[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 62 (Wednesday, May 18, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: May 18, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
 U.N. CONFERENCE ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF SMALL ISLAND DEVELOPING 
                                 STATES

                                 ______


                          HON. LEE H. HAMILTON

                               of indiana

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 18, 1994

  Mr. HAMILTON. Mr. Speaker, April 25 to May 6, 1994, the United 
Nations convened a global conference on the sustainable development of 
small island developing states. The idea for such a conference was 
approved by nations at the 1992 United Nations Conference on 
Environment and Development [UNCED] in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
  The key output of the conference was a program of action which was 
similar to, although smaller in scope than UNCED's program of action, 
agenda 21. Fourteen issue areas are featured in the small islands 
program of action. They include: climate change, sea level rise, and 
climate variability; natural and environmental disasters; management of 
wastes; coastal and marine resources; freshwater resources; land 
resources; energy resources; tourism resources; biodiversity; national 
institutions and administrative capacity; regional institutions and 
technical cooperation; transport and communications; science and 
technology, and human resource development.
  I submit for the Record my exchange of letters with the 
administration on United States leadership at the conference, and 
United States statements made at Barbados by the Honorable Tim Wirth, 
Deputy Secretary of State, and the Honorable Elinor Constable, 
Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental 
and Scientific Affairs.
                                    Congress of the United States,


                                 Committee on Foreign Affairs,

                                   Washington, DC, April 22, 1994.
     Hon. Timothy Wirth,
     Department of State,
     Washington, DC.
       Dear Tim: I write to offer my strong support of US 
     leadership at the upcoming Conference on Small Island 
     Developing States [SIDS] in Barbados, as you conclude 
     preparations for your participation there.
       It is important to recognize the importance of the small 
     island states and our interest in the well-being of their 
     people and their sustainable development. The United States 
     has had an historic attachment and interest in many of the 
     small island states, particularly in the Caribbean and South 
     Pacific. Collectively their numbers are considerable. 
     Although widely dispersed and diverse in characteristics, 
     they share many common problems and challenges.
       Traditionally the small island nations have had little 
     political muscle and influence until their emergence as the 
     Association of Small Island States [AOSIS] just prior to the 
     first climate negotiations at Chantilly, Virginia in 1991. 
     Its genesis was a response to concern regarding the 
     particular vulnerabilities of islands to the impacts of sea 
     level rise from climate change. Although AOSIS is not a 
     formally established negotiating group, it exercised 
     remarkable collective influence to draw attention to the 
     unique concerns of its members. At the UNCED meeting in Rio, 
     nations agreed that a Conference should be conducted to 
     address the particular development needs confronting small 
     island states.
       At Barbados, and in follow-up activities to the SIDS 
     Conference, I would hope the US will give careful 
     consideration to constructive measures which promote the 
     sustainable development of the island states. Expectations 
     are high among the islands regarding Conference outcomes. To 
     date there has been little in terms of concrete initiatives 
     specific to the island countries and their particular 
     development needs.
       My understanding is a coral reef initiative may be unveiled 
     in Barbados, building on efforts since the Administration's 
     workshop and consultations on coral reefs in January. I hope 
     such a coral reef initiative will be premised on local 
     participation, integrate conservation and management 
     strategies, and promote institutional capacity through 
     appropriate training and technical assistance.
       Recognizing the funding constraints, there are real 
     limitations as to what the US and others can offer. However, 
     a package of bilateral and multilateral measures should be 
     announced which demonstrates US commitment to the small 
     islands and to implementation of the Barbados plan of action. 
     In addition to a coral reef initiative, other steps can be 
     taken through a variety of channels. Among elements of a US 
     proposal should be genuine efforts to address the concerns of 
     small islands through international conventions, regional 
     programs and organizations, as well as the multilateral 
     development banks. Further, the US should encourage other 
     donors to undertaken similar actions.
       U.S. leadership and a sincere commitment to address the 
     concerns of small islands through a multitude of channels, 
     even though on a small scale, can provide an important and 
     effective contribution to the Conference objectives.
       With best regards,
           Sincerely,
                                                  Lee H. Hamilton,
                                                         Chairman.


