,
Logistics & Environment); Brig. Gen. Gary W. Heckman, Director, Center
for Command Support, U.S. Special Operations Command; Frederick N.
Baillie, Executive Director, Resource, Planning and Performance
Directorate, Defense Logistics Support Command, Defense Logistics
Agency; Carolyn H. Becraft, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense
(Personnel Support, Families and Education), Office of the Under
Secretary of Defense (Personnel and Readiness); and Rear Adm. Tom
Carrato, USN, Chief Operating Officer, TRICARE Management Activity. 

                               [Page: D155]

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 10. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE 

Committee on Armed Services: Committee resumed hearings in open and
closed sessions on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal
year 1999 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.
Wesley K. Clark, USA, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. European Command; Gen.
John H. Tilelli, USA, Commander in Chief, United Nations
Command/Combined Forces Command Korea, and Commander, U.S. Forces Korea;
and Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, USMC, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Central
Command. 

Committee will meet again on Thursday, March 5. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE 

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the
Department of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on
the seapower threat-based force requirement, receiving testimony from
Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, USAF, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff; Adm. Donald L. Pilling, USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; and
Gen. Richard I. Neal, USMC, Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 10. 

FINANCIAL REGULATORY RELIEF 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee held
hearings on S. 1405, to provide for improved monetary policy and
regulatory reform in financial institution management and activities, to
streamline financial regulatory agency actions, and to provide for
improved consumer credit disclosure, receiving testimony from Laurence
H. Meyer, Member, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Rex
Hammock, Hammock Publishing, Nashville, Tennessee, on behalf of the
National Federation of Independent Business; Cornelius D. Mahoney,
Woronoco Savings Bank, Westfield, Massachusetts, on behalf of the
America's Community Bankers; and Edward E. Furash, Furash & Company,
Washington, D.C. 

Hearings continue on Tuesday, March 10. 

GLOBAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee resumed
hearings to examine the scope and depth of the proposed settlement
between State Attorneys General and tobacco companies to mandate a total
reformation and restructuring of how tobacco products are manufactured,
marketed, and distributed in America, focusing on proposed restrictions
on the advertising, marketing and sale of tobacco products, receiving
testimony from Senator Mack; Robert Pitofsky, Chairman, Federal Trade
Commission; Michael P. Eriksen, Director, Office on Smoking and Health,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and
Human Services; Matthew L. Myers, Campaign for Tobacco-Free
Kids/National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids, and David C. Vladeck, Public
Citizen Litigation Group, both of Washington, D.C.; Richard A. Daynard,
Northeastern University School of Law, Boston, Massachusetts; David S.
Versfelt, Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Irvine, New York, New York, on
behalf of the Freedom to Advertise Coalition; and Martin Redish,
Northwestern University School of Law, Chicago, Illinois. 

Hearings continue on Thursday, March 5. 

FOREST SERVICE BUDGET 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings
to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1999
for the Forest Service, after receiving testimony from Michael P.
Dombeck, Chief, Forest Service, and James R. Lyons, Under Secretary for
Natural Resources and Environment, both of the Department of
Agriculture, who were accompanied by several of their associates. 

ISTEA AUTHORIZATION 

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee met and approved an
amendment to be offered as a floor amendment to the modified committee
amendment in the nature of a substitute (Amendment No. 1676) to S. 1173,
to authorize funds for construction of highways, for highway safety
programs, and for mass transit programs (pending before the Senate). 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

Protocols to the North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on the accession of
Poland, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. (These Protocols were opened
for signature at Brussels on December 16, 1997, and signed on behalf of
the United States and other parties to the North Atlantic Treaty (Treaty
Doc. 105-36); 

S. Con. Res. 60, expressing the sense of Congress in support of efforts
to foster friendship and cooperation between the United States and
Mongolia; 

                               [Page: D156]

S. Con. Res. 78, relating to the indictment and prosecution of Saddam
Hussein for war crimes and other crimes against humanity; 

S. Res. 174, to state the sense of the Senate that Thailand is a key
partner and friend of the United States, has committed itself to
executing its responsibilities under its arrangements with the
International Monetary Fund, and that the United States should be
prepared to ensure continued close bilateral relations; 

H.R. 1116, to provide for the conveyance of the reversionary interest of
the United States in certain lands to the Clint Independent School
District and the Fabens Independent School District; and 

The nominations of Robert T. Grey, Jr., of Virginia, for the rank of
Ambassador during his tenure of service as United States Representative
to the Conference on Disarmament, and three Foreign Service Officer
promotion lists. 

SOFTWARE INDUSTRY 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings to examine the state
of competition in the computer software industry, focusing on market
power and structural change in the software industry and the role of
antitrust laws in high-technology industries, receiving testimony from
Bill Gates, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond, Washington; Scott McNealy,
Sun Microsystems, Inc., Palo Alto, California; James Barksdale, Netscape
Communications Corporation, Mountain View, California; Michael Dell,
Dell Computer Corporation, Round Rock, Texas; Douglas J. Burgum, Great
Plains Software, Fargo, North Dakota; and Stewart Alsop II, New
Enterprise Associates, Menlo Park, California. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

INFECTIOUS DISEASES 

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Subcommittee on Public Health
and Safety concluded hearings to examine how certain infectious diseases
are a continuing threat to the health of United States citizens and of
people around the world and the United States response to promote the
international effort to combat emerging diseases, after receiving
testimony from David Satcher, Assistant Secretary for Health/U.S.
Surgeon General, Anthony S. Fauci, Director, National Institute of
Allergy and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, and
Stephen Blount, Associate Director for Global Health, Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention, all of the Department of Health and
Human Services; David Brandling-Bennett, Pan American Health
Organization/World Health Organization, Washington, D.C.; Fredia S.
Wadley, Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville; Joan Baumback, New
Mexico Department of Health, Las Cruces; Herbert A. Pigman, Rotary
International, Evanston, Illinois; and Christopher J.L. Murray, Harvard
University School of Public Health, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Joint Meetings

VETERANS PROGRAMS 

Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs concluded joint
hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the
legislative recommendations of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the
United States, after receiving testimony from John E. Moon, Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States, Washington, D.C. 



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

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--COMMERCE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and the Judiciary, and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of Commerce, receiving
testimony from William M. Daley, Secretary, W. Scott Gould, Chief
Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration, and Mark
Brown, Director, Office of Budget, all of the Department of Commerce. 

Subcommittee will meet again tomorrow. 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense, focusing on Air Force programs, receiving testimony from F.
Whitten Peters, Under Secretary, and Gen. Michael E. Ryan, Chief of
Staff, both of the United States Air Force. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 11. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE 

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Acquisition and Technology
held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the
Department of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on
policies of the industrial and technology base supporting national
defense, receiving testimony from John B. Goodman, Deputy Under
Secretary of Defense (Industrial Affairs and Installations); Lance A.
Davis, Deputy Director (Technology Transfer and Lab Management),
Department of Defense; and David E. Cooper, Associate Director for
Defense Acquisition Issues, General Accounting Office. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 12. 

MILITARY TRANSFORMATION 

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland Forces held
hearings to examine certain military transformation initiatives,
focusing on the Joint Staff's implementation plan (Joint Vision 2010) to
promote innovation and change in the Department of Defense, including
developing information superiority, receiving testimony from Lt. Gen.
Frank B. Campbell, Director for Force Structure, Resources, and
Assessment; Lt. Gen. Douglas D. Buchholz, Director for Command, Control,
Communications, and Computer Systems, Joint Staff; Maj. Gen. George F.
Close, Director for Operational Plans and Interoperability; Gen. John J.
Sheehan, USMC (Ret.), former Commander, United States Atlantic Command;
and Gen. Robert W. RisCassi, USA (Ret.), Member, National Defense Panel. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

                               [Page: D166]

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE 

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 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,
Military Operations and Capabilities Issues, General Accounting Office;
Frank M. Rush, Jr., Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force
Management Policy; Lt. Gen. Frederick E. Vollrath, USA, Deputy Chief of
Staff for Personnel; Vice Adm. Daniel T. Oliver, USN, Chief of Naval
Personnel; Lt. Gen. Carol A. Mutter, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff for
Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Lt. Gen. Michael D. McGinty, USAF, Deputy
Chief of Staff for Personnel; Maj. Gen. Mark R. Hamilton, USA,
Commanding General, United States 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; Col. Peter U. Sutton, USAF, Commander, Air Force Recruiting
Service; Beverly Schladt and David Moser, both Senior Evaluators,
General Accounting Office; Sgt. First Class Gregory W. Seibert, United
States Army; Aviation Administrator Second Class Jack D. Layne, and
Signalman Second Class Deanna M. Luna, both of the United States Navy;
Technical Sgt. Timothy C. Barber, United States Air Force; and Gunnery
Sgt. Paul A. Jornet, United States Marine Corps. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 11. 

DEFENSE DEPOT MAINTENANCE 

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness concluded
hearings to examine the status of the bidding process between public and
private competitors over the disposition of the workloads currently
performed at Sacramento and San Antonio Air Logistics Centers identified
for closure during the 1995 base realignment and closure process, after
receiving testimony from Henry L. Hinton, Jr., Assistant Comptroller
General, National Security and International Affairs Division, Robert
Murphy, General Counsel, and Julia Denman, Assistant Director, Defense
Management Issues, all of the General Accounting Office; Jacques S.
Gansler, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Technology; Gen.
George T. Babbitt, Jr., USN, Commander, Air Force Materiel Command;
Darleen A. Druyun, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
(Acquisition and Management); Maj. Gen. Eugene L. Tattini, USAF,
Commander, Sacramento Air Logistics Center; Maj. Gen. Richard H.
Roellig, USAF, Commander, Ogden Air Logistics Center; Maj. Gen. Charles
H. Perez, USAF, Commander, Oklahoma City Air Logistics Center; Maj. Gen.
James S. Childress, USAF, Commander, San Antonio Logistics Center; and
Maj. Gen. Richard N. Goddard, USAF, Commander, Warner Robins Air
Logistics Center. 

DOE BUDGET 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings
on the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1999 for the
Department of Energy, after receiving testimony from Federico Pena,
Secretary of Energy. 

U.S.-JAPAN RELATIONS 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific
Affairs concluded hearings to examine the recent World Trade
Organization decision in the Eastman Kodak v. Fuji Photo Film dispute
and its implications for United States-Japan relations, after receiving
testimony from Susan G. Esserman, General Counsel, Office of the United
States Trade Representative; Ira Wolf, Kodak Japan Limited, Tokyo, on
behalf of the Eastman Kodak Company; and William H. Barringer, Willkie
Farr & Gallagher, on behalf of the Fuji Photo Film, Inc., Clyde V.
Prestowitz, Economic Strategy Institute, and Edward J. Lincoln,
Brookings Institution, all of Washington, D.C. 

NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
effectiveness of national drug control policies, after receiving
testimony from Barry R. McCaffrey, Director, Office of National Drug
Control Policy. 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS COMPETITION 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights,
and Competition held hearings on the implementation of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 and its goal to provide increased
competition to the telecommunications industry, focusing on Federal and
State coordination efforts with regard to the entry of the Regional Bell
Companies into interLATA long distance service, receiving testimony from
William E. Kennard, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission; Joel I.
Klein, Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, Department of
Justice; Jolynn Barry Butler, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio,
Columbus; Bert Roberts, MCI Communications Corporation, Washington,
D.C.; Royce Caldwell, SBC Communications, Inc., San Antonio, Texas; Jim
Robbins, Cox Communications, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia; and William J.
Rouhana, Jr., WinStar Communications, Inc., New York, New D167York, on
behalf of the Association for Local Telecommunications Services. 

                               [Page: D167]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS THREAT 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism and
Government Information held joint hearings with the Select Committee on
Intelligence to examine the threat posed by the use of biological
weapons by terrorists, receiving testimony from Stephen M. Ostroff,
Associate Director for Epidemiologic Science, National Center for
Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Department of Health and Human Services; Col. David R. Franz, Deputy
Commander, U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command, Ft. Detrick,
Maryland; and W. Seth Carus, Center for Counter Proliferation
Research/National Defense University, Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS OPERATIONS 

Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee held hearings on S.
1578, to require the Director of the Congressional Research Service to
make accessible to the public via the Internet all information available
through the CRS web site that is not confidential, including CRS issue
briefs, reports, and authorization or appropriations products, the
proposed budget request for fiscal year 1999 for the Library of
Congress, to review the Library's management operations, and its plans
for the Bicentennial observance in the year 2000, and proposed
legislation authorizing funds for the American Folklife Center of the
Library of Congress, receiving testimony from Senator McCain; James H.
Billington, Librarian of Congress; Donald L. Scott, Deputy Librarian of
Congress; William L. Kinney Jr., Chairman, American Folklife Center
Board of Trustees; and Alan Jabbour, Director, American Folklife Center. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the impact of global climate change on United States
agriculture and forests, focusing on an international agreement reached
in Kyoto, Japan in December 1997 to control greenhouse gas emissions
(Kyoto Protocol), and the President's proposed budget request for fiscal
year 1999 for climate change programs, after receiving testimony from
Senator Wyden; Stuart E. Eizenstat, Under Secretary of State for
Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs; Richard Rominger, Deputy
Secretary of Agriculture; Janet Yellen, Chair, Council of Economic
Advisers; Dean R. Kleckner, Rudd, Iowa, on behalf of the American Farm
Bureau Federation; Fred Krupp, Environmental Defense Fund, New York, New
York; Mary Novak, WEFA, Inc., Burlington, Massachusetts; and Marty
Strange, Randolph, Vermont, on behalf of the Center for Rural Affairs. 

APPROPRIATIONS--NOAA/SBA 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and the Judiciary, and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 1999, receiving testimony in behalf of funds
for their respective activities from D. James Baker, Under Secretary of
Commerce for Atmosphere and Oceans/National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration; and Aida Alvarez, Administrator, Small Business
Administration. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 10. 

APPROPRIATIONS--EDUCATION/CAMPUS SECURITY 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed
budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of Education,
receiving testimony from Richard W. Riley, Secretary of Education. 

Also, subcommittee concluded hearings to examine certain incidents of
crime on college campuses and efforts to strengthen the campus crime
reporting and disclosure provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965
and the Campus Security Act of 1990, after receiving testimony from
Senator Torricelli; David A. Longanecker, Assistant Secretary of
Education for Postsecondary Education; Howard K. Clery, Jr., Security On
Campus, Inc., King of Prussia, Pennsylvania; Jacob A. McKee, Lehigh
University, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Stanley O. Ikenberry, American
Council on Education, and Delores Stafford, George Washington
University, both of Washington, D.C.; Michele Goldfarb, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and Barbara R. Prentice, Centerville,
Massachusetts. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 10. 

                               [Page: D178]

AIRLINE COMPETITION 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related
Agencies held hearings to examine certain barriers to competition in the
United States domestic airline industry, receiving testimony from
Patrick V. Murphy, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation for
Aviation and International Affairs; John H. Anderson, Jr., Director,
Transportation Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development
Division, General Accounting Office; Paul S. Dempsey, University of
Denver College of Law, Denver, Colorado, on behalf of Frontier Airlines,
Inc.; Mark S. Kahan, Spirit Airlines, Inc., Eastpointe, Michigan; and
Michael Boyd, Boyd Group, Evergreen, Colorado. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, April 2. 

APPROPRIATIONS--IRS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Treasury, Postal
Service, and General Government held hearings on proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Internal Revenue Service,
receiving testimony from Charles O. Rossotti, Commissioner, Internal
Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 12. 

APPROPRIATIONS--FEMA/CORPORATION FOR NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY
SERVICE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
1999, receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective
activities from James Lee Witt, Director, Federal Emergency Management
Agency; and Harris Wofford, Chief Executive Officer, Corporation for
National and Community Service. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 12. 

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
role of the Department of Defense in countering the transnational
threats of the 21st century, including terrorism, narco-trafficking, and
weapons of mass destruction, after receiving testimony from Walter B.
Slocombe, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; Adm. Joseph W. Prueher,
USN, Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Command; Gen. Charles E.
Wilhelm, USMC, Commander-in-Chief, United States Southern Command; and
Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, USA, Commander-in-Chief, United States Special
Operations Command. 

COMMERCIAL SPACE ACT 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Science, Technology and Space concluded hearings on S. 1473 and H.R.
1702, bills to encourage the development of a commercial space industry
in the United States, after receiving testimony from Senators Allard and
Graham; John Barker, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State/Bureau of
Political-Military Affairs; Keith Calhoun-Senghor, Director, Office of
Air and Space Commercialization, Technology Administration, Department
of Commerce; Edward A. Frankle, General Counsel, National Aeronautics
and Space Administration; Gil I. Klinger, Acting Deputy Under Secretary
of Defense for Space; John Copple, Space Imaging, Thornton, Colorado;
Michael S. Kelly, Kelly Space and Technology, San Bernardino,
California; Robert Meuser, Kistler Aerospace, Kirkland, Washington; and
F. Michael Swiek, United States Global Positioning System Industry
Council, Washington, D.C. 

INTERIOR BUDGET 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings
on the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1999 for the
Department of the Interior, after receiving testimony from Bruce
Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior. 

BUSINESS MEETING 


Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee met and approved a report
of the committee on the special investigation of illegal or improper
activities in connection with the l996 Federal election campaign. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:

S. 1379, to require disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act
regarding certain persons, and disclose Nazi war criminal records
without impairing any investigation or prosecution conducted by the
Department of Justice or certain intelligence matters, with an amendment
in the nature of a substitute; 

S. Res. 171, designating March 25, 1998, as "Greek Independence Day: A
National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy''; and 

The nominations of Sonia Sotomayor, of New York, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit, Susan Graber, of Oregon, to be a
United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Sam A. Lindsey, to be
United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Hilda
G. Tagle, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District
of Texas, Judith M. Barzilay, of New Jersey, and Delissa A. Ridgway,
each to be a Judge of the United States Court of International Trade,
and D179Brian Scott Roy, to be a United States Marshal for the Western
District of Kentucky. 

                               [Page: D179]

IMMIGRATION NATURALIZATION PROCESS 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration concluded
oversight hearings on activities of the Immigration and Naturalization
Service of the Department of Justice, focusing on Federal efforts to
improve the naturalization process of the Immigration and Naturalization
Service, after receiving testimony from Stephen R. Colgate, Assistant
Attorney General, Justice Management Division, Michael R. Bromwich,
Inspector General, and Cedric Lee, Special Agent, Immigration and
Naturalization Service (Honolulu, Hawaii), all of the Department of
Justice; Gary M. Ahrens, KPMG Peat Marwick, Dayton, Ohio; and William
Stan Hawthorne, Coopers & Lybrand, Chantilly, Virginia. 

AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS 

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Subcommittee on Children and
Families concluded hearings to examine proposals to coordinate Federal
and State efforts to establish increased programs to provide after
school care for children, including S. 882, to improve academic and
social outcomes for students by providing productive activities during
after school hours, after receiving testimony from Senator Boxer;
Georgia State Senator Mary Margaret Oliver, Atlanta; Mayor Thomas M.
Menino, Boston, Massachusetts; Edward A. Flynn, Arlington County Chief
of Police, Arlington, Virginia, on behalf of Fight Crime: Invest in
Kids; James W. Horne, Jr., Bridgeport Youth Coalition and Bridgeport
Board of Education, Bridgeport, Connecticut; Eric Yonnie and Sharon
Jones, both of the Chinle Learning Center/ Navajo Nation, Chinle,
Arizona; Janet Frieling, School's Out Consortium/YWCA, Seattle,
Washington; and Cynthia Kiefer, Nashville, Tennessee. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS: BOSNIA AND IRAQ

Committee on Appropriations: Committee concluded hearings on proposed
legislation making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 1998 for contingency operations in Bosnia and
Iraq, and for recovery from natural disasters in the Northeast,
California and Guam, after receiving testimony from William S. Cohen,
Secretary of Defense; and Gen. Hugh H. Shelton, USA, Chairman, Joint
Chiefs of Staff. 

TOBACCO SETTLEMENT: CIVIL LIABILITY

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings on the civil
liability protection provisions of S. 1530, to resolve ongoing tobacco
litigation, to reform the civil justice system responsible for
adjudicating tort claims against companies that manufacture tobacco
products, and establish a national tobacco policy for the United States
that will decrease youth tobacco use and reduce the marketing of tobacco
products to young Americans, receiving testimony from Senator Conrad,
Mississippi Attorney General Mike Moore, Jackson; Stanley M. Chesley,
Waite, Schneider, Bayless & Chesley Co., Cincinnati, Ohio; Richard D.
Hailey, Indianapolis, Indiana, on behalf of the Association of Trial
Lawyers of America; Colorado Attorney General Gale Norton, Denver; John
R. Garrison, American Lung Association, Washington, D.C.; D. Scott Wise,
Davis, Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York. 

Hearings continue on Thursday, March 12. 

                               [Page: D187]

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PUBLIC SCHOOLS 

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of
Government Management, Restructuring, and the District of Columbia
concluded hearings to examine the District of Columbia Public Schools'
efforts to repair school roofs during the D195summer of 1997, focusing
on the availability of funds and the cost of the fiscal year 1997
capital improvement program procurement process, after receiving
testimony from Gloria L. Jarmon, Director, Health, Education, and Human
Services Accounting and Financial Management Issues, Accounting and
Information Management Division, General Accounting Office; David L.
Cotton, Cotton & Company, Alexandria, Virginia; Joyce Ladner, Member,
District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance
Authority; Julius W. Becton, Jr., Chief Executive Officer, District of
Columbia Public Schools; and Taalib-Din Uqdah, Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D195]

JUVENILE RECORD KEEPING 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Youth Violence concluded
hearings to examine the effectiveness of the juvenile record keeping
requirement provisions of S. 10, to reduce violent juvenile crime,
promote accountability by juvenile criminals, and punish and deter
violent gang crime (pending on Senate calendar), after receiving
testimony from Charles W. Archer, Assistant Director, Criminal Justice
Information Services Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Department of Justice; Lewis Vass, Virginia Department of State Police,
Richmond; and Gary R. Cooper, Sacramento, California, and Robert R.
Belair, Washington, D.C., both on behalf of SEARCH/National Consortium
for Justice Information and Statistics. 

BABY BOOMERS' LONG-TERM CARE

Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
financial challenge for individuals and policy makers of meeting the
long-term care needs of the baby boom generation, focusing on how
retirement of the baby boomers will impact the demand for long-term
care, the ability of public budgets to provide those services, and the
projected retirement income of baby boomers, after receiving testimony
from William J. Scanlon, Director, Health Financing and Systems Issues,
Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General Accounting
Office; Mathew Greenwald, Mathew Greenwald & Associates, Inc., Janemarie
Mulvey and Barbara Stucki, both of the American Council of Life
Insurance, and Joshua M. Wiener, Urban Institute, all of Washington,
D.C.; Samuel Morgante, GE Capital Assurance Company, San Rafael,
California, on behalf of the Health Insurance Association of America;
Roger Auerbach, Oregon Department of Human Resources, Salem; Alan
Lazaroff, Centura Health, Denver, Colorado, on behalf of the National
Chronic Care Consortium; Mark J. Schulte, Brookdale Living Communities,
Inc., Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of the American Seniors Housing
Association; and Lynda Gormus, Richmond, Virginia. 

No Joint hearings noted.



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

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE PROGRAM 

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the current Federal crop insurance program and
proposals to improve the system, after receiving testimony from
Representatives Pomeroy and Collin Peterson; Dallas R. Smith, Deputy
Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Services, on behalf of the Risk Management Agency; Ernest L. Ross,
American Association of Crop Insurers, Washington, D.C.; Robert E.
Fulwider, West Liberty, Iowa, on behalf of the Independent Insurance
Agents of America and the National Association of Crop Insurance Agents;
Dee Vaughan, Lone Star Corn Growers Association, Dumas, Texas, on behalf
of the National Corn Growers Association and the American Farm Bureau
Federation; and Phil Cyre, South Dakota Farmers Union, Hazel, South
Dakota, on behalf of the National Farmers Union. 

APPROPRIATIONS--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for
military construction programs, focusing on Air Force and Navy projects,
after receiving testimony from Robert B. Pirie, Jr., Assistant Secretary
of the Navy (Installations and Environment); Rear Adm. David Nash,
Chief, Naval Facilities Engineering Command; Brig. Gen. James M. Hayes,
Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff for Installations and Logistics
(Facilities), United States Marine Corps; Rear Adm. John B. Totushek,
Deputy Director of Naval Reserve; Rodney A. Coleman, Assistant Secretary
of the Air Force (Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations, and
Environment); Maj. Gen. Eugene A. Lupia, Civil Engineer, Deputy Chief of
Air Force Staff, Installations and Logistics; Maj. Gen. Paul A. Weaver,
Director, Air National Guard; and Brig. Gen. Ralph S. Clem, Deputy to
the Chief of Air Force Reserve. 

APPROPRIATIONS--AGRICULTURE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Food and Nutrition Service,
Department of Agriculture, receiving testimony from Shirley R. Watkins,
Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, Yvette Jackson,
Administrator, and Ronald J. Vogel, Associate Deputy Administrator,
Special Nutrition Programs, both of the Food and Nutrition Service, and
Dennis Kaplan, Deputy Director, Budget, Legislation, and Regulatory
Systems, all of the Department of Agriculture. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 17. 

CHILD PORNOGRAPHY ON THE INTERNET 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and the Judiciary and Related Agencies concluded hearings to review the
progress of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on-line investigation
into the scope of child pornography and sexual exploitation of children
on the Internet and to examine whether additional funding is necessary
to continue the project, after receiving testimony from Louis J. Freeh,
Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice; and
Ernest E. Allen, National Center for Missing and Exploited Children,
Arlington, Virginia.

APPROPRIATIONS--DOE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
1999 for the Department of Energy, receiving testimony in behalf of
funds for their respective activities from Dan W. Reicher, Assistant
Secretary for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, and Martha A.
Krebs, Director, Office of Energy Research, both of the Department of
Energy. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 26. 

APPROPRIATIONS--HHS 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held hearings on proposed budget estimates for
fiscal year 1999 for the Department of Health and Human Services,
receiving testimony from Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human
Services. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 18. 

                               [Page: D201]

MEDICARE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held hearings to examine the status of the
Health Care Financing Administration's efforts to establish
resource-based practice expenses under the Medicare physician fee
schedule as directed by the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, receiving
testimony from Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, Administrator, Health Care
Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; Neil
H. Brooks, Rockville, Connecticut, on behalf of the American Academy of
Family Physicians; Arthur L. Day, University of Florida, Gainesville, on
behalf of the Practice Expense Coalition; Timothy J. Gardner, University
of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, on behalf of the Society of Thoracic
Surgeons and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery; and Alan R.
Nelson, American Society of Internal Medicine, Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE 

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the
Department of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on
littoral warfare missions in the 21st century, receiving testimony from
Vice Adm. Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN, Deputy Chief of Naval
Operations for Resources; Major Gen. Edward Hanlon, Jr., USMC, Director
Expeditionary Warfare; Rear Adm. Daniel J. Murphy, Jr., USN, Director,
Surface Warfare; Rear Adm. Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., USN, Director,
Submarine Warfare; and Rear Adm. Dennis V. McGinn, USN, Director, Air
Warfare. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 17. 

FINANCIAL REGULATORY RELIEF 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings on S. 1405, to provide for improved monetary policy and
regulatory reform in financial institution management and activities, to
streamline financial regulatory agency actions, and to provide for
improved consumer credit disclosure, after receiving testimony from
Laurence H. Meyer, Member, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System; John D. Hawke, Jr., Under Secretary for Domestic Finance, and
Ellen Seidman, Director, Office of Thrift Supervision, both of the
Department of the Treasury; Andrew C. Hove, Jr., Acting Chairman,
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Utah Commissioner of Financial
Institutions G. Edward Leary, Salt Lake City, on behalf of the
Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Stephen A. Yoder, AmSouth Bank,
Birmingham, Alabama, on behalf of the American Bankers Association; E.
Lee Beard, First Federal Savings and Loan Association of Hazleton,
Hazleton, Pennsylvania; and Joseph S. Bracewell, Century National Bank,
on behalf of the Independent Bankers Association of America, Margot
Saunders, National Consumer Law Center, on behalf of the Consumer
Federation of America and the U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and
Frank C. Torres, III, Consumers Union, all of Washington, D.C. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on the nominations of Orson Swindle, of Hawaii, and Mozelle
Willmont Thompson, of New York, each to be a Federal Trade Commissioner;
Robert J. Shapiro, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary of
Commerce for Economic Affairs, John Charles Horsley, of Washington, to
be Associate Deputy Secretary of Transportation, and Christy Carpenter,
of California, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Swindle was introduced by
Senators Inouye and Akaka, Mr. Thompson was introduced by Representative
Nadler, Ms. Carpenter was introduced by Senators Hutchison and Boxer,
Mr. Horsley was introduced by Senators Gorton and Murray and
Representative Dicks, and Mr. Shapiro was introduced by Senators
Lieberman and Moynihan. 

MONTAGNARD PEOPLE IN VIETNAM 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine
the current situation confronting the Montagnard people in Vietnam,
including their limited access to medical care and education, focusing
on the United States historical relationship with the Montagnards, and
immigration difficulties experienced by the Montagnards and other
Vietnamese refugees, after receiving testimony from Stanley O. Roth,
Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and Julia Taft,
Assistant Secretary for Population, Refugees, and Migration, both of the
Department of State; John F. Sommer, Jr., American Legion, Washington,
D.C.; Nguyen Dinh Thang, Boat People S.O.S., Fairfax, Virginia; Rong
Nay, Montagnard Foundation, Inc., Cary, North Carolina; and Y Hin Nie,
Montagnard Dega Association, Inc., Greensboro, North Carolina. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported
the following bills: 

                               [Page: D202]

S. 981, to provide for the analysis of regulatory rules by Federal
agencies, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and 

S. 1364, to eliminate unnecessary and wasteful Federal reports, with an
amendment. 

U.S. MARSHALS SELECTION PROCESS 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
need to develop a competitive selection process for the United States
Marshals Service, and a related measure H.R. 927, to provide for
appointment of United States Marshals by the U.S. Attorney General,
after receiving testimony from Eduardo Gonzalez, Director, Henry E.
Hudson, former Director, and Nancy J. McGillivray-Shaffer, United States
Marshal for the District of Massachusetts, Boston, all of the United
States Marshals Service, Department of Justice; Victor Oboyski, Federal
Law Enforcement Officers Association, East Northport, New York; and
Steve Young, Fraternal Order of Police, Washington, D.C. 

No Joint hearings noed.



1998/03/11
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 11, 1998,  pages D210 - D222

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense, focusing on Navy and Marine Corps programs, 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. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 18. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland Forces held
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999
for the Department of Defense and the future years defense program,
focusing on land forces modernization, receiving testimony from Lt. Gen.
Paul J. Kern, USA, Military Deputy Director/Assistant Secretary of the
Army (Research, Development and Acquisition); Lt. Gen. John N. Abrams,
USA, Deputy Commanding General, United States Training and Doctrine
Command; Maj. Gen. Michael J. Williams, USMC, Commanding General, Marine
Corps Systems Command; and Lt. Gen. John E. Rhodes, USMC, Commanding
General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 25. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE


Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the
Department of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on
the military health system, receiving testimony from Gary A.
Christopherson, Acting Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health
Affairs; Lt. Gen. Ronald R. Blanck, USA, Surgeon General of the Army;
Vice Adm. Harold M. Koenig, USN, Surgeon General of the Navy; Lt. Gen.
Charles E. Roadman, II, USAF, D213Surgeon General of the Air Force;
David J. McIntyre, Jr., TriWest Healthcare Alliance, Phoenix, Arizona;
Robert E. Shields, Humana Military Healthcare Services, Inc.,
Louisville, Kentucky; Capt. Calvin C. Dudley, USN (Ret.), Georgia
Federal/Military Retiree Coalition, Royston; Cdr. Michael W. Lord, USN
(Ret.), Commissioned Officers Association of the U.S. Public Health
Service, Inc., and Sydney Hickey, National Military Family Association,
Alexandria, Virginia, both on behalf of the Military Coalition; Col.
Charles C. Partridge, USA (Ret.), National Association for Uniformed
Services, Springfield, Virginia, on behalf of the National Military and
Veterans Alliance; and W. Hal Franck, Mountain Home Air Force Base,
Idaho. 

                               [Page: D213]

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 18. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the
Department of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on
environmental and military construction programs, receiving testimony
from Sherri W. Goodman, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for
Environmental Security; Jan B. Reitman, Staff Director, Environment and
Safety, Defense Logistics Agency; Raymond J. Fatz, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Environment, Safety and Occupational Health;
Robert B. Pirie, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations
and Environment; Thomas W. McCall, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary of
the Air Force for Environmental, Safety and Occupational Health; John B.
Goodman, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Industrial Affairs and
Installations; Paul Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for
Installations and Housing; and Jimmy Dishner, Deputy Assistant Secretary
of the Air Force for Installations. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999
for the Department of Defense and the future years defense program,
focusing on United States national security space programs and policies,
receiving testimony from Gen. Howell M. Estes, USAF, Commander-in-Chief,
United States Space Command; and Keith R. Hall, Assistant Secretary of
the Air Force for Space/Director, National Reconnaissance Office. 

Subcommittee will meet again tomorrow. 

ELECTRONIC AUTHENTICATION

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Financial Services and Technology concluded hearings on S. 1594, to
facilitate the use of electronic authentication techniques by financial
institutions, after receiving testimony from P. Michael Nugent,
Citibank, New York, New York; and Ken Lieberman, VISA U.S.A., Inc.,
Harris Miller, ITAA, and Alfred M. Pollard, Bankers Roundtable, all of
Washington, D.C. 

GLOBAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee resumed
hearings on proposed legislation to reform and restructure the processes
by which tobacco products are manufactured, marketed, and distributed,
to prevent the use of tobacco products by minors, and to redress the
adverse health effects of tobacco use, receiving testimony from Senators
Hatch, Chafee, Baucus, Lugar, and Conrad.  

Hearings continue on Tuesday, March 17. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items: 

S. 633, to adjust the boundary of the Petroglyph National Monument in
New Mexico to exclude the Paseo del Norte road corridor, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. 1132, to modify the boundaries of the Bandelier National Monument to
include the lands within the headwaters of the Upper Alamo Watershed
which drain into the monument and which are not currently within the
jurisdiction of a Federal land management agency, and to authorize
purchase or donation of those lands, with amendments; and 

S. 1069, to designate the American Discovery Trail as the first National
Discovery Trail and to establish a new category within the National
Trails System, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

Committee also completed its review of those programs which fall within
the committee's jurisdiction as contained in the President's proposed
budget for fiscal year 1999, and agreed on recommendations it will make
thereon to the Committee on the Budget. 

Also, committee began markup of S. 1403, to establish a national
historic lighthouse preservation program, but did not complete action
thereon, and recessed subject to call. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported S.
Res. 187, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the human rights
situation in the People's Republic of China. 

                               [Page: D214]

MIDDLE EAST 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South
Asian Affairs held hearings to examine recent developments in the Middle
East, focusing on the Israel-PLO negotiating process and the role of the
United States in that process, receiving testimony from Senators Kyl and
Lieberman; Martin S. Indyk, Assistant Secretary of State for Near
Eastern Affairs; Daniel Pipes, Middle East Quarterly , Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania; Henry Siegman, Council on Foreign Relations, New York, New
York; and Robert Satloff, Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and
Steven Emerson, both of Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATION 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded an additional hearing on
the nomination of Frederica A. Massiah-Jackson, to be United States
District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania (pending on
Senate Executive Calendar), after the nominee testified and answered
further questions in her own behalf. 

BANKRUPTCY REFORM 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and
the Courts concluded hearings on S. 1301, to provide for consumer
bankruptcy protection, focusing on certain abuses occurring under the
current Bankruptcy Code, after receiving testimony from Richard M.
Stana, Legislative Advisor, General Accounting Office; Lawrence A.
Friedman, Friedman and Kohut, Southfield, Michigan, on behalf of the
National Association of Bankruptcy Trustees; A. Thomas Small, Chief
Bankruptcy Judge, Eastern District of North Carolina; Tahira K. Hira,
Iowa State University, Ames; George J. Wallace, Eckert Seamans Cherin &
Mellott, on behalf of the American Financial Services Association,
Michael E. Staten, Credit Research Center/Georgetown University School
of Business, and Stephen Brobeck, Consumer Federation of America, all of
Washington, D.C.; William E. Brewer, Jr., Raleigh, North Carolina, on
behalf of the National Association of Consumer Bankruptcy Attorneys;
Stanton Bluestone, Carson Pirie Scott & Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin,
on behalf of the National Retail Federation; Brian McDonnell, National
Association of Federal Credit Unions, Arlington, Virginia; Robert
Elliot, Household International, Inc., Prospect Heights, Illinois;
Douglas Boshkoff, Indiana University School of Law, Bloomington; Randal
C. Picker, University of Chicago Law School, Chicago, Illinois, on
behalf of the National Bankruptcy Conference; Deborah D. Williamson, Cox
& Smith, San Antonio, Texas, on behalf of the American Bankruptcy
Institute; and Matthew J. Mason, Detroit, Michigan, on behalf of the
International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace, and Agricultural
Implement Workers of America and the UAW-GM Legal Services Plan. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nomination of Richard M. McGahey, of New York, to be an
Assistant Secretary of Labor. 

Also, committee began markup of S. 1648, to amend the Public Health
Service Act and the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act to provide for
reductions in youth smoking, for advancements in tobacco-related
research, and the development of safer tobacco products, but did not
complete action thereon, and will meet again on Wednesday, March 18. 

BUSINESS MEETING 


Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee completed its review of those
programs which fall within
the committee's jurisdiction as contained in the President's proposed
budget for fiscal year 1999, and
agreed on recommendations it will make thereon to the Committee on the
Budget. 

TRIBAL SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY 

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee held hearings to examine the
status of tribal sovereign immunity and the role it plays to preserve
the Federal Government's protection of tribal self-government, and its
impact on Indian economic development, commercial dealings and taxation,
and related proposals, including S. 1691, to provide for Indian legal
reform, receiving testimony from Representatives Istook and LaHood;
Derril B. Jordan, Associate Solicitor, Division of Indian Affairs,
Department of the Interior; Thomas L. LeClaire, Director, Office of
Tribal Justice, Department of Justice; Judge R.A. Randall, Minnesota
State Court of Appeals, St. Paul; New York State Assembly Jeffrey Klein,
Albany; Michael Harris, Michael D. Harris Law Office, Tahlequah,
Oklahoma; Phillip Martin, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians,
Philadelphia; W. Ron Allen, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Sequim,
Washington, on behalf of the National Congress of American Indians; Mark
A. Jarboe, Dorsey & Whitney, Minneapolis, Minnesota; John Lattauzio, J &
J Mini-Markets, Alamogordo, New Mexico; Greg Love, Love's Country
Stores, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on behalf of the Society of Independent
Gasoline Marketers of America; Gregory E. Pyle, Choctaw Nation of
Oklahoma, Durant; David Kwail, Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, Phoenix;
Reid Peyton Chambers, Sonosky, Chambers, Sachse & Endreson, Washington,
D.C.; and Scott Morrison, Wilburton, Oklahoma. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

                               [Page: D215]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/12
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 12, 1998,  pages D224 - D234

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

AUTHORIZATION--CHILD NUTRITION

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee held
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for child nutrition
programs, focusing on streamlining program operations, increasing access
to qualified participants, and ensuring food safety, receiving testimony
from Representative Kennedy; Shirley R. Watkins, Under Secretary of
Agriculture for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services; Melinda Turner,
American School Food Service Association, Booneville, Kentucky; Linda
Locke, Community Coordinated Child Care, Louisville, Kentucky, on behalf
of the National Child Care Food Program; Karen R. Ford, Food Bank of
Iowa, Des Moines; and Robert Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy
Priorities, Washington, D.C. 

Hearings continue on Tuesday, March 17. 

                               [Page: D226]

APPROPRIATIONS--SUPREME COURT/JUDICIARY

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and the Judiciary held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal
year 1999 for the Supreme Court of the United States and the Judiciary,
receiving testimony from Judge Anthony M. Kennedy and Judge David H.
Souter, each an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United
States; and Judge John G. Heyburn II, United States District Judge for
the Western District of Kentucky. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 19. 

APPROPRIATIONS--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999, receiving
testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from
Senator Warner, on behalf of the Joint Committee on Printing; Senator
Roth, on behalf of the Joint Committee on Taxation; Representative
Saxton, on behalf of the Joint Economic Committee; Gregory Casey, Senate
Sergeant at Arms; James Billington, Librarian of Congress; and Daniel
Mulhollan, Director, Congressional Research Service. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 19. 

APPROPRIATIONS--TREASURY

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Treasury, Postal
Service, and General Government held hearings on proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of the Treasury,
receiving testimony from Robert E. Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 26. 

APPROPRIATIONS--HUD

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
1999, receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective
activities from Andrew Cuomo, Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development; and John D. Hawke, Jr., Under Secretary of the Treasury for
Domestic Finance, on behalf of the Community Development Financial
Institutions. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 19. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Acquisition and Technology
held hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year
1999 for the Department of Defense and the future years defense program,
focusing on science and technology programs, receiving testimony from
Jacques S. Gansler, Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and
Technology; John W. Douglass, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for
Research, Development and Acquisition; Lt. Gen. George K. Muellner,
USAF, Principal Deputy, Office of Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
for Acquisition; Kenneth J. Oscar, Acting Assistant Secretary of the
Army for Research, Development and Acquisition; and Larry Lynn,
Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 18. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces resumed
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999
for the Department of Defense and the future years defense program,
focusing on environmental management, non-proliferation, and fissile
materials disposition, receiving testimony from Elizabeth A. Moler,
Deputy Secretary of Energy, Rose Gottmoeller, Director, Office of
Non-Proliferation, James Owendoff, Acting Assistant Secretary for
Environmental Management, and Howard Cantor, Acting Director, Office of
Fissile Materials Disposition, all of the Department of Energy. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 19. 

FEDERAL HOME LOAN BANK REFORM

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings on S. 1423, to modernize and improve the operations of the
Federal Home Loan Bank by allowing financial institutions with assets
less that $500 million to access the Federal Home Loan Bank System for
new kinds of lending, providing voluntary membership, reforming the
capital structure of the System, and changing the REFCorp formula to a
fixed percentage, after receiving testimony from Mark Drabenstott,
Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Missouri; Dean R. Edwards,
Affordable Housing Group, Charlotte, North Carolina; James Verbrugge,
University of Georgia, Atlanta; Phil Burns, Farmers and Merchants
National Bank, West Point, Nebraska, on behalf of the American Bankers
Association; Robert I. Gulledge, Citizen's Bank, Robertsdale, Alabama,
on behalf of the Independent Bankers Association of America; and Curtis
L. Hage, Home Federal Savings Bank, Sioux City, South Dakota, on behalf
of the America's Community Bankers. 

                               [Page: D227]

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items: 

The nominations of John Charles Horsley, of Washington, to be Associate
Deputy Secretary of Transportation, James E. Hall, of Tennessee, to be
Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, Robert J. Shapiro,
of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for
Economic Affairs, Winter D. Horton, Jr., of Utah, and Christy Carpenter,
of California, each to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Orson Swindle, of Hawaii, and
Mozelle Willmont Thompson, of New York, each to be a Federal Trade
Commissioner, and lists for promotion in the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration and the United States Coast Guard; 

S. 1699, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a
certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment
in the coastwise trade for the vessel BILLIE-B-II; 

S. 1731, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a
certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment
in the coastwise trade for the vessel FALLS POINT; 

S. 1732, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a
certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment
in the coastwise trade for the vessel VESTERHAVEN, with an amendment; 

S. 1609, to authorize funds for the Next Generation Internet program,
and to require the Advisory Committee on High-Performance Computing and
Communications, Information Technology, and the Next Generation Internet
to monitor and give advice concerning the development and implementation
of the Next Generation Internet program and report to the President and
the Congress in its activities. (As approved by the committee, the bill
authorizes $102,500,000 for fiscal year 1999 and $115,000,000 for fiscal
year 2000.); 

H.R. 1702, to encourage the development of a commercial space industry
in the United States, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. 1250, to authorize funds for fiscal years 1998 and 1999 for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute; 

H. Con. Res. 131, expressing the sense of Congress regarding the ocean,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. 1422, to promote competition in the market for delivery of
multichannel video programming; 

S. 1618, to improve the protection of consumers against "slamming'' by
telecommunications carriers, with amendments; 

S. 1619, to direct the Federal Communications Commission to study
systems for filtering or blocking matter on the Internet, and to require
the installation of such a system on computers in schools and libraries
with Internet access; and 

S. 1482, to establish a prohibition on commercial distribution on the
World Wide Web of material that is harmful to minors. 

AUTHORIZATION--COAST GUARD

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Oceans and Fisheries concluded hearings on the President's proposed
budget request for fiscal year 1999 for the United States Coast Guard,
after receiving testimony from Adm. Robert E. Kramek, Commandant, U.S.
Coast Guard, Department of Transportation. 

CHINESE NUCLEAR COOPERATION

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held closed hearings to
examine certain intelligence issues relating to Chinese nuclear
cooperation with various countries, receiving testimony from Robert J.
Einhorn, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs;
and John Lauder, Special Assistant to the Director of Central
Intelligence for Nonproliferation, Central Intelligence Agency. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

AFRICAN DEMOCRACY

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on African Affairs
concluded hearings to examine the prospects for democracy under the
current generation of new African leaders, and how the United States
should interact with and support them, after receiving testimony from
Susan E. Rice, Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs; and
George B.N. Ayittey, American University, Pauline Baker, Fund for Peace,
Salih Booker, Council on Foreign Relations, and David F. Gordon,
Overseas Development Council, all of Washington, D.C. 

IRS REFORM

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee held hearings on proposed
legislation to reform and restructure the Internal Revenue Service,
focusing on management flexibility and accountability provisions,
receiving testimony from Charles O. Rossotti, Commissioner, Internal
Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury; G. Edward DeSeve, Acting
Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget; Carol
J. Okin, Associate Director for Merit Systems Oversight and
Effectiveness, Office of Personnel Management; and Michael Brostek,
Associate D228Director, Federal Management and Workforce Issues, General
Government Division, General Accounting Office. 

                               [Page: D228]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

PROTECT ACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings on provisions of S.
1530, to resolve ongoing tobacco litigation, to reform the civil justice
system responsible for adjudicating tort claims against companies that
manufacture tobacco products, and establish a national tobacco policy
for the United States that will decrease youth tobacco use and reduce
the marketing of tobacco products to young Americans (pending on Senate
calendar), receiving testimony from David Satcher, Surgeon General and
Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Health; William L.
Roper, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, on behalf of
Partnership for Prevention; Gregory N. Connolly, Massachusetts Tobacco
Control Program/Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston; and
Michael C. Fiore, Center for Tobacco Research and
Intervention/University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Subcommittee on Public Health
and Safety resumed hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds
for the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, focusing on new
technologies in patient care and the Agency's contribution to technology
assessment and health care quality improvement, receiving testimony from
John M. Eisenberg, Administrator, Agency for Health Care Policy and
Research, and Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, Administrator, Health Care
Financing Administration, both of the Department of Health and Human
Services; Pete DeBusk, DeRoyal Industries, Inc., Powell, Tennessee, on
behalf of the Health Industry Distributors Association; Paul W. Mikus,
ENDOcare, Inc., Irvine, California, on behalf of the Health Industry
Manufacturers Association; Wade Aubry, University of California, San
Francisco, on behalf of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association; and Neil
R. Powe, Johns Hopkins University of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/13
Daily Digest - Friday, March 13, 1998,  pages D236 - D242

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/16
Daily Digest - Monday, March 16, 1998, pages D243 - D246

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

PREDATORY LENDING PRACTICES

Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
lending practices of the subprime lending market which provides loans to
high risk borrowers , focusing on how senior citizens are targeted by
unscrupulous lenders, after receiving testimony from Jodie Bernstein,
Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission; Gene
A. Marsh, University of Alabama Law School, D244Tuscaloosa; William J.
Brennan, Jr., Atlanta Legal Aid Society, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia; Helen
Ferguson, Washington, D.C.; Vireta Jackson Arthur, New York, New York;
Gael M. Carter, Falls Church, Virginia; and a protected witness. 

                               [Page: D244]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/17
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 17, 1998,  pages D248 - D256

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

AUTHORIZATION--CHILD NUTRITION

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for child nutrition
programs, focusing on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for
Women, Infants and Children (WIC), after receiving testimony from
Shirley R. Watkins, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Food, Nutrition
and Consumer Services; Robert A. Robinson, Director, Food and
Agricultural Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development
Division, General Accounting Office; Denise Ferris, National Association
of WIC Directors, and Robert Greenstein, Center on Budget and Policy
Priorities, both of Washington, D.C.; Joan Trendall, Marion County
Health D249Department, Indianapolis, Indiana, on behalf of the American
Dietetic Association; Joseph Terrance Williams, Wyoming State Electronic
Benefits Transfer Program and Western Governor's Association Health
Passport Project, Cheyenne; and A.K. Hawley Botchford, Harry Chapin Food
Bank of Southwest Florida, Fort Myers. 

                               [Page: D249]

SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills: 

An original bill (S. 1768) making emergency supplemental appropriations
for recovery from natural disasters, and for overseas peacekeeping
efforts, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998; and 

An original bill (S. 1769) making supplemental appropriations for the
International Monetary Fund for the fiscal year ending September 30,
1998. 

APPROPRIATIONS--AGRICULTURE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 1999, receiving testimony in behalf of their
respective activities from Catherine Woteki, Under Secretary, and Thomas
J. Billy, Administrator, both of the Food Safety and Inspection Service,
Michael V. Dunn, Assistant Secretary, Marketing and Regulatory Programs,
and Terry L. Medley, Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service, all of the Department of Agriculture. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 24. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of David R. Oliver, of Idaho, to be Deputy Under Secretary
for Acquisition and Technology, Sue Bailey, of Maryland, to be Assistant
Secretary for Health Affairs, and Paul J. Hoeper, of California, to be
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research, Development and
Acquisition, all of the Department of Defense, after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the
Department of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on
ship acquisition, receiving testimony from Jerry M. Hultin, Under
Secretary of the Navy; John W. Douglass, Assistant Secretary of the Navy
for Research, Development and Acquisition; Vice Adm. Conrad C.
Lautenbacher, Jr., USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Resources;
Lt. Gen. John E. Rhodes, USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat
Development Command. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

1999 BUDGET

Committee on the Budget: Committee began mark up of a proposed
concurrent resolution setting forth the fiscal year 1999 budget for the
Federal Government, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet
again tomorrow. 

GLOBAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee resumed
hearings on proposed legislation to reform and restructure the processes
by which tobacco products are manufactured, marketed, and distributed,
to prevent the use of tobacco products by minors, and to redress the
adverse health effects of tobacco use, receiving testimony from Senator
Jeffords; William B. Schultz, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, and
Mitchell Zeller, Associate Commissioner, both of the Food and Drug
Administration, and Michael Eriksen, Director, Office on Smoking and
Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, both of the
Department of Health and Human Services; Joe Garagiola, Romano and
Associates Inc., Columbia, Maryland, on behalf of Oral Health America;
Gregory N. Connolly, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston;
and Richard H. Verheij, UST Inc., Washington, D.C., on behalf of United
States Tobacco Company. 

Hearings continue on Thursday, March 19. 

PRIVACY IN THE DIGITAL AGE

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Constitution, Federalism,
and Property Rights concluded hearings to examine the use of encryption
and mandatory access in digital communications, focusing on proposals to
balance privacy rights with law enforcement concerns, after receiving
testimony from Representative Goodlatte; Robert S. Litt, Deputy
Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice; James J. Fotis, Law
Enforcement Alliance of America, Falls Church, Virginia; Thomas Parenty,
SyBase, Inc., Emeryville, California, Kathleen M. Sullivan, Stanford Law
School, Stanford, California, and Richard A. Epstein, University of
Chicago Law School, Chicago, Illinois, all on behalf of Americans for
Computer Privacy; Bill Weidemann, RedCreek Communications, Newark,
California; Cindy A. Cohn, McGlashan and Sarrail, San Mateo, California;
and Tim D. Casey, MCI Communications, Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D250]

CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information resumed hearings to examine the need for a
national strategy and policies to protect the critical infrastructures
of the United States, receiving testimony from former Senator Nunn and
Jamie S. Gorelick, each a Co-Chair of the Advisory Committee to the
President's Commission on Critical Infrastructure Protection; and Lt.
Gen. David J. Kelley, Director, and Brig. Gen. James Hylton, Director of
Operations, both of the Defense Information Systems Agency, Department
of Defense. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

RETIREMENT SECURITY

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee held hearings to
examine retirement security and the need for defined pension plans for
American workers, focusing on S. 957, to establish a Pension ProSave
system which improves the retirement income security of millions of
American workers by encouraging employers to make pension contributions
on behalf of employees, by facilitating pension portability, by
preserving and increasing retirement savings, and by simplifying pension
law, receiving testimony from Representative Pomeroy; David M. Strauss,
Executive Director, Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation; Ron E.
Merolli, National Life of Vermont, Montpelier; James E. Turpin, Turpin
and Associates, Albuquerque, New Mexico, on behalf of the American
Society of Pension Actuaries; John M. Kimpel, Fidelity Investments,
Boston, Massachusetts, on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; Joseph
S. Perkins, American Association of Retired Persons, Danvers,
Massachusetts; Michael Calabrese, Center for National Policy,
Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Pensions 2000 Committee; and Michael
Garretson, Milwaukee, Oregon, on behalf of the Institute of Electrical
and Electronics Engineers-USA. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL DEFENSE

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine
the medical, chemical, and biological warfare preparedness program of
the Department of Defense, focusing on lessons learned from Persian Gulf
War illnesses, after receiving testimony from Bernard Rostker, Special
Assistant to the Deputy Secretary for Gulf War Illnesses, and Gary A.
Christopherson, Acting Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs, both of
the Department of Defense; Rear Adm. Michael L. Cowan, Deputy Director
for Medical Readiness, Joint Staff; Randolph F. Wykoff, Associate
Commissioner for Operations, Food and Drug Administration, Department of
Health and Human Services; Mark E. Gebicke, Director, Military
Operations and Capabilities Issues, National Security and International
Affairs Division, General Accounting Office; and Melissa A. McDiarmid,
University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/18
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 18, 1998,  pages D257 - D266

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense resumed hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense, focusing on the National Guard and Youth Challenge programs,
receiving testimony from Mississippi Governor Kirk Fordice, Jackson; Lt.
Gen. Edward D. Baca, Chief, National Guard Bureau; Maj. Gen. William
Navas, Jr., Director, Army National Guard; Maj. Gen. Paul A. Weaver,
Jr., Director, Air National Guard; Maj. Gen. Jake Lestenkof, Alaska
Adjutant General; Joshua B. Phagan, Forsyth, Georgia; and Tiffany Brown,
Savannah, Georgia. 

Subcommittee will meet again tomorrow. 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA REVITALIZATION 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the District of Columbia
held hearings on the implementation of the National Capital
Revitalization and Self-Government Improvement Act of 1997 (P.L. 105-34)
as it relates to the revitalization of the District of Columbia,
receiving testimony from Andrew F. Brimmer, Chairman, and Camille C.
Barnett, Chief Management Officer, both of the District of Columbia
Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority; and
Anthony Williams, Chief Financial Officer, Government of the District of
Columbia. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

APPROPRIATIONS--LABOR 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held hearings on proposed budget estimates for
fiscal year 1999 for the Department of Labor, receiving testimony from
Alexis M. Herman, Secretary of Labor. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 24. 

DOD ACQUISITION REFORM 

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Acquisition and Technology
held hearings to review the status of acquisition reform in the
Department of Defense, receiving testimony from Eleanor Hill, Inspector
General, Jacques Gansler, Under Secretary for Acquisition and
Technology, and Brig. Gen. Timothy P. Malishenko, USAF, Commander,
Defense Contract Management Command, Defense Logistics Agency, all of
the Department of Defense; Louis J. Rodriguez, Director, Defense
Acquisition Issues, General Accounting Office; John Douglass, Assistant
Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition); Kenneth
Oscar, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research, Development and
Acquisition); and Darleen A. Druyun, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Air Force (Acquisition and Management). 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE 

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel resumed hearings
on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the
Department of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on
active and reserve military and civilian personnel programs and the
Service safety programs, receiving testimony from Rudy de Leon, Under
Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness; Lt. Gen. Frederick E.
Vollrath, USA, Deputy Chief of Army Staff for Personnel; Vice Adm.
Daniel T. Oliver, USN, Chief of Navy Personnel; Lt. Gen. Carol A.
Mutter, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs;
and Lt. Gen. Michael D. McGinty, USAF, Deputy Chief of Air Force Staff
for Personnel. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

OTS YEAR 2000 PREPAREDNESS 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Financial Services and Technology concluded hearings to examine the
status of the Office of Thrift Supervision's (OTS) efforts to ensure
that the computer operations of OTS and the thrift industry are prepared
for the Year 2000 computer conversion challenge, after receiving
testimony from Ellen Seidman, Director, Office of Thrift Supervision,
Department of the Treasury; and Jack L. Brock, Jr., Director,
Governmentwide and Defense Information Systems, Accounting and
Information Management Division, General Accounting Office. 

1999 BUDGET 

Committee on the Budget : Committee continued in evening session to mark
up a proposed concurrent resolution setting forth the fiscal year 1999
budget for the Federal Government. 

                               [Page: D259]

TELECOMMUNICATIONS ACT IMPLEMENTATION 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation : Subcommittee on
Communications held oversight hearings on the implementation of the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 (P.L. 104-104), focusing on the state of
competition in local and long distance phone service, the cable
industry, and newspaper and radio ownership, receiving testimony from
George Reed-Dellinger, HSBC Washington Analysis, and Scott C. Cleland,
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Inc., both of Washington, D.C.; and Tod A.
Jacobs, Sanford C. Bernstein and Company, New York, New York. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

AGRICULTURAL EXPORTS TO ASIA

Committee on Foreign Relations : Subcommittee on International Economic
Policy, Export and Trade Promotion held hearings to examine the role of
the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in supporting United States
agricultural exports to Asia, receiving testimony from August
Schumacher, Jr., Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Services; Errol Small, Maryland Department of Agriculture,
Annapolis, Maryland; John Hardin, National Pork Producers Council,
Danville, Indiana; Bryce Neidig, Nebraska Farm Bureau Federation,
Lincoln, on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation; and John B.
Campbell, AG Processing Inc. (AGP), Omaha, Nebraska. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

VACANCIES ACT IMPLEMENTATION

Committee on Governmental Affairs : Committee concluded oversight
hearings on the implementation of the Vacancies Act, which established
methods for temporarily filling vacant positions in executive agencies
and military departments that require Presidential appointment with the
advice and consent of the Senate, after receiving testimony from
Senators Byrd and Thurmond; Joseph N. Onek, Principal Deputy Associate
Attorney General, and Daniel Koffsky, Special Counsel, Office of Legal
Counsel, both of the Department of Justice; Joan M. Hollenbach,
Associate General Counsel, General Accounting Office; Morton Rosenberg,
Specialist in American Public Law, Congressional Research Service,
Library of Congress; Paul C. Light, The Pew Charitable Trusts,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Michael J. Gerhardt, Case Western
Reserve University Law School, Cleveland, Ohio. 

COMPREHENSIVE NUCLEAR TEST-BAN TREATY 

Committee on Governmental Affairs : Subcommittee on International
Security, Proliferation and Federal Services concluded hearings to
examine the impact of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test-Ban Treaty on
United States nuclear non-proliferation policy, after receiving
testimony from John D. Holum, Acting Under Secretary of State and
Director, United States Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; and
Spurgeon M. Keeny, Jr., Arms Control Association, Washington, D.C. and
former Deputy Director, and Kathleen C. Bailey, Lawrence Livermore
National Laboratory, Livermore, California and former Assistant Director
for Nonproliferation, both formally of the United States Arms Control
and Disarmament Agency. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary : Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Kermit Lipez, of Maine, to be United States Circuit Judge
for the First Circuit, Robert T. Dawson, to be United States District
Judge for the Western District of Arkansas, Garr M. King, to be United
States District Judge for the District of Oregon, Johnnie B. Rawlinson,
to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada, and
Gregory Moneta Sleet, to be United States District Judge for the
District of Delaware, after the nominees testified and answered
questions in their own behalf. Mr. Lipez was introduced by Senators
Snowe and Collins and Representatives Baldacci and Allen, Mr. Dawson was
introduced by Senators Bumpers and Hutchinson and Representative Dickey,
Mr. King was introduced by Senators Wyden and Gordon Smith, Ms.
Rawlinson was introduced by Senators Bryan and Reid, and Mr. Sleet was
introduced by Senator Biden. 

PREVENTING ADDICTION TO SMOKING AMONG TEENS ACT

Committee on Labor and Human Resources : Committee resumed markup of S.
1648, to amend the Public Health Service Act and the Food, Drug, and
Cosmetic Act to provide for reductions in youth smoking, for
advancements in tobacco-related research, and the development of safer
tobacco products, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed
subject to call. 

1999 SBA BUDGET

Committee on Small Business : Committee held hearings to examine the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1999 for the Small
Business Administration, receiving testimony from Aida Alvarez,
Administrator, Small Business Administration. 

                               [Page: D260]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/19
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 19, 1998,  pages D267 - D274

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--FCC/SEC

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and the Judiciary held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal
year 1999, receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective
activities from William E. Kennard, Chairman, Federal Communications
Commission; and Arthur Levitt, Chairman, Securities and Exchange
Commission. 

                               [Page: D268]

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 31. 

INTELLIGENCE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held closed
hearings to review certain intelligence matters, receiving testimony
from George J. Tenet, Director, Central Intelligence Agency; and Keith
Hall, Director, National Reconnaissance Office. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, March 25. 

APPROPRIATIONS--ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL/GAO/GPO

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999,
after receiving testimony in behalf of their respective activities from
Alan M. Hantman, Architect of the Capitol; James F. Hinchman, Acting
Comptroller General, General Accounting Office; and Michael F. DiMario,
Public Printer, Government Printing Office. 

APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORTATION

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999
for the Department of Transportation, receiving testimony from Rodney E.
Slater, Secretary of Transportation, Jane Garvey, Administrator, Federal
Aviation Administration, and Adm. Robert E. Kramek, USCG, Commandant,
United States Coast Guard, all of the Department of Transportation. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 24. 

APPROPRIATIONS--VA/ARMY CEMETERIAL EXPENSES

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999
for the Department of Veterans Affairs and cemeterial expenses of the
Army, receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective
activities from Togo West, Acting Secretary of Veterans Affairs; and
John Zirschky, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works). 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, April 23. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported 1,952
military nominations in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. 

NATO ENLARGEMENT

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine
issues related to the proposed ratification of the Protocols to the
North Atlantic Treaty of 1949 on Accession of Poland, Hungary, and the
Czech Republic (Treaty Doc. 105-36), pending on Senate Executive
Calendar, focusing on the new missions and interests and military
structure of NATO and its impact on Russia's economic restructuring,
after receiving testimony from William J. Perry, former Secretary of
Defense, William Kristol, Project for the New American Century, Susan
Eisenhower, Center for Political and Strategic Studies, and William
Hyland, all of Washington, D.C. 

AUTHORIZATION--DOE DEFENSE PROGRAMS

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999
for national defense and the future years defense program, focusing on
the Department of Energy's science-based stockpile stewardship and
management program, receiving testimony from Victor H. Reis, Assistant
Secretary for Defense Programs, C. Paul Robinson, Director, Sandia
National Laboratory, Bruce Tarter, Director, Lawrence Livermore National
Laboratory, John Browne, Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Karen
Clegg, Manager, Kansas City Plant, Gus Gustavson, Manager, Y-12 Plant,
William Weinerich, Manager, Pantex Plant, and Joseph Buggy, Executive
Vice President, Westinghouse Savannah River Company/Savannah River
Plant, all of the Department of Energy. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 24. 

1999 BUDGET

Committee on the Budget: On Wednesday, March 18, committee ordered
favorably reported an original concurrent resolution setting forth the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal years
1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. 

GLOBAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee resumed
hearings on proposed legislation to reform and restructure the process
by which tobacco products are manufactured, marketed, and distributed,
to prevent the use of tobacco products by minors, and to redress the
adverse health effects of tobacco use, receiving testimony from Raymond
C. Scheppach, National Governors' Association, and R. Timothy Columbus,
Collier, Shannon, Rill & Scott, on behalf of the National Association of
Convenience Stores, both of Washington, D.C.; and Martin Feldman,
Salomon Smith Barney, New York, New York. 

Hearings continue on Tuesday, March 24. 

                               [Page: D269]

ALASKA NATIVE LAND RIGHTS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings
on the following bills: 

S. 1488, to ratify an agreement between the Aleut Corporation and the
United States to exchange land rights received under the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act for certain land interests on Adak Island, and a
proposed committee amendment to S. 1488, to provide for the transfer of
personal property at the Adak Naval Complex in Alaska to the Aleut
Corporation, after receiving testimony from John R. Garamendi, Deputy
Secretary of the Interior; William J. Cassidy, Jr., Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Navy (Conversion and Redevelopment); and Elary Gromoff,
Aleut Corporation, Anchorage, Alaska; and 

S. 1670, to provide for the selection of lands by certain Native Alaskan
veterans of the Vietnam era, after receiving testimony from John R.
Garamendi, Deputy Secretary of the Interior; and Nelson N. Angapak, Sr.,
Alaska Federation of Natives, Anchorage. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

The nomination of Richard A. Paez, of California, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; 

S. Res. 155, designating April 6 of each year as "National Tartan Day''
to recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions made by
Scottish Americans to the United States; and 

S. Res. 198, designating April 1, 1998, as "National Breast Cancer
Survivors' Day''. 

INTERNATIONAL AVIATION ALLIANCES

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights,
and Competition concluded hearings to examine certain issues with regard
to international aviation agreements, including the proposed British
Airways/American Airlines alliance, focusing on antitrust implications
and the impact of alliances on airline marketing practices, after
receiving testimony from John H. Anderson, Jr., Director, Transportation
Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General
Accounting Office; Charles A. Hunnicutt, Assistant Secretary of
Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs; Joel I. Klein,
Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice;
Robert J. Ayling, British Airways, and Richard Branson, Virgin Atlantic
Airways, both of London, England; Gordon Bethune, Continental Airlines,
Houston, Texas; Robert L. Crandall, American Airlines, Fort Worth,
Texas; Gerald Greenwald, United Airlines, Chicago, Illinois; Leo F.
Mullin, Delta Airlines, Atlanta, Georgia; and Stephen M. Wolf, US
Airways, Arlington, Virginia. 

HEALTH INSURANCE STANDARDS

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded oversight
hearings on the implementation of the Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act (P.L. 104-191), focusing on its impact on consumers,
issuers of health coverage, State insurance regulators and federal
regulators, after receiving testimony from Representative Nancy Johnson;
Nancy-Ann Min Deparle, Administrator, Health Care Financing
Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; Meredith
Miller, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Pension and Welfare
Benefits; William J. Scanlon, Director, Health Financing and Systems
Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General
Accounting Office; Kansas State Senator Sandy Praeger, Topeka, on behalf
of the Reforming States Group; Maine Superintendent of Insurance
Alessandro Iuppa, Augusta, on behalf of the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners; Gail Shearer, Consumers Union, and Bill
Gradison, Health Insurance Association of America, both of Washington,
D.C.; and Donald Will Moran, The Lewin Group, Fairfax, Virginia. 

SMITHSONIAN/KENNEDY CENTER/WOODROW WILSON CENTER

Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded hearings to
examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 1999 and
operations of the Smithsonian Institution, the Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts, and the Woodrow Wilson International Center for
Scholars, after receiving testimony from I. Michael Heyman, Secretary,
Constance Newman, Under Secretary, and Dennis J. O'Connor, Provost, all
of the Smithsonian Institution; Lawrence J. Wilker, President, John F.
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; and Dean W. Anderson, Acting
Director, and Samuel F. Wells, Deputy Director, both of the Woodrow
Wilson International Center for Scholars. 

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 25. 

                               [Page: D270]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/20
Daily Digest - Friday, March 20, 1998,  pages D276 - D282

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/23
Daily Digest - Monday, March 23, 1998,  pages D284 - D288

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/24
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 24, 1998,  pages D289 - D298

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 1999 for the Farm and Foreign Agricultural
Service of the Department of Agriculture, receiving testimony from
August Schumacher, Jr., Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign
Agricultural Programs, Keith Kelly, Administrator, Farm Service Agency,
Christopher E. Goldthwait, General Sales Manager, Lon S. Hatamiya,
Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, and Kenneth D. Ackerman,
Administrator, Risk Management Agency, all of the Department of
Agriculture. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 31. 

ALZHEIMERS DISEASE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education concluded hearings to examine issues with regard
to Alzheimers disease, focusing on its impact on families and research
and development programs, after receiving testimony from Steven DeKosky,
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania;
Donald Schmechel, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North
Carolina; Orien Reid, Laverock, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the
Alzheimer's Association; Bob and Rosemary Cronin, Dubuque, Iowa; and
Piper Laurie, Los Angeles, California. 

                               [Page: D291]

DRUG ADDICTION AND RECOVERY

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education concluded hearings on proposals to provide for
nondiscriminatory coverage for substance abuse treatment services under
private group and individual health coverage, after receiving testimony
from Senator Wellstone; Representative Ramstad; Alan I. Leshner,
Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Department of Health and
Human Services; Fred D. Hafer, General Public Utilities, Inc.,
Morristown, New Jersey; William Cope Moyers, Hazelden Foundation, Center
City, Minnesota; John T. Schwarzlose, Betty Ford Center, Indian Wells,
California, on behalf of the Partnership for Recovery and the National
Association of Addiction Treatment Providers; Buzz Aldrin, Santa Monica,
California; Shawn Colvin and Bill Moyers, both of New York, New York;
and Carroll O'Connor and Mackenzie Phillips, both of Los Angeles,
California. 

APPROPRIATIONS--AMTRAK

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999
for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), focusing on
how to improve intercity passenger rail in the United States, receiving
testimony from Senators Roth, Biden, and Baucus; Phyllis F. Scheinberg,
Associate Director, Transportation Issues, Resources, Community, and
Economic Development Division, General Accounting Office; Kenneth M.
Mead, Inspector General, Department of Transportation; Jack Lew, Deputy
Director, Office of Management and Budget; Mayor Ed Rendell,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Robert Kiley, New York City Partnerships,
New York, New York; Robert Poole, Reason Foundation, Los Angeles,
California; and Jeff Ladd, Metra Commuter Rail, Chicago, Illinois.

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, April 2. 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT REFORM

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Acquisition and Technology
resumed hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal
year 1999 for the Department of Defense and the future years defense
program, focusing on the management of research, development, test and
evaluation programs, receiving testimony from John W. Lyons, Director,
Army Research Laboratory, Richard E. Metrey, Director, Carderock
Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, George T. Singley, III, Acting
Director, Defense Research and Engineering, and Patricia A. Sanders,
Director, Test, Systems Engineering and Evaluation, all of the
Department of Defense. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces resumed
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999
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; Gen. Larry D. Welch, USAF (Ret.),
Institute for Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia; David J. Smith,
Global Horizons, Inc., Annandale, Virginia; and William R. Graham,
National Security Research, Inc., Fairfax, Virginia. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, March 26. 

PROFESSIONAL BOXING

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine certain business practices within the professional
boxing industry, focusing on the role and status of State regulation,
contract issues, and the promotion of the athletes, after receiving
testimony from Gregory P. Sirb, Pennsylvania State Athletic Commission,
Harrisburg, on behalf of the Association of Boxing Commissions; Cedric
Kushner, Cedric Kushner Promotions, Long Island, New York; James J.
Binns, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the World Boxing
Association and the World Boxing Association of North America; Patrick
C. English, Clifton, New Jersey; and Fredric G. Levin, Pensacola,
Florida. 

GLOBAL TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on proposed legislation to reform and restructure the process
by which tobacco products are manufactured, marketed, and distributed,
to prevent the use of tobacco products by minors, and to redress the
adverse health effects of tobacco use, after receiving testimony from
Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary, and Jonathan Gruber, Deputy
Assistant Secretary, both of the Department of the Treasury; Scott R.
Strand, Minnesota Office of Attorney General, St. Paul; Floyd Abrams,
Cahill, Gordon & Reindel, Martin Feldman, Smith Barney, Inc., and Harvey
R. Miller, Weil, Gotshal & Manges, all of New York, New York; and Harvey
S. Rosen, Burke, Rosen & Associates, Cleveland, Ohio. 

NATIONAL PARKS/HISTORIC SITES/MEMORIALS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Historic Preservation, D292and Recreation concluded hearings on
S. 887, to establish in the National Park Service the National
Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program, S. 991, to make
technical corrections to the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management
Act of 1996, S. 1695, to establish the Sand Creek Massacre National
Historic Site in the State of Colorado, and S.J.Res. 41, approving the
location of a Martin Luther King, Jr., Memorial in the Nation's Capital,
after receiving testimony from Senators Warner, Sarbanes, DeWine, and
Moseley-Braun; Katherine H. Stevenson, Associate Director, Cultural
Resource Stewardship and Partnerships, National Park Service, Department
of the Interior; Steve Brady, Northern Cheyenne Band of Sand Creek
Descendants, Lame Deer, Montana; Laird Cometsevah, Clinton, Oklahoma;
David Fridtjof Halaas, Colorado Historical Society, Denver; Iantha
Gantt-Wright, National Parks and Conservation Association, Washington,
D.C.; Cathy Nelson, Ohio Underground Railroad Association, Columbus; Ed
Rigaud, National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, Cincinnati, Ohio;
Glennette Tilley Turner, Wheaton, Illinois, on behalf of the Underground
Railroad Advisory Committee; and John H. Carter, BellSouth
Telecommunications, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia, on behalf of the Washington
D.C. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Memorial Project Foundation, Inc. 

                               [Page: D292]

AUTHORIZATION--SUPERFUND

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee began mark up of S.
8, to revise and authorize funds for fiscal years 1998 through 2002 for
programs of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Liability, and
Compensation Act (Superfund), but did not complete action thereon, and
will meet again tomorrow. 

INDONESIA

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific
Affairs concluded hearings to examine the current economic and political
situation in Indonesia, after receiving testimony from Aurelia E.
Brazeal, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific
Affairs; Arian Ardie, Deputy Secretary General of KIKAS (Kadin Indonesia
Komite America Serikat), Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Jakarta, Indonesia; and Walter B. Lohman, U.S.-ASEAN Business Council,
Edward E. Masters, U.S.-Indonesia Society, and Adam Schwarz, Council on
Foreign Relations, all of Washington, D.C. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Ivan L.R. Lemelle, to be United States District Judge for
the Eastern District of Louisiana, A. Howard Matz, to be United States
District Judge for the Central District of California, and George Caram
Steeh III and Arthur J. Tarnow, each to be a United States District
Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, after the nominees testified
and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Lemelle was introduced
by Senators Breaux and Landrieu, Mr. Matz was introduced by Senator
Boxer, and Messrs. Steeh and Tarnow were introduced by Senator Levin. 

HEALTH CARE QUALITY

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings on
proposals to promote quality and fairness in employment-based group
health plans and to improve consumer protections and the quality of
health care in the employment-based system, including S. 1712, S. 644,
S. 373, S. 353, S. 449, and S. 346, after receiving testimony from
Senator Lieberman; Margaret A. Hamburg, Assistant Secretary of Health
and Human Services for Planning and Evaluation; Meredith Miller, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Pension and Welfare Benefits; Colorado
Commissioner of Insurance Jack Ehnes, Denver, on behalf of the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners; Beau Carter, Integrated
Healthcare Association, Pleasanton, California; Joanne L. Hustead,
National Partnership for Women and Families, Washington, D.C.; Mark S.
Waskow, Waskow Group, Burlington, Vermont, on behalf of the National
Federation of Independent Business; Thomas R. Reardon, Portland, Oregon,
on behalf of the American Medical Association; Joe Laymon, Eastman Kodak
Company, Rochester, New York, on behalf of the Business Roundtable; and
Staci J. Froelich, Tacoma Park, Maryland. 

VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT

Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 1021,
to provide that a veterans' preference eligible (PE) or an individual
who has been separated from military service under honorable conditions
after three or more years of active duty shall not be denied the
opportunity to compete for a vacant position within a Federal agency,
either in the competitive or excepted service, after receiving testimony
from Senator Cleland; Representative Mica; Michael Brostek, Associate
Director, Federal Management and Workforce Issues, General Government
Division, General Accounting Office; Mary Lou Lindholm, Associate
Director for Employment, Office of Personnel Management; Espiridion
Borrego, Assistant Secretary of Labor for the Veterans' Employment and
Training Service; Stephen A. Moe, Manager, Selection, Evaluation, and
Recognition, United States Postal Service; Kimo S. Hollingsworth,
American Legion, and Sidney Daniels, Veterans of D293Foreign Wars of the
United States, both of Washington, D.C.; Veronica A'zera, AMVETS,
Lanham, Maryland; Larry D. Rhea, Non Commissioned Officers Association
of the United States of America, Alexandria, Virginia; and Gary D.
Miles, American Federation of Government Employees (AFL-CIO), and Kurt
Vorndran, National Treasury Employees Union, both of Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D293]

Joint Meetings

GOVERNMENT CONTRACTING

Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on
Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring, and the District of
Columbia concluded joint hearings with the House Committee on Government
Reform and Oversight D296Subcommittee on Government Management,
Information, and Technology on S. 314 and H.R. 716, bills to require
that the Federal Government procure from the private sector the goods
and services necessary for the operations and management of certain
Government agencies, and proposed legislation to provide a fair,
competitive process for the selection of sources to perform activities
of the Federal Government that are not inherently governmental
functions, after receiving testimony from Senator Thomas; G. Edward
DeSeve, Acting Deputy Director for Management, Office of Management and
Budget; former Deputy Mayor Skip Stitt, Indianapolis, Indiana; Bryan
Logan, Earth Data, International, Gaithersburg, Maryland, on behalf of
the Management Association for Private Photogrammetric Surveyors;
Lawrence Trammell, Science Applications International Corporation, San
Diego, California, on behalf of the Contract Services Association of
America; Douglas K. Stevens, Jr., U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Robert M.
Tobias, National Treasury Employees Union, and Bobby L. Harnage, Sr.,
American Federation of Government Employees (AFL-CIO), all of
Washington, D.C.; Michael B. Styles, Federal Managers Association,
Alexandria, Virginia; and Steve Kelman, Harvard University, Cambridge,
Massachusetts. 

                               [Page: D296]

CYBERCRIME

Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
potential problems with cyber banking and protecting the cyber
infrastructure while eliminating the potential of economic tampering and
espionage, after receiving testimony from Neil J. Gallagher, Deputy
Assistant Director, Criminal Division, Larry E. Torrence, Deputy
Assistant Director, National Security Division, and Michael A. Vatis,
Deputy Assistant Director and Chief, National Infrastructure Protection
Center, all of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of
Justice. 

AGRICULTURAL REFORM ACT

Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between
the Senate- and House-passed versions of S. 1150, to ensure that
federally funded agricultural research, extension, and education address
high-priority concerns with national multistate significance, and to
reform, extend, and eliminate certain agricultural research programs. 



1998/03/25
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 25, 1998,  pages D299 -  D308

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

PERSIAN GULF

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
United States strategy in the Persian Gulf, after receiving testimony
from Paul Wolfowitz, Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of
Advanced International Studies, former Under Secretary of Defense for
Policy, and Anthony H. Cordesman, Georgetown University Center for
Strategic and International Studies, both of Washington, D.C.; and David
A. Kay, Science Applications International Corporation, McLean,
Virginia. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland Forces resumed
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999
for the Department of Defense and the future years defense program,
focusing on tactical aviation modernization, receiving testimony from
John Douglass, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development
and Acquisition; Arthur Money, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
Acquisition; Philip Coyle, Director, Operational Test and Evaluation,
Office of the Secretary of Defense; and Louis Rodrigues, Director,
Defense Acquisitions, General Accounting Office. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATION
 
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of Arthur Levitt Jr., of New York, to be a
Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission, after the nominee, who
was introduced by Senator Moynihan, testified and answered questions in
his own behalf. 

TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications held hearings on the implementation of Section 271 of the
Telecommunications Act (P.L. 104-104), relating to the application
process for local telephone companies desiring to provide long distance
service, and S. 1766, to permit Bell operating companies to provide
interstate and intrastate telecommunications services, receiving
testimony from William E. Kennard, Chairman, and Susan Nell, Harold W.
Furchtgott-Roth, Michael K. Powell, and Gloria Tristani, each a
Commissioner, all of the Federal Communications Commission; Jay A.
Blossman, Louisiana Public Service Commission, Mandeville; Pat Wood,
Public Utilities Commission of Texas, Austin; Anne K. Bingaman, LCI
Local Services Division, McLean, Virginia; Sid Boren, BellSouth
Corporation, Atlanta, Georgia; Lisa Rosenblum, Cablevision Systems
Corporation, Woodbury, New York; William E. Taylor, National Economic
Research Associates, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts; and John
Windhausen, Jr., Competition Policy Institute, Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

LAND EXCHANGE AND BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENTS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management concluded hearings on S. 890, to dispose of
certain Federal properties located in Dutch John, Utah, to assist the
local government in the interim delivery of basic services to the Dutch
John community, S. 1109, to make a minor adjustment in the exterior
D301boundary of the Devils Backbone Wilderness in the Mark Twain
National Forest, Missouri, to exclude a small parcel of land containing
improvements, S. 1468, to provide for the conveyance of one acre of land
from the Santa Fe National Forest to the Village of Jemez Springs, New
Mexico, as the site of a fire sub-station, S. 1469, to provide for the
expansion of the historic community cemetery of El Rito, New Mexico,
through the special designation of five acres of Carson National Forest
adjacent to the cemetery, S. 1510, to convey certain lands to the county
of Rio Arriba, New Mexico, S. 1683, to transfer administrative
jurisdiction over part of the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area in
the State of Washington from the Secretary of the Interior to the
Secretary of Agriculture for inclusion in the Wenatchee National Forest,
S. 1719, to provide for the exchange of land and other assets including
certain timber harvest rights with the Big Sky Lumber Company for
inclusion in the Gallatin National Forest and Deerlodge National Forest
in the State of Montana, S. 1752, to convey certain administrative sites
and use the proceeds for the acquisition of office sites and the
acquisition, construction, or improvement of offices and support
buildings for the Coconino National Forest, Kaibab National Forest,
Prescott National Forest, and Tonto National Forest in Arizona, S. 1807,
to transfer administrative jurisdiction over certain parcels of public
domain land in Lake County, Oregon, to facilitate management of the
land, H.R. 1439, to facilitate the sale of certain land in Tahoe
National Forest in the State of California to Placer County, California,
and H.R. 1663, to clarify the intent of the Congress in Public Law
93-632 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to continue to provide
for the maintenance of 18 concrete dams and weirs that were located in
the Emigrant Wilderness at the time the wilderness area was designated
as wilderness in that Public Law, after receiving testimony from
Senators Bennett and Baucus; Representative Doolittle; Eleanor Towns,
Director of Lands Staff, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture;
Steven Richardson, Director, Office of Policy and External Affairs,
Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Chad Reed, Daggett
County Commission, Milila, Utah; Deborah Sliz, on behalf of the Colorado
River Energy Distributors Association, and Michael A. Francis,
Wilderness Society, both of Washington, D.C.; Mike Atwood, RY Timber
Company, Livingston, Montana; Kurt Alt, Montana Department of Fish,
Wildlife and Parks, Helena; Michael Scott, Greater Yellowstone
Coalition, and Vito Quatrero, Headwaters Fish and Game Association,
Inc., both of Bozeman, Montana; Kevin Kelleher, Citizens of Gallatin
Canyon, Big Sky, Montana; Ken Marks, Tuolumne County Board of
Supervisors/District 3, and Matt Bloom, Kennedy Meadows Pack Station and
Resort, on behalf of the Tuolumne County Sportsmen's Association, both
of Sonora, California; Steve Brougher, Wilderness Watch, Twain Harte,
California; and Loenzo Valdez, Espanola, New Mexico. 

                               [Page: D301]

AUTHORIZATION--SUPERFUND

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee continued markup of
S. 8, to revise and authorize funds for fiscal year 1998 through 2002
for programs of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Liability, and
Compensation Act (Superfund), but did not complete action thereon, and
will continue tomorrow. 

ECONOMIC SANCTIONS REFORM

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic
Policy, Export and Trade Promotion held hearings on S. 1413, to provide
a framework for consideration by the legislative and executive branches
of unilateral economic sanctions, receiving testimony from Senator
Lugar; Representative Hamilton; Clayton K. Yeutter, Hogan & Hartson,
former U.S. Trade Representative and former Secretary of Agriculture,
and William C. Lane, Caterpillar Inc., on behalf of USA Engage, both of
Washington, D.C.; Dean Kleckner, Des Moines, Iowa, on behalf of the
American Farm Bureau Federation; and Kenneth Roth, Human Rights Watch,
New York, New York. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

GOVERNMENT SECRECY ACT

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S.
712, to provide for a system to classify information in the interests of
national security and a system to declassify such information, after
receiving testimony from Edmund Cohen, Director of Information
Management, Central Intelligence Agency; J. William Leonard, Director of
Security Programs, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence; A. Bryan Siebert,
Director, Office of Declassification, Office of Nonproliferation and
National Security, Department of Energy; Steven Garfinkel, Director,
Information Security Oversight Office, National Archives and Records
Administration; T. Jeremy Gunn, Executive Director and General Counsel,
John F. Kennedy Assassination Records Review Board; and Steven
Aftergood, Federation of American Scientists, Washington, D.C. 

U.S. FLAG PROTECTION

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution,
Federalism, and Property Rights concluded hearings to examine the
tradition and importance of D302protecting the United States Flag, and
S.J. Res. 40, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United
States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the
flag of the United States, after receiving testimony from Wisconsin
State Senator Roger Breske, Madison; Idaho Attorney General Alan G.
Lance, Sr., Boise; Stephen B. Presser, Northwestern University School of
Law, Chicago, Illinois; Robert Justin Goldstein, Oakland University,
Rochester, Michigan; Adrian Cronauer, Burch & Cronauer, Washington,
D.C.; Patrick H. Brady, Citizens Flag Alliance, Sumner, Washington; Rose
E. Lee, Gold Star Wives of America, Arlington, Virginia; Mary Frost,
Selective Learning Network, Kansas City, Missouri; Francis J. Sweeney,
Steamfitters Local Union 449, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Bruce Fein,
McLean, Virginia; Stan Tiner, Mobile, Alabama; and Keith A. Kreul,
Fennimore, Wisconsin. 

                               [Page: D302]

FEDERAL ELECTION COMMISSION

Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the
Federal Election Commission, after receiving testimony from Scott E.
Thomas, Vice Chairman, and Lee Ann Elliott, Commissioner, both of the
Federal Election Commission. 

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the
intelligence community. 

Committee will meet again tomorrow. 

Joint Meetings

VETERANS' PROGRAMS

Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint
hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the
legislative recommendations of certain veterans' organizations, after
receiving testimony from Col. Robert F. Norton, USA (Ret.), Retired
Officers Association, George Duggins, Vietnam Veterans of America, and
Wayne Hitchcock, American Ex-Prisoners of War, all of Washington, D.C.;
and Josephus C. Vandengoorbergh, AMVETS, Lanham, Maryland. 



1998/03/26
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 26, 1998,  pages D309 - D318

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--BUREAU OF RECLAMATION/CORPS OF ENGINEERS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal
year 1999, after receiving testimony in behalf of funds for the Bureau
of Reclamation from Patricia J. Beneke, Assistant Secretary for Water
and Science, and Eluid L. Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation,
both of the Department of the Interior; and in behalf of funds for the
Army Corps of Engineers from John H. Zirschky, Acting Assistant
Secretary of the Army (Civil Works); Lt. Gen. Joe N. Ballard, Chief of
Engineers, Army Corps of Engineers; and Maj. Gen. Russell L. Fuhrman,
Director of Civil Works, United States Army. 

APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL ENDOWMENT FOR THE ARTS/HUMANITIES

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Interior and Related
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
1999, receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective
activities from Kathryn O'Leary Higgins, Acting Chairman, and Scott
Shanklin-Peterson, Senior Deputy Chairman, both of the National
Endowment for the Arts; and Bill Ferris, Chairman, National Endowment
for the Humanities. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, April 1. 

APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Treasury and General
Government held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
1999 for D312the Office of National Drug Control Policy, receiving
testimony from Barry R. McCaffrey, Director, Office of National Drug
Control Policy. 

                               [Page: D312]

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Committee resumed hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for national defense
and the future years defense program, focusing on Department of Energy
atomic energy defense activities, receiving testimony from Federico F.
PenAE6a, Secretary of Energy. 

Committee recessed subject to call. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces resumed
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999
for the Department of Defense and the future years defense program,
focusing on the domestic emergency response program and support to the
interagency preparedness efforts, including the federal response plan
and the city training program, receiving testimony from H. Allen Holmes,
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity
Conflict; Maj. Gen. Edward Soriano, USA, Director, Military Support
Headquarters, and Maj. Gen. George E. Friel, USA, Commander, Chemical
and Biological Defense Command, both of the Department of the Army; and
Lisa Gordon-Hagerty, Director, Office of Emergency Response, Department
of Energy. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, March 31. 

CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee held
hearings to examine the implications of the recent Supreme Court
decision concerning credit union membership, and proposed legislation to
amend the Federal Credit Union Act to clarify existing law and ratify
the longstanding policy of the National Credit Union Administration
Board with regard to field of membership of Federal credit unions,
receiving testimony from John D. Hawke, Jr., Under Secretary for
Domestic Finance, and Richard S. Carnell, Assistant Secretary for
Financial Institutions, both of the Department of the Treasury; Norman
E. D'Amours, Chairman, and Yolanda Townsend Wheat and Dennis Dollar,
both Board Members, all of the National Credit Union Administration; and
Bruce O. Jolly, Jr., Shook, Hardy & Bacon, Washington, D.C. 

Hearings continue on Thursday, April 2. 

AMERICAN FISHERIES ACT

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Oceans and Fisheries concluded hearings on S. 1221, to amend title 46 of
the United States Code to prevent foreign ownership and control of
United States flag vessels employed in the fisheries in the navigable
waters and exclusive economic zone of the United States, and to prevent
the issuance of fishery endorsements to certain vessels, after receiving
testimony from Senator Murkowski; David Evans, Deputy Assistant
Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; Rear Adm. Robert C.
North, Assistant Commandant for Marine Safety and Environmental
Protection, United States Coast Guard, Department of Commerce; Daniel J.
Whittle, Environmental Defense Fund, Raleigh, North Carolina; Niaz
Dorry, Greenpeace, and Alfred G. King, Jr., King Sons, Inc., both of
Gloucester, Massachusetts; Jim Kendall, New Bedford Seafood Coalition,
New Bedford, Massachusetts; Michael Love, Atlantic Star, North Yarmouth,
Maine; Charles H. Bundrant, Trident Seafoods Corporation, Cary Swasand,
Aleutian Spray Fisheries, Alec Brindle, Alyeska Seafoods Inc., and Paul
MacGregor, At-Sea Processors Association, all of Seattle, Washington;
Frank Bohannon, United Catcher Boats, Sun River, Oregon; and Jeff
Hendricks, Alaska Ocean Seafood Limited Partnership, Anacortes,
Washington. 

AUTHORIZATION--SUPERFUND

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably
reported S. 8, authorizing funds for programs of the Comprehensive
Environmental Response, Liability, and Compensation Act (Superfund),
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

H.R. 927, to amend title 28, United States Code, to provide for
appointment of United States marshals by the Attorney General, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute; and 
The nominations of Kermit Lipez, of Maine, to be United States Circuit
Judge for the First Circuit, Robert T. Dawson, to be United States
District Judge for the Western District of Arkansas, Garr M. King, to be
United States District Judge for the District of Oregon, Johnnie B.
Rawlinson, to be United States District Judge for the District of
Nevada, and Gregory Moneta Sleet, to be United States District Judge for
the District of Delaware. 

                               [Page: D313]

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, April 1. 

Joint Meetings

HEAD START

Joint Hearings: Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources'
Subcommittee on Children and Families held joint hearings with the House
Committee on Education and the Workforce's Subcommittee on Early
Childhood, Youth and Families on proposed legislation authorizing funds
through fiscal year 2002 for the Head Start program, focusing on Head
Start's impact on children and their families, receiving testimony from
Olivia Golden, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for
Children and Families; Carlotta C. Joyner, Director, Education and
Employment Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division,
General Accounting Office; Robert G. St. Pierre, Abt Associates, Inc.,
Cambridge, Massachusetts; Sarah M. Greene, National Head Start
Association, and Stanley I. Greenspan, George Washington University
Medical School, both of Washington, D.C.; E.D. Hirsch, Jr., University
of Virginia, Charlottesville; Elizabeth Kares, School District of Lee
County, Ft. Meyers, Florida; and Jean Malachi, Stamford, Connecticut. 

Hearings will continue on Thursday, April 23. 



1998/03/27
Daily Digest - Friday, March 27, 1998,  pages D320 - D326

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/30
Daily Digest - Monday, March 30, 1998,  pages D327 - D332

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Elaine D. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be
Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel, and Ruth Y. Goldway, of
California, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Rate Commission, after
the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/03/31
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 31, 1998,  pages D333 - D342

Committee Meetings

( Committees not listed did not meet ) 

APPROPRIATIONS--CFTC/FDA

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural
Development, and Related Agencies concluded hearings on proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 1999, after receiving testimony in behalf of
funds for their respective activities from Brooksley Born, Chairperson,
Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and Michael A. Friedman, Lead
Deputy Commissioner, Robert J. Byrd, Deputy Commissioner for Management
and Systems, and William B. Schultz, Deputy Commissioner for Policy, all
of the Food and Drug Administration, and Dennis P. Williams, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for the Budget, all of the Department of Health and
Human Services. 

APPROPRIATIONS--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations held
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for foreign
assistance programs, focusing on certain economic and political issues,
receiving testimony from Strobe Talbott, Deputy Secretary, and Stuart E.
Eizenstat, Under Secretary for Economic Business and Agricultural
Affairs, both of the Department of State. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, April 21. 

APPROPRIATIONS--JUSTICE


Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and the Judiciary, and Related Agencies concluded hearings on proposed
budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of Justice,
focusing on counter terrorism programs, after receiving testimony from
Janet Reno, Attorney General, and Louis J. Freeh, Director, Federal
Bureau of Investigation, both of the Department of Justice. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999
for the Department of Defense and the future years defense program,
focusing on strategic nuclear policy and related matters, receiving
testimony from Edward L. Warner, III, Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Strategy and Threat Reduction; Gen. Eugene E. Habiger, USAF,
Commander-in-Chief, United States Strategic Command; Adm. Stansfield
Turner, USN (Ret.), former Director of Central Intelligence; Kathleen C.
Bailey, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory/University of California,
Berkeley; Keith B. Payne, National Institute for Public Policy, Fairfax,
Virginia; and Bruce Blair, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

AUTHORIZATION--SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine concluded hearings on S.
1802, authorizing funds for fiscal years 1999 through 2001 for the
Surface Transportation Board, after receiving testimony from Linda J.
Morgan, Chairman, Surface Transportation Board, Department of
Transportation; Ed Rastatter, National Industrial Transportation League,
Arlington, Virginia; Jon M. Huntsman, Jr., Huntsman Corporation, Salt
Lake City, Utah, on behalf of the Chemical Manufacturers Association and
the Society of the Plastics Industry, Inc.; Kendell Keith, Washington,
D.C., and Ed Lauer, Attebury Grain Inc., Amarillo, Texas, both on behalf
of the National Grain and Feed Association; Robert G. Szabo, Consumers
United for Rail Equity, Terry C. Whiteside, Alliance for Rail
Competition, James A. Hagen, Association of American Railroads, and
Edward Wytkind, Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO), all of
Washington, D.C.; Robb Todd, City Council of Houston, Texas; K. Earl
Durden, D336Rail Management and Consulting Corporation, Panama City
Beach, Florida, on behalf of the American Shortline and Regional
Railroads Association; and Joseph M. Harrison, American Moving and
Storage Association, Alexandria, Virginia. 

                               [Page: D336]

NORTHERN MARIANA ISLANDS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings
on S. 1100 and S. 1275, bills to make the United States Immigration and
Nationality Act and the minimum wage provisions of the United States
Fair Labor Standards Act applicable to the Commonwealth of the Northern
Mariana Islands, and to impose certain restrictions on textile products
manufactured in the Commonwealth, after receiving testimony from Bruce
Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior; Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana
Islands Governor Pedro P. Tenorio, Speaker of the House of
Representatives Diego T. Benavente, and President of the Senate Paul A.
Manglona, both of the Northern Marianas Commonwealth Legislature, Kerry
McKinney, Saipan Chamber of Commerce, Eric Gregoire, Diocese of Chalan
Kanoa, Ron Sablan, Hotel Association of the Northern Mariana Islands,
all of Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands; and Carlos Moore, American
Textile Manufacturers Institute, Washington, D.C. 

BUSINESS MEETING: IRS REFORM

Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restructure and
reform the Internal Revenue Service of the Department of the Treasury,
in lieu of H.R. 2676. 

CHARTER SCHOOLS

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine the role of charter schools in educational reform, State and
Federal efforts to help charter schools access Federal funds, and S.
1380 and H.R. 2616, bills to extend the authorization of funds through
fiscal year 2002 for titles VI and X of the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act to expand the implementation of public charter schools,
after receiving testimony from Senator Lieberman; Representative Roemer;
Cornelia M. Blanchette, Associate Director for Education and Employment
Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General
Accounting Office; Joan Heffernan, Integrated Day Charter School,
Norwich, Connecticut; Raymond Jackson, ATOP Academy, and Lisa Graham
Keegan, Arizona Department of Education, on behalf of the Education
Leaders Council, both of Phoenix, Arizona; Tim Sindelar, Disability Law
Center, Boston, Massachusetts; and Eric Rofes, University of California
at Berkeley. 

VA COMPENSATION FOR TOBACCO-RELATED ILLNESSES

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on proposed
legislation to limit the provision of veterans' benefits for
tobacco-related disability and death, after receiving testimony from
Togo D. West, Jr., Acting Secretary, Joseph Thompson, Under Secretary
for Benefits, John Thompson, Associate General Counsel, Thomas
Garthwaite, Deputy Under Secretary for Health, and Mary Lou Kenner and
James Endicott, both a former General Counsel, all of the Department of
Veterans Affairs; and Philip R. Wilkerson, American Legion, David W.
Gorman, Disabled American Veterans, Gordon H. Mansfield, Paralyzed
Veterans of America, Kenneth A. Steadman, Veterans of Foreign Wars, and
William F. Russo, Vietnam Veterans of America, all of Washington, D.C. 

HOME HEALTH CARE ACCESS

Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
effect on seniors of certain policy changes to the home health care
provisions under Medicare as directed by the Balanced Budget Act of
1997, focusing on the interim payment system, venipuncture or the
drawing of blood, and surety bonds requirements, after receiving
testimony from Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, Administrator, Health Care
Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services;
Barbara Markham Smith, George Washington University Medical Center, and
William Dombi, Center for Health Care Law, on behalf of the National
Association for Home Care, both of Washington, D.C.; Cindi Slack, Sioux
Valley Hospital Visiting Nurses Association, Sioux Falls, South Dakota;
David J. Martin, Apple Home Healthcare, Inc., Metairie, Louisiana; Linda
Fanton, Eastern Iowa Visiting Nurses and Home Health Care, Monticello;
and James C. Pateidl, Lockton Companies, Kansas City, Missouri, on
behalf of the National Association of Surety Bond Producers. 

                               [Page: D337]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/04/01
Daily Digest - Wednesday, April 1, 1998,  pages D343 - D356

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--INTERIOR

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of the
Interior, receiving testimony from Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the
Interior. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, April 23. 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal D348year 1999 for Department of
Defense medical programs, receiving testimony from Lt. Gen. Ronald R.
Blanck, Surgeon General of the Army; Vice Adm. Harold M 
Koenig, Surgeon General of the Navy; Lt. Gen. Charles H. Roadman, II,
Surgeon General of the Air Force; Brig. Gen. Bettye H. Simmons, Chief,
Army Nurse Corps; Capt. Mary Ann Gardner, Deputy Director, Navy Nurse
Corps; and Brig. Gen. Linda J. Stierle, Director, Medical Readiness
Doctrine and Planning and Nursing Services, Department of Defense. 

                               [Page: D348]

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, April 22. 

APPROPRIATIONS--NIH

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education held hearings on proposed budget estimates for
fiscal year 1999 for the National Institutes of Health, receiving
testimony from Harold E. Varmus, Director, National Institutes of
Health, Department of Health and Human Services, who was accompanied by
several of his associates. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

IDENTITY THEFT

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Financial Services and Technology concluded hearings to examine the
impact and extent of the illegal use of personal identifiers (social
security numbers, credit cards, or personal identifications) and other
related data often available through the electronic media, and the need
for legislation to identify a single federal agency with jurisdiction to
investigate and prosecute criminals involved in crimes of identity
theft, after receiving testimony from James Bauer, Deputy Assistant
Director, Office of Investigations, United States Secret Service,
Department of the Treasury; Wayne C. Matus, New York, New York; Darylle
Goodfield, Los Angeles, California; and Sue Carter, Southern California. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported S. 1415, to reform and restructure the processes by
which tobacco products are manufactured, marketed, and distributed, to
prevent the use of tobacco products by minors, and to redress the
adverse health effects of tobacco use, with an amendment in the nature
of a substitute. 

NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation held hearings on certain
provisions of S. 1693, to renew, reform, reinvigorate, and protect the
National Park System, focusing on Title I, to reform management
operations of the National Park Service, Title II, to provide for the
establishment of criteria for creating new units of the National Park
Systems, Title III, to extend the current recreational fee demonstration
program through September 30, 2005 and expand it to all units of the
National Park System, and Title V, to create a passport specifically for
use for admission to units of the National Park System, receiving
testimony from Robert G. Stanton, Director, National Park Service,
Department of the Interior; Edward M. Norton, National Trust for
Historic Preservation, Albert C. Eisenberg, National Parks and
Conservation Association, David J. Humphreys, American Recreation
Coalition, and William P. Horn, Birch, Horton, Bittner, and Cherot, all
of Washington, D.C.; and Rick Gale, Boise, Idaho, on behalf of the
Association of National Park Rangers. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, April 30. 

INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings
to examine issues relating to indoor air quality, focusing on the health
effects of second-hand smoke in the workplace and in homes, and related
provisions of the proposed tobacco settlement between State Attorneys
General and the tobacco industry, after receiving testimony from Carol
M. Browner, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Michael P.
Eriksen, Director, Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for
Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; Kansas
Attorney General Carla J. Stovall, Topeka; Gregory N. Connolly,
Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Boston; Alfred Munzer,
Washington Adventist Hospital, Takoma Park, Maryland, on behalf of the
American Lung Association; Robert K. Lemons, Building Owners and
Managers Association of Boston, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Michael
Sternberg, Sam & Harry's Restaurants, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the
National Restaurant Association. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported
the following business items: 

H.R. 1836, to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to
improve administration of sanctions against unfit health care providers
under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, with an amendment; 

                               [Page: D349]

S. 1642, to improve the effectiveness and performance of Federal
financial assistance programs, simplify Federal financial assistance
application and reporting requirements, and improve the delivery of
services to the public; 

H.R. 2766, to designate the United States Post Office located at 215
East Jackson Street in Painesville, Ohio, as the "Karl Bernal Post
Office Building''; 

H.R. 2773, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service
located at 3750 North Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as the "Daniel
J. Doffyn Post Office Building''; 

S. 1886, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service
located at 3750 North Kedzie Avenue in Chicago, Illinois, as the "Daniel
J. Doffyn Post Office Building''; 

H.R. 2836, to designate the building of the United States Postal Service
located at 180 East Kellogg Boulevard in Saint Paul, Minnesota, as the
"Eugene J. McCarthy Post Office Building''; 

H.R. 3120, A bill to designate the United States Post Office located at
95 West 100 South Street in Provo, Utah, as the "Howard C. Nielson Post
Office Building''; and 

The nominations of Elaine D. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, to be
Special Counsel, Office of Special Counsel, Ruth Y. Goldway, of
California, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Rate Commission, and
Melvin R. Wright, to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the
District of Columbia. 

Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Mr. Wright (listed above), after the nominee testified and answered
questions in his own behalf. 

YEAR 2000 CONVERSION

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to
examine Federal agencies' efforts to successfully convert computer
systems for the Year 2000, focusing on the progress of strategies being
implemented to avoid major computer disruptions, after receiving
testimony from John A. Koskinen, Chair, President's Council on the Year
2000 Conversion; Kevin L. Thurm, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human
Services; and Mortimer L. Downey, Deputy Secretary of Transportation. 

AIRLINE HUB PRACTICES

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights,
and Competition concluded hearings to examine the state of competition
in the domestic aviation industry, focusing on whether airline hubs
produce competitive benefits or impose monopoly prices on the public,
after receiving testimony from Richard B. Hirst, Northwest Airlines,
Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota; Steven A. Morrison, Northeastern University,
Boston, Massachusetts; Cyril D. Murphy, United Airlines, Inc., Chicago,
Illinois; Robert J. Spane, Vanguard Airlines, Mission, Missouri; and
Kevin C. Stamper, Pro Air, Inc., Detroit, Michigan. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Co mittee ordered favorably
reported the following
business items: 

S. 1882, authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for programs of the
Higher Education Act, with amendments; 

S. 1754, to consolidate and authorize funds for health professions and
minority and disadvantaged health professions and disadvantaged health
education programs, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and 

The nominations of Rebecca T. Bingham, of Kentucky, and Martha B. Gould,
of Nevada, each to be a Member of the National Commission on Libraries
and Information Science, Scott Snyder Fleming, of Virginia, to be
Assistant Secretary of Education for Legislation and Congressional
Affairs; and Cherryl T. Thomas, of Illinois, to be a Member of the
Railroad Retirement Board. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

S. 1279, to provide for the transfer of services and personnel from the
Bureau of Indian Affairs to the Office of Self-Governance of the
Department of the Interior, and to emphasize the need for job creation
on Indian reservations, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. 1797, to reduce tobacco use by Native Americans and to make the
proposed tobacco settlement applicable to tobacco-related activities on
Indian lands, with amendments; and 

The nomination of Katherine L. Archuleta, of Colorado, to be a Member of
the Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts
Development. 

INDIAN GAMING REGULATORY IMPROVEMENT ACT

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee held hearings on S. 1870, to
provide the National Indian Gaming Commission with resources to monitor
and regulate certain Indian gaming operations, receiving testimony from
Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs;
Mayor Art Madrid, La Mesa, California; Tadd M. Johnson, National Indian
Gaming Commission, Raymond C. Scheppach, National Governors'
Association, and W. Ron Allen, D350National Congress of American
Indians, all of Washington, D.C.; Deborah Doxtator, Oneida Tribe of
Indians of Wisconsin, Oneida; and Daniel Tucker, California Nations
Indian Gaming Association, Sacramento. 

                               [Page: D350]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/04/02
Daily Digest - Thursday, April 2, 1998,  pages D357 - D364

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

ANIMAL WASTE MANAGEMENT

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings on S. 1323, to regulate concentrated animal feeding operations
for the protection of the environment and public health, after receiving
testimony from Robert Perciasepe, Assistant Administrator for Water,
Environmental Protection Agency; Craig Cox, Acting Deputy Under
Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment; Maryland
Governor Parris N. Glendening, Annapolis; Mayor M. Susan Savage, Tulsa,
Oklahoma; Patrick A. Takasugi, Idaho State Department of Agriculture,
Boise; C. Dewey Botts, North Carolina Department of Environmental and
Natural Resources, Raleigh; Michelle B. Nowlin, Southern Environmental
Law Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina; Jim Moseley, Infinity Pork and
AgRidge Farms, Clarks Hill, Indiana, on behalf of the National Pork
Producers Council; Harry Knobee, West Point, Nebraska, on behalf of the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association; and Tim Maupin, Rocco, Inc.,
Harrisonburg, Virginia, on behalf of the National Turkey Federation and
the National Broiler Council. 

CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings to examine implications of the recent Supreme Court decision
concerning credit union membership, after receiving testimony from
Representatives LaTourette and Kanjorski; Michael S. Vadala, Summit
Federal Credit Union, Rochester, New York, on behalf of the National
Association of Federal Credit Unions; Peggy Lents, Azalea City Credit
Union, Mobile, Alabama, on behalf of the Credit Union National
Association; K. Reid Pollard, Randolph Bank and Trust Company, Asheboro,
North Carolina, on behalf of the Independent Bankers Association of
America; Neil Mahoney, Woronoco Savings Bank, Westfield, Massachusetts,
on behalf of the America's Community Bankers; and Scott Jones, Goodhue
County National Bank, Red Wing, Minnesota, on behalf of the American
Bankers Association. 

                               [Page: D363]

PUERTO RICO

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee met to discuss the
political status in Puerto Rico, focusing on S. 472, to provide for
referenda in which the residents of Puerto Rico may express
democratically their preferences regarding the political status of the
territory, and H.R. 856, to provide a process leading to full
self-government for Puerto Rico, after receiving testimony from Governor
Pedro Rossello, former Governor Luis A. Ferre, on behalf of the New
Progressive Party, Ruben Berrios Martinez, Independence Party, and
Anibal Acevedo Vila, Popular Democratic Party, all of San Juan, Puerto
Rico. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

The nominations of Ivan L.R. Lemelle, to be United States District Judge
for the Eastern District of Louisiana, A. Howard Matz, to be United
States District Judge for the Central District of California, George
Caram Steeh, III and Arthur J. Tarnow, each to be a United States
District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, Richard H. Deane,
Jr., to be United States Attorney for the Northern District of Georgia,
and Stephen C. Robinson, to be United States Attorney for the District
of Connecticut, and Daniel C. Byrne, to be the United States Marshal for
the Eastern District of New York; 

S. 1723, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to assist the
United States to remain competitive by increasing the access of the
United States firms and institutions of higher education to skilled
personnel and by expanding educational and training opportunities for
American students and workers, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute; and 

S. Res. 201, to commemorate and acknowledge the dedication and sacrifice
made by the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as law
enforcement officers. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and
the Courts approved for full committee consideration the following
bills: 

S. 1301, to amend title 11, United States Code, to provide for consumer
bankruptcy protection, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
and 

S. 1352, to amend Rule 30 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure to
restore the stenographic preference for depositions, with an amendment. 

CHLOROFLUOROCARBON PROPELLANTS

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine the Federal role in the implementation of Title VI of the Clean
Air Act as it relates to the use of chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) in
metered-dose inhalers (MCI), and an Advance Notice of Proposed
Rulemaking to phase out essential-use exemptions for CFC-based MDIs,
after receiving testimony from John Jenkins, Director, Pulmonary Drug
Products Division, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and
Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; Paul
Stolopman, Director, Office of Atmospheric Programs, Environmental
Protection Agency; Sharon Hipkins, Asthma and Allergy Foundation of
America, Washington, D.C.; Nancy Sander, Allergy and Asthma
Network/Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc., Fairfax, Virginia; Henry L. Dorkin,
New England Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, on behalf of the
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Brian Dunkiel, Friends of the Earth,
Burlington, Vermont; and Dennis M. Williams, University of North
Carolina School of Pharmacy, Chapel Hill, on behalf of the American
Pharmaceutical Association. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/04/03
Daily Digest - Friday, April 3, 1998,  pages D366 - D368

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NOMINATION

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: On Thursday, April 2,
committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of Arthur Levitt
Jr., of New York, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange
Commission. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/04/20
Daily Digest - Monday, April 20, 1998,  pages D369 - D374

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/04/21
Daily Digest - Tuesday, April 21, 1998,  pages D376 - D382

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations held
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for foreign
assistance, focusing on international crime prevention programs,
receiving testimony from Louis Freeh, Director, and Michael Pyszczmuka,
Legal Attache (Kiev, Ukraine), both of the Federal Bureau of
Investigation, Department of Justice; and Gen. Ihor Smeshko, Center for
Strategic Planning and Analysis, Kiev, Ukraine. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, April 23. 

APPROPRIATIONS--GAO/BIA

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Interior and Related
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
1999, receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective
activities from Victor S. Rezendes, Director of Energy, Resources and
Science Issues, Sue Ellen Naiberk, Assistant Director, and Jennifer L.
Duncan, Evaluator, all of the General Accounting Office; and Kevin
Gover, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, April 23. 

BREAST CANCER PREVENTION

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education, and Related Agencies held hearings to examine
the use of the drug Tamoxifen for the prevention and treatment of breast
cancer, receiving testimony from Harold E. Varmus, Director, and Richard
D. Klausner, Director, National Cancer Institute, both of the National
Institutes of Health; Norman Wolmark, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and
Helene Wilson, North Wales, Pennsylvania, both on behalf of the National
Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP); and Cynthia Pearson,
National Women's Health Network, Washington, D.C. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported S.
1873, to state the policy of the United States regarding the deployment
of a missile defense system capable of defending the territory of the
United States against limited ballistic missile attack. 

MARITIME AND AVIATION LIABILITY

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine concluded hearings on the
following measures: 

Proposed legislation to revise certain provisions with regard to the
liability of ship owners for loss of and damage to cargo on the high
seas as contained in the United States Carriage of Goods by Sea Act of
1936, after receiving testimony from Chester D. Hooper, Haight Gardner
Holland & Knight, on behalf of the Maritime Law Association of the
D378United States, and Walter M. Kramer, American Institute of Marine
Underwriters, both of New York, New York; William J. Augello, Augello,
Pezold & Hirschmann, Huntington, New York, on behalf of the National
Industrial Transportation League; Jon Roethke, Sea-Land Service, Inc.,
Charlotte, North Carolina; and William M. Woodruff, Eastham, Watson,
Dale and Forney, Houston, Texas, on behalf of the American Waterways
Operators; and 

                               [Page: D378]

S. 943 and H.R. 2005, bills to allow a dependent of a victim of an
international aviation accident occurring on or after January 1, 1995,
to sue for pecuniary loss, after receiving testimony from and Paul T.
Hofmann, Cappiello Hofmann & Katz, New York, New York; Eric Danoff,
Kaye, Rose & Partners, San Francisco, California; and John Sleavin,
Portland, Oregon. 

AGRICULTURE TRADE NEGOTIATIONS

Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on International Trade held hearings
to examine certain issues in preparation for the next round of
multilateral agricultural trade negotiations scheduled for May 18-20,
1999 in Geneva, focusing on barriers to United States farm exports,
receiving testimony from Senator Brownback; Peter Scher, Special Trade
Negotiator for Agriculture, Office of the United States Trade
Representative; August Schumacher, Jr., Under Secretary of Agriculture
for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; William B. Campbell, Central
Soya, Inc., Fort Wayne, Indiana, on behalf of the National Oilseed
Processors Association; Charles S. Johnson, Pioneer Hi-Bred
International, Inc., Des Moines, Iowa; Dean Kleckner, American Farm
Bureau Federation, Park Ridge, Illinois; Carl Peterson, Agri-Mark, Inc.,
Delanson, New York, on behalf of the Council of Northeast Farmer
Cooperatives; and Ann M. Veneman, California Department of Food and
Agriculture, Sacramento. 

Committee recessed subject to call. 

VETERANS HEALTH CARE

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine
the health effects of ionizing radiations on veterans, and related
measures S. 1385, to expand the list of diseases presumed to be service
connected with respect to radiation-exposed veterans, and S. 1822, to
authorize provision of care to veterans treated with nasopharyngeal
radium irradiation, after receiving testimony from Kenneth W. Kizer,
Under Secretary for Health, Joseph Thompson, Under Secretary for
Benefits, John Thompson, Acting General Counsel, all of the Department
of Veterans Affairs; Joan Ma Pierre, Director for Electronics and
Systems, Defense Special Weapons Agency, Department of Defense; Capt.
Richard L. LaFontaine, Medical Service Corps, United States Navy;
Richard B. Setlow, Brookhaven National Laboratory, Upton, New York;
Rosalie Bertell, International Institute of Concern for Public Health,
Toronto, Canada; William J. Brady, former Prime Support Contractor to
the Department of Energy at the Nevada Test Site, Las Vegas; Otto G.
Raabe, University of California, Davis, on behalf of the Health Physics
Society; Tidoro A. Garcia, Las Cruces, New Mexico, on behalf of the
National Association of Atomic Veterans; James Garrity, Branford,
Florida, on behalf of the Submarine Survivors Group; and former Mayor
Albert G. Parrish, Hackensack, Minnesota, on behalf of the Forgotten
216th. 

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL WEAPONS THREAT

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in a closed joint
session with the Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on
Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information to receive a briefing
from officials of the intelligence community on chemical and biological
weapons threats to America. 

