[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 27, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D106-D108]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water began 
appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from Congressional and 
public witnesses.

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LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education began appropriation hearings. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislation held a hearing 
on the House of Representatives. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the House: Robin H. Carle, Clerk; Wilson S. Livingood, 
Sergeant at Arms; Scott M. Faulkner, Chief Administrative Officer; John 
W. Lainhart, IV, Inspector General; John R. Miller, Deputy Law Revision 
Counsel; David E. Meade, Chief, Office of the Legislative Counsel; and 
John F. Elsold, M.D., Attending Physician.
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation began 
appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from Congressional and 
public witnesses.
COUNTERFEITING OF U.S. CURRENCY ABROAD
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on General Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on the Counterfeiting of U.S. Currency 
Abroad. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the GAO: 
JayEtta Hecker, Director, International Trade, Finance and 
Competitiveness; and Kate Monahan, Evaluator; the following officials 
of the Department of the Treasury: John Hawke, Under Secretary, 
Domestic Finance; and Eljay Bowron, Director, U.S. Secret Service; 
Theodore Allison, Assistant, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve 
System; Robert Sims, Special Advisor to the Assistant Secretary, 
International Arms and Narcotics, Department of State; and public 
witnesses.
NATIVE AMERICAN HOUSING ASSISTANCE
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing 
and Community Development held a hearing on proposals for Native 
American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--ELECTRICITY: STATE OF THE STATES
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held an 
oversight hearing on Electricity: State of the States. Testimony was 
heard from the following State Representatives: Jeb Bradely and Clifton 
Below, New Hampshire; Warren Chisum, Texas; and George D. Caruolo, 
Rhode Island; David L. O'Connor, Commissioner, Division of Energy 
Resources and John B. Howe, Chairman, Department of Public Utilities, 
State of Massachusetts; Patrick Wood, III, Chairman, Public Utility 
Commission, State of Texas; John Hanger, Commissioner, Public Utility 
Commission, State of Pennsylvania; Jessie J. Knight, Jr., Commissioner, 
Public Utility Commission, State of California; Herb Tate, President, 
Board of Public Utilities, State of New Jersey; Allyson K. Duncan, 
Commissioner, Utility Commission, State of North Carolina; and a public 
witness.
FDA REFORM
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a 
hearing on the Need for FDA Reform. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
WORLDWIDE PERSECUTION OF JEWS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on worldwide persecution of 
Jews. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
HEALTH CARE REFORM ISSUES
Committee on the Judiciary: Held a hearing on Health Care Reform 
Issues: Antitrust, Medical Malpractice Liability, and Volunteer 
Liability, including discussion of the following measures: H.R. 2925, 
Antitrust Health Care Advancement Act of 1996; H.R. 911, Volunteer 
Protection Act; and H.R. 2938, Charitable Medical Care Act of 1996. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Porter and Weldon of Florida; 
Robert Pitofsky, Chairman, FTC; and public witnesses.
  Hearing to continue tomorrow.
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on the Water Resources 
Development Act of 1996. Testimony was heard from John J. Haley, Jr., 
Deputy Executive Director, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey; 
Jack Caldwell, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources, State of 
Louisiana; and public witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
AGRICULTURAL MARKET TRANSITION ACT; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule on 
H.R. 2854, to modify the operation of certain agricultural programs, 
providing 2 hours of general debate divided equally between the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Agriculture. 
The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. 
The rule makes in order the Committee on Agriculture 

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amendment in the nature of a substitute now printed in the bill. All 
points of order are waived against the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, and provides that it shall be considered as read. Only the 
amendments referenced in the report of the Committee on Rules are in 
order and shall be considered only in the order printed in the report, 
may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be 
considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the 
report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, 
shall not be subject to amendment (except as specified in the report), 
and shall not be subject to a demand for a division of the question in 
the House or in the Committee on the Whole. All points of order against 
the amendments referenced in the report of the Committee on Rules are 
waived. The rule further provides that a separate vote may be demanded 
in the House on any amendment adopted to the committee amendment in the 
nature of a substitute. The rule also provides one motion to recommit, 
with or without instructions. The chairman of the Committee on 
Agriculture or a designee may offer amendments en bloc consisting of 
amendments not previously disposed of which are printed in the report 
of the Committee on Rules or germane modifications thereof which may 
include a perfecting amendment to text proposed to be stricken by such 
an amendment. The amendments offered en bloc shall be considered as 
read (except that modifications shall be reported), shall be debatable 
for 20 minutes equally divided between the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Agriculture or their designees. 
Finally, the rule permits the original proponent of an amendment 
included in an en bloc amendment to insert a statement in the 
Congressional Record immediately prior to the disposition of the 
amendments en bloc.
  Testimony was heard from Chairman Roberts and Representatives Barrett 
of Nebraska, Smith of Michigan, Foley, Chambliss, Stenholm, Volkmer, 
Peterson of Minnesota, Dooley, Pomeroy, Farr, Jacobs, Petri, Roth, 
Shays, Kingston, Miller of Florida, Chabot, Tiahrt, Hamilton, Obey, 
Schumer, Kennedy of Massachusetts, Olver, Sanders, Waters, and Deutsch.
  The Committee approved its Budget Views and Estimates for submission 
to the Committee on the Budget.