[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 36 (Wednesday, March 19, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D272-D275]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
TREATMENT OF MINORITY AND LIMITED RESOURCE PRODUCERS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations, 
Nutrition, and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing to review treatment 
of minority and limited resource producers by the United States 
Department of Agriculture. Testimony was heard from Robert Robinson, 
Director, Food and Agriculture Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Federal 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 Natural Resources 
Conservation Service. Testimony was heard from James R. Lyons, Under 
Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State 
and Judiciary held a hearing on Drug Enforcement and on International 
Organizations and Peacekeeping. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Justice: Thomas A. Constantine, 
Administrator, DEA; Carol DiBattiste, Director, Executive Office, U.S. 
Attorney; and Mary Lee Warren, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, 
Criminal Division, Interagency Crime, Drug Enforcement and Task Forces; 
and the following officials of the Department of State: Ambassador Bill 
Richardson, U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations; and 
Princeton N. Lyman, Acting Assistant Secretary, International 
Organization Affairs.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on the Secretary of Energy. Testimony was 
heard from Federico Pena, Secretary of 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 AID Administrator. 
Testimony was heard from Brian Atwood, Administrator, AID, U.S. 
International Development Cooperation Agency.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on 
Smithsonian Institution. Testimony was heard from I. Michael Heyman, 
Secretary, Smithsonian Institution.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on the Railroad Retirement 
Board; the U.S. Institute of Peace; the Corporation for Public 
Broadcasting; and the National Labor Relations Board. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Railroad Retirement Board: 
Martin J. Dickman, Inspector General, Glen L. Bower, Chairman, V.M. 
Speakman, Jr., Labor Member, and Jerome F. Kever, Management Member, 
Richard H. Solomon, President, U.S. Institute of Peace; Ambassador 
Richard W. Carlson, President and CEO, The Corporation for Public 
Broadcasting; and Fred Feinstein, General Counsel, National Labor 
Relations Board.
NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a 
hearing on Military Quality of Life and on Department of Defense 
Medical Programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Defense: MCPO John Hagen, USN, Master Chief Petty 
Officer, Navy; Sgt. Maj. L.G. Lee, USMC; CMS Eric W. Benken, USAF, 
Chief Master Sgt., Air Force; Stephen Joseph, Assistant Secretary, 
Health Affairs; Lt. Gen. Ronald Blanck, USA, Surgeon General, Army; 
Vice Adm. Harold M. Hoenig, USN, Surgeon General, Navy; and Lt. Gen. 
Charles H. Roadman, Jr., USAF, Surgeon General, Air Force.
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a 
hearing on Federal Transit Administration and on Washington 
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Testimony was heard from Gordon 
Linton, Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Department of 
Transportation; and Richard White, General Manager, Washington 
Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.

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TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, 
and General Government held a hearing on the Office of National Drug 
Control Policy. Testimony was heard from Barry McCaffrey, Director, 
Office of National Drug Control Policy.
VA, HUD, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent 
Agencies concluded hearings on the Department of Housing and Urban 
Development. Testimony was heard from Andrew M. Cuomo, Secretary of 
Housing and Urban Development.
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 
Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System.
MEDICARE PROVIDER SERVICE NETWORKS
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a 
hearing on Medicare Provider Service Networks. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Greenwood and Stenholm; and public witnesses.
WTO TELECOM AGREEMENT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing on WTO Telecom Agreement: Results 
and Next Steps. Testimony was heard from Charlene Barshefsky, U.S. 
Trade Representative; Reed E. Hundt, Chairman, FCC; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on the 
Postal Service held an oversight hearing of the United States Postal 
Service: Inspector General U.S. Postal Service; Governors of the U.S. 
Postal Service. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
U.S. Postal Service: Karla W. Corcoran, Inspector General; Tirso del 
Junco, Chairman; Susan E. Alvarado, Bert H. Mackie, Einar V. Dyhrkopp 
and S. David Fineman, all Governors.
OVERSIGHT--OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
Committee on House Oversight: Held an oversight hearing on Office of 
Compliance. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Office of Compliance: Glen Nager, Chairman; Ricky Silberman, Executive 
Director; and Lawrence Lorber, Board member.