Committees will meet again tomorrow. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/04/22
Daily Digest - Wednesday, April 22, 1998,  pages D384 - D392

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense, focusing on the ballistic missile defense program, receiving
testimony from Lt. Gen. Lester L. Lyles, USAF, Director, Ballistic
Missile Defense Organization. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, April 29. 

NOMINATION

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of Donna Tanoue, of Hawaii, to be a Member
and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit
Insurance Corporation, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators
Inouye and Akaka, testified and answered questions in her own behalf. 

ADVANCED TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications concluded hearings to examine how to promote and deliver
advanced telecommunication services, including satellite technology,
broadband services, and network applications, to consumers in accordance
with Section 706 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which directs the
Federal Communications Commission to lift any regulatory barrier that is
preventing companies from investing in and deploying high-speed data
technologies to the public, after receiving testimony from Ellwood R.
Kerkeslager, AT&T Corp., Jeffrey A. Eisenach, Progress and Freedom
Foundation, David Finkelstein, SkyBridge Limited Partnership, Erik R.
Olbeter, Economic Strategy Institute, and Timothy J. Regan, Corning
Incorporated, all of Washington, D.C.; Charles J. McMinn, Covad
Communications Company, Santa Clara, California, on behalf of the
Association of Local Telecommunications Services; and Joseph R. Zell, U
S West Communications, Denver, Colorado; and Russell Daggatt, Teledesic,
Kirkland, Washington. 

VIRTUAL MANUFACTURING

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Manufacturing and Competitiveness held hearings to examine current
applications of virtual manufacturing which is the use of information
technology to understand, diagnose, and control certain manufacturing
processes, and its impact on the future of American industry, focusing
on the applications of digital and robotics technologies in its design,
production, and control processes, receiving testimony from Robert
Spitzer, Boeing Company, Seattle, Washington; and Daniel J.
VandenBossche, Chrysler Corporation, and Eric Mittelstadt, FANUC
Robotics North America, Inc., both of Auburn Hills, Michigan. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

CHILD CARE ACCESS

Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy
held hearings to examine issues relating to child care access,
affordability, and supply in America and the impact of welfare reform on
State and Federal child care programs, and a related measure S. 1577, to
provide additional tax relief to families to increase the affordability
of child care, receiving testimony from Senator Dodd; Mark V. Nadel,
Associate Director for Income Security, Health, Education and Human
Services Division, General Accounting Office; Rhode Island Lieutenant
Governor Bernard A. Jackvony, Providence; Rochelle D386Chronister,
Kansas Department of Social and Rehabilitation Services, Topeka;
Christine C. Ferguson, Rhode Island Department of Human Services,
Cranston; Robert P. Hallenbeck, ECS, Inc., Exton, Pennsylvania; Donna
Kline, Marriot International, Bethesda, Maryland; Donna T. Munday, UNUM
Corporation, Portland, Maine; Jolene Ivey, MOCHA Moms, Cheverly,
Maryland; Susan Muenchow, Florida Children's Forum, Tallahassee; Beverly
Smith, Child Welfare League of America, Hyattsville, Maryland; Paula
Broglio, Adelphia, Maryland; and Susan Elizabeth Dutcher, Edmond,
Oklahoma. 

                               [Page: D386]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of G. Edward DeSeve, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy Director
for Management, Office of Management and Budget, and Deidre A. Lee, of
Oklahoma, to be Administrator for Federal Procurement Policy, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr.
DeSeve was introduced by Senator Specter. 

NOMINATION

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of James K. Robinson, of Michigan, to be an Assistant
Attorney General for the Criminal Division, Department of Justice, after
the nominee, who was introduced by Senators Abraham and Levin, testified
and answered questions in his own behalf. 

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information held joint hearings with the Select Committee on
Intelligence to examine Federal efforts in dealing with chemical and
biological weapons threats to America, and the implementation of the
Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (P.L. 104-132), receiving
testimony from Janet Reno, Attorney General, and Louis J. Freeh,
Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, both of the Department of
Justice. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

NOMINATION

Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nomination of Togo D. West, Jr., of the District of Columbia, to be
Secretary of Veterans Affairs. 

SOCIAL SECURITY REFORM

Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
impact of a proposal to invest Social Security trust funds in the stock
market, focusing on a General Accounting Office report, "Implications of
Government Stock Investing for the Trust Fund, the Federal Budget, and
the Economy'', after receiving testimony from Barbara D. Bovbjerg,
Associate Director, Income Security Issues, Health, Education, and Human
Services Division, General Accounting Office; Bruce K. MacLaury,
Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Committee for
Economic Development; Alicia H. Munnell, Boston College, and James S.
Phalen, State Street Corporation, both of Boston, Massachusetts; Olivia
S. Mitchell, Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia; and Louis D. Enoff, Enoff Associates, Ltd., Sykesville,
Maryland, former Commissioner, Social Security Administration. 

                               [Page: D387]

Joint Meetings

IDEA REGULATIONS

Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources concluded
joint hearings with the House Committee on Education and the Workforce
to examine the Department of Education's development of the regulations
necessary to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Amendments of 1997 (P.L. 105-17), after receiving testimony from Judith
E. Heumann, Assistant Secretary of Education for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services; Martha Feland, Cabot School Board, Cabot,
Arkansas; Frank P. Clark, James, Smith, Durkin & Connelly, Hershey,
Pennsylvania; Brian A. McNulty, Colorado Department of Education,
Denver; and Patricia McGill Smith, National Parent Network on
Disabilities, Washington, D.C. 



1998/04/23
Daily Digest - Thursday, April 23, 1998,  pages D394 - D402

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

FOOD STAMP PROGRAM

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the incidence of fraud and abuse in the Food Stamp
Program, focusing on proposed legislation to strengthen current laws to
make it illegal for prisoners and fleeing felons to collect food stamps
by requiring States to conduct criminal background checks on anyone
applying for food stamps, and Federal efforts to ensure the integrity of
the Food Stamp Program, after receiving testimony from Representative
Menendez; Yvette S. Jackson, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service,
Department of Agriculture; Robert A. D396Robinson, Director, Food and
Agriculture Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development
Division, General Accounting Office; Chris Hamilton, Abt Associates
Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Harold S. Beebout, Mathematica
Policy Research, Inc., Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D396]

APPROPRIATIONS--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations held
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for foreign
assistance, focusing on a multi-year United States strategy to combat
infectious diseases in developing countries, receiving testimony from
James M. Hughes, Director, National Center for Infectious Diseases,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and
Human Services; Nils M.P. Daulaire, Senior Health Advisor, Population,
Health and Nutrition Bureau for Programs and Policy, U.S. Agency for
International Development; David L. Heymann, World Health Organization,
Geneva, Switzerland; and Gail H. Cassell, Indianapolis, Indiana, on
behalf of Eli Lilly and Company. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, April 28. 

APPROPRIATIONS--FOREST SERVICE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Interior and Related
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999
for the Forest Service, receiving testimony from James R. Lyons, Under
Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and Michael P. Dombeck,
Chief, Forest Service, both of the Department of Agriculture, who were
accompanied by several of their associates. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

APPROPRIATIONS--NASA

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999
for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, receiving
testimony from Daniel S. Goldin, Administrator, NASA, who was
accompanied by several of his associates. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, April 30. 

AVIATION COMPETITION

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Aviation concluded hearings to examine the Department of
Transportation's policy regarding unfair exclusionary conduct in the
aviation industry and the competitive implications of consolidation
among United States airlines, after receiving testimony from Nancy E.
McFadden, General Counsel, Department of Transportation; Richard B.
Hirst, Northwest Airlines, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota; Alfred Kahn,
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Mark Kahan, Spirit Airlines,
Eastpointe, Michigan; and Steven A. Morrison, Northeastern University,
Boston, Massachusetts. 

PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management held hearings on S. 1253, to provide to the
Federal land management agencies the authority and capability to manage
effectively the federal lands in accordance with the principles of
multiple use and sustained yield, receiving testimony from Idaho State
Senator Judi Danielson, Council; Washington State Senator Robert Morton,
Colville; Cindy Bowen, Montrose County, Colorado, and Louise Liston,
Garfield County, Utah, both on behalf of the National Association of
Counties; Sue Kupillas, Jackson County, Oregon; and Steve McClure, Union
County, Oregon. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air,
Wetlands, Private Property, and Nuclear Safety concluded hearings to
examine the Environmental Protection Agency proposed rule to improve
visibility and reduce regional haze in national parks and wilderness
areas, after receiving testimony from John S. Seitz, Director, Office of
Air Quality Planning and Standards, Office of Air and Radiation,
Environmental Protection Agency; Christine L. Shaver, Chief of the Air
Resources Division, National Park Service, Department of the Interior;
Utah Governor Michael O. Leavitt, Salt Lake City, on behalf of the
Western Governors' Association; Randolph Wood, Nebraska Department of
Environmental Quality, Lincoln; Kenneth A. Colburn, New Hampshire
Department of Environmental Services, Concord; and Lynn M. Terry,
California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of
Thelma J. Askey, of Tennessee, Jennifer Anne Hillman, of Indiana, and
Stephen Koplan, of Virginia, each to be a Member of the United States
International Trade Commission, and Patrick A. Mulloy, of Virginia, to
be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf. Ms. Askey was introduced by
Representative Archer, Ms. Hillman was introduced by Senator Lugar, Mr.
Koplan was introduced by Representative Rangel, and Mr. Mulloy was
introduced by Senators D'Amato and Sarbanes. 

                               [Page: D397]

TELEPHONE SLAMMING

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on
Investigations concluded hearings to examine issues relating to
telephone slamming which is the unauthorized switching of a consumer's
long-distance service, including S. 1740, to improve the protections
against the unauthorized change of subscribers from one
telecommunications carrier to another, which entities are most
responsible for intentional slamming incidents, and the technique used
to deceive consumers, after receiving testimony from Eljay B. Bowron,
Assistant Comptroller General for Special Investigations, Office of
Special Investigations, General Accounting Office; and William E.
Kennard, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

The nominations of James K. Robinson, of Michigan, to be Assistant
Attorney General for the Criminal Division, and Wilma A. Lewis, to be
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, all of the
Department of Justice; 

S. 1504, to adjust the immigration status of certain Haitian nationals
who were provided refuge in the United States, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute; and 

S. 1360, to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant
Responsibility Act of 1996 to clarify and improve the requirements for
the development of an automated entry-exit control system, and to
enhance land border control and enforcement, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute. 

Also, committee began markup of the proposed Digital Millennium
Copyright Act of 1998, but did not complete action thereon, and will
meet again on Thursday, April 30. 

CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information concluded joint hearings with the Select
Committee on Intelligence to examine Federal efforts in dealing with
chemical and biological weapons threats to America, and the
implementation of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act
(P.L. 104-132), after receiving testimony from Donald C. Latham, Member,
Defense Science Board; Christine M. Gosden, University of Liverpool,
Liverpool, United Kingdom; and Richard Preston, New York, New York. 

Joint Meetings

AUTHORIZATION--NATIONAL MARROW DONOR PROGRAM

Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources'
Subcommittee on Public Health and Safety concluded joint hearings with
the House Committee on Commerce's Subcommittee on Health and Environment
on H.R. 2202, authorizing funds for the National Marrow Donor Program,
after receiving testimony from Representative Bill Young; Claude Earl
Fox, Acting Administrator, Health Resources and Services Administration,
and Claude Lenfant, Director, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute,
both of the Department of Health and Human Services; Adm. E.R. Zumwalt,
Jr., USN (Ret.), Arlington, Virginia, and Craig W.S. Howe, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, both on behalf of the National Marrow Donor Program; Edward
L. Snyder, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut,
on behalf of the American Association of Blood Banks; Clive O.
Callender, National Minority Organ Tissue Transplant Education Program,
and Robert Wedge, both of Washington, D.C.; and Angel Hernandez, Silver
Spring, Maryland. 

ISTEA AUTHORIZATION

Conferees on Wednesday, April 22, met to resolve the differences between
the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 2400, to authorize funds
for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs,
but did not complete action thereon, and will meet again on Friday,
April 24. 



1998/04/24
Daily Digest - Friday, April 24, 1998,  pages D403 - D408

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

Joint Meetings

ISTEA AUTHORIZATION

Conferees continued to resolve the differences between the Senate- and
House-passed versions of H.R. 2400, to authorize funds for Federal-aid
highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, but did not
complete action thereon, and will meet again on Tuesday, April 28. 



1998/04/27
Daily Digest - Monday, April 27, 1998,  pages D409 - D412

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/04/28
Daily Digest - Tuesday, April 28, 1998,  pages D414 - D422

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

JAPAN'S ECONOMY

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
current state of the Japanese economy and banking system and their
implications for the United States economy, after receiving testimony
from Tadashi Nakamae, Nakamae International Economic Research, Tokyo,
Japan; John H. Makin, American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.;
and David Malpass, Bear Stearns, New York, New York. 

YEAR 2000 COMPUTER CONVERSION

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the potential impact of the Year 2000 computer
conversion problem on the U.S. and world economies, and to review
efforts to address potential problems, after receiving testimony from
Senator Bennett; Edward W. Kelley, Jr., Member, Board of Governors of
the Federal Reserve System; Robert L. Mallett, Deputy Secretary of
Commerce; William E. Kennard, Chairman, Federal Communications
Commission; Mortimer L. Downey, Deputy Secretary of Transportation; and
Richard A. Grasso, New York Stock Exchange, Inc., Washington, D.C. 

FEDERAL R&D FUNDING

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Science, Technology, and Space concluded hearings to examine the state
of Federal research and development (R&D) funding in the United States,
focusing on America's future role in the dominance of science and
technology, after receiving testimony from Senators Bingaman, Gramm, and
Lieberman; Kerri-Ann Jones, Acting Director, Office of Science and
Technology Policy; Judith Rodin, Member, President's Committee of
Advisors on Science and Technology, and University of Pennsylvania,
Philadelphia; Dan Peterson, DAP and Associates, Winter Park, Florida;
and Albert H. Teich, American Association for the Advancement of
Science, Washington, D.C. 

MINING LAW REFORM

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management held hearings on S. 326, to provide for the
reclamation of abandoned hardrock mines, S. 327, to ensure that Federal
taxpayers receive a fair return for the extraction of locatable minerals
on public domain lands, and S. 1102, to provide a reasonable royalty
from mineral activities on Federal lands, and to create a State program
for the reclamation of abandoned hardrock mining sites on Federal lands,
receiving testimony from Senators Reid and Bryan; Nevada Governor, Bob
Miller, Carson City; Bruce Babbitt, Secretary of the Interior; Douglas
C. Yearley, Phelps Dodge Corporation, Phoenix, Arizona, on behalf of the
National Mining Association; Stephen D'Esposito, Mineral Policy Center,
and Jill Lancelot, Taxpayers for Common Sense, both of Washington, D.C.;
Stephen D. Alfers, Alfers and Carver, Denver, Colorado; Steven C.
Borell, Alaska Miners Association, Inc., Anchorage; Stephen A. Orr,
Homestake Mining Company, San Francisco, California; and Roger Flynn,
Western Mining Action Project, Boulder, Colorado. 

                               [Page: D416]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

IRS

Committee on Finance: Committee held oversight hearings on the operation
of the Internal Revenue Service, focusing on ethics and allegations of
abuses and improper conduct by high-level agency officials, receiving
testimony from Harry G. Patsalides, Deputy Assistant Inspector General
for Investigations, and Yvonne D. Desjardins, Chief, Employee and Labor
Relations Section, Personnel Branch, both of the Department of the
Treasury; Ray Cody Mayo, Jr., Louisiana Assistant District Attorney,
Shreveport; Robert Edwin Davis, Dallas, Texas, former Deputy Assistant
Attorney General, Tax Division, Department of Justice; J. Earl Epstein,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Philip A. MacNaughton, Houston, Texas. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on S.J. Res.
44, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to
protect the rights of crime victims, after receiving testimony from
Raymond C. Fisher, Associate Attorney General, Department of Justice;
Paul G. Cassell, University of Utah College of Law, Salt Lake City;
Kathleen Krenek, Wisconsin Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Madison;
Robert P. Mosteller, Duke University Law School, Durham, North Carolina;
Marlene A. Young, Washington, D.C., and Norman S. Early, Jr., Denver,
Colorado, both on behalf of the National Organization for Victim
Assistance; and Steven J. Twist, VIAD Corporation, Scottsdale, Arizona,
and former Chief Assistant Attorney General of Arizona, on behalf of the
National Victims' Constitutional Amendment Network. 

READING AND LITERACY INITIATIVES

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine proposals to improve the reading and literacy skills of children
and families, focusing on S. 1596 and H.R. 2614, bills to provide for
reading excellence by improving in-service instructional practices for
teachers who teach reading, to stimulate the development of more
high-quality family literacy programs, to support extended learning-time
opportunities for children, and to ensure that children can read well
and independently not later than third grade, after receiving testimony
from G. Reid Lyon, Chief, Child Development and Behavior Branch,
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, National
Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services; Janet R.
Arnowitz, Fairfax County Public Schools, both of Bethesda, Maryland;
Blanche Podhajski, Stern Center for Language and Learning, Williston,
Vermont; Catherine E. Snow, Committee on the Prevention of Reading
Difficulties in Young Children, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Perri Klass,
Boston Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Charles I. Bunting,
Vermont State College, Waterbury; Peggy Minnis and Raynice Brumfield,
both of the District of Columbia Public Schools, Washington, D.C.; Noel
C.R. Gunther, WETA Learning Project, Arlington, Virginia; and Dawnna
Lanctot, Danville, Vermont. 

ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE TOOLS FOR SMALL BUSINESS

Committee on Small Business: Committee held hearings to examine
environmental compliance assistance for small businesses provided by the
Environmental Protection Agency under Federal laws and initiatives,
environmental self-audits, and State audit privilege and qualified
disclosure laws, receiving testimony from Montana State Representative
Scott J. Orr, Helena, on behalf of the American Legislative Exchange
Council; Benjamin Y. Cooper, Printing Industries of America, Alexandria,
Virginia; Elizabeth Glass Geltman, George Washington University,
Washington, D.C.; James L. King, New York Small Business Development
Center, Albany, on behalf of the Association of Small Business
Development Centers; and David S. Marsh, Marsh Plating Corporation,
Ypsilanti, Michigan, on behalf of the National Association of Metal
Finishers, the Metal Finishing Suppliers' Association, and the American
Electroplating and Surface Finishing Society. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

Joint Meetings

CHINESE ACCESS TO MILITARY TECHNOLOGY

Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine
potential threats of exporting dual use and military technology to
China, and to review a General Accounting Office report on the
effectiveness of Tianemen sanctions restricting technology transfer,
after receiving testimony from William A. Reinsch, Under Secretary of
Commerce for Export Administration; Harold Johnson, Associate Director,
International Relations and Trade Group, General Accounting Office; and
Peter Leitner, Arlington, Virginia. 

ISTEA AUTHORIZATION

Conferees continued to resolve the differences between the Senate- and
House-passed versions of H.R. 2400, to authorize funds for Federal-aid
highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, but did not
complete action thereon, and will meet again on Thursday, April 30. 

EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

Conferees met on the differences between the Senate- and House-passed
versions of H.R. 3579, making emergency supplemental appropriations for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, but did not complete action
thereon, and will meet again tomorrow. 



1998/04/29
Daily Digest - Wednesday, April 29, 1998,  pages D424 - D432

Committee Meetings

( Committees not listed did not meet ) 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items: 

S. 1260, to limit the conduct of securities class actions under State
law by setting national standards for stocks that are traded on the
national markets, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. 1900, to establish a commission to examine issues pertaining to the
disposition of Holocaust-era assets in the United States before, during,
and after World War II, and to make recommendations to the President on
further action; and 

The nomination of Donna Tanoue, of Hawaii, to be a Member and
Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance
Corporation. 

IRS

Committee on Finance: Committee continued oversight hearings on the
operation of the Internal Revenue Service, focusing on ethics and
allegations of abuses and improper conduct by high-level agency
officials, receiving testimony from William A. Moncrief, Jr., Moncrief
Oil Company, Fort Worth, Texas; Richard Gardner, Gardner's Tax Service,
Inc., Tulsa, Oklahoma; Leroy W. Warren, Jr., National Association for
the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Washington, D.C.; David
Burnham and Susan B. Long, both of Syracuse University, Syracuse, New
York, on behalf of the Transitional Records Access Clearinghouse; and
John Colaprete, Virginia Beach, Virginia. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of William A. Fletcher, of California, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Chester J. Straub, of New York, to
be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit, William P.
Dimitrouleas, to be United States District Judge for the Southern
District of Florida, and Stephen P. Mickle, to be United States District
Judge for the Northern District of Florida, D426after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Fletcher was
introduced by Senator Feinstein, Mr. Straub was introduced by Senators
Moynihan and D'Amato, and Representative Gilman, and Messrs.
Dimitrouleas and Mickle were introduced by Senators Graham and Mack. 

                               [Page: D426]

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine how assistive technology should be developed into the 21st
century to adequately meet the needs of persons with disabilities,
focusing on proposed legislation to authorize funds for programs of the
Technology-Related Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities Act of
1988 (P.L. 100-407), after receiving testimony from Judith E. Heumann,
Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative
Services, Department of Education; Sam Jadallah, Microsoft Corporation;
Redmond, Washington; Corey L. Rowley, National Council on Independent
Living, Logan, Utah; James Gashel, National Federation of the Blind,
Baltimore, Maryland; Lynne Cleveland, Vermont Assistive Technology
Project, Waterbury; Cris Fulford, Assessing Technology Through Awareness
in Indiana (ATTAIN Project), and Craig Fulford, both of Indianapolis,
Indiana; Marion Pawlek, University of New Hampshire's Institute on
Disability, Concord; and Carol Smith, Knoxville, Tennessee. 

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held a closed business
meeting to consider intelligence matters. 

Committee will meet again tomorrow. 

Joint Meetings

EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS

Conferees continued to resolve the differences between the Senate- and
House-passed versions of H.R. 3579, making emergency supplemental
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, but did
not complete action thereon and will meet again tomorrow. 



1998/04/30
Daily Digest - Thursday, April 30, 1998,  pages D434 - D442

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

AGRICULTURAL TRANSPORTATION 

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the role that transportation plays in allowing U.S.
producers to retain their position in global food and agricultural
markets, after receiving testimony from Representative Nick Smith; Dan
Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture; John Bratton, Central Soya Company,
Inc., Fort Wayne, Indiana, on behalf of the National D436Grain and Feed
Association; Gary Hall, Kansas Farm Bureau, Manhattan, on behalf of the
American Farm Bureau Federation; Charles D. Rosas, Farmland Industries,
Inc., Kansas City, Missouri, on behalf of the Fertilizer Institute;
Allen Anderson, Harvest States Cooperative, St. Paul, Minnesota, on
behalf of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives and the Midwest
Area River Coalition 2000; and Thomas A. Allegretti, American Waterways
Operators, Arlington, Virginia. 

                               [Page: D436]

APPROPRIATIONS--CUSTOMS SERVICE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service,
and General Government held hearings on proposed budget estimates for
fiscal year 1999 for the United States Customs Service, focusing on
programs to deter pornography on the Internet, receiving testimony from
Samuel Banks, Acting Commissioner, United States Customs Service,
Department of the Treasury; and Ernie Allen, National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children, Arlington, Virginia. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, May 7. 

APPROPRIATION--EPA 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999
for the Environmental Protection Agency, receiving testimony from Carol
M. Browner, Administrator, Environmental Protection
Agency.  

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, May 7. 

NOMINATIONS 

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported 1,288
military nominations in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. 

CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP ACCESS ACT 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered
favorably reported H.R. 1151, to amend the Federal Credit Union Act to
clarify existing law and ratify the longstanding policy of the National
Credit Union Administration Board with regard to field membership of
Federal credit unions, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items: 

S. 1325, to authorize appropriations for the Technology Administration
of the Department of Commerce for fiscal years 1998, 1999, and 2000,
with amendments; and 

The nominations of Vice Adm. James M. Loy, USC, to be Commandant, Vice
Adm. James C. Card, USC, to be Vice Commandant, Rear Adm. Thomas H.
Collins, USC, to be Commander, Pacific Area, and a promotion list, all
of the United States Coast Guard. 

Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on the aforementioned
nominations of Messrs. Loy and Card, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Loy was introduced by
Senators Inouye and Stevens. 

AUTHORIZATION--FAA 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Aviation held hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for
programs of the Federal Aviation Administration and on implementation of
the recommendations of the National Civil Aviation Review Commission,
recessing testimony from Jane F. Garvey, Administrator, Federal Aviation
Administration. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management resumed hearings on S. 1253, to provide to the
Federal land management agencies the authority and capability to manage
effectively the federal lands in accordance with the principles of
multiple use and sustained yield, receiving testimony from John R.
McGuire, Gaithersburg, Maryland, R. Max Peterson, Washington, D.C., F.
Dale Robertson, Sedona, Arizona, and Jack Ward Thomas, Florence,
Montana, each a former Chief, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture;
and Cy Jamison, Washington, D.C., former Director, Bureau of Land
Management, Department of the Interior. 

Hearings continue on Tuesday, May 5. 

PARK CONCESSIONS 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation held hearings on proposals
to improve the management of concession operations at national parks,
focusing on title IV of S. 1693, to renew, reform, reinvigorate, and
protect the National Park System, and S. 624, to establish a competitive
process for the awarding of concession contracts in units of the
National Park System, receiving testimony from Denis P. Galvin, Deputy
Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; William J.
Bissett, Delaware North Companies, Inc., Buffalo, New York; Philip H.
Voorhees, National Parks and Conservation Association, and David L.
Brown, America Outdoors, both of Washington, D.C.; Andrew N. Todd, Amfac
Parks and Resorts, D437Aurora, Colorado, on behalf of the National Parks
Hospitality Association; Craig Mackey, Outward Bound USA, Golden,
Colorado; Curtis E. Cornelssen, Horwath Landauer, Boston, Massachusetts;
and Robert J. Gersack, First Interstate Bank of Commerce, Livingston,
Montana. 

                               [Page: D437]

Hearings continue on Thursday, May 7. 

IRS 

Committee on Finance: Committee continued oversight hearings on the
operation of the Internal Revenue Service, focusing on ethics and
allegations of abuses and improper conduct by high-level agency
officials, receiving testimony from former Senator Howard H. Baker, Jr.;
former Representative James H. Quillen; Tommy A. Henderson, Special
Agent, Criminal Investigation Division, Michael Ayala, Analyst (Georgia
District), Minh Thi Johnson, Revenue Agent (Los Angeles, California
District), Maureen O'Dwyer, International Examiner, and Ginger Mary
Jarvis, Acting Team Coordinator (both of the Manhattan, New York
District), and Patricia J. Gernt, former Special Agent, and Barbara
Latham, former Tax Fraud Investigative Aide, both of the Criminal
Investigation Division (both of the Nashville, Tennessee District), all
of the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury; and David
Crockett, First District Attorney General of Tennessee. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:

The nominations of Susan Oki Mollway, to be United States District Judge
for the District of Hawaii, and Arthur A. McGiverin, of Iowa, to be a
Member of the Board of Directors of the State Justice Institute; 

S. Res. 175, to designate the week of May 3, 1998 as "National
Correctional Officers and Employees Week''; and 

An original bill to amend title 17, U.S. Code, to implement the WIPO
Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, to
provide limitations on copyright liability relating to material online. 

TOBACCO INDUSTRY 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings to examine the
impact on the tobacco industry of proposed legislation relating to the
increase in the price of tobacco products, focusing on whether new
opportunities for the black market would be prevalent if tobacco prices
rise, receiving testimony from Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary of
the Treasury; John W. Hough, Senior Assistant Attorney General, Olympia,
Washington; Ron J. Martelle, FIA Specialist Investigations Group Inc.,
Cornwall, Ontario, Canada; David J. Adelman, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter,
New York, New York; and David Sweanor, Smoking and Health Action
Foundation, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

HEALTH CARE TECHNOLOGY 

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Subcommittee on Public Health
and Safety concluded hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds
for the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, focusing on the
Agency's contribution to technology assessment and health care quality
improvement, after receiving testimony from John M. Eisenberg,
Administrator, Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, Department of
Health and Human Services; David A. Kindig, University of Wisconsin,
Madison, on behalf of the Association for Health Services Research;
Elizabeth A. McGlynn, RAND, Santa Monica, California; Gerben DeJong,
National Rehabilitation Hospital Research Center, Washington, D.C.; Phil
B. Fontanarosa, Northwestern University Medical School, and J. Dunkin
Moore, Jr., on behalf of the Association of Health Care Journalists,
both of Chicago, Illinois; and Susan Dentzer, Chevy Chase, Maryland. 

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 Tuesday, May 5. 

                               [Page: D438]

Joint Meetings 

EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS 

Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between
the Senate-and House-passed versions of H.R. 3579, making emergency
supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30,
1998. 

ISTEA 

Conferees continued to resolve the differences between the Senate-and
House-passed versions of H.R. 2400, to authorize funds for Federal-aid
highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, but did not
complete action thereon, and recessed subject to call. 



1998/05/01
Daily Digest - Friday, May 1, 1998,  pages D443 - D448

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

IRS 

Committee on Finance: Committee continued oversight hearings on the
operation of the Internal Revenue Service, focusing on ethics and
allegations of abuses and improper conduct by high-level agency
officials, receiving testimony from Charles O. Rossotti, Commissioner,
Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/04
Daily Digest - Monday, May 4, 1998,  pages D450 - D454

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel met in closed
session and approved for full committee consideration those provisions
which fall within the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999. 

                               [Page: D451]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/05
Daily Digest - Tuesday, May 5, 1998,  pages D456 - D462

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

AVIATION COMPETITION

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related
Agencies concluded hearings to examine the state of competition in the
aviation industry, focusing on airline ticketing and related antitrust
enforcement practices, after receiving testimony from Patrick V. Murphy,
Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary of Transportation; Alfred Kahn, Cornell
University, Ithaca, New York; Darryl Jenkins, George Washington
University, and Larry Darby, Darby Associates, both of Washington, D.C.;
Borden Burr, All Seasons Travel Agency, Birmingham, Alabama; and
Lauraday Kelley, Cruiselink, Hummelstown, Pennsylvania. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Acquisition and Technology
met in closed session and approved for full committee consideration
those provisions which fall within the subcommittee's jurisdiction of
the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on AirLand Forces met in
closed session and approved for full committee consideration those
provisions which fall within the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the
proposed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness met in closed
session and approved for full committee consideration those provisions
which fall within the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower met in closed
session and approved for full committee consideration those provisions
which fall within the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the proposed
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces met in
closed session and approved for full committee consideration those
provisions which fall within the subcommittee's jurisdiction of the
proposed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999. 

NOMINATION

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of Deborah K. Kilmer, of Idaho, to be an
Assistant Secretary of Commerce, after the nominee testified and
answered questions in her own behalf. 

PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management resumed hearings on S. 1253, to provide to the
Federal land management agencies the authority and capability to manage
effectively the federal lands in accordance with the principles of
multiple use and sustained yield, receiving testimony from William H.
Meadows and Mike Anderson, both of the Wilderness Society, Washington,
D.C.; and Todd True Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund, Seattle,
Washington. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

D.C. STUDENT OPPORTUNITY SCHOLARSHIP ACT

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of
Government Management, Restructuring, and the District of Columbia
concluded hearings to examine the impact of S. 1502, District of
Columbia Student Opportunity Scholarship Act if enacted into law, after
receiving testimony from Virginia Walden and Wesley Walker-Bey, both of
Washington, D.C. 

CHILD SAFETY

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine the progress over the last ten years of the National SAFE KIDS
Campaign in the prevention of childhood injuries, after receiving
testimony from Ann Brown, Chairman, U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission; Ricardo Martinez, Administrator, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, Department of Transportation; C. D458Everett
Koop, former U.S. Surgeon General, and Heather Paul, Washington, D.C.,
both on behalf of the National SAFE KIDS Campaign; Ralph S. Larsen,
Johnson & Johnson, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Robert C. Lange, General
Motors Corporation, Warren, Michigan; Greg LeMond, Wayzata, Minnesota;
Mikaela Matton, Marietta, Georgia; and Cullen Dwyer, Pembroke,
Massachusetts. 

                               [Page: D458]

COMMUNITY SERVICES BLOCK GRANT

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Subcommittee on Children and
Families concluded hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds to
expand opportunities for community and neighborhood partnerships through
the Community Services Block Grant program, after receiving testimony
from Don Sykes, Director, Office of Community Services, Administration
for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services;
Evelyn Harris, New York State Division of Community Services, Albany;
Gloria Clark, City of Los Angeles Department of Housing and Neighborhood
Services, Los Angeles, California; E. Phillip McKain, CTE Inc.,
Stamford, Connecticut; Jerry Rickett, Kentucky Highlands Investment
Corporation, London, Kentucky; Robert L. Woodson, Sr., National Center
for Neighborhood Enterprise, and Tyrone C. Parker, Alliance of Concerned
Men, both of Washington, D.C.; and Robert E. Friedman, Corporation for
Enterprise Development, San Francisco, California. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to
consider certain intelligence matters, but made no announcements, and
will meet again tomorrow. 

Joint Meetings

IMF

Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine issues
relating to a proposed expansion of the International Monetary Fund and
its impact on international economic policy, focusing on IMF bailouts,
loan subsidies, and finances, after receiving testimony from Paul A.
Volcker, former Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System; George P. Schultz, Hoover Institution, Stanford, California,
former Secretary of State; and Larry Lindsey, American Enterprise
Institute, and William A. Niskanen, CATO Institute, both of Washington,
D.C. 



1998/05/06
Daily Digest - Wednesday, May 6, 1998,  pages D463 - D470

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense, focusing on the United States Pacific Command, receiving
testimony from Adm. Joseph W. Prueher, U.S. Navy, Commander in Chief,
United States Pacific Command. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Monday, May 11. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE 

Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to begin
markup of proposed legislation to authorize funds for fiscal year 1999
for military activities of the Department of Defense, and to prescribe
military personal strengths for fiscal year 1999, and related proposals,
but did not complete action thereon, and will meet again tomorrow. 

COMMON CARRIER BUREAU 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications concluded oversight hearings to examine the activities of
the Common Carrier Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission,
focusing on its implementation of the Telecommunications Act of 1996,
after receiving testimony from A. Richard Metzger, Jr., Chief, Common
Carrier Bureau, Federal Communications Commission; Ronald J. Binz,
Competition Policy Institute, Denver, Colorado; and Earl W. Comstock,
Sher & Blackwell, Albert Halprin, Halprin, Temple, Goodman & Sugrue, and
Peter W. Huber, Kellogg, Huber, Hansen, Todd & Evans, on behalf of the
Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, all of Washington, D.C. 

NEVADA PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management concluded hearings on S. 94 and H.R. 449, bills
to provide for the orderly disposal of certain Federal lands in Clark
County, Nevada, and to provide for the acquisition of environmentally
sensitive lands in the State of Nevada, after receiving testimony from
Senators Reid and Bryan; Representatives Ensign and Gibbons; Tom Fry,
Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior;
Mayor Michael L. Montandon, North Las Vegas, Nevada; and Lance Malone
and Mary Kincaid, both of the Clark County Board of Commissioners, and
Rosemary Vassiliadis, Clark County Department of Aviation, all of Las
Vegas, Nevada. 

KOSOVO 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on European Affairs held
hearings to examine the status of human rights violations and United
States foreign policy in Kosovo, receiving testimony from Robert S.
Gelbard, Special Representative of the President D465and the Secretary
of State for Implementation of the Dayton Peace Accords; and John Fox,
Open Society Institute, James R. Hooper, Balkan Institute, and Joseph J.
DioGuardi, Albanian American Civic League, all of Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D465]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

TRIBAL SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY 

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 1691, to
provide for Indian legal reform, focusing on the status of tribal
sovereign immunity and the role it plays to preserve the Federal
Government's protection of tribal self-government, and its impact on
Indian economic development, commercial dealings, and taxation, after
receiving testimony from Thomas L. LeClaire, Director, Office of Tribal
Justice, Department of Justice; Dale Webb, Mescalero Apache Tribe,
Mescalero, New Mexico; Pedro Johnson and Jackson King, both of the
Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, Mashantucket, Connecticut; Wendell Askenette,
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Keshena; Milton Bluehouse, Sr., and
Britt E. Clapham, II, both of the Navajo Nation, Window Rock, Arizona;
Eric D. Eberhard, Dorsey and Whitney, Seattle, Washington; Dennis A.
Ferdon, Anderson and Ferdon, Norwich, Connecticut; Richard A. Goren,
Rubin, Hay and Gould, Framingham, Massachusetts; Gregory A. Abbott,
Weinblatt and Gaylord, St. Paul, Minnesota; and Bernard J. Gamache,
Wapato, Washington. 

AUTHORIZATION--INTELLIGENCE 

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to
begin markup of proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year
1999 for intelligence and intelligence related activities of the United
States Government, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed
subject to call. 

MEDICARE 

Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
status of the Health Care Financing Administration's development of its
information campaign, and recommendations on ways to help beneficiaries
make informed choices among Medicare health plans and other related
resources, after receiving testimony from Michael Hash, Deputy
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration, Department of
Health and Human Services; William J. Scanlon, Director, Health
Financing and Systems Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services
Division, General Accounting Office; and Susan Kleimann, Kleimann
Communications Group, Geraldine Dallek, Institute for Health Care
Research and Policy/Georgetown University, and David S. Abernathy, HIP
Health Plans, all of Washington, D.C. 

Joint Meetings 

ISTEA 

Conferees met to continue to resolve the differences between the
Senate-and House-passed versions of H.R. 2400, to authorize funds for
Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and transit programs, but
did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to call. 



1998/05/07
Daily Digest - Thursday, May 7, 1998,  pages D471 - D478

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

AGRICULTURAL TRADE

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine United States agricultural trade policy issues,
focusing on the importance of trade to the American economy, and the
Administration's preparations for renewed multilateral trade
negotiations in agriculture, after receiving testimony from Daniel R.
Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture; and Charlene Barshefsky, United
States Trade Representative. 

APPROPRIATIONS--NSF/OFFICE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY/NATIONAL
SCIENCE BOARD

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent
Agencies concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
1999, after receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective
agencies from Neal F. Lane, Director, National Science Foundation;
Kerri-Ann Jones, Acting Director, Office of Science and Technology
Policy; and Richard N. Zare, Chairman, National Science Board. 

APPROPRIATIONS--EXECUTIVE OFFICE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service,
and General Government held hearings on proposed budget estimates for
fiscal year 1999 for the Executive Office of the President, receiving
testimony from Ada Louise Posey, Director, Office of Administration,
Executive Office of the President; and C. Boyden Gray, Wilmer Cutler and
Pickering, Washington, D.C., former White House Counsel to President
Bush. Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, May 14. 

AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills: 

An original bill to authorize funds for fiscal year 1999 for military
activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and
for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe
military personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces,
and to authorize funds for fiscal year 1999 for intelligence related
activities of the United States Government; 

An original bill entitled "Department of Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 1999''; 

An original bill entitled "Military Construction Act for Fiscal Year
1999''; and 

An original bill entitled "Department of Energy National Security Act
for Fiscal Year 1999''. 

