[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 31 (Wednesday, March 12, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D227-D231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
111, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to convey a parcel of 
unused agricultural land in Dos Palos, CA, to the Dos Palos Ag Boosters 
for use as a farm school; H.R. 394, to provide for the release of the 
reversionary interest held by the United States in certain property 
located in the County of Iosco, MI; H.R. 785, to designate the J. Phil 
Campbell, Senior, Natural Resource Conservation Center; and H.R. 1000, 
to require States to establish a system to prevent prisoners from being 
considered part of any household for purposes of determining 
eligibility of the household for food stamp benefits to be provided to 
the household under the Food Stamp Act of 1997.
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations, 
Nutrition, and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing on the status of the 
electronic benefit transfer system for the food stamp program. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the USDA: Mary Ann 
Keeffe, Acting Under Secretary,

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Food and Consumer Services; and Roger Viadero, Inspector General; Bob 
Rasor, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of Investigation, U.S. Secret 
Service, Department of the Treasury; G. Edward De Seve, Controller, 
OMB; and public witnesses.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from Members of 
Congress and public witnesses.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on food safety. Testimony was 
heard from Ron Billy, Administrator, Food Safety and Inspection 
Service, USDA.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State 
and Judiciary held a hearing on United States Information Agency/
International Broadcasting. Testimony was heard from Joseph Duffy, 
Director, United States Information Agency; and David Burke, Chairman, 
Board of International Broadcasters.
  The Subcommittee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on 
Counterterrorism. Testimony was heard from Louis J. Freeh, Director, 
FBI, Department of Justice; and the following officials of the 
Department of State: Ambassador Philip Wilcox, Coordinator, 
Counterterrorism; and Eric Boswell, Assistant Secretary, Diplomatic 
Security.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Nuclear Waste Management and Disposal. 
Testimony was heard from the Department of Energy: Lake H. Barrett, 
Acting Director, Civilian Radio Active Waste Management; and Alvin Alm, 
Assistant Secretary, Environmental Management.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on 
Fish and Wildlife Service. Testimony was heard from John Rogers, Acting 
Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on Vocational and Adult 
Education; Special Education; Rehabilitative Services, and on 
Postsecondary Education. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Education: Patricia W. McNeil, Assistant 
Secretary, Vocational and Adult Education; Judith E. Heumann, Assistant 
Secretary, Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; and David 
Longanecker, Assistant Secretary, Postsecondary Education.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATION
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held 
a hearing on Housing Privatization Effort. Testimony was heard from 
John Goodman, Deputy Under Secretary, Industrial Affairs and 
Installations, Department of Defense.
NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a 
hearing on Air Force Acquisition Programs. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of the Air Force: Arthur L. 
Money, Assistant Secretary, Acquisition; and Lt. Gen. George K. 
Muellner, USAF, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Acquisition.
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a 
hearing on the Coast Guard. Testimony was heard from Adm. Robert E. 
Kramek, USCG, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of 
Transportation.
TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, 
and General Government held a hearing on the U.S. Postal Service. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the U.S. Postal 
Service: Michael S. Coughlin, Deputy Postmaster General; and Mary S. 
Elcano, Senior Vice President and General Counsel.
VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent 
Agencies held a hearing on Community Development Financial Institutions 
and on National Credit Union Administration. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Robert E. 
Rubin, Secretary; and Kristen Moy, Head, Community Development 
Financial Institutions; and Norman E. D'Amours, Chairman, National 
Credit Union Administration.

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FINANCIAL SERVICES MODERNIZATION
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital 
Markets, Securities and Government Sponsored Enterprises continued 
hearings on financial services modernization. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Leach; and public witnesses.
CORRECTING THE CPI
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on correcting the CPI. 
Testimony was heard from Katharine Abraham, Commissioner, Bureau of 
Labor Statistics, Department of Labor; and Michael Boskin, Professor of 
Economics, Stanford University.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment approved 
for full Committee action the following: H.R. 968, to amend Title XVIII 
and XIX of the Social Security Act to permit a waiver of the 
prohibition of offering nurse aide training and competency evaluation 
programs in certain nursing facilities; and H.R. 1001, to extend the 
term of appointment of certain members of the Prospective Payment 
Assessment Commission and the Physician Payment Review Commission.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM ACQUISITION 
STRATEGY
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Ordered reported 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; H.R. 930, Travel and Transportation Act of 1997; H.R. 514, 
amended, to permit waiver of District of Columbia residency 
requirements for certain employees of the Office of the Inspector 
General of the District of Columbia; H.R. 240, amended, Veteran's 
Employment Opportunities Act of 1997.
  The Committee also approved the following draft report entitled ``A 
Citizen's Guide on Using the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy 
Act of 1974 to Request Government Records''.
  The Committee also continued hearings on Federal Communications 
System Acquisition Strategy (post FTS 2000): An Industry Perspective. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
COMMITTEE FUNDING
Committee on House Oversight: Ordered reported amended H. Res. 91, 
providing amounts for the expenses of certain committees of the House 
of Representatives.
  The Committee also considered pending Committee business.
U.S.-RUSSIAN RELATIONS
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on U.S.-Russian 
Relations. Testimony was heard from Ambassador-at-Large James F. 
Collins, New Independent States, Department of State.
DEMOCRATIC CONTINUITY AND CHANGE IN SOUTH ASIA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific held a hearing on Democratic Continuity and Change in South 
Asia. Testimony was heard from Robin L. Raphel, Assistant Secretary, 
South Asian Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses.
WESTERN HEMISPHERE--ROUNDTABLE
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Western 
Hemisphere held a hearing on the Western Hemisphere Today: A Roundtable 
Discussion. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
908, to establish a Commission on Structural Alternatives for the 
Federal Courts of Appeals; H.R. 929, amended, Partial-Birth Abortion 
Ban Act of 1997; H.R. 924, amended, Victim Allocution Clarification Act 
of 1997; H.R. 927, United States Marshals Service Improvement Act; H.R. 
400, amended, 21st Century Patent System Improvement Act; and H.R. 672, 
amended, to make technical amendments to certain provisions of title 
17, United States Code.
DOD AUTHORIZATION
Committee on National Security: Continued hearings on fiscal year 1998 
Department of Defense authorization request. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Defense: Togo D. West, 
Jr., Secretary of the Army; John H. Dalton, Secretary of the Navy; and 
Sheila E. Widnall, Secretary of the Air Force.
  Hearings continue March 19.
B-2 BOMBER
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Procurement 
held a hearing on B-2 Bomber program. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Dicks; and public witnesses.
REFORM INITIATIVES
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Readiness held 
a hearing on reform initiatives.