AFRICA'S NATURAL RESOURCES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a 
hearing on Economic Development of Africa's Natural Resources. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Shaw; and public witnesses.
HELMS-BURTON CHALLENGES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Economic Policy and Trade, hearing on Interfering with U.S. National 
Security Interests: The World Trade Organization and the European Union 
Challenge to the Helms-Burton bill. Testimony was heard from Senator 
Torricelli; Representatives Diaz-Balart and Menendez; and public 
witnesses.
U.S. POLICY--WESTERN HEMISPHERE
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere held an overview hearing on U.S. Policy in the Western 
Hemisphere. Testimony was heard from Jeffrey Davidow, Assistant 
Secretary, Inter-American Affairs, Department of State; and Mark 
Schneider, Assistant Administrator, Latin American and Caribbean 
Affairs, AID, U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency.
CHURCH ARSON PREVENTION ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Held an oversight hearing on the 
implementation of the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996 (Public Law 
104-155). Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Justice: Isabelle Katz Pinzler, Acting Assistant Attorney 
General; and Patricia Glenn, National Coordinator, Church Burning 
Response Team, Community Relations Service; James E. Johnson, Assistant 
Secretary, Enforcement, Department of the Treasury; Jacquie M. Lawing, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Economic Development Community Planning and 
Development, Department of Housing and Urban Development; and public 
witnesses.
DOD AUTHORIZATION
Committee on National Security: Continued hearings on the 
Administration's fiscal year 1998 Department of Defense authorization. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
the Army: Gen. J. H. Binford Peay, III, USA, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. 
Central Command; George A. Joulwan, USA, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. 
European Command; and Gen. Wesley K. Clark, USA, Commander-in-Chief, 
U.S. Southern Command.

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MARITIME ADMINISTRATION AND PANAMA CANAL COMMISSION AUTHORIZATIONS
Committee on National Security: Merchant Marine Panel held a hearing on 
fiscal year 1998 Maritime Administration authorization request and 
related matters, and the fiscal year 1998 Panama Canal Commission 
authorization request and related matters. Testimony was heard from 
Albert J. Herberger, Administrator, Maritime Administration, Department 
of Transportation; and the following officials of the Panama Canal 
Commission: Joe R. Reeder, Under Secretary of the Army and Chairman of 
the Board; and Alberto Aleman, Administrator.
DOD AUTHORIZATION--BALLISTIC MISSILE DEFENSE
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Procurement 
and Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint 
hearing on fiscal year 1998 Department of Defense authorization 
request--Ballistic Missile Defense. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: Brig. Gen. Curtis H. 
Emery, USA, Director, Theater Air and Missile Defenses; and J. David 
Martin, Deputy for Strategic Relations, both with the Ballistic Missile 
Defense Organization; and public witnesses.
U.S.-PUERTO RICO POLITICAL STATUS ACT
Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 856, United States-
Puerto Rico Political Status Act. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Burton of Indiana, Gutierrez, McCollum, Serrano, 
Deutsch, and Velazquez; Pedro Rossello, Governor, Puerto Rico; and 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; OVERSIGHT--FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICES BUDGET 
REQUEST
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans approved for full Committee action the following 
measures: H.R. 39, to reauthorize the African Elephant Conservation 
Act, and H. Con. Res. 8, amended, expressing the sense of Congress with 
respect to the significance of maintaining the health and stability of 
coral reef ecosystems.
  The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on the budget request 
for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services for Fiscal Year 1998. Testimony 
was heard from John Rogers, Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior.
PARTIAL BIRTH ABORTION BAN
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule on H.R. 1122, 
to amend title 18, United States Code, to ban partial-birth abortions. 
The rule provides two hours of debate equally divided and controlled by 
the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the 
Judiciary. Finally the rule provides one motion to recommit. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Hyde, Canady, Barr of Georgia, 
Greenwood, Conyers, Frank of Massachusetts, Scott, Jackson-Lee, Hoyer, 
and Obey.
COMMITTEE FUNDING
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 9 to 4, a modified closed 
rule on H. Res. 91, providing amounts for the expenses of certain 
committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Fifth 
Congress, without the intervention of any point of order. The rule 
provides that the Committee on House Oversight amendment in the nature 
of a substitute printed in the resolution shall be considered as 
adopted. The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on House Oversight.