HUD MANAGEMENT REFORM

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Development: Subcommittee on
Housing Opportunity and Community Development concluded hearings on
issues relating to the implementation of the Department of Housing and
Urban Development's "HUD 2020'' Management Reform Plan, after receiving
testimony from Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary, and Susan Gaffney, Inspector
General, both of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; and
Judy A. England-Joseph, Director, Housing and Community Development
Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General
Accounting Office. 

AIRCRAFT REPAIR STATIONS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Aviation concluded hearings to examine the Federal Aviation
Administration's oversight of repair stations that maintain and repair
aircraft and aircraft components, and S. 1089, to restrict the use of
foreign repair stations by United States airline companies, after
receiving testimony from Senator Specter; Guy S. Gardner, Associate
Administrator for Regulation and Certification, Federal Aviation
Administration, Department of Transportation; Gerald L. Dillingham,
Associate Director, Transportation Issues, Resources, Community, and
Economic Development Division, General Accounting Office; Gilbert D.
Mook, Federal Express Corporation, Don Fuqua, Aerospace Industries
Association, and Edward Wytkind, Transportation Trades Department,
AFL-CIO, all of Washington, D.C.; and William L. Scheri, International
Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Upper Marlboro,
Maryland.

NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation held hearings on S. 1693,
to improve the ability of the National Park System to provide
state-of-the-art protection and interpretation to NPS resources,
focusing on Title VI, National Parks Resources Inventory and Management,
Title VII, Designation of Tax Refunds and Contributions for the Benefit
of the National Park System, Title VIII, National Park Foundation, and
Title XI, relating to a study of the United States Park Police and
Cooperative Management Agreements, receiving testimony from Denis P.
Galvin, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department of the
Interior; William J. Chandler, National Parks and Conservation
Association, Charles M. Clusen, Natural Resources Defense Council, on
behalf of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, and Jim Maddy, National
Park Foundation, all of Washington, D.C.; Robert Koons, Grand Canyon
D474Association/Grand Canyon National Park Foundation, Grand Canyon,
Arizona; Stephanie M. Clement, Friends of Acadia, Bar Harbor, Maine; and
Curt Buchholtz, Rocky Mountain National Park Associates, Inc., Estes
Park, Colorado. 

                               [Page: D474]

Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, May 14. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of William Joseph Burns, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador
to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and Ryan Clark Crocker, of
Washington, to be Ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. 

OVERSEAS PRIVATE INVESTMENT CORPORATION

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic
Policy, Export and Trade Promotion concluded oversight hearings to
examine the operations of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation in
its implementation of foreign policy investment and development
priorities of the United States Government, after receiving testimony
from Senator Allard; George Munoz, President and CEO, Overseas Private
Investment Corporation; Richard F. Seney, MCTR, Alexandria, Virginia;
and Edmund Rice, Coalition for Employment Through Exports, Washington,
D.C. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

The nominations of Chester J. Straub, of New York, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit, William P. Dimitrouleas, to be
United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida, and
Stephan P. Mickle, to be United States District Judge for the Northern
District of Florida; 

S. 1525, to provide financial assistance for higher education to the
dependents of Federal, State, and local public safety officers who are
killed or permanently and totally disabled as the result of a traumatic
injury sustained in the line of duty; and 

S. Con. Res. 75, honoring the sesquicentennial of Wisconsin statehood. 

TEACHER PERFORMANCE

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine proposals to provide more qualified teachers in the American
classroom, focusing on certain provisions of the proposed Higher
Education Amendments of 1998 (S. 1882 and H.R. 6) affecting
institutional eligibility for student aid under title IV of the Higher
Education Act, after receiving testimony from Margot A. Schenet,
Specialist in Social Legislation, Education and Public Welfare Division,
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; Kati Haycock, The
Education Trust, Terry W. Hartle, American Council on Education, and
Arthur E. Wise, National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education,
all of Washington, D.C.; Donald Warren, Indiana University, Bloomington,
Indiana; Thomas W. Payzant, Boston Public Schools, Boston,
Massachusetts; and Nancy S. Grasmick, Maryland State Department of
Education, Baltimore. 

INTELLIGENCE--AUTHORIZATION

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee ordered favorably reported
an original bill (S. 2052) authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for
intelligence and intelligence related activities of the United States
Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central
Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/08
Daily Digest - Friday, May 8, 1998,  pages D480 - D484

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 

Joint Meetings

EMPLOYMENT-UNEMPLOYMENT

Joint Economic Committee: Committee held hearings to examine the
employment-unemployment situation for April, receiving testimony from
Katherine G. Abraham, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Department of Labor. 

Committee recessed subject to call. 



1998/05/11
Daily Digest - Monday, May 11, 1998,  pages D485 - D488

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense and related agencies, receiving testimony from numerous public
witnesses. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, May 13. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/12
Daily Digest - Tuesday, May 12, 1998,  pages D498 - D496

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for
the Department of Defense Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC)
environmental programs, after receiving testimony from Robert Pirie,
Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installation and Environment;
Paul Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installation
and Housing; and Jimmy G. Dishner, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air
Force for Installations. 

INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on S. 1868,
to express United States foreign policy with respect to, and to
strengthen United States advocacy on behalf of, individuals persecuted
for their faith worldwide; to authorize United States actions in
response to religious persecution worldwide; and to establish an
Ambassador at Large on International Religious Freedom within the
Department of State, a Commission on International Religious
Persecution, and a Special Adviser on International Religious Freedom
within the National Security Council, after receiving testimony from
Senators Nickles and Lieberman; and John H.F. Shattuck, Assistant
Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor. 

TOBACCO PRICE INCREASE

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings to examine the
consequences of raising the price of certain tobacco products as
contained in the proposed comprehensive anti-tobacco legislation,
including the impact on the consumption of tobacco products and the
potential for increasing black market sales of tobacco products,
receiving testimony from Gary Black, Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc.,
and Martin Feldman, Salomon Smith Barney, both of New York, New York;
and Matthew L. Myers, National Center for Tobacco-Free Kids, Washington,
D.C. 

Committee will meet again tomorrow. 

INDIAN GAMING REGULATORY IMPROVEMENT ACT

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 1870, to
provide the National Indian Gaming Commission with resources to monitor
and regulate certain Indian gaming operations, focusing on provisions
relating to tribal acquisition of off-reservation lands for gaming
purposes, and the Department of the Interior's role in this process,
after receiving testimony from Senator Lieberman; Kevin Gover, Assistant
Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs; Tanja Kozicky, on behalf
of the Governor of Minnesota, St. Paul; gaiashkibos, Lac Courte Oreilles
Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, Hayward, D491Wisconsin; and
Richard G. Hill and Timothy Wapato, both of the National Indian Gaming
Association, Raymond C. Scheppach, National Governors' Association, and
Franklin Ducheneaux, Ducheneaux, Taylor & Associates, all of Washington,
D.C. 

                               [Page: D491]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/13
Daily Digest - Wednesday, May 13, 1998,  pages D497 - D506

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense, receiving testimony from William S. Cohen, Secretary of
Defense. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Wednesday, May 20. 

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT FUND

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Financial Institutions and Regulatory Relief concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the
Community Development Financial Institutions Fund to expand access to
credit and financial services in low income urban, rural, and Native
American communities, after receiving testimony from former
Representative Floyd Flake; John D. Hawke, Jr., Under Secretary for
Domestic Finance, and Ellen W. Lazar, Director, CDFI Fund, both of the
Department of the Treasury; Judy A. England-Joseph, Director, Housing
and Community Development Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic
Development Division, General Accounting Office; Martin Eakes,
Self-Help, Durham, North Carolina; and Mark Pinsky, National Community
Capital Association, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

                               [Page: D499]

WIRELESS BUREAU

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications held oversight hearings on the Federal Communications
Commission, focusing on activities of the Wireless Telecommunications
Bureau, receiving testimony from Daniel B. Phythyon, Chief, Wireless
Telecommunications Bureau, FCC. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, May 19. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following measures: 

S. 1403, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior and Administration
of the General Services Administration to identify and convey historic
light stations to appropriate Federal and non-Federal entities for
historic preservation, recreation, park and cultural purposes, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

H.R. 1460, to allow for election of the Delegate from Guam by other than
separate ballot, and to provide a five-year extension to the
supplemental food assistance program for Enewetak and adjust the program
to reflect population changes; 

H.R. 1779, to make a minor adjustment in the exterior boundary of the
Devils Backbone Wilderness in the Mark Twain National Forest, Missouri,
to exclude a small parcel of land containing improvements; 

S. 1468, to provide for the conveyance of one acre of land from Santa Fe
National Forest to the Village of Jemez Springs New Mexico, as the site
of a fire sub-station, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. 1510, to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of
Agriculture to convey certain land known as the Old Coyote
Administrative Site to the county of Rio Arriba, New Mexico, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. 1683, to transfer administrative jurisdiction over part of the Lake
Chelan National Recreation Area from the Secretary of the Interior to
the Secretary of Agriculture for inclusion in the Wenatchee National
Forest in the State of Washington, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute; 

S. 1807, to transfer administrative jurisdiction over certain parcels of
public domain land in Lake County, Oregon, to facilitate management of
the land, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

H.R. 1439, to facilitate the sale of certain land in Tahoe National
Forest in the State of California to Placer County, California; 

S. 1752, to convey certain administrative sites and use the proceeds for
the acquisition of office sites and the acquisition, construction, or
improvement of offices and support buildings for the Coconino National
Forest, Kaibab National Forest, Prescott National Forest, and Tonto
National Forest in the State of Arizona, with an amendment in the nature
of a substitute; 

S.J. Res. 41, to approve the location of a proposed memorial to Martin
Luther King Jr., in the District of Columbia; 

S. 638, to provide for the expeditious completion of the previously
mandated Federal acquisition of private mineral and geothermal interests
within Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument in the State of
Washington, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and 

S. 887, to establish the National Underground Railroad Network to
Freedom program within the National Park Service to produce and
designate educational materials and to enter into cooperative agreements
to further the interpretation and understanding of the Underground
Railroad. 

TREATIES

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
Montreal Protocol No. 4 to Amend the Convention for the Unification of
Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air signed at Warsaw
on October 12, 1929, as amended by the Protocol done at The Hague on
September 8, 1955 (Treaty Doc. 95-2 B), the International Convention for
the Protection of New Varieties of Plants of December 2, 1961, as
Revised at Geneva on November 10, 1972, on October 23, 1978, and on
March 19, 1991, and signed by the United States on October 25, 1991
(Treaty Doc. 104-17), the Grains Trade Convention and Food Aid
Convention Constituting the International Grains Agreement, 1995 signed
by the United States on June 26, 1995 (Treaty Doc. 105-4), Convention on
the International Maritime Organization signed at Geneva, March 6, 1948
(the IMO Convention) (Treaty Doc. 104-36), and Trademark Law Treaty done
at Geneva on October 27, 1994, with Regulations and signed by the United
States on October 28, 1994 (Treaty Doc. 105-35), after receiving
testimony from Alan P. Larson, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic
and Business Affairs. 

INDIA

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South
Asian Affairs held hearings to examine India's nuclear weapons
potential, focusing on United States and India relations after India's
recent series of underground nuclear weapons tests, including the
President's proposed economic sanctions D500against India for conducting
these tests, receiving testimony from former Representative Stephen
Solarz; Karl F. Inderfurth, Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs,
and Robert J. Einhorn, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Political-Military
Affairs, both of the Department of State; R. James Woolsey, former
Director of the Central Intelligence Agency; and Fred C. Ikle, former
Director of the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. 

                               [Page: D500]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

RETIREMENT COVERAGE ERROR CORRECTION ACT

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International
Security, Proliferation and Federal Services concluded hearings on S.
1710, to provide for the correction of certain Federal retirement
coverage errors (with the exception of errors in effect for a period of
less than three years of employee service after December 31, 1986)
concerning: (1) Social Security-only covered employees who were
erroneously CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System) covered or CSRS
Offset covered; (2) Social Security-only covered employees not eligible
to elect FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System) who were erroneously
FERS covered; (3) CSRS covered, CSRS Offset covered, and FERS eligible
Social Security-only covered employees who were erroneously FERS covered
without an election; (4) FERS covered current and former employees who
were erroneously CSRS covered or CSRS Offset covered; and (5) annuitants
and survivors in cases where FERS covered employees were erroneously
CSRS covered or CSRS Offset covered, after receiving testimony from
William E. Flynn, III, Associate Director for Retirement and Insurance,
Office of Personnel Management; Roger W. Mehle, Executive Director,
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board; and Dallas L. Salisbury,
Employee Benefit Research Institute, and Daniel F. Geisler, American
Foreign Service Association, both of Washington, D.C. 

TOBACCO SETTLEMENT

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
constitutionality of proposed legislation to reform and restructure the
process by which tobacco products are manufactured, marketed, and
distributed, to prevent the use of tobacco products by minors, and to
redress the adverse health effects of tobacco use, after receiving
testimony from David W. Ogden, Counselor to the Attorney General,
Department of Justice; Colorado Attorney General Gale Norton, Denver;
David C. Vladeck, Public Citizen Litigation Group, Washington, D.C.; and
Burt Neuborne, New York University School of Law, New York, New York, on
behalf of the Association of National Advertisers, Inc. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items: 

H.R. 2614, to improve the reading and literacy skills of children and
families by improving in-service instructional practices for teachers
who teach reading, to stimulate the development of more high-quality
family literacy programs, to support extended learning-time
opportunities for children, and to ensure that children can read well
and independently not later than third grade, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute; and 

The nominations of Douglas S. Eakeley, of New Jersey, to be a Member of
the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation, Robert H.
Beatty, Jr., of West Virginia, to be a Member of the Federal Mine Safety
and Health Review Commission, Raymond L. Bramucci, of New Jersey, to be
Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training, Rita R.
Colwell, of Maryland, to be Director of the National Science Foundation,
Thomas Ehrlich, of California, to be a Member of the Board of Directors
of the Corporation for National and Community Service, Seth D. Harris,
of New York, to be Administrator of the Wage and Hour Division,
Department of Labor, William James Ivey, of Tennessee, to be Chairperson
of the National Endowment for the Arts, Dorothy A. Johnson, of Michigan,
to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National
and Community Service, Cyril Kent McGuire, of New Jersey, to be
Assistant Secretary of Education for Educational Research and
Improvement, and Jeanne Hurley Simon, of Illinois, to be a Member of the
National Commission on Libraries and Information Science. 

                               [Page: D501]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/14
Daily Digest - Thursday, May 14, 1998,  pages D507 - D514

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee held
hearings to examine the Department of Agriculture information technology
systems to ensure compliance with Year 2000 deadline, receiving
testimony from Marsha Pyle Martin, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer,
Farm Credit Administration; Brooksley Born, Chairperson, Commodity
Futures Trading Commission; Anne F. Thomson Reed, Chief Information
Officer, Department of Agriculture; Joel C. Willemssen, Director, Civil
Agencies Information Systems, Accounting and Information Management
Division, General Accounting Office; Peter de Jager, de Jager and
Company, Ltd., Toronto, Canada; and Irene Dec, Prudential Insurance
Company of America, Roseland, New Jersey. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

SUBCOMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Committee completed its review of
subcommittee 302(b) allocations of budget outlays and new budget
authority allocated to the committee in S. Con. Res. 86, setting forth
the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal
years 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, and 2003. 

                               [Page: D509]

ERISA

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education and Related Agencies concluded hearings to
examine the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) preemption,
focusing on remedies for denied or delayed health claims, after
receiving testimony from Olena Berg, Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Pension and Welfare Benefits; Evan Miller, Hogan & Hartson, on behalf of
the Association of Private Pension, and Ronald F. Pollack, Families USA
Foundation, both of Washington, D.C.; and Mark Smith, AMP Incorporated,
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the National Association of
Manufacturers. 

APPROPRIATIONS--BUREAU OF ALCOHOL, TOBACCO AND FIREARMS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury and General
Government concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal
year 1999 for the Department of the Treasury, focusing on the Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms' Gang Resistance, Education and Training
program, after receiving testimony from John W. Magaw, Director, and
Gale Rossides, Assistant Director for Training and Professional
Development, both of the Bureau of ATF, Department of the Treasury;
Edward N. Kondracki, La Crosse Police Department, La Crosse, Wisconsin;
Cuyler Windham, Cumberland County Police Department, Fayetteville, North
Carolina; and numerous public witnesses. 

NATIONAL PARK SYSTEM

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S.
1693, to improve state-of-the-art protection and interpretation to NPS
sources, focusing on Title IX, Commercial Filming in National Parks, and
Title X, Capital Improvement Project Bond Demonstration Program, and S.
1614, to require a permit for the making of a motion picture, television
program, or other forms of commercial visual depiction in a unit of the
National Park System or National Wildlife Refuge System, after receiving
testimony from Representative Hefley; Destry Jarvis, Assistant Director
for External Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the Interior;
Albert C. Eisenberg, National Parks and Conservation Association, Jack
Valenti, Motion Picture Association of America, Jeff Perlman, American
Advertising Federation, and Daniel L. Jaffe, Association of National
Advertisers, Inc., all of Washington, D.C.; Matthew Miller, Association
of Independent Commercial Producers, Inc., and Alfred R. Califano,
OneSuch Films, both of New York, New York; Leigh von der Esch, State of
Utah Film Commission, Salt Lake City; and Victor S. Perlman, American
Society of Media Photographers, Princeton Junction, New Jersey. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported S. 1415, to
reform and restructure the processes by which tobacco products are
manufactured, marketed, and distributed, to prevent the use of tobacco
products by minors, and to redress the adverse health effects of tobacco
use, with amendments. 

CHINA

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine
United States interests at the forthcoming U.S.-China summit to be held
in June, receiving testimony from Stanley O. Roth, Assistant Secretary
of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Robert Kagan, Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace, Mike Jendrzejczyk, Human Rights
Watch/Asia Division, and Robert A. Kapp, United States-China Business
Council, all of Washington, D.C.; and Arthur Waldron, University of
Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

IRAN

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South
Asian Affairs concluded hearings to examine United States policy toward
Iran, after receiving testimony from Martin S. Indyk, Assistant
Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs; Richard W. Murphy, Council
on Foreign Relations, New York, New York; and Michael Eisenstadt,
Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Steven Emerson, both of
Washington, D.C. 

SAFETY OF FOOD IMPORTS

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on
Investigations held hearings to examine the adequacy of procedures and
systems used by the Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection
Service and the Department of Health and Human Services Food and Drug
Administration to oversee the safety of food imported into the United
States, receiving testimony from Robert E. Robertson, Associate
Director, Food and Agriculture Issues, Resources, Community, and
Economic Development Division, General Accounting Office; Reggie Jang,
San Francisco, California, former Consumer Safety Inspector, Food and
Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Resources; and Mary
Ellen Camire, University of Maine, Orono. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

                               [Page: D510]

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Rosemary S. Pooler and Robert D. Sack, both of New York,
each to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit, Victoria
A. Roberts, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District
of Michigan, Richard W. Roberts, to be United States District Judge for
the District of Columbia, and Ronnie L. White, to be United States
District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri, after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Ms. Roberts was
introduced by Senators Levin and Abraham and Representative Upton, Mr.
Roberts was introduced by District of Columbia Delegate Norton, and Mr.
White was introduced by Senator Bond and Representative Clay. 

NOMINATION

Committee on Small Business: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nomination of Fred P. Hochberg, of New York, to be Deputy Administrator
of the Small Business Administration. 

Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Mr. Hochberg, after the nominee testified and answered questions in his
own behalf. Testimony was also received on the nominee from Senator
D'Amato; Representative Forbes; and Ada Alvarez, Administrator, Small
Business Administration. 

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the
intelligence community. 

Committee recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/15
Daily Digest - Friday, May 15, 1998,  pages D515 - D520

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 

                               [Page: D516]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/18
Daily Digest - Monday, May 18, 1998,  pages D521 - D524

 Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

INDONESIA

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific
Affairs concluded hearings to examine the political situation in
Indonesia and the United States response to recent incidents of unrest,
after receiving testimony from Stanley O. Roth, Assistant Secretary of
State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Donald Emmerson, University of
Wisconsin, Madison; Adam Schwarz, Council on Foreign Relations, and Paul
Wolfowitz, Johns Hopkins University, both of Washington, D.C.; and
Sidney Jones, Human Rights Watch, New York, New York. 

FAITH-BASED CHARITIES

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of
Government Management, Restructuring, and the District of Columbia
concluded hearings to examine the role of certain faith-based charities
in the District of Columbia, after receiving testimony from Senator
Coats; Edward J. Eyring, Gospel Rescue Ministries of Washington, D.C.,
Hannah M. Hawkins, Children of Mine Center, Jim Till, Strategies to
Elevate People, Amy Johnson, Neighborhood Learning Center, April
Lassiter, The Initiative for Children, and Joe Loconte, Heritage
Foundation, all of Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D523]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/19
Daily Digest - Tuesday, May 19, 1998,  pages D526 - D534

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development concluded hearings to examine the state of advanced nuclear
technologies, focusing on the disposal of spent nuclear fuel from
nuclear power reactors, the future strategic direction for nuclear
energy and nuclear regulation, and the development of the Gas
Turbine-Modular Helium Reactor, after receiving testimony from Hank C.
Jenkins-Smith, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque; Joe F. Colvin,
Jr., Nuclear Energy Institute, Washington, D.C.; Corbin A. McNeill, Jr.,
PECO Energy Company, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Richard Wilson, Harvard
University, and Alan B. Smith, Massachusetts Institute of Technology,
both of Cambridge, Massachusetts; Stan O. Schriber, Los Alamos National
Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico; Linden Blue, General Atomics, San
Diego, California; and Charles E. Till, Argonne National Laboratory,
Argonne, Illinois. 

FCC 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications resumed oversight hearings to examine the Federal
Communications Commission, focusing on activities of the Mass Media
Bureau, receiving testimony from Roy Stewart, Chief, Mass Media Bureau,
FCC. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

PUERTO RICO 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee held oversight
hearings to examine fiscal and economic implications of a change in the
political status of Puerto Rico, receiving testimony from James R.
White, Associate Director, Tax Policy and Administration Issues, General
Accounting Office; J. Thomas Hexner, International Institute for
Advanced Studies, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Ivar A. Pietri, Peregrine
Development Company, Guaynabo, Puerto Rico; and Marcos Rodriguez-Ema,
Government Development Bank for Puerto Rico, Fernando Martin-Garcia,
Puerto Rican Independence Party, and Santos Negron Diaz, Puerto Rico
Development Bank, all of San Juan. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

S. 1758, to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to facilitate
protection of tropical forests through debt reduction with developing
countries with tropical forests, with amendments; 

S. Res. 172, congratulating President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga
and the people of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka on the
celebration of 50 years of independence; 

S. Res. 188, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding Israeli
membership in a United Nations regional group; 

An original bill to amend section 502B of the Foreign Assistance Act to
require information on foreign government officials responsible for
human rights abuses; 

S. Con. Res. 30, expressing the sense of Congress that the Republic of
China on Taiwan should be admitted to multilateral economic institutions
including the IMF and IBRD; 

H.R. 2232, to provide for increased international broadcasting
activities to China, with amendments; 

The International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of
Plants (Treaty Doc. 104-17), with 1 reservation, 2 declarations, and 1
proviso; 

The International Grains Agreement (Treaty Doc. 105-4), with 1
declaration and 1 proviso; 

Amendments to the Convention on the International Maritime Organization
(Treaty Doc. 104-36), with 1 declaration and 1 proviso; 

The Trademark Law Treaty (Treaty Doc. 105-35), with 2 declarations and 1
proviso; and 

The nominations of William Joseph Burns, of Pennsylvania, to be
Ambassador to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Ryan Clark Crocker, of
Washington, to be Ambassador to the Syrian Arab Republic, Charles H.
Dolan, Jr., of Virginia, to be a Member of the United States Advisory
Commission on Public Diplomacy, and three Foreign Service Officer
promotion lists, with an exception, received in the Senate on March 26,
1998 and April 2, 1998. 

GOVERNMENT COMPUTER SECURITY 

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee held hearings to examine
the state of computer security within Federal, State and local agencies,
focusing on certain risks related to computer-communication technology
and efforts to reduce them, receiving testimony from Peter G. Neumann,
SRI International, Menlo Park, California; and representatives from
LOpht Heavy
Industries. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

TELEPHONE INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights
and Competition concluded hearings to examine the state of competition
in the D528telecommunications industry, focusing on how consolidation
within the industry will affect businesses and consumers, including the
impact of the proposed merger between Ameritech and SBC Communications,
Inc., after receiving testimony from Edward E. Whitacre, Jr., SBC
Communications, Inc., San Antonio, Texas; and Scott C. Cleland, Legg
Mason Wood Walker, Inc., and Gene Kimmelman, Consumers Union, both of
Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D528]

BANKRUPTCY REFORM 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and
the Courts held hearings on S. 1914, to provide reforms to the business
provisions of the bankruptcy code, focusing on Title II which updates
and improves provisions of the bankruptcy code designed to ensure
liquidity in financial markets, Title IV which establishes special
fast-track bankruptcy procedures for businesses in Chapter 11 which have
less than $5 million in debt, and certain tax provisions, receiving
testimony from Linda Ekstrom Stanley, United States Trustee for Region
17 (San Francisco, California), Department of Justice; Jere W. Glover,
Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration; Roger L.
Anderson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Federal
Finance; Philip J. Hendel, Hendel, Collins & Newton, Springfield,
Massachusetts, on behalf of the Commercial Law League; Stephen H. Case,
Davis, Polk & Wardwell, former Adviser, National Bankruptcy Review
Commission, Ann Stern, Financial Guarantee Insurance Corporation, on
behalf of the Association of Financial Guaranty Insurers, David Warren,
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter & Co., Inc., on behalf of the Bond Market
Association, and Kathleen J. Cahill, New York City Office of the
Corporation Counsel, on behalf of the National League of Cities, all of
New York, New York; Randal C. Picker, Sidley & Austin, on behalf of the
National Bankruptcy Conference, and Illinois Assistant Attorney General
James D. Newbold, on behalf of the National Association of Attorneys
General, both of Chicago, Illinois; H. Elizabeth Baird, NationsBank,
Charlotte, North Carolina, on behalf of the American Bankers
Association; Joyce Kuhns, Weinberg & Green, Baltimore, Maryland, on
behalf of the International Council of Shopping Centers; Grant W.
Newton, Pepperdine University, Malibu, California; and Damon Silvers,
AFL-CIO, Washington, D.C. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

HEALTH CARE QUALITY 

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine how to implement improved health claim grievance procedures,
focusing on the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA)
requirements regarding internal review of health benefit claims and the
need for independent external review, and S. 1712, to improve the
quality of health plans and provide protections for consumers enrolled
in such plans, after receiving testimony from Olena Berg, Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Pension and Welfare Benefits; Margaret A.
Hamburg, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Planning
and Evaluation; Bernice Steinhardt, Director, Health Services Quality
and Public Health Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services
Division, General Accounting Office; Maryland State Delegate Marilyn
Goldwater, Annapolis, on behalf of the National Conference of State
Legislatures; Stephen deMontmollin, AvMed Health Plan, Gainesville,
Florida, on behalf of the American Association of Health Plans; Mark
Smith, AMP Incorporated, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the
Corporate Health Care Coalition; Peter W. Thomas, Powers, Pyles, Sutter
& Verville, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Health Task Force of the
Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities; and Thomas McAfee, Brown and
Toland Medical Group, San Francisco, California. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/20
Daily Digest - Wednesday, May 20, 1998,  pages D536 - D544

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded hearings
on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Department of
Defense, focusing on Army programs, after receiving testimony from
Robert M. Walker, Acting Secretary of the Army; and Gen. Dennis J.
Reimer, Chief of Army Staff. 

OSTEOPOROSIS PREVENTION 

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, Education, and Related Agencies concluded hearings to examine
issues relating to the funding of osteoporosis prevention, education,
and research, after receiving testimony from Representative Morella;
Stephen I. Katz, Director, National Institute of Arthritis and
Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institutes of Health,
Department of Health and Human Services; Judy A. Black, National
Osteoporosis Foundation, Washington, D.C.; Dominic DiMaggio, The Paget
Foundation, New York, New York; Susan Burdick, Cambridge Springs,
Pennsylvania; and Frederick R. Singer, Santa Monica, California. 

HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Oceans and Fisheries concluded hearings to examine the scope of harmful
algal blooms, including pfiesteria, red tide, brown tide, and paralytic
shellfish poisoning, including hypoxia, a condition related to harmful
algal blooms, that has created a massive "dead zone'' in the Gulf of
Mexico, and S. 1480, to authorize funds for the National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration to conduct research, monitoring, education
and management activities for the eradication and control of harmful
algal blooms, including blooms of Pfiesteria piscicida and other aquatic
toxins, after receiving testimony from Terry D. Garcia, Assistant
Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, and Donald Scavia, Senior
Scientist, both of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration,
Department of Commerce; Suzanne E. Schwartz, Acting Director, Oceans and
Coastal Protection Division, Environmental Protection Agency; Donald
Anderson, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole,
Massachusetts; L. Donelson Wright, College of William and Mary School of
Marine Science/Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point,
Virginia; Nancy N. Rabalais, Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium,
Chauvin; JoAnn M. Burkholder, North Carolina State University, Raleigh;
and Michael Voisin, Motivatit Seafoods, Inc., Houma, Louisiana, on
behalf of the National Fisheries Institute and the National Marine
Manufacturers Association. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following measures: 

S. 1275, to implement further the Act (Public Law 94-241) approving the
Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in
Political Union with the United States of America, with an amendment in
the nature of a substitute; and 

S. 1693, to renew, reform, reinvigorate, and protect the National Park
System, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

Also, committee began consideration of S. 624, to establish a
competitive process for the awarding of concession contracts in units of
the National Park System, but did not complete action thereon, and
recessed subject to call. 

RUSSIAN POLICY 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on European Affairs
concluded hearings to examine Russian and domestic policy issues and
United States policy toward Russia, after receiving testimony from
Stephen Sestanovich, Special Advisor to the Secretary of State for the
New Independent States; Peter Reddaway, George Washington University,
and Leon Aron, American Enterprise Institute, both of Washington, D.C.;
Lauren B. Homer, Law and Liberty Trust, Vienna, Virginia; and Scott M.
Blacklin, American Chamber of Commerce, Moscow, Russia. 

UNITED NATIONS BUDGET 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations
concluded hearings to examine the certification made by the Acting
Secretary of State on May 4 regarding the budget of the United Nations,
after receiving testimony from Princeton N. Lyman, Assistant Secretary
of State for International Organization Affairs. 

CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on S. 1645, to
prohibit taking minors across State lines to avoid laws requiring the
involvement of parents in abortion decisions, after receiving
D538testimony from Representative Ros-Lehtinen; Pennsylvania Attorney
General D. Michael Fisher, Harrisburg; Eileen Roberts, Mothers Against
Minors' Abortions, Fredricksburg, Virginia; Renee Jenkins, Howard
University College of Medicine, Washington, on behalf of the Society for
Adolescent Medicine Advocates for Youth; D.C.; John C. Harrison,
University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Joyce Farley, Duschore,
Pennsylvania; and Bill Bell, Zionsville, Indiana. 

                               [Page: D538]

IDENTITY FRAUD 

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information concluded hearings on S. 512, to amend the
Federal criminal code to provide penalties against any person who
knowingly, and with intent to deceive or defraud, obtains, uses, or
attempts to obtain or use one or more means of identification other than
that lawfully issued to such person, authorizes the U.S. Secret Service
to investigate such offenses, directs the U.S. Sentencing Commission to
provide sentencing enhancements in connection with such offenses in
relation to the number of victims involved, and provides forfeiture and
restitution requirements with respect to such offense, after receiving
testimony from James Bauer, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of
Investigations, United States Secret Service, Department of the
Treasury; David Medine, Associate Director for Credit Practices, Bureau
of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission; Robert Hartle,
Phoenix, Arizona; and Mari J. Frank, Laguna Niguel, California. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported S.
2069, to permit the leasing of mineral rights, in any case in which the
Indian owners of an allotment that is located within the boundaries of
the Fort Berthold Indian Reservation in North Dakota and held in trust
by the United States have executed leases to more than 50 percent of the
mineral estate of that allotment, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute. 

Also, committee began markup of S. 1691, to provide for Indian legal
reform, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to
call. 

ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING 

Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem: Committee met and
adopted its rules of procedure. 

Joint Meetings 

U.S. INTELLIGENCE OPERATIONS 

Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
current state of intelligence operations in the United States, focusing
on Russian radio frequency technology, Russia's offensive biological
weapons program, and Chinese intelligence operations, after receiving
testimony from Victor I. Sheymov, ComShield Corporation, Washington,
D.C., former KGB Eighth Chief Directorate; Kenneth Alibek, Arlington,
Virginia, former First Deputy of the Soviet Union's Offensive Biological
Warfare Program; Nicholas Eftimiades, Chinese Intelligence Operations,
Silver Spring, Maryland; and Brian Fairchild, Brian P. Fairchild and
Associates, Seattle, Washington, former Staff Operations Officer,
Central Intelligence Agency's Directorate of Operations. 



1998/05/21
Daily Digest - Thursday, May 21, 1998,  pages D545 - D556

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NOMINATIONS 

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported 1,086
military nominations in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. 

ALTERNATIVE AND RENEWABLE FUELS 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy
Research, Development, Production and Regulation concluded hearings on
the following bills: 

S. 1141, to amend the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to take into account
newly developed renewable energy-based fuels and to equalize alternative
fuel vehicle acquisition incentives to increase the flexibility of
controlled fleet owners and operators, after receiving testimony from
Thomas J. Gross, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy/Office of
Transportation Technologies, Energy Efficiency, and Renewable Energy;
Mark Berg, Tripp, South Dakota, on behalf of the American Soybean
Association; Gilbert P. Sperling, Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition,
Rockville, Maryland; Joe Anderson, Potlatch, Idaho, on behalf of the
U.S. Canola Association; Christopher D. Amos, City of St. Louis Board of
Public Service/Equipment Services Division, St. Louis, Missouri; and
Russell T. Teall, Biodiesel Development Corporation, Marathon Key,
Florida; and  
S. 1418, to promote the research, identification, assessment,
exploration, and development of methane hydrate resources, after
receiving testimony from Robert Kripowicz, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Energy/Office of Fossil Energy; Timothy S. Collett,
Research Geologist, United States Geological Survey, Department of the
Interior; Charles K. Paull, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill;
and Arthur H. Johnson, Chevron USA Production Company, New Orleans,
Louisiana, on behalf of Chevron, Natural Gas Supply Association, and the
National Ocean Industries Association. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following measures: 

S. 1677, to authorize funds through fiscal year 2003 for the North
American Wetlands Conservation Act and the Partnerships for Wildlife
Act; 

S. 2095, to amend and authorize funds through fiscal year 2003 for the
National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Establishment Act, with an
amendment; 

                               [Page: D548]

S. 627, to authorize funds for fiscal years 1997 through 2002 for the
African Elephant Conservation Act; 

H.R. 39, to authorize funds for fiscal years 1997 through 2002 for the
African Elephant Conservation Act; 

S. 1104, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to make corrections in
maps relating to the Coastal Barrier Resources System; 

S. 2038, to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize funds
through fiscal year 2009 for the John F. Kennedy Center for the
Performing Arts and to further define the criteria for capital repair
and operation and maintenance, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute; 

H.R. 824, to redesignate the Federal building located at 717 Madison
Place, NW., in the District of Columbia, as the "Howard T. Markey
National Courts Building''; 

S. 1800, to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse
located at 85 Marconi Boulevard in Columbus, Ohio, as the "Joseph P.
Kinneary United States Courthouse''; 

S. 1898, to designate the Federal building located at 1301 Clay Street
in Oakland, California, as the "Ronald V. Dellums Federal Building''; 

S. 1355, to designate the United States courthouse located in New Haven,
Connecticut, as the "Richard C. Lee United States Courthouse''; 

S. 1298, to designate a Federal building located in Florence, Alabama,
as the "Justice John McKinley Federal Building''; 

S. 2032, to designate the Federal building in Juneau, Alaska, as the
"Hurff A. Saunders Federal Building''; 

S. 2090, to extend the authority of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to
collect fees through 2003; 

S. 1531, to deauthorize certain portions of the project for navigation,
Bass Harbor, Maine; and  

S. 1532, to amend the Water Resources Development Act of 1996 to
deauthorize the remainder of the project at East Boothbay Harbor, Maine. 

IRAQ 

Committee on Foreign Relations/Committee on Energy and Natural
Resources: Committees concluded joint hearings to examine the future and
effectiveness of United States policy and sanctions toward Iraq, after
receiving testimony from Thomas R. Pickering, Under Secretary of State
for Political Affairs; Richard N. Perle, former Assistant Secretary of
Defense for International Security; David A. Kay, Science Applications
International Corp, McLean, Virginia, former UNSCOM Nuclear Inspector;
and Kenneth M. Pollack, Washington Institute for Near East Policy,
Washington, D.C. 

NOMINATION 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Jeffrey Davidow, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to Mexico,
after the nominee testified and answered questions in his own behalf. 

FOREIGN ICBM AND SATELLITE PROGRAMS 

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International
Security, Proliferation and Federal Services held hearings to examine
how a foreign country's satellite and Intercontinental Ballistic
Missiles (ICBM) programs could benefit from launching United States
commercial satellites, and whether the administration's export control
policy is adequate to prevent technology transfers that endanger
America, focusing on the evolution of U.S. commercial satellite export
policies and whether military benefits are derived by China when it
launches U.S.-built satellites, receiving testimony from William R.
Graham, National Security Research, Inc., Arlington, Virginia; and John
Pike, Federation of American Scientists, and William Schneider, Jr.,
Hudson Institute, both of Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

The nominations of William A. Fletcher, of California, to be United
States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Rosemary S. Pooler and
Robert D. Sack, both of New York, each to be United States Circuit Judge
for the Second Circuit, Victoria A. Roberts, to be United States
District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, Richard W. Roberts,
to be United States District Judge for the District of Columbia, Ronnie
L. White, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of
Missouri, and Q. Todd Dickinson, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy
Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, Department of Commerce; 

S. 1892, to provide that a person closely related to a judge of a court
exercising judicial power under article III of the United States
Constitution (other than the Supreme Court) may not be appointed as a
judge of the same court; 

S. 1301, to amend title 11, United States Code, to provide for consumer
bankruptcy protection, with amendments; 

S. 2022, to provide for the improvement of interstate criminal justice
identification, information, D549communications, and forensics, with an
amendment; and 

                               [Page: D549]

S. 2073, to authorize appropriations for the National Center for Missing
and Exploited Children, with an amendment. 

GENETIC INFORMATION AND HEALTH CARE 

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings on
proposals to prohibit health care discrimination based on genetic
information, including related measures S. 89 and S. 422, after
receiving testimony from Senators Domenici and Snowe; Francis S.
Collins, Director, National Human Genome Research Institute, National
Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services; Colorado
Commissioner of Insurance Jack Ehnes, Denver, on behalf of the National
Association of Insurance Commissioners; Christine Brunswick, National
Breast Cancer Coalition, and Mary Nell Lehnhard, BlueCross BlueShield
Association, both of Washington, D.C.; Judith L. Palkovitz, Hadassah,
New York, New York; Jodi Klein Rucquoi, Yale University School of
Medicine/Department of Genetics, New Haven, Connecticut; and Joanne
Denise, Northwestern Mutual, Nashville, Tennessee, on behalf of the
National Association of Health Underwriters. 

