[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 144 (Thursday, October 6, 1994)]
[Daily Digest]
[Page D]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
REVIEW CORN AND SOYBEAN PRICES
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities held 
a hearing to review corn and soybean prices. Testimony was heard from 
Grant Buntrock, Administrator, Agricultural Stabilization and 
Conservation Service, USDA; and public witnesses.
CALIFORNIA FORESTS ECOSYSTEM HEALTH ACT
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Specialty Crops and Natural 
Resources held a hearing on H.R. 4068, California Forests Ecosystem 
Health Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives Lehman and Herger; 
Mark Reimers, Deputy Chief, Programs and Legislation, U.S. Forest 
Service, USDA; and public witnesses.
ARMY AND MARINE CORPS WOMEN UNDER NEW DEFINITION OF GROUND COMBAT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Forces and 
Personnel held a hearing on the assignment of Army and Marine Corps 
women under the new definition of ground combat. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Edwin Dorn, 
Under Secretary, Personnel and Readiness; Lt. Gen. Theodore G. Stroup, 
Jr., USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Department of the Army; and 
Lt. Gen. George R. Christmas, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Manpower and 
Reserve Affairs, U.S. Marine Corps.
FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE CREDIT UNION INDUSTRY
Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs: Concluded hearings to 
examine the financial condition, investment practices, and the board 
composition of corporate credit unions. Testimony was heard from H. 
Allen Carver, Director, Office of Corporate Credit Unions, National 
Credit Union Administration; Thomas J. McCool, Associate Director, 
Financial Institutions and Markets Issues, General Government Division, 
GAO; and public witnesses.
AVAILABILITY OF CREDIT TO MINORITY-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES
Committee on Banking, Finance and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on 
Financial Institutions, Supervision, Regulation and Deposit Insurance 
held a hearing regarding the availability of credit to minority-owned 
small businesses. Testimony was heard from John P. LaWare, member, 
Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; Andrew C. Hove, Jr., Acting 
Chairman, FDIC; the following officials of the Department of the 
Treasury: Jonathan L. Fiechter, Acting Director, Office of Thrift 
Supervision; and Stephen Steinbrink, Senior Deputy Comptroller, Bank 
Supervision Operations, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; and 
public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power 
concluded oversight hearings on the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, with 
emphasis on global warming. Testimony was heard from Hazel R. O'Leary, 
Secretary of Energy; Robert T. Watson, Associate Director, Environment, 
Office of Science and Technology Policy; Rafe Pomerance, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Environment and Development, Bureau of Oceans and 
International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of 
State; Karl Hausker, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Policy, Planning 
and Evaluation, EPA; and public witnesses.
BRIEFING--SERIOUS ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF IMPENDING SHORTFALL IN 
FUNDING SEC
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations and the Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance 
held a joint briefing concerning the serious adverse consequences of 
the impending shortfall in funding for the SEC. The Subcommittees were 
briefed by Arthur Levitt, Jr., Chairman, SEC.
DRAFT REPORTS
Committee on Government Operations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Consumer, 
and Monetary Affairs approved for full Committee action the following 
draft reports: ``Problems Facing Minority and Women-Owned Small 
Businesses, Including SBA Section 8(A) Firms, in Procuring U.S. 
Government Contracts: An Interim Report''; ``The Administration and 
Enforcement of Employment Taxes--A Status Report on Ideas for Change''; 
``Uncertainty and Data Quality Problems Affecting Federal Reserve 
Monetary Policy''; ``Financial Management and CFO Act Reforms in the 
Department of Commerce''; ``Financial Management in the Customs 
Service''; and ``Trade with Russia and the New Independent States.''
SECTION 8 HOUSING: WASTE AND MISMANAGEMENT
Committee on Government Operations: Subcommittee on Employment, Housing 
and Aviation continued hearings on Section 8 Housing: Waste and 
Mismanagement, Part II. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: Susan M. 
Gaffney, Inspector General; and Nicolas P. Retsinas, Assistant 
Secretary, Housing, Federal Housing Commissioner; Judy England-Joseph, 
Director, Housing and Community Development, GAO; Phillip Comeau, Vice-
President, Multi-Family Asset Management, Federal Home Loan Mortgage 
Corporation; and public witnesses.
DRAFT REPORTS
Committee on Government Operations: Subcommittee on Legislation and 
National Security approved for full Committee action the following 
draft reports: ``National Aeronautics and Space Administration: 
Management Controls Must Be Strengthened To Protect Taxpayers''; ``The 
Milstar Communication System: Comprehensive Reevaluation Needed''; and 
``World Food Program: Funding and Management Improvements Can 
Strengthen Delivery of Food Aid.''
CRUISE SHIP HEALTH PRACTICES--LEGIONNAIRE'S DISEASE ONBOARD THE 
CELEBRITY VESSEL HORIZON
Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries: Subcommittee on Merchant 
Marine held a hearing on Cruise Ship Health Practices--Legionnaire's 
Disease Onboard the Celebrity Vessel Horizon. Testimony was heard from 
Albert C. Wallack, Senior Vice President, Passenger Services, Celebrity 
Cruises Inc.
INTERMODAL SURFACE TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY ACT PLANNING AND FLEXIBLE 
FUNDING PROVISIONS
Committee on Public Works and Transportation: Subcommittee on 
Investigations and Oversight held a hearing on Intermodal Surface 
Transportation Efficiency Act Planning and Flexible Funding Provisions. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Transportation: Jane F. Garvey, Deputy Administrator, Federal Highway 
Administration; and Grace Crunican, Deputy Administrator, Federal 
Transit Administration; Edward G. Rendell, Mayor, Philadelphia, 
Pennsylvania; Louis H. Lambert, Deputy Director, Planning, Department 
of Transportation, State of Michigan; Thomas Walker, Executive 
Assistant to the Secretary, Department of Transportation, State of 
Wisconsin; Dennis Keck, Assistant Commissioner, Planning, Department of 
Transportation, State of New Jersey; Irving J. Rubin, member, 
Transportation Commission, State of Michigan; and public witnesses.
ACADEMIC EARMARKS
Committee on Science, Space, and Technology: Concluded hearings on 
Academic Earmarks, Part III. Testimony was heard from John Deutch, 
Deputy Secretary, Department of Defense; and Joseph F. Vivona, Chief 
Financial Officer, Department of Energy.
COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct: Met in executive session to 
consider pending business.
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY'S REVIEW OF TAX REFUND FRAUD
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
on the Department of the Treasury's review of tax refund fraud. 
Testimony was heard from Ronald K. Noble, Under Secretary, Enforcement, 
Department of the Treasury.
MISCELLANEOUS TAX ISSUES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures 
held a hearing on a proposal to modify the research tax credit 
specifically to cover the expenses of developing generic alternatives 
to brand-name products; and on H.R. 4318, Working Off Welfare Act of 
1994. Testimony was heard from Glen Kohl, Tax Legislative Counsel, 
Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses.