[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 110 (Wednesday, July 24, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D805-D806]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
HEDGE-TO-ARRIVE CONTRACTS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Risk Management and Specialty 
Crops and the Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities held a joint 
hearing to review cash market forward contracts between producers and 
merchants, commonly known as hedge-to-arrive contracts. Testimony was 
heard from John Tull, Acting Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading 
Commission; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--FANNIE MAE AND FREDDIE MAC
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital 
Markets, Securities and Government Sponsored Enterprises held an 
oversight hearing on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Testimony was heard 
from Lawrence H. Summers, Deputy Secretary, Department of Treasury; 
Nicholas Retsinas, Assistant Secretary, Housing, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 3553, 
Federal Trade Commission Reauthorization Act of 1996; H.R. 447, 
amended, to establish a toll free number in the Department of Commerce 
to assist consumers in determining if products are American-made; H.R. 
2579, amended, United States National Tourism Organization Act of 1996; 
H.R. 2976, amended, Patient Right to Know Act of 1996; H.R. 3871, to 
waive temporarily the Medicaid enrollment composition rule for certain 
health maintenance organizations; H.R. 3056, to permit county-operated 
health insuring organization to qualify as an organization exempt from 
certain requirements otherwise applicable to health insuring 
organizations under the Medicaid program notwithstanding that the 
organization enrolls Medicaid beneficiaries residing in another county; 
H.R. 3867, Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act 
Amendments of 1996; H.R. 3868, to extend certain programs under the 
Energy Policy and Conservation Act through September 30, 1996.
LANGUAGE OF GOVERNMENT ACT
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities: Ordered reported 
amended H.R. 123, Language of Government Act of 1995.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported the following 
bills: H.R. 3846, to amend the Foreign Assistant Act of 1961 to 
authorize the provision of assistance for microenterprises; and H.R. 
3735, amended, to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to 
reauthorize the Development Fund for Africa under chapter 10 of part I 
of that Act.
  The Committee also favorably considered and adopted a motion urging 
the Chairman to request that the following bill be considered on the 
Suspension Calendar: H.R. 3870, to authorize the Agency for 
International Development to offer voluntary separation incentive 
payments to employees of that agency.
OVERSIGHT--U.S. TRUSTEE PROGRAM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held an oversight hearing on the U.S. Trustee 
Program. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Executive Office, U.S. Trustees, Department of Justice; Joseph Patchan, 
Director; M. Scott Michel, and Clarkson Dow, both Regional Trustees; 
and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--COMMISSION ON CIVIL RIGHTS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held an 
oversight hearing on the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the U.S. Commission on Civil 
Rights: Mary Frances Berry, Chairperson; Robert George, Carl A. 
Anderson and Russell Redenbaugh, all Commissioners and Mary Mathews, 
Staff Director; and a public witness.
LABORER'S INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on the 
Administration's efforts against the influence of organized crime in 
the Laborer's International Union of North America. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on implementation of 
the Endangered Species Act with regard to Section 10(a) permits (Habit 
Conservation Plan) and other incentives. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Smith of Texas; George T. Frampton, Assistant Secretary, 
Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department of the Interior; and public 
witnesses.

[[Page D806]]


OVERSIGHT--TERRITORIAL TECHNICAL MATTERS; OMNIBUS TERRITORIES ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Native American and Insular 
Affairs held an oversight hearing on territorial technical matters, 
with discussion of H.R. 3721, Omnibus Territories Act. Testimony was 
heard from Allen Stayman, Director, Insular Affairs, Department of the 
Interior; and the following officials from Guam: Madeline Bordallo, Lt. 
Governor; Elizabeth Barrett-Anderson, and Hope Cristobal, both 
Senators.
WORKING FAMILIES FLEXIBILITY ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified open rule 
providing one hour general debate on H.R. 2391, Working Families 
Flexibility Act. The rule makes in order the Committee on Economic and 
Educational Opportunities amendment in the nature of a substitute as an 
original bill for the purpose of amendment, with each section as read. 
The rule waives clause 7 of rule XVI (germaneness) against the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  The rule provides for the consideration of the manager's amendment 
printed in the report of the Committee on Rules, which is considered as 
read, not subject to amendment or to a division of the question. The 
amendment is debatable for 10 minutes equally divided between the 
proponent and an opponent. The amendment may amend portions of the bill 
not yet read. If adopted, the amendment is considered as part of the 
base text for further amendment purposes.
  The rule provides for consideration of only those amendments that are 
pre-printed in the Congressional Record. The rule provides for a 2 hour 
limit on the amendment process. The Chairman of the Committee of the 
Whole may postpone votes during consideration of the bill, and reduce 
voting time 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 
Representatives Ballenger and Clay.
BUILDING ON CHANGE: PREPARING FOR THE 105TH CONGRESS
Committee on Rules: Subcommittee on Rules and Organization of the House 
and the Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process held a joint 
hearing on Building on Change: Preparing for the 105th Congress. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Bass, White, Farr, Hamilton 
and Cardin; and public witnesses.
EFFECTS OF A SIX-YEAR BUDGET ON CIVILIAN R&D
Committee on Science: Concluded hearings on the Effects of a Six-Year 
Balanced Budget on Civilian Research and Development, Part II. 
Testimony was heard from Senator Bond; Martha Krebs, Director, Office 
of Energy Research, Department of Energy; Neal Lane, Director, NSF; and 
Daniel Goldin, Administrator, NASA.
PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT--FDA'S COMPLIANCE
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Government Programs held a 
hearing on the FDA's compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 
1995. Testimony was heard from Robert Byrd, Acting Deputy Commissioner, 
Systems and Management, FDA, Department of Health and Human Services; 
and public witnesses.