INDIAN HEALTH CARE 

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded oversight hearings to
examine the state of Indian health and the availability of resources to
meet their health care needs, after receiving testimony from David
Satcher, Surgeon General of the United States and Assistant Secretary
for Health, and Michael H. Trujillo, Assistant Surgeon General, and
Director, Indian Health Service, both of the Department of Health and
Human Services; Ralph Forquera, Seattle Indian Health Board, Seattle,
Washington; Earl Old Person, Blackfeet Tribal Business Council,
Browning, Montana; Julia A. Davis, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health
Board, Portland, Oregon; W. Ron Allen, National Congress of American
Indians, Craig Winkel, American College of Obstetricians and
Gynecologists, Michael E. Bird, American Public Health Association, and
Michael R. Sinclair, Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, all of
Washington, D.C.; Buford Rolin, National Indian Health Board, Denver,
Colorado; Ray Begay, Association of American Indian Physicians, Oklahoma
City, Oklahoma; Ron Morton, San Diego American Indian Health Center, and
Jane Dumas, both of San Diego, California, on behalf of the National
Council of Urban Indian Health; Eugene DeLorme, University of North
Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Grand Forks; Kathryn
Manness, Feather River Indian Health Clinic, Oroville, California, on
behalf of the National Indian Child Welfare Association; Ronald M.
Rowell, National Native American AIDS Prevention Center, Oakland,
California; Alvin Windy Boy, Montana-Wyoming Area Indian Health Board,
Box Elder, on behalf of the Self-Governance Task Force; Bill Anoatubby,
Chickasaw Nation, Ada, Oklahoma; Russell D. Mason, Sr., Three Affiliated
Tribes of the Fort Berthold Reservation of North Dakota, New Town; Mary
V. Thomas, Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, Arizona; Daniel Eddy,
Jr., Colorado River Indian Tribes, Parker, Arizona; Sandra Ninham,
Oneida Tribe of Indians of Wisconsin, Oneida; Joseph C. Saulque,
Advisory Council on California Indian Policy, Sacramento; Margaret
Terrance, St. Regis Mohawk Tribe Health Services, Hogansburg, New York;
Genevieve Jackson, Navajo Nation Council, Window Rock, Arizona; Joann
Bodurtha, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, on behalf of the
American Academy of Pediatrics; Murray D. Sykes, Silver Spring,
Maryland, on behalf of the American Dental Association; Arthur McDonald,
Morningstar Memorial Foundation, Lame Deer, Montana, on behalf of the
American Psychological Association; Thurman Johnson, Shiprock, New
Mexico; Gloria Harrison, Red Valley, Arizona; Jessie Rae Taken Alive,
McLaughlin, South Dakota; and George Pickup, Kansas, Oklahoma.  

NOMINATION 

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Joan Avalyn Dempsey, of Virginia, to be Deputy Director of
Central Intelligence for Community Management, after the nominee
testified and answered questions in her own behalf. 

                               [Page: D550]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/05/22
Daily Digest - Friday, May 22, 1998,  pages D557 - D562

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NOMINATION

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee ordered favorably reported
the nomination of Joan Avalyn Dempsey, of Virginia, to be Deputy
Director of Central Intelligence for Community Management. 

                               [Page: D559]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/01
Daily Digest - Monday, June 1, 1998,  pages D654 - D570

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

BANKRUPTCY REFORM: HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and
the Courts concluded hearings on S. 1914, to provide reforms to the
business provisions of the bankruptcy code, focusing on Title I, to
provide new protections for patients of hospitals and HMOs and nursing
homes that declare bankruptcy, after receiving testimony from Thomas R.
Prince, Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois; Keith J. Shapiro,
Holleb & Coff, Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of the American Bankruptcy
Institute; Deborah L. Fish, Mallard & Fish, Detroit, Michigan; and
Charles N. Kahn, Health Insurance Association of America, Washington,
D.C. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/02
Daily Digest - Tuesday, June 2, 1998,  pages D572 - D576

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense approved for full
committee consideration an original bill making appropriations for the
Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999. 

APPROPRIATIONS--ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development approved for full committee consideration an original bill
making appropriations for energy and water development for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 1999. 

PREPAREDNESS FOR EPIDEMICS AND BIOTERRORISM

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human
Services, Education and Related Agencies concluded hearings to examine
the public health response to disease outbreaks caused by biological and
chemical terrorism, focusing on the current system of public health
surveillance and control at the State, local, and Federal levels, and
certain terrorist incidents involving biological agents, after receiving
testimony from James M. Hughes, Director, National Center for Infectious
Diseases, and Richard J. Jackson, Director, National Center for
Environmental Health, both of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and Robert F. Knouss, Director, Office of Emergency
Preparedness, all of the Department of Health and Human Services; Ralph
D. Morris, Galveston County Health Department, LaMarque, Texas, on
behalf of the National Association of County and City Health Officials;
Michael T. Osterholm, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on behalf of the American
Society for Microbiology; Edward Thompson, Association of State and
Territorial Health Officials, Washington, D.C.; and Luther J. Fincher,
Jr., Charlotte Fire Department, Charlotte, North Carolina, on behalf of
the International Association of Fire Chiefs. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Hans Mark, of Texas, to be Director of Defense Research
and Engineering, Mahlon Apgar IV, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary
of the Army for Installations, Logistics and Environment, and Joseph W.
Westphal, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil
Works, all of the Department of Defense, after the nominees testified
and answered questions in their own behalf. Dr. Mark was introduced by
Senator Hutchison, Mr. Apgar was introduced by Senator Sarbanes, and Mr.
Westphal was introduced by Senator Cochran. 

FHA

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Housing Opportunity and Community Development held oversight hearings to
review the current status of the Federal Housing Administration,
focusing on its role and mission, financial status, and reform efforts,
receiving testimony from Susan Gaffney, Inspector General, and Ira
Peppercorn, General Deputy Assistant Secretary for Housing-Federal
Housing Commissioner, both of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development; and Judy A. England-Joseph, Director, Housing and Community
Development Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development
Division, General Accounting Office. 

Hearings continue on Thursday, June 4. 

                               [Page: D574]

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on the nominations of Clyde J. Hart, Jr., of New Jersey, to be
Administrator of the Maritime Administration, Department of
Transportation, and Neal F. Lane, of Oklahoma, to be Director, and
Rosina M. Bierbaum, of Virginia, to be an Associate Director, both of
the Office of Science and Technology Policy, after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Hart was
introduced by Senator Lautenberg, and Drs. Lane and Bierbaum were
introduced by Senator Robb. 

INTERNATIONAL POSTAL SERVICES ACT

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International
Security, Proliferation and Federal Services concluded hearings on S.
2082, to amend chapter 36 of title 39, United States Code, to provide
authority to fix rates and fees for domestic and international postal
services, after receiving testimony from William J. Henderson,
Postmaster General/Chief Executive Officer, and Einar V. Dyhrkopp, Vice
Chairman of the Board of Governors, both of the United States Postal
Service; Christopher J. McCormick, L.L. Bean, Inc., Freeport, Maine;
Frederick W. Smith, FDX Corporation, Memphis, Tennessee; and James P.
Kelly, United Parcel Service, Atlanta, Georgia. 

Y2K COMPUTER COMPLIANCE AND SMALL BUSINESS

Committee on Small Business: Committee held hearings to examine the
impact that the Year 2000 computer compliance problem will have on small
business, receiving testimony from Thomas S. Luedtke, Deputy Associate
Administrator for Procurement, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration; James H. Yasso, Intel Corporation, Folsom, California;
Harris N. Miller, Information Technology Association of America,
Arlington, Virginia; David Eddy, Software Sales Group, Inc., Babson
Park, Massachusetts; and David L. Schaefer, Armfield, Harrison & Thomas,
Inc., Leesburg, Virginia. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to
consider pending intelligence matters, but made no announcements, and
recessed subject to call. 

                               [Page: D575]

Joint Meetings

RETIREMENT SAVINGS

Joint Hearing: Senate Special Committee on Aging and the House Committee
on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Employer-Employee
Relations concluded joint hearings to examine certain retirement savings
barriers for individuals and ways to educate Americans on how to prepare
for retirement, after receiving testimony from Olena Berg, Assistant
Secretary of Labor for Pension Welfare Benefits; Dallas L. Salisbury,
Employee Benefit Research Institute, Washington, D.C.; Sharon Dillon
Robinson, Center for Retirement Education/Variable Annuity Life
Insurance Company, Houston, Texas; Dennis L. Stone, Western
Manufacturing Corp., Marshalltown, Iowa; and Jan Owens Bruene, Des
Moines, Iowa. 



1998/06/03
Daily Digest - Wednesday, June 3, 1998,  pages D578 - D584

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

PAKISTAN NUCLEAR TESTS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South
Asian Affairs held hearings to examine the U.S. response to Pakistan's
recent underground nuclear tests and nuclear missile program, receiving
testimony from Karl F. Inderfurth, Assistant Secretary of State for
South Asian Affairs; William Schneider, Jr., former Under Secretary of
State for Security Assistance, Science and Technology; and Richard N.
Haass, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C., former Senior Director
for Near East and South Asia, National Security Council. 

Hearings were recessed subject to the call. 

MANDATES INFORMATION ACT

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S.
389 and H.R. 3534, bills to improve congressional deliberation on
proposed Federal private sector mandates, after receiving testimony from
Senator Abraham; Representative Portman; James L. Blum, Deputy Director,
Congressional Budget Office; Mary Ann Cricchio, Baltimore, Maryland, on
behalf of the National Restaurant Association; and R. Bruce Josten,
United States Chamber of Commerce, and Sharon Buccino, Natural Resources
Defense Council, both of Washington, D.C. 

TRIBAL JUSTICE INITIATIVE

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded oversight hearings on
the needs of tribal governments for increased resources for law
enforcement to provide greater safety in Indian communities, focusing on
the Administration's proposed Indian Law Enforcement Initiative, after
receiving testimony from Janet Reno, Attorney General, Department of
Justice; Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian
Affairs; Joseph F. Baca, Justice, Supreme Court of New Mexico, Santa Fe;
Spike Bighorn, Fort Peck Executive Council, Poplar, Montana; Norman G.
Wilson, Rosebud Sioux Tribal Council, Rosebud, South Dakota; Don
Sollars, Blackfeet Tribal Court, Browning, Montana; Jill E. Shibles,
National American Indian Court Judges Association, Mashantucket,
Connecticut; and Roy W. Bernal, All Indian Pueblo Council, and Ada Pecos
Melton, American Indian Development Associates, both of Albuquerque, New
Mexico. 

                               [Page: D579]

No Joint hearings noted



1998/06/04
Daily Digest - Thursday, June 4, 1998,  pages D585 - D592

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following measures: 

An original bill (S. 2132) making appropriations for the Department of
Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999; 

An original bill making appropriations for energy and water development
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999; and 

An original bill making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nominations of Hans Mark, of Texas, to be Director of Defense Research
and Engineering, Mahlon Apgar IV, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary
of the Army for Installations, Logistics and Environment, and Joseph W.
Westphal, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil
Works, all of the Department of Defense. 

DOD INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
national security implications of the future threats to the Department
of Defense information systems, including the Year 2000 computer
compliance problems and the proposed sale of the electromagnetic
spectrum that affects the operation of the communications and weapon
systems of the Department of Defense, after receiving testimony from
Senator Bennett; and John J. Hamre, Deputy Secretary, and Lt. Gen.
Kenneth A. Minihan, USAF, Director, National Security Agency, both of
the Department of Defense. 

BOSNIA: DAYTON AGREEMENT

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on United
States forces participating in NATO operations in Bosnia and to examine
progress in achieving benchmarks in the civil implementation of the
Dayton Agreement, after receiving testimony from Robert S. Gelbard,
Special Representative to the President and Secretary of State for
Bosnia and Kosovo; and Gen. Wesley K. Clark, USA, Supreme Allied
Commander, Europe, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. European Command. 

FHA

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Housing Opportunity and Community Development concluded oversight
hearings to review the current status of the Federal Housing
Administration, focusing on its role and mission, financial status, and
reform efforts, after receiving testimony from Brian Chappelle, Mortgage
Bankers Association of America, and Michael A. Quinn, Federal National
Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), both of Washington, D.C.; W. Roger
Haughton, PMI Mortgage Insurance Company, San Francisco, California, on
behalf of the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America; Charles J. Ruma,
Davidson Phillips, Columbus, Ohio, on behalf of the National Association
of Home Builders; Catherine B. Whatley, Jacksonville, Florida, on behalf
of the National Association of Realtors; Robert R. McMillan, Long Island
Housing Partnership, Inc., Hauppauge, New York; and D587Liz Ryan,
National Training and Information Center, Chicago, Illinois. 

                               [Page: D587]

FEDERAL SPENDING ON INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS

Committee on the Budget: International Affairs Task Force concluded
hearings to examine United States Government resources supporting
American foreign policy goals and interests that fall outside the
international affairs budget category, after receiving testimony from
Benjamin F. Nelson, Director, International Relations and Trade Issues,
National Security and International Affairs Division, General Accounting
Office; and Larry Nowels, Specialist in Foreign Affairs, Congressional
Research Service, Library of Congress. 

FCC

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications resumed oversight hearings on the Federal Communications
Commission, focusing on activities of the Cable Services Bureau,
receiving testimony from John E. Logan, Acting Chief, Cable Services
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

AIRLINE ALLIANCES

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Aviation concluded hearings to examine the competitive implications of
domestic and international alliances among airlines, after receiving
testimony from Charles A. Hunnicutt, Assistant Secretary of
Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs; John M. Nannes,
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, Department of
Justice; John H. Anderson, Jr., Director, Transportation Issues,
Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General
Accounting Office; Henry C. Joyner, American Airlines, Inc., Fort Worth,
Texas; Scott Yohe, Delta Air Lines, Inc., and Hershel I. Kamen,
Continental Airlines, Inc., both of Washington, D.C.; and John S.
Strong, College of William and Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia. 

CLIMATE CHANGE

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings
to examine the Administration's proposal to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions by establishing initiatives designed to increase energy
efficiency, to comply with the Kyoto Protocol negotiated in December
1997 to address the international problem of global warming, after
receiving testimony from Victor S. Rezendes, Director of Energy,
Resources, and Science Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic
Development Division, and David Marwick, Assistant Director,
Environmental Protection Issues, both of the General Accounting Office;
Dirk Forrister, Chairman, White House Climate Change Task Force; David
M. Gardiner, Assistant Administrator for Policy, Environmental
Protection Agency; Dan Reicher, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and John Karl Scholz, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury for Tax Analysis. 

PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management resumed hearings on S. 1253, to provide to the
Federal land management agencies the authority and capability to manage
effectively the federal lands in accordance with the principles of
multiple use and sustained yield, receiving testimony from Steven J.
Appel, Washington Farm Bureau, Endicott, on behalf of the American Farm
Bureau Federation; Margaret I. Johnson, Idaho Power Corp., Boise, on
behalf of the Edison Electric Institute; Bruce Vincent, Libby, Montana,
on behalf of the Alliance for America; and Bob Bierer, American Forest
and Paper Association, Myra B. Hyde, on behalf of the National
Cattlemen's Beef Association and the Public Lands Council, and David
Finkenbinder, National Mining Association, all of Washington, D.C. 

Hearings continue on Wednesday, June 17. 

COMPETITION FOR FEDERAL COMMERCIAL ACTIVITIES

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of
Government Management, Restructuring, and the District of Columbia
concluded oversight hearings to examine the current Office of Management
and Budget Circular A-76 policy for establishing a competition for
commercial activities within the Federal government, after receiving
testimony from J. Christopher Mihm, Associate Director, Federal
Management and Workforce Issues, General Government Division, General
Accounting Office; G. Edward DeSeve, Acting Deputy Director for
Management, Office of Management and Budget; John Berry, Assistant
Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget; and W.
Scott Gould, Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary of Commerce
for Administration. 

SMALL BUSINESS INNOVATION RESEARCH PROGRAM

Committee on Small Business: Committee held oversight hearings to review
the status of the Small Business Innovation Research Program designed to
increase private sector commercialization of technology, to increase
small business participation in federal research and development, and to
improve D588the Federal government's dissemination of information
concerning the program, and proposed legislation to improve the small
business sector's involvement in assistive technology research and
development, receiving testimony from Charles W. Wessner, Program
Director, Board on Science, Technology, and Economic Policy, National
Research Council, Susan D. Kladiva, Associate Director, Energy,
Resources, and Science Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic
Development Division, General Accounting Office; Robin Frank Risser,
Picometrix, Inc., on behalf of the Small Business Technology Coalition,
and Heidi N. Jacobus, Cybernet Systems Corporation, both of Ann Arbor,
Michigan; Arthur P. Brigham, III, High Performance Materials Corp.,
Hermann, Missouri; and Chris W. Busch, Ronan, Montana. 

                               [Page: D588]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NATIONAL SECURITY

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on the
investigation of the impacts to United States national security from
advanced satellite technology exports to China and Chinese efforts to
influence U.S. policy, receiving testimony from officials of the
intelligence community. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/05
Daily Digest - Friday, June 5, 1998,  pages D594 - D600

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NATIONAL SECURITY 

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee continued closed hearings to
examine the investigation of the impacts to United States national
security from advanced satellite technology exports to China and Chinese
efforts to influence U.S. policy, receiving testimony from officials of
the intelligence community. 

Hearings continue on Wednesday, June 10. 

Joint Meetings 

EMPLOYMENT-UNEMPLOYMENT 

Joint Economic Committee: Committee held hearings to examine the
employment-unemployment situation for May, receiving testimony from
Katharine G. Abraham, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
Department of Labor. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 



1998/06/09
Daily Digest - Tuesday, June 9, 1998,  pages D602 - D608

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--FOREIGN OPERATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations held
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the U.S.
Agency for International Development, receiving testimony from J. Brian
Atwood, Administrator, Agency for International Development. 

Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, June 16. 

APPROPRIATIONS--VA/HUD

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent
Agencies approved for full committee consideration an original bill
making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans Affairs and
Housing and Urban Development and for sundry independent agencies,
boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1999. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings on the nominations of Rebecca M. Blank, of Illinois, to be a
Member of the Council of Economic Advisers, and Michael J. Copps, of
Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Trade Development, and Awilda R.
Marquez, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary and Director General of
the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, both of the Department
of Commerce, after the nominees testified and answered questions in
their own behalf. Mr. Copps was introduced by Senator Hollings and Ms.
Marquez was introduced by Senator Sarbanes. 

TREATY--COMBATING BRIBERY OF FOREIGN OFFICIALS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in
International Business Transactions, adopted at Paris on November 21,
1997, by a conference held under the auspices of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development, signed in Paris on December 17,
1997, by the United States and 32 other nations (Treaty Doc. 105-43),
after receiving testimony from Stuart E. Eizenstat, Under Secretary of
State for Economic, Business and Agricultural Affairs; and Fritz F.
Heimann, Transparency International USA, Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D604]

ACTIVE AGING

Special Committee on Aging: On Monday, June 9, committee concluded
hearings to examine the international trend of increased life
expectancy, focusing on international programs, policies and research
that encourage active aging, after receiving testimony from Jeanette C.
Takamura, Assistant Secretary for Aging, and Richard J. Hodes, Director,
National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, both of the
Department of Health and Human Services; Robert N. Butler, New York, New
York, Lady Sally Greengross, London, England, and Francoise Forette,
Paris, France, all on behalf of the International Longevity Center; Yuzo
Okamoto, Kobe City College of Nursing, Kobe, Japan; A.H.B. de Bono,
International Institute on Aging-Malta, Oxford, England; and Alvar
Svanborg, University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and University of Illinois,
Chicago. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/10
Daily Digest - Wednesday, June 10, 1998,  pages D609 - D618

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine economic issues facing the red meat industry,
including production, price and profit prospects for cattle, hog and
sheep producers, and trends in export markets, after receiving testimony
from Keith Collins, Chief Economist, Department of Agriculture; David C.
Nelson, Credit Suisse First Boston, New York, New York; Richard
Kjerstad, South Dakota Farm Bureau Federation, Huron, on behalf of the
American Farm Bureau Federation; George Swan, Rogerson, Idaho, on behalf
of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association; Donna Reifschneider,
Smithton, Illinois, on behalf of the National Pork Producers Council;
Lorin Moench Jr., American Sheep Industry Association, Englewood,
Colorado; Leland Swenson, National Farmers Union, Aurora, Colorado; J.
Patrick Boyle, American Meat Institute, Arlington, Virginia; and Herman
Schumacher, Herried, South Dakota. 

APPROPRIATIONS--DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the District of Columbia
held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the
District of Columbia, receiving testimony from Mayor Marion S. Barry,
Jr., Linda W. Cropp, Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia,
Andrew F. Brimmer, Chairman, Financial Responsibility and Management
Assistance Authority, Arlene Ackerman, Superintendent and Chief
Executive Officer, District of Columbia Public Schools, and Camille
Barnett, Chief Management Officer, City of the District of Columbia, all
of the District of Columbia. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

YEAR 2000 READINESS

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Financial Services and Technology concluded hearings to examine federal
efforts to promote Year 2000 readiness in the securities industry, the
capital markets, and their underlying industries, including the
Securities and Exchange Commission's guidance as to what public
companies should consider when disclosing information about their Year
2000 readiness, after receiving testimony from Laura D611S. Unger,
Commissioner, U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission; Steven L. Hock,
Triaxsys Research, Missoula, Montana; Edward Yardeni, Deutsche Bank
Securities, and Ed Bankole, Moody's Investors Service, both of New York,
New York; and Lynn A. Stout, Georgetown University Law Center, and
Matthew J. Schlesinger, McKenna & Cuneo, both of Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D611]

AUTHORIZATION--FCC

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications concluded hearings on proposed legislation to reform and
authorize funds for the Federal Communications Commission, focusing on
the implementation of the schools and libraries program designed to
connect schools and libraries to broadband technology, after receiving
testimony from William E. Kennard, Chairman, and Susan Ness, Harold W.
Furchtgott-Roth, Michael Powell, and Gloria Tristani, each a
Commissioner, all of the Federal Communications Commission. 

CAMBODIA

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific
Affairs concluded hearings to examine United States policy strategy on
democracy in Cambodia and the outlook for the election scheduled for
July 26, 1998, after receiving testimony from Stanley O. Roth, Assistant
Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Stephen Heder,
University of London, London, England; Sidney Jones, Human Rights Watch,
New York, New York; and Janet E. Heininger, American University, of
Washington, D.C. 

U.S. INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information resumed hearings to examine the need for a
national strategy and proactive policies to protect the critical
infrastructures of the United States, focusing on the role of the FBI's
National Infrastructure Protection Center, receiving testimony from
Michael A. Vatis, Deputy Assistant Director, and Chief, National
Infrastructure Protection Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Department of Justice. 

Also, committee met to receive a briefing on the Presidential Decision
Directive (PDD-63) aimed at countering attacks on U.S. critical
infrastructure, and the Department of Defense exercise known as
"Eligible Receiver'' which simulated an attack on government computers
to test the security of their system from Richard Clarke, Senior
Director, National Security Council; and certain officials of the
National Security Agency, Department of Defense. 

Subcommittee recessed subject to call. 

PACIFIC NW EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENT/INTERSTATE
FOREST FIRE PROTECTION COMPACT

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution,
Federalism, and Property Rights approved for full committee
consideration the following measures: 

S.J. Res. 35, granting the consent of Congress to the Pacific Northwest
Emergency Management Arrangement; and  

S. 1134, granting the consent and approval of Congress to an interstate
forest fire protection compact. 

INDIAN SCHOOL CONSTRUCTION

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded oversight hearings on
the implementation of the Bureau of Indian Affairs' school facility
improvement program, after receiving testimony from John Berry,
Assistant Secretary for Policy, Management and Budget, and Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, both of the Department of the
Interior; Thomas E. Atcitty, Navajo Nation, Window Rock, Arizona; Jon
Whirlwind Horse, Dakota Area Consortium of Tribal Schools, Inc./Loneman
School Corporation, Oglala, South Dakota; and Lorraine P. Edmo, National
Indian Education Association, Alexandria, Virginia. 

NATIONAL SECURITY

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee resumed hearings on the
investigation of the impacts to United States national security from
advanced satellite technology exports to China and Chinese efforts to
influence United States policy, receiving testimony from Katherine V.
Schinasi, Associate Director, Defense Acquisitions Issues, National
Security and International Affairs Division, General Accounting Office. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

Joint Meetings

MONETARY POLICY

Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine
monetary policy and the current economic outlook, after receiving
testimony from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System. 



1998/06/11
Daily Digest - Thursday, June 11, 1998,  pages D619 - D626

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--AGRICULTURE/VA-HUD/MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills: 

Original bill (S. 2159) making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999; 

Original bill making appropriations for the Departments of Veterans
Affairs and Housing and Urban Development and for sundry independent
agencies, boards, commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 1999; and 

Original bill (S. 2160) making appropriations for military construction,
family housing, and base realignment and closure for the Department of
Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999. 

RECREATIONAL FEE COLLECTION

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded oversight
hearings on the implementation of the Recreational Fee Demonstration
Program, designed to authorize the Forest Service, National Park
Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Fish and Wildlife Service to
establish fee collection programs at sites that they manage, after
receiving testimony from John Berry, Assistant Secretary of the Interior
for Policy, Management and Budget; Lyle Laverty, Regional Forester,
Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; David Brown, America
Outdoors, Knoxville, Tennessee; Adena Cook, Blue Ribbon Coalition, Idaho
Falls, Idaho; Dunham Gooding, Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America,
Boulder, Colorado; D621and Arthur M. Peterson, Kampgrounds of America,
Inc., Billings, Montana. 

                               [Page: D621]

OIL VALUATION REGULATIONS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy
Research, Development, Production and Regulation concluded oversight
hearings to examine the status of the Department of the Interior
Minerals Management Service efforts to revise regulations for valuing
crude oil produced from Federal leases, after receiving testimony from
Senator Boxer; Robert Armstrong, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for
Land and Minerals Management; Tom White, Vision Resources, on behalf of
the Independent Petroleum Association of America, and James Svenvold,
SPN, Ltd., both of Houston, Texas; and M. Brian McMahon, McMahon &
Spiegel, Los Angeles, California, on behalf of the City of Long Beach
and the State of California. 

U.S. TRADE DEFICIT

Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine the causes of
the United States trade deficit and its implications for the American
economy, receiving testimony from Senator Dorgan; Robert E. Rubin,
Secretary of the Treasury; Janet L. Yellen, Chair, Council of Economic
Advisers; Robert E. Scott, Economic Policy Institute, and Daniel T.
Griswold, Cato Institute, both of Washington, D.C.; Murray Weidenbaum,
Center for the Study of American Business, St. Louis, Missouri, former
Chair, Council of Economic Advisers; and Robert Z. Lawrence, Harvard
University, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of
Raymond W. Kelly, of New York, to be Commissioner of Customs, James E.
Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Under Secretary for Enforcement, and
Elizabeth Bresee, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary, all of the
Department of the Treasury, after the nominees testified and answered
questions in their own behalf. Mr. Kelly was introduced by Senator
D'Amato. 

CHINESE MISSILE PROLIFERATION

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine the
Administration's policy of promoting commercial satellite launches from
China, focusing on Chinese ballistic and cruise missile proliferation,
receiving testimony from Gordon Oehler, Arlington, Virginia, former
Special Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence for
Nonproliferation; and Gary Milhollin, University of Wisconsin Law
School, Madison, on behalf of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms
Control. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of E. William Crotty, of Florida, to be Ambassador to
Barbados, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation
as Ambassador to Antigua and Barbuda, to the Commonwealth of Dominica,
to Grenada, to St. Kitts and Nevis, to Saint Lucia, and to Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines, John O'Leary, of Maine, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Chile, and Arthur Louis Schechter, of Texas, to be
Ambassador to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Crotty was
introduced by Senators Mack, Graham, and Harkin, Mr. O'Leary was
introduced by Senators Snowe and Collins and Representatives Baldacci
and Allen, and Mr. Schechter was introduced by Senator Hutchison and
Representative Lee. 

INS REFORM


Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration held hearings on
proposals to reform the Immigration and Naturalization Service, focusing
on its ability to provide services to immigrants, visitors, and
prospective citizens, receiving testimony from Doris Meissner,
Commissioner, Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of
Justice; Margaret H. McCormick, American Immigration Lawyers
Association, Washington, D.C.; and Sana Atisha, West Bloomfield,
Michigan. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

CHILD LABOR

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Subcommittee on Employment and
Training concluded hearings to examine the Department of Labor efforts
and proposals to combat abusive child labor, after receiving testimony
from John R. Fraser, Acting Administrator, Wage and Hour Division,
Department of Labor; California State Labor Commissioner Jose Millan,
Sacramento; Thomas K. Zaucha, National Grocers Association, Reston,
Virginia; Rafael I. Lissack, Wynnewood Food Fare, Wynnewood,
Pennsylvania; Barbara Mainster and Lourdes Villanueva, both of the
Redlands Christian Migrant Association, Immokalee, Florida; and Linda
Dianne Mull, Association of Farmworker Opportunities Programs,
Arlington, Virginia. 

                               [Page: D622]

Joint Meetings

IRS REFORM

Conferees on Wednesday, June 10, met to resolve the differences between
the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 2676, to restructure and
reform the Internal Revenue Service, but did not complete action
thereon, and recessed subject to call. 



1998/06/12
Daily Digest - Friday, June 12, 1998,  pages D628 - D634

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

UTILITY INDUSTRY YEAR 2000 READINESS

Special Committee on the Year 2000 Technology Problem: Committee held
hearings to examine the readiness of the utility industry, including
electric, oil, and natural gas utilities, and the role of the Federal
Government in facilitating an information exchange on Year 2000 best
practices and shared experiences among those in the industry, receiving
testimony from Elizabeth A. Moler, Deputy Secretary, and James J.
Hoecker, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, both of the
Department of Energy; Shirley Ann Jackson, Chairman, Nuclear Regulatory
Commission; John Koskinen, Chairman, President's Council on Year 2000
Conversion; Louis J. Marcoccia, MTS/PeopleSource, Selden, New York;
Michehl R. Gent, North American Electric Reliability Council, Princeton,
New Jersey; Charles Siebenthal, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo
Alto, California; James A. Rubright, Sonat, Inc., Birmingham, Alabama,
on behalf of the Interstate Natural Gas Association of America; and Gary
W. Gardner, American Gas Association, Arlington, Virginia. 

Committee recessed subject to call. 

                               [Page: D630]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/15
Daily Digest - Monday, June 15, 1998,  pages D636 - D640

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

FEDERAL AGENCY COMPLIANCE ACT/10TH CIRCUIT JUDGESHIPS

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and
the Courts concluded hearings on S. 1166, to require a Federal agency,
in administering a statute, rule, regulation, program, or policy
(statute) within a judicial circuit, to adhere to the existing precedent
respecting the interpretation and application of such statute, as
established by the decisions of the United States Court of Appeals for
that circuit, with exceptions, after receiving testimony from Senator
Campbell; Representative Gekas; Arthur J. Fried, General Counsel, Social
Security Administration; Ronald G. Bernoski, Administrative Law Judge
(Assigned to the Office of Hearings and Appeals/Social Security
Administration), on behalf of the Association of Administrative Law
Judges, Inc.; James F. Allsup, Allsup Incorporated, Belleville,
Illinois; John Bowman, Bowman and DePree, Davenport, Iowa; and Lynn
Conforti, Denver, Colorado. 

Also, subcommittee concluded hearings to examine the state of the
Federal courts in the Tenth Circuit, focusing on the need to fill
existing vacancies or create new judgeships in certain district courts
within the circuit, after receiving testimony from Stephanie K. Seymour,
Chief Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit. 

                               [Page: D638]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/16
Daily Digest - Tuesday, June 16, 1998,  pages D641 - D648

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--FOREIGN OPERATIONS

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for
foreign assistance programs, after receiving testimony from Madeleine K.
Albright, Secretary of State. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Louis Caldera, of California, to be Secretary of the
Army, and Daryl L. Jones, of Florida, to be Secretary of the Air Force,
both of the Department of Defense, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Caldera was introduced by
Senators Feinstein and Boxer, and Mr. Jones was introduced by Senators
Mack, Graham, and Cochran, and Representative Foley. 

PARENTAL ADVISORY LABELS

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held
hearings to examine the effectiveness of advisory labels to inform
consumers and parents of violent, racist, or sexual music content,
receiving testimony from Charlie Gilreath, Entertainment Monitor, Los
Angeles, California; Debbie Pelley, Westside Middle School, Jonesboro,
Arkansas; Krist Novoselic, Joint Artists and Music Promotions Action
Committee, Seattle, Washington; George Gerbner, Temple University,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Barbara P. Wyatt, Parents' Music
Resource Center, McLean, Virginia. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

ENERGY AND WATER PROJECTS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and
Power concluded hearings on the following bills: 

H.R. 2165, to extend the deadline under the Federal Power Act applicable
to the construction of Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Project
Number 3862 in the State of Iowa, H.R. 2217, to extend the deadline
under the Federal Power Act applicable to the construction of FERC
Project Number 9248 in the State of Colorado, and H.R. 2841, to extend
the time required for the construction of a hydroelectric project in
Kentucky, after receiving testimony from Kristina Nygaard, Assistant
General Counsel, Hydroelectric Licensing, Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission; 

S. 2087, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain
works, facilities, and titles of the Gila Project, and designated lands
within or adjacent to the Gila Project, to the Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation
and Drainage District in Arizona, after receiving testimony from William
J. Snape, III, Defenders of Wildlife, Washington, D.C.; and Wade Noble,
Wellton-Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District, Yuma, Arizona; 

S. 2142, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey the
facilities of the Pine River Project, to allow jurisdictional transfer
of lands between the Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, and the
Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, and the Bureau of
Indian Affairs, after receiving testimony from Steve Pargin, Pine River
Irrigation District, Bayfield, Colorado; 

S. 2140, to amend the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment
Act of 1992 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in
the design, planning, and construction of the Denver Water Reuse
project, after receiving testimony from Mary Hoddinott, Denver Water
Board, Denver, Colorado; and 

S. 2041, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and
Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate
in the design, planning, and construction of the Willow Lake Natural
Treatment System Project for the reclamation and reuse of water, after
receiving testimony from Diane Taniguchi-Dennis, on behalf of the City
of Salem, Oregon. 

Testimony was also received on S. 2087, S. 2142, S. 2140, S. 2041 (all
listed above), and S. 1398, to extend certain contracts between the
Bureau of Reclamation and irrigation water contractors in Wyoming and
Nebraska that receive water from Glendo Reservoir, from Eluid L.
Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the
Interior. 

PANAMA CANAL

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine
United States interests in the Panama Canal, focusing on the transition
from U.S. to Panamanian operation of the Canal pursuant to the
Carter-Torrijos treaties ratified by the U.S. Senate in 1978, receiving
testimony from Representative Barr; Adm. Thomas H. Moorer, USN (Ret.),
former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Mark Falcoff, American
Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.; and Robert A. Pastor, Emory
University, Atlanta, Georgia, on behalf of the Carter Center. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Shirley Elizabeth Barnes, of New York, to be Ambassador
to the Republic of Madagascar, William Davis Clarke, of Maryland, to be
Ambassador to the State of Eritrea, D643Vivian Lowery Derryck, of Ohio,
to be Assistant Administrator for Africa, Agency for International
Development, George Williford Boyce Haley, of Maryland, to be Ambassador
to the Republic of the Gambia, Katherine Hubay Peterson, of California,
to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho, Charles Richard Stith, of
Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania, Paul
L. Cejas, of Florida, to be Ambassador to Belgium, Eric S. Edelman, of
Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Finland, Nancy Halliday
Ely-Raphel, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Slovenia, Michael Craig Lemmon, of Florida, to be Ambassador
to the Republic of Armenia, Rudolf Vilem Perina, of California, to be
Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Edward L. Romero, of New Mexico,
to be Ambassador to Spain and to serve concurrently and without
additional compensation as Ambassador to Andorra, Cynthia Perrin
Schneider, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of the
Netherlands, and Kenneth Spencer Yalowitz, of Virginia, to be Ambassador
to the Republic of Georgia, after the nominees testified and answered
questions in their own behalf. Ms. Derryck was introduced by Senator
Glenn and Representative Payne, Mr. Haley was introduced by Senators
Cochran and Roberts, Mr. Stith was introduced by Senators Kennedy and
Kerry, Mr. Cejas was introduced by Senators Mack and Graham, and Mr.
Romero was introduced by Senators Domenici and Bingaman. 

                               [Page: D643]

MERGERS AND CORPORATE CONSOLIDATION

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings to examine the
economic trends, size, scope and consequences associated with the
current merger wave that is affecting a wide range of industries in the
American economy, receiving testimony from Alan Greenspan, Chairman,
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Janet L. Yellen,
Chair, Council of Economic Advisers; Joel I. Klein, Assistant Attorney
General, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice; and Robert Pitofsky,
Chairman, Federal Trade Commission. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/17
Daily Digest - Wednesday, June 17, 1998,  pages D649 - D656

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPETITIVENESS ACT

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee held
hearings on H.R. 10, to enhance competition in the financial services
industry by providing a prudential framework for the affiliation of
banks, securities firms, and other financial service providers,
receiving testimony from Robert E. Rubin, Secretary of the Treasury; and
Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

JUNK E-MAIL

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications concluded hearings on S. 2107, to enhance electronic
commerce by promoting the reliability and integrity of commercial
transactions through establishing authentication standards for
electronic communications, and related proposals to regulate the
transmission of unsolicited commercial electronic mail, including S.
771, after receiving testimony from Senator Murkowski and Torricelli;
Sheila Anthony, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission; Randall Boe,
America Online, Dulles, Virginia; and Jerry Cerasale, Direct Marketing
Association, Ray Everett-Church, Coalition Against Unsolicited
Commercial Email, and Dierdre Mulligan, Center for Democracy and
Technology, all of Washington, D.C. 

PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management concluded hearings on S. 1253, to provide to the
Federal land management agencies the authority and capability to manage
effectively the federal lands in accordance with the principles of
multiple use and sustained yield, after receiving testimony from James
R. Lyons, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and the
Environment; Fran Cherry, Acting Assistant Director for Renewable
Resources and Planning, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the
Interior; Mary Munson, Defenders of Wildlife, Rene Voss, Earth Island
Institute, and Steve Holmer, Western Ancient Forest Campaign, all of
Washington, D.C.; and Bethanie Walder, Wildlands Center for Preventing
Roads, Missoula, Montana. 

AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT

Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings on H.R. 1432 and S. 778,
bills to authorize a new trade and investment policy for sub-Saharan
Africa, receiving testimony from Senator Lugar; Representatives Crane
and Rangel; Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State; William M. Daley,
Secretary of Commerce; Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary of the
Treasury; J. Patrick Danahy, Cone Mills Corporation, Greensboro, North
Carolina, on behalf of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute;
Karen Fedorko, MAST Industries, Inc., Andover, Massachusetts; Robert
Johnson, Black Entertainment Television, Washington, D.C.; and Mark
Levinson, AFL-CIO, New York, New York. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on S. 1868,
to express United States foreign policy with respect to, and to
strengthen United States advocacy on behalf of, individuals persecuted
for their faith worldwide; to authorize United States actions in
response to religious persecution worldwide; to establish an Ambassador
at Large on International Religious Freedom within the Department of
State, a Commission on International Religious Persecution, and a
Special Adviser on International Religious Freedom within the National
Security Council, after receiving testimony from Richard Land, Southern
Baptist Convention, Nashville, Tennessee; Felice D. Gaer, Jacob
Blaustein Institute for the Advancement of Human Rights/American Jewish
Committee, New York, New York; John N. Akers, East Gates Ministries
International, Montreat, North Carolina; William R. O'Brien, Global
Center/Samford University, Birmingham, Alabama; and Rt. Rev. Munawar
Rumalshah, Beshawar, Pakistan. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported
the following business items: 

S. 2176, to amend sections 3345 through 3349 of title 5, United States
Code (commonly referred to as D651the "Vacancies Act'') to clarify
statutory requirements relating to vacancies in and appointments to
certain Federal offices, with amendments; 

                               [Page: D651]

S. 712, to provide for a system to classify information in the interests
of national security and a system to declassify such information, with
an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

H.R. 2675, to require that the Office of Personnel Management submit
proposed legislation under which group universal life insurance and
group variable universal life insurance would be available under chapter
87 of title 5, United States Code, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute; 

H.R. 3096, to make a technical correction to a provision relating to the
termination of benefits for convicted persons; 

H.R. 930, to require Federal employees to use Federal travel charge
cards for all payments of expenses of official Government travel, to
amend title 31, United States Code, to establish requirements for
prepayment audits of Federal agency transportation expenses, to
authorize reimbursement of Federal agency employees for taxes incurred
on travel or transportation reimbursements, and to authorize test
programs for the payment of Federal employee travel expenses and
relocation expenses, with amendments; 

S. 2071, to extend a quarterly financial report program administered by
the Secretary of Commerce through September 30, 2005; and 

The nominations of G. Edward DeSeve, of Pennsylvania, to be Deputy
Director for Management, and Deidre A. Lee, of Oklahoma, to be
Administrator of the Office of Federal Procurement Policy, both of the
Office of Management and Budget. 

Also, committee began markup of S. 389, to improve congressional
deliberation on proposed Federal private sector mandates, but did not
complete action thereon, and recessed subject to call. 

TEENAGE DRUG ABUSE

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings to examine the
causes and effects of illegal drug use by teenagers, receiving testimony
from Barry R. McCaffrey, Director, Office of National Drug Control
Policy; Nancy J. Auer, Swedish Hospital, Seattle, Washington, on behalf
of the American College of Emergency Physicians; Sushma Jani, Devereux
Foundation, Washington, D.C.; and certain protected witnesses. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Constitution, Federalism,
and Property Rights approved for full committee consideration S.J. Res.
40 and H.J. Res. 54, measures proposing an Amendment to the Constitution
of the United States authorizing Congress to Prohibit the Physical
Desecration of the Flag of the United States. 

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, June 24. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/18
Daily Digest - Thursday, June 18, 1998,  pages D657 - D666

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPETITIVENESS ACT

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee resumed
hearings on H.R. 10, to enhance competition in the financial services
industry by providing a prudential framework for the affiliation of
banks, securities firms, and other financial service providers,
receiving testimony from James F. Higgins, Morgan Stanley, Dean Witter
and Company, on behalf of the Securities Industry Association, John H.
Biggs, Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association, on behalf of the
American Council of Life Insurance and the American Insurance
Association, and Robert A. Miller, New York State Association of Life
Underwriters, on behalf of the Independent Insurance Agents of America,
Inc., all of New York, New York; Matthew P. Fink, Investment Company
Institute, and John G. Heimann, Merrill Lynch and Company, on behalf of
the Financial Services Council, both of Washington, D.C.; William A.
Fitzgerald, Commercial Federal Bank, Omaha, Nebraska, on behalf of
America's Community Bankers; William T. McConnell, Park National
Corporation, Newark, Ohio, on behalf of the American Bankers
Association; Richard M. Kovacevich, Norwest Corporation, Minneapolis,
Minnesota, on behalf of the Bankers Roundtable; and William L.
McQuillian, City National Bank, Greeley, Nebraska, on behalf of the
Independent Bankers Association of America. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NATIONAL RIVERS AND TRAILS SYSTEMS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on the
following bills: 

S. 469, to designate a portion of the Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord
Rivers as a component of the National Wild and Scenic River System,
after receiving testimony from William H. Sullivan, Study Committee on
Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Rivers, Concord, Massachusetts; 

S. 1665, to authorize funds for the Delaware and Lehigh Navigation Canal
National Heritage Corridor Act, after receiving testimony from Gerald R.
Bastoni, Delaware and Lehigh Navigation Canal National Heritage Corridor
Commission, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; 

S. 2039, to designate El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro as a National
Historic Trail, after receiving testimony from Liddie Martinez, El
Camino Real de Tierra Adentro Committee, Alcalde, New Mexico; and 

H.R. 2186, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide
assistance to the National Historic Trails Interpretive Center in
Casper, Wyoming, after receiving testimony from Fran Cherry, Acting
Assistant Director for Renewable Resources and Planning, Bureau of Land
Management, Department of the Interior, and Dorothy Perkins, National
Historic Trails Center, Casper, Wyoming.

Testimony was also received on S. 469, S. 1665, S. 2039 (all listed
above), and S. 1016, to authorize funds for the Coastal Heritage Trail
Route in New D660Jersey, from Destry Jarvis, Assistant Director for
External Affairs, National Park Service, Department of the Interior. 

                               [Page: D660]

U.S.-CHINA RELATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific
Affairs concluded hearings to examine recent changes in congressional
views of the bilateral relationship between the United States and the
People's Republic of China, and H.R. 967, to prohibit the use of United
States funds to provide for the participation of certain Chinese
officials in international conferences, programs, and activities and to
provide that certain Chinese officials shall be ineligible to receive
visas and excluded from admission to the United States, H.R. 2358, to
provide for improved monitoring of human rights violations in the
People's Republic of China, H.R. 2386, to implement the provisions of
the Taiwan Relations Act concerning the stability and security of Taiwan
and United States cooperation with Taiwan on the development and
acquisition of defensive military articles, H.R. 2570, to condemn those
officials of the Chinese Communist Party, the Government of the People's
Republic of China, and other persons who are involved in the enforcement
of forced abortions by preventing such persons from entering or
remaining in the United States, and H.R. 2605, to require the United
States to oppose the making of concessional loans by international
financial institutions to any entity in the People's Republic of China,
after receiving testimony from Stanley O. Roth, Assistant Secretary of
State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; and Robert A. Kapp, United
States-China Business Council, and Nicholas R. Lardy, Brookings
Institution, both of Washington, D.C. 

SATELLITE EXPORT CONTROLS

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International
Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services held hearings to examine
whether the Department of Commerce's commercial satellite export control
policy and process toward China is adequate to prevent technology
transfers which pose a threat to United States security, receiving
testimony from William A. Reinsch, Under Secretary of Commerce for
Export Administration; Jan M. Lodal, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of
Defense for Policy; and John D. Holum, Acting Under Secretary of State
for Arms Control and International Security Affairs. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following measures: 

H.R. 1211, for the relief of Global Exploration and Development
Corporation, Kerr-McGee Corporation, and Kerr-McGee Chemical
Corporation, with amendments; and  

S. Res. 176, proclaiming the week of October 18 through October 24,
1998, as "National Character Counts Week''. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of John D. Kelly, of North Dakota, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, Kim McLean Wardlaw, of California,
to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Raner
Christercunean Collins, to be United States District Judge for the
District of Arizona, Robert G. James, to be United States District Judge
for the Western District of Louisiana, Dan A. Polster, to be United
States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio, and Ralph E.
Tyson, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of
Louisiana, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their
own behalf. Mr. Kelly was introduced by Senators Conrad and Dorgan and
Representative Pomeroy, Ms. Wardlaw was introduced by Senators Feinstein
and Boxer, Mr. Collins was introduced by Senator Kyl, Messrs. James and
Tyson were introduced by Senators Breaux and Landrieu, and Mr. Polster
was introduced by Senators DeWine and Glenn. 

INTERNATIONAL DRUG CONTROL

United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control: Caucus
concluded hearings to examine current international drug-consumption
trends and how the United States and the international community are
addressing the problem of the increasing demand for illegal drugs, after
receiving testimony from Barry R. McCaffrey, Director, Office of
National Drug Control Policy; R. Rand Beers, Acting Assistant Secretary
of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; Robert
L. DuPont, Institute for Behavior and Health, Inc., Rockville, Maryland;
Thomas J. Gleaton, Parents Resource Institute on Drug Education, and Sue
Rusche, National Families in Action, both of Atlanta, Georgia; J. Paul
Molloy, Oxford House, Inc., Silver Spring, Maryland; and Ernst W.
Aeschbach, Association for the Advancement of Psychological
Understanding of Human Nature, Zurich, Switzerland. 

                               [Page: D661]

Joint Meetings

ORGAN DONATION ALLOCATION

Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources and the
House Committee on Commerce Subcommittee on Health and Environment
concluded hearings to examine the allocation process of distributing
transplant organs, and proposals to revise Department of Health and
Human Services' organ donation regulations, after receiving testimony
from Senators Torricelli, Santorum, Kerrey, and Hollings;
Representatives Barrett, Stokes, Boswell, Thurman, and Inglis; Donna
Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services; Lawrence G. Hunsicker,
University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic, Iowa City, and Walter Graham,
Richmond, Virginia, both on behalf of UNOS; James F. Childress,
University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Ron Busuttil, University of
California at Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; Mark
A. Joenson, CONSAD Research Corporation, Jorge D. Reyes, University of
Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Alan Pritsker, Pritsker Corporation, all
of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Hector C. Ramos, Lifelink Transplant
Institute, Tampa, Florida; Clive Callender, Howard University Transplant
Center, Washington, D.C.; D665Jeffrey Reese, University of Vermont,
Burlington; William E. Harmon, Children's Hospital, Boston,
Massachusetts; Bruce Weir, Transplant Recipients International
Organization, Cleveland, Ohio; Peggy Dreker, Kearny, New Jersey; and Tom
Meredith, Antioch, Tennessee. 



1998/06/19
Daily Digest - Friday, June 19, 1998,  pages D668 - D676

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/22
Daily Digest - Monday, June 22, 1998,  pages D678 - D682

Committee Meetings

( Committees not listed did not meet ) 

NOMINATION

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Jacob Joseph Lew, of New York, to be Director of the
Office of Management and Budget, after the nominee, who was introduced
by Senator Moynihan, testified and answered questions in his own behalf. 

                               [Page: D679]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/23
Daily Digest - Tuesday, June 23, 1998,  pages D683 - D692

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--COMMERCE/JUSTICE/STATE

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State,
and the Judiciary approved for full committee consideration an original
bill making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and
State, the Judiciary, and related agencies programs for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 1999. 

APPROPRIATIONS--INTERIOR

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior and Related
Agencies approved for full committee consideration an original bill
making appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,1999. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Gen. Richard B. Myers, USAF, to be Commander-in-Chief,
United States Space Command, Vice Adm. Richard W. Mies, USN, to be
Commander-in-Chief, United States Strategic Command, and Lt. Gen.
Charles T. Robertson, Jr., USAF, to be Commander-in-Chief, United States
Transportation Command and Commander, Air Mobility Command, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. 

PUERTO RICO

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded oversight
hearings to examine certain implications with regard to the future of
Puerto Rico's political status should that country choose independence
from the United States and become a sovereign nation, including the
status of United States citizenship of persons born in and residing in
Puerto Rico, and trade and tariff implications, after receiving
testimony from Johnny H. Gillian, Senior Specialist, American
Constitutional Law, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress;
Richard L. Thornburgh, Kirkpatrick and Lockhart, former United States
Attorney General, and Gregory T. Nojeim, American Civil Liberties Union,
both of Washington, D.C.; and Manuel Rodriguez-Orellana, Puerto Rican
Independence Party, Emilio Soler Mari, Accion Democratica
Puertorriquena, Luis Vega-Ramos, PROELA, and Juan M. Garcia Passalacqua
all of San Juan, Puerto Rico. 

WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on
Transportation and Infrastructure concluded hearings on S. 2131, to
authorize funds for the conservation and development of water and
related resources, and to authorize the Secretary of the Army to
construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the
United States, after receiving testimony from Joseph W. Westphal,
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works; Michael Davis, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works; Maj. Gen. Russell L.
Fuhrman, Director of Civil Works for the Army Corps of Engineers; Mayor
Kenneth E. Pringle, Borough of Belmar, New Jersey; Councilwoman Louisa
M. Strayhorn, City of Virginia Beach, Virginia, on behalf of the
Kempsville Borough; Grover Fugate, Rhode Island Coastal Resources
Management Council, Wakefield; Kurt J. Nagle, American Association of
Port Authorities, Alexandria, Virginia; Scott C. Faber, American Rivers,
Washington, D.C.; and Stephen H. Higgins, Broward County Department of
Natural Resource Protection, Broward County, Florida, on behalf of the
American Coastal Coalition. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

S. 1344, to target assistance to support the economic and political
independence of the countries of South Caucasus and Central Asia, with
an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. Con. Res. 97, expressing the sense of Congress concerning the human
rights and humanitarian situation facing the women and girls of
Afghanistan, with amendments; 

S. Res. 237, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the situation
in Indonesia and East Timor; 

S. Res. 240, expressing the sense of the Senate with respect to
democracy and human rights in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, with
amendments; 

Montreal Protocol No. 4 to Amend the Convention for the Unification of
Certain Rules Relating to International Carriage by Air signed at Warsaw
on October 12, 1929, as amended by the Protocol done at The Hague on
September 8, 1955 (Ex. B, 95th Cong. 1st sess.), with one declaration
and two provisos; 

Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in
International Business Transactions, adopted at Paris on November 21,
1997, by a conference held under the auspices of the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development. Convention signed in Paris on
December 17, 1997, by the United States and 32 other nations (Treaty
Doc. 105-43), with one understanding, one declaration, and three
provisos; and 

                               [Page: D686]

The nominations of Shirley Elizabeth Barnes, of New York, to be
Ambassador to the Republic of Madagascar, William Davis Clarke, of
Maryland, to be Ambassador to the State of Eritrea, Paul L. Cejas, of
Florida, to be Ambassador to Belgium, Jeffrey Davidow, of Virginia, to
be Ambassador to Mexico, Vivian Lowery Derryck, of Ohio, to be Assistant
Administrator for Africa, Agency for International Development, Eric S.
Edelman, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Finland, Nancy
Halliday Ely Raphel, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to
the Republic of Slovenia, George Williford Boyce Haley, of Maryland, to
be Ambassador to the Republic of The Gambia, Michael Craig Lemmon, of
Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, John O'Leary, of
Maine, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Chile, Rudolf Vilem Perina,
of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Moldova, Katherine
Hubay Peterson, of California, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of
Lesotho, Edward L. Romero, of New Mexico, to be Ambassador to Spain, and
to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador
to Andorra, Cynthia Perrin Schneider, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to
the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Nancy E. Soderberg, of the District of
Columbia, to be Alternate Representative of the United States for
Special Political Affairs in the United Nations, with the rank of
Ambassador, and to be an Alternate Representative of the United States
to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations during her
tenure of service as Alternate Representative of the United States for
Special Political Affairs in the United Nations, Charles Richard Stith,
of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania,
Kenneth Spencer Yalowitz, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic
of Georgia, and a Foreign Service Officer Promotion list (John M.
O'Keefe) received in the Senate on September 3, 1997. 

Also, committee began mark up of S. Res. 238, expressing the sense of
the Senate regarding human rights conditions in China and Tibet, but did
not complete action thereon and recessed subject to call.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings on S. 2148, to
protect religious liberty by extending the Religious Freedom Restoration
Act's rule of protection to the full extent of Congress's statutory
authority and by assisting the Courts in enforcing the free exercise
clause of the Constitution by enacting enforcement measures under the
14th Amendment by requiring the government to disprove violations of
constitutional rights, receiving testimony from Rabbi David Zwiebel,
Agudath Israel of America, Marci A. Hamilton, Benjamin N. Cardozo School
of Law/Yeshiva University, and Christopher L. Eisgruber, New York
University School of Law, all of New York, New York; Dallin H. Oaks,
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Michael W. McConnell,
University of Utah College of Law, both of Salt Lake City, Utah; Richard
D. Land, Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission of the Southern Baptist
Convention, Nashville, Tennessee; Elliot M. Mincberg, People for the
American Way, Washington, D.C.; and Douglas Laycock, University of Texas
at Austin School of Law. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

                               [Page: D687]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/24
Daily Digest - Wednesday, June 24, 1998,  pages D694 - D704

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPETITIVENESS ACT

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee resumed
hearings on H.R. 10, to enhance competition in the financial services
industry by providing a prudential framework for the affiliation of
banks, securities firms, and other financial service providers,
receiving testimony from Mary Griffin, on behalf of Consumers Union and
the Consumer Federation of America, Edmund Mierzwinski, U.S. Public
Interest Research Group, Allen J. Fishbein, Center for Community Change,
John E. Taylor, National Community Reinvestment Coalition, and Ralph
Nader, all of Washington, D.C. 

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following bills: 

S. 1695, to establish the Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site in
the State of Colorado, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. 1418, to promote the research, identification, assessment,
exploration, and development of methane hydrate resources, with
amendments; 

H.R. 2217, to extend the deadline for the commencement of construction
of a FERC hydroelectric project located in San Miguel, Colorado to
January 30, 2002; 

H.R. 2165, to extend the deadline for the commencement of construction
of a FERC hydroelectric project located in Scott County, Iowa for up to
three consecutive 2-year periods; 

H.R. 2841, to extend the deadline for the commencement of construction
of a FERC hydroelectric project located in Bracken County, Kentucky for
up to three consecutive 2-year periods; 

H.R. 449, to provide for the orderly disposal of certain Federal lands
in Clark County, Nevada, and to provide for the acquisition of
environmentally sensitive lands in the State of Nevada; and 

S. 890, to dispose of certain Federal properties located in Dutch John,
Utah, and to assist the local government in the interim delivery of
basic services to the Dutch John community, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

ASIAN FINANCIAL CONDITION

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic
Policy, Export, and Trade Promotion held hearings to examine the state
of certain Asian economies and currencies, receiving testimony from
Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

KOSOVO

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on European Affairs held
hearings to examine the current state of human rights violations and
United States policy in the Yugoslavian province of Kosovo, receiving
testimony from Senator D'Amato; former Senator Dole, on behalf of the
International Commission on Missing Persons in the Former Yugoslavia;
and Morton I. Abramowitz, International Crisis Group, Washington, D.C.,
former Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

GOVERNMENT COMPUTER SECURITY

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to
examine the state of computer security within Federal, State and local
agencies, focusing on certain risks related to computer-communication
technology and efforts to reduce them, after receiving testimony from
George J. Tenet, Director of Central Intelligence; and Lt. Gen. Kenneth
A. Minihan, Director, National Security Agency, Department of Defense. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following measures: 

S.J. Res. 40, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United
States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the
flag of the United States; and 

H.J. Res. 54, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United
States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of
the flag of the United States. 

AGRICULTURE GUESTWORKER PROGRAM

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration concluded
hearings to examine the implementation and the ability of the H-2A
agricultural guestworker program (which provides a way for U.S.
agricultural employers to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers into the
United States to perform seasonal agricultural work on a temporary basis
when domestic workers are unavailable) to meet the needs of the
agricultural industry, after receiving testimony from Senators Graham,
Gorton, Craig, Coverdell, Wyden, and Gordon Smith; Representatives
Berman and Robert Smith; Carlotta C. Joyner, Director, D698Education and
Employment Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division,
General Accounting Office; Howard Kelly, Michigan Farm Bureau, Lansing;
Juanita Santana, Oregon Child Development Coalition, Wilsonville; Leo C.
Polopolus, University of Florida, Gainesville; Walter Kates, Florida
Fruit and Vegetable Association, Orlando, on behalf of the National
Council of Agricultural Employers; and Robert A. Williams, Florida Legal
Services, Inc., Tallahassee. 

                               [Page: D698]

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported S. 2206, to make improvements to and authorize funds for
programs of the Head Start Act, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance
Act of 1981, and the Community Services Block Grant Act, and to
establish demonstration projects that provide an opportunity for persons
with limited means to accumulate assets, with amendments. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills: 

S. 1925, to make certain technical corrections in laws relating to
Native Americans, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and 

S. 1998, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish the
Four Corners Interpretive Center within the boundaries of the Four
Corners Monument Tribal Park using land designated and made available by
the Navajo Nation or the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe. 

INDIAN WATER RIGHTS

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded joint hearings with the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Water and
Power on the following bills: 

S. 1899, to approve and ratify the Water Rights Compact entered into on
April 14, 1997, by the Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's
Reservation and the State of Montana, after receiving testimony from
Robert T. Anderson, Counselor to the Secretary of the Interior; Roger
St. Pierre, Chippewa Cree Tribe of the Rocky Boy's Reservation, Box
Elder, Montana; and Chris D. Tweeten, Montana Reserved Water Rights
Compact Commission, Helena; and 

S. 1771, to provide for a final settlement of the claims of the Colorado
Ute Indian Tribes, after receiving testimony from Senator Allard; Eluid
Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the
Interior; Colorado Attorney General Gale Norton, Denver; New Mexico
State Engineer Thomas C. Turney, Santa Fe; Clement Frost, Southern Ute
Tribal Council, Ignacio, Colorado; Judy Knight-Frank, Ute Mountain Ute
Tribal Council, Towaoc, Colorado; James C. Decker, Taxpayers for the
Animas River, and Sage Remington, Southern Ute Grassroots Organization,
both of Durango, Colorado; Mark Duncan, San Juan Water Commission,
Farmington, New Mexico; and Lori Potter, Kelly, Haglund, Garnsey & Kahn,
Denver, Colorado, on behalf of the Sierra Club. 

INTELLIGENCE

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the
intelligence community. 

Committee will meet again tomorrow. 

Joint Meetings

IRS REFORM

Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between
the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 2676, to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to restructure and reform the Internal
Revenue Service. 



1998/06/25
Daily Digest - Thursday, June 25, 1998,  pages D705 - D716

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee ordered
favorably reported an original bill to authorize funds through fiscal
year 2003 for programs of the National School Lunch Act and the Child
Nutrition Act of 1966 to provide children with increased access to food
and nutrition assistance, and to simplify program operations and improve
program management. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills: 

An original bill making appropriations for the Department of the
Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
1999; and 

An original bill making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce,
Justice, and State, and the Judiciary, and related agencies for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 1999. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported 678
military nominations in the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items: 

S. 1283, to award Congressional gold medals to Jean Brown Trickey,
Carlotta Walls LaNier, Melba Patillo Beals, Terrence Roberts, Gloria Ray
Karlmark, Thelma Mothershed Wair, Ernest Green, Elizabeth Eckford, and
Jefferson Thomas, commonly referred collectively as the "Little Rock
Nine'' on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the integration of the
Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas; 

An original bill entitled "International Anti-Bribery Act''; and 

The nominations of Michael J. Copps, of Virginia, to be Assistant
Secretary for Trade Development, and Awilda R. Marquez, of Maryland, to
be Assistant Secretary, and Director General of the United States and
Foreign Commercial Service, both of the Department of Commerce. 

FINANCIAL SERVICES COMPETITIVENESS ACT

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings on H.R. 10, to enhance competition in the financial services
industry D711by providing a prudential framework for the affiliation of
banks, securities firms, and other financial service providers, after
receiving testimony from Julie L. Williams, Acting Comptroller of the
Currency, and Ellen Seidman, Director, Office of Thrift Supervision,
both of the Department of the Treasury; Arthur Levitt, Chairman,
Securities and Exchange Commission; Donna Tanoue, Chairman, Federal
Deposit Insurance Corporation; Timothy R. McTaggart, Dover, Delaware, on
behalf of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors; George Nichols III,
Shelbyville, Kentucky, on behalf of the National Association of
Insurance Commissioners; and Denise Voigt Crawford, on behalf of the
North American Securities Administrators Association, and James L.
Pledger, on behalf of the American Council of State Savings Supervisors,
both of Austin, Texas. 

                               [Page: D711]

NOMINATION

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nomination of William Lloyd Massey, of Arkansas, to be a
Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. 

Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Mr. Massey, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator Bumpers,
testified and answered questions in his own behalf. 

UTAH LAND EXCHANGE

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management concluded hearings on S. 2146 and H.R. 3830,
bills to provide for the exchange of Utah School Trust lands located
within Utah's national parks, monuments, recreation areas, and forests
for cash and federal assets in other parts of Utah, after receiving
testimony from Senators Hatch and Bennett; Representatives Cook and
Cannon; John D. Leshy, Solicitor, Department of the Interior; Utah
Governor Michael O. Leavitt, David T. Terry, Utah School and
Institutional Trust Lands Administration, John L. Watson, Utah State
Board of Education, Paula Plant, Utah Congress of Parents and Teachers,
and Roger P. Pinkerton, Conoco Inc., all of Salt Lake City, Utah; Emery
County Commissioner Randy G. Johnson, Castle Dale, Utah, on behalf of
the Utah Association of Counties Public Lands Oversight Committee;
Garfield County Commissioner Louise Liston, Escalante, Utah; Kane County
Commissioner Joe Judd, Kanab, Utah; and William H. Meadows, Wilderness
Society, Washington, D.C. 

CHINA MISSILE PROLIFERATION

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held closed hearings to
examine Chinese missile  proliferation issues, receiving testimony from
John Lauder, Special Assistant to the Director of Central Intelligence
for Nonproliferation. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

DUAL-USE TECHNOLOGY EXPORT LICENSING PROCESS

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to
examine the Defense Technology Security Administration's role in the
licensing process for the export of dual-use technologies to foreign
countries, after receiving testimony from Peter M. Leitner, Senior
Strategic Trade Advisor, Defense Technology Security Administration, and
Franklin C. Miller, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Strategy
and Threat Reduction, both of the Department of Defense.  

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

S. 1976, to increase public awareness of the plight of victims of crime
with developmental disabilities, to collect data to measure the
magnitude of the problem, and to develop strategies to address the
safety and justice needs of victims of crime with developmental
disabilities, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and 

The nominations of John D. Kelly, of North Dakota, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, Raner Christercunean Collins, to
be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona, Robert G.
James, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of
Louisiana, Dan A. Polster, to be United States District Judge for the
Northern District of Ohio, and Ralph E. Tyson, to be United States
District Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana. 

Also, committee continued markup of S.J. Res. 44, proposing an amendment
to the Constitution of the United States to protect the rights of crime
victims, but did not complete action thereon and recessed subject to
call. 

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 Seventh
Circuit, after receiving testimony from Richard A. Posner, Chief Judge,
Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals; and William R. Quinlan, Quinlan &
Crisham, Chicago, Illinois. 

                               [Page: D712]

HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR 55- TO 64-YEAR-OLDS

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine a report entitled Private Health Insurance: Declining Employer
Coverage May Affect Access for 55-to 64-Year-Olds, which addresses the
employment, income, health, and health insurance status of the near
elderly population, and their ability to obtain employer-based health
insurance if they retire before becoming eligible for Medicare, and
proposed legislation to expand access to health coverage for certain
uninsured Americans aged 55-64 who are not yet eligible for Medicare,
after receiving testimony from Senator Daschle; William J. Scanlon,
Director, Health Financing and Systems Issues, Health, Education, and
Human Services Division, General Accounting Office; C. Keith Campbell,
Seward, Alaska, on behalf of the American Association of Retired
Persons; Paul Fronstin, Employee Benefit Research Institute, and Charles
N. Kahn III, Health Insurance Association of America, both of
Washington, D.C.; David Shactman, Institute for Health Policy/Brandeis
University, Waltham, Massachusetts; and Teresa DeRuiter, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/06/26
Daily Digest - Friday, June 26, 1998,  pages D717 - D720

Committee Meetings 

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/07/06
Daily Digest - Monday, July 6, 1998,  pages D722 - D726

Committee Meetings

No committee meetings were held. 

No Joint hearings noted



1998/07/07
Daily Digest - Tuesday, July 7, 1998,  pages D727 - D 730

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

FISH AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings
on S. 263, to prohibit the import, export, sale, purchase, possession,
transportation, acquisition, and receipt of bear viscera or products
that contain or claim to contain bear viscera, S. 361, to amend the
Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the sale, import, and export
of products labeled as containing endangered species, S. 659, to amend
the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 to provide for
implementation of recommendations of the United States Fish and Wildlife
Service contained in the Great Lakes Fishery Restoration Study Report,
S. 1970, to require the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program
to provide assistance in the conservation of neotropical migratory
birds, S. 2094, to amend the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978
to enable the Secretary of the Interior to more effectively use the
proceeds of sales of certain items, S. 2244, to amend the Fish and
Wildlife Act of 1956 to promote volunteer programs and community
partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife refuges, H.R. 2807, to
amend the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act of 1994 to prohibit the
sale, importation, and exportation of products labeled as containing
substances derived from rhinoceros or tiger, and H.R. 3113, to authorize
funds through fiscal year 2004 for the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation
Fund, after receiving testimony from John Rogers, Deputy Director for
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; Ginette
Hemley, World Wildlife Fund, Wayne Pacelle, Humane Society of the United
States, and Gary Taylor, International Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies, all of Washington, D.C.; Kristin L. Vehrs, American Zoo and
Aquarium Association, Bethesda, Maryland; Molly Krival, Ding Darling
Wildlife Society, Sanibel, Florida; and Thomas Crane, Great Lakes
Commission, Ann Arbor, Michigan. 

U.S.-VIETNAM EMIGRATION WAIVER

Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on International Trade held hearings
on S.J. Res. 47, disapproving the recommendation of the President to
extend the authority to waive freedom of emigration requirements in the
Trade Act of 1974 with respect to Vietnam, receiving testimony from
Senators Helms, Kerry, McCain, and Smith; Stanley O. Roth, Assistant
Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs; Richard T.
Childress, former Director of Asian Affairs, National Security Council;
Bruce Harter, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and Frances
Zwenig, United States-Vietnam Trade Council, both of Washington, D.C.;
and Nguyen Dinh Thang, Boat People, S.O.S., Merrifield, Virginia, on
behalf of the Vietnamese Community of Washington, D.C., Maryland, and
Virginia, and the Coalition Against the Jackson-Vanik Waiver for
Vietnam. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

SSI CHILDHOOD DISABILITY BENEFITS

Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Social Security and Family Policy
held oversight hearings on the Social Security Administration's
implementation of the new eligibility criteria for childhood disability
benefits under the Supplemental Security Income program set forth by the
Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act (P.L.
104-193), receiving testimony from Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner,
Social Security Administration; Jonathan M. Stein, Community Legal
Services, Inc., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Dawn Wardyga, Family Voices
of Rhode Island, Barrington; Michael Brennan, National Council of
Directors of Disability Determinations, Lincoln, Nebraska; Robert E.
Cooke, Joseph P. Kennedy Jr. Foundation, Washington, D.C.; Laurie
Humphries, Lexington, Kentucky, on D729behalf of the American Academy of
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry; and James Perrin, Boston,
Massachusetts, on behalf of the American Academy of Pediatrics. 

                               [Page: D729]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported S.J.
Res. 44, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States
to protect the rights of crime victims, with an amendment in the nature
of a substitute. 

ENTERTAINMENT AND INFORMATION MERGERS

Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights,
and Competition concluded hearings to examine certain implications with
regard to the convergence and consolidation of technologies in the
entertainment and information industries, including the proposed merger
between AT&T Corp. and TeleCommunications Inc., after receiving
testimony from Robert A. Iger, ABC, Inc., and Richard D. Parsons, Time
Warner Inc., both of New York, New York; C. Michael Armstrong, AT&T
Corp., Basking Ridge, New Jersey; and John Marselle, Sun Microsystems
Federal, Inc., McLean, Virginia. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/07/08
Daily Digest - Wednesday, July 8, 1998,  pages D731 - D734

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORTATION

Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation approved for
full committee consideration an original bill making appropriations for
the Department of Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 1999. 

DIGITAL TELEVISION

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held
hearings to examine the status of how American broadcasting and cable
industries will make the transition to digital high definition
television, and the role of Congress and the Federal Government in
formulating policies and practices to facilitate a successful
transition, receiving testimony from Elizabeth Murphy Burns, Morgan
Murphy Stations, Madison, Wisconsin, on behalf of the Association for
Maximum Service Television; Joseph J. Collins, Time Warner Cable,
Stamford, Connecticut; Brian Lamb, C-SPAN, and Gregory M. Schmidt, LIN
Television Corporation, on behalf of the National Association of
Broadcasters, both of Washington, D.C.; and Alan McCollough, Circuit
City Stores, Richmond, Virginia. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

CASPIAN ENERGY RESOURCES

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic
Policy, Export and Trade D732Promotion resumed hearings to examine the
implementation of United States policy to support multiple pipelines to
bring oil and gas resources to world markets from the Caspian Sea
region, receiving testimony from Marc Grossman, Assistant Secretary of
State for European and Canadian Affairs; Stephen R. Sestanovich, Special
Advisor to the Secretary of State for the New Independent States;
Zbigniew Brzezinski, Center for Strategic and International Studies, and
Martha Brill Olcott, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, both of
Washington, D.C.; and Van Z. Krikorian, Armenian Assembly of America,
New York, New York. 

                               [Page: D732]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

SATELLITE EXPORT CONTROLS

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International
Security, Proliferation, and Federal Services concluded hearings to
examine whether the Department of Commerce commercial satellite export
control policy and process toward China is adequate to prevent
technology transfers which pose a threat to United States security,
after receiving testimony from John D. Holum, Acting Under Secretary of
State for Arms Control and International Security Affairs; William A.
Reinsch, Under Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration; and
Frank W. Miller, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense. 

FLAG DESECRATION PROHIBITION

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on provisions
of S.J. Res. 40, proposing an Amendment to the Constitution of the
United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration
of the flag of the United States (pending on Senate calendar), after
receiving testimony from Richard D. Parker, Harvard University Law
School, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Clint Bolick, Institute for Justice,
Washington, D.C.; Gary G. Wetzel, Oak Creek, Wisconsin; Sean C.
Stephenson, LaGrange, Illinois; John Schneider, Westlake Village,
California; Tommy Lasorda, Los Angeles, California; and Marvin C.
Stenhammar, Ashville, North Carolina. 

HATE CRIMES PREVENTION

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings on S. 1529, to
enhance Federal enforcement of hate crimes, receiving testimony from
Senator Wyden; Eric H. Holder, Jr., Deputy Attorney General, Department
of Justice; Richard J. Arcara, United States District Judge for the
Western District of New York, on behalf of the Judicial Conference of
the United States; California State's Attorney for Kern County Edward
Jagels, Bakersfield; Lubbock County Criminal District Attorney William
C. Sowder, Lubbock, Texas; Lawrence Alan Alexander, University of San
Diego School of Law, San Diego, California; William J. Stunts,
University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Chai R. Feldblum, Georgetown
University Law Center, Washington, D.C.; and Renee Mullins, Lufkin,
Texas. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

INDIAN LANDS AND TRUST FUNDS

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the
following bills: 

S. 1905, to provide for equitable compensation for the Cheyenne River
Sioux Tribe, after receiving testimony from Senator Daschle; and Gregg
Bourland, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribal Council, Eagle Butte, South
Dakota; 

H.R. 700, to remove the restriction on the distribution of certain
revenues from the Mineral Springs parcel to certain members of the Agua
Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, after receiving testimony from
Richard Milanovich and Benita Potters, both of the Agua Caliente Band of
Cahuilla Indians, and Bonnie Garland Guss, Guss Law Office, all of Palm
Springs, California; 

S. 391, to provide for the disposition of certain funds appropriated to
pay judgment in favor of the Mississippi Sioux Indians, after receiving
testimony from Andrew Grey, Sr., Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe, Agency
Village, South Dakota; Vernon Ashley, Pierre, South Dakota; and Donald
Loudner, Rapid City, South Dakota; and 

S. 1419, to deem the activities of the Miccosukee Tribe on the Tamiami
Indian Reserve to be consistent with the purposes of the Everglades
National Park, after receiving testimony from Edward B. Cohen, Deputy
Solicitor, Department of the Interior; and Billy Cypress, Miccosukee
Tribe of Indians of Florida, Miami. 

Testimony was also received on S. 1905, H.R. 700, and S. 391 (all listed
above) from Michael J. Anderson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the
Interior for Indian Affairs. 

CHINA

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee resumed closed hearings on
the investigation of the impacts to United States national security from
advanced satellite technology exports to China and Chinese efforts to
influence United States policy, receiving testimony from officials of
the intelligence community. 

Hearings continue on Wednesday, July 15. 

NOMINATION

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of L. Britt Snider, of Virginia, to be Inspector General,
Central Intelligence Agency, after the nominee, who was introduced by
Senators Warner and Glenn and former Senator Rudman, testified and
answered questions in his own behalf. 

                               [Page: D733]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/07/09
Daily Digest - Thursday, July 9, 1998,  pages D736 - D740

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

U.S. EXPORT CONTROL

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
role of the Department of Defense in implementing United States policy
on export controls and nonproliferation, after receiving testimony from
Stephen D. Bryen, former Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Trade and
Security Policy; Gary Milhollin, University of Wisconsin Law School,
Madison, on behalf of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control; and
Mitchel B. Wallerstein, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for
Counterproliferation Policy. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items: 

The nominations of William Clyburn, Jr., of South Carolina, to be a
Member of the Surface Transportation Board, Department of
Transportation, Deborah K. Kilmer, of Idaho, to be an Assistant
Secretary of Commerce, Neal F. Lane, of Oklahoma, to be Director, and
Rosina M. Bierbaum, of Virginia, D738to be an Associate Director, both
of the Office of Science and Technology Policy, Clyde J. Hart, Jr., of
New Jersey, to be Administrator of the Maritime Administration, Rear
Adm. Timothy W. Josiah, for appointment as Chief of Staff, United States
Coast Guard, and to the grade of Vice Admiral, and a United States Coast
Guard promotion list received by the Senate on June 17, 1998; 

                               [Page: D738]

S. 2124, authorizing funds for fiscal year 1999 for the Maritime
Administration, Department of Transportation, with an amendment; 

S. 1736, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a
certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment
in the coastwise trade for the vessel BETTY JANE; 

S. 2096, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a
certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment
in the coastwise trade for the vessel FOILCAT, with an amendment; 

S. 2139, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a
certificate of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment
in the coastwise trade for the vessel YESTERDAYS DREAM; 

S. 1480, authorizing funds for fiscal year 1998 through 2000 for the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to conduct research,
monitoring, education and management activities for the eradication and
control of harmful algal blooms, including blooms of Pfiesteria
piscicida and other aquatic toxins, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute; and 

H.R. 3824, amending the Fastener Quality Act to exempt from its coverage
certain fasteners approved by the Federal Aviation Administration for
use in aircraft, with an amendment. 

