[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 30 (Tuesday, March 11, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D216-D219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on marketing and regulatory programs. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the USDA: Michael Dunn, Assistant Secretary, 
Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Terry Medley, Administrator, Animal 
and Health Inspection Service; Lon Hatamiya, Administrator, Agriculture 
and Marketing Service; James R. Baker, Administrator, Grain Packers and 
Stockyards Administration; and Stephen B. Dewhurst, Budget Officer, 
Department of Agriculture.
COMMERCE-JUSTICE-STATE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State 
and Judiciary held a hearing on Secretary of Commerce. Testimony was 
heard from William M. Daley, Secretary of Commerce.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on 
Bureau of Land Management. Testimony was heard from Sylvia Baca, 
Interim Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the 
Interior.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on Secretary of Education, and 
on Elementary and Secondary Education and Bilingual Education and 
Minority Languages Affairs. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Education: Richard W. Riley, Secretary; 
Gerald N. Tirozzi, Assistant Secretary, Elementary and Secondary 
Education; Delia Pompa, Director, Office of Bilingual Education and 
Minority Languages Affairs; and Thomas Corwin, Director, Elementary, 
Secondary and Vocational Analysis Division, Budget Service.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held 
a hearing on Air Force. Testimony was heard from Rodney Coleman, 
Assistant Secretary, Air Force, Management, Personnel Affairs, 
Installations and Environment, Department of the Air Force.
NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a 
hearing on fiscal year 1998 Air Force Budget overview. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of the Air Force: 
Sheila E. Widnall, Secretary; and Gen. Ronald R. Fogelman, USAF, Chief 
of Staff.
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a 
hearing on National Transportation Safety Board and on the Office of 
Inspector General. Testimony was heard from James E. Hall, Chairman, 
National Transportation Safety Board; and Joyce Fleischman, Acting 
Inspector General, Department of Transportation.
TREASURY-POSTAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, 
and General Government held a hearing on the National Park Service, on 
the Executive Office of the President, and on OMB. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the National Park Service, Department 
of the Interior: Terry Carlstrom, Acting Regional Director, National 
Capitol Region; and James McDaniel, Associate Regional Director, White 
House Liaison; the following officials of the Office of Administration: 
Ada L. Posey, Acting Director; and Jurg Hochuli, Associate Director, 
Financial Management Division; and Franklin D. Raines, Director, OMB.
VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent 
Agencies held a hearing on the Corporation for National and Community 
Service. Testimony was heard from Harris Wofford, CEO, Corporation for 
National and Community Service.
DEPARTMENT OF TREASURY--GEOGRAPHIC TARGETING ORDER
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on General 
Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on the use of the 
Department of the Treasury Geographic Targeting Order. Testimony was 
heard from Barry McCaffrey, Director, Office of National Drug Control 
Policy; Raymond Kelly, Under Secretary, Enforcement, Department of the 
Treasury; Robert Litt, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Department of 
Justice; and Howard Safir, Commissioner, Policy Department, City of New 
York.

[[Page D217]]