                                          Department of State,

                                     Washington, DC, May 13, 1994.
       Dear Mr. Chairman: Thank you for your letter of April 22 to 
     Under Secretary Wirth regarding U.S. leadership at the UN 
     Global Conference on Sustainable Development of Small Island 
     Developing States in Barbados. We are delighted to know of 
     your support for the Conference objectives and for the 
     concerns of the small island states.
       The United States has been an active partner in making this 
     Conference a success, providing leadership at the two 
     regional technical meetings (Caribbean and Pacific) as well 
     as both sessions of the Preparatory Committee meeting in New 
     York. Throughout the formulation of the Program of Action, 
     the United States provided specific recommendations at the 
     national, regional, and international levels. The Barbados 
     Conference offered an unparalleled opportunity to focus 
     global attention on these recommendations.
       The United States has consistently supported international 
     attention to the special challenges facing small island 
     developing states. As you say in your letter, funding 
     constraints impose real limitations. Nonetheless, the United 
     States has agreed to support a call by the Association of 
     Small Island States (AOSIS) for multilateral and other 
     development banks to modify existing guidelines to include 
     assistance for microenterprise projects. The United States 
     also supports the call by AOSIS for access to the Global 
     Environment Facility, especially for projects which address 
     the areas of biodiversity, climate change, and international 
     waters.
       At the Conference, Under Secretary Wirth announce that the 
     U.S. is developing a Coral Reef Initiative, and urged other 
     countries to join with us in protecting these fragile 
     ecosystems. He also announced the broad outline of this 
     initiative in Barbados and appealed to other donors for 
     assistance and support. Furthermore, he stated our support 
     for enhanced integrated coastal zone management and for the 
     Global Climate Country Studies program.
       Additional information about ongoing U.S. programs and 
     technical assistance is included in the enclosed attachments. 
     Please accept our assurance that the United States will 
     continue to provide leadership on these issues, and encourage 
     cooperation and support for the objectives of the Program of 
     Action.
       I hope this response is helpful. Please do not hesitate to 
     contact us if you need further assistance.
           Sincerely,

                                             Wendy R. Sherman,

                                              Assistant Secretary,
                                              Legislative Affairs.

 U.N. Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island 
                           Developing States

                       (By Hon. Timothy E. Wirth)

       Thank you Mr. Prime Minister and distinguished delegates.
       Standing here on this beautiful island it is hard to 
     picture the challenges facing small island developing states 
     that have been identified during the past two weeks. The idea 
     of an island is frequently associated in the human mind with 
     refuge from ordinary cares. But we realize that today many 
     small islands face unprecedented threats to their environment 
     and tremendous challenges in their efforts to achieve 
     sustainable development.
       The Earth Summit recognized these problems and called for 
     this conference to be held in order to bring special 
     attention to the problems facing the small island developing 
     states. Our delegations have worked hard and well throughout 
     these past two weeks to identify and define the specific 
     concerns and needs of these nations.
       Now, we must turn our attention to implementing a sound, 
     effective program of action that can help ensure the 
     sustainable development of small island states. As is clear 
     from the work done thus far, this will require a concerted 
     and sustained international commitment. However, it is also 
     clear from the events of these past two weeks that there is 
     no lack of commitment to taking action in this area.
       First we must begin with climate change, which, with its 
     potential for sea level rise, presents such a forbidding 
     prospect for the future of many small island states. The 
     United States considers addressing climate change to be a 
     very high priority and we are committed to a global 
     partnership in this area. As an initial step, we are 
     committed to limiting U.S. greenhouse gas emissions to their 
     1990 levels by the year 2000. We urge all developed countries 
     to take the steps necessary to achieve their national 
     commitments for limiting emissions this century.
       However, we recognize that even if these measures are 
     implemented, atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases 
     will continue to grow, thus increasing the potential for sea 
     level rise and other severe global consequences. We therefore 
     believe international discussions need to begin now with 
     regard to what steps should be taken for the period after the 
     year 2000.

                           *   *   *   *   *

       Some sources estimate that ten percent of all coral reefs 
     have been degraded beyond recovery, and another thirty 
     percent will be in peril over the next ten to twenty years. 
     This is of particular concern to us here because coral reefs 
     are an essential resource base for the sustainable 
     development of many small island states, and a rich resource 
     of bio-diversity, key to the discovery of new foods, fiber, 
     fuel and pharmaceuticals for our children and grandchildren.
       The United States believes that we must all begin to work 
     together now to halt this alarming trend. As a first step in 
     this effort, I am pleased to announce that the United States 
     is developing a multifaceted Coral Reef Initiative. Plans for 
     its core elements include strengthening countries' capacity 
     to preserve, manage, and protect such ecosystems, and 
     improving research and monitoring for management and 
     sustainable development. As this Initiative becomes more 
     fully developed, we will invite partnerships with other 
     countries and entities, including non-governmental 
     organizations, in what will need to become a truly 
     international effort.
       We intend to invite key countries, international 
     organizations, and NGO's to a proposed intersessional meeting 
     under the auspices of the U.N. Commission on Sustainable 
     Development by early 1995. We hope to focus attention on 
     coral reef ecosystems and provide an opportunity for 
     substantive and pragmatic discussion about how we can all 
     cooperate in protecting these vital resources. If we can 
     address the threats to coral reefs, like marine pollution and 
     coastal zone degradation, we will also address many 
     fundamental challenges to the sustainable development of 
     small island states.
       Finally, if we are to realize all the ambitious goals set 
     out during these past two weeks, a unified international 
     effort will be needed. This will include an unprecedented 
     degree of cooperation among the major funding sources for 
     sustainable development, including bilateral donors, 
     multilateral development banks, and the private sector. It 
     will require what Prime Minister Sandiford so well described 
     this morning on a new concept of multi-lateralism. It will 
     require new and imaginative forms of financing, including 
     debt for nature, public-private partnerships, and the promise 
     of intellectual property protection combined with the 
     enormous patrimony from nature's diversity. It will require 
     the full engagement of non-governmental organizations, some 
     of the most effective and creative institutions available to 
     carry out the mandate of sustainable development and, at the 
     same time, to hold governments accountable.

                           *   *   *   *   *


 U.N. Global Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island 
                           Developing States

                     (By Hon. Elinor G. Constable)

