[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 77 (Thursday, May 30, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D543-D545]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Resource Conservation, 
Research, and Forestry approved for full Committee action the following 
bills: H.R. 2023, amended, to provide for a land exchange between the 
Ironton Country Club of Ironton, OH, and the Secretary of Agriculture 
involving Wayne National Forest; H.R. 3387, to designate the Southern 
Piedmont Conservation Research Center located at 1420 Experimental 
Station Road in Watkinsville, GA, as the ``J. Phil Campbell, Senior 
Natural Resources Conservation Center''; H.R. 2670, amended, to provide 
for the release of the reversionary interest held by the United States 
in certain property located in the County of Iosco, MI; and H.R. 3464, 
amended, to make a minor adjustment in the exterior boundary of the 
Devils Backbone Wilderness in the Mark Twain National Forest, MO, to 
exclude a small parcel of land containing improvements.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on those 
measures and on the following bills: H.R. 1223, to amend the act of 
June 15, 1938, to extend the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture 
to purchase lands within the boundaries of certain National Forests in 
the State of California to include the Angeles National Forest and to 
expand the purpose for which such purchases may be made; and H.R. 3541, 
to provide for an exchange of lands with the city of Greeley, CO, and 
the Water Supply and Storage Co. to eliminate private inholdings in 
wilderness areas, to cause instream flows to be created above a wild 
and scenic river, to eliminate potential development on private 
inholdings within the forest boundary, to reduce the need for future 
water reservoirs, to reduce the number of Federal land uses 
authorizations, and to improve the security of the water supply of the 
city and the company. Testimony was heard from Representatives Cremeans 
and Barcia; Janice McDougle, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest 
System, USDA.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
approved for full Committee action the Agriculture, Rural Development, 
Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies appropriations for 
fiscal year 1997.
VA, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, Housing 
and Urban Development and Independent Agencies approved for full 
Committee action the Veterans Affairs, Housing and Urban Development 
and Independent Agencies appropriations for fiscal year 1997.
MANAGED CARE
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a 
hearing on Contract Issues and Quality Standards for Managed Care. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PROMOTING NATURAL GAS VEHICLES--FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S ROLE
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations 
held a hearing on the Federal Government's Role in Promoting Natural 
Gas Vehicles. Testimony was heard from Kyle Simpson, Associate Deputy 
for Programs, Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
IDEA IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities: Ordered reported 
amended H.R. 3268, IDEA Improvement Act of 1996.
BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice held a hearing on 
Ballistic Missile Defense: Responding to the Current Ballistic Missile 
Threat. Testimony was heard from Representative Weldon of Pennsylvania; 
R. James Woolsey, former Director, CIA; and public witnesses.
U.S. ROLE--IRANIAN ARMS TRANSFERS--BOSNIA AND CROATIA
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the U.S. Role 
in Iranian Arms Transfers to Bosnia and Croatia. Testimony was heard 
from Charles E. Redman, U.S. Ambassador to Germany; and Peter W. 
Galbraith, U.S. Ambassador to Croatia.
SOUTHEAST ASIA REGIONAL SECURITY
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific held a hearing on Southeast Asia Regional Security: Dragons, 
Dominoes, and Dynamos. Testimony was heard from Winston Lord, Assistant 
Secretary, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; Kurt 
Campbell, Deputy Assistant Secretary, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, 
Department of Defense; Gen. Michael Carns, USAF (Ret.),

