106th Congress (1999 - 2000)
January 24 - December 15, 2000
Senate Committee Meetings by Date
Compiled from the Congressional Record's Daily Digests via Thomas at thomas.loc.gov
2000/01/24
Daily Digest - Monday, January 24, 2000; pages D1 - D20
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/01/25
Daily Digest - Tuesday, January 25, 2000; pages D21 - D22
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/01/26
Daily Digest - Wednesday, January 26, 2000; pages D23 - D26
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
PATIENT SAFETY
Committee on Appropriations: On Tuesday, January 25, 2000, Subcommittee on
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and the Committee on Veteran
Affairs concluded joint hearings to examine reports and initiatives on patient
safety, after receiving testimony from Thomas L. Garthwaite, Acting Under
Secretary for Health, and James P. Bagian, Director, National Center for
Patient Safety, Veterans Health Administration, both of the Department of
Veterans Affairs; Molly J. Coye, Institute of Medicine; Joe Donahey, Circuit
Court Judge, Pasco County, Florida; Lucian Leape, Harvard University School of
Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; and Ralph Specken, New York, New York.
NOMINATION
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the nomination of Alan Greenspan, of New York, to be Chairman of the Board
of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, after the nominee testified and
answered questions in his own behalf.
ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings on the economic and
budget forecasts of the Congressional Budget Office for fiscal years
2001-2010, after receiving testimony from Dan L. Crippen, Director,
Congressional Budget Office.
MEDICAL ERRORS
Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the incidence of medical errors, focusing on the Institute
of Medicine report on medical safety, after receiving testimony from Lucian
Leape, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts; Mary
Foley, American Nurses Association, and Carmela Coyle, American Hospital
Association, both of Washington, D.C.; Nancy W. Dickey, College Station,
Texas, on behalf of the American Medical Association; Arnold Milstein, Pacific
Business Group on Health, San Francisco, California, on behalf of the Business
Roundtable; and Gail Devers, Long Beach, California.
[Page: D25]
Joint Meetings
FAA AUTHORIZATION
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House passed
versions of H.R. 1000, to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize
programs of the Federal Aviation Administration, but did not complete action
thereon, and recessed subject to call.
2000/01/27
Daily Digest - Thursday, January 27, 2000; pages D28 - D32
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/01/31
Daily Digest - Monday, January 31, 2000; pages D33 - D36
Committee Meetings
There were no committee meetings today.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/02/01
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 1, 2000; pages D38 - D44
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
AGRICULTURE CONCENTRATION
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
oversight hearings to examine the current structure and future operations of
the Department of Agriculture's Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards
Administration, after receiving testimony from Senator Feingold; Michael Dunn,
Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, and James R. Baker,
Administrator, Grain Inspection, Packers and Stockyards Administration, both
of the Department of Agriculture; Philip Paarlberg and Kenneth Foster, both of
Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana; John McNutt, Iowa City, Iowa, on
behalf of the National Pork Producers Council; Rita Sharma, Williamsport,
Indiana, on behalf of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association; William P.
Roenigk, National Chicken Council, Washington, D.C.; Ron Warfield, Illinois
Farm Bureau, Gibson City, on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation;
Michael Stumo, Winsted, Connecticut, on behalf of the Organization for
Competitive Markets; John Crabtree, Center for Rural Affairs, Walthill,
Nebraska; Hubert O. Farrish, Columbia Grain, Inc., Portland, Oregon, on behalf
of the North American Export Grain Association; Robert Smigelski, The
Anderson, Inc., Maumee, Ohio, on behalf of the National Grain and Feed
Association; Mike Clark, Illinois Corn Growers Association, Homer, on behalf
of the National Corn Growers Association, American Soybean Association, and
National Association of Wheat Growers; and Dennis Wiese, South Dakota Farmers
Union, Flandreau, on behalf of the National Farmers Union.
NOMINATION
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nomination of Alan Greenspan, of New York, to be Chairman of the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
LOAN GUARANTEES AND RURAL TELEVISION SERVICE
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the issue of federal loan guarantees to promote satellite delivery of local
television signals to rural areas, after receiving testimony from Gregory L.
Rohde, Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information;
Christopher McLean, Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, Department
of Agriculture; William Roberts, Senior Attorney, Copyright Office, Library of
Congress; Dale N. Hatfield, Chief, Office of Engineering and Technology,
Federal Communications Commission; Steven J. Cox, DIRECTV, El Segundo,
California; David K. Moskowitz, EchoStar Communications Corporation,
Littleton, Colorado; Bob R. Phillips, III, National Rural Telecommunications
Cooperative, The Plains, Virginia; Richard Sjoberg, Sjoberg's Incorporated,
Thief River Falls, Minnesota; and K. James Yager, Benedek Broadcasting,
Rockford, Illinois, on behalf of the National Association of Broadcasters.
[Page: D40]
FEDERAL SPENDING PRIORITIES
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine spending
priorities of certain federal laws and programs in order to maximize the
government's performance and accountability, after receiving testimony from
David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, General Accounting
Office.
U.S. COMPUTER NETWORK PROTECTION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information held hearings to examine the vulnerability of U.S.
systems to cyber attack, focusing on the Administration's National Plan for
Information Systems Protection and its implications regarding privacy,
receiving testimony from John S. Tritak, Director, Critical Infrastructure
Assurance Office, Department of Commerce; and Marc Rotenberg, Electronic
Privacy Information Center, and Frank J. Cilluffo, Center for Strategic and
International Studies, both of Washington, D.C.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
MEDICAL ERRORS
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee resumed
hearings to examine the incidence of medical errors, focusing on understanding
adverse drug events, receiving testimony from Janet Woodcock, Director, Center
for Drug Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Department of
Health and Human Services; Janet Heinrich, Associate Director, Health
Financing and Public Health Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services
Division, General Accounting Office; Michael R. Cohen, Institute for Safe
Medication Practices, Huntingdon Valley, Pennsylvania; Richard Platt, Harvard
University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, on behalf of the Harvard
Pilgrim Healthcare; and Eleanor M. Vogt, National Patient Safety Foundation,
and Raymond L. Woosley, Georgetown University Medical Center Department of
Pharmacology, both of Washington, D.C.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
Joint Meetings
MONTENEGRO DEMOCRACY
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission):
Commission concluded hearings to examine the prospects of democratic
development and economic recovery in Montenegro, after receiving testimony
from Srdjan Darmanovic, Center for Democracy and Human Rights, and Veselin
Vukotic, Center for Entrepreneurship, both of Podgorica, Montenegro; and
Janusz Bugajski, Center for Strategic and International Studies, Washington,
D.C.
2000/02/02
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 2, 2000; pages D45 - D50
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BOSNIA AND KOSOVO SECURITY
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed hearings to
examine current security status in Bosnia and Kosovo following U.S. military
operations, after receiving testimony from Gen. Wesley K. Clark, USA,
Commander-in-Chief, United States European Command, Supreme Allied Commander,
Europe.
INTERNET TAXATION
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings to examine Internet
taxation issues, focusing on the implications of State and local government
sales taxes applied to purchases made over the Internet, after receiving
testimony from Massachusetts Governor Argeo Paul Cellucci, Boston; Michigan
Governor John Engler, Lansing, on behalf of the National Governors'
Association; Charles E. McLure, Jr., Stanford University Hoover Institute,
Stanford, California; and Aaron Lukas, Cato Institute Center for Trade Policy
Studies, and Iris J. Lav, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, both of
Washington, D.C.
IRS REFORM
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings on the status of Internal
Revenue Service reform, focusing on the implementation of the Restructuring
and Reform Act of 1998, receiving testimony from Charles O. Rossotti,
Commissioner, and W. Val Oveson, National Taxpayer Advocate, both of the
Internal Revenue Service, and David C. Williams, Inspector General for Tax
Administration, all of the Department of the Treasury; and James R. White,
Director, Tax Policy and Administration Issues, General Government Division,
General Accounting Office.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
GENE THERAPY SAFETY
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Public
Health held hearings to examine certain issues regarding patient safety in
gene therapy clinical trials, focusing on federal oversight procedures and
guidelines for informing patients and their families of potential risks and
benefits of gene therapy, receiving testimony from Amy Patterson, Director,
Office of Biotechnology Activities, National Institutes of Health, and Jay P.
Siegel, Director, Office of Therapeutics Research and Review, Center for
Biologics Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, both of the
Department D47of Health and Human Services; Inder M. Verma, Salk Institute
Laboratory of Genetics, La Jolla, California; LeRoy Walters, Georgetown
University Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Washington, D.C.; H. Stewart Parker,
Targeted Genetics Corporation, Seattle, Washington, on behalf of the
Biotechnology Industry Organization; Eric Kast, Norman, Oklahoma, on behalf of
the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; and Paul L. Gelsinger, Tucson, Arizona.
[Page: D47]
Hearings recessed subject to call.
WORLD THREATS ASSESSMENT
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee concluded open and closed hearings
to examine worldwide threats to national security, focusing on traditional and
unconventional threats, including proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction, state-sponsored terrorism, and non-state terrorists, after
receiving testimony from George J. Tenet, Director, Central Intelligence
Agency; Vice Adm. Thomas R. Wilson, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency,
Department of Defense; and J. Stapleton Roy, Assistant Secretary of State for
Intelligence and Research.
[Page: D48]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/02/03
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 3, 2000; pages D51 - D56
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
LOAN GUARANTEES AND RURAL TELEVISION SERVICE
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the proposed loan guarantee program, focusing on rural
satellite and cable system delivery of local broadcast stations to viewers not
having access to local television stations, and the digital divide, focusing
on the disparity of access to the Internet in rural areas, after receiving
testimony from Christopher A. McLean, Acting Administrator, Rural Utilities
Service, Department of Agriculture; Gregory L. Rhode, Assistant Secretary of
Commerce for Communications and Information, National Telecommunications and
Information Administration; James C. May, National Association of
Broadcasters, Washington, D.C.; David E. Parkhill, Hamilton County Telephone
Cooperative, Dahlgren, Illinois, on behalf of the National Rural
Telecommunications Cooperative; John Hutchison, LTVS, Inc., Raleigh, North
Carolina; and Stephen J. Jay, Indiana University School of Medicine,
Indianapolis.
NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL POLICY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government
concluded oversight hearings on the Office of National Drug Control Policy
Anti-Drug Media Campaign, after receiving testimony from Alan Levitt,
Director, National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, Office Of National Drug
Control Policy; and Peggy Conlon, The Advertising Council, Inc., and Richard
D. Bonnette, Partnership for a Drug Free America, both of New York, New York.
WORLDWIDE THREATS ASSESSMENT
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed hearings to
examine worldwide threats to national security, focusing on traditional and
unconventional threats, including proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction, state-sponsored terrorism, and non-state terrorists, after
receiving testimony from George J. Tenet, Director, Central Intelligence
Agency; and Vice Adm. Thomas R. Wilson, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency.
FAA MODERNIZATION
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded joint hearings with the Committee
on Appropriation's Subcommittee on Transportation to examine Federal Aviation
Administration modernization, focusing on the safety, performance, and funding
of the National Airspace System, after receiving testimony from Kenneth M.
Mead, Inspector General, and Jane F. Garvey, Administrator, Federal Aviation
Administration, both of the Department of Transportation; Robert W. Baker,
American Airlines, Inc., Fort Worth, Texas; John W. Crichton, NAV Canada,
Ottawa; and Robert W. Poole, Jr., Reason Public Policy Institute, Los Angeles,
California.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Eric D. Eberhard, of Washington, to be a Member of the Board of
Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship & Excellence in National
Environmental Policy Foundation, and W. Michael McCabe, of Pennsylvania, to be
Deputy Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. McCabe was
introduced by Senator Biden.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of
George L. Farr, of Connecticut, Charles L. Kolbe, of Iowa, Nancy Killefer, of
the District of Columbia, Larry L. Levitan, of Maryland, Steve H. Nickles, of
North Carolina, Robert M. Tobias, of Maryland, and Karen Hastie Williams, of
the District of Columbia, each to be a Member of the Internal Revenue Service
Oversight Board, Department of the Treasury, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Kolbe was introduced by Sen.
Grassley.
ADVANCEMENT OF FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Oversight
concluded hearings on the report of the Commission on the Advancement of
Federal Law Enforcement, focusing on the integration of issues to strengthen
the law enforcement fabric of the Federal Government while protecting
democracy and the rights of individual citizens, after receiving testimony
from William H. Webster, former Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
Department of Justice, Robert E. Sanders, former Assistant Director, Criminal
Investigations, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Department of the
Treasury, Robert M. Stewart, South Carolina State Law Enforcement Division,
Columbia, Donald C. Dahlin, University of South Dakota, Vermillion, and
Gilbert G. Gallegos, Fraternal Order of Police, Washington, D.C., all on
behalf of the Commission on the Advancement of Federal Law Enforcement.
[Page: D53]
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence
community.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/02/07
Daily Digest - Monday, February 7, 2000; pages D57 - D60
Committee Meetings
There were no committee meetings today.
[Page: D58]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/02/08
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 8, 2000; pages D61 - D66
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
DAIRY POLICY
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee held hearings to
examine the United States dairy policy and programs, focusing on the Federal
Milk Marketing Order, Northeast Dairy Compact, Dairy Export Incentive Program,
and S. 1930, to amend the Agricultural Adjustment Act to provide for the
termination of milk marketing orders, receiving testimony from Senators
Specter, Jeffords, Kohl, Wellstone, Feingold, and Grams; Representatives Kind,
Mark Green, and Ryan; Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thompson, Madison; Nathan L.
Rudgers, New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, Albany; Keith
Collins, Chief Economist, Department of Agriculture; Gregg L. Engles, Suiza
Foods Corporation, Dallas, Texas; Martin Yoder, Indiana Professional Dairy
Producers, Middlebury; John J. Wilson, Dairy Farmers of America, Inc., Kansas
City, Missouri; Dennis Vander Stelt, Kuna, Idaho, on behalf of the Western
States Dairy Producers Trade Association and the Idaho Dairymen's Association,
Inc.; Gordon Hoover, Gap, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the National Milk
Producers Federation; Richard Gorder, Mineral Point, Wisconsin, on behalf of
the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation; and Wayne Bok, Geddes, South Dakota, on
behalf of the Associated Milk Producers, Inc.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
[Page: D62]
SUICIDE AWARENESS AND PREVENTION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education concluded hearings on suicide awareness and prevention issues,
after receiving testimony from David Satcher, Surgeon General/Assistant
Secretary for Health, Susan Blumenthal, Assistant Surgeon General/Senior
Science Advisor, Office of Public Health and Science, and Steven E. Hyman,
Director, National Institute of Mental Health, National Institutes of Health,
all of the Department of Health and Human Services; John Mann, American
Foundation for Suicide Prevention, New York, New York; John Fildes, University
of Nevada School of Medicine Trauma Institute, Las Vegas; Kay Redfield
Jamison, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.; Jade Smalls,
Evanston, Illinois; and Danielle Steel, San Francisco, California.
APPROPRIATIONS--JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE/CBO
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch concluded
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Joint
Economic Committee, and the Congressional Budget Office, after receiving
testimony from Representative Saxton; and Dan L. Crippen, Director, and Barry
B. Anderson, Deputy Director, both of the Congressional Budget Office.
DEFENSE BUDGET
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the President's
proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Defense,
after receiving testimony from William S. Cohen, Secretary of Defense; Gen.
Henry H. Shelton, USA, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and William J. Lynn,
III, Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller).
INTERNATIONAL MONETARY STABILITY ACT
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic
Policy concluded hearings on S. 1879, to promote international monetary
stability and to share seigniorage with officially dollarized countries, after
receiving testimony from Edwin M. Truman, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
for International Affairs.
2001 BUDGET
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings on the President's
proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001, focusing on education programs
and tax provisions, after receiving testimony from Richard W. Riley, Secretary
of Education; and Stuart E. Eizenstat, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury.
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings on the President's proposed
budget request for fiscal year 2001 and related tax proposals, receiving
testimony from Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary of the Treasury; and Silva
Mathews, Deputy Director, Office of Management and Budget.
Committee recessed subject to call.
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001 for foreign
assistance and to review U.S. foreign policy around the world, after receiving
testimony from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State.
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.
MEDICARE REFORM: PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings on certain provisions
of S. 1895, to amend the Social Security Act to preserve and improve the
medicare program, focusing on its overall restructuring plan, and prescription
drug coverage, after receiving testimony from Senator Frist; David M. Walker,
Comptroller General of the United States, General Accounting Office; Gail R.
Wilensky, Project HOPE, Bethesda, Maryland; Stephen L. Goeser, Myrtue Memorial
Hospital, Harlan, Iowa; Beatrice Braun, Springhill, Florida, on behalf of the
American Association of Retired Persons; Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., Eli Lilly
and Company, Indianapolis, Indiana; and Deborah Steelman, Steelman Health
Strategies, Washington, D.C.
[Page: D63]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/02/09
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 9, 2000; pages D68 - D74
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
FEDERAL DAIRY POLICY
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine United States dairy policy and programs, focusing on the
Federal Milk Marketing Order, Northeast Dairy Compact, and Dairy Export
Incentive Program, after receiving testimony from Kenneth C. Clayton,
Associate Administrator, Agricultural Marketing Service, Department of
Agriculture; Arthur S. Jaeger, Consumer Federation of America, and John E.
Frydenlund, Center for International Food and Agriculture Policy, on behalf of
the Citizens Against Government Waste, both of Washington, D.C.; Mark Furth,
Associated Milk Producers, Inc., New Ulm, Minnesota; James Tillison, Alliance
of Western Milk Producers, Sacramento, California; Larry J. Jensen, Leprino
Foods, Denver, Colorado, on behalf of the International Dairy Foods
Association; Dennis Meyer, Bernard, Iowa, on behalf of the Family Dairies USA;
Clark W. Hinsdale, III, Vermont Farm Bureau, Inc., Richmond, on behalf of the
American Farm Bureau Federation; John Neal Scarlett, New Market, Tennessee, on
behalf of the South East Dairy Farmers Association; Will Hughes, University of
Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives, Madison; Eugene Paul, National Farmers
Organization, Ames, Iowa; and Bill Brey, Wisconsin Farmers Union, Sturgeon
Bay, on behalf of the National Farmers Union; and James Vanblarcom, Colombia
Cross Roads, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau's State
Dairy Committee.
LOAN GUARANTEES AND RURAL TELEVISION SERVICE
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
to examine the proposed Federal loan guarantees for rural television service,
focusing on rural satellite and cable system delivery of local broadcast
stations to viewers not having access to local television stations, and the
digital divide, and the disparity of access to the Internet in rural areas,
after receiving testimony from Senators Burns, Hutchinson, Thomas, and
Lincoln; and Dan L. Crippen, Director, Congressional Budget Office.
2001 BUDGET
Committee on the Budget: Committee continued hearings on the President's
proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001, focusing on budget surpluses and
debt reduction issues, receiving testimony from Jacob J. Lew, Director, Office
of Management and Budget.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
AUTHORIZATION--FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Consumer
Affairs, Foreign Commerce, and Tourism concluded hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for the Federal Trade Commission, after
receiving testimony from Robert Pitofsky, Chairman, Federal Trade Commission;
Howard Adler, Jr., Baker and McKenzie, on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce, Albert A. Foer, American Antitrust Institute, and Deirdre Mulligan,
Center for Democracy and Technology, all of Washington, D.C.; Stephen D.
Bolerjack, Ford Motor D70Company, Dearborn, Michigan, on behalf of the
National Association of Manufacturers; Daniel Jaye, Engage Technologies, Inc.,
Andover, Massachusetts; and Vermont Attorney General William H. Sorrell,
Montpelier.
[Page: D70]
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
S. 1653, to reauthorize and amend the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
Establishment Act;
S. 1752, to reauthorize and amend the Coastal Barrier Resources Act, with an
amendment;
S. 1946, to amend the National Environmental Education Act to redesignate that
Act as the "John H. Chafee Environmental Education Act", to establish the John
H. Chafee Memorial Fellowship Program, and to extend the programs under that
Act, with an amendment;
S. 1794, to designate the Federal courthouse at 145 East Simpson Avenue in
Jackson, Wyoming, as the "Clifford P. Hansen Federal Courthouse";
S. 1691, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to authorize programs for predisaster mitigation, to streamline
the administration of disaster relief, to control the Federal costs of
disaster assistance, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 707, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
Assistance Act to authorize a program for predisaster mitigation, to
streamline the administration of disaster relief, to control the Federal costs
of disaster assistance; and,
The nominations of Eric D. Eberhard, of Washington, to be a Member of the
Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in
National Environmental Policy Foundation, and W. Michael McCabe, of
Pennsylvania, to be Deputy Administrator of the Environmental Protection
Agency.
Also, committee approved the following subcommittee name change: Subcommittee
on Fisheries, Wildlife, and Water.
U.S. FOREIGN STRATEGY
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine United
States foreign policy strategy, after receiving testimony from R. James
Woolsey, Shea and Gardner, former Director of Central Intelligence, and Robert
B. Zoellick, former Under Secretary of State, both of Washington, D.C.; and
William J. Perry, Stanford University, Stanford, California, former Secretary
of Defense.
COLLEGE COST
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee held hearings to examine the
rising cost of college tuition and the effectiveness of Government financial
aid, receiving testimony from Jamie Pueschel, United States Student
Association, Washington, D.C.; David W. Breneman, University of Virginia,
Charlottesville; Claire L. Gaudiani, Connecticut College, New London; Caroline
M. Hoxby, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; William F. Massy,
Jackson Hole Higher Education Group, Inc., Jackson, Wyoming; and William E.
Troutt, Rhodes College, Memphis, Tennessee.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT TO THE U.S.
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International Security,
Proliferation and Federal Services concluded hearings to examine the National
Intelligence Estimate on the ballistic missile threat to the United States,
after receiving testimony from Robert D. Walpole, National Intelligence
Officer for Strategic and Nuclear Programs, National Intelligence Council; and
William Schneider, Jr., Hudson Institute, and Joseph Cirincione, Carnegie
Endowment for International Peace, both of Washington, D.C.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence
community.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
[Page: D71]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/02/10
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 10, 2000; pages D75 - D86
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
OVER-THE-COUNTER DERIVATIVES MARKETS
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the findings of the President's Working Group on Financial
Markets' report on Over the Counter Derivatives Markets and the Commodity
Exchange Act, after receiving testimony from Laurence H. Summers, Secretary of
the Treasury; Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System; William J. Rainer, Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading
Commission; Annette L. Nazareth, Director, Division of Market Regulation,
Securities and Exchange Commission; Jerold Solzman, Chicago Mercantile
Exchange, and David P. Brennan, Chicago Board of Trade, both of Chicago,
Illinois; and Daniel Rappaport, New York Mercantile Exchange, Edward J. Rosen,
Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton, on behalf of the Coalition, and Richard
Grove, International Swaps and Derivatives Association, Inc., all of
Washington, D.C.
APPROPRIATIONS--AGRICULTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
and Related Agencies concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for
fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Agriculture, after receiving testimony
from Dan Glickman, Secretary, Richard Rominger, Deputy Secretary, Keith
Collins, Chief Economist, and Stephen B. Dewhurst, Budget Officer, all of the
Department of Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORTATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation concluded hearings
on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of
Transportation, after receiving testimony from Rodney E. Slater, Secretary of
Transportation.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Armed Services: Committee held hearings on proposed legislation
authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Defense and the
future years defense program, receiving testimony from D78Louis Caldera,
Secretary of the Army; Richard Danzig, Secretary of the Navy; and F. Whitten
Peters, Secretary of the Air Force.
[Page: D78]
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
2001 BUDGET: SPECTRUM AUCTIONS
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings on the President's
proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001, focusing on certain provisions
relating to spectrum auctions and their impact on the digital economy, after
receiving testimony from William E. Kennard, Chairman, Federal Communications
Commission; Peter Cramton, University of Maryland, College Park, on behalf of
Market Design, Inc.; Daniel Pegg, Leap Wireless International, Inc., San
Diego, California; Timothy M. Donahue, Nextel Communications, Inc., Reston,
Virginia; Raymond P. Dolan, NextWave Telecom, Inc., Hawthorne, New York; and
Dennis F. Strigl, Bell Atlantic Mobile, Bedminster, New Jersey.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
H.R. 150, to amend the Act popularly known as the Recreation and Public
Purposes Act to authorize disposal of certain public lands or national forest
lands to local education agencies for use for elementary or secondary schools,
including public charter schools, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute;
S. 503, designating certain land in the San Isabel National Forest in the
State of Colorado as the "Spanish Peaks Wilderness", with an amendment;
H.R. 2368, to assist in the resettlement and relocation of the people of
Bikini Atoll by amending the terms of the trust fund established during the
United States administration of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands;
S. 397, to authorize the Secretary of Energy to establish a multiagency
program in support of the Materials Corridor Partnership Initiative to promote
energy efficient, environmentally sound economic development along the border
with Mexico through the research, development, and use of new materials, with
an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 834, to extend the authorization for the National Historic Preservation
Fund, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 1444, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to develop and implement
projects for fish screens, fish passage devices, and other similar measures to
mitigate adverse impacts associated with irrigation system water diversions by
local governmental entities in the States of Oregon, Washington, Montana, and
Idaho, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (As approved by the
committee the substitute amendment incorporated certain provisions of S. 1723,
Senate companion measure.)
S. 1167, to amend the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and
Conservation Act to provide for expanding the scope of the Independent
Scientific Review Panel, with an amendment;
S. 1629, to provide for the exchange of certain land in the State of Oregon,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1343, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain National
Forest land to Elko County, Nevada, for continued use as a cemetery;
S. 408, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey a former Bureau of
Land Management administrative site to the City of Carson City, Nevada, for
use as a senior center;
S. 1218, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to issue to the Landusky
School District, without consideration, a patent for the surface and mineral
estates of certain lots, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1686, to provide for the conveyances of land interests to Chugach Alaska
Corporation to fulfill the intent, purpose, and promise of the Alaska Native
Claims Settlement Act, with an amendment;
H.R. 3090, to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to restore certain
lands to the Elim Native Corporation, in lieu of S. 1702, Senate companion
measure;
S. 1694, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the
reclamation and reuse of water and wastewater in the State of Hawaii, with an
amendment; and
The nomination of Sylvia V. Baca, of New Mexico, to be Assistant Secretary of
the Interior for Land and Minerals Management.
LAND MANAGEMENT BILLS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on S.
1797, to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, to provide for a land
conveyance to the City of Craig, Alaska, S. 1925, to promote environmental
restoration around the Lake Tahoe basin, S. 1664/H.R. 2863, bills to clarify
the legal effect on the United States of the acquisition of a parcel of land
in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in the State of Utah, S. 1665/H.R. 2862,
bills to direct the Secretary of the Interior to release reversionary
interests held by the United States in certain parcels of land in Washington
County, Utah, to facilitate an anticipated land exchange, and S. 1936, to
authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange all or part of
certain administrative sites and other National Forest System land in the
State of Oregon and use the proceeds derived from the sale D79or exchange for
National Forest System purposes, after receiving testimony from Senators Reid
and Feinstein; Representatives Doolittle and Gibbons; Jack Craven, Director of
Lands, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Henri Bisson, Assistant
Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; Mayor Dennis
Watson, Craig, Alaska; Steve Teshara, Lake Tahoe Gaming Alliance, Lake Tahoe,
Nevada, and Rochelle Nason, League to Save Lake Tahoe, South Lake Tahoe,
California, Stan Hansen, Heavenly Ski Resort, Stateline, Nevada, all on behalf
of the Lake Tahoe Transportation and Water Quality Coalition; and Carrie
Whitaker, Bend Metro Park and Recreation District, Bend, Oregon.
[Page: D79]
TRADE NEGOTIATIONS
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to assess the mission of the
World Trade Organization over the past five years, events of last year's
Ministerial Conference in Seattle, and forthcoming trade negotiations,
receiving testimony from Charlene Barshefsky, United States Trade
Representative; Susan S. Westin, Associate Director, International Relations
and Trade Issues, National Security and International Affairs Division,
General Accounting Office; Thomas J. Donohue, United States Chamber of
Commerce, Allen F. Johnson, National Oilseed Processors Association, and
Richard L. Trumka, AFL-CIO, all of Washington, D.C.; and Mark Van Putten,
National Wildlife Federation, Vienna, Virginia.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001 for foreign
assistance programs, and the priorities of the Agency for International
Development, after receiving testimony from Brady Anderson, Administrator,
U.S. Agency for International Development.
RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE ACTIVITIES
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on Russian
intelligence activities directed at the Department of State, after receiving
testimony from David G. Carpenter, Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic
Security.
COLLEGE COST
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
rising cost of college tuition and the effectiveness of Government financial
aid, after receiving testimony from Lawrence E. Galdieux, The College Board,
Washington, D.C.; Michael S. McPherson, Macalester College, Saint Paul,
Minnesota; Jerry S. Davis, USA Group Foundation, Indianapolis, Indiana; Mark
Kantrowitz, FinAid, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Patricia Somers, University
of Missouri, St. Louis.
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.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
measures:
S. 1638, to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
extend the retroactive eligibility dates for financial assistance for higher
education for spouses and dependent children of Federal, State, and local law
enforcement officers who are killed in the line of duty;
S. 671, to amend the Trademark Act of 1946 to provide for the registration and
protection of trademarks used in commerce, in order to carry out provisions of
certain international conventions; and
S. Res. 251, designating March 25, 2000, as "Greek Independence Day: A
National Day of Celebration of Greek and American Democracy."
U.S. BORDER SECURITY
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration concluded hearings to
examine enhancements to United States border security, after receiving
testimony from Senators Gorton and Murray; Diana Dean, Customs Inspector, and
Charles W. Winwood, Assistant Commissioner of Field Operations, both of the
Customs Service, Department of the Treasury; Michael A. Pearson, Executive
Associate Commissioner for Field Operations, and Ryan H. Callister,
Immigration Inspector (Eastport, Idaho), and Ora A. Smith, Immigration
Inspector (Detroit, Michigan), both on behalf of the American Federation of
Government Employees, all of the Immigration and Naturalization Service,
Department of Justice; and Robert E. Lindemann, Detroit Border Patrol Council,
Detroit, Michigan, on behalf of the National Border Patrol Council.
[Page: D80]
Joint Meetings
EAST TIMOR
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Foreign Relations' Subcommittee on East
Asian and Pacific Affairs concluded joint hearings with the House Committee on
International Relations' Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific to examine the
current situation in East Timor, after receiving testimony from Stanley O.
Roth, Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, and C. David
Welch, Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, both of the
Department of State; Charles Costello, Emory University Carter Center,
Atlanta, Georgia; and Andrew MacIntyre, University of California Graduate
School of International Relations and Pacific Studies, San Diego.
2000/02/14
Daily Digest - Monday, February 14, 2000; pages D88 - D90
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
2001 BUDGET
Committee on the Budget: On Friday, February 11, committee continued hearings
on the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001, receiving
testimony from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of State.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/02/15
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 15, 2000; pages D91 - D96
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/02/16
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 16, 2000; pages D97 - D102
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
INTERNET SECURITY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the
Judiciary concluded hearing on internet security issues, focusing on criminal
behavior and significant threats to our national security and economic
security, after receiving testimony from Janet Reno, Attorney General, and
Louis J. Freeh, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, both of the
Department of Justice; Bill Reinsch, Under Secretary of Commerce; Robert
Chestnut, eBay, Inc., San Jose, California; Jeff B. Richards, Internet
Alliance, Washington, D.C.; and Mark D. Rasch, Global Integrity Corporation,
Reston, Virginia.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/02/22
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 22, 2000; pages D103 - D108
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch concluded
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2000, after receiving
testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Senator
Roth, Chairman, Joint Committee on Taxation; James W. Ziglar, Senate Sergeant
at Arms, Wilson Livingood, House Sergeant at Arms, Alan M. Hantman, Architect
of the Capitol, and Gary Abrecht, Chief of Police, all on behalf of the U.S.
Capitol Police Board; James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress; Daniel P.
Mulhollan, Director, Congressional Research Service; and Michael F. DiMario,
Public Printer, Government Printing Office.
FOREST SERVICE'S ROADLESS POLICY
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management D104concluded oversight hearings on the Administration's
memorandum for the Secretary of Agriculture on the protection of forest
roadless area and the Forest Service's actions that are planned in response,
focusing on the review of approximately 40 million acres of national forest
lands for increased protection, after receiving testimony from Michael
Dombeck, Chief, Forest Service, and James R. Lyons, Under Secretary for
Natural Resources and Environment, both of the Department of Agriculture.
[Page: D104]
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN AND CHILDREN TRAFFICKING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian
Affairs concluded hearings to examine the scope of international trafficking
in women and children, and S. 1842, to combat trafficking of persons in the
United States and countries around the world through prevention, prosecution
and enforcement against traffickers, and protection and assistance to victims
of trafficking, after receiving testimony from Frank E. Loy, Under Secretary
for Global Affairs, Teresa Loar, Director, President's Interagency Council on
Women, Harold H. Koh, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and
Labor, and Wendy Chamberlin, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement, all of the Department of State; Laura J.
Lederer, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government, Gary A. Haugen,
International Justice Mission, and Regan E. Ralph, Human Rights Watch, all of
Washington, D.C.; and a protected witness.
EAST ASIA
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
concluded hearings to examine U.S. foreign policy priorities and challenges
likely to emerge in East Asia in the year 2000, focusing on economic recovery
and political stability, after receiving testimony from Stanley O. Roth,
Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of
Randolph D. Moss, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Office of
Legal Counsel, Julio M. Fuentes, of New Jersey, to be United States Circuit
Judge for the Third Circuit, and James D. Whittemore, to be United States
District Judge for the Middle District of Florida, all of the Department of
Justice, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own
behalf. Mr. Fuentes was introduced by Senators Torricelli and Lautenberg, and
Mr. Whittemore was introduced by Senators Mack and Graham.
MEDICAL ERRORS
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee held joint
hearings with Committee on Appropriations' Subcommittee on Labor, Health and
Human Services, and Education to examine the Administration's and certain
industries' responses to the Institute of Medicine's report on medical errors,
focusing patient safety issues, receiving testimony from John M. Eisenberg,
Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of Health and
Human Services; Thomas L. Garthwaite, Deputy Under Secretary of Veterans
Affairs for Health; I. Steven Udvarhelyi, Independence Blue Cross,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the American Association of Health
Plans; Thomas R. Russell, American College of Surgeons, Washington, D.C.;
Dennis S. O'Leary, Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations, Oakbrook Terrace, Illinois; and Arnold S. Relman, Harvard
University Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, on behalf of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
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.
U.S. ASSISTANCE TO THE ANDEAN REGION
United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control: Committee
concluded joint hearings with the Committee on Finance's Subcommittee on
International Trade to examine U.S. assistance options in support of the
Andean Region anti-narcotic efforts, focusing on Plan Columbia and the Andean
Trade Preference Act, after receiving testimony from Barry R. McCaffrey,
Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy; Thomas R. Pickering, Under
Secretary of State for Political Affairs; Richard W. Fisher, Deputy United
States Trade Representative; and Gen. Charles Wilhelm, Commander in Chief,
U.S. Southern Command.
[Page: D105]
Joint Meetings
RUSSIA RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): On
Thursday, February 17, commission concluded hearings to examine the current
status of religious liberty in Russia, focusing on minority religious group
harassment, after receiving testimony from Robert Seiple, Ambassador-at-Large
for International Religious Freedom, Department of State; Anatoly Krasikov,
International Religious Liberty Association, Moscow, Russia; Pastor Igor
Nikitin, Union of Christians, St. Petersburg, Russia; Rabbi Levi Shemtov,
American Friends of Lubavitch, Washington, D.C.; and Father Leonid Kishkovsky,
Seacliff, New Jersey.
2000/02/23
Daily Digest - Wednesday, February 23, 2000; pages D110 - D114
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
WATER QUALITY
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings on water quality as it pertains to agriculture and forestry, and
related provisions of S. 2041, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control
Act to exempt discharges from certain silvicultural activities from permit
requirements of the national pollutant discharge elimination system, focusing
on the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed regulations with regard to
the Total Maximum Daily Load program and the National Pollutant Discharge
Elimination System Program, after receiving testimony from Senator Thomas;
Carol Browner, Administrator, and J. Charles Fox, Associate Administrator for
Reinvention, both of the Environmental Protection Agency; Dan Glickman,
Secretary, Richard Rominger, Deputy Secretary, and James Lyons, Under
Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, all of the Department of
Agriculture; James A. Kraft, Plum Creek Timber Company, Seattle, Washington,
on behalf of the American Forest and Paper Association; Paul Johnson, Iowa
Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines; Roberta H. Savage, Association of
State and Interstate Water Pollution Control Administrators, Washington, D.C.;
Robert W. Adler, University of Utah College of Law, Salt Lake City; and John
Barrett, Edroy, Texas, on behalf of the Texas Coastal Coordination Council and
the Management Committee of the Gulf of Mexico Program.
[Page: D111]
KOSOVO
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded closed hearings to examine
the situation in Kosovo, after receiving testimony from Walter B. Slocombe,
Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; and Vice Adm. Scott A. Fry, USN,
Director, Operations Directorate, and Rear Adm. Lowell E. Jacoby, USN,
Director, Intelligence Directorate, both of the Office of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff.
MONETARY POLICY REPORT
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the Monetary Policy Report to Congress pursuant to the Full Employment and
Balanced Growth Act of 1978, after receiving testimony from Alan Greenspan,
Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
AMTRAK
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Surface
Transportation and Merchant Marine concluded oversight hearings on the
financial outlook of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak),
focusing on the findings of the Amtrak Reform Council report, after receiving
testimony from Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General, Department of
Transportation; Wisconsin Governor Tommy G. Thompson, Madison, on behalf of
the Amtrak Reform Board; Gilbert E. Carmichael, Amtrak Reform Council, and
William W. Millar, American Public Transportation Association, both of
Washington, D.C.; and Catherine L. Ross, Georgia Regional Transportation
Authority, Atlanta.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
H.R. 2862, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to release reversionary
interests held by the United States in certain parcels of land in Washington
County, Utah, to facilitate an anticipated land exchange;
H.R. 2863, to clarify the legal effect on the United States of the acquisition
of a parcel of land in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve in the State of Utah; and
S. 1936, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to sell or exchange all or
part of certain administrative sites and other National Forest System land in
the State of Oregon and use the proceeds derived from the sale or exchange for
National Forest System purposes, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
Also, 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 2001, and agreed on recommendations it will make thereon to the
Committee on the Budget.
WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management held oversight hearings on the progress on revisions of the
White River National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan, focusing on
biological diversity, recreation, travel management, roadless area,
management, special areas, and timber harvest, receiving testimony from
Senator Allard; Lyle Laverty, Regional Forester, Rocky Mountain Region, Forest
Service, Department of Agriculture; Randy Parsons, White River Forest
Alliance, and Beverly Compton, Aspen Wilderness Workshop, both of Carbondale,
Colorado; John Swartout, Colorado Governor's Policy and Initiatives Office,
and Jerry Abboud, Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition, both of Denver; Stan
Broome, Club 20, Grand Junction, Colorado; Tom C. Stone, Eagle County Board of
Commissioners, Eagle County, Colorado; Gary J. Severson, Northwest Colorado
Council of Governments, Silverthorne; Andy Daly, Vail Resorts, Inc., Vail,
Colorado; Vera Smith, Colorado Mountain Club, Golden; and Dorothea Farris,
Pitkin County Commission, Aspen, Colorado.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
EPA BUDGET
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded oversight
hearings on the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001 for
the Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from Carol M.
Browner, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency, who was accompanied
by several of her associates.
CHINA WTO ACCESSION
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings on the U.S.-China Bilateral
Trade Agreement on China's accession to the World Trade Organization,
receiving testimony from Charlene Barshefsky, United States Trade
Representative; Steve Van Andel, Amway Corporation, Ada, Michigan, on behalf
of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce; William D. Ellis, Southern Mills, Inc., Union
City, Georgia, on behalf of the American Textile Manufacturers Institute;
Christopher B. Galvin, Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, Illinois; and Jeffrey M.
Swain, Townsends, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware, on behalf of the National
Chicken Council and the USA Poultry and Egg Export Council.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
[Page: D112]
UNBORN VICTIMS OF VIOLENCE
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings on S. 1673, to amend
titles 10 and 18, United States Code, to protect unborn victims of violence,
receiving testimony from Representative Graham; Eleanor D. Acheson, Assistant
Attorney General, Office of Policy Development, Department of Justice; Gerard
V. Bradley, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Indiana; Ronald H. Weich,
Zuckerman, Spaeder, Goldstein, Taylor and Kolker, and Juley A. Fulcher,
National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, both of Washington, D.C.; Lt.
Col. Michael J. Davidson, USA, Army Judge Advocate, Third U.S. Army, Fort
McPherson, Georgia; Shiwona Pace, Little Rock, Arkansas; William Croston,
Charlotte, North Carolina; and Joseph P. Daly, Middletown, Ohio.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
INDIAN PROGRAMS BUDGET
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the President's
proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001 for Indian programs, focusing on
health care, housing, education, government, and law enforcement, after
receiving testimony from Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for
Indian Affairs; Michel E. Lincoln, Deputy Director, Indian Health Service,
Department of Health and Human Services; Jacqueline Johnson, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Native American Programs;
Michael Cohen, Assistant Secretary of Education for Elementary and Secondary
Education; Jonathan M. Orszag, Assistant to the Secretary and Director, Policy
and Strategic Planning, Department of Commerce; Mark C. Van Norman, Director,
Office of Tribal Justice, Department of Justice; Susan Masten, National
Congress of American Indians, and Christopher D. Boesen, National American
Indian Housing Council, both of Washington, D.C.; Julia Davis, Northwest
Portland Area Indian Health Board, Portland, Oregon; John W. Cheek, National
Indian Education Association, Alexandria, Virginia; and Eddie F. Brown,
Washington University George Warren Brown School of Social Work, St. Louis,
Missouri.
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
CYBER-THREATS AND THE U.S. ECONOMY
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the threat
of cyber-terrorism and hackers to both the United States high-tech
infrastructure and private sector, after receiving testimony from Vinton G.
Cerf, MCI WorldCom, Ashburn, Virginia, on behalf of the Information Technology
Association of America; Roger C. Molander, RAND, and Daniel T. Kuehl, National
Defense University School of Information Warfare and Strategy, both of
Washington, D.C.; Stephen E. Cross, Carnegie Mellon University Software
Engineering Institute, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Fred Cohen, Sandia National
Laboratories, Livermore, California; and Mark Graff, Sun Microsystems, Palo
Alto, California.
2000/02/24
Daily Digest - Thursday, February 24, 2000; pages D116 - D124
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORTATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related
Agencies concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001
for the Department of Transportation, focusing on safety initiatives, after
receiving testimony from Vice Adm. James C. Card, Commandant, United States
Coast Guard, Rosalyn G. Millman, Acting Administrator, National Highway
Traffic Safety Administration, Kelley S. Coyner, Administrator, Research and
Special Programs Administration, and Jolene M. Molitoris, Administrator,
Federal Railroad Administration, all of the Department of Transportation.
COLUMBIA SUPPLEMENTAL REQUEST
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittees on Foreign Operations, Defense, and
Military Construction concluded joint hearings on a proposed supplemental
request to assist the Government of Columbia in its counter-narcotics efforts,
after receiving testimony from Thomas R. Pickering, Under Secretary of State
for Political Affairs; Gen. Charles Wilhelm, Commander in Chief, U.S. Southern
Command; Luis A. Moreno, Colombian Ambassador to the United States; Oswaldo
Antezana, Bolivia Minister of Agriculture, La Paz; Ramon Jimenez, Ecuador
Attorney General, Quito; and Robin Kirk, Human Rights Watch, New York, New
York.
APPROPRIATIONS--COMMERCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the
Judiciary concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001
for the Department of Commerce, after receiving testimony from William M.
Daley, Secretary of Commerce.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on recruiting and
retention practices, after receiving testimony from Alphonso Maldon, Jr.,
Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management Policy; Lt. Gen. David H.
Ohle, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel; Vice Adm. Norbert R. Ryan Jr.,
USN, Chief of Naval Personnel; Lt. Gen. Jack W. Klimp, USMC, Deputy Chief of
Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Lt. Gen. Donald L. Peterson, USAF,
Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel; Maj. Gen. Evan R. Gaddis, USA, Commander,
United States Army Recruiting Command; Rear Adm. Barbara E. McGann, USN,
Commander, United States Navy Recruiting Command; Maj. Gen. Garry L. Parks,
USMC, Commander, United States Marine Corps Recruiting Command; and Brig. Gen.
Peter U. Sutton, USAF, Commander, United States Air Force Recruiting Service.
HUD COMMUNITY BUILDERS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and
Transportation concluded oversight hearings on the implementation of HUD's
Community Builders' Program, focusing on hiring procedures and practices,
after receiving testimony from Senator Bond; Saul Ramirez, Deputy Secretary,
D. Michael Beard, District Inspector General for Audit, Southwest District,
and Irene H. Facha, Regional Vice President for the Mid-Atlantic, HUD Council
of Locals 222, on behalf of the American Federation of Government Employees,
all of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the nominations of Kathryn Shaw, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the
Council of Economic Advisers, and Jay Johnson, of Wisconsin, to be Director of
the Mint, Department of the Treasury, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Johnson was introduced by Senators
Kohl and Feingold.
FUEL PRICES
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine energy supply and demand issues relating to crude oil, heating oil,
and transportation fuels in light of recent price escalations, after receiving
testimony from John Cook, Petroleum Division Director, Energy Information
Administration, Department of Energy; James R. Schlesinger, Lehman Brothers,
and Jerry Jordan, Independent Petroleum Association of America, both of
Washington, D.C.; Adam E. Sieminski, Deutsche Bank Alex. Brown, Baltimore,
Maryland; Walter B. McCormick, Jr., American Trucking Associations,
Alexandria, Virginia; Gordon Regan, AmeriGas Propane, Inc., Valley Forge,
Pennsylvania, on behalf of the National Propane Gas Association; F. William
Valentino, New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Albany;
and Gary D. Lauderdale, Houston, Texas, on behalf of the Transcontinental Gas
Pipe Line Corporation.
[Page: D118]
MINERAL LEASING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management held hearings on S. 1722 and H.R. 3063, bills to amend the
Mineral Leasing Act to increase the maximum acreage of Federal leases for
sodium that may be held by an entity in any one State, and S. 1950, to amend
the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to ensure the orderly development of coal,
coalbed methane, natural gas, and oil in the Powder River Basin, Wyoming and
Montana, receiving testimony from Senator Enzi; John Northington, Senior
Advisor to the Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the
Interior; Terry O'Connor, Arch Coal, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri, on behalf of
the National Mining Association; Vernon A. Isaacs, Jr., Rim Operating, Inc.,
Denver, Colorado, on behalf of the Independent Petroleum Association of
Mountain States; Robert Ugland, Wyoming Business Council, Cheyenne; Thomas A.
Dugan, Dugan Production Corporation, Farmington, New Mexico, on behalf of the
Independent Petroleum Association of America and the Independent Petroleum
Association of New Mexico; Byron F. Oedekoven, Gillette, Wyoming, on behalf of
the Coalbed Methane Ad Hoc Committee; John M. Corra, FMC Wyoming Corporation,
Green River, on behalf of the Wyoming Mining Association and the Wyoming Soda
Ash Producers; and Douglas D. Gardner, American Natural Soda Ash Corporation,
West Point, Connecticut.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS BUDGET
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Transportation and
Infrastructure concluded hearings on the President's proposed budget request
for fiscal year 2001 for the Army Corps of Engineers, focusing on the Civil
Works Program, after receiving testimony from Joseph W. Westphal, Assistant
Secretary of the Army for Civil Works, and Lt. Gen. Joe N. Ballard, Chief of
Engineers and Commanding Officer, both of the Army Corps of Engineers.
MEDICARE REFORM
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine Medicare reform
proposals, focusing on cost containment and expanded benefits, including S.
1895, to amend the Social Security Act to preserve and improve the Medicare
program, receiving testimony from David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the
United States, General Accounting Office; and Robert D. Reischauer, Urban
Institute, Beatrice Braun, on behalf of the American Association of Retired
Persons, Robert R. Waller, on behalf of The Healthcare Leadership Council, and
Robert L. Bixby, on behalf of the Concord Coalition, all of Washington, D.C.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
AFRICA AIDS CRISIS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on African Affairs concluded
hearings to examine the AIDS epidemic in Africa, and a related measure, S.
2026, to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize appropriations
for HIV/AIDS efforts, after receiving testimony from Senators Kerry, Boxer,
and Durbin; David Satcher, Surgeon General and Assistant Secretary of Health
and Human Services for Health; Sandra L. Thurman, Director, Office of National
AIDS Policy; Jeffrey Sachs, Harvard University Institute for International
Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Harvey E. Bale, Jr., International
Federation of Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associations, Geneva, Switzerland;
Father Angelo D'Agostino, Nyumbani Orphanage, Nairobi, Kenya; and Rev.
Franklin Graham, Samaritan's Purse, Boone, North Carolina
DAY TRADING
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
held hearings to examine the practices of the day trading industry and its
risks to investors, receiving testimony from Deborah M. Field, Counsel,
Division of Enforcement, Securities and Exchange Commission; Huan Van Cao,
Providential Securities, Fountain Valley, California; Fred Zayas, Watertown,
Massachusetts, and Barry Parish, San Diego, California, both of All-Tech
Direct; Justin Hoehn, Momentum Securities, Atlanta, Georgia; Alyce Wenzel,
Huntley, Illinois; Steve Buchwalter, Encino, California; Carmen Margala,
Oceanside, California; and Sandra Harlacher, San Diego, California.
Hearings will continue tomorrow.
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, February 29.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported S. 2042, to
reform the process by which the Office of the Pardon Attorney investigates and
reviews potential exercises of executive clemency, with amendments.
SBA BUDGET
Committee on Small Business: Committee concluded hearings on the President's
proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001 for the Small Business
Administration, after receiving testimony from Aida Alvarez, Administrator,
Small Business Administration.
[Page: D119]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/02/28
Daily Digest - Monday, February 28, 2000; pages D126 - D130
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Armed Services: On Friday, February 25, Subcommittee on Strategic
concluded open and closed hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds
for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Defense and the Future Years
Defense Program, focusing on the Department of Energy's National Nuclear
Security programs, after receiving testimony from Rose E. Gottemoeller,
Assistant Secretary for Nonproliferation and National Security, Laura S. H.
D127Holgate, Director, Office of Fissile Materials Disposition, and Brig. Gen.
Thomas F. Gioconda, USAF, Acting Assistant Secretary for Defense Programs, all
of the Department of Energy; and Adm. Frank L. Bowman, USN, Director, Naval
Nuclear Propulsion Program.
[Page: D127]
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on Ballistic Missile
Defense programs, after receiving testimony from Lt. Gen. Ronald T. Kadish,
USAF, Director, and Maj. Gen. Willie B. Nance, Jr., USA, National Missile
Defense Program Manager, both of the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.
EXPORT CONTROLS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine national
security implications of export controls and related provisions of S. 1712, to
provide authority to control exports, after receiving testimony from Senators
Enzi and Johnson; and John J. Hamre, Deputy Secretary, and James Bodner,
Principle Deputy Under Secretary for Policy, both of the Department of
Defense.
ANTI-DRUG ASSISTANCE TO COLOMBIA
Committee on Foreign Relations: On Friday, February 25, Subcommittee on
Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, Narcotics and Terrorism concluded hearings on
proposed emergency anti-drug assistance to Colombia, after receiving testimony
from R. Rand Beers, Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau for International
Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; Brian E. Sheridan, Assistant Secretary
of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict; William E.
Ledwith, Chief of International Operations, Drug Enforcement Administration,
Department of Justice; and Jose Miguel Vivanco, Human Rights Watch, and
Michael Skol, Skol and Associates, both of Washington, D.C.
DAY TRADING
Committee on Governmental Affairs: On Friday, February 25, Permanent
Subcommittee on Investigations concluded hearings to examine the practices of
the day trading industry and its risks to investors, after receiving testimony
from Lori A. Richards, Director, Office of Compliance Inspections and
Examinations, United States Securities and Exchange Commission; Deborah R.
Bortner, Washington State Department of Financial Institutions, Olympia; Barry
R. Goldsmith, National Association of Securities Dealers Regulation, Inc.,
Washington, D.C.; Harvey I. Houtkin, All-Tech Direct, Montvale, New Jersey;
Henry D. Fahman, Providential Securities, Fountain Valley, California; and
James H. Lee, TRADESCAPE.com Securities, LLC, (Momentum Securities), Houston,
Texas.
[Page: D128]
Joint Meetings
KOSOVO'S DISPLACED AND IMPRISONED
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded
hearings to examine the plight of Kosovo's displaced and imprisoned civilians,
after receiving testimony from John Menzies, Deputy Special Advisor to the
President and Secretary of State for Kosovo Implementation, Department of
State; Bill Frelick, Director of Policy, United States Committee for Refugees,
Susan Blaustein, International Crisis Group, and Ylber Bajraktari, Kosovo
Political Analyst, all of Washington, D.C.; His Grace Artemije, Serbian
Orthodox Bishop of Prizren and Raska, Gracanica, Kosovo; and Andrzej Mirga,
Council of Europe Specialists Group on Roma and Project on Ethnic Relations
Romani Advisory Board, New Brunswick, New Jersey.
2000/02/29
Daily Digest - Tuesday, February 29, 2000; pages D132 - D140
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--AGRICULTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
and Related Agencies concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for
fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Agriculture, focusing on assistance to
producers and the farm economy, after receiving testimony from August
Schumacher, Jr., Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services,
and Keith Collins, Chief Economist, both of the Department of Agriculture.
APPROPRIATIONS--JUSTICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the
Judiciary concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001
for the Department of Justice, after receiving testimony from Janet Reno,
Attorney General, Department of Justice.
APPROPRIATIONS--LABOR/HHS/EDUCATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
2001, receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities
from Alexis M. Herman, Secretary of Labor; Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of
Health and Human Services; and Richard W. Riley, Secretary of Education.
APPROPRIATIONS--ARCHITECT/GAO/OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch concluded
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001, receiving
testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Alan M.
Hantman, Architect of the Capitol; David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the
United States, General Accounting Office; and Ricky Silberman, Executive
Director, Office of Compliance.
APPROPRIATIONS--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction concluded
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for Navy and
Defense Agencies military construction programs, after receiving testimony
from Robert B. Pirie, Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Installations and
Environment), Lt. Gen. Norton A. Schwartz, USAF, Deputy Commander in Chief,
United States Special Operations Command, Marshall H. Bailey, Director of
Support Services, Defense Logistics Agency, Ray Tolleson, Acting Director,
Education Activity, and Diana Tabler, Deputy Executive Director, TRICARE
Management Activity, all of the Department of Defense.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of
Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on military strategy
and operational requirements of the unified commands, after receiving
testimony from Gen. Wesley K. Clark, USA, Commander-in-Chief, United States
European Command; and Gen. Anthony C. Zinni, Commander-in-Chief, United States
Central Command.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the future years defense program, focusing on the Department of
Energy's Office of Environmental Management, after receiving testimony from
Carolyn L. Huntoon, Assistant Secretary of Energy for Environmental
Management.
FOREST SERVICE BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on the
President's proposed budget requests for fiscal year 2001, focusing on the
U.S. Forest Service, after receiving testimony from James Lyons, Under
Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and Mike Dombeck, Chief,
Forest Service, both of the Department of Agriculture.
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on the President's
proposed budget estimate for fiscal year 2001 for the operation of the
National Park Service system, after receiving testimony from Denis P. Galvin,
Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior.
MEDICARE REFORM
Committee on Finance: Committee resumed hearings on certain Medicare reform
proposals, focusing on D134beneficiary premiums and the competitive
implications of health plan pricing rules, receiving testimony from Madeleine
Smith, Specialist in Social Legislation, Congressional Research Service; Mark
McClellan, Stanford University, Stanford, California; Jeff Lemieux,
Progressive Policy Institute, Len M. Nichols, Urban Institute, and Karen
Ignagni, American Association of Health Plans, all of Washington, D.C.; and
Keith Mueller, Nebraska Center for Rural Health Research, Omaha.
[Page: D134]
Hearings recessed subject to call.
MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANK REFORM
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on multilateral
development bank reform proposals, focusing on the future of the International
Monetary Fund and International Financial Institutions, after receiving
testimony from Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary of the Treasury; and George P.
Shultz, Stanford University Hoover Institute, Stanford, California, former
Secretary of State/former Secretary of the Treasury.
AOL/TIME WARNER MERGER
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee held hearings to examine the proposed
AOL/Time Warner merger, and its effects on competition and consumer choice in
broadband Internet services and technologies, receiving testimony from Stephen
M. Case, America Online, Inc., Dulles, Virginia; and Gerald M. Levin, Time
Warner, Inc., New York, New York.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
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 2001, and agreed on recommendations it will
make thereon to the Committee on the Budget.
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.
[Page: D135]
Joint Meetings
INTERNET DENIAL OF SERVICE ATTACKS
Joint Hearing: Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on Criminal Justice
Oversight concluded joint hearings with the House Committee on the Judiciary's
Subcommittee on Crime to examine recent Internet denial of service attacks and
the federal response, focusing on the challenges facing the Department of
Justice in its fight against cybercrime, after receiving testimony from Eric
Holder, Deputy Attorney General, Michael Vatis, Director, National
Infrastructure Protection Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation, both of the
Department of Justice; Howard Schmidt, Microsoft Corporation, Redmond,
Washington; Charles Giancarlo, Cisco Systems Incorporated, San Jose,
California; Paul Misener, Amazon.com, Seattle, Washington; Dan Rosensweig,
ZDNet.com, New York, New York; Katherine T. Fithen, Software Engineering
Institute CERT Coordination Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; James X.
Dempsey, Center for Democracy and Technology, Washington, D.C.; Samuel A.
Guiberson, Houston, Texas; and "Mudge", @stake, Inc., Cambridge,
Massachusetts.
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House passed
versions of S. 761, to regulate interstate commerce by electronic means by
permitting and encouraging the continued expansion of electronic commerce
through the operation of free market forces, but did not complete action
thereon, and recessed subject to the call.
2000/03/01
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 1, 2000; pages D142 - D150
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet )
APPROPRIATIONS--NAVY/MARINE CORPS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Defense,
focusing on Navy and Marine Corps programs, after receiving testimony from
Richard Danzig, Secretary of the Navy; Gen. James L. Jones, USMC, Commandant
of the Marine Corps; and Adm. Jay. L. Johnson, USN, Chief of Naval Operations.
APPROPRIATIONS--INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior concluded hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Indian Health Service,
Department of Health and Human Services, after receiving testimony from
Michael H. Trujillo, Assistant Surgeon General, Director, Indian Health
Service, Department of Health and Human Services.
APPROPRIATIONS--FEMA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
Federal Emergency Management Agency, after receiving testimony from James Lee
Witt, Director, Federal Emergency Management Agency.
DEFENSE BUDGET
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of
Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving testimony from
Senator Inhofe; Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, USA, Chief of Staff, United States
Army; Adm. Jay L. Johnson, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; Gen. James L.
Jones, Jr., USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps; and Gen. Michael E. Ryan,
USAF, Chief of Staff, United States Air Force.
DEFENSE BUDGET
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
concluded closed, followed by open hearings, on proposed legislation
authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Defense, focusing
on cyber-security and critical infrastructure protection, after receiving
testimony from Arthur L. Money, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command,
Control, Communications, and Intelligence; Maj. Gen. Thomas B. Goslin, Jr.,
USAF, Director of Operations (J-3), U.S. Space Command; Maj. Gen. John H.
Campbell, USAF, Director, Joint Task Force, Computer Network Defense; Michael
A. Vatis, Deputy Assistant Director and Chief, National Infrastructure
Protection Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice;
Stephen E. Cross, Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Martin C. Faga, MITRE Corporation, McLean,
Virginia.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on the nominations of John Goglia, of Massachusetts, and Carol Jones
Carmody, of Louisiana, each to be a Member of the National Transportation
Safety Board.
INTERNET PROGRAMS BUDGET
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Science,
Technology, and Space concluded hearings on the President's proposed budget
request for fiscal year 2001, for the Next Generation Internet and Large Scale
Networking programs, after receiving testimony from Rita R. Colwell, Director,
National Science Foundation; Neal Lane, Director and Assistant to the
President, Office of Science and Technology Policy; Donald A. B. Lindberg,
Director, National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health,
Department of Health and Human Services; Thomas C. Meredith, University of
Alabama System, Tuscaloosa; Bill Stacy, University of Tennessee, Chattanooga;
and Stephen Tolbert, Global Systems and Strategies, Inc., Vienna, Virginia.
INTERIOR BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on the
President's proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for Department of
the Interior, after receiving testimony from Bruce Babbit, Secretary of the
Interior.
[Page: D144]
CLEAN WATER ACT
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Drinking Water held hearings to examine the Environmental
Protection Agency's proposed rule regarding total maximum daily loads and
National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit programs pursuant to
the Clean Water Act, receiving testimony from J. Charles Fox, Assistant
Administrator for Water, Environmental Protection Agency; Montana Governor
Marc Racicot, Helena; Jamie Clover Adams, Kansas Department of Agriculture,
Topeka, on behalf of the National Association of State Departments of
Agriculture; William Nielsen, Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on behalf of the National
League of Cities; J. David Holm, Colorado Water Quality Control Division,
Denver, on behalf of the Association of State and Interstate Water Pollution
Control Administrators; Warren E. Archey, Massachusetts Bureau of Forestry,
Pittsfield, on behalf of the National Association of State Foresters; and
Richard A. Parrish, Southern Environmental Law Center, Charlottesville,
Virginia.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
CHECHNYA
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
current conflict, focusing on the conduct of the Russian government, and the
implications for the United States, after receiving testimony from Karen
Koning AbuZayd, Regional Representative, United Nations High Commissioner for
Refugees, Thomas A. Dine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Inc., and Peter
Bouckaert, Human Rights Watch, all of Washington, DC.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of N. Cinnamon Dornsife, of the District of Columbia, to be United
States Director of the Asian Development Bank, with the rank of Ambassador,
and Earl Anthony Wayne, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of State for
Economic and Business Affairs.
CUBA'S GOVERNMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings to examine the impact
of Cuba's oppressive government on its citizens and the current plight of
Elian Gonzalez, after receiving testimony from Mel R. Martinez, Orange County,
Florida; Alina Fernandez, Spain; Juan Carlos Formell, Queens, New York;
Marisleysis Gonzalez, and Manual Gonzalez, both of Miami, Florida; Walter
Benda, Children's Rights Council, Max Meadows, Virginia; and K.A. Paul, Global
Peace Initiative, Houston, Texas.
CONTRACTUAL MANDATORY BINDING ARBITRATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the
Courts concluded hearings to examine contractual mandatory binding arbitration
issues, after receiving testimony from Richard D. Holcomb, Virginia Department
of Motor Vehicles, Richmond; Gene N. Fondren, Texas Automobile Dealers
Association, Austin, on behalf of the Automotive Trade Association Executives;
Jill Lajdziak, Saturn Corporation, Troy, Michigan; Jill MacDonald, Alliance of
Automobile Manufacturers, Patricia Sturdevant, National Association of
Consumer Advocates, Eric Mogilnicki, American Bankers Association and Consumer
Bankers Association, and Lawrence Lorber, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, all of
Washington, DC; Lewis Maltby, National Workrights Institute, Inc., Princeton,
New Jersey; and William Shack, Henderson, Nevada.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee met and began
markup of S. 2, to extend programs and activities under the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, but did not complete action thereon, and
recessed subject to call.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to consider
pending intelligence matters.
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
Joint Meetings
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
Joint Meeting: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint hearings
with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs on the legislative
recommendations of the Disabled American Veterans, after receiving testimony
from Michael E. Dobmeier, Disabled American Veterans, Washington, D.C.
2000/03/02
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 2, 2000; pages D151 - D162
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following bills:
S. 345, to amend the Animal Welfare Act to remove the limitation that permits
interstate movement of live birds, for the purpose of fighting, to States in
which animal fighting is lawful; and
An original bill, to amend the Federal Crop Insurance Act to improve crop
insurance coverage, and to provide agricultural producers with choices to
manage risk.
APPROPRIATIONS--DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the
Judiciary concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001
for the Department of State, after receiving testimony from Madeleine K.
Albright, Secretary of State.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on the Defense
Health Program, after receiving testimony from Rudy de Leon, Under Secretary
for Personnel and Readiness, Sue Bailey, Assistant Secretary for Health
Affairs, Robert R. Soule, Director, Program Analysis and Evaluation, and H.
James T. Sears, Executive Director, TRICARE Management Activity, all of the
Department of Defense; Gen. John M. Keane, USA, Vice Chief of Staff; Adm.
Donald L. Pilling, USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations; Gen. Lester L. Lyles,
USAF, Vice Chief of Staff; Gen. Terrence R. Dake, USMC, Assistant Commandant
of the Marine Corps; Lt. Gen. John M. McDuffie, USA, Director for Logistics;
Lt. Gen. Ronald R. Blanck, USA, Army Surgeon General; Vice Adm. Richard A.
Nelson, USN, Medical Corps, Navy Surgeon General; Lt. Gen. Paul K. Carlton,
Jr., USAF, Air Force Surgeon General; CDR Mike Lord, JAGC, USN (Ret.),
Commissioned Officers Association of the United States Public Health Service,
Inc., Landover, Maryland, and Susan Schwartz, National Military Family
Association, Alexandria, Virginia, both on behalf of the Military Coalition;
and Charles C. Patridge, National Association for Uniformed Services,
Springfield, Virginia, and Kristen Pugh, Retired Enlisted Association, Aurora,
Colorado, both on behalf of the National Military/Veterans Alliance.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on SeaPower concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on shipbuilding
procurement and research and development programs, after receiving testimony
from Ronald K. O'Rourke, Specialist in National Defense, Congressional
Research Service, Library of Congress; H. Lee Buchanan, III, Assistant
Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition; Vice Adm.
Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Jr., USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for
Resources, Warfare Requirements, and Assessments; Lt. Gen. John E. Rhodes,
USMC, Commanding General, Marine Corps Combat Development Command; and Rear
Adm. Malcolm I. Fages, USN, Director of Submarine Warfare Division, Office of
Chief of Naval Operations.
[Page: D154]
BUSINESS COMBINATIONS ACCOUNTING
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
to examine the accounting of business combinations, focusing on the public
policy implications of the Financial Accounting Standards Board's
pooling-of-interest accounting regulation proposal, after receiving testimony
from Harvey Golub, American Express Company, New York, New York; John Doerr,
Kleiner, Perkins, Caufield, and Byers, and James Barksdale, Barksdale Group,
both of Menlo Park, California; Dennis Powell, Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose,
California; Robert L. Ryan, Medtronic, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota; Alain J.
Hanover, InCert Software Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Kimberly J.
Pinter, National Association of Manufacturers, and Martin A. Regalia, U.S.
Chamber of Commerce, both of Washington, D.C.; and Edmund L. Jenkins,
Financial Accounting Standards Board, Norwalk, Connecticut.
2001 BUDGET: ENERGY PROGRAMS
Committee on the Budget: On Wednesday, March 1, Committee concluded hearings
on the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001 for nuclear
non-proliferation, stockpile stewardship, and other energy programs, after
receiving testimony from Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy.
AOL/TIME WARNER MERGER
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings to
examine certain issues relating to the proposed America Online/Time Warner
merger, receiving testimony from Stephen M. Case, America Online, Dulles,
Virginia; Gerald M. Levin, Time Warner, Inc., New York, New York; Jerry
Berman, Center for Democracy and Technology, and Gene Kimmelman, Consumers
Union, both of Washington, D.C.; and Robert H. Lande, University of Baltimore
School of Law, Silver Spring, Maryland, on behalf of the American Antitrust
Institute.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
ENERGY BUDGET
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded oversight
hearings on the President's proposed budget requests for fiscal year 2001, for
the Department of Energy, after receiving testimony from Bill Richardson,
Secretary of Energy.
NATIONAL FOREST MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management held oversight hearings on the United States Forest Service's
proposed revisions to the regulation governing National Forest Planning and
wildlife population viability requirements, receiving testimony from James R.
Lyons, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment;
K. Norman Johnson, Oregon State University College of Forestry, Covallis;
Barry R. Noon, Colorado State University Department of Fishery and Wildlife
Biology, Fort Collins; Charles F. Wilkinson, University of Colorado Law
School, Boulder; Donald G. Arganbright, Northern Arizona University School of
Forestry, Flagstaff, Arthur W. Cooper, North Carolina State University,
Raleigh, and Donald W. Floyd, State University of New York College of
Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, all on behalf of the Society of
American Foresters; Daniel R. Dessecker, Ruffed Grouse Society, Rice Lake,
Wisconsin; David A. Buehler, University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Robert W.
Duncan, Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, Richmond; James R.
Woehr, Wildlife Management Institute, and Gerald J. Gray, American Forests,
both of Washington, D.C.; Frank Priestley, Idaho Farm Bureau Federation,
Pocatello, on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation; Michael Byrne,
Tulelake, California, on behalf of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association;
and H. Michael Anderson, Wilderness Society, Seattle, Washington.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of
George L. Farr, of Connecticut, Charles L. Kolbe, of Iowa, Nancy Killefer and
Karen Hastie Williams, both of the District of Columbia, Larry L. Levitan and
Robert M. Tobias, both of Maryland, and Steve H. Nickles, of North Carolina,
each to be a Member of the Internal Revenue Service Oversight Board,
Department of the Treasury.
SUDAN TERRORISM
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded closed hearings on
terrorism issues relating to Sudan, after receiving testimony from Michael A.
Sheehan, Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Department of State.
GOVERNMENT INFORMATION SECURITY
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
federal government's computer system vulnerabilities, focusing on how people
exploit those weaknesses and what federal agencies should be doing to
strengthen the management of its information systems, and S. 1993, to reform
Government information security by strengthening information security
practices throughout the Federal Government, after receiving testimony from
Jack L. Brock, Jr., Director, Governmentwide and D155Defense Information
Systems, Accounting and Information Management Division, General Accounting
Office; Roberta L. Gross, Inspector General, National Aeronautics and Space
Administration; James Adams, Infrastructure Defense, Inc., Alexandria,
Virginia; Kenneth Watson, Cisco Systems, Inc., Austin, Texas; and Kevin
Mitnick, Los Angeles, California.
[Page: D155]
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
S. 577, to provide for injunctive relief in Federal district court to enforce
State laws relating to the interstate transportation of intoxicating liquor,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. Res. 128, designating March 2000, as "Arts Education Month"; and
The nominations of Randolph D. Moss, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney
General, Department of Justice, Julio M. Fuentes, of New Jersey, to be United
States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, and James D. Whittemore, of
Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of
Florida.
Also, Committee approved a resolution of issuance of subpoenas for the
Secretary of Defense pursuant to Rule 26.
AUTHORIZATION--RYAN WHITE CARE ACT
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee held hearings
on proposed legislation authorizing funds for programs of the Ryan White Care
Act, focusing on the challenges of an evolving HIV/AIDS epidemic, receiving
testimony from Senator Hatch; Representative Coburn; David Satcher, Assistant
Secretary for Health, United States Surgeon General, Department of Health and
Human Services; Sandra Thurman, Director, Office of National AIDS Policy;
Jeanne White, AIDS Action, Washington, D.C.; Christopher Grace, University of
Vermont College of Medicine, Burlington; Mike Kenn, Board of Commissioners of
Fulton County, Atlanta, Georgia; Guthrie S. Birkhead, New York State
Department of Health, Albany; and Lori-San Clark, Hyde Park, Massachusetts.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings to consider
pending intelligence matters.
Committee will meet again on Tuesday, March 7.
Joint Meetings
VETERANS PROGRAMS
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint hearings
with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to review the legislative
recommendations of certain veterans organizations, after receiving testimony
from David Sommers, Non Commissioned Officers Association of the USA, Monroe
E. Mayer, Jewish War Veterans of the USA, Homer S. Townsend, Jr., Paralyzed
Veterans of America, and Robert L. Smith, Blinded Veterans Association, all of
Washington, D.C.
2000/03/06
Daily Digest - Monday, March 6, 2000; pages D163 - D166
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 2001 for the Department of Defense,
after receiving testimony from John J. Hamre, Deputy Secretary of Defense.
AIR FORCE DEPOT MAINTENANCE
Committee on Armed Services: On Friday, March 3, Subcommittee on Readiness and
Management Support concluded hearings to examine the management of Air Force
depot maintenance on fielded weapon systems, after receiving testimony from F.
Whitten Peters, Secretary of the Air Force; Gen. George T. Babbitt, Jr., USAF,
Commander, Air Force Materiel Command; and David R. Warren, Director, and
Julia C. Denman, Assistant Director, both of Defense Management Issues,
National Security and International Affairs Division, General Accounting
Office.
RUSSIAN THREAT REDUCTION PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
concluded closed and open hearings to examine U.S. programs to reduce the
threats that the former Soviet Union's weapons of mass destruction pose to
national security, focusing on the Department of Defense Cooperative Threat
Reduction programs and the Department of Energy Nonproliferation programs,
after receiving testimony from John A. Lauder, Director, Nonproliferation
Center, Central Intelligence Agency; Harold J. Johnson, Associate Director,
International Relations and Trade Issues, National Security and International
Affairs Division, General Accounting Office; Susan J. Koch, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of Defense for Threat Reduction Policy; and Rose E. Gottemoeller,
Acting Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, Department
of Energy.
[Page: D164]
COLON CANCER PREVENTION
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
prevention and treatment of colon cancer, focusing on efforts to increase
awareness and screening procedures, including the use of Medicare-covered
screening and diagnostic services to prevent colorectal cancer and minimize
its effect on beneficiaries health status through early detection and
treatment, after receiving testimony from William J. Scanlon, Director, Health
Financing and Public Health Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services
Division, General Accounting Office; Michael McMullan, Deputy Director, Center
for Beneficiary Services, Health Care Financing Administration, Department of
Health and Human Services; Katie Couric, National Broadcasting Company, on
behalf of the National Colorectal Cancer Research Alliance, and Shirley
Heiligman, both of New York, New York; and Bernard Levin, University of Texas
M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, on behalf of the American
Gastroenterological Association.
Joint Meetings
FEBRUARY EMPLOYMENT
Joint Economic Committee: On Friday, March 3, Committee concluded hearings to
examine the employment-unemployment situation for February, focusing on the
current consumer and producer price indexes with respect to the inflation
outlook, after receiving testimony from Katharine G. Abraham, Commissioner,
Bureau of Labor Statistics.
2000/03/07
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 7, 2000; pages D167 - D172
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--FDA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
and Related Agencies concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for
D168fiscal year 2001 for the Food and Drug Administration, Department of
Health and Human Services, after receiving testimony from Donna E. Shalala,
Secretary, and Jane E. Henney, Commissioner, Food and Drug Administration,
both of the Department of Health and Human Services.
[Page: D168]
APPROPRIATIONS--FBI/DEA/INS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the
Judiciary concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001
for the Department of Justice, after receiving testimony in behalf of funds
for their respective activities from Doris Meissner, Commissioner, Immigration
and Naturalization Service, Donnie R. Marshall, Acting Administrator, Drug
Enforcement Administration, and Louis J. Freeh, Director, Federal Bureau of
Investigation, all of the Department of Justice.
APPROPRIATIONS--ARMY/AIR FORCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction concluded
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for Army and Air
Force military construction programs, after receiving testimony from Paul W.
Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Installations and Housing;
and Ruby B. Demesme, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower,
Reserve Affairs, Installations and Environment.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on military strategy
and operational requirements of the unified and regional commands, after
receiving testimony from Gen. Charles E. Wilhelm, USMC, Commander-in-Chief,
United States Southern Command; Adm. Dennis C. Blair, USN, Commander-in-Chief,
United States Pacific Command; Gen. Thomas A. Schwartz, USA,
Commander-in-Chief, United Nations Command, Republic of Korea/United States
Combined Forces Command, United States Forces Korea; and Brig. Gen. Nicholas
Grant, USA, Assistant Chief of Staff (J-2), United States Forces Korea.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
concluded hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year
2001 for the Department of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program,
focusing on readiness programs, after receiving testimony from Maj. Gen. Jerry
L. Sinn, USA, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Budget; Rear Adm.
Albert T. Church, III, USN, Director, Fiscal Management Division, Office of
the Chief of Naval Operations; Maj. Gen. Larry W. Northington, USAF, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Budget; and Herbert L. Dixson,
Director, Fiscal Management Division for the United States Marine Corps.
MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS SOURCING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on S. 1755, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to regulate
interstate commerce in the use of mobile telephones, after receiving testimony
from Mayor Irene French, Miriam, Kansas, on behalf of the National League of
Cities; and Dan R. Bucks, Multistate Tax Commission, Raymond Scheppach,
National Governors' Association, and Tom Wheeler, Cellular Telecommunications
Industry Association, all of Washington, D.C.
2001 BUDGET--INTERIOR/ENERGY
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded hearings on the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year
2001 for the Bureau of Reclamation of the Department of the Interior, and the
Bonneville Power Administration, the Southeastern Power Administration, the
Southwestern Power Administration, and the Western Area Power Administration,
all of the Department of Energy, after receiving testimony from Eluid L.
Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; and
Michael S. Hacskaylo, Administrator, Western Area Power Administration,
Michael A. Deihl, Administrator, Southwestern Power Administration, Charles A
Borchardt, Administrator, Southeastern Power Administration, and Stephen J.
Wright, Senior Vice President, Corporate, Bonneville Power Administration, all
of the Department of Energy.
WTO AGRICULTURE NEGOTIATIONS
Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on International Trade held hearings to
examine agriculture trade negotiations in the World Trade Organization after
Seattle, receiving testimony from Charlene Barshefsky, United States Trade
Representative; Dan Glickman, Secretary of Agriculture; Susan S. Westin,
Associate Director, International Relations and Trade Issues, National
Security and International Affairs Division, General Accounting Office; Glen
Keppy, Davenport, Iowa, on behalf of the National Pork Producers Council;
Craig Thorn, Powell, Goldstein, Frazer and Murphy, Washington, D.C.; Delores
Darden, Smithfield, Virginia, on behalf of the Virginia Small Grains
Association, National Association of Wheat D169Growers, Wheat Export Trade
Education Committee, and U.S. Wheat Associates; and Donald Rudolph, Darien
Center, New York, on behalf of the Upstate Farms Cooperative, Inc.
[Page: D169]
Hearings recessed subject to call.
COUNTERINTELLIGENCE PROCEDURE REFORM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the
Courts held hearings on S.2089, to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Act of 1978 to modify procedures relating to orders for surveillance and
searches for foreign intelligence purposes, receiving testimony from Louis J.
Freeh, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Frances Fragos Townsend,
Counsel for Intelligence Policy, both of the Department of Justice.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
IDENTITY THEFT AND ASSUMPTION DETERRENCE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information held oversight hearings to examine the effectiveness
and funding for the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act (P.L.
105-318), receiving testimony from Gregory Regan, Special Agent in Charge,
Financial Crimes Division, United States Secret Service, Department of the
Treasury; Jodie Bernstein, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal
Trade Commission; and Maureen Mitchell, Madison, Ohio.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee resumed markup
of S. 2, to extend programs and activities under the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet
again tomorrow.
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 review the legislative
recommendations of certain veterans organizations, after receiving testimony
from SMSgt Frederick P. Athans, USAF (Ret.), Retired Enlisted Association,
Margaret M. Peterson, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., Richard H. Esau, Jr.,
Military Order of the Purple Heart, CMSgt James D. Staton, USAF (Ret.), Air
Force Sergeants Association, and Charles L. Calkins, Fleet Reserve
Association, all of Washington, D.C.
2000/03/08
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 8, 2000; pages D174 - D184
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NATIONAL RURAL DEVELOPMENT PARTNERSHIP
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Subcommittee on Forestry,
Conservation, and Rural Revitalization concluded hearings on issues relating
to the National Rural Development Partnership and the State Rural Development
Councils, focusing on the lack of consistency in funding and the lack of
legislative foundation providing policy guidance and direction, after
receiving testimony from Jill Long Thompson, Under Secretary of Agriculture
for Rural Development; Eugene A. Conti, Jr., Assistant Secretary of
Transportation for Transportation Policy; Claude E. Fox, Administrator, Health
Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human
Services; Chuck Fluharty, Rural Policy Research Institute, Columbia, Missouri;
Mayor Bill Graham, Scottsburg, Indiana, on behalf of the Indiana Rural
Development Council and National Rural Development Partnership; Tom Hudson,
Tom Hudson Company, Moscow, Idaho, on behalf of the Idaho Rural Partnership;
Cornelius P. Grant, North Dakota Rural Development Council, Bismarck; David E.
Black, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development,
Harrisburg; and Colleen Landkamer, Blue Earth Board of Commissioners, Mankato,
Minnesota, on behalf of the National Association of Counties.
APPROPRIATIONS--DOD MEDICAL PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Defense,
focusing on certain medical programs, after receiving testimony from Rudy de
Leon, Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, and William J. Lynn III,
Under Secretary (Comptroller), both of the Department of Defense; Adm. Donald
L. Pilling, USN, Vice Chief of Naval Operations and Chair, Defense Medical
Oversight Committee; Lt. Gen. Ronald R. Blanck, USA, Army Surgeon General and
Commanding General, U.S. Army Medical Command; Vice Adm. Richard A. Nelson,
USN, Medical Corps, Navy Surgeon General and Chief, Bureau of Medicine and
Surgery; Lt. Gen. Paul K. Carlton, Jr., USAF, Air Force Surgeon General; Col.
Deborah Gustke, USA, Assistant Chief, Army Nurse Corps; Rear Adm. Karen A.
Harmeyer, USN, Deputy Director, Navy Nurse Corps, Reserve Component, and
Director, Naval Reserve Medical Program 32; and Brig. Gen. Barbara C. Brannon,
USAF, Director of Medical Readiness and Nursing Services, Office of the Air
Force Surgeon General.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on Army
transformation, Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, USA, Chief of Staff, United States
Army.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on national security
space programs, policies, and operations, after receiving testimony from Gen.
Ralph E. Eberhart, USAF, Commander-in-Chief, North American Aerospace Defense
Command/United States Space Command; and Keith R. Hall, Assistant Secretary of
the Air Force for Space, and Director, National Reconnaissance Office.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
S. 2097, to authorize loan guarantees in order to facilitate access to local
television broadcast signals in unserved and underserved areas, with an
amendment;
S. 1452, to modernize the requirements under the National Manufactured Housing
Construction and Safety Standards of 1974 and to establish a balanced
consensus process for the development, revision, and interpretation of Federal
construction and safety standards for manufactured homes, with an amendment;
and
The nominations of Kathryn Shaw, of Pennsylvania, to be a Member of the
Council of Economic Advisers, and Jay Johnson, of Wisconsin, to be Director of
the Mint, Department of the Treasury.
INTERNET SECURITY
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications concluded hearings to examine recent hacker attacks on popular
D176websites, and examine the coordination of federal and industry efforts to
heighten Internet security, after receiving testimony from Eric Holder, Jr.,
Deputy Attorney General, Michael A. Vatis, Director, National Infrastructure
Protection Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation, both of the Department of
Justice; William Reinsch, Under Secretary of Commerce, Bureau of Export
Administration; and Michael Fuhrman, Cisco Systems, Inc., San Jose,
California; Paul Misener, Amazon.com, Seattle, Washington; and Raj Reddy,
Carnegie Mellon University Herbert A. Simon University, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.
[Page: D176]
FUEL PRICES
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded oversight
hearings to examine energy supply and demand issues relating to crude oil,
heating oil, and transportation fuels in light of recent price escalations,
after receiving testimony from Senators Collins, Snowe, Schumer, and Jeffords.
NATIONAL PARKS/PRESERVATION/RECREATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S. 1705, to direct
the Secretary of the Interior to enter into land exchanges to acquire from the
private owner and to convey to the State of Idaho approximately 1,240 acres of
land near the City of Rocks National Reserve, Idaho, S. 972, to amend the Wild
and Scenic Rivers Act to improve the administration of the Lamprey River in
the State of New Hampshire, S. 1727, to authorize for the expansion annex of
the historic Palace of the Governors, a public history museum located, and
relating to the history of Hispanic and Native American culture, in the
Southwest, S. 1849, to designate segments and tributaries of White Clay Creek,
Delaware and Pennsylvania, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic
Rivers System, S. 1910, to amend the Act establishing Women's Rights National
Historical Park to permit the Secretary of the Interior to acquire title in
fee simple to the Hunt House located in Waterloo, New York, and H.R. 1615, to
amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to extend the designation of a portion of
the Lamprey River in New Hampshire as a recreational river to include an
additional river segment, after receiving testimony from Senators Biden, and
Moynihan; Denis P. Galvin, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department
of the Interior; Paul W. Edmondson, National Trust for Historic Preservation,
Washington, D.C.; Thomas E. Chavez, Palace of the Governors, and Frank V.
Ortiz, both of Museum of New Mexico, and Sante Fe; Sam Davidson, Access Fund,
Boulder Colorado; Thomas B. Williams, Conservation Fund, Arlington, Virginia;
and Edward J. O'Donnell, Newark, Delaware, on behalf of the White Clay
Watershed Association.
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine penalty and interest
provisions in the Internal Revenue Code, and certain recommendations to
simplify penalty administration and reduce taxpayer burden, receiving
testimony from Jonathan Talisman, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Treasury
for Tax Policy; Lindy Paull, Chief of Staff, Joint Committee on Taxation;
Peter L. Faber, McDermott, Will and Emery, New York, New York; and Kenneth J.
Kies, Washington National Tax Services, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Washington,
D.C.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
S. Res. 87, commemorating the 60th Anniversary of the International Visitors
Program;
S. Res. 263, expressing the sense of the Senate that the President should
communicate to the members of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting
Countries ("OPEC") cartel and non-OPEC countries that participate in the
cartel of crude oil producing countries, before the meeting of the OPEC
nations in March 2000, the position of the United States in favor of
increasing world crude oil supplies so as to achieve stable crude oil prices,
with an amendment;
S. Con. Res. 87, commending the Holy See for making significant contributions
to international peace and human rights, and objecting to efforts to expel the
Holy See from the United Nations by removing the Holy See's Permanent Observer
status in the United Nations;
An original executive resolution directing the return of certain treaties to
the President; and
The nominations of N. Cinnamon Dornsife, of the District of Columbia, to be
United States Director of the Asian Development Bank, Alan Phillip Larson, of
Iowa, to be United States Alternate Governor of the International Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, United States Alternate Governor of the
Inter-American Development Bank, United States Alternate Governor of the
African Development Bank, United States Alternate Governor of the African
Development Fund, United States Alternate Governor of the Asian Development
Bank, and United States Alternate Governor of the European Bank for
Reconstruction and Development, Department of State, Earl Anthony Wayne, of
Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business
Affairs, and a Foreign Service Officer Promotion list received in the Senate
on May 11, 1999.
[Page: D177]
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE BUDGET
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations
concluded hearings on the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year
2001 for foreign assistance, after receiving testimony from Patrick F.
Kennedy, Assistant Secretary of State for Administration; and Benjamin Nelson,
Director, International Relations and Trade Issues, National Security and
International Affairs Division, General Accounting Office.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee continued
markup of S. 2, to extend programs and activities under the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, but did not complete action thereon, and will
meet again tomorrow.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee ordered favorably reported
the nominations of Danny Lee McDonald, of Oklahoma, and Bradley A. Smith, of
Ohio, each to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission.
Prior to this action, committee concluded hearings on the aforementioned
nominations, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own
behalf. Mr. McDonald was introduced by Senator Nickles and Mr. Smith was
introduced by Senator Voinovich.
HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the proposed
legislation authorizing funds for programs of the Health Care Improvement Act,
to implement Federal responsibility for the care and education of Indian
people by improving the services and facilities of Federal Indian health
programs and encouraging maximum participation of Indians in such programs,
after receiving testimony from Michael H. Trujillo, Assistant Surgeon General
and Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services;
Richard Narcia, Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, Arizona; Rachel A.
Joseph, Lone Pine, California, on behalf of the National Steering Committee on
the Reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act; H. Sally Smith,
National Indian Health Board, and Kay Culbertson, National Council of Urban
Indian Health, both of Denver, Colorado; and Tex G. Hall, Three Affiliated
Tribes, Fort Berthold, North Dakota, on behalf of the Aberdeen Area of the
Great Plains Regional Tribal Chairman's Association.
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.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/03/09
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 9, 2000; pages D185 - D198
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
MEDICARE REFORM
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education concluded hearings to examine issues dealing with Medicare
reform, focusing on the Department of Health and Human Services Inspector
General's report on Medicare Payment errors and waste, fraud and abuse
reduction, after receiving testimony from Nancy-Ann M. DeParle, Administrator,
Health Care Financing Administration, and June G. Brown, Inspector General,
both of the Department of Health and Human Services; and Leslie G. Aronovitz,
Associate Director, Health Financing and Public Health Issues, General
Accounting Office.
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held oversight
hearings to examine major management issues facing the Department of
Transportation, focusing on Amtrak and rail infrastructure improvement,
receiving testimony from Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General, and Peter J.
Basso, Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs and Chief Financial
Officer, both of the Department of Transportation; and Wisconsin Governor
Tommy Thompson, Madison, on behalf of the Amtrak Reform Board.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of
Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on the atomic energy
defense activities of the Department of Energy, after receiving testimony from
William B. Richardson, Secretary of Energy.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on active and
reserve military and civilian personnel programs, after receiving testimony
from Alphonso Maldon, Jr., Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Management
Policy; Patrick T. D188Henry, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Manpower and
Reserve Affairs; Carolyn H. Becraft, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for
Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Ruby B. DeMesme, Assistant Secretary of the Air
Force for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations, and Environment; Lt. Gen.
David H. Ohle, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel; Vice Adm. Norbert R.
Ryan, Jr., USN, Chief of Naval Personnel; Lt. Gen. Jack W. Klimp, USMC, Deputy
Chief of Staff for Manpower and Reserve Affairs; Lt. Gen. Donald L. Peterson,
USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff for Personnel; MCPO Joseph Barnes, USN (Ret.),
Fleet Reserve Association, Joyce Raezer, National Military Family Association,
and Col. Steven P. Strobridge, USAF (Ret.), Retired Officers Association, all
on behalf of the Military Coalition, Alexandria, Virginia; and Larry D. Rhea,
Non Commissioned Officers Association, and Marshall A. Hanson, Naval Reserve
Association, both on behalf of the National Military and Veterans Alliance,
Springfield, Virginia.
[Page: D188]
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTE ADVISORY COMMISSION
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the final report of the International Financial Institution Advisory
Commission, focusing on how should the international financial institutions be
restructured to meet current and prospective economic and financial
conditions, after receiving testimony from Allan H. Meltzer, Carnegie Mellon
University Graduate School of Industrial Administration, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, Jeffrey D. Sachs, Harvard University Center for International
Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, C. Fred Bergsten, Institute for
International Economics, Washington, D.C., and Charles W. Calomiris, Columbia
University Graduate School of Business, New York, New York, all on behalf of
the International Financial Institution Advisory Commission.
2001 BUDGET
Committee on the Budget: Committee met to receive a preliminary report on an
analysis of the President's budgetary proposals for fiscal year 2001 from Dan
L. Crippen, Director, Congressional Budget Office.
NUCLEAR REGULATORY COMMISSION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air,
Wetlands, Private Property, and Nuclear Safety concluded oversight hearings on
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, focusing on the regulatory process in the
nuclear industry, enforcement and safety concerns, and possible reforms for
more effective oversight, after receiving testimony from Senator Sessions;
Richard A. Meserve, Chairman, who was accompanied by Nils Diaz, Jeffrey S.
Merrifield, Edward McGaffigan, and Greta Joy Dicus, each a Commissioner, all
of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Gary L. Jones, Associate Director,
Energy, Resources, and Science Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic
Development Division, General Accounting Office; Ralph Beedle, Nuclear Energy
Institute, and David E. Adelman, Natural Resources Defense Council, both of
Washington, D.C.; and William E. Kennedy, Jr., Health Physics Society, Benton
City, Washington, on behalf of the American National Standards Institute.
INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
Committee on Finance: Committee continued hearings to examine the penalty and
interest provisions in the Internal Revenue Code, and certain recommendations
to simplify penalty administration and reduce taxpayer burden, receiving
testimony from Judith Akin, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, on behalf of the National
Association of Enrolled Agents; David A. Lifson, on behalf of the Tax Division
of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Robert H.
Scarborough, on behalf of the Tax Section of the New York State Bar
Association, both of New York, New York; Paul J. Sax, San Francisco,
California, on behalf of the Section of Taxation of the American Bar
Association; Charles W. Shewbridge, III, BellSouth Corporation, Atlanta,
Georgia, on behalf of the Tax Executives Institute, Inc.; Mark A. Ernst, H&R
Block, Inc., Kansas City, Missouri; and Nina E. Olson, Community Tax Law
Project, Richmond, Virginia.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
EUROPEAN SECURITY AND DEFENSE POLICY
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on European Affairs concluded
hearings on issues relating to NATO's Defense Capabilities Initiative and the
European Union's European Security and Defense Program issues, after receiving
testimony from Marc Grossman, Assistant Secretary of State for European
Affairs; Franklin D. Kramer, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International
Security Affairs; and Jeffrey Gedmin, American Enterprise Institute, on behalf
of the New Atlantic Initiative, and F. Stephen Larrabee and Robert E. Hunter,
both of RAND Corporation, all of Washington, D.C.
MANAGING HUMAN CAPITAL
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government
Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia concluded hearings on
management of human capital, focusing on how to improve the federal
government's approach D189to managing its people, after receiving testimony
from David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, General
Accounting Office; and Janice R. Lachance, Director, Office of Personnel
Management.
[Page: D189]
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
S. 2045, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act with respect to H-1B
nonimmigrant aliens, with amendments;
S. 1796, to modify the enforcement of certain anti-terrorism judgments;
S.J. Res. 39, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Korean War and the
service by members of the Armed Forces during such war; and
S. Res. 258, designating the week beginning March 12, 2000 as "National Safe
Place Week".
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items:
S. 2, to extend programs and activities under the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
The nominations of Joan R. Challinor, of the District of Columbia, to be a
Member of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science,
Juanita Sims Doty, of Mississippi, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of
the Corporation for National and Community Service, Jerome F. Kever, of
Illinois, to be a Member of the Railroad Retirement Board, Leslie Lenkowsky,
of Indiana, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for
National and Community Service, Bobby L. Roberts, of Arkansas, to be a Member
of the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science, Michael G.
Rossmann, of Indiana, to be a Member of the National Science Board, National
Science Foundation, Daniel Simberloff, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the
National Science Board, National Science Foundation, Virgil M. Speakman, Jr.,
of Ohio, to be a Member of the Railroad Retirement Board, and certain Public
Health Service Corps lists.
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.
Joint Meetings
SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS AND THE U.S. ECONOMY
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the effect
of the Joint Economic Committee's 1980 Plugging In The Supply Side report, the
impact of supply-side economics on the United States economy over the past
twenty years, and what remains to be done for a successful economic future,
after receiving testimony from Martin Baily, Chairman, Council of Economic
Advisers; Jack Kemp, Empower America, and Stephen J. Entin, Institute for
Research on the Economics of Taxation, both of Washington, D.C.; Murray
Weidenbaum, Washington University Center for the Study of American Business,
St. Louis, Missouri; David Malpass, Bear Stearns, and Robert Solow, Russell
Sage Foundation, both of New York, New York; and Alan Reynolds, Hudson
Institute, Reston, Virginia.
BELARUS
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission):
Commission concluded hearings to examine certain issues with regard to the
situation in Belarus, focusing on human rights suppression, free and fair
parliamentary elections, deteriorating economic situation, and developing
democracy and independence, after receiving testimony from Harold Hongju Koh,
Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Ross Wilson,
Principal Deputy to the Ambassador-at-Large and Special Advisor to the
Secretary for the New Independent States, both of the Department of State;
Anatoly Lebedka, Belarus Supreme Soviet Commission for International Affairs
and United Civic Party, Semyon Sharetsky, Republic of Belarus Supreme Soviet,
Stanislav Shushkevych, Belarus Supreme Soviet and National Academy of
Sciences, Adrian Severin, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Belarus Working Group,
all of Minsk, Belarus; and Spencer Oliver, OSCE PA, Copenhagen, Denmark.
2000/03/13
Daily Digest - Monday, March 13, 2000; pages D199 - D202
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
concluded hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year
2001 for the Department of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program,
focusing on the Services' Infrastructure accounts and Real Property
Maintenance Programs and the National Missile Defense Construction request,
after receiving testimony from Randall A. Yim, Deputy Under Secretary of
Defense for Installations; Mahlon Apgar IV, Assistant Secretary of the Army
for Installations and Environment; Maj. Gen. Robert L. Van Antwerp, Jr., USA,
Assistant Chief of Army Staff for Installation Management; Robert B. Pirie,
Jr., Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment; Rear
Adm. Louis M. Smith, USN, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command;
Maj. Gen. Harold Mashburn, Jr., USMC, Assistant Deputy Chief of Marine Corps
Staff for Installations and Logistics; Ruby B. DeMesme, Assistant Secretary of
the Air Force for Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations and Environment;
Maj. Gen. Earnest O. Robbins II, USAF, The Civil Engineer, Department of the
Air Force; and Lt. Gen. Ronald T. Kadish, USAF, Director, Ballistic Missile
Defense Organization.
VALLES CALDERA PRESERVATION ACT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management concluded hearings on S. 1892, to authorize the acquisition of
the Valles Caldera, to provide for an effective land and wildlife management
program for this resource within the Department of Agriculture, after
receiving testimony from Representatives Wilson and Tom Udall; Barry T. Hill,
Associate Director, Energy, Resources and Science Issues, General Accounting
Office; James Lyons, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and
Environment; Larry Finfer, Assistant Director for Communications, Bureau of
Land Management, Department of the Interior; Raymond Gachupin, Jemez Pueblo,
Jemez, New Mexico; Denny Guiterrez, Santa Clara Pueblo, Espanola, New Mexico;
Gregory Nibert, Hinkle Law Firm, Roswell, New Mexico; Frank Bond, Simons,
Cuddy, and Friedman, and Palemon Martinez, Northern New Mexico Stockman's
Association, both of Santa Fe, New Mexico; and Dave Simon, Albuquerque, New
Mexico, on behalf of the National Parks and Conservation Association.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/03/14
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 14, 2000; pages D204 - D208
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/03/15
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 15, 2000; pages D209 - D216
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
Joint Meetings
VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS
Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint hearings with the House
Committee on Veterans' Affairs on the legislative recommendations of the
Veterans of Foreign Wars, after receiving testimony from John W. Smart,
Commander-In-Chief, Veteran of Foreign Wars of the United States, Washington,
D.C.
2000/03/16
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 16, 2000; pages D217 - D226
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearing noted.
2000/03/20
Daily Digest - Monday, March 20, 2000; pages D227 - D230
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
[Page: D228]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/03/21
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 21, 2000; pages D231 - D238
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--FCC/SEC
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, and the
Judiciary concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
2001, after 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.
ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education concluded hearings to examine certain issues relating to
Alzheimer's Disease, focusing on research funding, care giver support, and the
Alzheimer's Disease Prevention Initiative, after receiving testimony from
Richard J. Hodes, Director, National Institute on Aging, National Institutes
of Health, Department of Health and Human Services; Steven T. DeKosky,
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Alzheimer's Disease Research
Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and Orien Reid, Laverock, Pennsylvania, both
on behalf of the Alzheimer's Association; Maureen Reagan, Sacramento,
California; and Frank Carlino, Cornwall, New York.
APPROPRIATIONS--SENATE SoS/SAA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch concluded
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001, after receiving
testimony, in behalf of funds for their respective activities, from Gary
Sisco, Secretary of the Senate, and James W. Zigler, Sergeant at Arms, both of
the United States Senate.
[Page: D232]
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations
of Rudy deLeon, of California, to be Deputy Secretary of Defense, and Douglas
A. Dworkin, of Maryland, to be General Counsel of the Department of Defense,
after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
concluded hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year
2001 for the Department of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program,
focusing on the defense science and technology program, after receiving
testimony from Jacques S. Gansler, Under Secretary for Acquisition,
Technology, and Logistics, Delores M. Etter, Deputy Under Secretary for
Science and Technology, and Frank L. Fernandez, Director, Defense Advanced
Research Projects Agency, all of the Department of Defense; Paul J. Hoeper,
Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology; H.
Lee Buchanan, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Research, Development and
Acquisition; Lawrence J. Delaney, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for
Acquisition; and Ashton B. Carter, Harvard University, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, on behalf of the Harvard-Stanford Preventive Defense Project.
HUD PUBLIC HOUSING ASSESSMENT
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and
Transportation concluded oversight hearings on the Department of Housing and
Urban Development's Public Housing Assessment System (PHAS), after receiving
testimony from Harold Lucas, Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban
Development for Public and Indian Housing; Charles Schloz, Denver Housing
Authority, Denver, Colorado; Hal Rose, Temple Housing Authority, Temple,
Texas; F. Allen Hester, Saint Paul Public Housing Agency, Saint Paul,
Minnesota; and Kevin S. Nelson, Stratford Housing Authority, Stratford,
Connecticut.
INTERACTIVE VIOLENCE IMPACT ON CHILDREN
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the impact of interactive violence on children, focusing
on the effects of violent content in movies, video games, and Internet sites,
after receiving testimony from Sabrina Steger, Lourdes Hospital, Paducah,
Kentucky; David Walsh, National Institute on Media and the Family,
Minneapolis, Minnesota; Craig Anderson, Iowa State University Department of
Psychology, Ames; Jeanne B. Funk, University of Toledo Department of
Psychology, Toledo, Ohio; Eugene F. Provenzo, Jr., University of Miami School
of Education, Coral Gables, Florida; and Danielle Shimotakahara, North Bend,
Oregon.
CAPITAL INVESTMENT AND LEASING PROGRAM
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Transportation and
Infrastructure concluded hearings on General Services Administration's
proposed fiscal year 2001 Capital Investment and Leasing Program, including
the courthouse construction program, after receiving testimony from Robert A.
Peck, Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, General Services Administration;
and Judge Jane R. Roth, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, on behalf
of the Judicial Conference of the United States.
SUPERFUND REFORM
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste
Control, and Risk Assessment concluded oversight hearings to examine the
current status of cleanup activities under the Environmental Protection
Agency's Superfund program, focusing on progress made to date, future
improvements, and the impact of administrative reform, after receiving
testimony from Timothy Fields, Jr., Assistant Administrator, Environmental
Protection Agency; Lois J. Schiffer, Assistant Attorney General, Environment
and Natural Resources Division, Department of Justice; New York State
Assistant Attorney General Eugene Martin-Leff, Albany, on behalf of the
National Association of Attorneys General; Mayor J. Christian Bollwage,
Elizabeth, New Jersey, on behalf of the United States Conference of Mayors; R.
B. Jones, East Palo Alto City Council, East Palo Alto, California, on behalf
of the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals;
Robert W. Varney, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Concord,
on behalf of the Environmental Council of the States; and Terrence Gray, Rhode
Island Department of Environmental Management, Providence.
U.S. NONPROLIFERATION POLICY
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine
nonproliferation threats and U.S. policy formulation issues, receiving
testimony from George J. Tenet, Director, Central Intelligence Agency; Robert
Joseph, Center for Counter Proliferation Research, and Stephen A. Cambone,
Institute for National Strategic Studies, both of the National Defense
University, and Joseph Cirincione, Carnegie D233Endowment for International
Peace, all of Washington, D.C.
[Page: D233]
Committee will meet again tomorrow.
DEMOCRATIC PEOPLE'S REPUBLIC OF KOREA
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
concluded hearings to examine the current situation in the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea, focusing on the Administration's implementation of
recommendations contained in the Perry report on North Korea, after receiving
testimony from Wendy R. Sherman, Counselor, Department of State; and Franklin
D. Kramer, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs.
INTERNET PHARMACY REGULATION
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee held hearings
to examine the benefits and risks of pharmaceutical sales over the Internet,
focusing on public health implications, law enforcement, and regulatory
challenges, receiving testimony from Jane E. Henney, Commissioner, Food and
Drug Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; Kansas Attorney
General Carla J. Stovall, Topeka, on behalf of the National Association of
Attorneys General; Carmen A. Catizone, National Association of Boards of
Pharmacy, Park Ridge, Illinois; Bruce A. Levy, Texas State Board of Medical
Examiners, Austin, on behalf of the Federation of State Medical Boards of the
United States, Inc.; Peter M. Neupert, drugstore.com, Bellevue, Washington;
and Calvin J. Anthony, National Community Pharmacists Association, Alexandria,
Virginia.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Small Business: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills:
H.R. 2392, to amend the Small Business Act to extend the authorization for the
Small Business Innovation Research Program, with an amendment in the nature of
a substitute;
An original bill, to reauthorize programs to assist small business concerns;
and
H.R. 2614, to amend the Small Business Investment Act to make improvements to
the certified development company program, with an amendment.
TIMBISHA SHOSHONE TRIBE LAND BASE
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on 2102, to provide
to the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe a permanent land base within its aboriginal
homeland, after receiving testimony from Donald J. Barry, Assistant Secretary
of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; Pauline Esteves and Barbara
Durham, both of the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe, Death Valley, California;
Catherine S. Fowler, University of Nevada Department of Anthropology, Reno;
and Charles F. Wilkinson, University of Colorado Law School, Boulder.
NARCOTICS CERTIFICATION PROCESS
United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control: Caucus
concluded hearings to examine the annual certification process which requires
the President to submit to Congress his assessment on international
cooperation to control illegal drug production and transit, and International
Narcotics Control Strategy Report, after receiving testimony from Rand Beers,
Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Affairs; and Donnie R. Marshall, Acting Administrator, Drug Enforcement
Administration, Department of Justice.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/03/22
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 22, 2000; pages D239 - D250
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
CABIN USER FEE FAIRNESS
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Subcommittee on Forestry,
Conservation, and Rural Revitalization concluded hearings on S. 1938, to
provide for the return of fair and reasonable fees to the Federal Government
for the use and occupancy of National Forest System land under the recreation
residence program, after receiving testimony from Paul Brouha, Associate
Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest Service, Department of
Agriculture; David R. Mead, Sawtooth Forest Cabin Owners' Association, Twin
Falls, Idaho; Mary Clarke Ver Hoef, National Forest Homeowners, Sacramento,
California; Paul R. Allman, American Land Rights Association, and Richard M.
Betts, Betts and Associates, both of Berkeley, California; and Joe Corlett,
Mountain States Appraisal and Consulting, Inc., Boise, Idaho.
APPROPRIATIONS--FOREST SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior concluded hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Forest Service,
Department of Agriculture, after receiving testimony from James Lyons, Under
Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and Mike Dombeck, Chief,
Forest Service, both of the Department of Agriculture.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on tactical
aviation, after receiving testimony from H. Lee Buchanan, Assistant Secretary
of the Navy for Research, Development and Acquisition; Lawrence J. Delaney,
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition; and Philip E. Coyle,
III, Director, Operational Test and Evaluation, Department of Defense.
ELECTRONIC AND EQUITY FINANCIAL MARKETS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Securities
concluded hearings to examine electronic communications networks and brokerage
firms efforts to meet investors' needs in the equity financial marketplace of
the future, after receiving testimony from J. Joe Ricketts, Ameritrade Holding
Corporation, Omaha, Nebraska; Matthew Andresen, Island ECN, and Kevin Foley,
Bloomberg Tradebook, both of New York, New York; David G. Downey, Interactive
Brokers, and Gerald Putnam, Archipelago, both of Chicago, Illinois; and John
M. Schaible, NexTrade Holdings, Inc., Clearwater, Florida.
NOMINATION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of Susan Ness, of Maryland, to be a Member of the
Federal Communications Commission, after the nominee, who was introduced by
Senators Sarbanes and Mikulski, testified and answered questions in her own
behalf.
NASA MANAGEMENT
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Science,
Technology, and Space held hearings to examine recent program and management
issues at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, receiving
testimony from Daniel S. Goldin, Administrator, Harry McDonald, Director, Ames
Research Center, Tony Spear, Task Leader, and Arthur G. Stephenson, Director,
George C. Marshall Space Flight Center, all of NASA; and Allen Li, Associate
Director, Defense Acquisitions Issues, National Security and International
Affairs Division, General Accounting Office.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
WATER AND POWER
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded hearings D241on H.R. 862, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior
to implement the provisions of the Agreement conveying title to a Distribution
System from the United States to the Clear Creek Community Services District,
H.R. 992, to convey the Sly Park Dam and Reservoir to the El Dorado Irrigation
District, H.R. 1235, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into
contracts with the Solano County Water Agency, California, to use Solano
Project facilities for impounding, storage, and carriage of nonproject water
for domestic, municipal, industrial, and other beneficial purposes, S. 2091
and H.R. 3077, bills to amend the Act that authorized construction of the San
Luis Unit of the Central Valley Project, California, to facilitate water
transfers in the Central Valley Project, and S. 1659, to convey the Lower
Yellowstone Irrigation Project, the Savage Unit of the Pick-Sloan Missouri
Basin Program, and the Intake Irrigation Project to the appurtenant irrigation
districts, after receiving testimony from Representatives Herger, Doolittle,
George Miller, and Dooley; Eluid Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of
Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Walter P. McNeill, Clear Creek
Community Services District, Anderson, California; Walter J. Bishop, Contra
Costa Water District, Concord, California; Steven Malloch, Trout Unlimited,
Inc., Arlington, Virginia; Daniel G. Nelson, San Luis and Delta-Mendota Water
Authority, Los Banos, California; and Jerry Nypen, Lower Yellowstone
Irrigation Projects, Sidney, Montana.
[Page: D241]
MEDICARE REFORM: PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE
Committee on Finance: Committee resumed hearings to examine the inclusion of a
prescription drug benefit in the Medicare program, focusing on current and
supplemental drug coverage, beneficiary income spending, benefit design, and
cost controls, receiving testimony from Jennifer O'Sullivan, Specialist in
Social Legislation, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress;
William J. Scanlon, Director, Health Financing and Public Health Issues,
Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General Accounting Office;
Edwin C. Hustead, Hay Group, on behalf of the Congressional Research Service,
Alan F. Holmer, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, Charles
N. Kahn, III, Health Insurance Association of America, and Deborah
Briceland-Betts, Older Women's League, all of Washington, D.C.; and Alan B.
Levin, Happy Harry's, Inc., Newark, Delaware, on behalf of the National
Association of Chain Drug Stores.
Hearings continue on Tuesday, March 28.
IRAQ
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian
Affairs held hearings to examine the impact of United Nations sanctions and
United States policy on Iraq, focusing on the proposed United Nations
Resolution 1284 which re-affirms that Iraq has not fulfilled its obligation
under previous Security Council resolutions to declare and destroy its weapons
of mass destruction, receiving testimony from Edward S. Walker, Assistant
Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs; Gary Milhollin, Wisconsin Project
on Nuclear Arms Control, and Paul Leventhal, Nuclear Control Institute, both
of Washington, D.C.; and Charles Duelfer, UNSCOM, New York, New York.
DOE GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANTS
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded oversight hearings on
the Department of Energy's management of health and safety issues surrounding
the DOE's gaseous diffusion plants at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and Piketon, Ohio,
after receiving testimony from David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Energy
for Environment, Safety and Health; Jeffery B. Walburn, Portsmouth Gaseous
Diffusion Plant, Greenup, Kentucky; Steven B. Markowitz, City University of
New York Queens College Center for the Biology of Natural Systems, Flushing,
New York; Vikki Hatfield, Kingston, Tennessee; Ann H. Orick, Knoxville,
Tennessee; and Sam Ray, Lucasville, Ohio.
ANTITRUST ENFORCEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights, and
Competition concluded oversight hearings on certain antitrust enforcement
issues, after receiving testimony from Robert Pitofsky, Chairman, Federal
Trade Commission; and Joel I. Klein, Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust
Division, Department of Justice.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee held hearings to examine
certain constitutional issues surrounding campaign finance reform, including
certain contributions made to a political party that do not come within the
current limits and restrictions imposed by the Federal Election Campaign Act,
and "phony issue ads", receiving testimony from Ira Glasser, American Civil
Liberties Union, and Deborah Goldberg, NYU School of Law Brennan Center for
Justice, both of New York, New York; Joel M. Gora, Brooklyn Law School,
Brooklyn, New York; Kathleen M. Sullivan, Stanford University Law School,
Stanford, California; Lillian R. BeVier, University of Virginia School of Law,
Charlottesville; D242and Alan B. Morrison, Public Citizen Litigation Group,
Washington, D.C.
[Page: D242]
Hearings recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
S. 1315, to permit the leasing of oil and gas rights on certain lands held in
trust for the Navajo Nation or allotted to a member of the Navajo Nation, in
any case in which there is consent from a specified percentage interest in the
parcel of land under consideration for lease, with an amendment in the nature
of a substitute; and
S. 1586, to reduce the fractionated ownership of Indian Lands, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
NOMINATION
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Thomas N. Slonaker, of Arizona, to be Special Trustee, Office of Special
Trustee for American Indians, Department of the Interior, after the nominee,
who was introduced by Senator Kyl, testified and answered questions in his own
behalf. Testimony was also received from Charles Tillman, Inter-Tribal
Monitoring Association, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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.
[Page: D243]
Joint Meetings
VETERANS PROGRAMS
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint hearings
with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to review the legislative
recommendations of certain veterans organizations, after receiving testimony
from Raymond G. Boland, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, Madison, on
behalf of the National Association of State Directors of Veteran Affairs;
George C. Duggins, Vietnam Veterans of America, Robert F. Norton, Retired
Officers Association, and Zack Roberts, American Ex-Prisoners of War, all of
Washington, D.C.; and Charles L. Taylor, AMVETS, Lanham, Maryland.
TURKMENISTAN DEMOCRATIZATION
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki): On Tuesday, March
21, commission concluded hearings to examine Turkmenistan's prospects for
democratization, fair elections, observance of human rights, and how the
United States can promote Turkmenistan's observance of the Organization for
Security and Cooperation in Europe commitments, after receiving testimony from
John Byerle, Principal Deputy to the Ambassador-at-Large and Special Advisor
to the Secretary of State for Independent States, and E. Wayne Merry, Atlantic
Council of the United States, both of Washington, D.C.; Avdy Kuliev, Turkmen
opposition leader in exile, Moscow, Russia; Pyotr Iwaszkiewicz, formerly of
the OSCE Office in Ashgabat, Warsaw, Poland; Firuz Kazemzadeh, International
Commission of Religious Freedom, Alta Loma, California; and Cassandra
Cavanaugh, Human Rights Watch, Helsinki, New York, New York.
2000/03/23
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 23, 2000; pages D252 - D264
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
HAITI
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations concluded
hearings to examine recent developments in Haiti and the Administration's
efforts to address the challenges of promoting democracy, human rights, and
economic recovery, after receiving testimony from Donald Steinberg, Special
Haiti Coordinator, Department of State.
APPROPRIATIONS--INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
Internal Revenue Service, after receiving testimony from Charles O. Rossotti,
Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury.
APPROPRIATIONS--ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
Environmental Protection Agency, after receiving testimony from Carol M.
Browner, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency.
EXPORT CONTROLS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
national security implications of export controls, and related provisions of
S. 1712, Export Administration Act (pending on Senate Calendar), after
receiving testimony from Donald Mancuso, Deputy Inspector General, Department
of Defense; Harold J. Johnson, Associate Director, International Relations and
Trade Issues, National Security and International Affairs Division, General
Accounting Office; John W. Douglass, Aerospace Industries Association,
Washington, D.C.; and Gary L. Milhollin, University of Wisconsin Law School,
Madison, on behalf of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on SeaPower concluded hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program, focusing on Navy and Marine
Corps' seapower operational capability requirements, after receiving testimony
from Lt. Gen. Michael J. Williams, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs
and Resources, Headquarters U.S. Marine Corps; and Rear Adm. Michael G.
Mullen, USN, Director, Surface Warfare Division, Maj. Gen. Dennis T. Krupp,
USMC, Director, Expeditionary Warfare Division, Rear Adm. Malcolm I. Fages,
USN, Director, Submarine Warfare Division, and Rear Adm. John B. Nathman, USN,
Director, Air Warfare Division, all of the Office of the Chief of Naval
Operations.
RAIL MERGERS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Surface
Transportation and Merchant Marine concluded oversight hearings on the Surface
Transportation Board's moratorium on major rail mergers and 15-month
rulemaking proceeding on future mergers, after receiving testimony from Linda
J. Morgan, Chairman, Surface Transportation Board, Department of
Transportation.
[Page: D254]
NOMINATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Thomas A. Fry, III, of Texas, to be Director of the Bureau of
Land Management, Department of the Interior, after the nominee testified and
answered questions in his own behalf.
D.C. AREA MONUMENTS AND MEMORIALS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded oversight hearings to examine
the status of monuments and memorials, and the new policies that have been
adopted for determining locations for future commemorative works in and around
Washington, D.C., after receiving testimony from John G. Parsons, Associate
Regional Director for Lands, Resources and Planning, National Park Service,
National Capital Region, Department of the Interior, and Chairman, National
Capital Memorial Commission; J. Carter Brown, Chairman, U.S. Commission of
Fine Arts; Margaret G. Vanderhye, Member, National Capital Planning
Commission, and Chairman, Joint Task Force on Memorials; and Judy Scott
Feldman and W. Kent Cooper, both of the Committee of 100 on the Federal City,
Washington, D.C.
WATER QUALITY REGULATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Drinking Water resumed hearings to examine the Environmental
Protection Agency's proposed rules regarding changes in the total maximum
daily load and National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit programs
pursuant to the Clean Water Act, receiving testimony from Senators Gordon
Smith, Lincoln, and Hutchinson; Peter F. Guerrero, Director, Environmental
Protection Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division,
General Accounting Office; Robert J. Wittman, Westmoreland County Board of
Supervisors, Montross, Virginia, on behalf of the Virginia and Maryland
Associations of Municipal Wastewater Agencies and Rappahannock River Basin
Commission; David Skolasinski, Cliffs Mining Services Company, Duluth,
Minnesota, on behalf of the National Mining Association and Iron Mining
Association of Minnesota; Nina Bell, Northwest Environmental Advocates,
Portland, Oregon; W. Jeffrey Pardue, Florida Power Corporation, St.
Petersburg, on behalf of the Edison Electric Institute and Clean Water
Industry Coalition; Norman E. LeBlanc, Hampton Roads Sanitation District,
Virginia Beach, Virginia, on behalf of the Association of Metropolitan
Sewerage Agencies; Joan M. Cloonan, J. R. Simplot Company Food Group, Boise,
Idaho, on behalf of the Northwest Food Processors Association; Thomas N.
Thomson, Thomson Family Tree Farm, Orford, New Hampshire, on behalf of the
American Tree Farm System; Sharon Buccino, Natural Resources Defense Council,
Washington, D.C.; Robert J. Olszewski, Timber Company, Atlanta, Georgia, on
behalf of the American Forest and Paper Association; and Dina J. Moore,
Kneeland, California, on behalf of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
U.S./CHINA TRADE POLICY
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine trade with the
Peoples' Republic of China and its implications for United States national
security, economic, political, and religious interests, receiving testimony
from James R. Lilley, former Ambassador to The People's Republic of China, and
Richard Perle, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International
Security Policy, both of the American Enterprise Institute, Robert Kagan,
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, James Sasser, former Ambassador to
the People's Republic of China, John J. Sweeney, AFL-CIO, and Harry Wu, Laogai
Research Foundation, all of Washington, D.C.; Merle Goldman, Harvard
University Fairbanks Center, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Nelson E. Graham, East
Gates International, Sumner, Washington; and Michael A. Santoro, Rutgers, The
State University of New Jersey Graduate School of Management, Newark.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
U.S. NONPROLIFERATION POLICY
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine the
nonproliferation objectives of the United States, focusing on recent global
and regional developments, including India, Pakistan, and North Korea,
receiving testimony from Ronald F. Lehman and Fred C. Ikle, both former
Directors, U.S. Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; and Sumit Ganguly,
Stanford University Center for International Security and Cooperation,
Stanford, California.
Hearings will continue Tuesday, March 28.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported an
original bill, to authorize appropriations for technical assistance for fiscal
year 2001, to promote trade and anti-corruption measures.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills:
[Page: D255]
S. 1993, to reform Government information security by strengthening
information security practices throughout the Federal Government, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1964 and H.R. 3189, bills to designate the United States Post Office
located at 14071 Peyton Drive in Chino Hills, California, as the Joseph Ileto
Post Office; and
H.R. 1374, to designate the United States Post Office building located at 680
State Highway 130 in Hamilton, New Jersey, as the "John K. Rafferty Hamilton
Post Office Building".
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
H.R. 1658, to provide a more just and uniform procedure for Federal civil
forfeitures, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
The nomination of Nicholas P. Godici, of Virginia, to be an Assistant
Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, Department of Commerce;
Also, Committee approved resolution of issuance of subpoenas to a former and
current Department of Justice employee pursuant to Rule 26.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of
Richard C. Tallman, of Washington, to be United States Circuit Judge for the
Ninth Circuit, John Antoon II, to be United States District Judge for the
Middle District of Florida, and Marianne O. Battani and David M. Lawson, 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.
Tallman was introduced by Senators Gorton and Murray, Mr. Antoon was
introduced by Senator Graham, and Ms. Battani and Mr. Lawson were introduced
by Senators Abraham and Levin.
HEALTH CARE FOR THE UNINSURED
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Public
Health concluded hearings to examine the access of essential health care
services for the uninsured and medically underserved individuals, focusing on
certain safety net programs to reduce the barriers and increase health
insurance access to the uninsured, and the proposed Community Access to Health
Care Act, after receiving testimony from Charles Earl Fox, Administrator,
Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human
Services; Janet Heinrich, Associate Director, Health Financing and Public
Health Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General
Accounting Office; Thomas M. Dean, Horizon Health Care, Wessington Springs,
South Dakota, on behalf of the National Rural Health Association; Bernard
Simmons, Southwest Health Agency for Rural People, Tylertown, Mississippi, on
behalf of the National Association of Community Health Centers; Mary Bufwack,
United Neighborhood Health Services, Inc., Nashville, Tennessee; Robert L.
Taube, Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program, Boston, Massachusetts, on
behalf of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council; and Larry S.
Gage, National Association of Public Hospitals and Health Systems, Washington,
D.C.
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.
Joint Meetings
ORGANIZED CRIME AND CORRUPTION
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki): Commission
concluded hearings on the impact of organized crime and corruption on
democratic and economic reform in southeast Europe and Central Asia, regional
and international efforts to address this threat, and the effect it has on
United States security, economic and political interests, after receiving
testimony from Rob Boone, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; James K. Weber, Deputy
Assistant Director, International Operations Branch, Federal Bureau of
Investigation, Department of Justice; John Tennant, Deputy Assistant
Administrator, Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, U.S. Agency for International
Development; Adrian Karatnycky, Freedom House, New York, New York; and Nancy
Lubin, JNA Associates, Inc., Washington, D.C.
2000/03/27
Daily Digest - Monday, March 27, 2000; pages D266 - D270
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: On Friday, March 24, Subcommittee on Emerging
Threats and Capabilities concluded hearings on proposed legislation
authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Defense and the
Future Years Defense Program, focusing on DOD policies and programs to combat
terrorism, after receiving testimony from Brian E. Sheridan, Assistant
Secretary for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict, Charles L.
Cragin, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Reserve Affairs, and Pamela
B. Berkowsky, Assistant to the Secretary for Civil Support, all of the
Department of Defense; and Adm. Harold W. Gehman Jr., USN, Commander in Chief,
U.S. Joint Forces Command.
RISING OIL PRICES
Committee on Governmental Affairs: On Friday, March 24, Committee concluded
oversight hearings to examine the status of the global crude oil market and
its effects on the U.S. heating oil, diesel fuel, and gasoline markets and
prices, and U.S. security implications, David L. Goldwyn, Assistant Secretary
for International Affairs, and Jay E. Hakes, Administrator, Energy Information
Administration, both of the Department of Energy; William M. Flynn, New York
State Energy Research and Development Authority, Albany; Red Cavaney, American
Petroleum Institutes, Robert E. Ebel, Center for Strategic and International
Studies, and Richard N. Haass, Brookings Institution, all of Washington, D.C.;
John P. Holdren, Harvard University Kennedy School of Government and
Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Cambridge, Massachusetts, on
behalf of the President's Committee of Advisors on Science and Technology; and
Adam E. Sieminski, Deutsche Banc Alex. Brown, Baltimore, Maryland.
SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE FINANCING
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine long-term
financing challenges confronting Social Security and Medicare programs,
focusing on general income tax revenue transfers, after receiving testimony
from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System; David W. Wilcox, Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic
Policy; Paul L. Posner, Director, Budget Issues, Accounting and Information
Management Division, General Accounting Office; and C. Eugene Steuerle, Urban
Institute, Washington, D.C.
[Page: D268]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/03/28
Daily Digest - Tuesday, March 28, 2000; pages D271 - D278
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--DEFENSE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
Department of Energy, focusing on defense programs, after receiving testimony
from Rose E. Gottemoeller, Acting Deputy Administrator for Defense Nuclear
Nonproliferation, Department of Energy; Gen. Eugene E. Habiger, USAF, Retired
Director, Office of Security and Emergency Operations; Brig. Gen. Thomas F.
Gioconda, USAF, Acting Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs and Principal
Deputy Assistant Secretary for Military Application, National Nuclear Security
Administration; and Adm. Frank L. Bowman, USN, Director, Naval Nuclear
Propulsion Program.
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education concluded hearings to examine issues dealing with complementary
and alternative medicine therapies, which are designed to complement
traditional healthcare approaches, such as surgery and drug therapy, after
receiving testimony from Stephen Straus, Director, National Center for
Complementary and Alternative Medicine, National Institutes of Health,
Department of Health and Human Services; Andrew Weil, University of Arizona
College of Medicine Program in Integrative Medicine, Tucson; Mary Jo Kreitzer,
University of Minnesota Center for Spirituality and Healing, Minneapolis;
Herbert Benson, Harvard University Medical School/Mind/Body Medical Institute,
Boston, Massachusetts; Dean Ornish, University of California School of
Medicine/Preventive Medicine Research Institute, San Francisco; James M.
Cassidy, Andover, Massachusetts; Kristen Magnacca, Wellesley, Massachusetts;
and Walter Czapliewicz, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORTATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation concluded
oversight hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
Department of Transportation, after receiving testimony from Kenneth M. Mead,
Inspector General, and Peter J. Basso, Assistant Secretary for Budget and
Programs and Chief Financial Officer, both of the Department of
Transportation.
DRUG TRAFFICKING
Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to receive a
briefing on the impact of drug trafficking on the security of Columbia and
neighboring countries of the Andean Ridge from officials of the Central
Intelligence Agency and the Defense Intelligence Agency.
Committee recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Budget: Committee began markup of an original concurrent
resolution setting forth the fiscal year 2001 budget for the Federal
Government, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet again tomorrow.
RURAL BROADBAND ACCESS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications concluded hearings to examine the current state of deployment
of hi-speed Internet technologies, focusing on broadband communication service
access in rural America, after receiving testimony from Representative Tauzin;
Montana Public Service Commissioner Bob Rowe, on behalf of the National
Association of Regulatory Utilities Commissioners, and John S. Fitzpatrick,
Touch America, Inc., both of Helena, Montana; Roy Neel, United States Telecom
Association, and Timothy J. Regan, Corning Incorporated, both of Washington,
D.C.; Stephen C. Gray, McLeodUSA, Inc., Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and David M.
Woodrow, Cox Communications, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia.
U.S. DEPENDENCY ON FOREIGN OIL
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded joint hearings
with the Committee on Foreign Relations to examine United States dependency on
foreign oil, focusing on oil import needs, diplomacy, strategic petroleum
reserve, and domestic oil production, after receiving testimony from Richard
Perle, former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security,
American Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.; Denise A. Bode, Oklahoma
Corporation Commission, Oklahoma City; and Virginia Lazenby, Bretagne G.P.,
Nashville, Tennessee, on behalf of the Independent Petroleum Association of
America.
BUDGET--EPA/ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air,
Wetlands, Private Property, and Nuclear Safety concluded hearings on the
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001 for the Environmental
Protection Agency's clean air programs and the Army Corps of Engineers
wetlands programs, after receiving testimony from Robert Perciasepe, Assistant
Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency;
and Michael L. Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary D273of the Army for Civil
Works, United States Army Corps of Engineers, Department of Defense.
[Page: D273]
IRAN AND IRAQ PROLIFERATION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee resumed hearings to examine issues
dealing with Iran and Iraq, focusing on the future of nonproliferation policy,
receiving testimony from Anthony H. Cordesman, Center for Strategic and
International Studies, Washington, D.C.; and Rolf Ekeus, Ambassador of Sweden,
Washington, D.C., and Richard Butler, Diplomat in Residence, Council on
Foreign Relations, both of the United Nations Special Commission on Iraq
(UNSCOM).
Hearings continue on Thursday, March 30.
HCFA SETTLEMENT POLICIES
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
concluded oversight hearings to examine Health Care Financing Administration's
(HCFA) settlement policies, focusing on whether certain Medicare providers
settlements conform to HCFA regulations, after receiving testimony from Robert
H. Hast, Acting Assistant Comptroller General for Special Investigations,
Office of Special Investigations, General Accounting Office; and Charles R.
Booth, Director, Financial Services Group, Office of Financial Management,
Jean Ohl, Technical Health Insurance Specialist, Tony Seubert, Payment
Specialist, and Bruce C. Vladeck, former Administrator, all of the Health Care
Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services.
CYBER CRIMES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information concluded hearings to examine the incidence of cyber
attacks on the nation's information systems, focusing on removing roadblocks
to investigation and information sharing, after receiving testimony from Louis
J. Freeh, Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice;
Harris N. Miller, Information Technology Association of America, Arlington,
Virginia; and Richard D. Pethia, CERT Centers Carnegie Mellon University,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
INTERNET PREDATOR PROTECTION
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Children
and Families concluded hearings on child safety on the Internet, focusing on
online protection from predators, after receiving testimony from Kenneth Neu,
Assistant Section Chief, Violent Crimes Major Offenders Section, and William
Hagmaier, Unit Chief, Child Abduction Serial Murder Investigative Resources
Center, both of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice;
Donna Rice Hughes, Phoenix Financial and Advisory Services, Vienna, Virginia,
on behalf of the Child Online Protection Commission; Mary Anne Layden,
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Ernest E. Allen, National Center for
Missing and Exploited Children, Washington, D.C.; John Ryan, America Online,
Inc., Ashburn, Virginia; Tim Remsburg, Nashua, New Hampshire; and Teresa
Strickland, Opelika, Alabama.
OFFICE SUPPLY FRAUD
Committee on Small Business: Committee held hearings to examine the effects of
certain office supply scams, including toner-phoner schemes on small business,
receiving testimony from Jodie Bernstein, Director, Bureau of Consumer
Protection, Federal Trade Commission; Joan Bailey, Brownstone Real Estate
Company, Hershey, Pennsylvania; Linda Easton-Saunders, Prospect Associates,
Silver Spring, Maryland; George Everding, Feed My People, St. Louis, Missouri;
Peter Grosfeld, American Flyers, Miami, Florida; William R. Duffy, Imaging
Supplies Coalition for International Intellectual Property Protection, Inc.,
Lexington, Kentucky; and Tricia Burke, Office Equipment Company, Inc.,
Louisville, Kentucky, on behalf of the Independent Office Products and
Furniture Dealers Association.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/03/29
Daily Digest - Wednesday, March 29, 2000; pages D280 - D288
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--AIR FORCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Defense,
focusing on Air Force programs, after receiving testimony from F. Whitten
Peters, Secretary, and Gen. D281Michael E. Ryan, USAF, Chief of Staff, both of
the Department of the Air Force.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Budget: Committee met to continue markup of an original
concurrent resolution setting forth the fiscal year 2001 budget for the
Federal Government, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet again
tomorrow.
AMATEUR SPORTS GAMBLING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings to
examine issues dealing with gambling in amateur sports, including related
provisions of S. 2267, to direct the National Institute of Standards and
Technology to establish a program to support research and training in methods
of detecting the use of performance-enhancing substances by athletes (pending
on Senate calendar), receiving testimony from Senators Reid and Edwards;
Representatives Graham, Roemer, Gibbons, and Berkley; Charles T. Wethington,
Jr., University of Kentucky, Lexington, on behalf of the National Collegiate
Athletic Association; Jim Calhoun, University of Connecticut Men's Basketball,
Storrs; Timothy A. Kelly, National Gambling Impact Study Commission,
Alexandria, Virginia; Frank J. Fahrenkopf, Jr., American Gaming Association,
Washington, D.C.; Don Yeager, Sports Illustrated, New York, New York; Brian
Sandoval, Nevada Gaming Commission, Reno; Kenneth Winters, University of
Minnesota, Minneapolis; and Bobby Siller, Nevada Gaming Control Board, Carson
City.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
LAND CONVEYANCE AND MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management concluded hearings on S. 1778, to provide for equal exchanges
of land around the Cascade Reservoir, S. 1894, to provide for the conveyance
of certain land to Park County, Wyoming, and S. 1969, to provide for improved
management of, and increases accountability for, outfitted activities by which
the public gains access to and occupancy and use of Federal land, after
receiving testimony from Elaine F. Brong, Deputy Assistant Director for
Renewable Resources and Planning, Bureau of Land Management, and Eluid L.
Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, both of the Department of the
Interior; Dennis Bschor, Director, Recreation, Heritage and Wilderness
Resources, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Wyoming State Senator
Henry H.R. Coe, Cody, on behalf of the Park County Board of Commissioners;
Jack Rich, Rich Ranch, Seeley Lake, Montana; Becky Smith, Orange Torpedo
Trips, Grants Pass, Oregon, and Doug Tims, Maravia Corporation, Boise, Idaho,
both on behalf of the America Outdoors; David E. Jenkins, American Canoe
Association, Springfield, Virginia; and Jason D. Robertson, American
Whitewater Association, Silver Spring, Maryland.
MEDICARE REFORM--PRESCRIPTION DRUG COVERAGE
Committee on Finance: Committee resumed hearings to examine the inclusion of a
prescription drug benefit in the Medicare program, focusing on current and
supplemental drug coverage, beneficiary income spending, benefit design, and
cost controls, receiving testimony from Senators Frist, Kennedy, Snowe, and
Wyden; Representative Bilirakis; Michael Hash, Deputy Administrator, Health
Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services;
Michael Fogarty, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma City, on behalf of
the National Association of State Medicaid Directors; Carol J. McCall,
Allscripts, Inc., Libertyville, Illinois; and Marjorie Dorr, Anthem Blue Cross
and Blue Shield of Connecticut, North Haven, on behalf of the Blue Cross and
Blue Shield Association.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
NOMINATION
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Michelle Andrews Smith, of Texas, to be an Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury, after the nominee testified and answered questions in her own
behalf.
GOVERNMENT EFFICIENCY
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine
budget and oversight issues to better position the federal government to meet
current and emerging challenges and shape a more efficient and effective
government, after receiving testimony from David M. Walker, Comptroller
General of the United States, General Accounting Office.
ALLEGED CHINESE ESPIONAGE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the
Courts resumed oversight hearings on alleged Chinese espionage, focusing on
the handling of the investigation of Peter Lee, receiving testimony from
Stephen W. Preston, General Counsel, and John G. Schuster, Jr., Branch Head,
Submarine Security and Technology Branch (OPNAV N875), both of the Department
of the Navy; Dan Sayner, Assistant Special-Agent-in-Charge, Los Angeles Field
Office, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice; and Thomas L.
Cook, Nonproliferation and International Security Division, NIS-9/Weapon
Design Technologies, Los D282Alamos National Laboratory, and Richard Twogood,
former Technical Director, Non-Acoustical Anti-Submarine Warfare Program,
Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, both of the Department of Energy.
Hearings continue Wednesday, April 5.
CAMPAIGN REFORM
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee resumed oversight hearings to
examine issues dealing with campaign finance reform, focusing on Presidential
selection process and campaign contribution limits, after receiving testimony
from Senators Thompson, Lieberman, and Gorton; Roger Pilon, CATO Institute
Center for Constitutional Studies, and Derek Cressman, United States Public
Interest Research Group, both of Washington, D.C.; Lamar Alexander, Nashville,
Tennessee; and Herbert E. Alexander, Silver Spring, Maryland.
Hearings continue Friday, April 7.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills:
S. 1507, to authorize the integration and consolidation of alcohol and
substance programs and services provided by Indian tribal governments, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
S. 1509, to amend the Indian Employment, Training, and Related Services
Demonstration Act of 1992, to emphasize the need for job creation on Indian
reservations, with an amendment.
CHOCTAW INDIAN LAND TRUST
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 1967, to make
technical corrections to the status of certain land held in trust for the
Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, to take certain land into trust for that
Band, after receiving testimony from Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of the
Interior for Indian Affairs; and Phillip Martin, Mississippi Band of Choctaw
Indians, Philadelphia, Mississippi.
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.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/03/30
Daily Digest - Thursday, March 30, 2000; pages D289 - D298
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year
2001 for the National Institutes of Health, after receiving testimony from
Ruth L. Kirschstein, Acting Director, National Institutes of Health,
Department of Health and Human Services, who was accompanied by several of her
associates.
APPROPRIATIONS--TREASURY DEPARTMENT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
Department of the Treasury, receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their
respective activities from James E. Johnson, Under Secretary for Enforcement,
Raymond W. Kelly, Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service, Bradley A. Buckles,
Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Brian L. Stafford,
Director, U.S. Secret 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.
APPROPRIATIONS--HUD
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
Department of Housing and Urban Development, after receiving testimony from
Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported 1,137
nominations in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Budget: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
concurrent resolution setting forth the congressional budget for the United
States Government for fiscal years 2001 through 2005.
[Page: D291]
CLIMATE CHANGE
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on
S.882, to strengthen provisions in the Energy Policy Act of 1992 and the
Federal Nonnuclear Energy Research and Development Act of 1974 with respect to
potential Climate Change, and S.1776, to amend the Energy Policy Act of 1992
to revise the energy policies of the United States in order to reduce
greenhouse gas emissions, advance global climate science, promote technology
development, and increase citizen awareness, after receiving testimony from
Mark Mazur, Director, Office of Policy, and Jay Hakes, Administrator, Energy
Information Administration, both of the Department of Energy; Margaret Leinen,
Assistant Director for Geosciences, National Science Foundation, on behalf of
the National Science and Technology Council; Elbert W. Friday, Jr., Director,
Board on Atmospheric Sciences and Climate, National Research Council; Samuel
L. Maury, Business Roundtable, Richard L. Lawson, National Mining Association,
Joe F. Colvin, Nuclear Energy Institute, Paul C. Bailey, Edison Electric
Institute, Michael L. Marvin, Business Council for Sustainable Energy, and
Daniel Lashof, Natural Resources Defense Council, all of Washington, D.C.;
Kurt E. Yeager, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California; and
Charles D. Estes, Estes and Associates/Appalachian-Pacific Coal Mine Methane
Power Company, Arlington, Virginia.
FOREST SERVICE ROADLESS POLICY
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management resumed oversight hearings on the President's October 1999
announcement to review approximately 40 million acres of national forest lands
for increased protection, focusing on the Forest Services's Roadless Policy
announcement and its decision to not honor the requests of several states for
cooperating agency status under the National Environmental Policy Act,
receiving testimony from Montana Governor Marc Racicot, Helena; and George T.
Frampton, Jr., Acting Chair, Council on Environmental Quality.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
2001 BUDGET--EPA
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste
Control, and Risk Assessment concluded oversight hearings on the President's
proposed budget request for fiscal year 2001 for programs of the Environmental
Protection Agency's Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, focusing on
the current status and future direction of the Superfund, Resource
Conservation and Recovery Act, Brownfields, and Underground Storage Tank
programs, after receiving testimony from Timothy Fields, Jr., Assistant
Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Environmental
Protection Agency.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill
entitled Marriage Tax Relief Act of 2000.
U.S. NONPROLIFERATION POLICY
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine
nonproliferation threats and U.S. policy formulation issues, focusing on the
prevention of further spread of weapons of mass destruction and the means to
deliver them, a U.S. Ballistic Missile Commission report, and a review of
North Korea policy, after receiving testimony from Donald H. Rumsfeld,
Rumsfeld Associates, Chicago, Illinois, former Secretary of Defense; Stephen
J. Hadley, Shea and Gardner, Washington, D.C., former Assistant Secretary of
Defense; and Ashton B. Carter, Harvard University John F. Kennedy School of
Government, Cambridge, Massachusetts, on behalf of the Harvard-Stanford
Preventive Defense Project; former Assistant Secretary of Defense for
International Security Policy.
UNITED NATIONS ROUNDTABLE
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee met to discuss crucial issues before
the United Nations with Arnoldo M. Listre, Permanent Representative of
Argentina; Anwarul Karim Chowdhury, Permanent Representative of the People's
Republic of Bangladesh; Robert R. Fowler, Permanent Representative of Canada;
Wang Ying Fan, Permanent Representative of China; Jean-David Levitte,
Permanent Representative of France; Mignonette Patricia Durant, Permanent
Representative of Jamaica; Agam Hasmy, Permanent Representative of Malaysia;
Moctar Ouane, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Mali; Martin
Andjaba, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Namibia; Arnold Peter van
Walsum, Permanent Representative of the Netherlands; Sergey V. Lavrov,
Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation; Said Ben Mustapha,
Permanent Representative of Tunisia; Volodymyr Y. Yel'chencko, Permanent
Representative of Ukraine; Jeremy Quentin Greenstock, Permanent Representative
of the United Kingdom; and Richard Holbrooke, U.S. Representative to the
United Nations.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Alan Craig Kessler, of Pennsylvania, to be a Governor of the
United States Postal Service, and Carol Waller Pope, D292of the District of
Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Kessler was
introduced by Senators Santorum and Biden, and Ms. Pope was introduced by
District of Columbia Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.
[Page: D292]
LAW ENFORCEMENT RACIAL PROFILING
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Constitution, Federalism, and
Property Rights concluded hearings on S. 821, to provide for the collection of
data on traffic stops, after receiving testimony from Senator Lautenberg;
Representative Conyers; New Jersey State Assemblyman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.,
Trenton, on behalf of the New Jersey Legislative Black and Latino Caucus;
David A. Harris, University of Toledo College of Law, Toledo, Ohio, on behalf
of the Center on Crime, Communities and Culture; Johnny L. Hughes, National
Troopers Coalition, Annapolis, Maryland; John Welter, San Diego Police
Department, San Diego, California; Rodney Watt, City of Highland Park Police
Department, Highland Park, Illinois; Rossano Gerald, Ft. Hood, Texas; and
Robert L. Wilkins, Washington, D.C.; and Curtis V. Rodriguez, San Jose,
California,
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded oversight hearings
on the operations, activities, and proposed fiscal year 2001 budget of the
Office of the Architect of the Capitol, focusing on physical safety, customer
services delivery, building preservation, utility, and security, and staff
development, after receiving testimony from Alan M. Hantman, Architect of the
Capitol.
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, April 4.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/04/03
Daily Digest - Monday, April 3, 2000; pages D299 - D304
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
DOE GASEOUS DIFFUSION PLANT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: On Friday, March 31, Subcommittee
on Energy Research, Development, Production and Regulation concluded oversight
hearings to examine the Department of Energy's findings at the Gaseous
Diffusion Plant in Paducah, Kentucky, and plans for cleanup at the site, after
receiving testimony from Carolyn L. Huntoon, Assistant Secretary for
Environmental Management, David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Environment,
Safety and Health, and William D. Magwood IV, Director of the Office of
Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology, all of the Department of Energy; Keith
H. Dinger, Somersworth, New Hampshire, on behalf of the Health Physics
Society; and John M. Driskill, United Plant Guard Workers of America, Paducah,
Kentucky.
OLDER WORKER EMPLOYMENT
Special Committee on Aging: Committee held hearings to examine employment
demand for older workers, focusing on obstacles hindering participation in the
labor market, flexibility in retirement programs, and phased retirement
programs, receiving testimony from Representative Pomeroy; Joseph Perkins,
American Association of Retired Persons, Scott A. Morris, Committee for
Economic Development, both of Washington, D.C.; Stephen Meyer, Hy-Vee, Inc.,
D300West Des Moines, Iowa; September L. Dau, Iowa Lakes Rural Electric
Cooperative, Esterville, Iowa, on behalf of the National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association; and Wilma K. Schopp, Monsanto/Pharmacia and Upjohn,
St. Louis, Missouri, on behalf of the Association of Private Pension and
Welfare Plans.
[Page: D300]
Hearings recessed subject to call.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/04/04
Daily Digest - Tuesday, April 4, 2000; pages D305 - D312
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
CHECHNYA/RUSSIA AID PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations concluded
hearings on Chechnya, Russia and U.S. Policy and aid programs, after receiving
testimony from Strobe Talbott, Deputy Secretary of State; Doug Ford,
Physicians for Human Rights, Washington, D.C.; and Natalie Ernoult, Action
Against Hunger, France.
APPROPRIATIONS--INDIAN PROGRAMS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior concluded hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Bureau of Indian
Affairs and Office of the Special Trustee for American Indians, Department of
the Interior, after receiving testimony from Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary
for Indian Affairs, and Thomas Thompson, Principle Deputy Special Trustee for
American Indians, both of the Department of the Interior.
DRIVER'S PRIVACY PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation concluded hearings
to examine the implementation of the Driver's Privacy Protection Act of 1994,
focusing on the positive notification requirement provisions, after receiving
testimony from Roger D. Cross, Wisconsin Division of Motor Vehicles, Madison,
on behalf of the American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators; Anne S.
Ferro, Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration, Glen Burnie; Phyllis Schlafly,
Eagle Forum, Edmund Mierzwinski, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, and
Gregory T. Nojeim, American Civil Liberties Union, all of Washington, D.C.;
Susan Herman, National Center for Victims of Crime, Arlington, Virginia; and
Larry G. Majerus, Polk Company, Southfield, Michigan.
APPROPRIATIONS--TREASURY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
Department of the Treasury, after receiving testimony from Lawrence H.
Summers, Secretary of the Treasury.
ANDEAN RIDGE COUNTER-NARCOTIC ACTIVITIES
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on United States
support for counter-narcotics activities in the Andean Ridge and neighboring
countries, and the impact of narco-trafficking D307on the stability of the
region, after receiving testimony from Brian E. Sheridan, Assistant Secretary
of Defense for Special Operations and Low Intensity Conflict; Gen. Charles E.
Wilhelm, USMC, Commander In Chief, United States Southern Command; Rand Beers,
Assistant Secretary for Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement
Affairs, and Peter F. Romero, Acting Assistant Secretary for Western
Hemisphere Affairs, both of the Department of State; Luis Alberto Moreno,
Ambassador of the Republic of Colombia to the United States; and Guillermo A.
Ford, Ambassador of the Republic of Panama to the United States.
[Page: D307]
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
concluded hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year
2001 for the Department of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program,
focusing on joint requirements, capabilities, and experimentation, after
receiving testimony from Gen. Richard B. Myers, USAF, Vice Chairman of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Adm. Harold W. Gehman, Jr., USN, Commander In
Chief, Unites Stated Joint Forces Command.
EXPORT ADMINISTRATION ACT
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings on
certain provisions of S. 1712, to provide authority to control exports,
receiving testimony from Senators Enzi and Thompson; James M. Bodner,
Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; John D. Holum, Senior
Adviser for Arms Control and International Security Affairs, Department of
State; William A. Reinsch, Under Secretary of Commerce for Export
Administration; John W. Douglass, Aerospace Industries Association,
Washington, D.C.; and William Schneider, Jr., International Planning Services,
Inc., Arlington, Virginia, former Under Secretary of State for Security
Assistance, Science and Technology.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Donald Arthur Mahley, of Virginia, for the rank of Ambassador
during his tenure of service as Special Negotiator for Chemical and Biological
Arms Control Issues, and Gregory G. Govan, of Virginia, for the rank of
Ambassador during his tenure of service as Chief U.S. Delegate to the Joint
Consultative Group, both of the Department of State, after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf.
INTERNATIONAL TRAFFICKING IN WOMEN AND CHILDREN
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian
Affairs concluded hearings to examine the international trafficking of women
and children, focusing on prosecution, testimonies, and prevention issues,
after receiving testimony from William R. Yeomans, Chief of Staff, Civil
Rights Division, Department of Justice; Laura J. Lederer, Harvard University,
Cambridge, Massachusetts, on behalf of the Protection Project; Lauran Bethel,
New Life Center, Fresno, California; Virginia Coto, Florida Immigration
Center, Miami; Natalia Khodyreva, Angel Coalition, Washington, D.C.; and
certain anonymous witnesses.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence
community.
Committee will meet again Thursday, April 6.
Joint Meetings
OSCE MEDIA FREEDOM
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki): Commission
concluded hearings on the deteriorating freedom of media and speech in
Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) countries, focusing
on the implementation of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media,
after receiving testimony from David W. Yang, Senior Coordinator for Democracy
Promotion, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, Department of State;
Freimut Duve, OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Vienna, Austria;
Tom Dine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and Linda K. Foley, Newspaper
Guild-Communications Workers of America, on behalf of the International
Federation of Journalists, both of Washington, D.C.; Emma E.D. Gray, Committee
to Protect Journalists, New York, New York; and Marilyn Greene, World Press
Freedom Committee, Reston, Virginia.
2000/04/05
Daily Digest - Wednesday, April 5, 2000; pages D314 - D322
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--INTERIOR
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior concluded hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of the
Interior, after receiving testimony from Bruce Babbitt, Secretary, and John D.
Trezise, Director, Office of Budget, both of the Department of the Interior.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
S. 1608, to provide annual payments to the States and counties from National
Forest System lands managed by the Forest Service, and the revested Oregon and
California Railroad and reconveyed Coos Bay Wagon Road grant lands managed
predominately by the Bureau of Land Management, for use by the counties in
which the lands are situated for the benefit of the public schools, roads,
emergency and other public purposes; to encourage and provide new mechanism
for cooperation between counties and the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management to make necessary investments in federal lands, and reaffirm the
positive connection between Federal Lands counties and Federal Lands, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1705 to direct the Secretary of the Interior to enter into land exchanges
to acquire from the private owner and to convey to the State of Idaho
approximately 1,240 acres of land near the City of Rocks National Reserve,
Idaho;
S. 1727, to authorize for the expansion annex of the historic Palace of the
Governors, a public history museum located, and relating to the history of
Hispanic and Native American culture, in the Southwest, with an amendment;
[Page: D316]
S. 1849, to designate segments and tributaries of White Clay Creek, Delaware
and Pennsylvania, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System, with an amendment;
S. 1910, to amend the Act establishing Women's Rights National Historical Park
to permit the Secretary of the Interior to acquire title in fee simple to the
Hunt House located in Waterloo, New York, with an amendment;
H.R. 1615, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to extend the designation
of a portion of the Lamprey River in New Hampshire as a recreational river to
include an additional river segment;
S. 311, to authorize the Disabled Veterans' LIFE Memorial Foundation to
establish a memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs, with an
amendment;
S. 1836, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a
hydroelectric project in the State of Alabama;
S. 1892, to authorize the acquisition of the Valles Caldera, to provide for an
effective land and wildlife management program for this resource within the
Department of Agriculture, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 3063, to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to increase the maximum acreage of
Federal leases for sodium that may be held by an entity in any one State;
S. 1797, to provide for a land conveyance to the City of Craig, Alaska, with
an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1778, to provide for equal exchanges of land around the Cascade Reservoir,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
The nomination of Thomas A. Fry, III, of Texas, to be Director of the Bureau
of Land Management, Department of the Interior.
ARCTIC ENERGY POTENTIAL
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings to
examine the energy potential of the 1002 Area of the Arctic Coastal Plain, the
role this energy could play in national security; the role this energy could
play in reducing U.S. dependence on imported oil, and S. 2214, to establish
and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program that will result in an
environmentally sound and job creating program for the exploration,
development, and production of the oil and gas resources of the Coastal Plain,
after receiving testimony from Alaska Governor Tony Knowles, Juneau; David J.
Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the Interior; Brenda Itta Lee, Arctic Slope
Regional Corporation, Barrow, Alaska; Gerald L. Hood, Alaska General Teamsters
Local 959, on behalf of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and Roger
C. Herrera, Northern Knowledge, both of Anchorage, Alaska; W. Thomas Goerold,
Lookout Mountain Analysis, Golden Colorado, on behalf of the Alaska Wilderness
League; and Luci Beach, Gwich'in Nation, Fort Yukon, Alaska.
MEDICAID IN SCHOOLS
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings to examine Medicaid
policies and practices related to school-based health services and
administrative activities, after receiving testimony from Kathryn G. Allen,
Associate Director, Health Financing and Public Health Issues, and Robert H.
Hast, Acting Assistant Comptroller General for Special Investigations, both of
the General Accounting Office; Timothy Westmoreland, Director, Center for
Medicaid and State Operations, Health Care Financing Administration,
Department of Health and Human Services; Lynn Davenport, MAXIMUS, Inc.,
Waltham, Massachusetts; Susan Sclafani, Houston Independent School District,
Texas; and Jacquelin Golden, National Parent Network on Disabilities,
Baltimore, Maryland, on behalf of the American Physical Therapy Association.
UN PEACEKEEPING MISSIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations held
hearings on United Nations peacekeeping missions and their proliferation,
focusing on the principles underlying traditional U.N. peacekeeping, expansion
of peacekeeping into new and non-tradition fields after the end of the Cold
War, outcomes of recent missions, and the question of American interest
implications, receiving testimony from John Hillen, Arlington, Virginia, on
behalf of the U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century (Hart-Rudman
Commission); John R. Bolton, American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy
Research, and Michael O'Hanlon, Brookings Institution, both of Washington,
D.C.; and Kenneth Allard, Stratfor.com, Alexandria, Virginia.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
HOLOCAUST LEGACIES
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings on legacies of the
Holocaust, focusing on providing a forum for discussion, exposing
long-suppressed truths about World War II and Holocaust-era assets, and to
bring justice to survivors and victims, receiving testimony from Stuart E.
Eizenstat, Deputy Secretary of Treasury/Special Representative of the
Secretary of State and the President on Holocaust-Related Issues; Edgar M.
Bronfman, Chairman, Presidential Advisory Commission on Holocaust Assets in
the United States; Elie Wiesel, Boston University, Boston, Massachusetts; Mark
B. Levin, National Conference of Soviet Jewry, and David A. D317Harris,
American Jewish Committee, both of Washington, D.C.; and Israel Singer, World
Jewish Congress, New York, New York.
[Page: D317]
Hearings recessed subject to call.
ALLEGED CHINESE ESPIONAGE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the
Courts resumed open and closed oversight hearings on alleged Chinese
espionage, focusing on the plea-bargain agreement reached in the case of Peter
Lee, receiving testimony from Jonathan Shapiro, Los Angeles, California,
former Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Central District of California.
Committee will meet again Wednesday, April 12.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded hearings to examine
the role of political parties in America, focusing on campaign finance reform
issues, after receiving testimony from Representatives Shays and Meehan; Bobby
R. Burchfield, Covington and Burling, Scott Harshbarger, Common Cause, and
Charles E.M. Kolb, Committee for Economic Development, all of Washington,
D.C.; Michael C. Munger, Duke University, Department of Political Science,
Durham, North Carolina; Robert T. Bennett, Ohio Republican Party, Columbus;
and Dylan C. Glenn, Albany, Georgia.
NOMINATION
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nomination of Thomas N. Slonaker, of Arizona, to be Special Trustee, Office of
Special Trustee for American Indians, Department of the Interior.
INDIAN NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND PROGRAM EVALUATION
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 612, to
provide for periodic Indian needs assessments, and to require Federal Indian
program evaluations, after receiving testimony from Kevin Gover, Assistant
Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs; JoAnn K. Chase, National
Congress of American Indians, Washington, D.C.; and Britt E. Clapham, II,
Navajo Nation Department of Justice, Window Rock, Arizona.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/04/06
Daily Digest - Thursday, April 6, 2000; pages D323 - D330
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
INTERSTATE SHIPMENT OF STATE-INSPECTED MEAT
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine certain issues relating to the interstate shipment of
State-inspected meat and poultry, and S. 1988, to reform the State inspection
of meat and poultry in the United States, after receiving testimony from
Richard Rominger, Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; Fred L. Dailey, Ohio
Department of Agriculture, Reynoldsburg, on behalf of the National Association
of State Departments of Agriculture; Michael Eickman, Eickman's Processing
Co., Inc., Seward, Illinois, on behalf of the American Association of Meat
Processors and the Illinois Association of Meat Processors; Jolene Heikens,
Triple T Country Meats, Wellsburg, Iowa, on behalf of the American Association
of Meat Processors and the Iowa Meat Processors Association; Harry Pearson,
Indiana Farm Bureau Federation, Indianapolis, on behalf of the American Farm
Bureau Federation; Richard T. Nielson, Utah Cattlemen's Association, Salt Lake
City, on behalf of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association; Carol Tucker
Foreman, Consumer Federation of America, Washington, D.C.; and J. Patrick
Boyle, American Meat Institute, Arlington, Virginia.
APPROPRIATIONS--INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations concluded
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Department
of the Treasury's international programs, after receiving testimony from
Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary of the Treasury.
APPROPRIATIONS--OFFICE OF DRUG CONTROL POLICY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
Office of National Drug Control Policy, after receiving testimony from Barry
R. McCaffrey, Director, Office of National Drug Control Policy.
APPROPRIATIONS--VETERANS AFFAIRS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
concluded hearings D325on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for
the Department of Veterans Affairs, after receiving testimony from Togo D.
West, Jr., Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
[Page: D325]
DOD SECURITY CLEARANCE PROCEDURE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine
procedures and standards for the granting of security clearances at the
Department of Defense for military, civilian and contractor personnel,
focusing on the General Accounting Office's October 1999 DOD Personnel report,
the reinstatement of investigator David Kerno at the Defense Security Service,
and the reinvestigation of Commander Jack Daly, after receiving testimony from
Senator Harkin; Carol R. Schuster, Associate Director, National Security
Preparedness Issues, National Security and International Affairs Division,
General Accounting Office; and Donald Mancuso, Deputy Inspector General, Lt.
Gen. Charles J. Cunningham, Jr., USAF (Ret.), Director, Defense Security
Service, Harold J. Kwalwasser, Deputy General Counsel for Legal Counsel, and
J. William Leonard, Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Security and
Information Operations, all of the Department of Defense.
AVIATION SECURITY
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Aviation
held oversight hearings to examine issues dealing with aviation security,
focusing on the Federal Aviation Administration's efforts to implement and
improve security in air traffic control computer systems and airport passenger
screening checkpoints, receiving testimony from Cathal Flynn, Associate
Administrator for Civil Aviation Security, Federal Aviation Administration,
and Alexis M. Stefani, Assistant Inspector General for Auditing, both of the
Department of Transportation; Gerald L. Dillingham, Associate Director,
Transportation Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development
Division, General Accounting Office; and Richard J. Doubrava, Air Transport
Association of America, Washington, D.C.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
FOREST SERVICE
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management concluded oversight hearings to examine the Forest Service
fiscal year 2000 revision of its 1997 strategic plan to provide for cleaner
water, better habitat, healthier forests, and community stability and
development, after receiving testimony from Randle G. Phillips, Deputy Chief,
Programs and Legislation, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
WTO CHINA ACCESSION
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings to examine extending
Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to China and its accession to the
World Trade Organization, focusing on its impact on American employment,
export prospects of American farmers, trade and investment opportunities, and
the impact on reform in China, after receiving testimony from former
Representative Sam M. Gibbons, Gibbons and Company, Nicholas R. Lardy,
Brookings Institution, Ira S. Shapiro, Long, Aldridge and Norman, former U.S.
Trade Representative/ Ambassador and Chief Negotiator for Japan and Canada,
and Douglas Lowenstein, Interactive Digital Software Association, all of
Washington, D.C.; Robert D. Hormats, Goldman Sachs International, New York,
New York; and Dermot J. Hayes, Iowa State University Departments of Economics
and Finance, Ames.
U.S.-CHINA TRADE RELATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic Policy,
Export and Trade Promotion and Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
held joint hearings to examine issues relating to the granting of permanent
normal trade relations to China, and its impact on the United States high
technology sector, receiving testimony from Stuart E. Eizenstat, Deputy
Secretary of the Treasury; Frank C. Carlucci, Nortel Networks, Washington,
D.C.; and Richard Younts, Motorola, Inc., Austin, Texas.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Oversight
concluded oversight hearings to examine the operations of the Federal Bureau
of Prisons, focusing on inmate population growth, after receiving testimony
from Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, Director, Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Glenn A.
Fine, Director, Special Investigations and Review Unit, Office of the
Inspector General, both of the Department of Justice; and Richard M. Stana,
Associate Director for Administration of Justice Issues, General Government
Division, General Accounting Office.
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.
[Page: D326]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/04/07
Daily Digest - Friday, April 7, 2000; pages D332 - D340
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/04/10
Daily Digest - Monday, April 10, 2000; pages D342 - D346
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
FUNERAL AND BURIAL CONSUMER PROTECTION
Special Committee on Aging: Committee held hearings to examine issues facing
consumers when preplanning, arranging and conducting funeral and burial
activities, focusing on educating consumers about funeral-related industries,
exposing bad practices, and exploring the extent of consumer satisfaction,
receiving testimony from Toni Moore, Paradise Memorial Park Cemetery Memorial
Fund, Santa Fe Springs, California; Cheryl L. Lankford, Lankford Funeral Home,
DeLand, Florida; Father Henry Wasielewski, Catholic Diocese of Phoenix, Tempe,
Arizona, on behalf of the Interfaith Funeral Information Committee; Lamar
Hankins, FAMSA-Funeral Consumers Alliance, Inc., San Marcos, Texas; Robert
Shreve, American Association of Retired Persons, Washington, DC; Danell D.
Pepson, Leesburg, Virginia; Darryl J. Roberts, Scottsdale, Arizona; and Irwin
Karp, an incarcerated witness, via video teleconferencing.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/04/11
Daily Digest - Tuesday, April 11, 2000; pages D347 - D356
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATION
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of D348Christopher A. McLean, of Nebraska, to be
Administrator, Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture, after the
nominee, who was introduced by Senators Hagel and Kerrey, testified and
answered questions in his own behalf.
[Page: D348]
MTBE AND RENEWABLE FUELS
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine issues relating to alleged pollution of drinking water
supplies by Methyl Tertiary Butyl Ether (MTBE), the future of renewable fuels,
and the Reformulated Gasoline Program, after receiving testimony from Keith
Collins, Chief Economist, Department of Agriculture; Robert Perciasepe,
Assistant Administrator for Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection
Agency; Mark J. Mazur, Director, Office of Policy, Department of Energy; R.
James Woolsey, Shea and Gardner, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Advisory
Committee of the Clean Fuels Foundation; Iowa Governor Thomas Vilsack, Des
Moines, on behalf of the Governors' Ethanol Coalition; Trevor T. Guthmiller,
American Coalition for Ethanol, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Nathan Kimpel, New
Energy Corporation, South Bend, Indiana; Rus Miller, Arkenol, Inc., Mission
Viejo, California; Jason S. Grumet, Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use
Management, Boston, Massachusetts; and David Morris, Institute for Local
Self-Reliance, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
APPROPRIATIONS--DOE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
Department of Energy, after receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their
respective activities from Carolyn L. Huntoon, Assistant Secretary for
Environmental Management, Dan W. Reicher, Assistant Secretary for Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy, James Decker, Acting Director, Office of
Science, William D. Magwood, IV, Director, Office of Nuclear Energy, Science
and Technology, and Ivan Itkin, Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste
Management, all of the Department of Energy.
APPROPRIATIONS--FOREIGN HEALTH ASSISTANCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations concluded
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for foreign health
assistance, focusing on the President's Millennium Initiative to help combat
infectious diseases, after receiving testimony from Lawrence H. Summers,
Secretary of the Treasury; Adel Mahmoud, Merck and Co., Whitehouse Station,
New Jersey; Gro Brundtland, General World Health Organization, Geneva,
Switzerland; William Foege, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Seattle,
Washington; and Nils Daulaire, Global Health Council, Norwich, Vermont.
APPROPRIATIONS--DOE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior concluded hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Energy,
after receiving testimony from Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations
of Bernard Daniel Rostker, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of Defense for
Personnel and Readiness, Gregory Robert Dahlberg, of Virginia, to be Under
Secretary of the Army, and Madelyn R. Creedon, of Indiana, to be Deputy
Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration,
Department of Energy, after the nominees testified and answered questions in
their own behalf. Mr. Dahlberg was introduced by Representative Murtha.
WTO CHINA ACCESSION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine China's accession into the World Trade Organization,
focusing on granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations, after receiving
testimony from William M. Daley, Secretary of Commerce; Lt. Gen. Brent
Scowcroft, USAF (Ret.), Scowcroft Group, former National Security Advisor, H.
Richard Kahler, Caterpillar China, Inc., on behalf of the Business Roundtable,
Jack Valenti, Motion Picture Association of America, Lori Wallach, Public
Citizen's Global Trade Watch, and Harry Wu, Laogai Research Foundation, all of
Washington, D.C.
ELECTRIC POWER
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee held hearings on S. 2098,
to facilitate the transition to more competitive and efficient electric power
markets, and to ensure electric reliability, S. 2071, to benefit electricity
consumers by promoting the reliability of the bulk-power system, S. 1369, to
enhance the benefits of the national electric system by encouraging and
supporting State programs for renewable energy sources, universal electric
service, affordable electric service, and energy conservation and efficiency,
S. 1284, to amend the Federal Power Act to ensure that no State may establish,
maintain, or enforce on behalf of any electric utility an exclusive right to
sell electric energy or otherwise unduly discriminate against any consumer who
seeks to purchase electric energy in interstate commerce from D349any
supplier, S. 1273, to amend the Federal Power Act, to facilitate the
transition to more competitive and efficient electric power markets, S. 1047,
to provide for a more competitive electric power industry, S. 516, to benefit
consumers by promoting competition in the electric power industry, and S. 282,
to provide that no electric utility shall be required to enter into a new
contract or obligation to purchase or to sell electricity or capacity under
section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, receiving
testimony from Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy; Arthur W. Adelberg,
Central Maine Power Group, Inc., on behalf of the Alliance for Competitive
Electricity, and Stephen Ward, Maine Office of Public Advocate, on behalf of
the National Association of State Utility Consumer Advocates, both of Augusta;
Bob Rowe, Montana Public Service Commission, Helena, on behalf of the National
Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners; David N. Cook, North American
Electric Reliability Council, Princeton, New Jersey; and William Mayben,
Nebraska Public Power District, Columbus, on behalf of the Large Public Power
Council.
[Page: D349]
Hearings continue on Thursday, April 13.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Carey Cavanaugh, of Florida, for the rank of Ambassador during
his tenure of service as Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh and New
Independent States Regional Conflicts, Christopher Robert Hill, of Rhode
Island, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Poland, and Thomas G. Weston, of
Michigan, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as Special
Coordinator for Cyprus, after the nominees testified and answered questions in
their own behalf.
U.S. CHINA POLICY
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings on United States
policy towards the People's Republic of China, focusing on granting Permanent
Normal Trade Status and human rights conditions, receiving testimony from Wei
Jingsheng, Columbia University Center for the Study of Human Rights, New York,
New York, on behalf of the Wei Jingsheng Foundation, Inc.; and Arthur Waldron,
American Enterprise Institute, Greg Mastel, New America Foundation, and Robert
A. Kapp, U.S.-China Business Council, all of Washington, D.C.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
EARLY CHILDHOOD PROGRAMS
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Children
and Families concluded hearings to examine early childhood programs for
low-income families, focusing on federal and state funding and collaborative
efforts and the effectiveness of federal preschool and child care programs,
after receiving testimony from Marnie S. Shaul, Associate Director, Education,
Workforce, and Income Security Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services
Division, General Accounting Office; Elaine Zimmerman, Connecticut General
Assembly Commission on Children, Hartford; and Douglas J. Besharov, American
Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.
FUNERAL AND BURIAL CONSUMER PROTECTION
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine issues
facing consumers when preplanning, arranging and conducting funeral and burial
activities, focusing on educating consumers about funeral-related industries,
exposing bad practices, exploring the extent of consumer satisfaction, and law
enforcement activities, after receiving testimony from Eileen Harrington,
Associate Director for Marketing Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection,
Federal Trade Commission; G. V. Ayers, California Department of Consumer
Affairs Cemetery and Funeral Bureau, Sacramento; Jay U. Jacobson, Pella, Iowa,
on behalf of the National Funeral Directors Association; and Paul M. Elvig,
International Cemetery and Funeral Association, Reston, Virginia.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/04/12
Daily Digest - Wednesday, April 12, 2000; pages D358 - D368
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--MISSILE DEFENSE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Department of Defense,
focusing on missile defense programs, after receiving testimony from Lt. Gen.
Ronald T. Kadish, USAF, Director, Office of External Affairs, Ballistic
Missile Defense Organization, Department of Defense.
APPROPRIATIONS--INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for
Independent Agencies, after receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their
respective activities from Harris Wofford, Chief Executive Officer, and Luise
S. Jordan, Inspector General, both of the Corporation for National and
Community Service; Ellen Lazar, Director, and Maurice Jones, Deputy Director
for Policy and Programs, both of the Community Development Financial
Institutions; and Andrea Kidd Taylor, Board Member, Chemical Safety and
Hazardous Investigations Board. Testimony was also received from Karyn L.
Molnar, KPMG, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Corporation for National and
Community Service.
INSURANCE AGENT LICENSING REFORMS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Securities
concluded oversight hearings on multi-state insurance agent licensing reforms
and the creation of the National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers,
after receiving testimony from Terri M. Vaughan, Des Moines, Iowa, on behalf
of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Clare Farragher, New
Jersey General Assembly, Trenton, on behalf of the National Conference of
Insurance Legislators; Robert A. D360Gleason, Jr., Gleason Agency, Johnstown,
Pennsylvania, on behalf of the Council of Insurance Agents and Brokers; and
Ronald A. Smith, Smith, Sawyer, and Smith, Inc., Rochester, Indiana, on behalf
of the Independent Insurance Agents of America.
[Page: D360]
INTERNET TAXATION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on S. 2255, to amend the Internet Tax Freedom Act to extend the
moratorium through calendar year 2006, after receiving testimony from
Representative Cox; Utah Governor Michael Leavitt, Salt Lake City, on behalf
of the National Governors' Association and the Advisory Commission on
Electronic Commerce; John Berthoud, National Taxpayers Union, Alexandria,
Virginia; Donald Bruce, University of Tennessee Center for Business and
Economic Research, Knoxville; David Bullington, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.,
Bentonville, Arkansas; Burr Morse, Morse Farm Sugar Works, Montpelier,
Vermont; and Jonathan Zittrain, Harvard University Law School Berkman Center
for Internet and Society, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
COLUMBIA RIVER HYDROPOWER OPERATIONS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded oversight hearings to examine federal actions affecting hydropower
operations on the Columbia River system, after receiving testimony from Brig.
Gen. Carl A. Strock, USA, Division Engineer, Northwestern Division, Army Corps
of Engineers; Stephen J. Wright, Senior Vice President, Corporate, Bonneville
Power Administration, Department of Energy; William Stelle, Jr., Regional
Administrator, National Marine Fisheries Service, Northwest Region, National
Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; and J. William
McDonald, Regional Director, Pacific Northwest Region, Bureau of Reclamation,
Department of the Interior.
RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on European Affairs held hearings
to examine issues dealing with the Russian presidential elections, receiving
testimony from Steven R. Sestanovich, Ambassador at Large and Special Advisor
to the Secretary of State for the New Independent States; and Zbigniew
Brzezinski, Center for Strategic and International Studies, former National
Security Advisor, and Thomas E. Graham, Jr. and Michael A. McFaul, both of the
Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, all of Washington, D.C.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
CASPIAN SEA ENERGY RESOURCES
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic Policy,
Export and Trade Promotion concluded hearings on the status of infrastructure
projects for Caspian Sea energy resources, focusing on offshore drilling,
natural gas reserves, the Turkish market, and oil reserve development, after
receiving testimony from John S. Wolf, Special Adviser to the President and
Secretary of State for Caspian Basin Energy Diplomacy; David L. Goldwyn,
Assistant Secretary of Energy for International Affairs; Ralph Alexander, BP
Amoco Corporation, London, England; and J. Robinson West, Petroleum Finance
Company, and Martha Brill Olcott, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,
both of Washington, D.C.
WASSENAAR ARRANGEMENT AND MULTILATERAL EXPORT
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
Wassenaar arrangement, a multilateral export control regime for conventional
arms and sensitive dual-use goods and technologies, and the future of
multilateral export controls, after receiving testimony from John D. Holum,
Senior Adviser for Arms Control and International Security, Department of
State; William A. Reinsch, Under Secretary of Commerce for Export
Administration; and Stephen J. Hadley, former Assistant Secretary of Defense
for International Security Policy, Frank J. Gaffney, Jr., Center for Security
Policy, and Henry D. Sokolski, Nonproliferation Policy Education Center, all
of Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
H.J. Res. 86, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Korean War and the
service by members of the Armed Forces during such war;
H. Con. Res. 269, commending the Library of Congress and its staff for 200
years of outstanding service to the Congress and the Nation and encouraging
the American public to participate in bicentennial activities; and
The nominations of Richard C. Tallman, of Washington, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; John Antoon II, to be United States
District Judge for the Middle District of Florida; Marianne O. Battani, to be
United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; David M.
Lawson, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of
Michigan; and Mark Reid Tucker, to be United States Marshal for the Eastern
District of North Carolina.
[Page: D361]
ALLEGED CHINESE ESPIONAGE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the
Courts resumed hearings on alleged Chinese espionage issues, focusing on the
plea-bargain agreement reached in the case of Peter Lee, receiving testimony
from John C. Keeney, Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Michael
Liebman, Line Attorney, and John Dion, Acting Chief, Internal Security
Section, all of the Criminal Division, Department of Justice.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items:
S. 2311, to revise and extend the Ryan White CARE Act programs under title
XXVI of the Public Health Service Act, to improve access to health care and
the quality of health care under such programs, and to provide for the
development of increased capacity to provide health care and related support
services to individuals and families with HIV disease, with an amendment in
the nature of a substitute;
S. 2366, to amend the Public Health Service Act to revise and extend
provisions relating to the Organ Procurement Transplantation Network with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
The nominations of Mel Carnahan and Scott O. Wright, both of Missouri, each to
be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Harry S Truman Scholarship
Foundation, Nathan O. Hatch, of Indiana, to be a Member of the National
Council on the Humanities, Edward B. Montgomery, of Maryland, to be Deputy
Secretary of Labor, and Marc Racicot, of Montana, and Alan D. Solomont, of
Massachusetts, each to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation for National and Community Service.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded hearings on
campaign finance reform proposals, focusing on compelled political speech,
First Amendment protection, and federal labor law interpretations, after
receiving testimony from Laurence E. Gold, AFL-CIO, Joan Claybrook, Public
Citizen, and David S. Fortney, all of Washington, D.C.; Leo Troy, Rutgers
University, Newark, New Jersey; Kenneth F. Boehm, National Legal and Policy
Center, McLean, Virginia; and Robert P. Hunter, Mackinac Center for Public
Policy, Midland, Michigan.
INDIAN AFFAIRS MANAGEMENT REFORM
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded oversight hearings on the
report of the National Academy of Public Administration on the Department of
the Interior's Bureau of Indian Affairs management reform, after receiving
testimony from Royce Hanson, Panel Chair and Academy Fellow, National Academy
of Public Administration; Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for
Indian Affairs; W. Ron Allen, Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe, Sequim, Washington,
on behalf of the National Congress of American Indians; Eddie F. Brown,
Washington University George Warren Brown School of Social Work/Kathryn M.
Buder Center for American Indian Studies, St. Louis, Missouri; and John L.
O'Donnell, Jr., Law Offices of John L. O'Donnell, Los Angeles, California.
Joint Meetings
IMF/WORLD BANK REFORM
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine issues
relating to reform of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank,
after receiving testimony from Allan H. Meltzer, Carnegie Mellon University,
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Charles Calomiris, Columbia University, New York,
New York, Adam Lerrick, Lerrick and Company, Inc, Barrytown, New York, and
Jerome Levinson, American University, Washington, D.C., all on behalf of the
International Financial Institution Advisory Committee.
2000 BUDGET
Conferees: On Tuesday, April 11, met to resolve the differences between the
Senate and House passed D366versions of H. Con. Res. 290, establishing the
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2001,
revising the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal
year 2000, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for each of fiscal
years 2002 through 2005, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed
subject to call.
2000/04/13
Daily Digest - Thursday, April 13, 2000; pages D370 - D382
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 2001 for Foreign
Operations, after receiving testimony from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of
State.
NATIONAL READING PANEL
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education concluded hearings to examine the National Reading Panel report,
focusing on scientific research-based reading instruction and its readiness
for application in the classroom, after receiving testimony from Duane F.
Alexander, Director, National Institute of Child Health and Human Services,
Department of Health and Human Services; Kent McGuire, Assistant Secretary of
Education for Educational Research and Improvement; and Donald N. Langenberg,
University System of Maryland, Adelphi, on behalf of the National Reading
Panel.
IRS REFORM
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government
concluded hearings to examine certain Internal Revenue Service reform issues,
focusing on paperless filing and the return-free tax filing system as it
relates to the Internal Revenue Service's mandate under the IRS Restructuring
and Reform Act of 1998, after receiving testimony from Charles O. Rossotti,
Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service, and Leonard E. Burman, Deputy
Assistant Secretary of Treasury, both of the Department of the Treasury.
APPROPRIATIONS--NASA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the
National Aeronautics and Space Administration, after receiving testimony from
Daniel S. Goldin, Administrator, NASA.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nominations of Bernard Daniel Rostker, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Gregory Robert Dahlberg, of Virginia, to
be Under Secretary of the Army, and Madelyn R. Creedon, of Indiana, to be
Deputy Administrator for Defense Programs, National Nuclear Security
Administration, Department of Energy.
DOD ANTHRAX VACCINE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee held hearings to examine issues
relating to the implementation of the Department of Defense anthrax vaccine
immunization program, receiving testimony from Rear Adm. Lowell E. Jacoby,
USN, Director of Intelligence, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Rudy de
Leon, Deputy Secretary, David R. Oliver, Principal Deputy Under Secretary for
Acquisition and Technology, and Maj. Gen. Randall L. West, USMC, Special
Advisor to the Under Secretary for Personnel and Readiness, all of the
Department of Defense; Lt. Gen. Ronald R. Blanck, USA, Surgeon General of the
Army; and Carol R. Schuster, Associate Director, National Security
Preparedness Issues, National Security and International Affairs Division,
General Accounting Office.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
SECURITIES MARKETS STRUCTURE
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the evolution of the equity markets and the appropriate role of
policymakers in this period of rapid change, focusing on implications of
technology changes and the role of policymakers, after receiving testimony
from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items:
S. 1755, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to regulate interstate
commerce in the use of mobile telephones, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute;
S. 2340, to direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology to
establish a program to support research and training in methods of detecting
the use of performance-enhancing substances by athletes, with amendments;
S. 1089, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2000, 2001, and 2002,
for the United States Coast Guard, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute;
S. 1482, to amend the National Marine Sanctuaries Act, with an amendment;
S. 1911, to conserve Atlantic highly migratory species of fish, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 1651, to amend the Fishermen's Protective Act of 1967 to extend the
period during which reimbursement may be provided to owners of United States
fishing vessels for costs incurred when such a vessel is seized and detained
by a foreign country, with amendments;
[Page: D375]
S. 2327, to establish a Commission on Ocean Policy;
S. 1407, to authorize appropriations for the Technology Administration of the
Department of Commerce for fiscal years 2000,
2001, and 2002, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1639, to authorize appropriations for carrying out the Earthquake Hazards
Reduction Act of 1977, for the National Weather Service and Related Agencies,
and for the United States Fire Administration for fiscal years 2000, 2001, and
2002, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1912, to facilitate the growth of electronic commerce and enable the
electronic commerce market to continue its current growth rate and realize its
full potential, to signal strong support of the electronic commerce market by
promoting its use within Federal government agencies and small and
medium-sized businesses;
S. 2046, to reauthorize the Next Generation Internet Act, with an amendment in
the nature of a substitute;
S. 442, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate of
documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise
trade for the vessel LOOKING GLASS;
S. 1261, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate
of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise
trade for the vessel YANKEE;
S. 1613, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate
of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise
trade for the vessel VICTORY OF BURNHAM;
S. 1614, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate
of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise
trade for the vessel LUCKY DOG;
S. 1615, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate
of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise
trade for the vessel ENTERPRIZE;
S. 1779, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate
of documentation with appropriate endorsement with appropriate endorsement for
employment in the coastwise trade for the vessel M/V SANDPIPER;
S. 1853, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to issue a certificate
of documentation with appropriate endorsement for employment in the coastwise
trade for the vessel FRITHA; and
The nominations of Robert Clarke Brown, of Ohio, John Paul Hammerschmidt, of
Arkansas, and Norman Y. Mineta, of California, each to be a Member of the
Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, Carol
Jones Carmody, of Louisiana, and John Goglia, of Massachusetts, each to be a
Member of the National Transportation Safety Board, Vice Adm. Thomas H.
Collins, U.S. Coast Guard, to be Vice Commandant, with the Grade of Vice
Admiral, Rear Adm. Ernest R. Riutta, U.S. Coast Guard, to be Commander,
Pacific Area, with the Grade of Vice Admiral, and certain promotion lists in
the United States Coast Guard.
NATURAL DISASTER PROTECTION AND INSURANCE
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on S. 1361, to amend the Earthquake Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to
provide for an expanded Federal program of hazard mitigation, relief, and
insurance against the risk of catastrophic natural disasters, such as
hurricanes, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions, after receiving testimony
from Stuart E. Eizenstat, Deputy Secretary of the Treasury; David L. Keating,
National Taxpayers Union, Alexandria, Virginia; Franklin W. Nutter,
Reinsurance Association of America, Washington, DC; Travis Plunkett, Consumer
Federation of America, Arlington, Virginia; Jack F. Weber, Home Insurance
Federation of America, Potomac Halls, Virginia; Charles T. Brown, Baker,
Wellman, Brown Insurance and Financial Services, Kennett, Missouri, on behalf
of the Independent Insurance Agents of America; and Scott A. Gilliam,
Cincinnati Insurance Companies, Fairfield, Ohio.
ELECTRIC POWER
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee resumed hearings on S.
2098, to facilitate the transition to more competitive and efficient electric
power markets, and to ensure electric reliability, S. 2071, to benefit
electricity consumers by promoting the reliability of the bulk-power system,
S. 1369, to enhance the benefits of the national electric system by
encouraging and supporting State programs for renewable energy sources,
universal electric service, affordable electric service, and energy
conservation and efficiency, S. 1284, to amend the Federal Power Act to ensure
that no State may establish, maintain, or enforce on behalf of any electric
utility an exclusive right to sell electric energy or otherwise unduly
discriminate against any consumer who seeks to purchase electric energy in
interstate commerce from any supplier, S. 1273, to amend the Federal Power
Act, to facilitate the transition to more competitive and efficient electric
power market, S. 1047, to provide for a more competitive electric power
industry, S. 516, to benefit consumers by promoting competition in the
electric power industry, S. 282, to provide that no electric utility shall be
required to enter D376into a new contract or obligation to purchase or to sell
electricity or capacity under section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory
Policies Act of 1978, receiving testimony from Senator Jeffords;
Representative Barton; New Hampshire State Senator Clifton Below, Concord, on
behalf of the National Conference of State Legislatures; Benjamin Montoya,
Public Service Company of New Mexico, Albuquerque, on behalf of the Edison
Electric Institute; Joseph E. Ronan, Jr., Calpine Corporation, San Jose,
California, on behalf of the Electric Power Supply Association; Ron Moeller,
Cargill Corporation, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on behalf of the Electricity
Consumers Resource Council; Gary Zimmerman, Michigan Municipal Electric
Association and Michigan Public Power Agency, Lansing, on behalf of the
American Public Power Association; Glenn English, National Rural Electric
Cooperative Association, Washington, DC; and Alan J. Nogee, Union of Concerned
Scientists, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
[Page: D376]
Hearings will resume on Thursday, April 27.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
S. 522, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve the
quality of beaches and coastal recreation water, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute;
H.R. 999, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve the
quality of coastal recreation waters;
S. 2370, to designate the Federal Building located at 500 Pearl Street in New
York City, New York, as the "Daniel Patrick Moynihan United States
Courthouse";
H.R. 2412, to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse
located at 1300 South Harrison Street in Fort Wayne, Indiana, as the "E. Ross
Adair Federal Building and United States Courthouse";
S. 2297, to reauthorize the Water Resources Research Act of 1984; and
The nomination of Edward McGaffigan, Jr., of Virginia, to be a Member of the
Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
Convention On Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of
Intercountry Adoption, Adopted and Opened for Signature at the Conclusion of
the Seventeenth Session of the Hague Conference on Private International Law
on May 29, 1993, with 6 declarations. (Treaty Doc. 105-51)
S. 682, to implement the Hague Convention on Protection of Children and
Co-operation in Respect of Intercounty Adoption, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute;
S. Res. 271, regarding the human rights situation in the People's Republic of
China, with amendments;
S. Res. 272, expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should
remain actively engaged in southeastern Europe to promote long-term peace,
stability, and prosperity; continue to vigorously oppose the brutal regime of
Slobodan Milosevic while supporting the efforts of the democratic opposition
and fully implement the Stability Pact, with amendments;
S. Res. 287, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding U.S. policy toward
Libya;
S. Res. 289, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the human rights
situation in Cuba;
S. Con. Res. 81, expressing the sense of the Congress that the Government of
the People's Republic of China should immediately release Rabiya Kadeer, her
secretary, and her son, and permit them to move to the United States if they
so desire;
S. Con. Res. 98, urging compliance with the Hague Convention on the Civil
Aspects of International Child Abduction;
H.R. 3707, to authorize funds for the site selection and construction of a
facility in Taipei, Taiwan suitable for the mission of the American Institute
in Taiwan, with amendments; and
The nominations of Carey Cavanaugh, of Florida for the rank of Ambassador
during his tenure of service as Special Negotiator for Nagorno-Karabakh and
New Independent States Regional Conflicts, Christopher Robert Hill, of Rhode
Island, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Poland, Thomas G. Weston, of
Michigan, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as Special
Coordinator for Cyprus, Donald Arthur Mahley, of Virginia, for the rank of
Ambassador during his tenure of service as Special Negotiator for Chemical and
Biological Arms Control Issues, Gregory G. Govan, of Virginia, for the rank of
Ambassador during his tenure of service as Chief U.S. Delegate to the Joint
Consultative Group, Gary A. Barron, of Florida, to be a Member of the Board of
Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, all of the
Department of State, and certain Foreign Service Officer promotion lists.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
bills:
[Page: D377]
S. 2058, to extend filing deadlines for applications for adjustment of status
of certain Cuban, Nicaraguan, and Haitian nationals; and
S. 2367, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to make improvements to,
and permanently authorize, the visa waiver pilot program under the Act.