       Mr. President, distinguished heads of state and government, 
     ministers, your excellencies, ladies, and 
     gentlemen:
       Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to address 
     this conference. On behalf of the U.S. delegation, I want to 
     express our most sincere appreciation to the people of 
     Barbados for their warm hospitality and leadership in 
     organizing this conference.
       At the Earth Summit in Rio, the peoples of the world made 
     it known that we all belong to a single global community. To 
     be sure, our countries come in different sizes and shapes. 
     Some are richer; some are more populous. But we are all 
     interconnected; what each does affects others. We sometimes 
     hear it said that the problems small island developing States 
     face from climate change--or the challenges they confront in 
     pursuing sustainable development--are the same as we might 
     face in the U.S. This surely is not so. The problems are 
     different. What is the same is the risk: the risk to our 
     global community if we do not take care of our environment, 
     if we do not safeguard the future through the sustainable 
     development of all of our nations and peoples.
       We decided at Rio that we must have a common agenda to deal 
     effectively with the related problems of environment and 
     development. We recognized that none of us can accomplish 
     this alone.
       UNCED called for this conference on sustainable development 
     of small island developing States to bring special attention 
     to the problems that small islands face as they look to the 
     future. We have worked closely with you through the last year 
     to identify the special concerns of small island developing 
     States and to build partnerships to address those concerns. 
     Working together on these vital issues is of utmost 
     importance to the U.S. and to the success of all our futures.
       As a member of both the Caribbean region and the Pacific 
     region, the U.S. has a very real partnership with many small 
     island developing States. We have been closely tied to small 
     island States in the Caribbean and the Pacific for over a 
     century. We draw from our experiences in Puerto Rico, the 
     U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, the Commonwealth 
     of the Northern Mariana Islands, Palau and the State of 
     Hawaii. These islands and their people face many of the same 
     problems as the independent and freely associated states of 
     the Pacific, Caribbean, and Indian ocean regions. For 
     example, we have worked with our insular areas to develop new 
     programs aimed specifically at protecting invaluable coastal 
     resources, including coral reefs. The lessons learned from 
     these and other experiences in coastal zone management are 
     being drawn upon as we support the members of the South 
     Pacific Regional Environment Program in their development of 
     an integrated coastal zone management scheme.
       The small islands developing States Programme of Action can 
     and must be seen as a model for the rest of the world in 
     implementing the goals of the earth summit. We intend to take 
     the results of this conference forward in our bilateral and 
     multilateral relationships. As Ambassador Wensley said in her 
     remarks earlier this week, ``We know that small islands have 
     big problems, but in addressing their problems we can help 
     find solutions for problems that are not unique to island 
     States but which are of profound importance for us all.'' The 
     wisdom of her observation has been recognized throughout this 
     conference. The sustainable development of small island 
     developing states is important to all of us.
       The Programme of Action must not become just another 
     document sitting on a dusty shelf. Instead, let it become the 
     ship we use to navigate our way to collaborative, creative, 
     and concrete results reflecting mutual commitment to 
     sustainable development in small island developing states. My 
     country is committed to developing a Programme of Action that 
     is both practical and meaningful.
       We want to ensure that this conference is part of the 
     continuum of world activity following Rio, that it builds 
     upon the work that has been done and contributes to the work 
     yet to come. As the first conference to address the specific 
     implementation of Agenda 21, it is critically important to 
     future discussions in many arenas. Of particular interest to 
     this conference is the upcoming UNEP Intergovernmental 
     Conference on the Protection of the Marine Environment from 
     Land Based Activities. The U.S. will host this meeting in 
     November 1995 in Washington. We should work to ensure that 
     the issues facing small islands are carried forward to the 
