[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 29 (Wednesday, March 6, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D147-D149]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from 
congressional and public witnesses.
ENERGY AND WATER APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from 
congressional and public witnesses.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing and Related Agencies held a hearing on Jordan Arms Transfers. 
Testimony was heard from Walter B. Slocombe, Under Secretary, Policy, 
Department of Defense; and Robert H. Pelletreau, Assistant Secretary, 
Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on 
the National Endowment for the Humanities. Testimony was heard from 
Sheldon Hackney, Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities, 
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative continued 
appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from Representative Ehlers; 
and public witnesses.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Office of Compliance. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of that Office: Glen 
Nager, Chairman, Board of Directors; and Ricky Silberman, Executive 
Director.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held 
a hearing on the Army. Testimony was heard from Robert M. Walker, 
Assistant Secretary of the Army, Department of Defense.
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a 
hearing on Inspector General Reports. Testimony was heard from A. Mary 
Schiavo, Inspector General, Department of Transportation.
TREASURY-POSTAL SERVICE-GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, 
and General Government held a hearing on issues in Treasury Law 
Enforcement. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Treasury: Robert E. Rubin, Secretary; John W. Magaw, 
Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; Charles F. 
Rinkevich, Director, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center; Eljay B. 
Bowron, Director, U.S. Secret Service; and George Weise, Commissioner 
of Customs, U.S. Customs Service.
VA-HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, HUD and 
Independent Agencies held a hearing on the NSF. Testimony was heard 
from Neal F. Lane, Director, NSF.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 2972, 
amended, Securities and Exchange Commission Authorization Act of 1996; 
and H.R. 2969, Federal Tea Tasters Repeal Act of 1996.
MEDICAID--BIPARTISAN NATIONAL GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION AGREEMENT
Committee on Commerce: The Committee also continued hearings on the 
Unanimous Bipartisan National Governors Association Agreement on 
Medicaid. Testimony was heard from Donna E. Shalala, Secretary of 
Health and Human Services; Gail Wilensky, Chairman, Board of Directors, 
Physician Payment Review Commission; and public witnesses.
ERISA TARGETED HEALTH INSURANCE REFORM ACT; CONGRESSIONAL 
ACCOUNTABILITY ACT REGULATIONS
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities: Ordered reported 
amended H.R. 995, ERISA Targeted Health Insurance Reform Act of 1995.

[[Page D148]]