Also, committee began markup of proposed legislation authorizing funds
for the Federal Aviation Administration, S. 268, to promote air safety
and restore or preserve natural quiet in national parks by establishing
minimum flight altitudes and prohibiting overflights below such minimum
altitudes in any national park, and S. 1353, to amend title 49, United
States Code, to provide assistance and slots with respect to air carrier
service between high density airports and airports that do not receive
sufficient air service, and to improve jet aircraft service to
underserved markets, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet
again on Tuesday, July 14, 1998. 

NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE/NATIONAL PARKS/HAWAII LAND ACQUISITION

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S.
2232, to establish the Little Rock Central High School National Historic
Site in the State of Arkansas, S. 2106 and H.R. 2283, bills to expand
the boundaries of Arches National Park, Utah, to include portions of
certain drainages that are under the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land
Management, and to include a portion of Fish Seep Draw currently owned
by the State of Utah, S. 2129, to eliminate restrictions on the
acquisition of certain land contiguous to Hawaii Volcanoes National
Park, and S. 1333, to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of
1965 to allow national park units that cannot charge an entrance or
admission fee to retain other fees and charges, after receiving
testimony from William Shaddox, Acting Associate Director for
Professional Services, National Park Service, Department of the
Interior; Everett Tucker, III, Central High Museum, Inc., Little Rock,
Arkansas; Ernest Green, Lehman Brothers, Washington, D.C.; and Tom
Robinson, Grand Canyon Trust, Flagstaff, Arizona. 

ESTUARY CONSERVATION/COASTAL POLLUTION REDUCTION

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings
on S. 1222, to catalyze restoration of estuary habitat through more
efficient financing of projects and enhanced coordination of Federal and
non-Federal restoration programs, S. 1321, to authorize funds to permit
grants for the national estuary program to be used for the development
and implementation of a comprehensive conservation and management plan,
and H.R. 2207, to require the owner or operator of the Mayaguez, Puerto
Rico, publicly owned treatment works, in order to be eligible to apply
for a waiver of secondary treatment requirements, to transmit to the
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency the results of a
study of the marine environment of coastal areas in the Mayaguez area to
determine the feasibility of constructing a deep ocean outfall for the
treatment works, and to authorize funds through fiscal year 1998 for the
National Estuary Program, after receiving testimony from Senators
Faircloth, Breaux, and Torricelli; Robert H. Wayland, III, Director,
Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, Office of Water,
Environmental Protection Agency; Michael L. Davis, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Civil Works; H. Curtis Spalding, Save the Bay,
Providence, Rhode Island; JoAnn M. Burkholder, North Carolina State
University, Raleigh; J. Walter Milon, University of Florida,
Gainesville; Ted Morton, American Oceans Campaign, Washington, D.C.;
Xavier Romeu, Puerto Rico Federal Affairs Administration, San Juan; and
D739Juan C. Martinez-Cruzado, Mayaguezanos for Health and Environment,
Inc., Mayaguez, Puerto Rico. 

                               [Page: D739]

U.S.-CHINA TRADE RELATIONS

Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine the
Administration's proposed renewal of normal trade relations with China,
receiving testimony from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State;
Charlene Barshefsky, United States Trade Representative; Zbigniew
Brzezinski, Center for Strategic and International Studies, former
National Security Advisor, Brent Scowcroft, Scowcroft Group, on behalf
of the Forum for International Policy, former National Security Advisor,
and Mike Jendrzejczyk, Human Rights Watch, all of Washington, D.C.;
Ernest S. Micek, Cargill, Incorporated, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Rabbi
Arthur Schneier, Appeal of Conscience Foundation, New York, New York;
Frederick W. Smith, FDX Corporation, Memphis, Tennessee; and Warren W.
Smith, Alexandria, Virginia. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

SAFETY OF FOOD IMPORTS

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on
Investigations resumed hearings to examine the adequacy of procedures
and systems used by the Department of Agriculture Food Safety and
Inspection Service and the Department of Health and Human Services Food
and Drug Administration to oversee the safety of food imported into the
United States, focusing on the outbreak of Cyclospora associated with
fresh raspberries imported into the United States from Central America,
receiving testimony from Stephen M. Ostroff, Associate Director for
Epidemiologic Science, and Barbara L. Herwaldt, Medical Officer,
Division of Parasitic Diseases, both of the National Center for
Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
Department of Health and Human Services; Stephanie A. Smith,
Investigator, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, Committee on
Governmental Affairs; and Jeffrey A. Foran, International Life Science
Institute, Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

S. 512, to amend chapter 47 of title 18, United States Code, relating to
identity fraud, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and 

S. 2143, to amend chapter 45 of title 28, United States Code, to
authorize the Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice to accept
voluntary services, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

Also, committee began consideration of S. 1645, to amend title 18,
United States Code, to prohibit taking minors across State lines to
avoid laws requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions,
and the nomination of Kim McLean Wardlaw, of California, to be United
States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, but did not complete action
thereon, and will meet again on Thursday, July 16. 

NOMINATION

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Beth Nolan, of New York, to be Assistant Attorney General
for the Office of Legal Counsel, Department of Justice, after the
nominee, who was introduced by Senator Moynihan and District of Columbia
Delegate Norton, testified and answered questions in her own behalf. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/07/10
Daily Digest - Friday, July 10, 1998,  pages D741 - D746

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nominations of Raymond W. Kelly, of New York, to be Commissioner of
Customs, James E. Johnson, of New Jersey, to be Under Secretary for
Enforcement, and Elizabeth Bresee, of New York, to be an Assistant
Secretary, all of the Department of the Treasury. 

Also, committee ordered reported with a recommendation of disapproval,
S.J. Res. 47, opposing the President's June 3 decision to renew the
annual waiver of Jackson-Vanik amendment restrictions on United States
interaction with Vietnam. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/07/13
Daily Digest - Monday, July 13, 1998,  pages D747 - D750

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

INDIA AND PAKISTAN

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South
Asian Affairs held hearings to examine the developments in United States
diplomatic exchanges with the Indian and Pakistani governments, focusing
on non-proliferation issues, receiving testimony from Karl F.
Inderfurth, Assistant Secretary for South Asian Affairs, and Robert
Einhorn, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Political-Military Affairs, both
of the Department of State. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/07/14
Daily Digest - Tuesday, July 14, 1998,  pages D752 - D760

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS: TRANSPORTATION/TREASURY/POSTAL SERVICE

Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills: 

An original bill making appropriations for the Department of
Transportation and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September
30, 1999; and 

An original bill making appropriations for the Department of the
Treasury, United States Postal Service, Executive Office of the
President, and certain independent agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1999. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following bills: 

S. 2279, to authorize funds for fiscal years 1999 through 2002 for
programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, with an amendment in
the nature of a substitute; 

S. 268, to promote air safety and restore or preserve natural quiet in
national parks by establishing minimum flight altitudes and prohibiting
overflights below such minimum altitudes in any national park, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute; and 

S. 1353, to provide assistance and slots with respect to air carrier
service between high density airports and airports that do not receive
sufficient air service, and to improve jet aircraft service to
underserved markets, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

PUERTO RICO

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee resumed hearings on
H.R. 856, to provide a process leading to full self-government for
Puerto Rico, and S. 472, to provide for referenda in which the residents
of Puerto Rico may express democratically their preferences regarding
the political status of the territory, receiving testimony from Puerto
Rico Attorney General Jose A. Fuentes-Agostini, Puerto D754Rico Speaker
of the House of Representatives Edison Misla Aldarondo, Anibal Acevedo
Vila and Jorge Adolfo de Castro Font, both of the Popular Democratic
Party of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, Fernando Martin, Puerto Rican
Independence Party, Hermenegildo Ortiz Quinones, Accion Democratica
Puertorriquena, Arturo J. Guzman, Institute for the Development,
Equality and Advancement of Puerto Rico (I.D.E.A. of Puerto Rico, Inc.),
and Marco Antonio Rigau, all of San Juan, Puerto Rico; Mayor William
Miranda Marin, Caguas, Puerto Rico; Miriam J. Ramirez de Ferrer, Puerto
Ricans in Civic Action, Mayaguez, Puerto Rico; Joaquin A. Marquez,
Puerto Rican American Foundation, Arlington, Virginia; Jose Rivera,
Republican National Hispanic Assembly, and Charles J. Cooper, Cooper,
Carin & Rosenthal, both of Washington, D.C.; David Matta, National
Puerto Rican Bar Association, Flushing, New York; and Diego Hernandez,
former Admiral, United States Navy. 

                               [Page: D754]

Hearings continue tomorrow. 

WATER AND POWER

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and
Power concluded hearings on the following bills: 

S. 1515, to amend laws relating to the Garrison Diversion Unit, North
Dakota of the Pick-Sloan Missouri River Basin Program, to increase
authorization levels for State and Indian tribal, municipal, rural, and
industrial water supplies, to meet current and future water quantity and
quality needs of the Red River Valley, to deauthorize certain project
features and irrigation service areas, and to enhance natural resources
and fish and wildlife habitat, after receiving testimony from Senator
Conrad; Representative Pomeroy; North Dakota Governor Edward T. Schafer,
and North Dakota State Senator Joel Heitkamp, North Dakota State
Representative John Dorso, and Jim Miller, Wildlife Society, all of
Bismarck, North Dakota; Mayor Bruce W. Furness, Fargo, North Dakota;
Jack Olin, North Dakota Water Users Association, Dickinson; Russell
Mason, Three Affiliated Tribes, Newtown, North Dakota; Norman Haak,
Garrison Diversion Conservancy District, Oakes, North Dakota; Daniel P.
Beard, National Audubon Society, Washington, D.C.; and Patricia
Storhoff, Nome, North Dakota; 

S. 2111, to establish the conditions under which the Bonneville Power
Administration and certain Federal agencies may enter into a memorandum
of agreement concerning management of the Columbia/Snake River Basin, to
direct the Secretary of the Interior to appoint an advisory committee to
make recommendations regarding activities under the memorandum of
understanding, after receiving testimony from Jack Robertson, Deputy
Administrator, Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Energy;
Oregon Governor John A. Kitzhaber, Salem; David J. Hayes, Counselor to
the Secretary of the Interior; Glenn Vanselow, Pacific Northwest
Waterways Association, Vancouver, Washington; Craig Smith, Northwest
Food Processors Association, Jeff Curtis, Trout Unlimited, Robert G.
Walton, Public Power Council, and Ted Strong, Columbia River
Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, on behalf of the Confederated Tribes of
the Umatilla Indian Reservation, all of Portland, Oregon; and 

S. 2117, authorizing grants for the planning and construction of the
Perkins County Rural Water System in South Dakota, after receiving
testimony from Terry Haggart, Perkins County Rural Water System, Inc.,
Perkins County, South Dakota; and Brad Wheeler, Wheeler Manufacturing,
South Dakota; 

Testimony was also received on S. 1515 and S. 2117 (both listed above)
from Eluid L. Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department
of the Interior. 

AUTHORIZATION--ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ADMINISTRATION

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on
Transportation and Infrastructure concluded hearings on S. 1647,
authorizing funds for fiscal years 1999 through 2002 for the Economic
Development Administration, after receiving testimony from William M.
Daley, Secretary, and Phillip A. Singerman, Assistant Secretary for
Economic Development, both of the Department of Commerce; Robert W.
Burchell, Center for Urban Policy Research/Rutgers University, New
Brunswick, New Jersey; R. Scott Fosler, National Academy of Public
Administration, Washington, D.C.; and Pulaski County Judge Floyd G.
Villines, former Mayor of Little Rock, Arkansas, and Eric P. Thompson,
Lower Savannah Council of Governments and the National Association of
Development Organizations, Aiken, South Carolina, both on behalf of the
Coalition for Economic Development. 

JAPAN ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine Japan's role in
the international trading system and the prospects for market
liberalization and economic reform, focusing on United States-Japan
trade and economic relations and the state of Japan's economy, receiving
testimony from Mitsuhiro Fukao, Keio University, Yasuo Kanzaki, Nikko
Research Center, Ltd., Akio Mikuni, Mikuni & Co., Ltd., and Robert Alan
Feldman, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter (Japan), all of Tokyo, Japan; Robert
D. Hormats, Goldman Sachs (International), and Roger M. Kubarych,
Kaufman & Kubarych Advisors, both of D755New York, New York; and L.
William Seidman, CNBC Business News, W. Henson Moore, American Forest
and Paper Association, and Alan F. Holmer, Pharmaceutical Research and
Manufacturers of America, all of Washington, D.C. 

                               [Page: D755]

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

KOREAN PENINSULA

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific
Affairs concluded hearings to examine United States policy toward North
Korea, focusing on the efforts of the Korean Peninsula Energy
Development Organization (KEDO) and the Agreed Nuclear Framework to
increase stability in Korea, after receiving testimony from Rust M.
Deming, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific
Affairs; Desaix Anderson, Korean Peninsula Energy Development
Organization (KEDO), New York, New York; and Robert Gallucci, Georgetown
University School of Foreign Service, Washington, D.C. 

NOMINATION

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee ordered favorably reported
the nomination of L. Britt Snider, of Virginia, to be Inspector General,
Central Intelligence Agency. 

Joint Meetings

TEXAS LOW-LEVEL RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL COMPACT

Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate- and
House-passed versions of H.R. 629, to grant the consent of the Congress
to the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact, but did not
complete action thereon, and recessed subject to call. 



1998/07/15
Daily Digest - Wednesday, July 15, 1998,  pages D761 - D770

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

ATM SURCHARGING

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
oversight hearings to examine a Federal Government study on the status
of automated teller machine deployment and surcharge fees assessed by
banks and thrift institutions, after receiving testimony from Susan S.
Westin, Associate Director, Financial Institutions and Markets Issues,
General Government Division, General Accounting Office; Jan Paul Acton,
Assistant Director, Natural Resources and Commerce Division,
Congressional Budget Office; Connecticut Attorney General Richard
Blumenthal, Hartford; Edmund Mierzwinski, U.S. Public Interest Research
Group, Washington, D.C.; Wayne A. Cottle, Dean Co-operative Bank,
Franklin, Massachusetts, on behalf of the Community Bank League of New
England; Raymond Curtin, Empire Federal Credit Union, Syracuse, New
York, on behalf of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions;
Linda Echard, IBAA Bancard, Arlington, Virginia, on behalf of the
Independent Bankers Association of America; Richard E. Bolton, Jr.,
Charter Bank, Waltham, Massachusetts, on behalf of the American Bankers
Association and the Massachusetts Bankers Association; and John Ward,
First American Bank, Elk Grove, Illinois, on behalf of the Consumer
Bankers Association. 

ELECTRONIC COMMERCE

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on S. 2107, to enhance electronic commerce by promoting the
reliability and integrity of commercial transactions through
establishing authentication standards for electronic communications,
after receiving testimony from Representative Eshoo; Andrew J. Pincus,
General Counsel, Department of Commerce; Scott Cooper, Hewlett-Packard
Company, Washington, D.C.; Kirk LeCompte, PenOp, Inc., New York, New
York; and Daniel Greenwood, Commonwealth of Massachusetts Information
Technology Division, Boston. 

PUERTO RICO

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee continued hearings
on H.R. 856, to provide a process leading to full self-government for
Puerto Rico, and S. 472, to provide for referenda in which the residents
of Puerto Rico may express democratically their preferences regarding
the political status of the territory, receiving testimony from Senators
D'Amato and Lieberman; Representatives Velazquez, Serrano, and
Gutierrez; Puerto Rico Resident Commissioner Carlos A. Romero-Barcelo;
and Jeffrey L. Farrow, Co-Chair, The President's Interagency Group on
Puerto Rico. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATION

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings
on the nomination of Nikki Rush Tinsley, of Maryland, to be Inspector
General, Environmental Protection Agency, after the nominee testified
and answered questions in her own behalf. 

U.S. BALTIC POLICY

Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on European Affairs
concluded hearings to examine United States policy towards the Republics
of Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, focusing on developments in these
countries seven years after they regained their independence pending
membership in the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, after receiving testimony from Marc Grossman, Assistant
Secretary of State for European and Canadian Affairs; Richard J.
Krickus, Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, Virginia; Andrejs
Plakans, Iowa State University, Ames; and Toivo Raun, Indiana
University, Bloomington. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported
the following business items: 

S. 389, to improve congressional deliberation on proposed Federal
private sector mandates, with amendments; 

S. 2228, to amend the Federal Advisory Committee Act to modify
termination and reauthorization requirements or advisory committees; 

S. 314, to require that the Federal Government procure from the private
sector the goods and services necessary for the operations and
management of certain Government agencies, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute; 

S. 1397, authorizing funds for fiscal years 1999 through 2004 to
establish a commission to assist in commemoration of the centennial of
powered flight and the achievements of the Wright brothers, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute; and 

The nomination of Jacob J. Lew, of New York, to be Director of the
Office of Management and Budget. 

                               [Page: D764]

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held oversight hearings on
activities of the Department of Justice, receiving testimony from Janet
Reno, Attorney General, and Eric H. Holder, Jr., Deputy Attorney
General, both of the Department of Justice. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

HOME HEALTH CARE

Committee on Small Business: Committee held hearings to examine how the
Health Care Financing Administration's interim payment system and surety
bond regulations are affecting small home health care agencies,
receiving testimony from Senators Grassley and Baucus; Jere W. Glover,
Chief Counsel for Advocacy, Small Business Administration; Carole
Burkemper, Great Rivers Home Care, Inc., St. Peters, Missouri; Delia
Young, Delia Young & Associates, Kansas City, Missouri; Marty C.
Hoelscher, Superior Home Care, Inc., Salt Lake City, Utah; Lynn Hardy,
Duplin Home Care and Hospice, Kenansville, North Carolina; Bonnie
Matthews, South Shore Health System, Braintree, Massachusetts, on behalf
of the South Shore Visiting Nurse Association; and Bob Reynolds, Franey,
Parr & Associates, Inc., Lanham, Maryland, on behalf of the National
Association of Surety Bond Producers. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills: 

H.R. 700, to remove the restriction on the distribution of certain
revenues from the Mineral Springs parcel to certain members of the Agua
Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute; and 

S. 109, to provide Federal housing assistance to Native Hawaiians, with
an amendment in the nature of a substitute. 

INDIAN TRIBAL CONFLICT RESOLUTION

Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 2097, to
encourage and facilitate the resolution of conflicts involving Indian
tribes, after receiving testimony from Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary
of the Interior for Indian Affairs; Charles R. Barnes, Acting Director,
Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service; William C. Canby, Jr.,
United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals;
Renny Fagan, Colorado Department of Revenue, Denver; R. Timothy
Columbus, Collier, Shannon, Rill and Scott, on behalf of the National
Association of Convenience Stores and the Society of Independent
Gasoline Marketers of America, Phyllis C. Borzi, George Washington
University Medical Center, and W. Ron Allen, National Congress of
American Indians, all of Washington, D.C.; Billy Frank, Jr., Northwest
Indian Fisheries Commission, Olympia, Washington; Apesanahkwat,
Menominee Indian Tribe of Wisconsin, Keshena; and Philip S. Deloria,
American Indian Law Center, Inc., Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS TO CHINA

Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held hearings to examine the
safeguards and monitoring process established to ensure that no
prohibited technology transfers occur before, during, or after launches
of United States commercial satellites on Chinese boosters, receiving
testimony from David Tarbell, Director, Defense Technology Security
Administration, Department of Defense. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT AGE

Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine how
an increase in the retirement age will affect the long-term solvency of
the Social Security system and the United States economy, the labor
market for older workers, and the Disability Insurance and Supplemental
Security Income programs, receiving testimony from Barbara D. Bovbjerg,
Associate Director, Income Security Issues, Health, Education, and Human
Services Division, General Accounting Office; David A. Smith, AFL-CIO
Public Policy Department, Gary Burtless, Brookings Institution, Paul R.
Huard, National Association of Manufacturers, and Carolyn J.
Lukensmeyer, Americans Discuss Social Security, all of Washington, D.C.;
and Donna L. Wagner, Center for Productive Aging/Towson University,
Towson, Maryland. 

                               [Page: D765]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/07/16
Daily Digest - Thursday, July 16, 1998,  pages D771 - D780

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NOMINATION

Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Daryl L. Jones, of Florida, to be Secretary of the Air
Force, after the nominee testified and answered questions in his own
behalf. Testimony was also received on the nomination from Col. Thomas
A. Dyches, Detachment Commander, Fighter Reserve Associate Test, Shaw
Air Force Base, South Carolina, Daniel Moreno, Jr., Chief, Operations
Systems Management, 482d Operations Squadron, Homestead Air Force Base,
Florida, Brig. Gen. Allan R. Poulin, Lt. Col. William Vrastil, Lt. Col.
Jack H. Connelly (Ret.), Lt. Col. David W. Eastis (Ret.), Maj. Allan F.
Estis (Ret.), Maj. Thomas C. Massey (Ret.), and Brig. Gen. James L.
Turner (Ret.), all of the U.S. Air Force Reserves; Lt. Col. Thomas E.
Sawner, Air National Guard; and Rev. Walter Richardson, Miami, Florida. 

SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES PROGRAM

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the operating procedures and internal controls of
the Schools and Libraries Corporation to implement Federal Communication
Commission orders to administer the universal service fund to improve
the access of modern telecommunications services to schools and
libraries, after receiving testimony from Judy A. England-Joseph,
Director, Housing and Community Development Issues, Resources,
Community, and Economic Development Division, and John P. Finedore,
Assistant Director, Accounting and Information Management Division, both
of the General Accounting Office; and Ira Fishman, Schools and Libraries
Corporation, Washington, D.C. 

HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National
Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S.
155, to redesignate General Grant National Memorial as Grant's Tomb
National Monument, S. 1408, to establish the Lower East Side Tenement
National Historic Site, S. 1718, to amend the Weir Farm National
Historic Site Establishment Act of 1990 to authorize the acquisition of
additional acreage for the historic site to permit the development of
visitor and administrative facilities and to authorize funds for the
acquisition of real and personal property, and S. 1990, to authorize
expansion of Fort Davis National Historic Site in Fort Davis, Texas,
after receiving testimony from Dennis P. Galvin, Deputy Director,
National Park Service, Department of the Interior. 

Testimony was also received on S. 1408 (listed above) from Ruth J.
Abram, Lower East Side Tenement Museum, New York, New York, and on S.
1718 (listed above) from Constance Evans, Weir Farm Trust, Wilton,
Connecticut. 

INTERNET TAX REGULATION

Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings on proposals to regulate
the taxation of the Internet by placing a moratorium on the ability of
State and local governments to impose certain taxes on the Internet,
including related provisions of S. 442 and H.R. 4105, receiving
testimony from Senators Bumpers, Lieberman, and Wyden; Representative
Cox; Joseph H. Guttentag, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for
International Tax Affairs; John E. McPhee, Director, Office of Computers
and Business Equipment, International Trade Administration, Department
of Commerce; and Francis J. Kelly, Charles Schwab & Company, Jill A.
Lesser, America Online, Harley T. Duncan, Federation of Tax
Administrators, Mark E. Nebergall, Internet Tax Fairness Coalition,
Raymond C. Scheppach, National Governors' Association, and Mark A.
Micali, Direct Marketing Association, all of Washington, D.C. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Hugh Q. Parmer, of Texas, to be Assistant Administrator
for Humanitarian Response, Agency for International Development, Mary
Beth West, of the District of Columbia, for the rank of Ambassador
during her tenure of D775service as Deputy Assistant Secretary of State
for Oceans, Fisheries and Space, John Bruce Craig, of Pennsylvania, to
be Ambassador to the Sultanate of Oman, Theodore H. Kattouf, of
Maryland, to be Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, Elizabeth
Davenport McKune, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the State of Qatar,
David Michael Satterfield, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic
of Lebanon, William B. Milam, of California, to be Ambassador to the
Islamic Republic of Pakistan, James Howard Holmes, of Virginia, to be
Ambassador to the Republic of Latvia, Steven Robert Mann, of
Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Turkmenistan, Richard
Nelson Swett, of New Hampshire, to be Ambassador to Denmark, and Melissa
Foelsch Wells, of Connecticut, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Estonia, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their
own behalf. Mr. Parmer was introduced by Senator Hutchison, Ms. West was
introduced by Senator Campbell, Messrs. Craig and Kattouf were
introduced by Senator Santorum, Mr. Swett was introduced by Senators
Robert Smith and Gregg and Representatives Bass and Shays, and Ms. Wells
was introduced by Senator Leahy. 

                               [Page: D775]

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items: 

The nominations of Kim McLean Wardlaw, of California, to be United
States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, and Jose de Jesus Rivera, to
be United States Attorney for the District of Arizona; 

S. 1645, to prohibit taking minors across State lines to avoid laws
requiring the involvement of parents in abortion decisions, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. 2192, to make certain technical corrections to the Trademark Act of
1946; 

S. 2193, to implement the provisions of the Trademark Law Treaty; 

S.1134, to grant the consent of the Congress to the Northwestern
Wildland Fire Protection Agreement to promote effective prevention,
presuppression, and control of forest fires in the Northwestern wildland
region of the United States and adjacent areas of Canada; 

S.J. Res. 35, granting the consent of Congress to the Pacific Northwest
Emergency Management Arrangement; 

H.R. 1085, to revise, codify, and enact without substantive change
certain general and permanent laws, related to patriotic and national
observances, ceremonies, and organizations, as title 36, United States
Code, "Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and
Organizations''; and 

S. Res. 207, commemorating the 20th anniversary of the founding of the
Vietnam Veterans of America. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Timothy B. Dyk, of the District of Columbia, to be United
States Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit, Carl J. Barbier, to be
United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana,
David R. Herndon, to be United States District Judge for the Southern
District of Illinois, Gerald Bruce Lee, to be United States District
Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, Nora M. Manella, to be
United States District Judge for the Central District of California,
Rebecca R. Pallmeyer, to be United States District Judge for the
Northern District of Illinois, Jeanne E. Scott, to be United States
District Judge for the Central District of Illinois, and Patricia A.
Seitz, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of
Florida, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their
own behalf. Mr. Dyk was introduced by Senator Kerry, Mr. Barbier was
introduced by Senators Breaux and Landrieu and Representative Jefferson,
Mr. Herndon and Ms. Scott were introduced by Senators Durbin and
Moseley-Braun and Representative Shimkus, Ms. Pallmeyer was introduced
by Senators Durbin and Moseley-Braun, Mr. Lee was introduced by Senators
Warner and Robb, Ms. Manella was introduced by Senator Feinstein, and
Ms. Seitz was introduced by Senators Graham and Mack and Representative
Ramstad. 

                               [Page: D776]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/07/17
Daily Digest - Friday, July 17, 1998,  pages D781 - D790

Committee Meetings

( Committees not listed did not meet ) 

MORTGAGE LENDING REFORM

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Financial Institutions and Regulatory Relief and the Subcommittee on
Housing Opportunity and Community Development concluded joint hearings
to examine recommendations from the Department of Housing and Urban
Development and the Federal Reserve Board on mortgage loan reforms as
contained in the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement
Procedures Act, after receiving testimony from Edward M. Gramlich,
Member, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; and Gail
Laster, General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban Development. 

                               [Page: D784]

Joint Meetings

EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, AND LITERACY ENHANCEMENT ACT

Conferees on Thursday, July 16, met to resolve the differences between
the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 1385, to consolidate,
coordinate, and improve employment, training, literacy, and vocational
rehabilitation programs in the United States, but did not complete
action thereon, and recessed subject to call. 



1998/07/20
Daily Digest - Monday, July 20, 1998,  pages D792 - D798

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

NOMINATIONS 

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Richard E. Hecklinger, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to
the Kingdom of Thailand, Charles F. Kartman, of Virginia, for the rank
of Ambassador during his tenure of service as Special Envoy for the
Korean Peace Talks, and Kent M. Weidemann, of California, to be
Ambassador to the Kingdom of Cambodia, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Kartman was introduced by
Senator Robb. 

                               [Page: D793]

No Joint hearings noted.



1998/07/21
Daily Digest - Tuesday, July 21, 1998,  pages D800 - D808

Committee Meetings 

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

APPROPRIATIONS--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE/DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 

Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills: 

An original bill (S. 2333) making appropriations for the government of
the District of Columbia and other activities chargeable in whole or in
part against the revenues of said District for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1999; and 

An original bill (S. 2334) making appropriations for foreign operations,
export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 1999. 

NOMINATIONS 

Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to consider
pending nominations, but made no announcements, and will meet again
tomorrow. 

MONETARY POLICY 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the Federal Reserve's monetary policy and economic
outlook report to Congress, after receiving testimony from Alan
Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. 

PERSONAL SAVINGS ACCOUNTS 

Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
administration of proposed personal savings accounts within the Social
Security system, after receiving testimony from Francis X. Cavanaugh,
former Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Federal
Retirement Thrift Investment Board; James S. Phalen, State Street Bank
and Trust Company, Boston, Massachusetts; and Fred T. Goldberg, Jr.,
Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom, Washington, D.C. 

DISCRETIONARY FUNDING PROGRAMS 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the process by which the Department of Commerce and
Department of Transportation distribute financial assistance or
discretionary funds to states, municipalities, and other eligible
entities, after receiving testimony from Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector
General, and Kenneth R. Wykle, Administrator, Federal Highway
Administration, both of the Department of Transportation; and Johnnie E.
Frazier, Acting Inspector General, and W. Scott Gould, Chief Financial
Officer and Assistant Secretary for Administration, both of the
Department of Commerce. 

BUSINESS MEETING 

Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
bill to encourage increased trade and economic cooperation between the
United States and sub-Saharan African countries, to extend duty-free
treatment under the Generalized System of Preferences, to extend
preferential treatment to certain products imported from Caribbean Basin
countries, to extend tariff proclamation authority and fast track
procedures for congressional consideration of certain trade agreements,
to extend certain trade adjustment assistance programs, to bolster
United States efforts to eliminate barriers to American agricultural
exports, to approve and implement the OECD Shipbuilding Trade Agreement,
to extend permanent normal trade relations tariff treatment to imports
from Mongolia, and to reduce or suspend duties on imports of certain
types of wool fabric in order to correct an inversion in the tariff
schedule. (As approved by the committee, the bill incorporates certain
provisions of S. 219, S. 343, S. 1216, S. 1269, S. 1278, S. 1457, S.
2047, and H.R. 1432.) 

CONTRACEPTIVE INSURANCE COVERAGE 

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee concluded hearings on
S. 766, to require equitable coverage of prescription contraceptive
drugs and devices and contraceptive services under health plans, after
receiving testimony from Senators Snowe and Reid; Maryland State
Delegate Sharon Grosfeld, Kensington; and Gloria Feldt, Planned
Parenthood Federation of America, and Richard H. Schwarz, New York
Methodist Hospital, on behalf of the American College of Obstetricians
and Gynecologists, both of New York, New York. 

NOMINATIONS 

Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded hearings on
the nominations of Scott E. Thomas, of the District of Columbia, David
M. Mason, of Virginia, Darryl R. Wold, of California, and Karl J.
Sandstrom, of Washington, each to be a Member of the Federal Election
Commission, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their
own behalf. Mr. Wold was introduced by Representative Thomas. 

                               [Page: D803]

No Joint hearings noted



1998/07/22
Daily Digest - Wednesday, July 22, 1998,  pages D809 - D820

Committee Meetings

(Committees not listed did not meet) 

YEAR 2000 AGRICULTURE COMPLIANCE

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the Year 2000 information technology dilemma as it
relates to agricultural business and other economic matters, after
receiving testimony from Edward Yardeni, Deutsche Bank Securities, New
York, New York; Donald D. Serpico, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago,
Illinois; and Jerold L. Harris and David D. Janish, both of the Farm
Credit Bank of Wichita, Kansas. 

                               [Page: D811]

NOMINATION

Committee on Armed Services: Committee failed to approve for reporting,
without recommendation, the nomination of Daryl L. Jones, of Florida, to
be Secretary of the Air Force. 

HOLOCAUST ASSETS RESTITUTION

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
hearings to examine current developments with regard to the 1946 Swiss
Holocaust Assets Agreement, focusing on the role of Swiss banks and
their historic and current treatment of assets of holocaust victims,
after receiving testimony from Stuart Eizenstat, Under Secretary of
State for Economic Affairs; Jean Ziegler, University of Geneva,
Switzerland, and Member, Swiss Federal Parliament; New York State
Comptroller H. Carl McCall, Albany; New York City First Deputy
Comptroller Steven Newman, Israel Singer, World Jewish Congress, and Mel
Urbach, World Council of Orthodox Jewish Communities, all of New York,
New York; Rabbi Marvin Hier, Simon Wiesenthal Center, Los Angeles,
California; Fredy Rom, Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Zurich, Switzerland;
and Michael D. Hausfeld, Washington, D.C. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings
on the nomination of Bill Richardson, of New Mexico, to be Secretary of
Energy, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators Helms,
Domenici, and Bingaman, testified and answered questions in his own
behalf. 

LAND EXCHANGE AND BOUNDARY ADJUSTMENT

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and
Public Land Management concluded hearings on the following bills: 

S. 2136, to provide for the exchange of certain land in the State of
Washington, after receiving testimony from Senator Murray; and William
R. Brown, Plum Creek Timber Company, Rick McGuire, Alpine Lakes
Protection Society, Norm Winn, Mountaineers, Charles Raines, Sierra
Club, and Janine Blaeloch, Western Land Exchange Project, all of
Seattle, Washington; 

S. 2226, to amend the Idaho Admission Act regarding the sale or lease of
school land, after receiving testimony from Senator Kempthorne; Douglas
Dorn, on behalf of the Idaho Governor's Committee on Endowment Fund
Investment Reform, and Anne C. Fox, Idaho State Department of Education,
both of Boise; and Craig Gehrke, Wilderness Society, Washington, D.C.;
and 

H.R. 2886, to provide for a demonstration project in the Stanislaus
National Forest, California, under which a private contractor will
perform multiple resource management activities for that unit of the
National Forest System, after receiving testimony from Representative
Doolittle. 

Testimony was also received on S. 2136, S. 2226, H.R. 2886 (all listed
above), and H.R. 3796, to convey the administrative site for the Rogue
River National Forest and use the proceeds for the construction or
improvement of offices and support buildings for the Rogue River
National Forest and the Bureau of Land Management from Gloria Manning,
Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest Systems, Forest Service,
Department of Agriculture. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items: 

S. 263, to prohibit the import, export, sale, purchase, possession,
transportation, acquisition, and receipt of bear viscera or products
that contain or claim to contain bear viscera, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute; 

S. 361, to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to prohibit the
sale, import, and export of products labeled as containing endangered
species, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

S. 659, to amend the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of
1990 to provide for implementation of recommendations of the United
States Fish and Wildlife Service contained in the Great Lakes Fishery
Restoration Study Report, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute; 

S. 1883, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey the Marion
National Fish Hatchery and the Claude Harris National Aquacultural
Research Center to the State of Alabama, with an amendment;

S. 1970, to require the Secretary of the Interior to establish a program
to provide assistance in the conservation of neotropical migratory
birds, with an amendment; 

S. 2094, to amend the Fish and Wildlife Improvement Act of 1978 to
enable the Secretary of the Interior to more effectively use the
proceeds of sales of certain items, with an amendment; 

S. 2319, to authorize the use of receipts from the sale of migratory
bird hunting and conservation stamps to promote additional stamp
purchases; 

S. 2244, to amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to promote volunteer
programs and community partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife
refugees; 

H.R. 1856, to amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to direct the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a volunteer pilot project at one
national D812wildlife refuge in each United States Fish and Wildlife
Service region, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; 

                               [Page: D812]

S. 1700, to designate the headquarters building of the Department of
Housing and Urban Development in Washington, District of Columbia, as
the "Robert C. Weaver Federal Building''; 

H.R. 643, to designate the United States courthouse to be constructed at
the corner of Superior and Huron Roads, in Cleveland, Ohio, as the "Carl
B. Stokes United States Courthouse''; 

H.R. 3504, to amend the John F. Kennedy Center Act to authorize
appropriations for the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
and to further define the criteria for capital repair and operation and
maintenance; 

S. 1222, to catalyze restoration of estuary habitat through more
efficient financing of projects and enhanced coordination of Federal and
non-Federal restoration programs, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute; and 

The nomination of Nikki Rush Tinsley, of Maryland, to be Inspector
General, Environmental Protection Agency. 

Also, committee began markup of S. 2131, to provide for the conservation
and development of water and related resources, and to authorize the
Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to
rivers and harbors of the United States, but did not complete action
thereon, and will meet again tomorrow. 

RETIREMENT SECURITY POLICY

Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine new directions
in retirement security policy, focusing on the Administration's plans
for Social Security reform, how well Americans are planning for
retirement, proposals to encourage employer-based pension plans and
personal savings, the impact of the aging of America on economic growth,
and the impact of Social Security reform on employer-sponsored
retirement plans, personal savings, and earnings, receiving testimony
from Robert E. Rubin, Secretary, and Lawrence Summers, Deputy Secretary,
both of the Department of the Treasury; Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner,
Social Security Administration; Rudolph G. Penner, Urban Institute,
Kenneth W. Porter, ERISA Industry Committee, and Paul Yakoboski,
Employee Benefit Research Institute, all of Washington, D.C.; and
Sylvester J. Schieber, Watson Wyatt Worldwide, Bethesda, Maryland. 

Hearings were recessed subject to call. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of David G. Carpenter, of Virginia, to be Assistant
Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, and to be Director of the
Office of Foreign Missions, and to have the rank of Ambassador during
his tenure of service, Bert T. Edwards, of Maryland, to be Chief
Financial Officer, Department of State, and Jonathan H. Spalter, of the
District of Columbia, to be an Associate Director (Bureau of
Information) of the United States Information Agency, after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf. 

BUSINESS MEETING

Committee on Labor and Human Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported S. 2112, to make the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
applicable to the United States Postal Service in the same manner as any
other employer. 

Also, committee began markup of S. 2213, to allow all States to
participate in activities under the Education Flexibility Partnership
Demonstration Act, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet
again on Wednesday, July 29. 

NOMINATIONS

Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nominations of Scott E. Thomas, of the District of
Columbia, David M. Mason, of Virginia, Darryl R. Wold, of California,
and Karl J. Sandstrom, of Washington, each to be a Member of the Federal
Election Commission. 

                               [Page: D813]

Joint Meetings

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE/TRIBAL TRUST FUND SETTLEMENT

Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Indian Affairs and the House
Committee on Resources concluded joint hearings on the following bills: 

S. 1770, to elevate the position of Director of the Indian Health
Service to Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services, and to
provide for the organizational independence of the Indian Health Service
within the Department of Health and Human Services, after receiving
testimony from Kevin L. Thurm, Deputy Secretary of Health and Human
Services; Julia A. Davis, Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board,
Portland, Oregon; and Buford L. Rolin, National Indian Health Board,
Denver, Colorado; and 

H.R. 3782, to compensate certain Indian tribes for known errors in their
tribal tru