HOUSING OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 1997
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing 
and Community Development continued hearings on H.R. 2, Housing 
Opportunity and Responsibility Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from 
Susan Gaffney, Inspector General, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development; Steven Goldsmith, Mayor, Indianapolis, Indiana; and public 
witnesses.
MEDICAID REFORM
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a 
hearing on Medicaid Reform: the Governor's View. Testimony was heard 
from William Scanlon, Director, Health Financing Systems, Health, 
Education, and Human Services, GAO; Gail Wilensky, Chair, Board of 
Directors, Physician Payment Review Commission; the following 
Governors: Michael O. Leavitt, State of Utah; and Bob Miller, State of 
Nevada; and a public witness.
D.C. RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on the 
District of Columbia, approved for full Committee action as amended 
H.R. 514, to permit waiver of District of Columbia residency 
requirements for certain employees of the Office of the Inspector 
General of the District of Columbia.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Government Reform and Management: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information and Technology approved for full 
Committee action the following bills: H.R. 173, to amend the Federal 
Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to authorize donation 
of surplus law enforcement canines to their handlers; H.R. 680, to 
amend the Federal Property and Administrative Services Act of 1949 to 
authorize the transfer to States of surplus personal property for 
donation to nonprofit providers of necessaries to impoverished families 
and individuals; and H.R. 930, Travel and Transportation Reform Act of 
1997.
NEWLY INDEPENDENT STATES--U.S. ASSISTANCE
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on U.S. Assistance 
to the Newly Independent States of the former Soviet Union. Testimony 
was heard from Ambassador Richard Morningstar, Coordinator, U.S. 
Assistance to the Newly Independent States, Department of State; and 
Thomas Dine, Assistant Administrator, Europe and the Newly Independent 
States, AID, U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency.
FOREIGN RELATIONS REAUTHORIZATION
Committe on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on Foreign Relations 
Reauthorization for FY 1998: Refugees and Migration. Testimony was 
heard from Phyllis E. Oakley, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
Population, Refugees, and Migration, Department of State.
DOD CHEMICAL WEAPONS DESTRUCTION; BUDGET REQUEST
  Committee on National Security, Subcommittee on Military 
Procurement held a hearing on the Department of Defense program for 
the destruction of chemical weapons stockpile and fiscal year 1998 
budget request. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Defense: Gilbert F. Decker, Assistant Secretary, 
Army (Research, Development and Acquisition); Michael A. Parker, 
Deputy to the Commander, Program Manager, Assembled Chemical 
Munitions Demilitarization Alternatives, Chemical and Biological 
Defense Command; and Theodore Prociv, Deputy Assistant to the 
Secretary, Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Acquisition and 
Technology), Nuclear, Chemical and Biological Defense Programs 
(Chemical/Biological Matters).
ARMY MODERNIZATION
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Procurement 
and the Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint 
hearing on Army modernization. Testimony was heard from Gilbert F. 
Decker, Assistant Secretary, Army (Research, Development and 
Acquisition), Department of Defense.
MEASURING READINESS
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Readiness held 
a hearing on measuring readiness. Testimony was heard from Mark 
Gebicke, Director, Military Operations and Capabilities, GAO; and the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: Louis Finch, Deputy 
Under Secretary (Readiness); Brig. Gen. Stephen B. Plummer, USAF, 
Deputy Director, Current Readiness and Capabilities, Joint Chiefs of 
Staff; Maj. Gen. D. C. Grange, Director, Operations, Readiness and 
Mobilization, Department of the Army; Rear Adm. John Craine, Jr., USN, 
Director, Assessments, Department of the Navy; Maj. Gen. Donald L. 
Peterson, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and Operations, Department 
of the Air Force; and Brig. Gen. Matthew Broderick, USMC, Director, 
Operations Division, Plans, Policy and Operations Division, 
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and Mark Gebicke, Director, Military 
Operations and Capabilities, GAO.

[[Page D218]]


