[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 86 (Wednesday, June 12, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D603-D605]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported Interior appropriations 
for fiscal year 1997.
FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC--PRIVATIZATION
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital 
Markets, Securities and Government Sponsored Enterprises held a hearing 
on the Privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Testimony was heard 
from June O'Neill, Director, CBO; and James Bothwell, Director, 
Financial Institutions and Market Issues, GAO.
GAO REPORT--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY'S ALIGNMENT AND DOWNSIZING INITIATIVE
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing 
on the GAO Report on the Department of Energy's Strategic Alignment and 
Downsizing Initiative. Testimony was heard from Bernice Steinhardt, 
Associate Director, Resources, Community and Economic Development 
Division, GAO; and Donald W. Pearman, Jr., Associate Deputy Secretary, 
Field Management, Department of Energy.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY--TRAVEL EXPENDITURES
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations 
continued hearings on the Department of Energy: Travel Expenditures and 
Related Issues. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
BUDGET RECONCILIATION RECOMMENDATIONS--WELFARE REFORM
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities: Approved welfare 
reform reconciliation recommendations to be transmitted to the 
Committee on the Budget for inclusion in the Omnibus Budget 
Reconciliation Act for fiscal year 1997.
BLUE PLAINS WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on the 
District of Columbia held a hearing on Blue Plains Wastewater Treatment 
Plant. Testimony was heard from Representative Hoyer; Michael McCabe, 
Regional Administrator, EPA; the following officials of the District of 
Columbia: Michael Rogers, City Administrator; and Larry King, Director, 
Department of Public Works; Kate Hanley, Chairman, Board of 
Supervisors, Fairfax County, Virginia; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice held a hearing on 
oversight of Federal Drug Interdiction Efforts in Mexico: Review of a 
Rising National Security Threat. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the GAO: Ben Nelson, Director, International Relations and 
Trade Issues; and Alan Fleener, Senior Evaluator; George Weise, 
Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury; and 
Doug Wankle, Chief of Operations, DEA, Department of Justice.
MIDDLE EAST DEVELOPMENTS
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Developments in 
the Middle East. Testimony was heard from Robert H. Pelletreau, 
Assistant Secretary, Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State.
DEFENSE OF MARRIAGE ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported H.R. 3396, Defense of 
Marriage Act.
WAR CRIMES ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held 
a hearing on H.R. 2587, War Crimes Act of 1995. Testimony was heard 
from Michael Matheson, Principal Deputy Legal Advisor, Department of 
State; John H. McNeil, Senior Deputy General Counsel (International 
Affairs and Intelligence), Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
U.S.-PUERTO RICO POLITICAL STATUS ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Native American and Insular 
Affairs approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 3024, United 
States-Puerto Rico Political Status Act.
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 3610, making appropriations for the Department 
of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997. The rule 
waives all points of order against consideration of the bill for 
failure to comply with clause 2(I)(6) of rule XI (the 3-day requirement 
for availability of the report), clause 7 of rule XXI (the 3-day 
requirement for availability of printed hearings and reports on 
appropriations bills) or section 302(c) of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974 (prohibiting consideration

[[Page D604]]

of legislation containing new budget or spending authority within the 
jurisdiction of a committee until that committee makes allocations in 
connection with the most recent budget resolution).
  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 appropriations bills) and 
clause 6 of rule XXI (prohibiting transfers of unobligated balances). 
The rule makes in order, without intervention of any point of order, 
the amendment printed in the report of the Committee on Rules to be 
offered by Mr. Young of Florida or his designee, prior to consideration 
of any other amendments. The amendment shall be debatable for 20 
minutes divided equally between the proponent and an opponent, shall 
not be subject to amendment and shall not be subject to a demand for a 
division of the question. The rule provides that if the amendment is 
adopted, the bill, as amended, shall be considered as the original bill 
for purposes of further amendment.
  The rule provides that after the disposition of such amendment, the 
appropriate allocation of new discretionary budget authority within the 
meaning of section 302(f)(1) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
shall be $245,065,000,000. The corresponding level of budget outlays 
shall be $243,372,000,000.
  The rule accords priority in recognition to those amendments that are 
pre-printed in the Congressional Record. The rule provides that the 
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may postpone recorded votes on 
any amendment and that 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 further provides that a motion to rise and report the bill 
to the House with such amendments as may have been adopted shall have 
precedence over a motion to amend, if offered by the Majority Leader or 
a designee after the reading of the final lines of the bill. Finally, 
the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Young of Florida, Murtha, and 
Menendez.
SPACE LAUNCH STRATEGY
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a 
hearing on U.S. Space Launch Strategy. Testimony was heard from Daniel 
S. Goldin, Administrator, NASA; Robert Davis, Deputy Under Secretary, 
Space, Department of Defense; Frank Weaver, Associate Administrator, 
Commercial Space Transportation, FAA, Department of Transportation; the 
following officials of the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative: Don 
Eiss, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Industry and Labor; 
and Catherine A. Novelli, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, 
Eastern/Central Europe and Eurasia; and public witnesses.
COASTWISE TRADE LAWS IMPACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held an oversight hearing on the 
impact of U.S. coastwise trade laws on the transportation system in the 
United States. Testimony was heard from Albert J. Herberger, 
Administrator, Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation; 
Stuart P. Seidel, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Regulation and 
Ruling, U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury; Robert A. 
Rogowsky, Director of Operations, U.S. International Trade Commission; 
and public witnesses.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS--CUSTOMER SERVICE STANDARDS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Compensation, Pension, 
Insurance and Memorial Affairs and the Subcommittee on Education, 
Training, Employment and Housing held a joint hearing on customer 
service standards at the Department of Veterans Affairs and the 
Veterans' Employment and Training Service. Testimony was heard from 
Robert Gardner, Chief Financial Officer, Veterans Benefits 
Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; Preston Taylor, 
Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training, Department of 
Labor; and representatives of veterans organizations.
BUDGET RECONCILIATION RECOMMENDATIONS--WELFARE REFORM
Committee on Ways and Means: Approved of welfare reform reconciliation 
recommendations to be transmitted to the Committee on the Budget for 
inclusion in the Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act for fiscal year 
1937.
BRIEFING--RUSSIAN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Russian Presidential Elections. The Committee was 
briefed by departmental witnesses.

[[Page D605]]




                    COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY,

                             JUNE 13, 1996

        (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)


                                 Senate

  Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, business 
meeting, to resume mark up of proposed legislation to authorize 
appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration, and to 
consider other pending calendar business, 9:30 a.m., SR-253.
  Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, to hold hearings on S. 
1844, to direct a study of the opportunities for enhanced water 
based recreation, 9:30 a.m., SD-366.
  Committee on Finance, to hold hearings on S. 1795, Personal 
Responsibility and Work Opportunity Act, 10 a.m., SD-215.
  Committee on Foreign Relations, to hold a closed briefing on 
Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) compliance, 11 a.m., S-116, 
Capitol.
  Committee on the Judiciary, business meeting, to consider pending 
calendar business, 10 a.m., SD-226.
  Subcommittee on Constitution, Federalism, and Property Rights, 
business meeting, to resume consideration of S.J. Res. 8, proposing 
an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to prohibit 
retroactive increases in taxes, 2 p.m., SD-226.
  Committee on Labor and Human Resources, Subcommittee on Aging, to 
hold hearings to examine whether working America is adequately 
preparing for retirement, 9 a.m., SD-430.


                                 NOTICE

  For a listing of Senate Committee Meetings scheduled ahead, see page 
E1077 in today's Record.


                                 House

  Committee on Agriculture, to continue consideration of 
recommendations to the Committee on the Budget to comply with the 
instructions included in the Budget Resolution (Food Stamp Reform 
Program), 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth.
  Committee on Appropriations, to markup the following: revised 
Budget allocations for fiscal year 1997; and the Veterans Affairs, 
Housing and Urban Development and Independent Agencies 
appropriations for fiscal year 1997, 8:30 a.m., 2360 Rayburn.
  Committee on Commerce, to markup the following: Title II, Subtitle 
A--Medicaid Restructuring Act of 1996; Title II, Subtitle B--Other 
Provisions; and H.R. 248, to amend the Public Health Service Act to 
provide for the conduct of expanded studies and the establishment of 
innovative programs with respect to traumatic brain injury, 1 p.m., 
2123 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, to continue hearings 
on the Department of Energy: Travel Expenditures and Related Issues, 
9:30 a.m., 2322 Rayburn.
  Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on 
Civil Service, to mark up H.R. 3586, Veterans Employment 
Opportunities Act of 1996, 2 p.m. 2247 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Government Management, Information and Technology, 
oversight hearing on Federal Information Policy, 9:30 a.m., 2154 
Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on National Security, International Affairs, and 
Criminal Justice, to continue hearings on White House Communication 
Agency, Part II, 10 a.m., 311 Cannon.
  Committee on International Relations, hearing on the Effectiveness 
of U.S. Assistance in Russia, Ukraine, Armenia, and the Other New 
Independence States, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
  Committee on National Security, hearing on challenges posed by 
Russia to U.S. national security interests, 9:30 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.
  Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and 
Oceans, hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3287, Crawford National 
Fish Hatchery Conveyance Act; H.R. 3546, Walhalla National Fish 
Hatchery Act; and H.R. 3557, Marion National Fish Hatchery 
Conveyance Act; to be followed by an oversight hearing on Mitchell 
Act Hatcheries, Management of Bluefin Tuna, 10 a.m., 1334 Longworth.
  Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Lands, to markup the 
following bills: H.R. 639, West Virginia Rivers Technical Amendments 
Act of 1995; H.R. 640, West Virginia National Rivers Boundary 
Modifications Act of 1995; H.R. 1825, to amend the Wild and Scenic 
Rivers Act to limit acquisition of land on the 39-mile headwaters 
segment of the Missouri River, Nebraska and South Dakota, designated 
as a recreational river, to acquisition from willing sellers; H.R. 
2255, Lamprey Wild and Scenic River Act; H.R. 2292, Hanford Reach 
Preservation Act; H.R. 3534, Mineral King Act of 1996; H.R. 3006, to 
provide for disposal of public lands in support of the Manzanar 
Historic Site in the State of California; H.R. 2636, to transfer 
jurisdiction over certain parcels of Federal real property located 
in the District of Columbia; and H.R. 3127, Southern Nevada Public 
Land Management Act of 1996, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
  Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, executive to, consider 
pending business, 2 p.m., HT-2M Capitol.
  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to markup the 
following bills: H.R. 3592, Water Resources Development Act of 1996; 
and H.R. 2940, Deepwater Port Modernization Act, 10 a.m., 2167 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Ways and Means, to markup the following bills: H.R. 
3107, Iran Oil Sanctions Act of 1996; and H.R. 3161, to authorize 
the extension of nondiscriminatory treatment (most-favored-nation 
treatment) to the products of Romania, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth.