[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 63 (Wednesday, May 8, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D442-D443]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
USDA--FEDERAL FUNDS TO OBTAIN SERVICES FROM PRIVATE CONTRACTORS
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to investigate the use, by the 
U.S. Department of Agriculture, of federal funds authorized under 
Section 17 of the Food Stamp Act to obtain services from private 
contractors. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, GAO: Keith 
Fultz, Assistant Comptroller General; Martin J. Fitzgerald, Associate 
General Counsel; and Mary L. Dietrich, Senior Evaluator; Ellen Haas, 
Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services, USDA; and 
public witnesses.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND THE JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State 
and the Judiciary held a hearing on Trade Promotion and Enforcement and 
on Immigration and Border Security. Testimony was heard from Charlene 
Barshefsky, Acting U.S. Trade Representative; the following officials 
of the Department of Commerce: Stuart Eizenstat, Under Secretary, 
International Trade; and William S. Reinsch, Under Secretary, Export 
Administration; Peter S. Watson, Chairman, U.S. International Trade 
Commission; Joan Edelman Spero, Under Secretary, Economics, Business, 
and Agricultural Affairs, Department of State; the following officials 
of the Department of Justice: Doris Meissner, Commissioner, Immigration 
and Naturalization Service; and Anthony C. Moscato, Director, Executive 
Office for Immigration Review; and Ruth A. Davis, Principal Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Consular Affairs, Department of State.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on all other Department of Labor 
(except OSHA) and on Occupational Safety and Health Administration and 
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Testimony was heard 
from Joseph A. Dear, Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety and 
Health, Department of Labor; and Stuart E. Weisberg, Chairman, 
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
VETERANS AFFAIRS-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs, Housing 
and Urban Development and Independent Agencies continued appropriation 
hearings. Testimony was heard from Members of Congress.
STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVE
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held an 
oversight hearing on the Future of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Energy; C. Kyle Simpson, Associate Deputy Secretary, Energy Programs; 
and Jay E. Hakes, Administrator, Energy Information Administration; Jan 
Paul Acton, Assistant Director, Natural Resources and Commerce 
Division, CBO; and public witnesses.
PREVENTION PROGRAMS
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities: Subcommittee on 
Early Childhood, Youth and Families held a hearing on Prevention 
Programs under the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
DOWNSIZING--PERSONNEL ISSUES
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Civil 
Service held a hearing on Personnel Issues in Downsizing. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Wolf, Morella, and Hoyer; and public 
witnesses.
SUPERFUND
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs held a 
hearing on Superfund: A Badly Broken Program in Urgent Need of Reform. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Mica; Stanley Czerwinski, 
Associate Director, Environmental Protection Issues, GAO; John C. 
Martin, Inspector General, EPA; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL DRUG CONTROL STRATEGY
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice held an oversight 
hearing on the 1996 National Drug Control Strategy. Testimony was heard 
from Gen. Barry McCaffrey, USA, Director, Office of National Drug 
Control Policy.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; SUBPOENAS
Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered the 
following resolutions and adopted a motion urging the Chairman to 
request that they be considered on the Suspension Calendar: H. Con. 
Res. 160, congratulating the people of the Republic of Sierra Leone on 
the success of their recent democratic multiparty elections; H. Con. 
Res. 165, saluting and congratulating Polish people around the world 
as, on

[[Page D443]]

May 3, 1996, they commemorate the 205th anniversary of the adoption of 
Poland's first constitution; and H. Con. Res. 167, recognizing the 10th 
anniversary of the Chernoboyl nuclear disaster, and supporting the 
closing of the Chernobyl nuclear power plant.
  The Committee approved a motion authorizing issuance of subpoenas to 
compel testimony and documents from Charles E. Redman, Ambassador to 
Germany and Peter W. Galbraith, Ambassador to Croatia.
  The Committee also approved a motion authorizing issuance of a 
subpoena to compel testimony and documents from Paul Neifert.
CRISIS IN LIBERIA
Committee on International Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa held a 
hearing on the Crisis in Liberia. Testimony was heard from George 
Moose, Assistant Secretary, African Affairs, Department of State; Vince 
Kern, Deputy Assistant Secretary, African Affairs, International 
Security Affairs, Department of Defense; and a public witness.
VICTIMS OF TORTURE
Committee on International Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on Victims of Torture. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
2909, Silvio O. Conte National Fish and Wildlife Refuge Emminent Domain 
Prevention Act; and H.R. 2823, amended, International Dolphin 
Conservation Program Act.
BUDGET REQUEST--OFFICE OF ENERGY RESEARCH
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a 
hearing on the Department of Energy's FY 1997 budget request for the 
Office of Energy Research. Testimony was heard from Martha A. Krebs, 
Director, Office of Energy Research, Department of Energy; the 
following officials of various National Laboratories: John Peoples, 
Jr., Director, Fermi National Accelerator; David E. Moncton, Associate 
Director, Argonne; Alvin W. Trivelpiece, Director, Oak Ridge; Nicholas 
P. Samios, Director, Brookhaven; Charles V. Shank, Director, Lawrence 
Berkeley; and William J. Madia, Director, Pacific Northwest; and public 
witnesses.
MUSIC LICENSING AND SMALL BUSINESS
Committee on Small Business: Held an oversight hearing on music 
licensing and small business. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct: Met in executive session to 
consider pending business.
VETERANS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 3118, Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996; H.R. 
3376, amended, to authorize major medical facility projects and major 
medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 
fiscal year 1997; H.R. 3373, Veterans' Benefits Amendments of 1996; and 
H.R. 1483, to amend title 38, United States Code, to allow revision of 
veterans benefits decisions based on clear and unmistakable error.
VETERANS MATTERS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Education, Training, 
Employment and Housing and the Subcommittee on Compensation, Pension, 
Insurance and Memorial Affairs held a joint oversight hearing on the 
Court of Veterans Appeals Pro Bono Program; veterans' COLAs; and the 
Davenport v. Brown decision. Testimony was heard from Stephen L. 
Lemons, Deputy Under Secretary, Benefits, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; Frank Q. Nebeker, Chief Judge, U.S. Court of Veterans Appeals; 
David B. Isbell, Chairman, Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program; and 
representatives of veterans organizations.
VETERANS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Hospitals and Health 
Care approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 3118, 
Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996; and H.R. 3376, 
amended, to authorize major medical facility projects and major medical 
facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 
1997.
IMPACT OF 1993 TAX INCREASE ON TRANSPORTATION FUELS
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing to examine the Impact of 
the 1993 Tax Increase on Transportation Fuels. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Royce; and public witnesses.