STATE LAND AND WATER CONSERVATION ACT PROGRAM--FEDERAL FUNDING
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
held a hearing on Federal funding of the State Land and Water 
Conservation Act Program. Testimony was heard from Kate Stevenson, 
Associate Director, Cultural Resources Stewardship and Partnership, 
National Park Service, Department of the Interior; Donald W. Murphy, 
Director, Department of Parks and Recreation, State of California; and 
public witnesses.
PAPERWORK ELIMINATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 852, Paperwork Elimination Act of 1997. The rule 
accords priority in recognition to those Members who have pre-printed 
their amendments in the Congressional Record prior to their 
consideration. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Talent and 
Representative LaFalce.
BALANCED BUDGET
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule on H. Res. 
89, requesting the President to submit a budget for fiscal year 1998 
that would balance the Federal budget by fiscal year 2002 without 
relying on budgetary contingencies. The rule provides two hours of 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
member of the Committee on the Budget or their designees. Finally the 
rule provides one motion to recommit, which may contain instructions if 
offered by the Minority Leader or his designee. If the motion includes 
instructions, then it shall be debatable for five minutes by the 
proponent and five minutes by an opponent. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Sununu, Granger, Pitts, Spratt, Minge, Stenholm, and 
Tauscher.
BUDGET AUTHORIZATION--EPA
Committee on Science, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, held 
hearing on Fiscal Year 1998 Budget Authorization Request: EPA Research 
and Development. Testimony was heard from Joseph K. Alexander, Deputy 
Assistant Administrator, Research and Development, EPA; Stanley J. 
Czerwinski, Associate Director, Resources, Community, and Economic 
Development Division, GAO; and a public witness.
ISTEA REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Surface 
Transportation continued hearings on Member policy initiatives and 
requests for highway and transit projects in the ISTEA Reauthorization. 
Testimony was heard from Members of Congress; and Kirk Fordice, 
Governor, State of Mississippi.
  Hearings continue March 13.
MEDICARE DISPROPORTIONATE SHARE HOSPITAL PAYMENTS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
Teaching Hospitals and Medicare Disproportionate Share Hospital 
Payments. Testimony was heard from Joseph Newhouse, Chairman, 
Prospective Payment Assessment Commission; Gail Wilensky, Chair, 
Physician Payment Review Commission; and public witnesses.
BUDGET AUTHORIZATIONS--CUSTOMS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION, OFFICE 
OF TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on 
Budget Authorizations for Fiscal Year 1998 and 1999 for the U.S. 
Customs, the U.S. International Trade Commission, and the Office of the 
U.S. Trade Representative. Testimony was heard from George J. Weise, 
Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury; Jeffrey 
M. Lang, Deputy U.S. Trade Representative; Marcia E. Miller, Chairman, 
U.S. International Trade Commission; the following officials of the 
GAO: Norman J. Rabkin, Director, Administration of Justice Issues, 
General Government Division; and JayEtta Z. Hecker, Associate Director, 
International Relations and Trade Issues, National Security and 
International Affairs Division; and public witnesses.
SPECIAL NAVY BRIEFING
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a Briefing: Special Navy. The Committee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Joint Hearing: Senate Committees on Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee 
on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring, and the District 
of Columbia and Appropriations' Subcommittee on the District of 
Columbia held joint hearings with the House Committees on Government 
Reform and Oversight's Subcommittee on the District of Columbia and 
Appropriations' Subcommittee on the District of Columbia to examine the 
financial condition of the government of the District of Columbia, 
receiving testimony from Mayor Susan Golding, San Diego, California; 
Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, Indianapolis, Indiana; Mayor Patrick McCrory, 
Charlotte,

[[Page D219]]

North Carolina; Mayor Edward Rendell, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and 
Mayor Knox White, Greenville, South Carolina.
  Committees will meet again on Thursday, March 13.
PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BAN
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on the Judiciary concluded joint 
hearings with the House Committee on the Judiciary's Subcommittee on 
the Constitution on S. 6 and H.R. 929, bills to ban partial birth 
abortions, after receiving testimony from Renee Chelian, National 
Coalition of Abortion Providers, Southfield, Michigan; Kate Michelman, 
National Abortion and Reproductive Rights Action League, Helen M. 
Alvare, National Conference of Catholic Bishops, Vicki Saporta, 
National Abortion Federation, and Douglas Johnson, National Right to 
Life Committee, all of Washington, D.C.; Gloria Feldt, Planned 
Parenthood Federation of America, New York, New York; Curtis R. Cook, 
Grandville, Michigan; Eileen Sullivan, Los Angeles, California; Maureen 
Britell, Forestdale, Massachusetts; and Whitney Goin, Orlando, Florida.