[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 32 (Thursday, March 13, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D239-D242]
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 Rural Development. Testimony was heard from Jill Long 
Thompson, Under Secretary, Rural Development, USDA.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State 
and Judiciary held a hearing on the Supreme Court, the Architect of the 
Capitol, the FCC and the National Telecommunications and Information 
Administration. Testimony was heard from the following Justices of the 
Supreme Court: Anthony M. Kennedy; and David H. Souter; Alan M. 
Hantman, Architect of the Capitol; Reed E. Hunt, Chairman, FCC; and 
Larry Irving, Assistant Secretary, Communications and Information, 
Department of Commerce.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on Energy Resources. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Energy; Martha A. 
Krebes, Director, Energy Research; Christine Ervin, Assistant 
Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and Terry R. Lash, 
Assistant Secretary, Nuclear Energy.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing, and Related Programs held a hearing on Security Assistance. 
Testimony was heard from Walter B. Slocombe, Under Secretary, Policy, 
Department of Defense; and Thomas McNamara, Assistant Secretary, 
Political-Military Affairs, Department of State.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on 
the National Endowments for the Arts and the National Endowments for 
the Humanities. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities; Jane Alexander, 
Chairman, National Endowments for the Arts; and Sheldon Hackney, 
Chairman, National Endowments for the Humanities.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on Educational Research and 
Improvements, the Office of Inspector General, on Howard University and 
Special Institutions for the Disabled. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Education: Marshall S. Smith, 
Under Secretary; Thomas R. Bloom, Inspector General; H. Patrick 
Swygert, President, Howard University; Judith E. Heumann, Assistant 
Secretary, Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Tuck Tinsley, 
III, President, American Printing House for the Blind; I. King Jordan, 
President, Gallaudet University; Robert R. Davila, Vice President and 
Wendell S. Thompson, Associate Director, both with the National 
Technical Institute for the Deaf, Rochester Institute of Technology; 
Ramon F. Rodriguez, Liaison Officer, Office of Special Institutions, 
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Thomas P. 
Skelly, Director, Budget Service, Office of the Under Secretary; and 
Carol Cichowski, Director, Division of Special Education, 
Rehabilitation, and Research Analysis, Budget Service, Office of the 
Under Secretary.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction 
continued appropriations hearings. Testimony was heard from Members of 
Congress and public witnesses.
NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a 
hearing on Fiscal Year 1998 Army Budget Overview and on Army 
Acquisition Programs. Testimony was heard from the Department of the 
Army: Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary; Gen. Dennis J. Reimer, USA, Chief 
of Staff; Gilbert

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F. Decker, Assistant Secretary, Research, Development and Acquisition; 
Lt. Gen. Ronald V. Hite, USA, Military Deputy to the Assistant 
Secretary (Research, Development and Acquisition).
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a 
hearing on the Federal Highway Administration and on the National 
Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Transportation: Jane Garvey, 
Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration; and Ricardo 
Martinez, Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety 
Administration.
TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, 
and General Government held a hearing on the Federal Election 
Commission. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
FEC: John Warren McGarry, Chairman; Joan D. Aikens, Vice Chairman; and 
Scott E. Thomas, Commissioner.
MULTILATERAL DEVELOPMENT BANKS
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic 
and International Monetary Policy held a hearing on Multilateral 
Development Banks. Testimony was heard from William E. Schuerch, Acting 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Development, Debt and 
Environment Policy, Department of the Treasury.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported the following bills: 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.
ASSISTED SUICIDE FUNDING RESTRICTION ACT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment approved 
for full Committee action amended H.R. 1003, Assisted Suicide Funding 
Restriction Act of 1997.
EDUCATION INITIATIVES
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing on the 
Administration's Education initiatives. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Saxton and Green; and public witnesses.
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE RESULTS ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information, and Technology concluded hearings 
on the Government Performance and Results Act Implementation: How to 
Achieve Results. Testimony was heard from Rudolph W. Giuliani, Mayor, 
City of New York.
HHS'S DEMONSTRATION PROGRAM--INFANT MORTALITY
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Human 
Resources and Intergovernmental Relations held a hearing on HHS's 
Demonstration Program: ``Healthy Start: Implementation Lessons and 
Impact on Infant Mortality.'' Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Cummings, Stokes, and Thompson; from the following officials of the 
Public Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services: Audrey 
Nora, M.D., Director, Maternal and Child Health Bureau, Health 
Resources and Services Administration; James Marks, M.D., Director, 
Chronic Disease Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; 
Duane Alexander, M.D., Director, Institute of Child Health and Human 
Development, NIH; and Lisa Simpson, Acting Administrator, Agency for 
Health Care Policy and Research; and public witnesses.
DRUG FREE COMMUNITY ACT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice approved for full 
Committee action amended H.R. 956, Drug-free Communities Act of 1997.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on this bill. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Portman and Levin; and 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.
U.S. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE--POLICY
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Foreign 
Assistance and U.S. Foreign Policy. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
AFRICA-U.S. DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE IMPACT
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a 
hearing on the Impact of U.S. Development Assistance in Africa. 
Testimony was heard

