[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 126 (Tuesday, August 1, 1995)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D963-D965]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
TRANSFORMATION OF THE MEDICAID PROGRAM
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment concluded 
hearings on the Transformation of the Medicaid Program. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
CLEAN AIR ACT AMENDMENTS--IMPLEMENTATION AND ENFORCEMENT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations 
continued hearings on the Implementation and Enforcement of the Clean 
Air Act Amendments of 1990. Testimony was heard from Robert Watson, 
Associate Director, Environment, Office of Science and Technology 
Policy; Mary D. Nichols, Assistant Administrator, Air and Radiation, 
EPA; Ambassador William Milam, Special Negotiator, Bureau for Oceans 
and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, Department of 
State; Larry Elworth, Special Assistant Pesticide Policy, Natural 
Resources and Environment, USDA; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcomittee on Government 
Management, Information, and Technology held an oversight hearing on 
the Inspector General Act. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the President's Council on Integrity and Efficiency 
(PCIE): June Gibbs Brown, Vice Chair and Inspector General, Department 
of Health and Human Services; Hubert Sparks, Vice Chair, Executive 
Council and Inspector General, Appalachian Regional Commission; Valerie 
Lau, Chairman, Audit Committee and Inspector General, Department of the 
Treasury; and William Esposito, Chairman, Integrity Committee and 
Deputy Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI, 
Department of Justice; Frank DeGeorge, Inspector General, Department of 
Commerce; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Human 
Resources and Intergovernmental Relations and the Subcommittee on 
National Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs 
held a joint oversight hearing on FDA's Regulation of Medical Devices, 
including the Status of Breast Implants. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Traficant and Ganske; the following officials of the 
FDA, Department of Health and Human Services: David A. Kessler, 
Commissioner; and D. Bruce Burlington, Director, Center for Devices and 
Radiological Health; former Representative Marilyn Lloyd, State of 
Tennessee; and public witnesses.
GOVERNMENT PRINTING REFORMS
Committee on House Oversight: Held a hearing on Government Printing 
Reforms. Testimony was heard from Representatives Klug and Dunn of 
Washington; the following officials of GPO: Michael DiMario, Public 
Printer; and Wayne Kelley, Superintendent of Documents; Sally Katzen, 
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, OMB; and 
public witnesses.

[[Page D964]]

EXAMINATION OF THE CIENFUEGOS NUCLEAR PLANT IN CUBA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Western 
Hemisphere Affairs held a hearing to examine the Cienfuegos Nuclear 
Plant in Cuba. Testimony was heard from Representative Deutsch; Richard 
Stratford, Director, Office of Nuclear Affairs, Department of State; 
Keith Fultz, Assistant Comptroller General, Resources, Community and 
Economic Development, GAO; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--WACO
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime and the Subcommittee 
on National Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice of 
the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight concluded joint 
oversight hearings on Federal Law Enforcement Actions in Relation to 
the Branch Davidian Compound in Waco, Texas. Testimony was heard from 
Janet Reno, Attorney General, Department of Justice.
BUDGET RECONCILIATION RECOMMENDATIONS
Committee on National Security: Ordered reported Budget reconciliation 
recommendations.
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT TRANSFER
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and 
Lands held a hearing on H.R. 2032, to transfer the lands administered 
by the Bureau of Land Management to the State in which the lands are 
located. Testimony was heard from Senator Thomas; Representative Skeen; 
the following officials of the Department of the Interior: Bonnie 
Cohen, Assistant Secretary, Policy Management and Budget; John D. 
Leshy, Solicitor; and Maitland Sharpe, Assistant Director, Resource 
Assessment and Planning, Bureau of Land Management; Walter D. Bradley, 
Lt. Gov., State of New Mexico; Jim Magagna, State Land Commissioner, 
State of Wyoming; and public witnesses.
CONFERENCE REPORT--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 1854, making 
appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1996, and against its consideration. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Packard and Fazio.
COMMUNICATIONS ACT OF 1995
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule 
providing 90 minutes of debate on H.R. 1555, Communications Act of 
1995. The rule waives section 302(f) (prohibiting consideration of 
legislation which exceeds a committee's allocation of new budget 
authority) of the Budget Act against consideration of the bill. The 
rule makes in order as an original bill for the purpose of amendment 
the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the 
Committee on Commerce and provides that the amendment be considered as 
read. The rule waives clause 5(a) of rule XXI (prohibiting 
appropriations in an authorization bill) and section 302(f) 
(prohibiting consideration of legislation which exceeds a committee's 
allocation of new budget authority) of the Budget Act against the 
Committee amendment. The rule provides first for the consideration, 
prior to consideration of any other amendment, of the amendment printed 
in Part 1 of the Rules Committee report; only by a Member designated in 
the report; debatable for 30 minutes, equally divided between a 
proponent and an opponent; and provides that the amendment be 
considered as read. The rule provides that the amendment shall not be 
subject to amendment or to a demand for a division of the question in 
the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule provides that if 
that amendment is adopted, the provisions of the bill, as amended, 
shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further 
amendment under the five-minute rule. The rule makes in order only 
those amendments printed in Part 2 of the Rules Committee report, in 
the order specified; by Members designated in the report; debatable for 
the time specified in the report, equally divided between a proponent 
and an opponent; and provides for amendments to be considered as read. 
The rule provides that amendments shall not be subject to amendment 
(except as otherwise specified in the report) or to a demand for a 
division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. 
The rule waives all points of order against amendments printed in the 
report. The rule permits the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to 
postpone and cluster votes on amendments. The rule provides one motion 
to recommit, with or without instructions.
  The rule provides for the consideration of S. 652 in the House, 
waives points of order against the Senate bill and against its 
consideration. The rule allows for a motion to strike all after the 
enacting clause of S. 652 and insert in lieu thereof the provisions of 
H.R. 1555 as passed by the House, and waives all points of order 
against that motion. Finally, the rule allows for a motion that the 
House insist on its amendments to S. 652 and request a conference with 
the Senate.