Also, Committee approved a resolution of issuance of subpoenas regarding the
appointment of an Independent Counsel pursuant to Rule 26.
MOTHER TERESA RELIGIOUS WORKERS ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration concluded hearings on
S. 2406, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide permanent
authority for entry into the United States of certain religious workers, after
receiving testimony from Archbishop Adam Cardinal Maida, Detroit, Michigan, on
behalf of the United States Catholic Conference Committee on Migration; Rabbi
Steven Weil, Oak Park, Michigan, on behalf of the Council of Orthodox Rabbis
and Rabbinical Council of America and the Orthodox Union; and Ralph W. Hardy,
Jr., Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Washington, DC.
PENSION ASSETS PROTECTION
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded
hearings to examine issues dealing with protecting pension assets in personal
bankruptcy, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and on certain
provisions of H.R. 833, to amend title 11 of the United States Code
(Bankruptcy Reform), after receiving testimony from Leslie B. Kramerich,
Acting Assistant Secretary of Labor for Pension and Welfare Benefits
Administration; Bruce A. Markell, University of Nevada, Las Vegas William S.
Boyd School of Law; Virginia Tierney, American Association for Retired
Persons, and James S. Ray, Connerton and Ray, on behalf of the AFL-CIO, both
of Washington, DC; Scott J. Macey, Actuarial Sciences Associates, on behalf of
the ERISA Industry Committee; and Ned Burmeister, Trustar Retirement Services,
Wilmington, Delaware;
Joint Meetings
2001 BUDGET
Conferees on Wednesday, April 12, agreed to file a conference report on the
differences between the Senate and House passed versions of H. Con. Res. 290,
establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for
fiscal year 2001, revising the congressional budget for the United States
Government for fiscal year 2000, and setting forth appropriate budgetary
levels for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2005.
2000/04/25
Daily Digest - Tuesday, April 25, 2000; pages D384 - D388
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--ARMY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded hearings on
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the Army, after receiving
testimony from Louis Caldera, Secretary, and Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, Chief of
Staff, both of the Department of the Army.
FEDERAL MASS TRANSIT GRANT PROGRAM
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded
oversight hearings to examine issues relating to the Transportation Equity Act
for the 21st Century (TEA-21) transit grant program, focusing on the
Department of Labor's process for issuing certifications for grant
applications, the length of the process, and its potential to delay or change
mass transit projects, after receiving testimony from John H. Anderson, Jr.,
Director, Transportation Issues, Resources, Community and Economic Development
Division, General Accounting Office; Bernard E. Anderson, Assistant Secretary
of Labor for Employment Standards Administration; Nuria I. Fernandez, Acting
Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation;
James La Sala, Amalgamated Transit Union, and Charles Moneypenny, Transport
Workers Union of America, both of Washington, D.C.; Roger Snoble, Dallas Area
Rapid Transit Authority, Dallas, Texas; Lee G. Gibson, Regional Transportation
Commission of Clark County, Nevada, Las Vegas; and James Stoetzel, Transit
Safety Management, Boston, Massachusetts.
ENDANGERED FISH RECOVERY
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded hearings on S. 2239, to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to
provide cost sharing for the endangered fish recovery implementation programs
for the Upper Colorado River and San Juan River basins, after receiving
testimony from Senator Allard; Eluid L. Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of
Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Leslie James, Colorado River Energy
Distributors Association, Tempe, Arizona; Greg Walcher, Colorado Department of
Natural Resources, Denver; L. Randy Kirkpatrick, San Juan Water Commission,
Farmington, New Mexico; Tom Pitts, Water Consult, Loveland, Colorado, on
behalf of the Colorado Water Congress, Utah Water Users Association, and
Wyoming Water Development Association; and Daniel F. Luecke, Environmental
Defense, Boulder, Colorado.
U.S. EAST ASIA AID PROGRAMS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
concluded hearings to examine issues relating to U.S. aid programs and
priorities in East Asia, focusing on how USAID is promoting U.S. national and
foreign policy interests, after receiving testimony from Robert C. Randolph,
Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia and the Near East, U.S. Agency for
International Development.
PAIN RELIEF PROMOTION
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on H.R. 2260 and S.
1272, bills to amend the Controlled Substances Act to promote pain management
and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia, after
receiving testimony from Senators Nickles, Wyden, and Gordon Smith; Eric
Chevlen, St. Elizabeth Medical Center Cancer Care Center, Youngstown, Ohio;
Arthur L. Caplan, University of Pennsylvania Center for Bioethics,
Philadelphia; Rabbi J. David Bleich, Benjamin Cardozo School of Law,
Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Union of Orthodox Jewish Congregations of
America; Kathleen M. Foley, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York,
New York; and Walter R. Hunter, VistaCare Hospice, Scottsdale, Arizona.
[Page: D386]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/04/26
Daily Digest - Wednesday, April 26, 2000; pages D390 - D394
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 2001 for the Department of Defense,
after receiving testimony from William S. Cohen, Secretary of Defense; and
Gen. Henry H. Shelton, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
STEM CELL RESEARCH
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education concluded hearings on issues relating to stem cell research,
after receiving testimony from Senator Brownback; Gerald Fischbach, Director,
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, and Allen M. Spiegel,
Director, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases,
both of the National Institutes of Health, and Frank Young, D391Commissioner,
Food and Drug Administration, all of the Department of Health and Human
Services; Mary Jane Owen, National Catholic Office for Persons with
Disabilities, Washington, D.C.; Lawrence S. B. Goldstein, University of
California, San Diego School of Medicine, San Diego, on behalf of the American
Society for Cell Biology; Christopher Reeve, Christopher Reeve Paralysis
Foundation, Springfield, New Jersey; and Jennifer Estess, Los Angeles,
California.
[Page: D391]
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
concluded hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year
2001 for the Department of Defense and the Future Years Defense Program,
focusing on acquisition reform efforts, the acquisition workforce, logistics
contracting and inventory management practices, and the Defense Industrial
Base, after receiving testimony from Jacques S. Gansler, Under Secretary for
Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, and Donald Mancuso, Deputy Inspector
General, both of the Department of Defense; and David M. Walker, Comptroller
General of the United States, General Accounting Office.
SECURITIES INDUSTRY MARKET STRUCTURE
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Securities
concluded oversight hearings on the security industry market structure,
focusing on competition and transparency, the New York Stock Exchange Market
Structure Report, and the Intermarket Trading System, after receiving
testimony from Richard A. Grasso, New York Stock Exchange, New York; Antonio
Cecin, U.S. Bancorp Piper Jaffray, Inc., Minneapolis, Minnesota; Kenneth D.
Pasternak, Knight/Trimark Group, Inc., Jersey City, New Jersey; John W.
Bachmann, Edward Jones Investments, St. Louis, Missouri; Harold Bradley,
American Century Investors, Kansas City, Missouri; and David Colker,
Cincinnati Stock Exchange, Chicago, Illinois.
LAND MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management held hearings on S. 2273, to establish the Black Rock
Desert-High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trails National Conservation Area, and S.
2048, to establish the San Rafael Western Legacy District in the State of
Utah, receiving testimony from Senators Hatch, Bennett, Reid, and Bryan; Molly
McUsic, Counselor to the Secretary of the Interior; Randy G. Johnson, Kent R.
Petersen, and Ira Hatch, all of the Emery County Commission, Castle Dale,
Utah; Wes Curtis, Governor's Rural Partnership Office, Cedar City, Utah;
Wilson G. Martin, State Historic Preservation Office, Salt Lake City, Utah;
Larry Young, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance, Washington, D.C.; Patrick
Fagan, Nevada Commission on Mineral Resources, and Stuart L. Brown, on behalf
of the Nevada and California Cattlemen's Associations and the Nevada and
California Public Lands Councils, both of Carson City, Nevada; Charles H.
Dodd, Oregon-California Trails Association, Chilcoot, California; John H.
Milton III, Humboldt County Commission, Winnemucca, Nevada; and Roger Scholl,
on behalf of the Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Nevada Wilderness Project,
Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, and American Lands
Alliance, and Susan Lynn, both of Reno, Nevada.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
U.S. INTERNATIONAL BROADCASTING PRIORITIES
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations
concluded hearings to examine the process for identifying the priorities and
impact of U.S. international broadcasting language services, after receiving
testimony from Edward E. Kaufman and Alberto Mora, both of the Broadcasting
Board of Governors, Washington, D.C.
HEALTH INFORMATION PRIVACY
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee resumed
hearings to examine issues dealing with privacy of individually identifiable
health information, focusing on related provisions of the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act, receiving testimony from Janet Heinrich,
Associate Director, Health Financing and Public Health Issues, Health,
Education, and Human Services Division, General Accounting Office; John P.
Houston, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Health System, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania, on behalf of the American Hospital Association; Kathy Farmer,
Hewlett Packard, Palo Alto, California, on behalf of the Washington Business
Group on Health; E. Greg Koski, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston; Joanna
C. Horobin, EntreMed, Inc., Rockville, Maryland, on behalf of the
Biotechnology Industry Organization; and Charles N. Kahn III, Health Insurance
Association of America, and Janlori Goldman, Georgetown University Institute
for Health Care Research and Policy, both of Washington, D.C.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee resumed hearings on campaign
finance reform issues, focusing on citizen participation, the constitutional
D392and practical implications of updating campaign finance law,
disproportionate influence of interest groups, and perceived campaign finance
abuses, receiving testimony from Senator Hatch; Laura W. Murphy, American
Civil Liberties Union, Washington, D.C.; E. Joshua Rosenkranz, New York
University School of Law Brennan Center for Justice, New York; and James Bopp,
Jr., Bopp, Coleson and Bostrom, Terre Haute, Indiana, on behalf of the James
Madison Center for Free Speech.
[Page: D392]
Hearings resume on Wednesday, May 3.
AUTHORIZATION--AMERICAN INDIAN EDUCATION
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for the Elementary and Secondary Education Act,
focusing on American Indian education programs, including the role of school
boards in hiring educators, education standards, and accountability issues,
after receiving testimony from Carmen Taylor, National Indian School Board
Association, Polson, Montana; Roger Bordeaux, Tiospa Zina Tribal School,
Agency Village, South Dakota, on behalf of the Association of Community Tribal
Schools, Inc.; Mark Sorensen, Little Singer Community School, Winslow,
Arizona, on behalf of the Native American Grant School Association; Angela
Barney Nez, Navajo Area School Board Association, Window Rock, Arizona; and
John W. Cheek, National Indian Education Association, Alexandria, Virginia.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/04/27
Daily Digest - Thursday, April 27, 2000; pages D395 - D402
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATION
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of Michael V. Dunn, of Iowa, to be a Member of the
Farm Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit Administration, after the
nominee testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
AGRICULTURE OWNERSHIP CONCENTRATION
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings on proposed legislation relating to agriculture concentration of
ownership and competitive issues, focusing on antitrust enforcement and the
Department of Agriculture's role in the agribusiness merger review process,
after receiving testimony from John M. Nannes, Deputy Assistant Attorney
General, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice; James F. Rill, Howrey and
Simon, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Industry Structure Coalition; David
C. Nelson, CS First Boston, New York, New York; Peter C. Carstensen,
University of Wisconsin School of Law, Madison; Stephen R. Koontz, Colorado
State University Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Fort
Collins; John Greig, Greig Company, Estherville, Iowa, on behalf of the
National Cattlemen's Beef Association; Jon Caspers, Swaledale, Iowa, on behalf
of the National Pork Producers Council; Leland Swenson, National Farmers
Union, Aurora, Colorado; and Ron Warfield, Illinois Farm Bureau, Gibson City,
on behalf of the American Farm Bureau Federation.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nominations of Bruce Sundlun, of Rhode Island, and Manuel Trinidad Pacheco, of
Arizona, each to be a Member of the National Security Education Board,
Department of Defense.
Also, Committee ordered favorably reported 2,560 nominations in the Navy,
Marine Corps, Army, and Air Force.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REFORM
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
International Trade and Finance held oversight hearings on the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) and International Financial Institutions (IFI), focusing
on institutional support and reform, the Administration's IMF and World Bank
reform agenda, and the IFI Advisory Commission report, receiving testimony
from Timothy F. Geithner, Under Secretary of the Treasury for International
Affairs; Allan H. Meltzer, Carnegie Mellon University Graduate School of
Industrial Administration, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, C. Fred Bergsten,
Institute for International Economics, Washington, D.C., and Adam Lerrick,
Barrytown, New York, all on behalf of the IFI Advisory Commission; and Steve
H. Hanke, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
ELECTRIC POWER LEGISLATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on S.
2098, to facilitate the transition to more competitive and efficient electric
power markets, and to ensure electric reliability, S. 2071, to benefit
electricity consumers by promoting D397the reliability of the bulk-power
system, S. 1369, to enhance the benefits of the national electric system by
encouraging and supporting State programs for renewable energy sources,
universal electric service, affordable electric service, and energy
conservation and efficiency, S. 1284, to amend the Federal Power Act to ensure
that no State may establish, maintain, or enforce on behalf of any electric
utility an exclusive right to sell electric energy or otherwise unduly
discriminate against any consumer who seeks to purchase electric energy in
interstate commerce from any supplier, S. 1273, to amend the Federal Power
Act, to facilitate the transition to more competitive and efficient electric
power markets, S. 1047, to provide for a more competitive electric power
industry, S. 516, to benefit consumers by promoting competition in the
electric power industry, and S. 282, to provide that no electric utility shall
be required to enter into a new contract or obligation to purchase or to sell
electricity or capacity under section 210 of the Public Utility Regulatory
Policies Act of 1978, after receiving testimony from James J. Hoecker,
Chairman, Linda Breathitt, Commissioner, William L. Massey, Commissioner, and
Curt L. Hebert, Jr., Commissioner, all of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission, Department of Energy.
[Page: D397]
NATIONAL PARKS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION AND RECREATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S. 1438, to
establish the National Law Enforcement Museum on Federal land in the District
of Columbia, S. 1921, to authorize the placement within the site of the
Vietnam Veterans Memorial of a plaque to honor Vietnam veterans who died after
their service in the Vietnam war, but as a direct result of that service, S.
2231 and H.R. 2879, bills to provide for the placement at the Lincoln Memorial
of a plaque commemorating the speech of Martin Luther King, Jr., known as the
"I Have A Dream" speech, S. 2343, to amend the National Historic Preservation
Act for the purposes of establishing a national historic lighthouse
preservation program, S. 2352, to designate portions of the Wekiva River and
associated tributaries as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers
System, H.R. 1749, to designate Wilson Creek in Avery and Caldwell Counties,
North Carolina, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System;
and H.R. 3201, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the
suitability and feasibility of designating the Carter G. Woodson Home in the
District of Columbia as a National Historic Site, after receiving testimony
from District of Columbia Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton; John G. Parsons,
Associate Regional Director, Lands, Resources, and Planning, National Capital
Region, National Park Service, Department of the Interior, and Chairman,
National Capital Memorial Commission; Randle G. Phillips, Deputy Chief for
Programs and Legislation, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Craig W.
Floyd, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Inc., Shirley A.
Gibson, Concerns of Police Survivors, Inc., Lt. Col. James G. Zumwalt, II,
USMCR (Ret.) and Robert W. Doubek, both of the Vietnam War in Memory Memorial,
Inc., and Jim Doyle, Vietnam Veterans of America, all of Washington, D.C.;
Fran P. Mainella, Florida Department of Environmental Protection Division of
Recreation and Parks, Tallahassee; Phares M. Heindl, Friends of the Wekiva
River, Inc., Longwood, Florida; and Herbert H. Greene and Ronald R. Beane,
both of the Caldwell County Commission, Lenoir, North Carolina.
NAFTA
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Peace
Corps, Narcotics and Terrorism held hearings to examine issues relating to the
North American Free Trade Agreement and its impact on U.S. relations with the
Americas, receiving testimony from Kenneth H. MacKay, Jr., White House Special
Envoy for the Americas; Bryan Samuel, Acting Assistant Secretary of State for
Economic and Business Affairs; Thomas E. McNamara, Council of the Americas,
New York, New York; M. Delal Baer, Center for Strategic and International
Studies Mexico Project, Washington, D.C.; and Michael M. Woody, Quill Company,
Cranston, Rhode Island.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
H.R. 2260, to amend the Controlled Substances Act to promote pain management
and palliative care without permitting assisted suicide and euthanasia, with
an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
S. 1854, to reform the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
Also, Committee approved a resolution for issuance of a subpoena for the
personal appearance of Charles LaBella pursuant to Rule 26.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of
Kent J. Dawson, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada,
Nicholas G. Garaufis, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern
District of New York, D398Phyllis J. Hamilton, to be United States District
Judge for the Northern District of California, Roger L. Hunt, to be United
States District Judge for the District of Nevada, Gerard E. Lynch, to be a
United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, and Donnie
R. Marshall, of Texas, to be Administrator of Drug Enforcement, Department of
Justice, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own
behalf. Mr. Dawson and Mr. Hunt were introduced by Senators Reid and Bryan,
Mr. Garaufis and Mr. Lynch were introduced by Senators Schumer and Moynihan,
and Mr. Marshall was introduced by Senator Hutchison.
[Page: D398]
STATE WORKERS' COMPENSATION
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on
Employment, Safety and Training concluded hearings on the relationship between
the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's proposed Ergonomic Program
Standard and State Workers' Compensation laws, after receiving testimony from
Charles N. Jeffress, Assistant Secretary of Occupational Safety and Health
Administration; Robert M. Aurbach, New Mexico Workers' Compensation
Administration, Albuquerque; Laurie T. Baulig, Scopelitis, Garvin, Light and
Hanson, on behalf of the National Coalition on Ergonomics, and Eric J. Oxfeld,
UWC-Strategic Services on Unemployment and Workers' Compensation, both of
Washington, D.C.; and M. Patricia Smith, New York State Attorney General's
Office, New York.
AUTHORIZATION--INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee ordered favorably reported an
original bill authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 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.
2000/05/01
Daily Digest - Monday, May 1, 2000; pages D403 - D406
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.D404
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/02
Daily Digest - Tuesday, May 2, 2000; pages D407 - D414
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
approved for full committee consideration those provisions, which fall within
the jurisdiction of the subcommittee, of proposed legislation authorizing
appropriations for fiscal year 2001 for military activities of the Department
of Defense.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel approved for full
committee consideration those provisions, which fall within the jurisdiction
of the subcommittee, of proposed legislation authorizing appropriations for
fiscal year 2001 for military activities of the Department of Defense.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
approved for full committee consideration those provisions, which fall within
the jurisdiction of the subcommittee, of proposed legislation authorizing
appropriations for fiscal year 2001 for military activities of the Department
of Defense.
SUCCESSFUL STATE ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded oversight
hearings on State environmental success stories and environmental protection
program improvements, focusing on the EPA's relationship with States,
enforcement, funding, inspections, administration, land recycling and
brownfields, data management, non-point source runoff, technology, and the
ECOS/EPA Regulatory Innovation Agreement, after receiving testimony from W.
Michael McCabe, Acting Deputy Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency;
Peter F. Guerrero, Director, Environmental Protection Issues, Resources,
Community, and Economic Development Division, General Accounting Office; R.
Lewis Shaw, South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control,
Columbia, and Robert W. Varney, New Hampshire Department of Environmental
Services, Concord, both on behalf of the Environmental Council of the States
(ECOS); James M. Seif, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection,
Harrisburg; Brent C. Bradford, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Salt
Lake City; Lynn Scarlett, Reason Public Policy Institute, Los Angeles,
California; and Erik D. Olson, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Jason S.
Grumet, Northeast States for Coordinated Air Use Management, both of
Washington, D.C.
INTER-AMERICAN CONVENTION AGAINST CORRUPTION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on Inter-American
Convention Against Corruptions ("the Convention"), adopted and opened for
signature at the Specialized Conference of the Organization of American States
(OAS) at Caracas, Venezuela, on March 29, 1996. The Convention was signed by
the United States on June 27, 1996, at the twenty-seventh regular session of
the OAS General Assembly meeting in Panama City, Panama (Treaty Doc. 105-39),
after receiving testimony from Alan Larson, Under Secretary of State for
Economic, D409Business and Agricultural Affairs; and Ambassador William T.
Pryce, Council of the Americas, Nancy Zucker Boswell, Transparency
International USA, and Lucinda A. Low, Inter-American Bar Association, on
behalf of the American Bar Association, all of Washington, D.C.
[Page: D409]
FEDERAL EMPLOYEE INCENTIVE PROGRAMS
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government
Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia concluded hearings to
examine the effectiveness of Federal employee incentive programs in achieving
high employee performance, focusing on recruitment and retention, monetary
incentives, work scheduling, leave flexibility, awards, motivation, and issues
relating to information technology, after receiving testimony from Roberta L.
Gross, Inspector General, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Henry
Romero, Associate Director, Workforce Compensation and Performance, Office of
Personnel Management; Michael Brostek, Associate Director, Federal Management
and Workforce Issues, General Government Division, General Accounting Office;
and Colleen M. Kelley, National Treasury Employees Union, Washington, D.C.
LABELLA MEMORANDUM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the
Courts held hearings to examine Department of Justice activities about alleged
improprieties during the 1996 Presidential campaign cycle, focusing on the
LaBella Memorandum, receiving testimony from Charles LaBella, former Chief,
Department of Justice Campaign Finance Task Force.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
AIRLINE COMPETITION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights, and
Competition concluded hearings to examine issues dealing with the state of
competition in the deregulated airline industry and the application of related
antitrust laws, after receiving testimony from Alfred E. Kahn, Cornell
University Department of Economics, Ithaca, New York; Steven A. Morrison,
Northeastern University Department of Economics, Boston, Massachusetts; Donald
J. Carty, American Airlines, Inc., Dallas, Texas; Robert R. Ferguson III,
Midway Airlines Corporation, Morrisville, North Carolina; and Bill La Macchia,
Jr., Sun Country Airlines, Mendota Heights, Minnesota.
WATER RIGHTS
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on provisions of S.
2350, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to certain water
rights to Duchesne City, Utah, and S. 2351, to provide for the settlement of
the water rights claims of the Shivwits Band of the Paiute Indian tribe of
Utah, after receiving testimony from Senator Bennett; David J. Hayes, Deputy
Secretary of the Interior; Mayor Kim Hamlin, Duchesne, Utah; Craig Smith,
Nielsen and Senior, and Darin Bird, Utah Department of Natural Resources, both
of Salt Lake City, Utah; Mayor Daniel D. McArthur, and Ron Thompson,
Washington County Water Conservancy District, both of St. George, Utah; and
Glenn Rogers, Shivwits Band of Paiute Indians of Utah, Santa Clara.
SOCIAL SECURITY FRAUD
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
vulnerability of the Social Security Representative Payee Program, focusing on
solutions to prevent and detect representative payee abuses, after receiving
testimony from Susan M. Daniels, Deputy Commissioner, Disability and Income
Security Programs, and James G. Huse, Jr., Inspector General, both of the
Social Security Administration; Betty Byrd, Martinsburg, West Virginia; and
Theresa King, an incarcerated witness.
[Page: D410]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/03
Daily Digest - Wednesday May 3, 2000; pages D415 - D422
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 2001 for the Department of Defense,
after receiving testimony from numerous public witnesses.
[Page: D416]
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to mark up
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for military
activities of the Department of Defense, but did not complete action thereon,
and will meet again tomorrow.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland approved for full
committee consideration those provisions, which fall within the jurisdiction
of the subcommittee, of proposed legislation authorizing appropriations for
fiscal year 2001 for military activities of the Department of Defense.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on SeaPower approved for full
committee consideration those provisions, which fall within the jurisdiction
of the subcommittee, of proposed legislation authorizing appropriations for
fiscal year 2001 for military activities of the Department of Defense.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic approved for full
committee consideration those provisions, which fall within the jurisdiction
of the subcommittee, of proposed legislation authorizing appropriations for
fiscal year 2001 for military activities of the Department of Defense.
BOSTON CENTRAL ARTERY/TUNNEL PROJECT
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine issues dealing with the Boston Central Artery/Tunnel
project, focusing on mismanagement, federal oversight, cost overruns, and
outstanding federal financial obligation, after receiving testimony from
Rodney E. Slater, Secretary, and Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General, both of
the Department of Transportation; Andrew S. Natsios, Massachusetts Turnpike
Authority, Matthew Wiley, Bechtel/Parsons Brinckeroff Joint Venture, and
Richard A. Dimino, Artery Business Committee, all of Boston, Massachusetts;
and Richard L. Thomas, American International Group Companies, Inc., New York,
New York.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee resumed hearings on campaign
finance reform issues, focusing on Internet political speech, and S. 1747, to
amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to exclude certain Internet
communications from the definition of expenditure, after receiving testimony
from Senators Bennett and Burns; and David M. Mason and Karl J. Sandstrom,
both Commissioners, Federal Election Commission.
Hearings resume on Wednesday, May 17.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills:
H.R. 2484, to provide that land which is owned by the Lower Sioux Indian
Community in the State of Minnesota but which is not held in trust by the
United States for the Community may be leased or transferred by the Community
without further approval by the United States;
S. 1967, to make technical corrections to the status of certain land held in
trust for the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, to take certain land into
trust for that Band; and
S. 1929, to amend the Native Hawaiian Health Care Improvement Act to revise
and extend such Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
[Page: D417]
Joint Meetings
IRS REFORM
Joint Committee on Taxation: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
strategic plans and fiscal year 2001 budget of the Internal Revenue Service,
focusing on the progress and problems in implementing the IRS Restructuring
and Reform Act of 1998, after receiving testimony from Charles O. Rossotti,
Commissioner, and W. Val Oveson, National Taxpayer Advocate, both of the
Internal Revenue Service, and David C. Williams, Inspector General for Tax
Administration, all of the Department D420of the Treasury; and James R. White,
Director, Tax Policy and Administration Issues, General Government Division,
General Accounting Office.
2000/05/04
Daily Digest - Thursday, May 4, 2000; pages D423 - D432
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
CARBON CYCLE RESEARCH AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Subcommittee on Production
and Price Competitiveness concluded hearings to examine carbon cycle research
and agriculture's role in mitigating greenhouse gases and reducing climate
changes, after receiving testimony from David J. Hofmann, Director, Climate
Monitoring and Diagnostics Laboratory, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Department of Commerce; Keith Collins, Chief Economist, and
John M. Kimble, Research Soil Scientist, Natural Resources Conservation
Service, both of the Department of Agriculture; Richard E. Stuckey, Council
for Agricultural Science and Technology, Ames, Iowa; Charles W. Rice, Kansas
State University Department of Agronomy, Lincoln, Nebraska, on behalf of the
Soil Science Society of America and American Society of Agronomy; William
Richards, Circleville, Ohio, former Chief of the Soil Conservation Service;
and John C. Haas, Larned, Kansas, on behalf of the Kansas and the National
Grain Sorghum Producers Association and Council for Agricultural Research,
Extension and Teaching.
APPROPRIATIONS--SUBCOMMITTEE ALLOCATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Committee completed its review of subcommittee
allocations of budget outlays and new budget authority allocated to the
committee in H. Con. Res. 290, establishing the congressional budget for the
United States Government for fiscal year 2001, revising the congressional
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2000, and setting
forth appropriate budgetary levels for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2005.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development,
and Related Agencies approved for full committee consideration an original
bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2001.
APPROPRIATIONS--NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001, after
receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from
Eamon M. Kelly, Chairman, and Rita Colwell, Director, both of the National
Science Foundation; and Neil Lane, Director, Office of Science and Technology
Policy.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to continue
markup of proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for
military activities of the Department of Defense, but did not complete action
thereon, and will meet again on Tuesday, May 9.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearing on the nominations of J. Randolph Babbitt, of Virginia, Robert W.
Baker, of Texas, Edward M. Bolen, of Maryland, Phil Boyer, of Maryland, Debbie
D. Branson, of Texas, Geoffrey T. Crowley, of Wisconsin, Robert A. Davis, of
Washington, and Kendall W. Wilson, of the District of Columbia, each to be a
Member of the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council, Department of
Transportation, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their
own behalf. Mr. Baker was introduced by Senator Hutchison, and Ms. Branson was
introduced by Senators Hutchison and Hollings.
[Page: D425]
FOREST SERVICE STEWARDSHIP CONTRACTING PROGRAM
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management concluded oversight hearings on the United States Forest
Service's use of current and proposed stewardship contracting procedures,
including authorities under section 347 of the FY 1999 Omnibus Appropriations
Act, and whether these procedures assist or could be improved to assist forest
management activities to meet goals of ecosystem management, restoration, and
employment opportunities on public lands, after receiving testimony from Ann
Bartuska, Director of Forest Management, Forest Service, Department of
Agriculture; Jim Hubbard, Colorado State Forest Service, Fort Collins, on
behalf of the National Association of State Foresters; Lynn Jungwirth,
Watershed Research and Training Center, Hayfork, California; Carol Daly,
Flathead Economic Policy Center, Columbia Falls, Montana, on behalf of the
Flathead Forestry Project; Richard Willhite, Shearer Lumber Products, Elk
City, Idaho; Diane Snyder, Wallowa Resources, Enterprise, Oregon; George
Ramirez, Las Humanas Cooperative, Tajique, New Mexico; Charles Spencer,
University of Oregon Labor Education and Research Center, Eugene, on behalf of
the Ecosystem Workforce Program; Phil Dahl-Bredine, Cooperative Ownership
Development Corporation, Silver City, New Mexico, on behalf of the Tierra Alta
Wood Products Industry and Jobs and Biodiversity Coalition; Paul M. Harlan,
Collins Companies, Lakeview, Oregon; and Gerald J. Gray, American Forests,
Steve Holmer, American Lands Alliance, and Michael T. Leahy, National Audubon
Society, all of Washington, D.C.
MEDICARE REFORM
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine the Health Care
Financing Administration's role and readiness in Medicare reform, receiving
testimony from Nancy-Ann Min DeParle, Administrator, Health Care Financing
Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; William E. Flynn,
III, Associate Director for Retirement and Insurance, Office of Personnel
Management; William J. Scanlon, Director, Health Financing and Public Health
Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General Accounting
Office; Rogelio Garcia, Specialist in American National Government, Government
and Finance Division, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress;
Gail R. Wilensky, Project HOPE, Bethesda, Maryland; and Judith Feder,
Georgetown University Public Policy Institute, Washington, D.C.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
U.S. LIBYA POLICY
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian
Affairs concluded hearings to examine U.S. foreign policy toward Libya,
focusing on economic issues, politics, foreign relations, the Great Man-Made
River project, and the indictments following Pan Am 103 and UTA 772 terrorist
explosion, after receiving testimony from Ronald Neumann, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs; John R. Bolton, American
Enterprise Institute, Washington, D.C.; and Stephanie Bernstein, Justice for
Pan Am 103, Bethesda, Maryland.
NATIONAL PARTNERSHIP FOR REINVENTING GOVERNMENT
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government
Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia concluded hearings to
examine the management reform efforts of the National Partnership for
Reinventing Government for the last seven years, including changes to
government management and programs that were proposed and implemented, and S.
2306, to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of the Federal Government,
after receiving testimony from J. Christopher Mihm, Associate Director,
Federal Management and Workforce Issues, General Government Division, General
Accounting Office; Ronald C. Moe, Project Coordinator, Government and Finance
Division, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; Paul C. Light,
Brookings Institution, and Scott A. Hodge, Citizens for a Sound Economy
Foundation, both of Washington, D.C.; and Donald F. Kettl, University of
Wisconsin LaFollette Institute of Public Affairs, Madison, on behalf of the
Brookings Institution.
AGRICULTURAL JOBS, OPPORTUNITIES, AND BENEFITS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration concluded hearings on
S. 1814, to establish a system of registries of temporary agricultural workers
to provide for a sufficient supply of such workers and to amend the
Immigration and Nationality Act to streamline procedures for the admission and
extension of stay of nonimmigrant agricultural workers, after receiving
testimony from Senators Graham, Craig, and Gordon Smith; Representative Berman
and Bishop; Josh Wunsch, Wunsch Farms, Traverse City, Michigan, on behalf of
the Michigan Farm Bureau and the American Farm Bureau; Polo Garcia, House of
Zion Ministries, Inc., Woodburn, Oregon; Cecilia Munoz, National Council of La
Raza, and James S. Holt, McGuiness, Norris and Williams and the Employment
Policy Foundation, on behalf of the D426National Council of Agricultural
Employers, both of Washington, D.C.; and Marcos Camacho, United Farm Workers
of America, AFL-CIO, Keene, California.
[Page: D426]
Joint Meetings
SUB-SAHARA AFRICA TRADE
Conferees on Wednesday, May 3, agreed to file a conference report on the
differences between the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 434, to
authorize a new trade and investment policy for sub-Sahara Africa, expand
trade benefits to the countries in the Caribbean Basin, renew the generalized
system of preferences, and reauthorize the trade adjustment assistance
programs.
2000/05/08
Daily Digest - Monday, May 8, 2000; pages D434 - D438
Committee Meetings
No Committee meetings were held.
[Page: D435]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/09
Daily Digest - Tuesday, May 9, 2000; pages D440- D446
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills:
An original bill (S. 2521), making appropriations for military construction,
family housing, and base realignment and closure for the Department of Defense
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001;
An original bill (S. 2522), making appropriations for foreign operations,
export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September
30, 2001; and
An original bill, making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development,
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2001.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills:
An original bill entitled "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2001";
An original bill entitled "Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2001";
An original bill entitled "Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2001"; and
An original bill entitled "Department of Energy National Security Act for
Fiscal Year 2001".
CHINA-WTO AGREEMENT
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
to examine certain implications relating to the U.S. decision to grant China
Permanent Normal Trade Relations and China's entry into the World Trade
Organization, focusing on initiatives to open foreign financial markets, after
receiving testimony from Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary of the Treasury;
Charlene Barshefsky, United States Trade Representative; Marc E. Lackritz,
Securities Industry Association, and Gary G. Benanav, New York Life
International, Inc., on behalf of the International Insurance Council, both of
Washington, D.C.; and Robert P. Morrow, III, Bank of America Corporation, San
Francisco, California, on behalf of the Financial Services Roundtable.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government
Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia concluded hearings to
examine performance management in the District of Columbia, focusing on
electrical and building permit processes, Citywide Call Center launch, and
drug activity reduction, receiving testimony from Mayor Anthony A. Williams,
Washington, D.C.
CARIBBEAN DRUG TRAFFICKING
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Oversight
concluded oversight hearings to examine Caribbean drug trafficking, focusing
on smuggling trends, law enforcement efforts and funding, and recent
enforcement successes, after receiving testimony from Vice Adm. John E. Shkor,
Commander, Coast Guard Atlantic Area, Department of Transportation; Michael S.
Vigil, Special Agent in Charge, Caribbean Field Division, Drug Enforcement
Administration, Department of Justice; and John C. Varrone, Acting Deputy
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Investigations, United States Customs
Service, Department of the Treasury.
DOMESTIC HEROIN USE
United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control: Caucus
concluded hearings to examine issues relating to the domestic effects of
heroin use, focusing on prevention, community and parental involvement,
addiction research, juvenile residential treatment programs, and the proposed
Drug Treatment and Research Enhancement Act, after receiving testimony from
Mitchell S. Rosenthal, Phoenix House Foundation, New York, New York; Charles
O'Brien, University of Pennsylvania Center for Studies of Addiction,
Philadelphia; Jessica M. Hulsey, Civic Solutions, Washington, D.C.; Marie
Allen, Wilmington, Delaware; and certain other public witnesses.
[Page: D442]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/10
Daily Digest - Wednesday, May 10, 2000 ; pages D447 - D454
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education approved for full committee consideration an original bill
making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2001.
NATIONAL FOREST PLANNING REGULATIONS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management concluded oversight hearings on the United States Forest
Service's proposed revisions to the regulations governing National Forest
Planning, after receiving testimony from James R. Lyons, Under Secretary of
Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment; James P. Perry, Arlington,
Virginia, former Associate General Counsel of Natural Resources, Department of
Agriculture; and Steve Holmer, American Lands Alliance, and Steven P. Quarles,
American Forest and Paper Association, both of Washington, DC.
UNITED NATIONS REFORM
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations
concluded hearings to examine the status of reforms to improve the United
Nations, focusing on restructuring leadership and operations, developing a
performance-based human capital system, and introducing results-oriented
programming and budgeting processes, after receiving testimony from C. David
Welch, Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs;
and Harold J. Johnson, Associate Director, International Relations and Trade
Issues, National Security and International Affairs Division, General
Accounting Office.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Brian Dean Curran, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic
of Haiti, David N. Greenlee, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Paraguay, Ronald D. Godard, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Co-operative
Republic of Guyana, Donna Jean Hrinak, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Venezuela, Daniel A. Johnson, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Suriname, Rose M. Likins, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of El Salvador, Anne Woods Patterson, of Virginia, to be Ambassador
to the Republic of Colombia, V. Manuel Rocha, of California, to be Ambassador
to the Republic of Bolivia, and James Donald Walsh, of California, to be
Ambassador to Argentina, after the nominees testified and answered questions
in their own behalf.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Anna Blackburne-Rigsby, Thomas J. Motley, and John McAdam Mott,
each to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of
Columbia, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own
behalf. Ms. Blackburne-Rigsby was introduced by Senator Schumer, and Mr.
Motley and Mr. Mott were introduced by District of Columbia Delegate Eleanor
Holmes Norton.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Allen R. Snyder, of Maryland, to be United States Circuit Judge for the
District of Columbia Circuit, James J. Brady, to be United States District
Judge for the Middle District of Louisiana, and Mary A. McLaughlin, Berle M.
Schiller, Richard Barclay Surrick, and Petrese B. Tucker, each to be a United
States District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Nominee Snyder
was introduced by Senator Warner, nominee Brady was introduced by Senator
Breaux, and nominees McLaughlin, Schiller, Surrick, D449and Tucker were
introduced by Senators Specter and Santorum.
[Page: D449]
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills:
H.R. 1953, to authorize leases for terms not to exceed 99 years on land held
in trust for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians and the Guidiville
Band of Pomo Indians of the Guidiville Indian Rancheria; and
S. 2102, to provide to the Timbisha Shoshone Tribe a permanent land base
within its aboriginal homeland, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
INDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee held hearings on S. 2526, to amend the
Indian Health Care Improvement Act to revise and extend such Act, receiving
testimony from Taylor McKenzie, Navajo Nation, Window Rock, Arizona; Julia
Davis, Nez Perce Tribe, Portland, Oregon, on behalf of the Northwest Portland
Area Indian Health Board and the National Indian Health Board; Yvette
Roubideaux, University of Arizona College of Public Health, Tucson, on behalf
of the Association of American Indian Physicians; Barbara Dahlen, University
of North Dakota College of Nursing, Grand Forks, on behalf of the Recruitment
and Retention of American Indians into Nursing; Gerald Danforth, Oneida Tribe
of Indians of Wisconsin, Oneida; and Douglas Eby, Southcentral Foundation,
Anchorage, Alaska.
Hearings continue on Wednesday, July 26.
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.
2000/05/11
Daily Digest - Thursday, May 11, 2000; pages D455 - D464
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
bill making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human
Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2001.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the nominations of Richard Court Houseworth, of Arizona, to be a Member of
the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and Nuria
I. Fernandez, of Illinois, to be Federal Transit Administrator, Department of
Transportation, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their
own behalf. Mr. Houseworth was introduced by Senator Kyl and former Senator
DeConcini, and Mr. Fernandez was introduced by Senator Sarbanes.
PIPELINE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on proposed legislation reauthorizing funds for programs of the
Pipeline Safety Act, focusing on the natural gas and hazardous liquid pipeline
transportation industry safety, federal regulation adequacy, and additional
safeguards, after receiving testimony from Senator Murray; Representatives
Metcalf and Inslee; Kelley S. Coyner, Administrator, Research and Special
Programs Administration, and Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General, both of the
Department of Transportation; John A. Hammerschmidt, Member, National
Transportation Safety Board; William J. Haener, CMS Gas Transmission and
Storage, Dearborn, Michigan, on behalf of the Interstate Natural Gas
Association of America; Phillip D. Wright, Williams Energy Services, Tulsa,
Oklahoma, on behalf of the Association of Oil Pipe Lines and the American
Petroleum Institute; Charles R. Kenow, Minnesota Department of Public Safety,
St. Paul, on behalf of the National Association of Pipeline Safety
Representatives; Richard Reiten, Northwest Natural, Portland, Oregon, on
behalf of the American Gas Association; James M. Pates, City of
Fredericksburg, Fredericksburg, Virginia, on behalf of the National Pipeline
Reform Coalition; and Mayor Mark Asmundson, Frank King, Mary King, Marlene
Robinson, Bruce Brabec, and Katherine Dalen, all of Bellingham, Washington.
NATIONAL PARKS, HISTORIC PRESERVATION, AND RECREATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S. 1367, to amend
the Act which established the Saint-Gaudens Historic Site, in the State of New
Hampshire, by modifying the boundary, S. 1617, to promote preservation and
public awareness of the history of the Underground Railroad by providing
financial assistance, to the Freedom Center in Cincinnati, Ohio, S. 1670, to
revise the boundary of Fort Matanzas National Monument, S. 2020, to adjust the
boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi, S. 2478, to require the
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a theme study on the peopling of America,
and S. D4572485, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance
in planning and constructing a regional heritage center in Calais, Maine,
after receiving testimony from Senators Cochran, DeWine, and Collins; Denis P.
Galvin, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior;
Nancy Foner, State University of New York, Purchase, on behalf of the American
Anthropological Association; and Arnoldo Ramos, Council of Latino Agencies,
and Dorothy I. Height, National Council of Negro Women, on behalf of the
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center, both of Washington, D.C.
[Page: D457]
COMPREHENSIVE EVERGLADES RESTORATION PLAN
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings on S.
2437, to approve the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan by providing
for the conservation and development of water and related resources, and
authorizing 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; Gary S. Guzy, General Counsel, Environmental Protection Agency; Mary
Doyle, Acting Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science;
Florida Governor Jeb Bush, Tallahassee; Patricia Power, Seminole Tribe of
Florida, Hollywood, Florida; Dexter Lehtinen, Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of
Florida, Miami, on behalf of the Governor's Commission on the Everglades and
the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force; Michael Collins, South
Florida Water Management District, Islamorada; Ken Keck, Florida Citrus
Mutual, Lakeland; David E. Guggenheim, Conservancy of Southwest Florida,
Naples, on behalf of the Everglades Coalition.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Edward William Gnehm, Jr., of Georgia, to be Ambassador to
Australia, John R. Dinger, of Florida, to be Ambassador to Mongolia, Douglas
Alan Hartwick, of Washington, to be Ambassador to the Lao People's Democratic
Republic, Susan S. Jacobs, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to Papua New Guinea,
and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to
Solomon Islands, and as Ambassador to the Republic of Vanuatu, and Michael J.
Senko, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of the
Marshall Islands, and to serve concurrently and without additional
compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Kiribati, after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Gnehm was introduced
by Senators Enzi and Hollings.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nominations of Kent J. Dawson, to be United States District Judge for the
District of Nevada, Nicholas G. Garaufis, to be United States District Judge
for the Eastern District of New York, Phyllis J. Hamilton, to be United States
District Judge for the Northern District of California, Roger L. Hunt, to be
United States District Judge for the District of Nevada, Gerard E. Lynch, to
be a United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York,
Donnie R. Marshall, of Texas, to be Administrator of Drug Enforcement,
Department of Justice, Audrey G. Fleissig, to be United States Attorney for
the Eastern District of Missouri, Steven S. Reed, to be United States Attorney
for the Western District of Kentucky, Donald W. Horton, of Maryland, to be
United States Marshal for the District of Columbia, E. Douglas Hamilton, to be
United States Marshal for the Western District of Kentucky, and Jose Antonio
Perez, to be United States Marshal for the Central District of California.
Also, Committee approved a resolution for issuance of a document subpoena to
the Department of Justice regarding Loral Hughes pursuant to Rule 26.
[Page: D458]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/15
Daily Digest - Monday, May 15, 2000; pages D466 - D470
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATION
Committee on Governmental Affairs: On Friday, May 12, committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of Amy L. Comstock, of Maryland, to be Director of
the Office of Government Ethics, Office of Personnel Management, after the
nominee testified and answered questions in her own behalf.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/16
Daily Digest - [Tuesday, May 16, 2000]; pages D471 - D478
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATION
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination of
Adm. Vernon E. Clark, to be Chief of Naval Operations, United States Navy, and
appointment to the grade of Admiral, after the nominee, who was introduced by
Senator Warner, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
HUD SINGLE FAMILY PROPERTY DISPOSITION
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and
Transportation concluded oversight hearings on the Department of Housing and
Urban Development's implementation of its single family management and
marketing contracts, focusing on property maintenance and security, evaluation
and monitoring efforts, property inventory, and contractor incentives, after
receiving testimony from William C. Apgar, Assistant Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development for Housing and Federal Housing Commissioner; Stanley J.
Czerwinski, Associate Director, Housing and Community Development Issues,
Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General Accounting
Office; and Irene H. Facha, Department of Housing and Urban Development
Council of Locals 222, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the American
Federation of Government Employees, Local 2032, AFL-CIO.
MARITIME ADMINISTRATION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings on
proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2001 for the Maritime
Administration, receiving testimony from Clyde J. Hart, Jr., Maritime
Administrator, and Raymond J. DeCarli, Deputy Inspector General, both of the
Department of Transportation; and Vice Adm. Gordon S. Holder, USN, Commander,
Military Sealift Command.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
FOREST SERVICE ROAD MANAGEMENT POLICY
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management concluded oversight hearings on the United States Forest
Service's proposed road management policy, focusing on safety, public and
agency needs, environmental soundness, cost, and management efficiency, after
receiving testimony from Dale Bosworth, Regional Forester, Northern Region,
Forest Service, Department of Agriculture.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PROJECTS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Transportation and
Infrastructure held hearings on the Army Corps of Engineers backlog of
authorized projects and the future of the Army Corps of Engineers mission,
focusing on the Civil Works program, construction backlog, navigational and
water resources, flood control, the Mississippi Valley, and the nation's
coastline, receiving testimony from Claudia L. Tornblom, Deputy Assistant
Secretary of the Army (Civil Works) for Management and Budget; J. Ron Brinson,
New Orleans Port Authority, New Orleans, Louisiana, on behalf of the National
Waterways Conference, Inc. and the American Association of Port Authorities;
Scott Faber, American Rivers, and Tony B. MacDonald, Coastal States
Organization, both of Washington, D.C.; and Bill Parrish, Maryland Department
of the Environment, Baltimore, on behalf of the Association of Flood Plain
Managers.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
Annual Report of the United States Commission on International Religious
Freedom, focusing on Russia, China, and Sudan, after receiving testimony from
Robert A. Seiple, Ambassador at Large, Rabbi David Saperstein, Religious
Action Center of Reform Judaism, Elliott Abrams, Ethics and Public Policy
Center, and Nina Shea, Freedom House, all of Washington, D.C., and Firuz
Kazemzadeh, National Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is of the United States,
Alta Loma, California, all on behalf of the United States Commission on
International Religious Freedom.
LONG-TERM CARE SECURITY
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International Security,
Proliferation and Federal Services concluded hearings on S. 2420, to amend
title 5, United States Code, to provide for the establishment of a program
under which long-term care insurance is made available to Federal employees,
members of the uniformed services, and civilian and military retirees, after
receiving testimony from Senators Grassley and Mikulski; and Janice R.
Lachance, Director, Office of Personnel Management.
FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER THREAT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice Oversight
concluded hearings to examine D473threats to Federal law enforcement officers,
after receiving testimony from David A. Saleeba, Special Agent in Charge,
Intelligence Division, Secret Service, and John C. Varrone, Acting Deputy
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Investigations, Customs Service, both of the
Department of the Treasury; and Andreas Stephens, Section Chief, Violent
Crimes and Major Offenders Section, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and
William E. Ledwith, Chief, Office of International Operations, Drug
Enforcement Administration, both of the Department of Justice.
[Page: D473]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/17
Daily Digest - Wednesday, May 17, 2000; pages D480 - D488
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense approved for full
committee consideration an original bill making appropriations for fiscal year
2000 for the Department of Defense.
GLOBAL WARMING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings to
examine global warming issues, focusing on science and technology programs,
including the U.S. Global Change Research Program, receiving testimony from
Neal Lane, Assistant to the President for Science and Technology; Jerry D.
Mahlman, Director, Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory, National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; Raymond S. Bradley,
University of Massachusetts Department of Geosciences, Amherst; John R.
Christy, University of Alabama Earth System Science Center, Huntsville; Kevin
E. Trenberth, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, Colorado; and
Robert T. Watson, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Washington, D.C.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee met and began markup of
S. 2098, to facilitate the transition to more competitive and efficient
electric power markets, and to ensure electric reliability, but did not
complete action thereon, and will meet again on Wednesday, May 24.
MONTANA FLATHEAD IRRIGATION PROJECT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded oversight hearings on the operation, by the Bureau of Indian
Affairs, of the Flathead Irrigation Project in Montana, after receiving
testimony from Sharon Blackwell, Acting Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Indian
Affairs, Department of the Interior; Jon Metropoulos, Flathead Joint Board of
Control, St. Ignatius, Montana; and D. Fred Matt, Confederated Salish and
Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation, Pablo, Montana.
CLEAN AIR ACT AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air,
Wetlands, Private Property, and Nuclear Safety concluded hearings on proposed
legislation authorizing funds for programs of the Clean Air Act, focusing on
an incentive-based D482utility emissions reduction approach, after receiving
testimony from David G. Wood, Associate Director, Environmental Protection
Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General
Accounting Office; James E. Rogers, Cinergy Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio;
Charles D. McCrary, Southern Company Generation, Birmingham, Alabama; Frank
Cassidy, PSEG Power, Newark, New Jersey; Armond Cohen, Clean Air Task Force,
Boston, Massachusetts, on behalf of the Clean the Air: The National Campaign
Against Dirty Power; and Wayne Brunetti, New Century Energies, Inc., Denver,
Colorado.
[Page: D482]
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
S. 2277, to terminate the application of title IV of the Trade Act of 1974
with respect to the People's Republic of China; and
The nomination of Michelle Andrews Smith, of Texas, to be an Assistant
Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE REFORM
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded hearings on S.
1816, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to provide meaningful
campaign finance reform through requiring better reporting, decreasing the
role of soft money, and increasing individual contribution limits, S. 2565, to
reform the financing of Federal elections, S. 1502, to amend the Federal
Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require mandatory spending limits for Senate
candidates and limits on independent expenditures, to ban soft money, and
certain provisions of S.J. Res. 6, proposing an amendment to the Constitution
of the United States relating to contributions and expenditures intended to
affect elections, after receiving testimony from Senators Hagel, Kerrey,
Abraham, Landrieu, Hutchison, Hollings, and Reed.
INDIAN ARTS AND CRAFTS ACT
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded oversight hearings on the
Department of the Interior's implementation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act
(P.L. 101-644), focusing on counterfeiting and misrepresentation, law
enforcement, and Indian arts and crafts programs and activities, after
receiving testimony from Senators Kyl and Bingaman; Faith Roessel,
Chairperson, Indian Arts and Crafts Board, Department of the Interior; Mark C.
Van Norman, Director, Office of Tribal Justice, Department of Justice; Jacob
H. Lonetree, Ho-Chunk Nation, Black River Falls, Wisconsin; Michael P. Mullen,
Mullen and Foster, Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of the Ho-Chunk Nation; Andy
P. Abeita, Council for Indigenous Art and Culture, Albuquerque, New Mexico,
and Tony Eriacho, Jr., Eriachio Arts and Crafts, Santa Fe, New Mexico, both on
behalf of the Indian Arts & Crafts Association; and Jason Takala, Holbrook,
Arizona.
INDIAN LAND PROJECTS
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 1148, to
provide for the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska
certain benefits of the Missouri River Basin Pick-Sloan project, and S. 1658,
to authorize the construction of a Reconciliation Place in Fort Pierre, South
Dakota, after receiving testimony from Senator Johnson; Mark C. Van Norman,
Director, Office of Tribal Justice, Department of Justice; Terry Virden,
Director, Office of Trust Responsibilities, Department of the Interior;
Madonna Archambeau, Yankton Sioux Tribe, Marty, South Dakota; Arthur Denny,
Santee Sioux Tribe of Nebraska, Santee; Michael B. Jandreau, Lower Brule Sioux
Tribe, Lower Brule, South Dakota; and Webster Two Hawk, South Dakota Tribal
Government Relations, William V. Fischer, American State Bank, and Clarence W.
Skye, United Sioux Tribes of South Dakota Development Corporation, all of
Pierre, South Dakota.
[Page: D483]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/18
Daily Digest - Thursday, May 18, 2000; pages D490 - D498
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills:
An original bill (S. 2593), making appropriations for the Department of
Defense for fiscal year ending September 30, 2001; and
An original bill, making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2001.
LOU GEHRIG'S DISEASE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services,
and Education concluded hearings on Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Research
(ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, focusing on a cure-directed
research initiative that will identify and support ALS research, after
receiving testimony from Gerald D. Fischbach, Director, National Institute of
Neurological Disorders and Stroke, National Institutes of Health, Department
of Health and Human Services; Tom Maniatis, Harvard University, Cambridge,
Massachusetts, on behalf of the ALS Association; Steve Beuerlein, Carolina
Panthers, Charlotte, North Carolina; Steve Garvey, Los Angeles Dodgers, and
Blair Underwood, both of Los Angeles, California; Dick Schaap, ESPN, Bristol,
Connecticut; Shelbie Oppenheimer, New Hope, Pennsylvania; and Steve Rigazzio,
Las Vegas, Nevada.
"I LOVE YOU" VIRUS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Financial
Institutions concluded hearings to examine the attack of the "I Love You"
virus and its impact on United States financial services industry, after
receiving testimony from Jack Brock, Director of Government and Defense
Information System, General Accounting Office; and John J. Hamre, Center for
Strategic and International Studies, Washington, DC.
SOUTHEASTERN ALASKA INTERTIE SYSTEM
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on S.
2439, to authorize the appropriation of funds for the construction of the
Southeastern Alaska Intertie system, after receiving testimony from Randy
Simmons, Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority and Alaska Energy
Authority, Bonnie Jo Savland, Alaska Tlingit and Haida Indian Tribes Central
Council, and Loren Gerhard, Southeast Conference, all of Juneau; Mayor Lonnie
Anderson, Kake, Alaska; Mayor Albert Dick, Hoonah, Alaska, on behalf of the
Huna Totem Corporation; Eric Hummel, Tongass Conservation Society, Ketchikan,
Alaska, on behalf of the Southeast Alaska Conservation Council; Vern Rauscher,
Tlingit-Haida Regional Electric Authority, Auke Bay, Alaska; and Randy
Cornelius, Sitka Electric Department, Sitka, Alaska, on behalf of the
Southeast Alaska Intertie Committee for Southeast Conference.
NOMINATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on the
nomination of Mildred Spiewak Dresselhaus, of Massachusetts, to be Director of
the Office of Energy Research , Department of Energy, after the nominee
testified and answered questions in her own behalf.
WATER POLLUTION CONTROL
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Drinking Water held hearings on S. 2417, to amend the Federal
Water Pollution Control Act to increase funding for State nonpoint source
pollution control programs.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
FEDERAL EMPLOYEE TRAINING
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government
Management, Restructuring and the District of Columbia concluded hearings to
examine the status of Federal employee development and training, focusing on
Federal programs to train and educate employees throughout their careers to
maintain their skills and productivity, after receiving testimony from John U.
Sepulveda, Deputy Director, Office of Personnel Management; Diane M. Disney,
Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Civilian Personnel Policy; and
Michael Brostek, Associate Director, Federal Management D493and Workforce
Issues, General Government Division, General Accounting Office.
[Page: D493]
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
S. 2098, to facilitate the transition to more competitive and efficient
electric power markets, and to ensure electric reliability, with an amendment
in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 371, to expedite the naturalization of aliens who served with special
guerrilla units in Laos, with an amendment;
S. 484, to provide for the granting of refugee status in the United States to
nationals of certain foreign countries in which American Vietnam War POW/MIAs
or American Korean War POW/MIAs may be present, if those nationals assist in
the return to the United States of those POW/MIAs alive;
S. 1902, to require disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act regarding
certain persons and records of the Japanese Imperial Army in a manner that
does not impair any investigation or prosecution conducted by the Department
of Justice or certain intelligence matters, with an amendment;
S. Res. 296, designating the first Sunday in June of each calendar year as
"National Child's Day", with an amendment; and
The nominations of James J. Brady, to be United States District Judge for the
Middle District of Louisiana, and Mary A. McLaughlin, Berle M. Schiller,
Richard Barclay Surrick, and Petrese B. Tucker, each to be a United States
District Judge for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Also, Committee approved a resolution for issuance of a document subpoenas
duces tecum to Attorney General Reno for documents related to the appointment
of an Independent Counsel, pursuant to Rule 26.
MENTAL HEALTH PARITY
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee held hearings
to examine mental health parity issues, including S. 796, to provide for full
parity with respect to health insurance coverage for certain severe
biologically-based mental illnesses and to prohibit limits on the number of
mental illness-related hospital days and outpatient visits that are covered
for all mental illnesses, receiving testimony from Senators Domenici and
Wellstone; Kathryn G. Allen, Associate Director, Health Financing and Public
Health Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General
Accounting Office; Steven E. Hyman, Director, National Institute of Mental
Health, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human
Services; Ken Libertoff, Vermont Association for Mental Health, Montpelier;
Dean Rosen, Health Insurance Association of America, Washington, DC; Tara
Wooldridge, Delta Air Lines, Atlanta, Georgia; and Kenneth Duckworth,
Massachusetts Department of Mental Health, Boston.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
[Page: D494]
Joint Meetings
MILLENNIUM DIGITAL COMMERCE ACT
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House passed
versions of S. 761, to regulate interstate commerce by electronic means by
permitting and encouraging the continued expansion of electronic commerce
through the operation of free market forces, but did not complete action
thereon, and recessed subject to call.
2000/05/19
Daily Digest - Friday, May 19, 2000 ; pages D499- D504
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
COUNTERFEIT IDENTIFICATION ON THE INTERNET
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
concluded oversight hearings to examine the use of the Internet to manufacture
and market counterfeit identification documents and credentials, after
receiving testimony from K. Lee Blalack II, Chief Counsel and Staff Director,
Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations; Brian L. Stafford, Director, U.S.
Secret Service, Department of the Treasury; David C. Myers, Florida Department
of Business and Professional Regulation, Tallahassee; and Thomas W. Seitz, an
incarcerated witness.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/22
Daily Digest - Monday, May 22, 2000; pages D505 - D508
Committee Meetings
No Committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/23
Daily Digest - Tuesday, May 23, 2000 ; pages D510 - D518
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet )
STRATEGIC NUCLEAR FORCE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed hearings on
United States strategic nuclear force requirements, after receiving testimony
from Walter B. Slocombe, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; Gen. Henry H.
Shelton, USA, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff; Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, USA,
Chief of Staff, United States Army; D512Adm. Jay L. Johnson, USN, Chief of
Naval Operations; Gen. James L. Jones, Jr., USMC, Commandant of the Marine
Corps; Gen. Michael E. Ryan, USAF, Chief of Staff, United States Air Force;
and Adm. Richard W. Mies, USN, Commander in Chief, United States Strategic
Command.
[Page: D512]
HUD HOMELESS ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and
Transportation concluded hearings to examine the consolidation of HUD's
homeless assistance programs, focusing on the requirements and administration
of the Emergency Shelter Grants program, the Supportive Housing program, the
Shelter Plus Care program, and the Section 8 Single-Room Occupancy program and
the potential need for program consolidation, after receiving testimony from
Stanley J. Czerwinski, Associate Director, Housing and Community Development
Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General
Accounting Office; Fred Karnas, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Housing and
Urban Development for Special Needs Programs; Barbara Richardson, Rockford
Department of Community Development, Rockford, Illinois, on behalf of the U.S.
Conference of Mayors, the National League of Cities, and the National
Association of Counties; William C. Shelton, Virginia Department of Housing
and Community Development, Richmond, on behalf of the Council of State
Community Development Agencies; John Parvensky, Colorado Coalition for the
Homeless, Denver; Richard H. Godfrey, Jr., Rhode Island Housing and Mortgage
Finance Corporation, Providence, on behalf of the National Council of State
Housing Agencies; and Nan P. Roman, National Alliance to End Homelessness,
Washington, D.C.
HYDROELECTRIC LICENSING PROCESS IMPROVEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded hearings on S. 740, to amend the Federal Power Act to improve the
hydroelectric licensing process by granting the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission statutory authority to better coordinate participation by other
agencies and entities, after receiving testimony from David J. Hayes, Deputy
Secretary of the Interior; James J. Hoecker, Chairman, Federal Energy
Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy; Dennis C. Lewis, Petersburg
Municipal Power and Light, Petersburg, Alaska; Andrew Fahlund, American
Rivers, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Hydropower Reform Coalition; Terry
Hudgens, PacifiCorp, and Randy Settler, Yakama Nation, on behalf of the
Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, both of Portland, Oregon; Lionel
Topaz, Grant County Public Utility District, Ephrata, Washington; and Kevin
Snape, Clean Air Conservancy, Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
WATER RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Transportation and
Infrastructure concluded hearings to examine programs related to the proposed
Water Resources Development Act of 2000, include the Puget Sound Restoration
Project, the Port of New York and New Jersey Project, the Ohio River Project,
Brownfields revitalization, and the National Shore Protection Act of 1996,
after receiving testimony from Joseph W. Westphal, Assistant Secretary of the
Army for Civil Works; Mayor Dannel Malloy, Stamford, Connecticut, on behalf of
the National Association of Local Government Environmental Professionals; Doug
Sutherland, Pierce County Executive's Office, Tacoma, Washington; Lillian
Borrone, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, New York, New York; R.
Barry Palmer, Association for the Development of Inland Navigation in
America's Ohio Valley, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Howard D. Marlowe,
American Coastal Coalition, Washington, D.C.
IMF AND WORLD BANK REFORM
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on International
Monetary Fund and World Bank reform issues, focusing on the International
Financial Institution Advisory Commission report, after receiving testimony
from Allan H. Meltzer, Carnegie Mellon University and the American Enterprise
Institute, Charles W. Calomiris, Columbia University School of International
and Public Affairs and the American Enterprise Institute, and Jerome I.
Levinson, American University Washington College of Law, all of Washington,
D.C., all on behalf of the International Financial Institution Advisory
Commission.
IRS RESTRUCTURING
Committee on Small Business: Committee held hearings on Internal Revenue
Service restructuring issues, focusing on IRS efforts to reduce the taxpayer
burden of the small business community, receiving testimony from Charles O.
Rossotti, Commissioner, Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury;
Cornelia M. Ashby, Associate Director, Tax Policy and Administration Issues,
General Government Division, General Accounting Office; and Sandra A. Abalos,
Abalos and Associates, Phoenix, Arizona, and Roy M. Quick, Jr., Quick Tax and
Accounting Service, St. Louis, Missouri, both on behalf of the IRS Electronic
Tax Administration Advisory Committee.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
[Page: D513]
Joint Meetings
RUSSIA HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded
hearings to examine human rights abuses in Russia, focusing on an attack on
the Media-Most headquarters in Moscow by armed government security agents,
alleged illegally acquired tapes and transcripts, and the war in Chechnya,
after receiving testimony from Lt. Gen. William Odom (Ret.), Hudson
University, Washington, D.C., former head of the National Security Agency;
Igor Malashenko, Media-Most, Moscow, Russia; Sarah Mendelson, Tufts University
Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Boston, Massachusetts; Georgi Derlugian,
Northwestern University Department of Sociology, Chicago, Illinois; and Rachel
Denber, Human Rights Watch, New York, New York.
2000/05/24
Daily Digest - Wednesday, May 24, 2000; pages D519 - D528
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATION
Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nomination of Gen. John A. Gordon, United States Air Force, to be Under
Secretary for Nuclear Security, Department of Energy, and two military
nominations in the Army and Navy. Prior to this action, Committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of Gen. Gordon, (listed above), after the nominee,
who was introduced by Senator Domenici, testified and answered questions in
his own behalf.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the nomination of Mildred Spiewak Dresselhaus, of Massachusetts, to
be Director of the Office of Science, Department of Energy.
Also, Committee resumed markup of S. 2098, to facilitate the transition to
more competitive and efficient electric power markets, and to ensure electric
reliability, but did not complete action thereon and recessed subject to call.
WATER AND POWER
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded hearings on S. 2163, to provide for a study of the engineering
feasibility of a water exchange in lieu of electrification of the Chandler
Pumping Plant at Prosser Diversion Dam, Washington, S. 2396, to authorize the
Secretary of the Interior to enter into contracts with the Weber Basin Water
Conservancy District, Utah, to use Weber Basin Project facilities for the
impounding, storage, and carriage of nonproject water for domestic, municipal,
industrial, S. 2248, to assist in the development and implementation of
projects to provide for the control of drainage water, storm water, flood
water, and other water as part of water-related integrated resource
management, environmental infrastructure, and resource protection and
development projects in the Colusa Basin Watershed, California, S. 2410, to
increase the authorization of appropriations for the Reclamation Safety of
Dams Act of 1978, and S. 2425, to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to
participate in the planning, design, and construction of the Bend Feed Canal
Pipeline Project, Oregon, after receiving testimony from Eluid L. Martinez,
Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Randy
Settler, Yakama Nation, Toppenish, Washington; Charles W. Garner, Kennewick
Irrigation District, Kennewick, Washington; Gaye Lopez, Colusa Basin Drainage
District, Woodland, California; Ivan Flint, Weber Basin Water Conservancy
District, Layton, Utah; David McCarley, Langell Valley Irrigation District,
Bonanza, Oregon; and Elmer McDaniels, Tumalo Irrigation District, Bend,
Oregon.
COASTAL CONSERVATION AND REINVESTMENT PROGRAMS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings on
proposed legislation that would use revenue generated from Outer Continental
Shelf oil and gas production to fund coastal conservation and restoration, and
related activities, including related provisions of S. 25, to provide Coastal
Impact Assistance to State and local governments, to amend the Outer
Continental Shelf Lands Act Amendments of 1978, the Land and Water
Conservation Fund Act of 1965, the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act, and
the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (commonly referred to as the
Pittman-Robertson Act) to establish a fund to meet the outdoor conservation
and recreation needs of the American people, S. 2123, to provide Outer
Continental Shelf Impact assistance to State and local D523governments, to
amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, the Urban Park and
Recreation Recovery Act of 1978, and the Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
Act (commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Act) to establish a fund to
meet the outdoor conservation and recreation needs of the American people, and
S. 2181, to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act to provide full
funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund, and to provide dedicated
funding for other conservation programs, including coastal stewardship,
wildlife habitat protection, State and local park and open space preservation,
historic preservation, forestry conservation programs, and youth conservation
corps, after receiving testimony from Senators Cochran and Landrieu;
Representatives Don Young, George Miller, Chenoweth-Hage, Shadegg, and Tauzin;
Jamie R. Clark, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the
Interior; David Waller, Georgia Division of Wildlife, Social Circle, and Wayne
Vetter, New Hampshire Fish and Game Department, Concord, both on behalf of the
International Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies; Rindy O'Brien,
Wilderness Society, Rodger Schlickeisen, Defenders of Wildlife, Michael
Hardiman, American Land Rights Association, and Rollin D. Sparrowe, Wildlife
Management Institute, all of Washington, D.C.; and Charles R. Niebling,
Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, Concord.
[Page: D523]
NOMINATION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination
of Marc Grossman, of Virginia, to be Director General of the Foreign Service,
Department of State, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator
Sarbanes, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the
Courts concluded oversight hearings on the 1996 campaign finance
investigations relating to the Independent Counsel Act and its application to
campaign financing matters, after receiving testimony from Larry Parkinson,
General Counsel, and Neil Gallagher, Assistant Director, National Security
Division, both of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Lee J. Radek,
Chief, Public Integrity Section, Criminal Division, all of the Department of
Justice.
INDIAN FEDERAL RECOGNITION ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 611, to
provide for administrative procedures to extend Federal recognition to certain
Indian groups, after receiving testimony from Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary
of the Interior for Indian Affairs; Richard L. Velky, Schaghticoke Tribal
Nation, Kent, Connecticut; Louis Roybal, Piro/Manso/Tiwa Indian Tribe, Pueblo
of San Juan de Guadalupe, Las Cruces, New Mexico; Leon Jones, Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians, Cherokee, North Carolina; Mark C. Tilden, Native American
Rights Fund, Boulder, Colorado; and Arlinda Locklear, Knoxville, Maryland, on
behalf of the Miami Nation of Indiana.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/05/25
Daily Digest - Thursday, May 25, 2000; pages D529 - D536
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
COMPETITION AND INNOVATION IN CREDIT CARD INDUSTRY
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Financial
Institutions concluded hearings on competition and innovation in the credit
card industry at the consumer and network level, after receiving testimony
from Philip J. Purcell, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and Co., Harvey Golub,
American Express, and Noah J. Hanft, MasterCard International Incorporated,
all of New York, New York; Paul Allen, Visa U.S.A. Inc., Foster City,
California; Frank Torres, III, Consumers Union, Washington, D.C.; and David S.
Evans, National Economic Research Associates, Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts.
INTERNET PRIVACY POLICIES
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings to
examine a Federal Trade Commission report of Internet privacy policies issues,
including collection and use of consumers' personal information by commercial
sites on the World Wide Web, and begin the process of developing consensus
about the best way to enable consumers to protect their privacy online,
receiving testimony from Robert Pitofsky, Chairman, and Sheila F. Anthony,
Mozelle W. Thompson, Orson Swindle, and Thomas B. Leary, all Commissioners,
all of the Federal Trade Commission; Jill A. Lesser, America Online, Inc.,
Christine Varney, Hogan and Hartson, on behalf of the Online Privacy Alliance,
and Jerry Berman, Center for Democracy and Technology, all of Washington,
D.C.; Jason Catlett, Junkbusters Corporation, Green Brook, New Jersey; and
Daniel J. Weitzner, World Wide Web Consortium, Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
U.S. NATURAL GAS CONSUMPTION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee held oversight hearings
to examine the benefits of natural gas, including its natural abundance,
clean-burning attributes, cost and efficiency advantages, and safe and
reliable delivery, and the potential for a sharp increase of United States
consumption over the next decade, receiving testimony from Jay E. Hakes,
Administrator, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy;
William F. Martin, Washington Policy and Analysis, Washington, D.C.; Robert W.
Best, Atmos Energy Corporation, Dallas, Texas, on behalf of the American Gas
Association; Laurence M. Downes, New Jersey Resources Corporation, Wall, New
Jersey, on behalf of the Distributed Power Coalition of America; and Paul C.
Kerkhoven, Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, Arlington, Virginia.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
SNOWMOBILE PARK PROHIBITION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded oversight hearings to examine
the status of planning efforts regarding the use of snowmobiles in Yellowstone
and Grand Teton National Parks and on the recent decision by the Department of
the Interior to prohibit snowmobile activities in other units of the National
Park System, after receiving testimony from Donald J. Barry, Assistant
Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; Kim Raap, Wyoming
State Parks Department, Cheyenne; Mark Simonich, Montana Department of
Environmental Quality, Helena; Chris Twoney, Arctic Cat, Inc., Thief River
Falls, Minnesota, on behalf of the International Snowmobile Manufacturers
Association; Sean Smith, Bluewater Network, San Francisco, California; Tim
Wade, Park County Commission, Cody, Wyoming, on behalf of the Cooperating
Counties in the Winter Use; Michael D. Scott, Greater Yellowstone Coalition,
Bozeman, Montana, on behalf of the Wilderness Society and the Natural
Resources Defense Council; Kevin Collins, National Parks Conservation
Association, Washington, D.C.; Teri Manning, Wyoming State Snowmobile
Association, Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and William Manson, Grand Rapids,
Michigan, on behalf of the American Council of Snowmobile Associations, Inc.
BREAST CANCER SEMIPOSTAL STAMPS
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International Security,
Proliferation and Federal Services concluded hearings to examine the U.S.
Postal Service campaign on the issuance of the Breast Cancer Research
semipostal stamps, and the future of fund-raising stamps, after receiving
testimony from Senators DeWine and Feinstein; Deborah K. Willhite, Senior Vice
President, Government Relations and Public Policy, United States Postal
Service; and Bernard L. Ungar, Director, Government Business Operations
Issues, General Government Division, General Accounting Office.
INTERNET SECURITY AND PRIVACY
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings to examine proposed
legislation to enhance the protections of the Internet and the critical
infrastructure of the United States, related to Internet security and privacy
issues, and the development and implementation of public policies that advance
these D532issues, after receiving testimony from Michael A. Vatis, Director,
National Infrastructure Protection Center, Federal Bureau of Investigation,
and James K. Robinson, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, both of
the Department of Justice; Bruce J. Heiman, Americans for Computer Privacy,
Jeff B. Richards, Internet Alliance, and James X. Dempsey, Center for
Democracy and Technology, all of Washington, D.C.; and Richard Pethia,
Carnegie Mellon University Software Engineering Institute, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania.
[Page: D532]
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of
Daniel Marcus, of Maryland, to be Associate Attorney General, Department of
Justice, Bonnie J. Campbell, of Iowa, to be United States Circuit Judge for
the Eighth Circuit, Jay A. Garcia-Gregory, to be United States District Judge
for the District of Puerto Rico, Beverly B. Martin, to be United States
District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia, and Laura Taylor Swain,
to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York,
after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr.
Marcus was introduced by Senator Sarbanes and Representative Morella, Ms.
Campbell was introduced by Senators Grassley and Harkin, Mr. Garcia-Gregory
was introduced by Resident Commissioner Carlos Romero-Barcelo, Ms. Martin was
introduced by Senators Coverdell and Cleland and Representative Chambliss, and
Ms. Swain was introduced by Senator Schumer.
GENE THERAPY SAFETY
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Public
Health held hearings to examine safety of patients who participate in
experimental gene therapy research and clinical trials, recent revelations
regarding lapses in patient safety and compliance with federal regulations,
and the need to strengthen our current federal oversight system, receiving
testimony from William F. Raub, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health and Human
Services for Science Policy; Savio L. C. Woo, Mount Sinai School of Medicine
Institute of Gene Therapy and Molecular Medicine, New York, New York, on
behalf of the American Society of Gene Therapy; Pamela L. Zeitlin, Johns
Hopkins Hospital Pediatric General Clinical Research Center, Baltimore,
Maryland, on behalf of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; Lisa Raines, Genzyme
Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Thomas H. Murray, Hastings Center,
Garrison, New York.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/06
Daily Digest - Tuesday, June 6, 2000; pages D537 - D546
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
CASH BALANCE PENSION PLANS
Special Committee on Aging: On Monday, June 5, committee concluded hearings to
examine the impact on older workers when employers convert from a traditional
defined benefit pension plan to a cash balance pension plan, focusing on how
to promote pensions without harming participants, after receiving testimony
from James A. Bruggeman, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Laurel Sweatt, Dallas, Texas, on
behalf of the Association of Private Pension and Welfare Plans, both of
Central and South West Corporation; Joseph Perkins, Danvers, Massachusetts, on
behalf of the American Association of Retired Persons; Karen W. Ferguson,
Pension Rights Center, Washington, D.C.; Sylvester J. Schieber, Watson Wyatt
Worldwide, Bethesda, Maryland; and John F. Woyke, Towers Perrin, Valhalla, New
York, on behalf of the United States Chamber of Commerce.
EPA ALASKA OFFICE CREATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings on S.
1311, to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to
establish an eleventh region of the Environmental Protection Agency, comprised
solely of the State of Alaska, after receiving testimony from Senator
Murkowski; Romulo L. Diaz, Jr., Assistant Administrator for Administration and
Resources Management, Environmental Protection Agency; Michele D. Brown,
Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation, and Ken Freeman, Resource
Development Council, both of Anchorage, Alaska.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination
of Michael G. Kozak, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Belarus,
John Martin O'Keefe, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic,
John F. Tefft, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Lithuania, and
W. Robert Pearson, of Tennessee, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey,
after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr.
Pearson was introduced by Senator Frist.
HIGH PERFORMANCE COMPUTER EXPORT CONTROL
Committee on Governmental Affairs: On Friday, May 26, committee concluded
hearings to examine export control implementation issues with respect to high
performance computers and the potential harm to national security by requiring
the decontrol of sensitive technologies, after receiving testimony from Harold
J. Johnson, Associate Director, International Relations and Trade Issues,
National Security and International Affairs Division, General Accounting
Office; Robert J. Lieberman, Assistant Inspector General for Auditing,
Department of Defense; Dan Hoydysh, Unisys Corporation, Washington, D.C., on
behalf of the Computer Coalition for Responsible Exports; and Gary Milhollin,
University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, on behalf of the Wisconsin
Project on Nuclear Arms Control.
[Page: D539]
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the
Courts resumed oversight hearings to examine the 1996 campaign finance
investigations, receiving testimony from Lee J. Radek, Chief, and Joseph
Gangloff, Principle Deputy Chief, both of the Public Integrity Section, and
Neil Gallagher, Assistant Director, National Security Division, Federal Bureau
of Investigation, all of the Department of Justice; and William Esposito,
former Deputy Director, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of
Justice.
Hearings continue on Wednesday, June 14.
Joint Meetings
HIGH-TECH SUMMIT
Joint Economic Committee: Committee began hearings on the High-Technology
National Summit to examine issues that are related to ensuring the
continuation of its robust role in our economic health, focusing on the
necessity for education system changes, trade and deregulation issues, and
what actions the government should take regarding these issues, receiving
testimony from Andrew S. Grove, Intel Corporation, and William Larson, Network
Associates, both of Santa Clara, California; William H. Gates, Microsoft
Corporation, Redmond, Washington; Carol Bartz, Autodesk, Inc., San Rafael,
California; John Warnock, Adobe Systems, Inc., San Jose, California; Mark
Leavitt, MedicaLogic/Medscape, Inc., Hillsboro, Oregon; and Jay Walker, Walker
Digital and Priceline.com, Stamford, Connecticut.
Hearings will continue tomorrow.
2000/06/07
Daily Digest - Wednesday, June 7, 2000; pages D547 - D556
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
S. 1474, providing conveyance of the Palmetto Bend project to the State of
Texas, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1612, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain irrigation
project property to certain irrigation and reclamation districts in the State
of Nebraska, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1894, to provide for the conveyance of certain land to Park County,
Wyoming, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1950, to amend the Mineral Leasing Act of 1920 to ensure the orderly
development of coal, coalbed methane, natural gas, and oil in the Powder River
Basin, Wyoming and Montana, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 729, to ensure that Congress and the public have the right to participate
in the declaration of national monuments on federal land;
S. 2239, to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to provide cost sharing for
the endangered fish recovery implementation programs for the Upper Colorado
River and San Juan River basins, with an amendment;
S. 1438, to establish the National Law Enforcement Museum on Federal land in
the District of Columbia, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 2879, to provide for the placement at the Lincoln Memorial of a plaque
commemorating the speech of Martin Luther King, Jr., known as the "I Have A
Dream" speech, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
S. 2343, to amend the National Historic Preservation Act for the purposes of
establishing a national historic lighthouse preservation program, with
amendments;
S. 2352, to designate portions of the Wekiva River and associated tributaries
as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 1749, to designate Wilson Creek in Avery and Caldwell Counties, North
Carolina, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System;
[Page: D549]
H.R. 3201, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability
and feasibility of designating the Carter G. Woodson Home in the District of
Columbia as a National Historic Site;
S. 1367, to amend the Act which established the Saint-Gaudens Historic Site,
in the State of New Hampshire, by modifying the boundary, with an amendment;
S. 1670, to revise the boundary of Fort Matanzas National Monument;
S. 2020, to adjust the boundary of the Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi;
S. 2478, to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a theme study on
the peopling of America, with amendments;
S. 2485, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance in
planning and constructing a regional heritage center in Calais, Maine, with an
amendment;
H.R. 940, to establish the Lackawanna Heritage Valley American Heritage Area,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
H.R. 2932, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the
Golden Spike/Crossroads of the West National Heritage Area Study Area and to
establish the Crossroads of the West Historic District in the State of Utah;
S. 1998, to establish the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area, with an
amendment;
S. 2247, to establish the Wheeling National Heritage Area in the State of West
Virginia, with amendments;
S. 2421, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study of the
suitability and feasibility of establishing an Upper Housatonic Valley
National Heritage Area in Connecticut and Massachusetts;
S. 2511, to establish the Kenai Mountains-Turnagain Arm National Heritage Area
in the State of Alaska, with amendments;
S. 2439, to authorize the appropriation of funds for the construction of the
Southeastern Alaska Intertie system;
S. 610, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land under
the jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management in Washakie County and Big
Horn County, Wyoming, to the Westside Irrigation District, Wyoming, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
S. 2425, to authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to participate in the
planning, design, and construction of the Bend Feed Canal Pipeline Project,
Oregon, with an amendment.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management concluded hearings on S. 2300, to amend the Mineral Leasing
Act to increase the maximum acreage of Federal leases for coal that may be
held by an entity in any one State, S. 2069, to permit the conveyance of
certain land in Powell, Wyoming, and S. 1331, to give Lincoln County, Nevada,
the right to purchase at fair market value certain public land in the county,
after receiving testimony from Representative Gibbons; Pete Culp, Assistant
Director, Minerals and Realty, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the
Interior; Tom Sansonetti, Holland and Hart, Cheyenne, Wyoming, on behalf of
the National Mining Association; Greg Schaefer, Arch Coal, Inc., Wright,
Wyoming; Dan Frehner, Lincoln County Commission, Pioche, Nevada; and Vaughn
Higbee, Lincoln County School District, Panaca, Nevada.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
S. 2677, to restrict assistance until certain conditions are satisfied and to
support democratic and economic transition in Zimbabwe;
S. 2682, to authorize the Broadcasting Board of Governors to make available to
the Institute for Media Development certain materials of the Voice of America;
S. 2460, to authorize the payment of rewards to individuals furnishing
information relating to persons subject to indictment for serious violations
of international humanitarian law in Rwanda;
S. Res. 303, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the treatment by the
Russian Federation of Andrei Babitsky, a Russian journalist working for Radio
Free Europe/Radio Liberty, with an amendment;
S. Con. Res. 117, commending the Republic of Slovenia for its partnership with
the United States and NATO, and expressing the sense of Congress that
Slovenia's accession to NATO would enhance NATO's security;
S. Con. Res. 118, commemorating the 60th anniversary of the execution of
Polish captives by Soviet authorities in April and May 1940;
H. Con. Res. 304, expressing the condemnation of the continued egregious
violations of human rights in the Republic of Belarus, the lack of progress
toward the establishment of democracy and the rule of law in Belarus, calling
on President Alyaksandr Lukashenka's regime to engage in negotiations with the
representatives of the opposition and to restore the constitutional rights of
the Belarussian people, and calling on the Russian Federation to respect the
sovereignty of Belarus;
[Page: D550]
H. Con. Res. 251, commending the Republic of Croatia for the conduct of its
parliamentary and presidential elections, with an amendment;
Inter-American Convention Against Corruptions ("the Convention"), adopted and
opened for signature at the Specialized Conference of the Organization of
American States (OAS) at Caracas, Venezuela, on March 29, 1996. The Convention
was signed by the United States on June 27, 1996, at the twenty-seventh
regular session of the OAS General Assembly meeting in Panama City, Panama
(Treaty Doc.105-39); and
The nominations of John R. Dinger, of Florida, to be Ambassador to Mongolia;
Edward William Gnehm, Jr., of Georgia, to be Ambassador to Australia; David N.
Greenlee, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Paraguay; Marc
Grossman, of Virginia, to be Director General of the Foreign Service; Donna
Jean Hrinak, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Venezuela; Susan
S. Jacobs, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to Papua New Guinea and to serve
concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to Solomon
Islands, and as Ambassador to the Republic of Vanuatu; Daniel A. Johnson, of
Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname; Edward E. Kaufman, of
Delaware, to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors; Rose M.
Likins, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of El Salvador; Alberto
J. Mora, of Florida, to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors;
John Martin O'Keefe, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic;
Anne Woods Patterson, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Colombia; W. Robert Pearson, of Tennessee, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Turkey; V. Manuel Rocha, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Bolivia; John F. Tefft, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Lithuania; James Donald Walsh, of California, to be Ambassador to Argentina;
and certain Foreign Service Officer promotion lists.
SATELLITE EXPORT CONTROLS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic Policy,
Export and Trade Promotion concluded oversight hearings to examine progress
made in improving the system of satellite export controls since the Congress
transferred responsibility for licensing commercial satellites from the
Commerce Department to the State Department, after receiving testimony from
John D. Holum, Senior Adviser for Arms Control and International Security
Affairs, Department of State; William A. Reinsch, Under Secretary of Commerce
for Export Administration; James M. Bodner, Principal Deputy Under Secretary
of Defense for Policy; and Clayton Mowry, Satellite Industry Association,
Alexandria, Virginia.
ANESTHESIA SERVICES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights, and
Competition concluded hearings to examine the standards and rules that guide
the delivery of anesthesia services to Medicare patients, and proposed
legislation to require the Secretary of the Health and Human Services
Department to conduct a "comparative outcomes" study on the impact of
physician supervision on the mortality and adverse outcome rates of Medicare
patients to the provision of anesthesia services, after receiving testimony
from Michael D. Fallacaro, Virginia Commonwealth University, School of Allied
Health Professions, Medical College of Virginia Campus, Richmond, and Jan
Stewart, Seattle, Washington, both on behalf of the American Association of
Nurse Anesthetists; Ellison C. Pierce, Jr., Anesthesia Patient Safety
Foundation, Boston, Massachusetts; and Jeffrey H. Silber, Center for Outcomes
Research, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
COLORADO UTE INDIAN WATER SETTLEMENT ACT
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded joint hearings with Committee
on Energy and Natural Resources' Subcommittee on Water and Power on S. 2508,
to amend the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988 to
provide for a final settlement of the claims of the Colorado Ute Indian
Tribes, after receiving testimony from David J. Hayes, Deputy Secretary of the
Interior; Kent Holsinger, Assistant Director, Colorado Department of Natural
Resources, and Wendy Weiss, Colorado Office of the Attorney General, both of
Denver; Thomas C. Turney, New Mexico Office of the State Engineer, Santa Fe;
Ernest House, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe of Colorado, Towaoc; John Baker, Jr.,
Souther Ute Indian Tribe, Ignacio, Colorado; Robert Wiygul, Denver, Colorado,
on behalf of the Sierra Club, Four Corners Action Coalition, Taxpayers for the
Animas River and Earthjustice Legal Defense Fund; and Jill Lancelot, Taxpayers
for Common Sense, Washington, D.C.
[Page: D551]
Joint Meetings
HIGH-TECH SUMMIT
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings on the High-Technology
National Summit to examine issues that are related to ensuring the
continuation of its robust role in our economic health, focusing on the
necessity for education system changes, trade and deregulation issues, and
what actions the government should take regarding these issues, after
receiving testimony from Carly Fiorina, Hewlett-Packard Company, Palo Alto,
California; Michael Eisner, The Walt Disney Company, Anaheim, California; J.
Craig Venter, Celera Genomics, Bethesda, Maryland; Beth VanStory, iMotors.com,
San Francisco, California; Gene Hoffman, Jr., EMusic.com, Inc., Redwood City,
California; Judith Hamilton, Classroom Connect, Brisbane, California; and Anne
L. Bryant, National School Boards Association, Alexandria, Virginia.
2000/06/08
Daily Digest - Thursday, June 8, 2000; pages D558 - D566
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTIONS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
International Trade and Finance concluded hearings to examine the operations
of the World Bank and the need for reform of the Bank and development
programs, after receiving testimony from Allan H. Meltzer, Carnegie Mellon
University Graduate School of Industrial Administration, and James B. Burnham,
Duquesne University Donahue Graduate School of Business, both of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania; C. Fred Bergsten, Institute for International Economics,
Washington, D.C.; and Adam Lerrick, International Financial Institution
Advisory Commission, Barrytown, New York.
PUBLIC LAND MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management concluded hearings on H.R. 359, to clarify the intent of
Congress in Public Law 93-632 to require the Secretary of Agriculture to
continue to provide for the maintenance and operation of 18 concrete dams and
weirs that were located in the Emigrant Wilderness at the time the wilderness
area was designated in that Public Law, H.R. 468, to establish the Saint
Helena Island National Scenic Area, H.R. 1680, to provide for the conveyance
of Forest Service property in Kern County, California, in exchange for county
lands suitable for inclusion in Sequoia National Forest, S. 1817, to validate
a conveyance of certain lands located in Carlton County, Minnesota, and to
provide for the compensation of certain original heirs, S. 1972, to direct the
Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the town of Dolores, Colorado, the
current site of the Joe Rowell Park, and S. 2111, to direct the Secretary of
Agriculture to convey for fair market value 1.06 acres of land in the San
Bernardino National Forest, California, to KATY 101.3 FM, a California
corporation, after receiving testimony from Senator Allard; Representative
Kildee; Jack Craven, Director of Lands, United States Forest Service,
Department of Agriculture; Willie Davis, KATY 101.3 FM, Englewood, California;
Marianne Mate, Park Planning Committee, Dolores, Colorado; Michael A. Francis,
Wilderness Society, Washington, D.C.; and Steve Brougher, Wilderness Watch,
Central Sierra Chapter, Sonora, California.
NATIONAL PARKS OMNIBUS MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded oversight hearings to review
the final rules and regulations issued by the National Park Service relating
to Title IV of the National Parks Omnibus Management Act of 1998 concerning
the solicitation, awards, and administration of concession contracts use in
units of the National Park System, and to determine the extent to which the
final rule complies with the intent of the concessions law, after receiving
testimony from Denis Galvin, Deputy Director, National Park Service,
Department of the Interior.
KOSOVO
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on European Affairs concluded
hearings to examine the current situation in Kosovo one year after the NATO
air campaign expelled Yugoslav President Milosevic's security forces from the
area, and the progress being made to reinvigorate the society and foster
democracy, after receiving testimony from James W. Pardew, Jr. Principal
Deputy Adviser to the President and Secretary of State on Democracy in the
Balkans; and Morton I. Abramowitz, International Crisis Group, former
Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, Paul R. Williams,
American University Washington College of Law, and Janusz Bugajski, Center for
Strategic and International Studies, all of Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported S. 2406, to
amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide permanent authority for
entry into the United States of certain religious workers.
Also, Committee approved resolutions for issuance of subpoenas to Attorney
General Reno for documents related to Elian Gonzalez, and for the personal
appearance of Stephen Mansfield on June 13, 2000, pursuant to Rule 26.
GENDER-BASED WAGE DISCRIMINATION
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the Bureau of Labor Statistics report which provides a
full picture of the gender-based wage gap, the reasons for these gaps and the
impact this discrimination has on women and families, and the effectiveness of
current D562laws and proposed legislative solutions, and S. 74, to amend the
Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide more effective remedies to victims
of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex, after receiving
testimony from Katharine G. Abraham, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor Statistic,
Department of Labor; June O'Neill, City University of New York Baruch College
Center for the Study of Business and Government, New York, New York; and Heidi
I. Hartmann, George Washington University, on behalf of the Institute for
Women's Policy Research, Anita U. Hattiangadi, Employment Policy Foundation,
Gail S. Shaffer, Business and Professional Women/USA, Barbara Berish Brown,
Paul, Hasting, Janofsky and Walker, and Judith C. Appelbaum, National Women's
Law Center, all of Washington, D.C.