[[Page D544]]

former Vice Chief of Staff, U.S. Air Force; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution approved 
for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 3434, amended, 
Revolving Door Act of 1996; H.R. 3435, amended, Lobbying Disclosure 
Technical Amendments Act of 1996; and H.R. 3396, Defense of Marriage 
Act.
OVERSIGHT--MINERAL RESOURCES SURVEY PROGRAMS
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held an oversight hearing on the mineral resources survey programs of 
the United States Geological Survey. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of the Interior: P. Patrick 
Lahey, Chief Geologist, U.S. Geological Survey; and W. Hord Tipton, 
Assistant Director, Resource Use and Protection, Bureau of Land 
Management; Jonathan G. Price, Director/State Geologist, Bureau of 
Mines and Geology, State of Nevada; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL MARINE SANCTUARIES PRESERVATION ACT; FEDERAL OCEANOGRAPHIC 
COORDINATION IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans 
approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 3487, 
amended, National Marine Sanctuaries Preservation Act; and H.R. 3537, 
Federal Oceanographic Coordination Improvement Act of 1996.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and 
Lands held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3147, to provide for 
the exchange of certain Federal lands in the State of California 
managed by the Bureau of Land Management of certain non-Federal lands; 
H.R. 2135, to provide for the correction of boundaries of certain lands 
in Clark County, NV, acquired by persons who purchased such lands in 
good faith reliance on existing private land surveys; and H.R. 2711, to 
provide for the substitution of timber for the canceled Elkhorn Ridge 
timber sale. Testimony was heard from Representatives Radanovich and 
Riggs; Mat Millenbach, Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management, 
Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 3540, making appropriations for foreign 
operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1997. The rule waives points of order against 
consideration of the bill for failing to comply with clause 1(b) of 
rule X (requiring a detailed explanation in the committee report on any 
rescissions or transfers of unexpected balances), or clause 7 of rule 
XXI (the 3-day requirement for availability of printed hearings and 
reports).
  The rule provides that the bill shall be considered by title rather 
than by paragraph and that each title shall be considered as read. The 
rule waives points of order against provisions in the bill which do not 
comply with clause 2 of rule XXI (prohibiting unauthorized 
appropriations and legislation on general appropriation bills), clause 
5(b) of rule XXI (prohibiting the reporting of legislation carrying a 
tax or tariff by any committee not having jurisdiction), and clause 6 
of rule XXI (prohibiting transfers of unobligated balances), except as 
specified in the rule.
  The rule accords priority in recognition to Members who have pre-
printed their amendments in the Congressional Record. The chairman of 
the Committee on the Whole may postpone recorded votes on any amendment 
and the chairman may reduce voting time on postponed questions to 5 
minutes, provided that the vote takes place immediately following 
another recorded vote and that the voting time on the first in a series 
of questions be not less than 15 minutes.
  The rule provides that if a motion to rise and report the bill to the 
House with such amendments as may have been adopted is offered by the 
Majority Leader or a designee, after the reading of the final lines of 
the bill, it shall have precedence over a motion to amend. Finally, the 
rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Callahan and Wilson.
EPA'S COMPLIANCE WITH PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Government Programs held a 
hearing on the EPA's compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995. Testimony was heard from Thomas E. Kelly, Director, Office of 
Regulatory Management and Evaluation, Office of Policy, Planning, and 
Evaluation, EPA.

[[Page D545]]


MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 
3267, Child Pilot Safety Act; H.R. 3536, Airline Pilot Hiring and 
Safety Act; and H.R. 3539, amended, Federal Aviation Authorization Act 
of 1996.
VETERANS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Education, Training, 
Employment and Housing approved for full Committee action the following 
bills: H.R. 2851, amended, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide for approval of enrollment in courses offered at certain 
branches or extensions of proprietary profit institutions of higher 
learning in operation for more than 2 years; and H.R. 3459, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to extend the enhanced loan asset sale 
authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Veterans Preference, 
Reduction-in-Force, Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment 
Rights Act (USERRA) and on a proposed VA education services measure. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Mica; Preston Taylor, Assistant 
Secretary, Veterans Employment and Training, Department of Labor: James 
B. King, Director, OPM; Celia Dollarhide, Director, Education Service, 
Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; 
representatives of veterans organizations; and public witnesses.
BOSNIA/IRAN ARMS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Bosnia/Iran Arms. Testimony was heard from 
departmental witnesses.