  The rule provides that the further amendment specified in the report 
of the Committee on Rules, if offered by a member designated in the 
report, shall be in order without intervention of any point of order, 
and shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally 
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. Finally, the 
rule provides one motion to recommit. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Thomas, Gejdenson, and Waxman.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a 
hearing on fiscal year 1998 Budget Authorization Request: Department of 
Energy, Fossil Energy R & D, Clean Coal Technology Program, and Energy 
Efficiency and Renewable Energy and H.R. 363, to amend section 2118 of 
the Energy Policy Act of 1992 to extend the Electric and Magnetic 
Fields Research and Public Information Dissemination Program. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Energy: 
Patricia Fry Godley, Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy, and Christine 
A. Ervin, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; 
Paul Gilman, Executive Director, Commission of Life Sciences, National 
Research Council, National Academy of Sciences; and a public witness..
NASA AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a 
hearing on fiscal year 1998 NASA Authorization: Mission to Planet 
Earth. Testimony was heard from the following officials of NASA:

[[Page D275]]

William F. Townsend, Associate Administrator, Office of Mission to 
Planet Earth; and Sam Venneri, Chief Technologist; Steven C. Wofsy; and 
public witnesses.
TECHNOLOGY ADMINISTRATION AND NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND 
TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing on 
funding needs for the Technology Administration and the National 
Institute of Standards and Technology. Testimony was heard from Mary 
Good, Under Secretary, Technology, Department of Commerce.
BUDGET REQUEST--U.S. COAST GUARD AND FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on the 
Administration's fiscal year 1998 budget request for the U.S. Coast 
Guard and the Federal Maritime Commission. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Transportation: Adm. Robert 
Kramek, Commandant; Master Chief Petty Officer Eric A. Trent, and 
Everette L. Tucker, Jr., USCG, Commodore, Auxiliary, all with the U.S. 
Coast Guard; and Harold J. Creel, Jr., Chairman, Maritime Commission; 
and public witnesses.
CALIFORNIA FLOODING
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on recent flooding in 
California. Testimony was heard from Representatives Herger, Fazio, 
Pombo and Miller of California; from the following officials of FEMA: 
James Lee Witt, Director; and Lacy Suiter, Executive Associate 
Director, Response and Recovery Program; Maj. Gen. Russell L. Fuhrman, 
USA, Director, Civil Works, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army; 
Warren M. Lee, Director, Watersheds and Wetlands, USDA; Gerry A. 
Jackson, Deputy Assistant Director, Ecological Services, U.S. Fish and 
Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES; BUDGET PROPOSAL SAVING AND INVESTMENT 
PROVISIONS
Committee on Ways and Means: Approved Committee Budget Views and 
Estimates for Fiscal Year 1998 for transmission to the Committee on the 
Budget.
  The Committee also held a hearing on savings and investment 
provisions in the Administration's fiscal year 1998 budget proposal. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives McCrery, Neal, Dunn, 
Christensen, Dreier, Cox of California, Peterson of Minnesota, Deutsch, 
Pomeroy and McCarthy of Missouri; Jane G. Gravelle, Senior Specialist, 
Economic Policy, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; 
and public witnesses.
BUDGET--OVERHEAD COLLECTION
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in an executive session 
to hold a hearing on the Budget--overhead collection. Testimony was 
heard from departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
AUTO INSURANCE REFORM
Joint Economic Committee: Committee held hearings to examine the 
problems of the current automobile insurance system and the need for 
reform, focusing on more insurance options, better service, and reduced 
premiums and litigation costs, receiving testimony from New Jersey 
Governor Christine Whitman, Trenton; Michael Horowitz, Hudson 
Institute, J. Robert Hunter, Consumer Federation of America, and 
Stephen Carroll, RAND Institute for Civil Justice, all of Washington, 
D.C.; and Jeffrey O'Connell, University of Virginia School of Law, 
Charlottesville.
  Hearings were recessed subject to call.
DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint 
hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to review the 
legislative recommendations of the Disabled American Veterans, after 
receiving testimony from Gregory C. Reed, Disabled American Veterans, 
Washington, D.C., who was accompanied by several of his associates.