     Washington meeting, and are addressed in response to the 
     work we do here.
       The U.S. has collaborated actively with UNEP to promote the 
     development of a protocol on land-based sources of marine 
     pollution for the wider Caribbean region (under the Cartagena 
     Convention). In a recent meeting of experts in Puerto Rico, 
     we urged that negotiations on this protocol begin. We hope 
     the countries of the wider Caribbean, including the U.S., 
     will move forward together to prevent further pollution of 
     our waters.
       The U.S. also recognizes that climate change and its 
     associated impacts, especially sea level rise, are of 
     particular concern to small island developing States, and we 
     are committed to doing our part in addressing these issues. 
     We were the first of the industrialized countries to ratify 
     the Framework Convention on Climate Change, and President 
     Clinton has promised that the U.S. will reduce its greenhouse 
     gas emissions to their 1990 levels by the year 2000. This 
     past October, he released the national action plan for 
     climate change, which is the U.S. blueprint for achieving 
     this objective. We are searching for additional steps we can 
     take to carry us into the next century.
       The U.S. Climate Change Country Study initiative is 
     currently assisting several island governments in their 
     efforts to address the potential impacts of climate change, 
     including sea level rise. The initiative provides technical 
     assistance and financial support to conduct inventories of 
     greenhouse gas emissions, and to develop adaptation plans, 
     including integrated coastal management planning, as a 
     response to sea level rise, and other aspects of climate 
     variability.
       In keeping with the spirit of Rio, this Administration has 
     made it clear that sustainable development is a national 
     priority. It is at the heart of President Clinton's 
     establishment of the President's Council on Sustainable 
     Development, a national forum for partnerships among public, 
     private and non-governmental communities to develop national 
     strategies, including sustainable communities.
       Sustainable development must ensure conservation and 
     stewardship of natural resources. For many small island 
     states, coral reefs and their related ecosystems--mangroves 
     and seagrass beds--are the foundations upon which local 
     livelihoods, cultures, and indeed the islands themselves, are 
     built. In terms of biodiversity, these ecosystems are among 
     the richest in the world, equivalent to the tropical rain 
     forests on land.
       The health of these ecosystems is rapidly declining. By 
     some estimates, over ten percent of the world's coral reefs 
     have been degraded beyond recovery, and another thirty 
     percent may face the same fate over the next ten years. The 
     problems often result from development, including 
     sedimentation, pollution, overfishing, and agricultural 
     drainage. But they are also caused by global factors--
     including climate change and ozone depletion. The response. 
     therefore, must be global in scope, one in which nations join 
     in partnerships to halt and reverse this degradation. These 
     rich resources are important to the global community, and 
     essential to many islands peoples' livelihoods.
       We know how to solve many of these problems. As Gus Septh 
     pointed out earlier at this meeting, coral mining can be 
     ended, and marine protected areas can be established. 
     Integrated coastal zone management can be employed. The 
     international community can work together to address climate 
     change and ozone depletion. We believe that though 
     international cooperation, new programs can be developed in 
     which developing and developed countries work together, in 
     partnership, to address the crises that those ecosystems now 
     face.
       I encourage you to read the information briefs presented by 
     the United States. These describe the general approach we are 
     taking and many of the programs we currently support in small 
     islands, both domestically and internationally.
       Much of this conferences has and will focus on the issue of 
     financial resources to support sustainable development, as 
     this issue is a necessary and critical component of the 
     implementation of the Programme of Action. Mr. President, we 
     all know there is never enough money. This perennial problem 
     is also our most serious challenge. As our government 
     prepared for this conference, we looked at our current 
     activities, with an eye towards comparing the draft Programme 
     of Action to our current programs. This comparison was 
     informative.
       The U.S. is a major contributor to development assistance 
     to small island States through our bilateral assistance, the 
     World Bank, the regional development banks, and other 
     multilateral assistance agencies. The U.S. has been very 
     proactive with these organizations in promoting policies and 
     procedures to ensure that the financing we provide truly 
     promotes sustainable development. These include environmental 
     impact assessments, energy efficiency, and improved 
     integrated coastal resource environmental management. We 
     think these sound practices should be an integral part of 
     their development assistance activities. We also welcomed Gus 
     Speth's call for a Barbados ``Renewable Energy'' Initiative 
     and would urge that relevant multilateral and bilateral 
     financing agencies contribute to promoting greater use of 
     renewables in small island developing States.
       The World Bank and regional development banks represent 
     large sources of funds for development. Multilateral 
     development banks should be encouraged to finance and support 
     smaller institutions such as community banks. Small scale 
     grants and microenterprise loans, if implemented 
     properly, can provide important new sources of financing. We 
     will be vigilant in encouraging development assistance 
     organizations to which we contribute to provide assistance 
     aimed at the sustainable development of small island 
     developing states. Case in point: next week the Asian 
     Development Bank's board will meet. We should work to place 
     the small island developing states' Programme of Action on 
     their agenda.
       Innovative financing mechanisms are receiving increased 
     attention, including at this conference and recently at the 
     meeting of the UN Commission on Sustainable Development's ad 
     hoc working group on finance. We strongly support the 
     exploration of such mechanisms along with the improved 
     effectiveness and the setting of priorities of existing 
     bilateral and multilateral assistance toward sustainable 
     development goals. At the same time, we must move forward to 
     give some content and meaning to what these innovative 
     financing mechanisms are and put them into practice.
       For example, like the Dominican Republic, the Philippines, 
     Bhutan, Paua New Guinea, Bolivia and Panama have created or 
     are creating trust funds whose boards are made up of 
     representatives from the public and private sectors, 
     including NGO's. These funds are transparent in operation and 
     accountability.
       My government wants the Commission on Sustainable 
     Development to be a vital mechanism for promoting 
     international partnerships and cooperation, and we believe 
     that the CSD could place more emphasis on creative national 
     and regional funding mechanisms.
       Recent negotiations on the replenishment of the Global 
     Environment Facility (GEF) have confirmed the intention of 
     donors to reach the target $2 billion replenishment level. 
     The U.S. pledged to provide $430 million to the restructured 
     facility, a significant contribution. We expect the 
     restructured GEF to play an important role in implementing 
     the Programme of Action.
       The U.S. is taking a new look at our assistance resources 
     in order to become more responsive to the concerns of small 
     island developing States. Moreover, we are prepared to 
     explore how our export finance agencies and trade promotion 
     programs might contribute to the implementation of the 
     Programme of Action, through increased emphasis on 
     facilitating the export of environmentally sound 
     technologies to small islands.
       Some of the most innovative sustainable development 
     projects are being undertaken by NGOs and local communities. 
     We encourage governments to enter into partnerships with 
     nongovernmental groups in planning and implementing 
     environment and development actions. Sustainable development 
     requires both top-down and bottom-up efforts.
       We recognize that related challenges of environmental 
     protection and sustainable development find sharp expression 
     in the situation of small island developing states. These 
     states, like all countries, can achieve sustainable 
     development. But achieving this objective is not easy for any 
     of us. We owe it to ourselves to work together for our common 
     good, because we all share the risks of failure. This 
     conference is a unique opportunity to develop a model for 
     sustainable development in the context of small island 
     developing states which can inspire us all. I look forward to 
     working with you to develop a Programme of Action that will 
     lead to concrete results. Let us pledge ourselves to achieve 
     this goal.
  


