[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 128 (Tuesday, September 17, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D954-D955]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FIRE FIGHTER PAY AND BENEFITS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Civil 
Service held a hearing on Fire Fighter Pay and Benefits. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Hunter and Hoyer; Diane M. Disney, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Civilian Personnel, Department of Defense; Allan 
Heuerman, Associate Director, Human Resources Systems Service, OPM; and 
public witnesses.
POSTAL REFORM ACT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Postal 
Service continued hearings on H.R. 3717, Postal Reform Act of 1996. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered and adopted 
a motion urging the Chairman to request that the following measures be 
considered on

[[Page D955]]

the Suspension Calendar: H. Con. Res. 132, amended, relating to the 
extradition of Martin Pang from Brazil to the United States; H. Con. 
Res. 145, concerning the removal of Russian Armed Forces from Moldova; 
H. Con. Res. 189, expressing the sense of the Congress regarding the 
importance of U.S. membership in regional South Pacific organizations; 
H. Res. 515, amended, expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives with respect to the persecution of Christians 
worldwide; H. Con. Res. 212, amended, endorsing the adoption by the 
European Parliament of a resolution supporting the Republic of China on 
Taiwan's efforts at joining the community of nations; H. Con. Res. 51, 
amended, expressing the sense of the Congress relating to the removal 
of Russian troops from Kaliningrad; and H.R. 4036, amended, Human 
Rights Restoration Act of 1996.
POW/MIA ISSUES
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held 
a hearing on POW/MIA issues. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing in Action Office, 
Department of Defense: J. Alan Liotta, Deputy Director; Norm Kass, 
Director, Joint Commission Support Directorate; Robert J. Destatte, 
Senior Analyst, Research and Analysis Directorate; and Cdr. William G. 
Beck, USNR, Special Research, Joint Commission Support Directorate; and 
public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT; CITIZEN'S FAIR HOUSING ACT
Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on Equal access to 
the courts under the Endangered Species Act as well as a hearing on 
H.R. 3826, Citizen's Fair Housing Act of 1996. Testimony was heard from 
John Leshy, Solicitor, Department of the Interior; John Torgerson, 
Senator, State of Alaska; and public witnesses.
U.S.-PUERTO RICO POLITICAL STATUS ACT
Committee on Rules: Held a hearing on H.R. 3024, United States- Puerto 
Rico Political Status Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Young of Alaska, Burton of Indiana, Roth, Romero-Barcelo, Gutierrez, 
Velazquez, and Serrano.
CONFERENCE REPORT--TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report to accompany H.R. 3675, making 
appropriations for the Department of Transportation and related 
agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997, and against its 
consideration. The conference report shall be considered as read. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Wolf.
GENETICS TESTING TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing on 
Technological Advances in Genetics Testing: Implications for the 
Future. Testimony was heard from Representatives Stearns, Johnson of 
Connecticut, and Slaughter, from the following officials of the 
Department of Health and Human Services: Francis S. Collins, M.D., 
Director, National Center for Human Genome Research, NIH; and Mary 
Pendergast, Deputy Commissioner, Senior Advisor to the Commissioner, 
FDA; and public witnesses.
MEDICARE SUBVENTION
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
Medicare Subvention. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Montgomery and Stump; Bruce C. Vladeck, Administrator, Health Care 
Financing Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; and 
Stephen C. Joseph, M.D., Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs, 
Department of Defense.
WELFARE REFORM LAW IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing on implementation of the recently-enacted welfare reform law, 
focusing on the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) Block 
Grant. Testimony was heard from Olivia Golden, Commissioner, 
Administration on Children, Youth and Families, Department of Health 
and Human Services; and public witnesses.
  Hearings continue September 19.

Joint Meetings
VETERANS PROGRAMS
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint 
hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to review the 
legislative recommendations of the American Legion, after receiving 
testimony from Joseph Frank, American Legion, Washington, D.C.
APPROPRIATIONS--FOREIGN OPERATIONS
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate- and House-
passed versions of H.R. 3540, making appropriations for foreign 
operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1997, but did not complete action thereon, and 
recessed subject to call.