  The Committee also adopted a motion to instruct the Chairman to seek 
adoption by the House of resolutions regarding the Congressional 
Accountability Act regulations.
OVERSIGHT--IRS FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information, and Technology held an oversight 
hearing on IRS Financial Management. Testimony was heard from Gene L. 
Dodaro, Assistant Comptroller General, Accounting and Information 
Management Division, GAO; Margaret Milner Richardson, Commissioner of 
Internal Revenue, IRS, Department of the Treasury; and public 
witnesses.
REQUIRING TWO-THIRDS MAJORITIES--BILLS INCREASING TAXES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held a 
hearing on H.J. Res. 159, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of 
the United States to require two-thirds majorities for bills increasing 
taxes. Testimony was heard from Senator Kyl; Representatives Barton of 
Texas, Skaggs, Geren of Texas, and Shadegg; Ken Blackwell, Treasurer, 
State of Ohio; and public witnesses.
MARIJUANA USE IN AMERICA
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on 
marijuana use in America. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Committee on National Security: Began hearings on the fiscal year 1997 
national defense authorization request. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: William J. Perry, 
Secretary; and Gen. John M. Shalikashvili, USA, Chairman, Joint Chiefs 
of Staff.
FURTHER BALANCED BUDGET
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a recorded vote of 9 to 2, a modified 
closed rule providing 1 hour of debate on H.R. 3019, making 
appropriations for fiscal year 1996 to make a further downpayment 
toward a balanced budget. The rule provides for the adoption in the 
House and in the Committee of the Whole of an amendment printed in 
section 2 of the report of the Committee on Rules.
  The rule further provides for the consideration of the amendments 
specified in the report of the Committee on Rules, which shall be 
considered only in the order specified in the report, may be offered 
only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, 
debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent. Said amendments shall not 
be subject to amendment and shall not be subject to a demand for 
division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. 
The rule waives all points of order against the amendments specified in 
the report of the Committee on Rules. Finally, the rule provides that 
the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill to 
final passage without intervening motion except one motion to recommit 
which, if containing instructions, may only be offered by the Minority 
Leader or his designee. Testimony was heard from Chairman Livingston 
and Representatives Istook, Gekas, Morella, Zeliff, Greenwood, Crapo, 
McIntosh, Obey, Pelosi, Lowey, Rangel, Richardson, Pallone, Sawyer, and 
Furse.
CONTINUING INVESTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND OTHER FEDERAL FUNDS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, a closed rule providing 
for the consideration of H.R. 3021, to guarantee the continuing full 
investment of Social Security and other Federal funds in obligations of 
the United States, in the House. The rule provides a motion to recommit 
which may include instructions only if offered by the Minority Leader 
or his designee. Testimony was heard from Chairman Archer and 
Representatives Smith of Michigan and Gibbons.
GLOBAL CHANGE
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on Global Change Research 
Programs: Data Collection and Scientific Priorities. Testimony was 
heard from Robert T. Watson, Associate Director, Environment, Office of 
Science and Technology Policy; Charles Kennel, Associate Administrator, 
Office of Mission to Planet Earth, NASA; Brad Hathaway, Associate 
Director, Defense Management Issues, National Security and 
International Affairs Division, GAO; Michael MacCracken, Director, 
Office of the U.S. Global Change Research Program, National Scientific 
and Technology Council; Arno Ledebuhr, Lawrence Livermore National 
Laboratory; and public witnesses.
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER AND INNOVATIVE RESEARCH PROGRAMS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on assessing the Small 
Business Technology Transfer Pilot Program and Small Business 
Innovation Research Program. Testimony was heard from Victor S. 
Rezendes, Director, Energy, Resources and Science Issues, Resources, 
Community and Economic Development Division, GAO; Daniel O. Hill, 
Assistant Administrator, Technology Programs, SBA; and public 
witnesses.

[[Page D149]]


NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation and the Subcommittee on Railroads held a joint hearing on 
reauthorizing the National Transportation Safety Board. Testimony was 
heard from James E. Hall, Chairman, National Transportation Safety 
Board.
OVERSIGHT--RAIL SAFETY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads continued hearings on Rail Safety Oversight: Human Factors 
and Grade Crossing Issues. Testimony was heard from Robert Lauby, 
Chief, Railroad Division, National Transportation Safety Board; and 
Jolene Molitoris, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, 
Department of Transportation.
WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE ASSISTANCE ACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment approved for full Committee action the 
following: H.R. 2747, amended, Water Supply Infrastructure Assistance 
Act of 1995; and 13 water resources survey resolutions.
BROWN/RUDMAN COMMISSION REPORT
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Held a hearing on the 
Brown/Rudman Commission Report. Testimony was heard from Warren B. 
Rudman, former Senator, State of New Hampshire; and Harold Brown, 
former Secretary of Defense.

Joint Meetings
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs held joint 
oversight hearings with the House Committee on Government Reform and 
Oversight on the implementation of the Government Performance and 
Results Act of 1993, receiving testimony from Charles A. Bowsher, 
Comptroller General of the United States, General Accounting Office; 
Malcolm Holmes, Senior Public Sector Management Specialist, World Bank, 
former Australia Senior Official Ministry of Finance; Donald F. Ketti, 
University of Wisconsin, Madison; Robert W. Lauterberg, Virginia 
Department of Planning and Budget, Richmond; and Frank Fairbanks, 
Phoenix, Arizona.
  Hearings were recessed subject to call.
CHECHEN CONFLICT
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): 
Commission held hearings to examine issues relating to the Chechen 
conflict and Russian democratic development, receiving testimony from 
Anatol Lieven, Senior Fellow, United States Institute of Peace; Jack F. 
Matlock, Jr., Columbia University, New York, New York, former United 
States Ambassador to the Soviet Union; and Sergei Kovalev, Moscow, 
Russia.
  Commission recessed subject to call.