                       SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS

  Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, agreed to by the Senate on February 
4, 1977, calls for establishment of a system for a computerized 
schedule of all meetings and hearings of Senate committees, 
subcommittees, joint committees, and committees of conference. This 
title requires all such committees to notify the Office of the Senate 
Daily Digest--designated by the Rules Committee--of the time, place, 
and purpose of the meetings, when scheduled, and any cancellations or 
changes in the meetings as they occur.
  As an additional procedure along with the computerization of this 
information, the Office of the Senate Daily Digest will prepare this 
information for printing in the Extensions of Remarks section of the 
Congressional Record on Monday and Wednesday of each week.
  Meetings scheduled for Thursday, May 19, 1994, may be found in the 
Daily Digest of today's Record.

                           MEETINGS SCHEDULED

                                 MAY 20
     8:00 a.m.
       Labor and Human Resources
         To continue mark up of proposed legislation to provide 
           for health care security.
                                                            SH-216
     9:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Departments of Veteran's Affairs and 
           Housing and Urban Development, and independent 
           agencies.
                                                            SD-138
     9:30 a.m.
       Governmental Affairs
       Regulation and Government Information Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine whether certain medical 
           device materials are a threat to public health.
                                                            SD-342

                                 MAY 24
     8:00 a.m.
       Labor and Human Resources
         Business meeting, to resume markup of proposed 
           legislation to provide for health care security.
                                                            SH-216
     9:30 a.m.
       Armed Services
         Business meeting, to discuss issues relating to markup of 
           the proposed National Defense Authorization Act for 
           Fiscal Year 1995.
                                                            SR-222
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings on the science concerning global climate 
           change.
                                                            SD-366
       Environment and Public Works
       Toxic Substances, Research and Development Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine issues relating to the 
           Environmental Protection Agency's research and 
           development programs, focusing on S. 1545, to authorize 
           funds for fiscal years 1994 through 1996 for 
           environmental research, development, and demonstration 
           activities and program management support of the Office 
           of Research and Development of the Environmental 
           Protection Agency.
                                                            SD-406
       Indian Affairs
         To hold hearings on S. 2075, to reauthorize and improve 
           programs of the Indian Child Protection and Family 
           Violence Prevention Act, and provisions of S. 2074, to 
           increase the special assessment for felonies and 
           improve the enforcement sentences imposing criminal 
           fines.
                                                            SR-485
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Defense, focusing on 
           strategic programs.
                                                            SD-192
       Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
         Business meeting, to mark up S. 1902, to improve the 
           administration of export controls, and S. 1952, to 
           authorize the minting of coins to commemorate the 175th 
           anniversary of the founding of the United States 
           Botanic Garden, and to consider the nominations of Alan 
           S. Blinder, of New Jersey, to be a Member and Vice 
           Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal 
           Reserve System, Steven Mark Hart Wallman, of Virginia, 
           to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange 
           Commission, and Philip N. Diehl, of Texas, to be 
           Director of the Mint, Department of the Treasury.
                                                            SD-538
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To resume hearings on S. 1822, to safeguard and protect 
           the public interest while permitting the growth and 
           development of new communications technologies, 
           focusing on public interest considerations.
                                                            SR-253
       Judiciary
       Courts and Administrative Practice Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine issues relating to medical 
           malpractice.
                                                            SD-226
     2:00 p.m.
       Labor and Human Resources
         Business meeting, to continue markup of proposed 
           legislation to provide for health care security.
                                                            SH-216
     2:30 p.m.
       Appropriations
       Foreign Operations Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for foreign assistance programs, focusing on 
           export promotion.
                                                            SD-138
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for programs of the Energy Policy and 
           Conservation Act, and S. 2032, to revise the Energy 
           Policy and Conservation Act with respect to purchases 
           from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve by entities in the 
           insular areas of the United States.
                                                            SD-366
     4:00 p.m.
       Select on Intelligence
         Business meeting, to mark up proposed counter-
           intelligence legislation.
                                                            SD-116

                                 MAY 25
     8:00 a.m.
       Labor and Human Resources
         Business meeting, to continue markup of proposed 
           legislation to provide for health care security.
                                                            SH-216
     9:30 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education 
           Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine issues relating to teenage 
           pregnancy.
                                                            SD-192
       Governmental Affairs
       Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations
         To hold hearings on organized crime and its impact on the 
           United States.
                                                            SD-342
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Interior Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of the Interior.
                                                    S-128, Capitol
     10:30 a.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To continue hearings on S. 1822, to safeguard and protect 
           the public interest while permitting the growth and 
           development of new communications technologies, 
           focusing on education and telecommunications 
           infrastructure.
                                                            SR-253
     2:00 p.m.
       Labor and Human Resources
         Business meeting, to continue markup of proposed 
           legislation to provide for health care security.
                                                            SH-216
     2:30 p.m.
       Judiciary
         To hold hearings on pending nominations.
                                                            SD-226