[Page: D562]
NATIONAL COMMISSION ON TERRORISM
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee concluded hearings on the
conclusions and recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorism
regarding intelligence information collection, technology and institutional
practices needed to disseminate information effectively, cyber terrorism, and
the role of the intelligence community to protect the United States against
terrorism, after receiving testimony from Ambassador L. Paul Bremer, III,
Chairman, Maurice Sonnenberg, Vice Chairman, R. James Woolsey, Commissioner,
Jane Harman, Commissioner, and Juliette N. Kayyem, Commissioner, all of the
National Commission on Terrorism.
Joint Meetings
ROMANI HUMAN RIGHTS
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded
hearings on the human rights situation of the Romani minority in the OSCE
region where Roma face widespread discrimination in public places, education,
housing, and employment, as well as other human rights violations, after
receiving testimony from Rumyan Russinov, Roma Participation Project,
Bulgaria; Monika Horakova, Czech Parliament, Czech Republic; Angela Kocze,
European Roma Rights Center, Hungary; and Karolina Banomova, Czechoslovak Roma
Association of Canada.
2000/06/09
Daily Digest - Friday, June 9, 2000; pages D567 - D572
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/12
Daily Digest - Monday, June 12, 2000; pages D573 - D578
Committee Meetings
No Committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/13
Daily Digest - Tuesday, June 13, 2000; pages D580 - D590
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORTATION
Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
bill, making appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related
D584agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001.
[Page: D584]
APPROPRIATION--DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on District of Columbia concluded
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2001 for the District of
Columbia, after receiving testimony from Mayor Anthony A. Williams, Linda W.
Cropp, Chairman, Council of the District of Columbia, and Alice M. Rivlin,
Chairman, District of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management
Assistance Authority, all of Washington, D.C.
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, 2001.
MERCHANT BANKING ACTIVITIES
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Financial
Institutions and Subcommittee on Securities concluded joint hearings to
examine the regulation of merchant banking activities under the
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act of 1999, after receiving testimony from Gary Gensler,
Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance; Lawrence H. Meyer,
Member, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; Frederick M. Fritz,
BancBoston Capital, Boston, Massachusetts, and Jeffrey Walker, Chase Capital
Partners, New York, New York, both on behalf of the Financial Services
Roundtable; Marc E. Lackritz, Securities Industry Association, and Joseph S.
Bracewell, Century National Bank, on behalf of the Independent Community
Bankers of America, both of Washington, D.C.; and John P. Whaley, Norwest
Equity Partners and Norwest Venture Partners, Minneapolis, Minnesota, on
behalf of the American Bankers Association and American Bankers Association
Securities Association.
ONLINE PROFILING AND PRIVACY
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine online profiling done by Internet network advertisers and
how it impacts consumer's privacy, after receiving testimony from Jodie
Bernstein, Director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, and David Medine,
Associate Director for Financial Practices, both of the Federal Trade
Commission; Jules Polonetsky, DoubleClick, New York, New York; Daniel Jaye,
Engage, Inc., Andover, Massachusetts; Marc Rotenberg, Electronic Privacy
Information Center, Washington, D.C.; and Richard M. Smith, Brookline,
Massachusetts.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of James V. Aidala, of Virginia, to be Assistant Administrator for
Toxic Substances of the Environmental Protection Agency, Arthur C. Campbell,
of Tennessee, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development,
and Ella Wong-Rusinko, of Virginia, to be Alternate Federal Co-chairman of the
Appalachian Regional Commission, after the nominees testified and answered
questions in their own behalf. Mr. Aidala was introduced by Senators Lieberman
and Roberts, Mr. Campbell was introduced by Senator Frist and Representatives
Bennie Thompson and Wamp, and Ms. Wong-Rusinko was introduced by Senators
Warner and Hutchison.
TIBET
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on East Asian and Pacific Affairs
concluded hearings to examine recent developments in promoting a positive
Tibetan/Chinese relationship, while sustaining Tibet's unique religious,
linguistic, and cultural heritage, after receiving testimony from Julia V.
Taft, Special Coordinator for Tibet, Department of State; John Ackerly,
International Campaign for Tibet, Washington, D.C.; Elliot Spurling, Indiana
University Department of Central Eurasian Studies, Bloomington, on behalf of
the Human Rights Watch; and Elizabeth Napper, Tibetan Nuns' Project, San
Geronimo, California.
POST-CONVICTION DNA TESTING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on post-conviction
DNA testing, focusing on how to incorporate DNA testing more fully into the
American criminal justice system, and related proposals, after receiving
testimony from Oklahoma Attorney General W.A. Drew Edmondson, Oklahoma City;
New York State Attorney General Eliot Spitzer, New York; California Deputy
Attorney General Enid A. Camps, Sacramento; Charles F. Baird, former Judge,
Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, Austin, on behalf of the National Committee
to Prevent Wrongful Executions; Joshua K. Marquis, Clatsop County District
Attorney, Astoria, Oregon, on behalf of the National District Attorney's
Association; Barry C. Scheck, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law, New York, New
York, on behalf of the Innocence Project, George Clarke, San Diego County
Deputy District Attorney, California, and James Wooley, Baker and Hostetler,
Case Western Reserve University Law School, Washington, D.C., all on behalf of
the National Commission on the Future of DNA Testing; Bryan A. Stevenson, New
York University School of Law, New York, on behalf D585of the Equal Justice
Initiative of Alabama; and Dennis Fritz, Kansas City, Missouri.
[Page: D585]
PRESCRIPTION DRUG SAFETY AND PRICING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the accessibility of affordable prescription drugs, the
price differentials for identical prescription drugs in the international
marketplace, and drug quality and safety, after receiving testimony from
Senators Gorton, Dorgan, Johnson, and Burns; Representative Sanders;
Christopher T. Rhodes, University of Rhode Island, Kingston; Patricia M.
Danzon, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Management, Philadelphia;
Stephen W. Schondelmeyer, University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy PRIME
Institute, Minneapolis; Ronald F. Pollack, Families USA, and Alan F. Holmer,
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, both of Washington,
D.C.; and Paul Abrams, NeoRx Corporation, Seattle, Washington, on behalf of
the Biotechnology Industry Organization.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/14
Daily Digest - Wednesday, June 14, 2000; pages D591 - D602
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
RURAL AREA INTERNET ACCESS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications concluded hearings on S. 2454, to amend the Communications Act
of 1934 to authorize low-power television stations to provide digital data
services to subscribers, focusing on wireless high speed Internet access for
rural areas, after receiving testimony from Roy J. Stewart, Chief, Mass Media
Bureau, Federal Communications Commission; Larry Morton, Equity Broadcasting
Corporation, Little Rock, Arkansas, on behalf of the Community Broadcasters
Association; James J. Popham, Association of Local Television Stations, Inc.,
Washington, D.C.; and Dean M. Mosely, U.S. Interactive/AccelerNet, Houston,
Texas.
ETHANOL
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air,
Wetlands, Private Property, and Nuclear Safety concluded hearings on the
environmental benefits and impacts of ethanol under the Clean Air Act, after
receiving testimony from Senators Grassley, Harkin, and Durbin; Gordon
Proctor, Ohio Department of Transportation, Columbus; Daniel S. Greenbaum,
Health Effects Institute, Cambridge Massachusetts; A. Blakeman Early, on
behalf of the American Lung Association, and Bob Slaughter, on behalf of the
National Petrochemical and Refiners Association, both of Washington, D.C.;
Michael S. Graboski, Colorado Institute for Fuels D595and High Altitude Engine
Research, Colorado School of Mines, Lakewood, on behalf of the National Corn
Grower's Association; Jack Huggins, Williams Bio-Energy, The Williams
Companies, Pekin, Illinois; Jason S. Grumet, Northeast States for Coordinated
Air Use Management, Boston, Massachusetts; and Stephen Gatto, BC International
Corporation, Dedham, Massachusetts.
[Page: D595]
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
S. 662, to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide medical
assistance for certain women screened and found to have breast or cervical
cancer under a federally funded screening program, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute; and
H.R. 3916, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax
on telephone and other communication services, with an amendment in the nature
of a substitute.
LEBANON
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian
Affairs concluded hearings to examine issues relating to the future of
democracy for the people of Lebanon, including the country's continued
occupation by Syria, the recent Israeli withdrawal, and efforts toward
disarmament of terrorist groups like Hezbollah, after receiving testimony from
Edward S. Walker, Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs;
Daniel Pipes, Middle East Quarterly, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Col.
Charbel Barakat, South Lebanon Army, Ain Ebel, Lebanon.
AMERICAN INTERNATIONAL PROSECUTION PROTECTION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine issues
relating to the need for protection of American servicemen and officials from
the threat of international prosecution by the International Criminal Court,
and a related measure, S. 2726, to protect United States military personnel
and other elected and appointed officials of the United States Government
against criminal prosecution by an international criminal court to which the
United States is not a party, after receiving testimony from Caspar W.
Weinberger, Forbes, Inc., Washington, D.C., former Secretary of Defense;
Jeremy Rabkin, Cornell University Department of Government, Ithaca, New York;
and Ruth Wedgwood, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, on behalf of the
Project on International Organizations and Law.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
S. 2705, to provide for the training of individuals, during a Presidential
transition, who the President intends to appoint to certain key positions, to
provide for a study and report on improving the financial disclosure process
for certain Presidential nominees;
S. 2712, to amend chapter 35 of title 31, United States Code, to authorize the
consolidation of certain financial and performance management reports required
of Federal agencies;
S. 2420, to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for the
establishment of a program under which long-term care insurance is made
available to Federal employees, members of the uniformed services, and
civilian and military retirees, with an amendment;
H.R. 208, to amend title 5, United States Code, to allow for the contribution
of certain rollover distributions to accounts in the Thrift Savings Plan, to
eliminate certain waiting-period requirements for participating in the Thrift
Savings Plan, with an amendment;
S. 2386, to extend the Stamp Out Breast Cancer Act;
S. 1564, to protect the budget of the Federal courts, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute;
S. 1846, to redesignate the Federal building located at 10301 South Compton
Avenue, in Los Angeles, California, and known as the Watts Finance Office, as
the "Augustus F. Hawkins Post Office Building";
S. 1847, to redesignate the Federal building located at 701 South Santa Fe
Avenue in Compton, California, and known as the Compton Main Post Office, as
the "Mervyn Malcolm Dymally Post Office Building";
S. 1884, to designate the building of the United States Postal Service located
at 5 Cedar Street in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, as the "Thomas J. Brown Post
Office Building";
S. 2043, to designate the United States Post Office building located at 3101
West Sunflower Avenue in Santa Ana, California, as the "Hector G. Godinez Post
Office Building";
S. 2234, to designate certain facilities of the United States Postal Service;
H.R. 642, to redesignate the Federal building located at 701 South Santa Fe
Avenue in Compton, California, and known as the Compton Main Post Office, as
the "Mervyn Malcolm Dymally Post Office Building";
[Page: D596]
H.R. 643, to redesignate the Federal building located at 10301 South Compton
Avenue, in Los Angeles, California, and known as the Watts Finance Office, as
the "Augustus F. Hawkins Post Office Building";
H.R. 1666, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service at
200 East Pinckney Street in Madison, Florida, as the "Captain Colin P. Kelly,
Jr. Post Office";
H.R. 2307, to designate the building of the United States Postal Service
located at 5 Cedar Street in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, as the "Thomas J. Brown
Post Office Building";
H.R. 2357, to designate the United States Post Office located at 3675
Warrensville Center Road in Shaker Heights, Ohio, as the "Louise Stokes Post
Office";
H.R. 2460, to designate the United States Post Office located at 125 Border
Avenue West in Wiggins, Mississippi, as the "Jay Hanna `Dizzy' Dean Post
Office";
H.R. 2591, to designate the United States Post Office located at 713 Elm
Street in Wakefield, Kansas, as the "William H. Avery Post Office";
H.R. 2952, to redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service
located at 100 Orchard Park Drive in Greenville, South Carolina, as the "Keith
D. Oglesby Station";
H.R. 3018, to designate certain facilities of the United States Postal Service
in South Carolina;
H.R. 3699, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service
located at 8409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia, as the "Joel T. Broyhill
Postal Building";
H.R. 3701, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service
located at 3118 Washington Boulevard in Arlington, Virginia, as the "Joseph L.
Fisher Post Office Building";
H.R. 4241, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service
located at 1818 Milton Avenue in Janesville, Wisconsin, as the "Les Aspin Post
Office Building"; and
The nominations of Amy L. Comstock, of Maryland, to be Director of the Office
of Government Ethics; Alan Craig Kessler, of Pennsylvania, to be a Governor of
the United States Postal Service; Carol Waller Pope, of the District of
Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Labor Relations Authority; and Anna
Blackburne-Rigsby, Thomas J. Motley, and John McAdam Mott, of the District of
Columbia, each to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District
of Columbia.
US AIRWAYS/UNITED MERGER
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights, and
Competition concluded hearings to examine the proposed United Airlines and US
Airways merger and the impact it may have on the airline industry, after
receiving testimony from Senators Helms, Wellstone, Santorum, and Edwards;
James E. Goodwin, United Airlines, Chicago, Illinois; Stephen M. Wolf, US
Airways Group, Inc., Arlington, Virginia; Robert L. Johnson, DC Air, and Mark
N. Cooper, Consumer Federation of America, both of Washington, D.C.; David
Neeleman, JetBlue Airways Corporation, Kew Gardens, New York; and Alfred Kahn,
Cornell University Department of Economics, Ithaca, New York.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
S.1586, to reduce the fractionated ownership of Indian Lands, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 2508, to amend the Colorado Ute Indian Water Rights Settlement Act of 1988
to provide for a final settlement of the claims of the Colorado Ute Indian
Tribes;
S. 2351, to provide for the settlement of the water rights claims of the
Shivwits Band of the Paiute Indian tribe of Utah, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute;
S. Res. 277, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the policy of Indian
self-determination; and
H.R. 3051, to direct the Secretary of the Interior, the Bureau of Reclamation,
to conduct a feasibility study on the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in the
State of New Mexico.
NATIVE AMERICAN AGRICULTURE RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, AND EXPORT ENHANCEMENT
ACT
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 2282, to
encourage the efficient use of existing resources and assets related to Indian
agricultural research, development and exports within the United States
Department of Agriculture, after receiving testimony from Richard Rominger,
Deputy Secretary of Agriculture; Malcolm B. Bowekaty, Pueblo of Zuni, New
Mexico; Ardell Ruiz, Gila River Indian Community, Sacaton, Arizona; and Fred
Small, Lame Deer, Montana, on behalf of the Montana Wyoming Indian Agriculture
Council.
LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee concluded joint hearings with the
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources to examine the loss of national
security information at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, after receiving
testimony from T.J. Glauthier, Deputy Secretary, John Browne, Director, Los
Alamos National Laboratory, Edward Curran, D597Director, Office of
Counterintelligence, and Eugene Habiger, Director, Office of Security and
Emergency Operations, all of the Department of Energy.
[Page: D597]
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.
Joint Meetings
BOSNIA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: On Tuesday, June 13,
Commission concluded hearings to examine the situation five years after the
Dayton Agreement which ended the war in Bosnia, focusing on whether the Dayton
Agreement has encouraged the restoration of multi-ethnic Bosnian state, or
perpetuated the ethnic divisions created by aggression and ethnic cleansing,
after receiving testimony from Gen. Wesley K. Clark, U.S. Army, former Supreme
Allied Commander Europe; James Pardew, Principal Deputy Special Advisor to the
President and Secretary of State for Kosovo and Dayton Implementation; Robert
Barry, Head of Mission, OSCE Mission to Bosnia-Herzegovina; Haris Silajdzic,
Member, Bosnian Parliament, and former Prime Minister of Bosnia-Herzegovina;
Selim Beslagic, Mayor of the municipality of Tuzla; and Milan Trbojevic,
Republika Srpska.
2000/06/15
Daily Digest - Thursday, June 15, 2000; pages D603 - D610
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items:
S. 2487,to authorize appropriations for Fiscal Year 2001 for certain maritime
programs of the Department of Transportation, with an amendment in the nature
of a substitute;
S. 2438, to provide for enhanced safety, public awareness, and environmental
protection in pipeline transportation, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute;
S. 1510, to revise the laws of the United States appertaining to United States
cruise vessels, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1534, to reauthorize the Coastal Zone Management Act, with an amendment in
the nature of a substitute;
S. 1687, to amend the Federal Trade Commission Act to authorize appropriations
for the Federal Trade Commission, with
amendments;
S. 2440, to amend title 49, United States Code, to improve airport security,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 2412, to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations
for the National Transportation Safety Board for fiscal years 2000, 2001,
2002, and 2003;
S. 893, to amend title 46, United States Code, to provide equitable treatment
with respect to State and local income taxes for certain individuals who
perform duties on vessels; and
The nominations of J. Randolph Babbitt, of Virginia, Robert W. Baker, of
Texas, Edward M. Bolen, of Maryland, Geoffrey T. Crowley, of Wisconsin, Robert
A. Davis, of Washington, and Kendall W. Wilson, of the District of Columbia,
each to be a Member of the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council,
Department of Transportation; Delmond J.H. Won, of Hawaii, to be a Federal
Maritime Commissioner; and a nomination list for promotion in the United
States Coast Guard.
FOREIGN OIL SOURCES
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on
certain provisions of S. 2557, to protect the energy security of the United
States and decrease America's dependency on foreign oil sources to 50 percent
by the Year 2010 by enhancing the use of renewable energy resources,
conserving energy resources, improving energy efficiencies, and increasing
domestic energy supplies, mitigating the effect of increases in energy prices
on the American consumer, including the poor and the elderly, after receiving
testimony from Senator Jeffords; former Senator Johnston, J. Bennett Johnston
and Associates, Washington D.C.; Ernest J. Moniz, Under Secretary of Energy
for Science, Energy and Environment; Richard L. Lawson, National Mining
Association, Steven E. Plotkin, Center for Transportation Research, Argonne
National Laboratory, and Jaime Steve, American Wind Energy Association, all of
Washington, D.C.; Jerry Jordan, Jordan Energy, Inc., Columbus, Ohio, on behalf
of the Independent Petroleum Association of America and the National Stripper
Well Association; and Paul Vermylen, Meenan Oil Co., Syosset, New York, on
behalf of the Independent Fuel Terminal Operators Association.
CONCESSIONS MANAGEMENT PROGRAM
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded oversight hearings to examine
a General Accounting Office report on the problems which plague the
Concessions Management Program of the National Park Service, after receiving
testimony from Barry T. Hill, Associate Director, Energy, Resources, and
Science Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division,
General Accounting Office; Maureen Finnerty, Associate Director, Park
Operations and Education, National Park Service, Department of the Interior;
and Philip H. Voorhees, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the National Parks
Conservation Association.
HEAVY-DUTY DIESEL EMISSION RULE
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air,
Wetlands, Private Property, and Nuclear Safety concluded hearings to examine
Environmental Protection Agency emission standards for heavy duty trucks and
buses and the accompanying low sulfur requirement for diesel fuel, after
receiving testimony from Robert Perciasepe, Assistant Administrator, Office of
Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency; J. Louis Frank, Marathon
Ashland Petroleum, Findlay, Ohio; Jerry Thompson, Citgo Petroleum Company,
Tulsa, Oklahoma, on behalf of the National Petrochemical and Refiners
Association; Robert J. Looney, Cenax Harvest States Cooperative, on behalf of
the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, David S. Addington, American
Trucking Associations, Inc., and Bruce Bertelsen, Manufacturers of Emission
D606Controls Association, all of Washington, D.C.; and James A Haslam, III,
Pilot Oil Corporation, Knoxville, Tennessee, on behalf of the Society of
Independent Gasoline Marketers of America.
[Page: D606]
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine the report
of the National Commission on Terrorism evaluating the changing threat of
international terrorism and United States laws, policies, and practices for
preventing and punishing terrorism aimed at U.S. citizens, receiving testimony
from L. Paul Bremer, III, Chairman, and Maurice Sonnenberg, Vice Chairman,
both of the National Commission on Terrorism; Michael A. Sheehan, Coordinator
for Counterterrorism, Department of State; and Dale L. Watson, Assistant
Director, Counterterrorism, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and James S.
Reynolds, Chief, Terrorism and Violent Crime Section, Criminal Division, both
of the Department of Justice.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
S. 11, for the relief of Wei Jingsheng;
S. 150, to the relief of Marina Khalina and her son, Albert Mifakhov;
S. 451, for the relief of Saeed Rezai;
S. 1078, for the relief of Mrs. Elizabeth Eka Bassey and her children,
Emmanuel O. Paul Bassey, and Mary Idongesit Paul Bassey, with an amendment in
the nature of a substitute;
S. 1513, for the relief of Jacqueline Salinas and her children Gabriela
Salinas, Alejandro Salinas, and Omar Salinas;
S. 2019, for the relief of Malia Miller; and
The following nominations of Jay A. Garcia-Gregory, to be United States
District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico; Beverly B. Martin, to be
United States District Judge for the Northern District of Georgia; Laura
Taylor Swain, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of
New York; Julio F. Mercado, of Texas, to be Deputy Administrator of Drug
Enforcement Department of Justice; Daniel G. Webber, Jr., to be United States
Attorney for the Western District of Oklahoma; James L. Whigham, to be United
States Marshal for the Northern District of Illinois; and Russell John
Qualliotine, to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of New
York.
No Joint hearings noted
2000/06/16
Daily Digest - Friday, June 16, 2000; pages D611 - D616
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: On Thursday, June 15, Committee concluded hearings
on the nominations of Johnnie B Rawlinson, of Nevada, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit; John W. Darrah, to be United States
District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; Paul C. Huck, to be
United States District Judge for the Southern District of Florida; Joan
Humphrey Lefkow, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District
of Illinois; and George Z. Singal, to be United States District Judge for the
District of Maine, after D612the nominees testified and answered questions in
their own behalf. Mr. Rawlinson was introduced by Senators Reid and Bryan, Mr.
Darrah was introduced by Senators Fitzgerald and Durbin and Representative
Hyde, Ms. Lefkow was introduced by Senators Durbin and Fitzgerald, Mr. Huck
was introduced by Senators Mack and Graham, and Mr. Singal was introduced by
Senators Snowe and Collins and Representatives Baldacci and Allen.
[Page: D612]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/19
Daily Digest - Monday, June 19, 2000; pages D617 - D622
Committee Meetings
No committee meeting were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/20
Daily Digest - Tuesday, June 20, 2000; pages D624 - D632
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
An original bill to amend the United States Grain Standards Act to extend the
authority of the Secretary of Agriculture to collect fees, extend the
authorization of appropriations, and improve the administration of that Act,
and to amend the United States Warehouse Act to authorize the issuance of
electronic warehouse receipts;
S. 1762, to amend the Watershed Protection and Flood Prevention Act to
authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to provide cost share assistance for
the rehabilitation of structural measures constructed as part of water
resources projects previously funded by the Secretary under such Act or
related laws;
S. 1066, to amend the National Agricultural Research, Extension, and Teaching
Policy Act of 1977 to encourage the use of and research into agricultural best
practices to improve the environment, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute; and
The nominations of Christopher A. McLean, of Nebraska, to be Administrator,
Rural Utilities Service, Department of Agriculture; and Michael V. Dunn, of
Iowa, to be a Member of the Farm Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit
Administration for the remainder of the term expiring October 13, 2000.
Also, the committee ordered reported without recommendation the nomination of
Michael V. Dunn, of Iowa, to be a Member of the Farm Credit Administration
Board, Farm Credit Administration for a term expiring October 13, 2006.
APPROPRIATIONS--INTERIOR
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior approved for full
committee consideration H.R. 4578, making appropriations for the Department of
the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30,
2001, with amendments.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and
Transportation concluded hearings on S. 1333 and H.R. 1776, bills to expand
homeownership in the United States, and other related proposals to promote
affordable housing, including the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage, Title I
property improvement loan program, Section 203(k) rehabilitation loan program,
Section 8 housing, and the HOME program, after receiving testimony from
Senator Wyden; Representative Lazio; William Apgar, Assistant Secretary of
Housing and Urban Development for Housing/Federal Housing Commissioner; W.
Roger Haughton, PMI Mortgage Insurance Company, San Francisco, California, on
behalf of the Mortgage Insurance Companies of America; Frank C. Thompson,
Sweetwater Builders, Inc., Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the National
Association of Home Builders; Catherine B. Whatley, Buck and Buck, Inc.,
Jacksonville, Florida, on behalf of the National Association of Realtors;
Peter H. Bell, National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association, Ann B. Schnare,
Center for Housing Policy, and Sheila Crowley, National Low Income Housing
Coalition, all of Washington, D.C.; and Charles Wehrwein, National Equity
Fund, Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of the Local Initiatives Support
Corporation.
WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on International Trade concluded hearings
on the World Trade Organization's dispute settlement system after five years,
focusing on its impact on foreign trade practices and U.S. laws and
regulations, after receiving testimony from Susan S. Westin, Associate
Director, International and Trade Issues, National Security and International
Affairs Division, General Accounting Office; Charlene Barshefsky, United
States Trade Representative; and John H. Jackson, Georgetown University Law
Center, Gary N. Horlick, O'Melveny and Myers, and Lori Wallach, Public
Citizen's Global Trade Watch, all of Washington, D.C.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination
of Owen James Sheaks, of Virginia, a Career Member of the Senior Executive
Service, to be an Assistant Secretary of State, after the nominee testified
and answered question in his own behalf.
AUTHORIZATION--COMMUNITY SERVICE PROGRAMS
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for programs of the
National and Community Service Act and the Domestic Volunteer Service Act,
after receiving testimony from Montana Governor Marc Racicot, Helena; Harris
Wofford, Corporation for National Service, Washington, D.C.; Rosie K. Mauk,
Texas Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service, Fort Worth, on behalf
of the American Association of State Service Commissions; Jane Freeland
Williams, Vermont D627Commission on National and Community Service,
Montpelier; Emily B. Zollo, Americorps, Lyndonville, Vermont; Maureen Curley,
Massachusetts Service Alliance, and Ruth Blackman, both of Boston,
Massachusetts; and Debra Socia, Mattapoisset, Massachusetts.
[Page: D627]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/21
Daily Digest - Wednesday, June 21, 2000; pages D633 - D642
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
COMMODITY FUTURES MODERNIZATION ACT
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded joint
hearings with Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on S. 2697, to
reauthorize and amend the Commodity Exchange Act to promote legal certainty,
enhance competition, and reduce systemic risk in markets for futures and
over-the-counter derivatives, after receiving testimony from Lawrence H.
Summers, Secretary of the Treasury; Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of
Governors, Federal Reserve System; Arthur Levitt, Chairman, United States
Securities and Exchange Commission; and William J. Rainer, Chairman, Commodity
Futures Trading Commission.
LOS ALAMOS NATIONAL LABORATORY
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed hearings to
examine recent security failures at the Los Alamos National Laboratory, after
receiving testimony from William B. Richardson, Secretary, T.J. Glauthier,
Deputy Secretary, John C. Browne, Director, Los Alamos National Laboratory,
Edward J. Curran, Director, Office of Counterintelligence, and Gen. Eugene E.
Habiger, USAF (Ret.), Director, Office of Security and Emergency Operations,
all of the Department of Energy.
UNITED AIRLINES-US AIRWAYS MERGER
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings to
examine the proposed United Airlines and US Airways merger, focusing on its
effect on competition in the airline industry, and the likelihood it would
trigger further industry consolidation, receiving testimony from Senator
Collins; James E. Goodwin, United Airlines, Chicago, Illinois; Stephen M.
Wolf, US Airways Group, Inc., Arlington, Virginia; Robert L. Johnson, DC Air,
Washington, D.C.; and Joseph Leonard, AirTran Airways, Inc., Orlando, Florida.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported S. 2071, to benefit electricity consumers by promoting the
reliability of the bulk-power system, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute.
WATER AND POWER
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded hearings on S. 1848, 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
Denver Water Reuse project, S. 1761, to direct the Secretary of the Interior,
through the Bureau of Reclamation, to conserve and enhance the water supplies
of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, S. 2301, 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
Lakehaven water reclamation project for the reclamation and reuse of water, S.
D6372400, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain water
distribution facilities to the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District,
S. 2499, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a
hydroelectric project in the State of Pennsylvania, and S. 2594, to authorize
the Secretary of the Interior to contract with the Mancos Water Conservancy
District to use the Mancos Project facilities for impounding, storage,
diverting, and carriage of nonproject water for the purpose of irrigation,
domestic, municipal, industrial, after receiving testimony from Representative
Hinojosa; Eluid L. Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department
of the Interior; Wayne Halbert, Harlingen Irrigation District, Harlingen,
Texas, on behalf of the Texas Irrigation Council; Sonia Kaniger, Cameron
County Irrigation District #2, San Bonita, Texas; Beverly J. Tweddle,
Lakehaven Utility District, Federal Way, Washington; Mary Hoddinott, Denver
Water Board, Denver, Colorado; Eric Wilkinson, Northern Colorado Water
Conservancy District, Loveland; and Gary Kennedy, Mancos Water Conservancy
District, Mancos, Colorado.
[Page: D637]
MINE WASTE REMEDIATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Drinking Water concluded hearings on S. 1787, to amend the
Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve water quality on abandoned or
inactive mined land, and the related recommendations of the Western Governors'
Association, after receiving testimony from J. Charles Fox, Assistant
Administrator for Water, Environmental Protection Agency; South Dakota
Governor William J. Janklow, Pierre, on behalf of the Western Governors'
Association; Katherine Kelly, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality, and
Jack Lyman, Idaho Mining Association, both of Boise; William B. Goodhard, Echo
Bay Mines, Englewood, Colorado, on behalf of the National Mining Association;
Sara Kendall, Western Organization of Resource Councils, Washington, D.C.; and
David Gerard, Political Economy Research Center, Bozeman, Montana.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of John Edward Herbst, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Uzbekistan; Carlos Pascual, of the District of Columbia, to be
Ambassador to Ukraine; Lawrence George Rossin, of California, to be Ambassador
to the Republic of Croatia; and Ross L. Wilson, of Maryland, to be Ambassador
to the Republic of Azerbaijan, after the nominees testified and answered
questions in their own behalf.
CRIMINAL BACKGROUND CHECK SYSTEM
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings to examine
improvements to the National Instant Criminal Background Check System, after
receiving testimony from Senators Durbin and Thomas; former Senator Dole;
David R. Loesch, Assistant Director in Charge, Criminal Justice Information
Services Division, Federal Bureau of Investigation, Department of Justice;
Stuart Smith, Utah Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal
Identification, Salt Lake City; Max Schlueter, Vermont Department of Public
Safety, Crime Information Center, Waterbury; and Robin Ball, Sharp Shooting
Indoor Range, Spokane, Washington.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the
Courts concluded oversight hearings to examine certain issues relating to the
1996 campaign finance investigation, receiving testimony from Lee J. Radek,
Chief, Public Integrity Section, Robert S. Litt, former Principal Associate
Deputy Attorney General, Steven A. Mansfield, former Assistant United States
Attorney, and Robert Conrad, Head of Campaign Finance Task Force, all of the
Department of Justice; and Darryl Wold, Chairman, and Danny L. McDonald,
Vice-Chairman, both of the Federal Election Commission.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee concluded joint closed hearings
with the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on intelligence matters,
after receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community.
[Page: D638]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/22
Daily Digest - Thursday, June 22, 2000; pages D643 - D650
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--INTERIOR
Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported H.R. 4578,
making appropriations for the Department of the Interior and related agencies
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, with an amendment in the nature
of a substitute.
UNITED AIRLINES-US AIRWAYS MERGER
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the state of airline competition and the Department of
Transportation's role in reviewing airline mergers and acquisitions, focusing
on the proposed United Airlines and US Airways merger, and its effect on
competition in the airline industry, and the likelihood it would trigger
further industry consolidation, after receiving testimony from Nancy E.
McFadden, General Counsel, Department of Transportation; and Albert A. Foer,
Washington, D.C., on behalf of the American Antitrust Institute.
NATIONAL PARKS/NATIONAL MONUMENTS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S. 1643, to
authorize the addition of certain parcels to the Effigy Mounds National
Monument, Iowa, and S. 2547, to provide for the establishment of the Great
Sand Dunes National Park and the Great Sand Dunes National Preserve in the
State of Colorado, after receiving testimony from Senators Grassley and
Allard; Representative McInnis; Stephen Saunders, Deputy Assistant Secretary
for Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Department of the Interior; Colorado State
Senator Gigi Dennis, Denver; Mark Burget, Boulder, Colorado, on behalf of the
Nature Conservancy; Ray Wright, Rio Grande Water Conservation District,
Alamosa, Colorado; J. Michael Baumann, Foundation for North American Wild
Sheep, Arvada, Colorado; Mark C. Ackelson, Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation,
Des Moines; and Richard C. Young, Young Family Foundation, Waterloo, Iowa.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Rust Macpherson Deming, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the
Republic of Tunisia, Mary Ann Peters, of California, to be Ambassador to the
People's Republic of Bangladesh, Janet A. Sanderson, of Arizona, to be
Ambassador to the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, and E. Ashley
Wills, of Georgia, to be Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of
Sri Lanka, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as
Ambassador to the Republic of Maldives, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf.
FOREIGN SERVICE PROMOTION PROCESS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Operations
concluded hearings to examine issues related to the role of security in the
Department of State foreign service promotion process, including ambassadorial
nominees, security incidents in controlled access areas, security awareness
training, and raising security consciousness, after receiving testimony from
Marc Grossman, Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human
Resources, and David G. Carpenter, Assistant Secretary for Diplomatic Security
and Senior Adviser to the Secretary of State on Security Issues, both of the
Department of State; and Marshall P. Adair, American Foreign Service
Association, and Fern Finley, American Federation of Government Employees
(Local #1534), both of Washington, D.C.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Thomas L. Garthwaite, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of
Veteran Affairs for Health; and Robert M. Walker, of West Virginia, to be
Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Memorial Affairs, after the nominees
testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. Walker was
introduced by Senator Cleland.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
S. 1148, to provide for the Yankton Sioux Tribe and the Santee Sioux Tribe of
Nebraska certain benefits of the Missouri River Basin Pick-Sloan project, with
an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 1658, to authorize the construction of a Reconciliation Place in Fort
Pierre, South Dakota, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
[Page: D646]
S. 2719, to provide for business development and trade promotion for Native
Americans.
INDIAN TRUST RESOLUTION CORPORATION
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on proposed
legislation to reform the management of Indian trust funds and trust resources
by the Federal Government, after receiving testimony from Gregg Bourland,
Albuquerque, New Mexico, on behalf of the Intertribal Monitoring Association;
Jeffrey M. Bucher, Lillick and Charles Law Offices; Costa Mesa, California;
and Dan Press, Van Ness, Feldman Law Offices, Washington, D.C.
2000/06/23
Daily Digest - Friday, June 23, 2000; pages D651 - D658
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
Committee on the Judiciary: On Thursday, June 22, Subcommittee on Criminal
Justice Oversight concluded hearings to examine the threat of fugitives to
safety, law, and order, after receiving testimony from Senator Dorgan; John W.
Marshall, Director, and Israel Brooks, Jr., Marshall for the District of South
Carolina, both of the United States Marshall Service, Department of Justice;
Edward T. Norris, Baltimore Police Department, Maryland; Patrick Sullivan,
Sheriff of Arapahoe County, Colorado, on behalf of the National Sheriffs'
Association; and Kevin M. Horton, Massachusetts State Police, Framingham.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/26
Daily Digest - Monday, June 26, 2000; pages D660 - D666
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
KIDNEY DIALYSIS
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings on the hardships that
dialysis patients endure when being treated for End Stage Renal Disease
(kidney failure), and the options for improving the government's oversight of
kidney dialysis facilities, after receiving testimony from George F. Grob,
Deputy Inspector General for Evaluation and Inspections, and Jeffrey Kang,
Director, Office of Clinical Standards and Quality, Health Care Financing
Administration, both of the Department of Health and Human Services; William
J. Scanlon, Director, Health Financing and Public Health Issues, Health,
Education and Human Services Division, General Accounting Office; Terry Bahr,
National Renal Administrators Association, Reston, Virginia; Jay Wish, Forum
of End-Stage Renal Disease, Midlothian, Virginia; William F. Owen, Jr., Renal
Physicians Association, Rockville, Maryland; W. Kenneth Bays, Pelham, Georgia;
and Brent Smith, Chandler, Arizona.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/27
Daily Digest - Tuesday, June 27, 2000; pages D668 - D678
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations
of Lt. Gen. Tommy R. Franks, United States Army, for appointment to the grade
of general and to be Commander-in-Chief, United States Central Command; and
Lt. Gen. William F. Kernan, United States Army, for appointment to the grade
of general and to be Commander-in-Chief, United States Joint Forces
Command/Supreme Allied Commander, Atlantic, after the nominees testified and
answered questions in their own behalf.
Also, committee ordered favorably reported 2,009 military nominations in the
Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps.
NUCLEAR WASTE CLEANUP
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Energy Research,
Development, Production and Regulation concluded hearings to examine
Department of Energy efforts to clean up its Paducah, Kentucky, uranium
enrichment plant, after allegations of improper disposal of hazardous and
radioactive materials, after receiving testimony from Gary L. Jones, Associate
Director, Energy, Resources, and Science Issues, Resources, Community, and
Economic Development Division, General Accounting D671Office; Carolyn L.
Huntoon, Assistant Secretary for Environmental Management, David Michaels,
Assistant Secretary for Environment, Safety and Health, and William D.
Magwood, IV, Director of the Office of Nuclear Energy, Science and Technology,
all of the Department of Energy.
[Page: D671]
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on the
nominations of Karl William Hofmann, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the
Togolese Republic, Howard Franklin Jeter, of South Carolina, to be Ambassador
to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, John W. Limbert, of Vermont, to be
Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, Roger A. Meece, of
Washington, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi, Donald Y. Yamamoto, of
New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti, Sharon P. Wilkinson,
of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique, and Pamela E.
Bridgewater, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, after the
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nominations of John W. Darrah, to be United States District Judge for the
Northern District of Illinois, Paul C. Huck, to be United States District
Judge for the Southern District of Florida, Joan Humphrey Lefkow, to be United
States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, and George Z.
Singal, to be United States District Judge for the District of Maine.
Also, Committee began markup of S. 353, to provide for class action reform,
but did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to call.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE INVESTIGATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded oversight hearings on issues
relating to the now expired Independent Counsel statute, Congressional
oversight requests, and the Department of Justice 1996 campaign finance
investigations, after receiving testimony from Janet Reno, Attorney General,
Department of Justice.
SINGLE USE MEDICAL DEVICES
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the safety and effectiveness of certain medical devices,
focusing on the practice of reprocessing and reusing certain medical devices
that were designed, manufactured, and approved by FDA for use in a single
patient, during a single procedure, after receiving testimony from
Representative Eshoo; David W. Feigal, Director, Center for Devices and
Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health and
Human Services; Janet Heinrich, Associate Director, Health Financing and
Public Health Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General
Accounting Office; Josephine M. Torrente, Association of Disposable Device
Manufacturers, Washington, D.C.; Vern Feltner, Alliance Medical Corporation,
Asheville, North Carolina, on behalf of the Association of Medical Device
Reprocessors; John Clough, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, Ohio, on
behalf of the American Hospital Association; and Anne Cofiell, Mt. Laurel, New
Jersey, on behalf of the International Association of Healthcare Central
Service Material Management.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS/SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded hearings on the
goals and operations of the Library of Congress and the Smithsonian
Institution, after receiving testimony from James H. Billington, Librarian of
Congress; and Lawrence M. Small, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution.
Joint Meetings
AUTHORIZATION--NASA
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House passed
versions of H.R. 1654, to authorize appropriations for the National
Aeronautics and Space Administration for fiscal years 2000, 2001, and 2002,
but did not
complete action thereon, and recessed subject to call.
2000/06/28
Daily Digest - Wednesday, June 28, 2000; pages D679 - D688
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
AIRLINE CUSTOMER SERVICE
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings to
examine the status after six months of the major airlines' implementation of
their Airline Customer Service Commitment, to improve customer service,
accountability, enforcement, and commercial air passengers protection,
receiving testimony from Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General, Department of
Transportation; and Donald J. Carty, American Airlines, Dallas, Texas, Mary
Jopplin, Continental Airlines, Houston, Texas, and Vicki Escarra, Delta Air
Lines, Atlanta, Georgia, all on behalf of the Air Transport Association.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
S. 2797, to authorize a comprehensive Everglades restoration plan, with
amendments; and
S. 2796, to provide for the conservation and development of water and related
resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct various
projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, with an
amendment in the nature of a substitute. (As approved by the Committee, the
bill incorporates the text of S. 2797, a related measure.)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Finance: Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill
entitled the Marriage Tax Relief Reconciliation Act.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following business items:
An original bill to provide for international debt forgiveness and the
strengthening of anticorruption measures and accountability at international
financial institutions;
An original bill to authorize appropriations to carry out security assistance
for fiscal year 2001;
An original bill to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to authorize the
provision of assistance to increase the availability of credit to
microenterprises lacking full access to credit, to establish a Microfinance
Loan Facility;
An original bill to authorize additional assistance to countries with large
populations having HIV/AIDS, to authorize assistance for tuberculosis
prevention, treatment, control, and elimination;
An original concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the
President of the United States should support free and fair elections and
respect for democracy in Haiti;
S. Res. 239, expressing the sense of the Senate that Nadia Dabbagh, who was
abducted from the United States, should be returned home to her mother, Ms.
Maureen Dabbagh;
S. Res. 309, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding conditions in Laos;
S. Res. 329, urging the Government of Argentina to pursue and punish those
responsible for the 1994 attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos
Aires, Argentina;
S. Con. Res. 57, concerning the emancipation of the Iranian Baha'i community,
with an amendment;
S. Con. Res. 113, expressing the sense of the Congress in recognition of the
10th anniversary of the free and fair elections in Burma and the urgent need
to improve the democratic and human rights of the people of Burma, with an
amendment;
S. Con. Res. 122, recognizing the 60th anniversary of the United States
nonrecognition policy of the Soviet takeover of Estonia, Latvia, and
Lithuania, and calling for positive steps to promote a peaceful and democratic
future for the Baltic region;
S. Con. Res. 124, expressing the sense of the Congress with regard to Iraq's
failure to release prisoners of war from Kuwait and nine other nations in
violation of international agreements;
H.R. 4249, to foster cross-border cooperation and environmental cleanup in
Northern Europe; and
The nominations of Owen James Sheaks, of Virginia, to be an Assistant
Secretary of State; John Edward Herbst, of Virginia, to be to the Republic of
Uzbekistan; Carlos Pascual, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to
Ukraine; Ross L. Wilson, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of
Azerbaijan; Mary Ann Peters, of California, to be Ambassador to the People's
Republic of Bangladesh; Janet A. Sanderson, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to
the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria; E. Ashley Wills, of Georgia,
to be Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and to
serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the
Republic of Maldives; Karl William Hofmann, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to
the Togolese Republic; John W. Limbert, of Vermont, to be Ambassador to the
Islamic Republic of Mauritania; Roger A. Meece, of Washington, to be
Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi; Sharon P. Wilkinson, of New York, to be
Ambassador to the Republic of Mozambique; Donald Y. Yamamoto, of New York, to
be Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti; and Pamela E. Bridgewater, of
D682Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Benin.
[Page: D682]
LIBERATION OF IRAQ
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian
Affairs concluded hearings to examine the progress report of the liberation of
Iraq, after receiving testimony from Richard N. Perle, former Assistant
Secretary of Defense for International Security; and Ahmad Chalabi, Iraqi
National Congress, London, England.
TREATMENT OF U.S. BUSINESS IN CENTRAL AND EASTERN EUROPE
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on European Affairs concluded
hearings to examine the treatment of U.S. business in Central and Eastern
Europe, after receiving testimony from Earl Anthony Wayne, Assistant Secretary
of State for Economic, Business, and Agricultural Affairs; Ronald S. Lauder,
Central European Media Enterprises, New York, New York; Kempton Jenkins,
Ukraine U.S. Business Council, Washington, D.C.; and Peter K. Nevitt,
Greenbrier Europe, San Francisco, California.
WWII POW SLAVE LABOR LAWSUIT
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings to determine whether
those who profited from the forced labor of American World War II Prisoners of
War once held and forced into labor for private Japanese companies have an
obligation to remedy their wrongs and whether the United States can help
facilitate an appropriate resolution, after receiving testimony from Senator
Bingaman; David W. Ogden, Acting Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division,
Department of Justice; Ronald J. Bettauer, Deputy Legal Adviser, Department of
State; Harold G. Maier, Vanderbilt University Law School, Nashville,
Tennessee; and Harold W. Poole, Salt Lake City, Utah, Frank Bigelow,
Brooksville, Florida, Lester I. Tenney, La Jolla, California, Maurice Mazer,
Boca Raton, Florida, and Edward Jackfert, Wellsburg, West Virginia, all former
WWII Prisoners of War.
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information concluded hearings on the National Commission on
Terrorism's report on issues relating to efforts being made by the
intelligence and law enforcement communities to counter, and U.S. policies
regarding, the changing threat of international terrorism to the United
States, after receiving testimony from L. Paul Bremer III, Chairman, National
Commission on Terrorism; R. James Woolsey, Shea and Gardner, Washington, D.C.,
former Director of Central Intelligence; Jane Harman, Harman International,
Los Angeles, California; John F. Lewis Jr., Goldman, Sachs and Company, New
York, New York; and Juliette N. Kayyem, Harvard University John F. Kennedy
School of Government Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs,
Cambridge, Massachusetts.
INDIAN TRIBAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION ACT
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 2283, to amend
the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century to make certain amendments
with respect to Indian tribes, after receiving testimony from Kevin Gover,
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs; Kenneth R. Wykle,
Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation;
Rodger Vicenti, Jicarilla Apache Tribe, Dulce, New Mexico; Pete Red Tomahawk,
Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, Ft. Yates, North Dakota; David Whitener, Sr.,
Squaxin Island Tribe, Shelton, Washington; and Pat Ragsdale, Cherokee Nation,
Tahlequah, Oklahoma.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/29
Daily Digest - Thursday, June 29, 2000; pages D690 - D700
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
S. 2697, to reauthorize and amend the Commodity Exchange Act to promote legal
certainty, enhance competition, and reduce systemic risk in markets for
futures and over-the-counter derivatives, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute;
S. 1155, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for
uniform food safety warning notification requirements, with an amendment in
the nature of a substitute; and
S. 2811, to amend the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act to make
communities with high levels of out-migration or population loss eligible for
community facilities grants.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session and ordered
favorably reported S. 2507, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2001
for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States
Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence
Agency D692Retirement and Disability System, with amendments.
[Page: D692]
NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded open and closed hearings on
the report of the National Missile Defense Independent Review Team to examine
the progress being made toward the Deployment Readiness Review and towards the
planned Initial Operating Capability of 2005 for a limited, C1 system, as well
as the acquisition approach to, and testing of, the program, after receiving
testimony from Lt. Gen. Ronald T. Kadish, USAF, Director, Ballistic Missile
Defense Organization; and Gen. Larry R. Welch, USAF (Ret.), Institute for
Defense Analyses, Alexandria, Virginia, on behalf of the National Missile
Defense Independent Review Team.
PUBLIC FOREST LANDS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public
Land Management concluded oversight hearings on the United States Forest
Service's Draft Environmental Impact Statement for the Sierra Nevada Forest
Plan Amendment, and Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement for the
Interior Columbia Basin Ecosystem Management Plan, after receiving testimony
from Dale Bosworth, Regional Forester, Northern Region, and Bradley E. Powell,
Regional Forester, Pacific Southwest Region, both of the Forest Service,
Department of Agriculture.
NATIONAL PARKS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S. 134, to direct
the Secretary of the Interior to study whether the Apostle Islands National
Lakeshore should be protected as a wilderness area, S. 2051, to revise the
boundaries of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, S. 2279, to authorize
the addition of land to Sequoia National Park, and S. 2512, to convey certain
Federal properties on Governors Island, New York, after receiving testimony
from Senators Feinstein, Moynihan, and Feingold; Representatives Lantos,
Nadler, and Carolyn Maloney; Jacqueline Lowey, Deputy Director, National Park
Service, Department of the Interior; Robert A. Peck, Commissioner, Public
Buildings Service, General Services Administration; Bradford J. Race, on
behalf of the Office of New York Governor George Pataki, Albany; Michael
Carey, New York City Economic Development Corporation, New York; David Reed,
Dillonwood, Quincy, California; Katherine Anderton, Save-the-Redwoods League,
San Francisco, California; Annette Rose, Board of Supervisors of Marion
County, San Rafael, California; and William H. Meadows, The Wilderness
Society, Washington, D.C.
SAFE DRINKING WATER ACT
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Drinking Water concluded oversight hearings on the
implementation of the Safe Drinking Water Act, focusing on the primary statute
for protecting public water supplies from harmful contaminants, after
receiving testimony from J. Charles Fox, Assistant Administrator, Office of
Water, and Norine E. Noonan, Assistant Administrator, Office of Research and
Development, both of the Environmental Protection Agency; Gregg L.
Grunenfelder, Washington Department of Health, Olympia, Washington, on behalf
of the Association of State Drinking Water Administrators; Gurnie Gunter,
Kansas City Water Services Department, Kansas City, Missouri, on behalf of the
Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies; J. William Hirzy, National
Treasury Employees Union Chapter 280, Erik D. Olson, Natural Resources Defense
Council, and J. Richard Tompkins, National Association of Water Companies, all
of Washington, D.C.; Michael J. Kosnett, University of Colorado Health
Sciences Center Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Denver, on
behalf of the National Research Council's Subcommittee on Arsenic in Drinking
Water; David Paris, Manchester Water Treatment Plant, Manchester, New
Hampshire, on behalf of the American Water Works Association; and Randy Van
Dyke, Clay Regional Water, Spencer, Iowa, on behalf of the National Rural
Water Association.
BROWNFIELDS REVITALIZATION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Superfund, Waste
Control, and Risk Assessment concluded hearings on S. 2700, to amend the
Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980
to promote the cleanup and reuse of brownfields, to provide financial
assistance for brownfields revitalization, and to enhance State response
programs, after receiving testimony from Timothy Fields, Jr., Assistant
Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Environmental
Protection Agency; Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, Elizabeth, New Jersey, on
behalf of the United States Conference of Mayors; Mayor Preston A. Daniels,
Des Moines, Iowa, on behalf of the National Association of Local Government
Environmental Professionals; Jan H. Reitsma, Rhode Island Department of
Environmental Management, Providence; Kevin P. Fitzpatrick, AIG Global Real
Estate Investment Corporation, on behalf of the D693Real Estate Roundtable,
and William McElroy, Zurich U.S. Specialities, on behalf of the American
Insurance Association, both of New York, New York; Alan Front, Trust for
Public Land, Washington, D.C.; and Vernice Miller-Travis, Partnership for
Sustainable Brownfields Redevelopment, Baltimore, Maryland.
[Page: D693]
RISING OIL PRICES
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded oversight hearings on
rising oil prices and the efficiency and effectiveness of Executive Branch
response, after receiving testimony from Ernest J. Moniz, Under Secretary for
Energy, Science and Environment, and John Cook, Director, Petroleum Division,
Energy Information Administration, both of the Department of Energy; Ohio
Governor Bob Taft, Columbus; Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal,
Hartford; Denise A. Bode, Oklahoma Corporation Commission, Oklahoma City;
Phyllis Apelbaum, Arrow Messenger Service, Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of the
Chicagoland Chamber of Commerce and the Messenger Courtier Association of the
Americas; Red Cavaney, American Petroleum Institute, Washington, D.C.; and J.
Louis Frank, Marathon Ashland Petroleum, Findlay, Ohio.
HUD'S GOVERNMENT INSURED MORTGAGES
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
held hearings to examine the adequacy of Department of Housing and Urban
Affairs' policies and procedures for overseeing lenders that make mortgage
loans insured by HUD's Federal Housing Administration, focusing on mortgage
fraud commonly known as "flipping", which involves the purchase and then
resale of property at greatly inflated prices, receiving testimony from
Senator Mikulski; Stanley J. Czerwinski, Associate Director, Housing and
Community Development Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development
Division, General Accounting Office; Lisa Smith, Fresh Meadows, New York;
Sonia Pratts, Hollywood, Florida; and Stekeena Rollins, Chicago, Illinois.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
S. 353, to provide for class action reform;
S. 2787, to reauthorize the Federal programs to prevent violence against
women;
S. 2413, to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to
clarify the procedures and conditions for the award of matching grants for the
purchase of armor vests;
H.R. 3646, for the relief of certain Persian Gulf evacuees, with an amendment
in the nature of a substitute; and
S. 869, for the relief of Mina Vahedi Notash.
[Page: D694]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/06/30
Daily Digest - Friday, June 30, 2000; pages D701 - D706
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
HUD'S GOVERNMENT INSURED MORTGAGES
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
concluded hearings to examine the adequacy of Department of Housing and Urban
Affairs' policies and procedures for overseeing lenders that make mortgage
loans insured by D705HUD's Federal Housing Administration, focusing on
mortgage fraud commonly known as "flipping", which involves the purchase and
then resale of property at greatly inflated prices, after receiving testimony
from William C. Apgar, Assistant Secretary for Housing/Federal Housing
Commissioner, Susan Gaffney, Inspector General, Kathryn M. Kuhl-Inclan,
Assistant Inspector General for Audit, and Philip Kesaris, Assistant Inspector
General for Investigations, all of the Department of Housing and Urban
Development.
[Page: D705]
No Joint meetings noted.
2000/07/10
Daily Digest - Monday, July 10, 2000; pages D708 - D716
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/07/11
Daily Digest - Tuesday, July 11, 2000; pages D717 - D724
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
AMTRAK COMMUTER RAIL CONTRACT
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and
Transportation concluded hearings to examine the Federal Transit
Administration's decision to approve the Massachusetts Bay Transportation
Authority's request for a waiver from the Federal Transit Administration's
five-year limitation on contract length that would allow a three year
extension of the agreement with the National Railroad Passenger Corporation
(Amtrak) to provide mechanical, transportation, and engineering services,
after receiving testimony from Nuria I. Fernandez, Acting Administrator,
Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation; and George D.
Warrington, President and CEO, National Railroad Passenger Corporation
(Amtrak).
WATER RIGHTS ACTS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded hearings on S. 2195, 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
Truckee watershed reclamation project for the reclamation and reuse of water,
S. 2350, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to certain water
rights to Duchesne City, Utah, S. 2672, to provide for the conveyance of
various reclamation projects to local water authorities, after receiving
testimony from Eluid L. Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, and
Sharon Blackwell, Deputy Commissioner of Indian Affairs, both of the
Department of the Interior; Steve K. Walker, Washoe County Water Resources
Division, Reno, Nevada; John A. Sweikar, Sugar Pine Transfer Committee
Foresthill Public Utility District, Foresthill, California; and Brice Bledsoe,
Contra Costa Water District, Concord, California.
[Page: D719]
INTERNET MUSIC
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the future of
digital music, focusing on certain issues concerning downloading music from
the internet, and copyright infringement, after receiving testimony from Lars
Ulrich, and Fred Ehrlich, New Technology and Business Development, Sony Music
Entertainment Inc., both of New York, New York; Hank Barry, Napster, Inc., San
Mateo, California; Michael Robertson, MP3.com, Inc., San Diego, California;
Gene Hoffman, Jr., EMusic.com, Inc., Redwood City, California; Gene Kan,
Gnutella, Belmont, California; James Hazen Griffin, Cherry Lane Digital, Los
Angeles, California; and Roger McGuinn, Windemere, Florida.
LIVING TRUST SCAMS
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded hearings to examine various
scams involving fraudulent marketing and sales of living trusts targeting
older Americans planning their estate, after receiving testimony from Elaine
Kolish, Associate Director, Division of Enforcement, Bureau of Consumer
Protection, Federal Trade Commission; Elmer C. Prenzlow, Wisconsin Department
of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection, Milwaukee; Paul F. Hancock,
Office of the Attorney General of South Florida, Fort Lauderdale; George B.
Hoffman, George B. Hoffman Estate and Retirement Planning, Newport Beach,
California, on behalf of the Alliance for Mature Americans; Esther Canja,
American Association of Retired Persons, Port Charlotte, Florida; and Judy
Kulinski, Pewaukee, Wisconsin.
No Joint hearing noted.
2000/07/12
Daily Digest - Wednesday, July 12, 2000; pages D725 - D734
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
ANTHRAX VACCINE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee held hearings to examine the threat,
effectiveness, safety, and supply of the Department of Defense Anthrax Vaccine
Immunization Program and the Food and Drug Administration role with respect to
the regulation of the vaccine, receiving testimony from Rudy de Leon, Deputy
Secretary, Adm. J. Jarrett Clinton, USPHS, First Assistant to the Assistant
Secretary for Health Affairs, Maj. Gen. Randall L. West, Senior Advisor to the
Deputy Secretary for Chemical and Biological Protection, Anna Johnson-Winegar,
Deputy Assistant to the Secretary for Chemical and Biological Defense, David
Oliver, Principal Deputy Secretary for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics,
and Robert J. Lieberman, Assistant Inspector General for Auditing, all of the
Department of Defense; and Kathryn C. Zoon, Director, Center for Biologics
Evaluation and Research, Food and Drug Administration, Department of Health
and Human Services.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
DISABLED CHILDREN MEDICAID COVERAGE
Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded hearings on certain provisions of
S. 2274, to amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide families and
disabled children with the opportunity to purchase coverage under the Medicaid
program for such children, after receiving testimony from Senator Kennedy;
Representative Sessions; William J. Scanlon, Director, Health Financing and
Public Health Issues, Health, Education, and Human Services Division, General
Accounting Office; Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, Little Rock; David
Alexander, Raymond Blank Children's Hospital, Des Moines, Iowa; Gordon Fay,
Montgomery, Alabama; Rebecca Eichhorn, Newberg, Oregon; and Tanya Baker-McCue,
Albuquerque, New Mexico.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on the nominations of Francisco J. Sanchez, of Florida, to be an
Assistant Secretary of Transportation, and Katherine Milner Anderson, of
Virginia, Frank Henry Cruz, of California, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, of Virginia,
and Ernest J. Wilson III, of Maryland, each 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. Sanchez was
introduced by Senator Graham.
UNITED NATIONS IN AFRICA
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
United Nations policy in Africa, focusing on future peace, prosperity and
freedom, after receiving testimony from Richard C. Holbrooke, United States
Permanent Representative to the United Nations; William Franklin Graham III,
Samaritan's Purse, Boone, North Carolina; and Eric G. Berman, Belmont,
Massachusetts.
BIOTECHNOLOGY IN COMBATING POVERTY AND HUNGER
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International Economic Policy,
Export and Trade Promotion concluded hearings to examine the role of
biotechnology in combating hunger and poverty in developing countries, after
receiving testimony from David B. Sandalow, Assistant Secretary of State for
Bureau of Oceans, Environment and Science; Andrew Young, GoodWorks
International, Atlanta, Georgia; Roger N. Beachy, Donald Danforth Plant
Science D728Center, St. Louis, Missouri; Brian Halweil, Worldwatch Institute,
Washington, D.C.
[Page: D728]
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of
Glenn A. Fine, of Maryland, to be Inspector General, Department of Justice,
Dennis M. Cavanaugh, to be United States District Judge for the District of
New Jersey, and James S. Moody, Jr., Gregory A. Presnell, and John E. Steele,
each to be a United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida,
after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr.
Cavanaugh was introduced by Senators Lautenberg and Torricelli, Mr. Moody, Mr.
Presnell, and Mr. Steele, were introduced by Senators Mack and Graham, and
Representative McCollum.
IDENTITY THEFT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and
Government Information concluded hearings on preventing criminals from using
technology to prey upon society, focusing on identity theft prevention
measures and the implementation of the Identity Theft and Assumption
Deterrence Act (Pub. Law 105-318), after receiving testimony from Jodie
Bernstein, Director of the Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade
Commission; James G. Huse, Jr., Inspector General of Social Security, Social
Security Administration; Beth Givens, Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, San Diego,
California; Steven M. Emmert, Reed Elsevier, Inc., on behalf of Lexis-Nexis
and Individual Reference Services Group, and Stuart K. Pratt, Associated
Credit Bureaus, Inc., both of Washington, D.C, and Michelle Brown, Los
Angeles, California.
NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for the National Science
Foundation, focusing on its role in and contribution to our nation's
mathematics, science and engineering research, and math and science education,
after receiving testimony from Rita R. Colwell, Director, National Science
Foundation; Douglas E. Harris, Vermont Institute for Science, Math, and
Technology, Montpelier; Dennis M. Bartels, San Francisco Exploratorium Center
for Teaching and Learning, San Francisco, California; Daniel L. Goroff,
Harvard University Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning, and Charles M.
Vest, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, both of Cambridge, Massachusetts;
Joseph G. Danek, Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research
Foundation, Washington, D.C.; and Steven J. Wallach, Chiaro Networks,
Richardson, Texas.
RISK MANAGEMENT AND TORT LIABILITY
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded oversight hearings on certain
reports on the extent and degree of liability insurance Tribal governments
have in order to provide compensation for people injured as a result of
accidents or torts committed by Tribal employees, after receiving testimony
from Barry T. Hill, Associate Director, Energy, Resources, and Science Issues,
Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General Accounting
Office; Ethan M. Posner, Deputy Associate Attorney General, Department of
Justice; Michael J. Anderson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for
Indian Affairs; and Michael Willis, Hobbs, Straus, Dean and Walker,
Washington, D.C., on behalf of Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/07/13
Daily Digest - Thursday, July 13, 2000; pages D736 - D744
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--ENERGY AND WATER
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
approved for full committee consideration H.R. 4733, making appropriations for
energy and water development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following bills:
S. 2107, to amend the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 to reduce securities fees in excess of those required to fund the
operations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to adjust compensation
provisions for employees of the Commission, with an amendment;
S. 2101, to promote international monetary stability and to share seigniorage
with officially dollarized countries, with an amendment in the nature of a
substitute;
S. 2266, to provide for the minting of commemorative coins to support the 2002
Salt Lake Olympic Winter Games and the programs of the United States Olympic
Committee, with an amendment;
S. 2453, to authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of
Congress to Pope John Paul II in recognition of his outstanding and enduring
contributions to humanity; and
S. 2459, to provide for the award of a gold medal on behalf of the Congress to
former President Ronald Reagan and his wife Nancy Reagan in recognition of
their service to the Nation.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported the following business items:
S. 1925, to promote environmental restoration around the Lake Tahoe basin,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 2499, to extend the deadline for commencement of construction of a
hydroelectric project in the State of Pennsylvania;
H.R. 992, to convey the Sly Park Dam and Reservoir to the El Dorado Irrigation
District, with an amendment;
S. 2048, to establish the San Rafael Western Legacy District in the State of
Utah, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 2069, to permit the conveyance of certain land in Powell, Wyoming;
S. 2300, to amend the Mineral Leasing Act to increase the maximum acreage of
Federal leases for coal that may be held by an entity in any 1 State;
H.R. 1695, to provide for the conveyance of certain Federal public lands in
the Ivanpah Valley, Nevada, to Clark County, Nevada, for the development of an
airport facility, with amendments;
H.R. 468, to establish the Saint Helena Island National Scenic Area, with an
amendment;
S. 1972, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey to the town of
Dolores, Colorado, the current site of the Joe Rowell Park, with an amendment;
S. 1643, to authorize the addition of certain parcels to the Effigy Mounds
National Monument, Iowa, with an amendment;
S. 2051, to revise the boundaries of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area,
with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 2279, to authorize the addition of land to Sequoia National Park, with an
amendment; and
S. 134, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study whether the Apostle
Islands National Lakeshore should be protected as a wilderness area, with an
amendment.
GASOLINE SUPPLY
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded oversight
hearings to examine American gasoline supply and price issues, focusing on
crude oil prices, low oil, gas and gasoline inventories, reformulated gasoline
required under the Clean Air Act and transportation and supply problems, after
receiving testimony from Robert Perciasepe, Assistant Administrator, Office of
Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency; John Cook, Director
Petroleum Division, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy;
Richard G. Parker, Director, Bureau of Competition, Federal Trade Commission;
Lawrence Kumins, Specialist in Energy Policy, Resources, Science, and Industry
Division, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and Red
Cavaney, American Petroleum Institute, Bob Slaughter, National Petrochemical
and Refiners Association, and W.H. Eric Vaughn, Renewable Fuels Association,
all of Washington, D.C.
NATIONAL PARKS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks,
Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S. 2294, to
establish the Rosie the Riveter--World War II Home Front National Historical
Park in the State of California, S. 2331, to direct the Secretary of the
Interior to recalculate the franchise fee owed by Fort Sumter Tours, Inc., a
concessioner providing service to Fort D740Sumter National Monument, South
Carolina, S. 2598, to authorize appropriations for the United States Holocaust
Memorial Museum, and S. Con. Res.106 recognizing the Hermann Monument and
Hermann Heights Park in New Ulm, Minnesota, as a national symbol of the
contributions of Americans of German heritage, after receiving testimony from
Senators Grams and Hollings; Representative George Miller; Denis P. Galvin,
Deputy Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; Sara J.
Bloomfield, Director, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum; George E.
Campsen, Jr., Charleston, South Carolina, and Peter Dickson, Potter and
Dickson, Princeton, New Jersey, both on behalf of Fort Sumter Tours, Inc.; and
Thomas K. Butt, Richmond City Council, and Ludie Mitchell, both of Richmond,
California.
[Page: D740]
POSTMASTER GENERAL REPORT
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International Security,
Proliferation and Federal Services concluded hearings to examine the annual
report of the Postmaster General on the performance of the United States
Postal Service and the challenges it is facing in the modern communications
marketplace, after receiving testimony from William J. Henderson, Postmaster
General and Chief Executive Officer, United States Postal Service.
ERGONOMICS STANDARDS
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on
Employment, Safety and Training concluded hearings to examine the Occupational
Safety and Health Administration's proposed ergonomics program and its
possible impact on Medicaid, Medicare, and other health care costs, after
receiving testimony from Charles N. Jeffress, Assistant Secretary of Labor for
Occupational Safety and Health; Rachael Weinstein, Clinical Standards Group
Director, Health Care Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human
Services; Charles H. Roadman, II, Washington, D.C., and Steve Monroe, Poplar
Living Center, Casper, Wyoming, both on behalf of the American Health Care
Association; and Karen A. Worthington, American Nurses Association,
Washington, D.C.
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 hearing noted.
2000/07/14
Daily Digest - Friday, July 14, 2000; pages D746 - D754
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings were held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/07/17
Daily Digest - Monday, July 17, 2000; pages D756 - D764
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
END-OF-LIFE CARE
Special Committee on Aging: Committee held hearings to examine certain
professional and public education initiatives that are under way to inform
Americans about appropriate end-of-life care that may improve care, ease pain,
and help families as the nation ages, receiving testimony from Joanne Lynn,
Arlington, Virginia, on behalf of the Americans for Better Care of the Dying,
and the RAND Center to Improve Care of the Dying; James A. Tulsky, Duke
University Department of Medicine Institute on Care at the End of Life,
Durham, North Carolina, on behalf of the Durham Veterans Affairs Medical
Center; Linda Todd, Hospice of the Siouxland, Sioux City, Iowa, on behalf of
the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization; Richard Rosenquist,
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, on behalf of the Iowa City Veterans
Affairs Medical Center Pain Management Clinic; Linda Emanuel, Northwestern
University, Chicago, Illinois, on behalf of the Education for Physicians on
End-of-Life Care Project, Shelly Twiford, Dakota City, Nebraska; and Peggy
Gulotta, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
[Page: D761]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/07/18
Daily Digest - Tuesday, July 18, 2000; pages D766 - D774
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
U.S. AGRICULTURE EXPORT
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Subcommittee on Production
and Price Competitiveness concluded hearings to examine the benefits of
current U.S. agricultural export and market development programs designed to
improve long-term trade opportunities, increase exports, help relieve hunger
abroad, and help American farmers and ranchers earn an adequate income, as
well as the future of these programs and ways that they can be made more
effective, after receiving testimony from Timothy J. Galvin, Administrator,
Foreign Agricultural Service, and Roger C. Viadero, Inspector General, both of
Department of Agriculture; Hugh Parmer, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for
Humanitarian Response, D768Agency for International Development; Otis Molz,
CoBank, Deerfield, Kansas; John J. Cavanaugh, Summit Limited, Omaha, Nebraska;
Ellen S. Levinson, Cadwalader, Wickersham and Taft, Washington, D.C., on
behalf of the Coalition for Food Aid; Bruce Hamnes, Stephen, Minnesota, on
behalf of the Wheat Export Trade Education Committee, U.S. Wheat Associates,
and the National Association of Wheat Growers; Marc Curtis, American Soybean
Association, Leland, Mississippi; Roger Pine, Lawrence, Kansas, on behalf of
the National Corn Growers Association; and Bill Griffith, Boliver County,
Mississippi, on behalf of the Mississippi Farm Bureau and American Farm
Bureau.
[Page: D768]
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills:
H.R. 4733, making appropriations for energy and water development for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2001, with amendments; and
H.R. 4690, making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and
State, the Judiciary, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2001, with amendments.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SENIORS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and
Transportation held hearings on S. 2733, to provide for the preservation of
assisted housing for low income elderly persons, disabled persons, and other
families, after receiving testimony from Representatives Lazio and LaFalce;
William Apgar, Assistant Secretary for Housing/Federal Housing Commissioner,
Department of Housing and Urban Development; Mary Jane O'Gara, Omaha,
Nebraska, on behalf of the American Association of Retired Persons; Laverne R.
Joseph, Retirement Housing Foundation, Long Beach, California, on behalf of
the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging; Michelle H.
Norris, National Church Residences, Columbus, Ohio, on behalf of the National
Affordable Housing Management Association; Edward L. Shapoff, Goldman, Sachs
and Company, New York, New York, on behalf of the Healthcare Financing Study
Group; Ronell Guy, Northside Coalition for Fair Housing, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania; and David A. Smith, Recapitalization Advisors, Inc., Boston,
Massachusetts.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee held hearings to
examine the National Assessment Report on climate change impacts on the United
States, and the ocean's role in climate, receiving testimony from Thomas R.
Karl, Director, National Climatic Data Center, National Environmental
Satellite, Data, and Information Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, Department of Commerce; Anthony C. Janetos, World Resources
Institute, Washington, D.C.; Raymond W. Schmitt, Woods Hole Oceanographic
Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts; and S. Fred Singer, University of
Virginia, Fairfax, former Director, U.S. Weather Satellite Service, on behalf
of the Science and Environmental Policy Project.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
RISING OIL PRICES
Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight held hearings
on the nation's growing reliance on foreign oil and the need to find ways in
which we can reduce that reliance, and a related proposal to allow small,
farmer-owned cooperatives to access the full benefits of the small ethanol
producer tax credit, receiving testimony from Senator Grams; Arizona State
Representative Jeff Groscost, Phoenix; Richard R. Kolodziej, Natural Gas
Vehicle Coalition, Michelle Robinson, Union of Concerned Scientists, Alexandra
Shultz, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Red Cavaney, American Petroleum
Institute, and J. Andrew Hoerner, Center for a Sustainable Economy, all of
Washington, D.C.; William L. Ball, Strategic Planning for General Motor's
Advanced Technology Vehicles, Detroit, Michigan, on behalf of the Electric
Vehicle Association of the Americas; Beverly Miller, Salt Lake Clean Cities
Coalition, Salt Lake City, Utah; A. Shawn Noonan, Vastar Resources, Inc.,
Houston, Texas, on behalf of the Domestic Petroleum Council Tax Committee; and
John Swords, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Dallas, Texas, on behalf of the
Independent Petroleum Association of America.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
PERMANENT CHINA TRADE RELATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine national
security and diplomatic implications of granting Permanent Normal Trade
Relations status to communist China, receiving testimony from Joseph Bosco,
Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, Bates Gill, Brookings
Institution Center for Northeast Asian Policy Studies, and Elliott Abrams,
Ethics and Public Policy Center, all of Washington, D.C.
Hearings continue tomorrow.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded
hearings on the factors driving prescription drug expenditure increases, after
receiving testimony from Stanley S. Wallack, Brandeis University Schneider
Institute for Health Policy, Waltham, Massachusetts; Robert W. Dubois,
Protocare Sciences, Santa Monica, California; Judith H. Bello, Pharmaceutical
Research and Manufacturers of America, Washington, D.C.; John D. Golenski,
RxHealth Value, Berkeley, California; Carlos R. Ortiz, CVS Pharmacy, Inc.,
Woonsocket, Rhode Island; Elizabeth Helms, Sacramento, California, on behalf
of the International Patient Advocacy Association; and Betty Dizik, Tamarik,
Florida, D769on behalf of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security
and Medicare.
[Page: D769]
BUSINESS MEETING
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee ordered favorably reported the
following bills:
S. 1902, to require disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act regarding
certain persons and records of the Japanese Imperial Army in a manner that
does not impair any investigation or prosecution conducted by the Department
of Justice or certain intelligence matters, with amendments; and
S. 2089, to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to modify
procedures relating to orders for surveillance and searches for foreign
intelligence purposes, with amendments.
No Joint Hearings noted.
2000/07/19
Daily Digest - Wednesday, July 19, 2000; pages D776 - D784
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--TREASURY/POSTAL SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury and General Government
approved for full committee consideration an original bill making
appropriations for the Treasury Department, the United States Postal Service,
the Executive Office of the President, and certain Independent Agencies, for
the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001.
[Page: D778]
FINANCIAL REPORTING MODEL ADAPTATION
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Securities
concluded hearings to examine issues related to adapting a financial reporting
model that would ensure the relevance, timeliness, reliability, consistency
and comparability of information and have the ability to truly measure the
value of an enterprise in the New Economy, after receiving testimony from
Steve M. Samek, Arthur Andersen, Chicago, Illinois; Robert K. Elliott,
American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and Baruch Lev, New York
University, both of New York, New York; Peter J. Wallison, American Enterprise
Institute, and Michael R. Young, Willkie Farr and Gallagher, both of
Washington, D.C.
NOMINATION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on the nomination of Norman Y. Mineta, of California, to be Secretary
of Commerce, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senators Boxer,
Feinstein, and Inouye, testified and answered questions in his own behalf.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee began markup of H.R. 701,
to provide Outer Continental Shelf Impact Assistance to State and local
governments, to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, the
Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978, and the Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Act (commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Act)
to establish a fund to meet the outdoor conservation and recreation needs of
the American people, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject
to call.
FEDERAL AID PROGRAM
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Fisheries,
Wildlife, and Drinking Water concluded oversight hearings to examine concerns
raised by the General Accounting Office investigation of the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Services administration of the Federal Aid Program, including
controls over funds, expenditures, and grants, the use administrative funds
among regional offices, and limited auditing, after receiving testimony from
Barry T. Hill, Associate Director, Energy, Resources, and Science Issues,
Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General Accounting
Office; Jamie Rappaport Clark, Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Department of the Interior; R. Max Peterson, International Association of Fish
and Wildlife Agencies, and Terry Z. Riley, Wildlife Management Institute, both
of Washington, D.C.; Susan R. Lamson, National Rifle Association of America,
Fairfax, Virginia; and Mike Nussman, American Sportfishing Association,
Alexandria, Virginia.
PERMANENT CHINA TRADE RELATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine giving
Permanent Normal Trade Relations status to Communist China, focusing on human
rights, labor, trade and economic implications, after receiving testimony from
Gary L. Bauer, American Values, Arlington, Virginia; George F. Becker, United
Steelworkers of America, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Dai Qing, Beijing,
People's Republic of China.
INSPECTOR GENERAL
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on certain
legislative proposals and issues relevant to the operations of Inspectors
General, including S. 870, to amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5
U.S.C. App.) to increase the efficiency and accountability of Offices of
Inspector General within Federal departments, after receiving testimony from
Joshua Gotbaum, Executive Associate Director and Controller, Acting Deputy
Director for Management, Office of Management and Budget; Gaston L. Gianni,
Jr., Inspector General, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, on behalf of
the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency; and Nicholas M. Gess,
Associate Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/07/20
Daily Digest - Thursday, July 20, 2000; pages D786 - D798
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--TREASURY/POSTAL SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported an original
bill (S. 2900) making appropriations for the Treasury Department, the United
States Postal Service, the Executive Office of the President, and certain
Independent Agencies, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2001.
ENERGY AND AGRICULTURE
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded
hearings to examine current energy policy and its implications on American
energy security and environmental interests, including the role of energy in
U.S. agriculture and the effects of this year's increases in energy prices on
agriculture as both a user and a producer of energy, after receiving testimony
from former Senator Johnston; Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy; James
Schlesinger, former Secretary of Defense and former Secretary of Energy; Keith
Collins, Chief Economist, Department of Agriculture; Harry S. Baumes, WEFA
Inc., Eddystone, Pennsylvania; Eric Vaughn, Renewable Fuels Association, and
R. Skip Horvath, Natural Gas Supply Association, both of Washington, D.C.;
James McCarthy, CITGO Petroleum Corporation, Tulsa, Oklahoma; and Don
Hutchens, Nebraska Corn Board, Lincoln.
IRAQ
Committee on Armed Services: Committee held closed hearings to examine the
situation in Iraq and United States military operations in and around Iraq,
receiving testimony from Vice Adm. Scott A. Fry, USN, Director, Operations
Directorate (J-3), and Rear Adm. Lowell E. Jacoby, USN, Director, Intelligence
Directorate (J-2), both of the Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; and Bruce
Pease, Director, Office of Near Eastern, South Asian and African Analysis,
Directorate of Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency.
Committee recessed subject to call.
MONETARY POLICY
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
to examine the conduct of monetary policy and economic outlook by the Federal
Reserve, after receiving testimony from D791Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
[Page: D791]
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered
favorably reported the nominations of Norman Y. Mineta, of California, to be
Secretary of Commerce, Francisco J. Sanchez, of Florida, to be an Assistant
Secretary of Transportation, Debbie D. Branson, of Texas, to be a Member of
the Federal Aviation Management Advisory Council, Department of
Transportation, and Katherine Milner Anderson, of Virginia, Frank Henry Cruz,
of California, Kenneth Y. Tomlinson, of Virginia, and Ernest J. Wilson III, of
Maryland, each to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for
Public Broadcasting, and a United States Coast Guard promotion list received
in the Senate on July 18, 2000.
INTERNET AIRLINE TICKET SALES
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings to examine the Internet's role in the marketing of airline services,
including whether or not it benefits consumers in purchasing airline tickets
through the Internet, after receiving testimony from A. Bradley Mims, Deputy
Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, and Kenneth M.
Mead, Inspector General, both of the Department of Transportation; Terrell B.
Jones, Travelocity.com, Dallas, Texas; Jeffrey G. Katz, Orbitz, Chicago,
Illinois; Mark Silbergeld, Consumers Union, Washington, D.C.; and Paul M.
Ruden, American Society of Travel Agents, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee continued markup of H.R.
701, to provide Outer Continental Shelf Impact Assistance to State and local
governments, to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, the
Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978, and the Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Act (commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Act)
to establish a fund to meet the outdoor conservation and recreation needs of
the American people, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet again
tomorrow.
TREATIES
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on Inter-American
Convention for the Protection and Conservation of Sea Turtles, with Annexes,
done at Caracas December 1, 1996, (the "Convention"), which was signed by the
United States, subject to ratification, on December 13, 1996 (Treaty Doc.
105-48); International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC), adopted at the
Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United
Nations at Rome on November 17, 1997 (Treaty Doc. 106-23); Food Aid Convention
1999, which was opened for signature at the United Nations Headquarters, New
York, from May 1 through June 30, 1999. Convention was signed by the United
States June 16, 1999 (Treaty Doc. 106-14); Convention (No. 176) Concerning
Safety and Health in Mines, adopted by the International Labor Conference at
its 82nd Session in Geneva on June 22, 1995 (Treaty Doc. 106-08); and United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing
Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa, with Annexes,
adopted at Paris, June 17, 1994, and signed by the United States on October
14, 1994 (Treaty Doc. 104-29), after receiving testimony from David B.
Sandalow, Assistant Secretary for Oceans and International Environmental and
Scientific Affairs, and E. Anthony Wayne, Assistant Secretary for Economic and
Business Affairs, both of the Department of State.
NOMINATION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings on Everett L.
Mosley, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Agency for International
Development, after the nominee testified and answered questions in his own
behalf.
AFGHANISTAN AND THE TALIBAN
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Near Eastern and South Asian
Affairs concluded hearings on issues relating to United States policy towards
the government of Afghanistan and the militia that rules Afghanistan, known as
the Taliban, after receiving testimony from Karl F. Inderfurth, Assistant
Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs; Peter Tomsen, University of
Nebraska, Omaha, former Ambassador and Special Envoy to the Afghan Resistance;
Zieba Shorish-Shamley, Women's Alliance for Peace and Human Rights in
Afghanistan, Washington, D.C.; and Hamid Karzai, Glenwood, Maryland.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following
business items:
S. 2812, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide a waiver of
the oath of renunciation and allegiance for naturalization of aliens having
certain disabilities;
S. Con. Res. 53, condemning all prejudice against individuals of Asian and
Pacific Island ancestry in the United States and supporting political and
civic participation by such individuals throughout the D792United States, with
an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
[Page: D792]
S. 2516, to fund task forces to locate and apprehend fugitives in Federal,
State, and local felony criminal cases and give administrative subpoena
authority to the United States Marshals Service, with an amendment in the
nature of a substitute;
S. Res. 133, supporting religious tolerance toward Muslims;
S.J. Res. 48, calling upon the President to issue a proclamation recognizing
the 25th anniversary of the Helsinki Final Act; and
The nominations of Johnnie B. Rawlinson, of Nevada, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, Dennis M. Cavanaugh, to be United States
District Judge for the District of New Jersey, James S. Moody, Jr., Gregory A.
Presnell, and John E. Steele, each to be a United States District Judge for
the Middle District of Florida, and Glenn A. Fine, of Maryland, to be
Inspector General, Daniel Marcus, of Maryland, to be Associate Attorney
General, and David W. Ogden, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney General,
all of the Department of Justice.
GENETIC INFORMATION IN THE WORKPLACE
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded
hearings to examine issues relating to the development of federal policy
governing the treatment of an individual's genetic information in the
workplace in light of the recent Human Genome Project breakthroughs, after
receiving testimony from Senator Daschle; Francis S. Collins, Director,
National Human Genome Research Institute, National Institutes of Health,
Department of Health and Human Services; Paul S. Miller, Commissioner, Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission; Susan R. Meisinger, Society for Human
Resource Management, Alexandria, Virginia; and Harold P. Coxson, Ogletree,
Deakins, Nash, Smoak, and Stewart, and Susannah Baruch, National Partnership
for Women and Families, both of Washington, D.C.
SBA PERFORMANCE AND ACCOUNTABILITY
Committee on Small Business: Committee held hearings on the General Accounting
Office's performance and accountability review of the Small Business
Administration, receiving testimony from David M. Walker, Comptroller General
of the United States, Stanley J. Czerwinski, Associate Director, Housing and
Community Development Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development
Division, Joel C. Willemssen, Director, Civil Agencies Information Systems,
Accounting and Information Management Division, and Michael Brostek, Associate
Director, Federal Management and Workforce Issues, General Government
Division, all of the General Accounting Office; and Aida Alvarez,
Administrator, Small Business Administration.
Hearings recessed subject to call.
VA CLAIMS PROCESSING/VA BENEFITS/CONSTRUCTION
Committee on Veterans Affairs: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
Department of Veterans Affairs disability claims process, and a status report
on the adjudication of these claims and efforts the Department has made to
improve claims processing, and S. 1806, to authorize the payment of a gratuity
to certain members of the Armed Forces who served at Bataan and Corregidor
during World War II, or the surviving spouses of such members, S. 1810, to
amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify and improve veterans' claims
and appellate procedures, S. 2264, to amend title 38, United States Code, to
establish within the Veterans Health Administration the position of Advisor on
Physician Assistants, S. 2544, to amend title 38, United States Code, to
provide compensation and benefits to children of female Vietnam veterans who
were born with certain birth defects, S. 2637, to require a land conveyance,
Miles City Veterans Administration Medical Complex, Miles City, Montana, S.
2827, to provide for the conveyance of the Department of Veterans Affairs
Medical Center at Ft. Lyon, Colorado, to the State of Colorado, proposed
legislation providing for VA cost of living assistance, proposed Women
Veterans' Equity Act, proposed Veterans Programs Enhancement Act, and proposed
legislation authorizing the construction of certain VA facilities, after
receiving testimony from Joseph Thompson, Under Secretary of Veteran Affairs
for Benefits; Philip R. Wilkerson, American Legion, and Dennis Cullinan,
Veterans of Foreign Wars, both of Washington, D.C.; James O'Brien, Tequesta,
Florida; William R. Baker, Cincinnati, Ohio; William Kennedy, Tallahassee,
Florida; and Clarence DeVaughn Moore, Hurricane, West Virginia.
NATIVE AMERICAN LANGUAGES PRESERVATION
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 2688, to amend
the Native American Languages Act to provide for the establishment of Native
American Language Survival Schools, after receiving testimony from Michael
Cohen, Assistant Secretary of Education for Elementary and Secondary
Education; Teresa L. McCarty, University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of the
American Indian Language D793Development Institute; Michael E. Krauss,
University of Alaska, Alaska Native Language Center, Fairbanks; William G.
Demmert, Jr., Western Washington University, Bellingham; Darrell R. Kipp,
Piegan Institute, Browning, Montana; Genevieve Jackson, Navajo Nation, Window
Rock, Arizona; Matthew Dick, Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation,
Nespelem, Washington; Rosita Worl, University of Alaska Southeast, Juneau, on
behalf of the Sealaska Heritage Foundation and Alaska Federation of Natives;
A. Brian Wallace, Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, Gardnerville, Nevada;
and Kalena Silva and William H. Wilson, both of the University of Hawaii
Ke'elikolani College of Hawaiian Language, and Namaka Rawlins, `Aha Punana
Leo, Inc., all of Hilo.
[Page: D793]
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.
Joint Meetings
MARRIAGE TAX PENALTY RELIEF RECONCILIATION ACT
Conferees, on Wednesday, July 19, agreed to file a conference report on the
differences between the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 4810, to
provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 103(a)(1) of the concurrent
resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2001.
2000/07/21
Daily Digest - Friday, July 21, 2000; pages D799 - D806
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded hearings
on the nominations of Robert S. LaRussa, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary of
Commerce for International Trade, and Marjory E. Searing, of Maryland, to be
Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and
Foreign Commercial Service, after the nominees testified and answered
questions in their own behalf. Mr. LaRussa was introduced by Representative
Levin.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee continued markup of H.R.
701, to provide Outer Continental Shelf Impact Assistance to State and local
governments, to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act of 1965, the
Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978, and the Federal Aid in
Wildlife Restoration Act (commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson Act)
to establish a fund to meet the outdoor conservation and recreation needs of
the American people, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet again
on Monday, July 24, 2000.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered
favorably reported the following business items:
S. 1536, to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to extend authorizations of
appropriations for programs under the Act, to modernize programs and services
for older individuals, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
S. 2764, to amend the National and Community Service Act of 1990 and the
Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 to extend the authorizations of
appropriations for the programs carried out under such Acts, with an amendment
in the nature of a substitute; and
The nominations of Holly J. Burkhalter, of the District of Columbia, Barbara
W. Snelling, of Vermont, Harriet M. Zimmerman, of Florida, and Marc E. Leland,
of Virginia, each to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the United
States Institute of Peace, Francis J. Duggan, of Virginia, to be a Member of
the National Mediation Board, Nina V. Fedoroff, of Pennsylvania, Diana S.
Natalicio, of Texas, Warren M. Washington, of Colorado, John A. White, Jr., of
Arkansas, and Jane Lubchenco, of Oregon, each to be a Member of the National
Science Board, National Science Foundation, Gordon S. Heddell, of Virginia, to
be Inspector General, Department of Labor, Carol W. Kinsley, of Massachusetts,
and Robert B. Rogers, of Missouri, each to be a Member of the Board of
Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Donald J.
Sutherland, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Barry
Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation.
[Page: D801]
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/07/24
Daily Digest - Monday, July 24, 2000; pages D807 - D812
Committee Meetings
No committee meetings held.
No Joint hearings noted.
2000/07/25
Daily Digest - Tuesday, July 25, 2000; pages D814 - D824
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
AVIATION DELAYS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation concluded
oversight hearings on the growth and causes of airline flight delays and
cancellations, and airline efforts to improve customer service, after
receiving testimony from Kenneth M. Mead, Inspector General, and Jane F.
Garvey, Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration, both of the Department
of Transportation; and Edward Kragh, Newark, New Jersey, on behalf of the
National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine the
status of the United States National Missile Defense (NMD) program, focusing
on the threat posed by long-range ballistic missile deployment, NMD
development and deployment effort, cost of the system, and its impact on
international security, including arms control, after receiving testimony from
William S. Cohen, Secretary of Defense.
FIREFIGHTER INVESTMENT AND RESPONSE ENHANCEMENT ACT
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded
hearings on S. 1941, to amend the Federal Fire Prevention and Control Act of
1974 to authorize the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to
provide assistance to fire departments and fire prevention organizations for
the purpose of protecting the public and firefighting personnel against fire
and fire-related hazards, after receiving testimony from Senators Dodd and
DeWine; Representatives Pascrell and Curt Weldon; Luther L. Fincher, Jr.,
Charlotte, North Carolina, on behalf of the International Association of Fire
Chiefs; E. James Monihan, Lewes, Delaware, on behalf of the National Volunteer
Fire Council; Billy Shields, Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, Phoenix,
on behalf of the International Association of Fire Fighters; and James H.
Whitworth, Miami Township Fire and Emergency Medical Service, Milford, Ohio.
PILOT SHORTAGES
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Aviation
concluded hearings on the impact of pilot shortages on air service to smaller
and rural markets, and certain related provisions of S. 1855, to establish age
limitations for airmen, after receiving testimony from Senators Murkowski and
Inhofe; L. Nicholas Lacey, Director, Flight Standards Service, Federal
Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation; Duane E. Woerth, Air
Line Pilots Association, International, Herndon, Virginia; Paul Emens, Pilots
Against Age Discrimination, Annapolis, Maryland; Deborah C. McElroy, Regional
Airline Association, Washington, D.C.; and Linda Barker, Business Aviation
Services, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on behalf of National Air Transportation
Association.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably
reported H.R. 701, to provide Outer Continental Shelf Impact Assistance to
State and local governments, to amend the Land and Water Conservation Fund Act
of 1965, the Urban Park and Recreation Recovery Act of 1978, and the Federal
Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act (commonly referred to as the Pittman-Robertson
Act) to establish a fund to meet the outdoor conservation and recreation needs
of the American people, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
WATER PROJECTS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power
concluded hearings on S. 2877, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to
conduct a feasibility study on water optimization in the Burnt River basin,
Malheur River basin, Owyhee River basin, and Powder River basin, Oregon, S.
2881, to update an existing Bureau of Reclamation program by amending the
Small Reclamation Projects Act of 1956, to establish a partnership program in
the Bureau of Reclamation for small reclamation projects, and S. 2882, to
authorize the Bureau of Reclamation to conduct certain feasibility studies to
augment water supplies for the Klamath Project, Oregon and California, after
receiving testimony from Larry Todd, Acting Director of Operations, and Robert
T. Anderson, Counselor to the Secretary of the Interior, both of the Bureau of
Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Peter Carlson, Will and Carlson,
Inc., on behalf of the Oregon Water Resources Congress, and James R. Waltman,
Wilderness Society, both of Washington, D.C.; and Roger Nicholson, Resource
Conservancy, Inc., Fort Klamath, Oregon.
LOW ACTIVITY RADIOACTIVE WASTE
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings on
issues relating to the disposal of low activity radioactive waste, focusing on
the respective roles that state and federal agencies have played in regulating
low activity waste and whether the standards used present an acceptable
D816risk to human health and the environment, after receiving testimony from
Joseph W. Westphal, Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works), Department
of Defense; Carl J. Paperiello, Deputy Executive Director for Materials,
Research and State Programs, Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Michael Shapiro,
Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste and Emergency
Response, Environmental Protection Agency; L. Max Scott, Louisiana State
University, Baton Rouge; and David E. Adelman, Natural Resources Defense
Council, and Scott Slesinger, Environmental Technology Council, and Anthony J.
Thompson, Shaw Pittman, on behalf of the Uranium Recovery Industry, all of
Washington, D.C.
[Page: D816]
ENERGY/FUEL/LAND USE TAXATION
Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Taxation and IRS Oversight concluded
hearings to examine certain Federal income tax provisions that may effect
energy and fuel use, provisions of Federal income, estate, and gift tax law
that may effect land use conservation and preservation, and proposals to lower
United States dependency on foreign oil used in transportation fuels
(including tax incentives to promote the use of alternative fuel vehicles and
to increase domestic oil production), after receiving testimony from Jonathan
Talisman, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Tax Policy; Mayor H.
Brent Coles, Boise, Idaho, on behalf of the United States Conference of
Mayors; Virginia S. Gorday, Portman Holdings, Atlanta, Georgia, on behalf of
the Real Estate Roundtable; Samuel R. Staley, Reason Public Policy Institute,
Los Angeles, California; Alan Front, Trust for Public Land, and Elizabeth
Thompson, Environmental Defense, both of |
