[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 39 (Wednesday, March 20, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D238-D240]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Research, Education and Economics. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the USDA: Karl N. Stauber, Under Secretary, 
Research, Education, and Economics; Floyd P. Horn, Administrator, 
Agricultural Research Service; Robert H. Robinson, Administrator, 
Cooperative, State, Research, Education and Extension Service; Susan 
Offutt, Administrator, Economic Research Service; and Don Bay, 
Administrator, National Agricultural Statistics Service.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on 
the Geological Survey and on the National Park Service. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of the Interior: 
Gordon B. Eaton, Director, U.S. Geological Survey; George T. Frampton, 
Jr., Assistant Secretary, Fish, Wildlife, and Parks; Roger G. Kennedy, 
Director; John J. Reynolds, Deputy Director; and C. Bruce Sheaffer, 
Comptroller, all with the National Park Service.
NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a 
hearing on fiscal year 1997 Navy/Marine Corps Posture and Navy/Marine 
Corps Acquisition Programs. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of the Navy: John H. Dalton, Secretary; 
John W. Douglass, Assistant Secretary; Adm. Jeremy M. Boorda, USN, 
Chief of Naval Operations; VAdm. T. Joseph Lopez, USN, Deputy Chief of 
Naval Operations; Gen. Charles C. Krulak, USMC, Commandant, Marine 
Corps; and Maj. Gen. J.W. Oster, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs 
and Resources.
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a 
hearing on Federal Highway Administration. Testimony was heard from 
Rodney Slater, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration. 
Department of Transportation.

[[Page D239]]


VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent 
Agencies held a hearing on NASA. Testimony was heard from Daniel S. 
Goldin, Administrator, NASA.
DEVELOPMENTS IN BANKING IN CHINA, HONG KONG AND TAIWAN
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on Recent 
Developments in Banking and Finance in the People's Republic of China, 
Hong Kong, and Taiwan. Testimony was heard from David Lipton, Assistant 
Secretary, International Affairs, Department of the Treasury; and 
public witnesses.
HEALTH COVERAGE AVAILABILITY AND AFFORDABILITY ACT OF 1996
Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported amended H.R. 3070, Health 
Coverage Availability and Affordability Act of 1996.
SECURITY CHALLENGES POSED BY CHINA
Committee on National Security: Held a hearing on security challenges 
posed by China. Testimony was heard from Arthur N. Waldron, Professor, 
Strategy and Policy, U.S. Naval War College; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT OF 1973
Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on the Implementation 
and Administration of the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and 
Lands held an oversight hearing on Historic Preservation and a hearing 
on the following bills: H.R. 563, to amend the National Historic 
Preservation Act to prohibit the inclusion of certain sites on the 
National Register of Historic Places; H.R. 1179, Historical Black 
Colleges and University Historic Building Restoration and Preservation 
Act; and H.R. 3031, to amend the Act of October 15, 1966 (80 Stat. 
915), as amended, establishing a program for the preservation of 
additional historic property throughout the Nation. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Dunn, Herger, and Clement; Gray F. Reynolds, 
Deputy Chief, Forest Service, USDA; Edward M. Norton, Jr., Vice 
President, Public Policy, National Trust for Historic Preservation; 
Wilson Martin, Deputy, Historic Preservation Officer, State of Utah; 
Kathleen S. Kilpatrick, Deputy Director, Department of Historic 
Resources, State of Virginia; and public witnesses.
FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing for 
consideration in the House of H.J. Res. 165, making further continuing 
appropriations for the fiscal year 1996, with 1 hour of debate equally 
divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Appropriations. The rule provides for ordering the 
previous question 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. The rule waives clause 
4(b) of rule XI (requiring a \2/3\ vote to consider a rule on the same 
day it is reported from the Committee on Rules) against certain 
resolutions reported by the Rules Committee before April 1, 1996. The 
waiver applies to special rules providing for consideration or 
disposition of any measures, amendments thereto, conference reports 
thereon, or amendments reported in disagreement from a conference that: 
(1) make general appropriations for the fiscal year 1996; (2) include 
provisions making further continuing appropriations for fiscal year 
1996; or (3) include provisions increasing or waiving the public debt 
limit.
COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct: Met in executive session to 
consider pending business.
AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation concluded hearings on the airport improvement program, with 
emphasis on FAA views and miscellaneous issues. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Traficant, Shays, and Cremeans; David Hinson, 
Administrator, FAA, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses.
GSA COURTHOUSE CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Public 
Buildings and Economic Development held a hearing on GSA Courthouse 
Construction Program. Testimony was heard from David Barram, Acting 
Administrator, GSA; and Robert C. Cowen, Chairman, Committee on 
Security, Space, and Facilities, Judicial Conference of the United 
States.
REPLACING THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on Replacing the Federal 
Income Tax. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.

[[Page D240]]


PROCESSING/EXPLOITATION
Permenent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Processing/Exploitation. Testimony was heard from 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
1996 FARM BILL
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate- and House-
passed versions of H.R. 2854, to modify the operation of certain 
agricultural programs, but did not complete action thereon, and will 
meet again tomorrow.