                                 MAY 26
     8:00 a.m.
       Labor and Human Resources
         Business meeting, to continue markup of proposed 
           legislation to provide for health care security.
                                                            SH-216
     9:00 a.m.
       Armed Services
         Business meeting, to discuss procedures for markup of the 
           proposed National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal 
           Year 1995.
                                                            SR-222
     9:30 a.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To hold hearings on S. 1350, to revise the Earthquake 
           Hazards Reduction Act of 1977 to provide for an 
           expanded Federal program of hazard mitigation and 
           insurance against the risk of catastrophic natural 
           disasters, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, and 
           volcanic eruptions.
                                                            SR-253
       Energy and Natural Resources
         To hold hearings to examine policy options for the 
           disposition of excess weapons plutonium.
                                                            SD-366
       Rules and Administration
         Business meeting, to mark up S. 1824, Legislative 
           Reorganization Act, H.R. 877, Smithsonian National 
           African American Museum, an original bill authorizing 
           appropriations for fiscal year 1995 for the Federal 
           Election Commission, S. Res. 196, printing resolution 
           for Aging Committee, an original resolution authorizing 
           the purchase of 1995 wall calendars, H. Con. Res. 222, 
           authorizing acceptance and placement of a bust in the 
           Capitol, and other legislative business.
                                                            SR-301
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the National Aeronautics and Space 
           Administration.
                                                            SD-106
       Finance
         To hold hearings on provisions of S. 1951 (pending on 
           Senate calendar), to establish a comprehensive system 
           of reemployment services, training and income support 
           for permanently laid off workers.
                                                            SD-215
     2:00 p.m.
       Environment and Public Works
         To hold hearings on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer Civil 
           Works program and its policies on recreation and 
           environmental protection.
                                                            SD-406
       Labor and Human Resources
         Business meeting, to continue markup of proposed 
           legislation to provide for health care security.
                                                            SH-216
     2:30 p.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
         To hold hearings on S. 1989, to prohibit the transfer and 
           novation of an insurance policy without the prior 
           informed written consent of the policyholder.
                                                            SR-253

                                 JUNE 8
     9:30 a.m.
       Indian Affairs
         To hold hearings on S. 1936, to provide for the 
           integrated management of Indian resources, and S. 2067, 
           to establish an Assistant Secretary for Indian Health, 
           and to provide for the organizational independence of 
           the Indian Health Service within the Department of 
           Health and Human Services.
                                                            SR-485
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Interior Subcommittee
         To hold hearings proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Energy.
                                                    S-128, Capitol
     2:30 p.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Water and Power Subcommittee
         To hold hearings to examine water quality and quantity 
           problems and opportunities facing the lower Colorado 
           River area.
                                                            SD-366

                                 JUNE 9
     9:30 a.m.
       Energy and Natural Resources
       Water and Power Subcommittee
         To continue hearings on water quality and quantity 
           problems and opportunities facing the lower Colorado 
           River area.
                                                            SD-366

                                JUNE 14
     2:30 p.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Surface Transportation Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for rail safety programs.
                                                            SR-253
                                JUNE 15
     9:30 a.m.
       Indian Affairs
         To hold hearings on S. 2036, to specify the terms of 
           contracts entered into by the United States and Indian 
           tribal organizations under the Indian Self-
           Determination and Education Assistance Act.
                                                            SR-485

                                JUNE 16
     9:30 a.m.
       Rules and Administration
         To hold hearings on S. Res. 69, to require that an 
           evaluation of the financial impact that any Federal 
           mandates would have on State and local governments be 
           included in the committee report accompanying each bill 
           or resolution containing such mandates, S. Res. 157, to 
           require a supermajority for committee approval of bills 
           containing unfunded Federal mandates, and S. Res. 158, 
           to require a supermajority for Senate approval of bills 
           or amendments containing unfunded Federal mandates.
                                                            SR-301

                                JUNE 23
     9:30 a.m.
       Rules and Administration
         To hold hearings on the nominations of Lee Ann Elliott, 
           of Virginia, and Danny Lee McDonald, of Oklahoma, each 
           to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission.
                                                            SR-301
     10:30 a.m.
       Rules and Administration
         To hold oversight hearings on the operations of the 
           Office of the Architect of the Capitol.
                                                            SR-301

                             CANCELLATIONS

                                 MAY 19
     2:30 p.m.
       Commerce, Science, and Transportation
       Surface Transportation Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed legislation authorizing 
           funds for rail safety programs.
                                                            SR-253

                             POSTPONEMENTS

                                 MAY 19
     10:00 a.m.
       Appropriations
       Defense Subcommittee
         To hold hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
           year 1995 for the Department of Defense.
                                                            SD-192