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Testimony was heard from David R. Warren, Director, Defense Management 
Issues, GAO; the following officials of the Department of Defense: John 
B. Goodman, Deputy Under Secretary (Industrial Affairs and 
Installations); Maj. Gen. Randolph W. House, USA, Assistant Chief of 
Staff, Installations Management, Department of the Army; Rear Adm. John 
T. Scudi, USN, Director, Shore Installation Management; Brig Gen. Hugh 
Cameron, USAF, Commander, Air Force Center for Quality and Management 
Innovations, Department of the Air Force; and Maj. Gen. Joseph D. 
Stewart, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Installations Management, 
Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported amended the following bills: 
H.R. 752, Citizen's Fair Hearing Act of 1997, and H.R. 757, American 
Samoa Development Act of 1997.
SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT--BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND OROVILLE-TONASKET 
IRRIGATION DISTRICT
Committee on Rules: Granted an open rule providing 1 hour of debate on 
H.R. 412, to approve a settlement agreement between the Bureau of 
Reclamation and the Oroville-Tonasket Irrigation District. The rule 
makes in order the Committee on Resources amendment in the nature of a 
substitute now printed in the bill as an original bill for amendment 
purposes. The amendment in the nature of a substitute shall be 
considered as read. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, 
with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Doolittle and Miller of California.
FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO MEXICO--DISAPPROVING CERTIFICATION
Committee on Rules: Granted a modified closed rule providing for 
consideration in the House with two hours of debate on H.J. Res. 58, 
disapproving the certification of the President under section 490(b) of 
the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 regarding foreign assistance for 
Mexico during fiscal year 1997. The rule waives all points of order 
against the committee amendment printed in the joint resolution.
  The rule provides for separate consideration of the amendment printed 
in the report of the Committee on Rules for a time specified in the 
report, to be equally divided between the proponent and an opponent and 
all points of order against said amendment are waived. Finally, the 
rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Gilman and Representatives Hastert, 
Shaw, Schiff, Stearns, Hamilton and Reyes.
U.S. AND ANTARCTICA IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on the U.S. and Antarctica in the 
21st Century. Testimony was heard from Norman Augustine, Chairman, U.S. 
Antarctic Program External Panel, NSF.
  Prior to the hearing, the Committee met for organizational purposes.
EPA'S PARTICULATE MATTER AND OZONE STANDARDS
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a 
hearing on EPA's Particulate Matter and Ozone Standards. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
NASA AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a 
hearing on Fiscal Year 1998 NASA Authorization, Aeronautics and 
Advanced Space Transportation. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of NASA: Robert E. Whitehead, Associate Administrator, 
Aeronautics and Space Transportation Technology; and Gary E. Payton, 
Deputy Associate Administrator (Space Transportation Technology) and 
Director, Space Transportation Division.
COMMUNITY RENEWAL INITIATIVES
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on community renewal 
initiatives for low income areas. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Watts of Oklahoma; and public witnesses.
COMMITTEE BUSINESS; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Met to consider pending 
Committee business.
  The Committee also approved the Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal 
Year 1998 for transmission to the Committee on the Budget.
AMTRAK CURRENT STATE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads held a hearing on the Current State of Amtrak. Testimony was 
heard from Don Otzkoff, Deputy Administrator, Federal Railroad 
Administration, Department of Transportation; Phyllis Scheinberg, 
Associate Director, Transportation Issues, GAO; and Thomas M. Downs, 
Chairman, President, and CEO, National Railroad Passenger Corporation 
(AMTRAK).
SUPERFUND REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Superfund Reauthorization: 
Views

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of EPA. Testimony was heard from Carol M. Browner, Administrator, EPA.
SOCIAL SECURITY ACT AMENDMENTS--NURSE AIDE TRAINING
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported H.R. 968, to amend title 
XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to permit a waiver of the 
prohibition of offering nurse aide training and competency evaluation 
programs in certain nursing facilities.
ADMINISTRATION'S BUDGET--REVENUE RAISING PROVISIONS
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on Revenue Raising 
Provisions in the Administration's Fiscal Year Budget Proposal. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
COMMITTEE BUSINESS; BUDGET--INTELLIGENCE REQUIREMENTS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
consider pending business.
  The Committee also held a hearing on the Budget--Intelligence 
Requirements. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
1998 BUDGET ISSUES
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on the Budget concluded joint hearings 
with the House Committee on the Budget to examine public policy issues 
of United States governors with regard to the proposed Federal budget 
for fiscal year 1998, after receiving testimony from Nevada Governor 
Bob Miller, Carson City, Iowa Governor Terry E. Branstad, Des Moines, 
Kentucky Governor Paul E. Patton, Frankfort, and North Dakota Governor 
Edward T. Schafer, Bismarck, all on behalf of the National Governors' 
Association.