[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 69 (Thursday, May 16, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D487-D489]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
NATIONAL CHEESE EXCHANGE--PRACTICES AND PROCEDURES
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry 
and the Subcommittee on Risk Management and Specialty Crops concluded 
joint hearings to consider issues raised by a recently released study 
of trading practices and procedures on the National Cheese Exchange. 
Testimony was heard from Keith Collins, Chief Economist, USDA; and 
public witnesses.
LABOR--HHS--EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education concluded appropriation hearings. Testimony was 
heard from Members of Congress.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Consolidated Departmental 
Management and Consolidated Inspectors General. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Labor: Cynthia A. 
Metzler, Acting Deputy Secretary; and Charles C. Masten, Inspector 
General.
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic 
and International Monetary Policy approved for full Committee action 
amended H.R. 3399, to authorize appropriations for the United States 
contribution to the 104th replenishment of the resources of the 
International Development Association, to authorize consent to and 
authorize appropriations for the United States contribution to the 
fifth replenishment of the resources of the African Development Bank, 
to authorize consent to and authorize appropriations for a United 
States contribution to the interest subsidy account of the successor 
(ESAF II) to the Enhanced Structural Adjustment Facility of the 
International Monetary Fund, and to provide for the establishment of 
the Middle East Development Bank.
FAN FREEDOM AND COMMUNITY PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Hazardous 
Materials held a hearing on H.R. 2740, Fan Freedom and Community 
Protection Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives Hoke, DeLay, 
Bryant of Tennessee, Jackson-Lee of Texas and Flanagan; Bob Lanier, 
Mayor, Houston,

[[Page D488]]

Texas; Philip N. Bredeson, Mayor, Nashville, Tennessee; Jane Hague, 
Chairwoman, King County Council, Seattle, Washington; and public 
witnesses.
COMPLIANCE WITH FEDERAL TRAVEL GUIDELINES
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information and Technology held a hearing on 
Senior Executive Branch Officials Compliance with Federal Travel 
Guidelines. Testimony was heard from Bonnie Cohen, Assistant Secretary, 
Policy Management and Budget, Chief Financial Officer, Department of 
the Interior; Harold Gracey, Chief of Staff, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; Patricia Lattimore, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Administration 
and Management, Department of Labor; and a public witness.
IMPACT OF REGULATIONS ON EMPLOYMENT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs held a 
hearing on the Impact of Regulations on Employment. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
WHITE HOUSE COMMUNICATIONS AGENCY--MISMANAGEMENT AND WASTE
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice, hearing on 
Mismanagement and Waste at the White House Communications Agency. 
Testimony was heard from Robert Lieberman, Assistant Inspector General, 
Auditing, Department of Defense; and Henry L. Hinton, Assistant 
Comptroller General, National Security and International Affairs 
Division, GAO.
  Subcommittee recessed subject to call.
FEC AUTHORIZATION
Committee on House Oversight: Approved H.R. 3461, to authorize 
appropriations for the Federal Election Commission for fiscal year 
1997.
  Prior to this action, the Committee held a hearing on this measure. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the FEC: Lee Ann 
Elliott, Chairman; Scott E. Thomas, Commissioner and Chairman, Finance 
Committee; and Joan D. Aikens, Commissioner.
MFN IMPACT FOR CHINA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Economic Policy and Trade and the Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, 
joint hearing on the Impact of MFN for China on U.S.-China Economic 
Relations. Testimony was heard from Representative Pelosi; Peter 
Tarnoff, Under Secretary, Political Affairs, Department of State; 
Stuart E. Eizenstat, Under Secretary, International Trade 
Administration, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--PROJECTED INCREASES IN LEGAL IMMIGRATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held 
an oversight hearing regarding projected increases in legal 
immigration. Testimony was heard from Susan Martin, Executive Director, 
Commission on Immigration Reform; Robert Bach, Executive Assistant 
Commissioner, Policy and Planning, Immigration and Naturalization 
Service, Department of Justice; the following officials of the Visa 
Office, Department of State: Cornelius D. Scully and Seton P. 
Stapleton; and Nancy Gordon, Associate Director, Demographic Programs, 
Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following measures: H.J. 
Res. 70, authorizing the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity to establish a 
memorial to Martin Luther King, Jr. in the District of Columbia or its 
environs; H.R. 3068, to accept the request of the Prairie Island Indian 
Community to revoke their charter of incorporation issued under the 
Indian Reorganization Act; and H.R. 848, amended, to increase the 
amount authorized to be appropriated for assistance for highway 
relocation regarding Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park 
in Georgia.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans 
held an oversight hearing on the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Chenoweth; Daniel M. Ashe, 
Assistant Director, External Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Department of the Interior; Amos Eno, Executive Director, National Fish 
and Wildlife Foundation; and public witnesses.
DEFEND AMERICA ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule, 
providing for consideration in the House of H.R. 3144, Defend America 
Act of 1996, with 2 hours of debate. The rule waives all points of 
order against the bill and against its consideration. The rule provides 
for one minority amendment in the nature of a substitute which shall be 
considered as read and shall be debatable separately for 1 hour. The 
rule waives all points of order against the substitute. Finally, the 
rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.

[[Page D489]]

Testimony was heard from Chairman Spence and Representatives Dellums 
and Spratt.
REPEAL FUEL TAX INCREASE
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule waiving all 
points of order against H.R. 3415, to amend the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 to repeal the 4.3-cent increase in the transportation motor 
fuels excise tax rates enacted by the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 
of 1993 and dedicated to the general fund of the Treasury, and against 
its consideration. The rule provides for the adoption of the amendment 
printed in the report of the Committee on Rules. The rule provides 1 
hour of debate. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with 
or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Archer and 
Representatives Seastrand, Gibbons, Dingell, Markey and Bentsen.
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified open rule 
providing 1 hour of debate on H.R. 3259, Intelligence Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 1997. The rule waives section 302(f) (prohibiting 
consideration of legislation which exceeds a committee's allocation of 
new entitlement authority), section 308(a) (requiring a cost estimate 
in the committee report on new entitlement authority), and section 
401(a) (prohibiting consideration of legislation containing contract 
authority not previously subject to appropriation) of the Budget Act 
against consideration of the bill.
  The rule makes in order for consideration for amendment under the 
five minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute now 
printed in the bill, which shall be considered by title and as read. 
The rule waives clause 7 of rule XVI (germaneness), clause 5(b) of rule 
XXI (prohibition of consideration of legislation containing revenue 
provisions if not considered by the Committee on Ways and Means), and 
section 302(f) (providing consideration of legislation which exceeds a 
committee's allocation of new entitlement authority) and section 401(a) 
(prohibiting consideration of legislation containing contract authority 
not previously subject to appropriation) of the Budget Act against the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  The rule makes in order only those amendments to the substitute which 
are pre-printed in the Congressional Record. The rule allows the 
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during 
consideration of the bill, and to reduce votes to five minutes on a 
postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen minute vote. Finally, 
the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Combest and Representative Dicks.
METRIC SYSTEM CONVERSION ACT AMENDMENTS
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing on 
proposed amendments to the Metric System Conversion Act. Testimony was 
heard from Representative Cox of California; Mark Bohannon, Chief 
Counsel for Technology, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
ISTEA REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Surface 
Transportation continued hearings on ISTEA Reauthorization: 
Transportation Finance in an Era of Scarce Resources: the Highway Trust 
Fund. Testimony was heard from Phyllis F. Scheinberg, Associate 
Director, Transportation and Telecommunications Issues, GAO; Robert 
Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director, Budget Analysis Division, CBO; the 
following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Marty Washburn, 
National Director, Specialty Taxes; and Edward L. Federico, Director, 
National Operations for Criminal Investigations; the following 
officials of the Department of Transportation: Anthony Kane, Executive 
Director, Federal Highway Administration; and Jack Basso, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Budget and Program; and public witnesses.
  Hearings continue May 30.