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from George Moose, Assistant Secretary, Africa, Department of State; 
Carol Peasley, Acting Administrator, Africa, AID, U.S. International 
Development Cooperation Agency; and public witnesses.
FOREIGN RELATIONS AUTHORIZATION
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on Foreign Relations 
Authorization for FY 1998: U.S. Information Agency and National 
Endowment for Democracy. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the U.S. Information Agency: Joseph D. Duffey, Director; 
and David Burke, Chairman, Broadcasting Board of Governors; and Carl 
Gershman, President, National Endowment for Democracy.
PRIVATE BILLS; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims 
considered a private immigration bill and a private claims bill.
  The Committee also met for organizational purposes.
MILITARY HOUSING REVITALIZATION
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Installations 
and Facilities held a hearing on revitalization of military housing. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: John B. Goodman, Deputy Under Secretary (Industrial Affairs 
and Installations); Paul W. Johnson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the 
Army (Installations and Facilities); Duncan Holaday, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary of the Navy (Installations and Facilities); and Jimmy G. 
Dishner, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force (Installations).
MILITARY COMPENSATION REFORM
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held 
a hearing on military compensation reform and recruiting/retention 
issues. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: Frederick Pang, Assistant Secretary (Force 
Management Policy); Lt. Gen. Frederick E. Vollrath, USA, Deputy Chief 
of Staff, Personnel, Department of the Army; Vice Adm. Daniel T. 
Oliver, USN, Chief, Naval Personnel, Department of the Navy; Lt. Gen. 
Michael D. McGinty, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Personnel, Department 
of the Air Force; and Lt. Gen. Carol A. Mutter, USMC, Deputy Chief of 
Staff, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps.
RUSSIAN MISSILE DETARGETING AND NUCLEAR DOCTRINE
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Research and 
Development held a hearing on Russian Missile Detargeting and Nuclear 
Doctrine. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on the following measures: H.R. 39, 
to reauthorize the African Elephant Conservation Act; and H. Con. Res. 
8, expressing the sense of Congress with respect to the significance of 
maintaining the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Cunningham and Deutsch; Terry 
D. Garcia, Acting Assistant Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy 
Administrator, NOAA, Department of Commerce; Marshall Jones, Assistant 
Director, International Affairs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
DISPOSAL OF FEDERAL LANDS--ACQUISITION OF SENSITIVE LAND
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
held a hearing on H.R. 449, to provide for the orderly disposal of 
certain Federal lands in Clark County, Nevada, and to provide for the 
acquisition of environmentally sensitive lands in the State of Nevada. 
Testimony was heard from Senators Reid and Bryan; Mat Millenbach, 
Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; 
and public witnesses.
NSF AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Basic Research continued hearings 
on the NSF Fiscal Year 1998 Authorization, Part II: Math, Science, and 
Engineering Education Programs. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
NOAA BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a 
hearing on Fiscal Year 1998 Budget Authorization Request: NOAA. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Commerce: D. James Baker, Administrator, NOAA, and Under Secretary, 
Oceans and Atmospheres; and Frank DeGeorge, Inspector General; and Joel 
Willemssen, Director, Accounting and Information Management Division, 
GAO.

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NASA AUTHORIZATION
SPACE SHUTTLE PROGRAM
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a 
hearing on Fiscal Year NASA Authorization: Space Shuttle Program. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of NASA: Steve Oswald, 
Deputy Associate Administrator (Space Shuttle); and Paul M. Johnstone, 
Chairman, Aerospace Safety Panel; and a public witness.
FAA RESEARCH-ENGINEERING-DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing on FAA 
Research, Engineering and Development. Testimony was heard from George 
L. Donohue, Associate Administrator, Research and Acquisitions, FAA, 
Department of Transportation; 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 public witnesses.
MEDICARE PREVENTIVE BENEFIT IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
H.R. 15, Medicare Preventive Benefit Improvement Act of 1997. Testimony 
was heard from Speaker Gingrich; Representatives Sisisky, Nethercutt 
and Furse; and public witnesses.
BUDGET AUTHORIZATIONS--CUSTOMS, INTERNATIONAL TRADE COMMISSION, OFFICE 
OF THE TRADE REPRESENTATIVE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade approved for full 
Committee action Budget Authorizations for Fiscal Year 1998 and 1999 
for the U.S. Customs Service, the International Trade Commission, and 
the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.
AIRBORNE RECONNAISSANCE
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Technical 
and Tactical Intelligence met in executive session to hold a hearing on 
Airborne Reconnaissance. Testimony was heard from departmental 
witnesses.

Joint Meetings
INCOME TAX SYSTEM
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the 
economic problems of the income tax system, after receiving testimony 
from Lawrence B. Lindsey, former Member, Board of Governors of the 
Federal Reserve System; and Norman B. Ture, Institute for Research on 
the Economics of Taxation, Barry K. Rogstad, American Business 
Conference, and Lawrence Chimerine, Economic Strategy Institute, all of 
Washington, D.C.
GPO/ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING
Joint Committee on Printing: Committee concluded oversight hearings to 
review activities of the Government Printing Office, after receiving 
testimony from Michael F. DiMario, Public Printer, Wayne Kelley, 
Superintendent of Documents, and T.C. Evans, Product Services Manager, 
Office of Electronic Information Dissemination Services, Superintendent 
of Documents, all of the Government Printing Office.
  Also, committee met and elected Senator Warner as Chairman, and 
Representative Thomas as Vice Chairman.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee 
on Oversight of Government Management, Restructuring, and the District 
of Columbia concluded joint hearings with the House Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight's Subcommittee on the District of 
Columbia to examine the financial condition of the government of the 
District of Columbia, after receiving testimony from Mayor Marion 
Barry, Charlene Drew Jarvis, Chairwoman, City Council, Andrew Brimmer, 
Chairman, Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance Authority/
City Control Board, and Anthony Williams, Chief Financial Officer, all 
of the District of Columbia.
CHECHNYA
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): 
Commission held hearings on the future of Chechnya, receiving testimony 
from Tim Guldimann, Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe, 
Grozny, Chechnya.
  Commission recessed subject to call.