[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 74 (Tuesday, June 14, 1994)] [Daily Digest] [Page D] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov] Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported, with amendments, H.R. 4454, making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1995. NOMINATION Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded hearings on the nomination of Dharmendra K. Sharma, of California, to be Administrator of the Research and Special Programs Administration, Department of Transportation, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator Akaka and Representative Mineta, testified and answered questions in her own behalf. WEATHER SATELLITE CONVERGENCE Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded hearings to examine the Administration's recent decision to converge, into a single national system, the polar-orbiting weather satellites of the Departments of Commerce and Defense, focusing on Federal funding, national security needs, weather forecasting requirements, and European cooperation, after receiving testimony from D. James Baker, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere; William Townsend, Deputy Associate Administrator, Mission to Planet Earth, National Aeronautics and Space Administration; Robert T. Watson, Associate Director for Environment, Office of Science and Technology Policy; and George R. Schneiter, Director, Strategic and Space Systems, Department of Defense. AUTHORIZATION--RAIL SAFETY PROGRAMS Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Surface Transportation concluded hearings on S. 2132, authorizing funds for programs of the Federal Railroad Safety Act, focusing on initiatives to maximize the safety of rail passenger and freight travel, after receiving testimony from Jolene M. Molitoris, Administrator, Donald Itzkoff, Deputy Administrator, Grady Cothen, Jr., Deputy Associate Administrator for Safety, and Mark Lindsey, Chief Counsel, all of the Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation; Carl W. Vogt, Chairman, and Robert Lauby, Chief, Railroad Division, both of the National Transportation Safety Board; and Edwin L. Harper, Association of American Railroads, and Ronald P. McLaughlin and Lawrence M. Mann, both of the Rail Labor Executives' Association, all of Washington, D.C. NOMINATIONS Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of Patricia Fry Godley, of Texas, to be Assistant Secretary for Fossil Energy, and Joseph F. Vivona, to be Chief Financial Officer, both of the Department of Energy, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. AUTHORIZATION-SUPERFUND Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Superfund, Recycling, and Solid Waste Management approved for full committee consideration, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, S. 1834, authorizing funds for programs of the Comprehensive Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (Superfund). WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION AND U.S. SOVEREIGNTY Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings to examine the impact of the Uruguay Round agreement and its creation of the World Trade Organization on United States sovereignty, receiving testimony from Rufus Yerxa, Deputy United States Trade Representative; Julius Katz, Hills and Company, and Ralph Nader, Center for Responsive Law, both of Washington, D.C.; John H. Jackson, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor; and Bruce Fein, Bruce Fein and Associates, Great Falls, Virginia. Hearings were recessed subject to call. AUTHORIZATION--FEMA EMERGENCY FOOD AND SHELTER PROGRAM Committee on Governmental Affairs: Committee held hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 1995 for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) emergency food and shelter national board program, receiving testimony from Augusta Hamel, Second Harvest, Chicago, Illinois; Dennis P. Culhane, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; Jacquie M. Lawing, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development for Economic Development; Brother Joseph Berg, Catholic Charities, USA, Alexandria, Virginia, on behalf of the Emergency Food and Shelter National Board; Gene Brady, Commission on Economic Opportunity, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania; Barry Durman, Atlantic City Rescue Mission, Atlantic City, New Jersey; Gail Gregory, Community Shelter Board, Columbus, Ohio; and Anne E. Kohler, Neighbors Together Corporation, Brooklyn, New York. Hearings were recessed subject to call. NOMINATIONS Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Diana G. Motz, of Maryland, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit; Robert M. Parker, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; William F. Downes, to be United States District Judge for the District of Wyoming; Denise P. Hood, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan; Richard A. Paez, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California; and Paul L. Friedman, Gladys Kessler, Emmet G. Sullivan, and Ricardo M. Urbina, each to be a United States District Judge for the District of Columbia. SMALL BUSINESS DEFENSE CONVERSION Committee on Small Business: Committee ordered favorably reported, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute, S. 1830, to expand the Small Business Administration's loan guarantee program and to target loans to businesses and individuals adversely impacted by base closure and defense downsizing. 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 Thursday, June 16.