[[Page D965]]

LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted an open rule providing one hour of general 
debate on H.R. 2127, making appropriations for the Departments of 
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies, 
for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1996. The rule provides first 
for the consideration of two (manager's) amendments printed in part 1 
of the Rules Committee report, which are considered as read, are not 
subject to amendment or to a division of the question, and are 
debatable for 10 minutes each divided between the proponent and an 
opponent. If adopted, the amendments are considered as part of the base 
text for further amendment purposes. The rule provides for the reading 
of the bill by title rather than by paragraph, with each title 
considered as read. The rule waives clause 2 of rule XXI (prohibiting 
unauthorized and legislative provisions) and clause 6 of rule XXI 
(prohibiting reappropriations) against provisions in the bill. The rule 
provides for consideration at any time during the reading of the bill 
for amendment of amendments printed in part 2 of the report on the rule 
if offered by the Member designated. The amendment shall be considered 
as read, debatable for the time specified, and shall not be subject to 
amendment, except as specified in the report, or to a division. The 
rule waives all points of order against amendments printed in the 
report. The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition 
to Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional 
Record. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions.
ETHICS INVESTIGATION
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct: Met in executive session to 
continue to take testimony regarding the ethics investigation of 
Speaker Gingrich. Testimony was heard from Rupert Murdock, Chief 
Executive, News Corporation; and James Fox, General Counsel, Harper/
Collins Publishers, Inc.
OCEAN SHIPPING REFORM ACT; COAST GUARD DRUG INTERDICTION MISSION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation approved for full Committee approved 
for full Committee action amended the Ocean Shipping Reform Act of 
1995.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Coast Guard Drug 
Interdiction Mission. Testimony was heard from Lee Brown, Director, 
Office of National Drug Control Policy; Adm. Robert Kramek, USCG, 
Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Transportation; Robert 
Nieves, Chief, Foreign Operations, DEA, Department of Justice; Joseph 
Kelly, Director, International Affairs Issues, GAO; Harvey G. Pothier, 
Deputy Assistant Commissioner, Office of Aviation Operations, U.S. 
Customs Service, Department of the Treasury; Brian E. Sheridan, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Enforcement Policy and Support, Department of 
Defense; John Walters, former Deputy Director, Supply Reduction, Office 
of National Drug Control Policy; and William Olson, former Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Department of State.