[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 25, 1996)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1003-D1004]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
TRADE WITH CANADA AND NAFTA PANEL DECISION
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry 
held a hearing on dairy, poultry, and egg trade with Canada and the 
impact of the impending NAFTA panel decision. Testimony was heard from 
August Schumacher, Jr., Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, 
USDA; and Ambassador Ira Shapiro, Senior Counselor and Negotiator for 
Japan and Canada, Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
OVERSIGHT--RESTRUCTURING INTERNATIONAL SATELLITE ORGANIZATIONS
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance 
held an oversight hearing on restructuring of international satellite 
organizations. Testimony was heard from Vonya B. McCann, U.S. 
Coordinator, International Communications and Information Policy, 
Department of State; Jack A. Gleason, Associate Administrator, 
International Affairs, National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration, Department of Commerce; David Turetsky, Deputy 
Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust, Department of Justice; Donald H. 
Gips, Chief, International Bureau, FCC; and public witnesses.
DRAFT REPORTS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: On September 24, the 
committee approved the following draft reports entitled: 
``Investigation into the White House and Department of Justice on 
Security of FBI Background Investigation Files''; ``Report on 
Management of the Federal Government''; ``Crude Oil Underpricing: The 
Ineffective Response of the Minerals Management Service''; and ``The 
Year 2000: Computer Software Conversion: Summary of Oversight Findings 
and Recommendations''.
OVERSIGHT--SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information and Technology and the Committee on 
House Oversight held a joint oversight hearing on the Smithsonian 
Institution. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Smithsonian Institution: I. Michael Heyman, Secretary; and Tom Blair, 
Inspector General; and Bill Gadsby, Director, Government Business 
Operations, GAO.
POLICY IN THE PERSIAN GULF
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on U.S. policy in 
the Persian Gulf. Testimony was heard from Robert Pelletreau, Assistant 
Secretary, Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State; and public 
witnesses.
SOUTH ASIANS LIVING STANDARDS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific approved for full Committee action H. Con. Res. 213, concerning 
the urgent need to improve the living standards of those South Asians 
living in the Ganges and the Brahmaputra river basis.
SOUTH PACIFIC: FREELY ASSOCIATED STATES AND OKINAWA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific held a joint hearing with the Subcommittee on Native American 
and Insular Affairs of the Committee on Resources on U.S. Interests in 
the South Pacific: Freely Associated States and Okinawa. Testimony was 
heard from Aurelia E. Brazeal, Deputy Assistant Secretary, East Asian 
and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; and Allen Stayman, Director, 
Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior.

[[Page D1004]]


SUBPOENAS--BROTHERS TO THE RESCUE; ISSUE OF QUEBEC SOVEREIGNTY
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere approved a motion to issue subpoenas of Department of 
Defense and other witnesses to testify and documents regarding the 
shootdown of the civilian ``Brothers to the Rescue'' planes by Cuban 
MIGs.
  The Subcommittee also held hearing on the issue of Quebec Sovereignty 
and its Potential Impact on the United States. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Campbell; and public witnesses.
SECURITY AND FREEDOM THROUGH ENCRYPTION (SAFE) ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Held a hearing on H.R. 3011, Security and 
Freedom Through Encryption (SAFE) Act. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Goodlatte; Jamie Gorelick, Deputy Attorney General, 
Department of Justice; and William Crowell, Deputy Director, NSA, 
Department of Defense.
U.S. POLICY FOR BOSNIA
Committee on National Security: Continued hearings on current and 
future U.S. policy for Bosnia. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: John P. White, Deputy 
Secretary; and Gen. Joseph W. Ralston, USAF, Vice Chairman, Joint 
Chiefs of Staff.
  The Committee also met to honor the following retiring members of the 
Committee: Representative Montgomery, Schroeder, Browder, Geren of 
Texas, and Peterson of Florida.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held an oversight hearing to investigate the progress of a 1995 REGO II 
proposal to allow states to perform BLM's inspection and enforcement 
programs on federal lands. Testimony was heard from W. Hord Tipton, 
Assistant Director, Resource Use and Planning, Bureau of Land 
Management, Department of the Interior; and James W. Carter, Director, 
Division of Oil, Gas, and Mining, Department of Natural Resources, 
State of Utah.
CONFERENCE REPORT--OMNIBUS PARKS AND PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report on H.R. 1296, Omnibus Parks and 
Public Lands Management Act of 1996, and against its consideration. The 
rule also provides that the conference report shall be considered as 
read. Testimony was heard from Chairman Young and Representatives 
Miller of California and Vento.
SMALL BUSINESS--OSHA REFORM AND RELIEF
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on OSHA Reform and Relief 
for Small Business: What Needs to be Done? Testimony was heard from 
Joseph Dear, Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety and Health, 
Department of Labor; and public witnesses.
FDIC'S HANDLING OF SMALL BUSINESS ASSET FORECLOSURES
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Government Programs held a 
hearing on FDIC's handling of small business asset foreclosures in 
Massachusetts as a result of the failure of ComFed Savings Bank in 
Lowell, MA. Testimony was heard from John Bovenzi, Director, Depositor 
and Asset Services, FDIC; and public witnesses.
COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct: Met in executive session to 
consider pending business.
IRAQ--RECENT ACTIVITIES
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Held a hearing on Recent 
Activities in Iraq. Testimony was heard from John M. Deutch, Director, 
CIA.

Joint Meetings
FAA AUTHORIZATION
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate- and House-
passed versions of H.R. 3539, to authorize funds for programs of the 
Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Transportation, but did 
not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to call.
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION
Conferees on Tuesday, September 24, 1996, agreed to file a conference 
report on the differences between the Senate- and House-passed versions 
of H.R. 3259, to authorize funds for fiscal year 1997 for intelligence 
and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, 
the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency 
Retirement and Disability System.
PRESIDIO TRUST
Conferees on Tuesday, September 24, 1996, agreed to file a conference 
report on the differences between the Senate- and House-passed versions 
of H.R. 1296, to provide for the Administration of certain Presidio 
properties at minimal cost to the Federal taxpayer.