[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 49 (Wednesday, April 23, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D375-D377]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AIR QUALITY ISSUES RELATING TO AGRICULTURE
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Forestry, Resource 
Conservation, and Research held a hearing on air quality issues 
relating to the agricultural industry. Testimony was heard from Paul 
Johnson, Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service, USDA; and 
public witnesses.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent 
Agencies held a hearing on Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony 
was heard from Jesse Brown, Secretary of Veterans Affairs.

[[Page D376]]


HOUSING OPPORTUNITY AND RESPONSIBILITY ACT
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Ordered Reported Amended 
H.R. 2, Housing Opportunity and Responsibility Act of 1997.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG USER FEE ACT REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a 
hearing on Reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act and 
FDA Reform. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
FDA, Department of Health and Human Services: Michael A. Friedman, 
M.D., Lead Deputy Commissioner; William Schultz, Deputy Commissioner, 
Policy; and Robert Byrd, Deputy Commissioner, Management and Systems; 
and public witnesses.
COLLEGE EDUCATION--RISING COST
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Postsecondary 
Education, Training and Life-Long Learning held a hearing on the Rising 
Price of a College Education. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
CENSUS 2000
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information, and Technology held a hearing on 
``Census 2000: How Should the Federal Government Measure Race and 
Ethnicity''. Testimony was heard from Representatives Meek of Florida, 
Petri and Sawyer; Sally Katzen, Administrator, Office of Information 
and Regulatory Affairs, OMB; Martha Farnsworth Riche, Director, Bureau 
of the Census, Department of Commerce; Norma Cantu, Assistant 
Secretary, Civil Rights, Department of Education; Edward Sondik, 
Director, National Center for Health Statistics, Department of Health 
and Human Services; and Bernard Ungar, Associate Director, Federal 
Management and Workforce Issues, GAO.
PARTICULAR MATTER AND OZONE--EPA'S PROPOSED STANDARDS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Economic Growth, National Resources, and Regulatory Affairs concluded 
hearings on ``EPA's Particulate Matter and Ozone Rulemaking: Is EPA 
Above the Law''. Testimony was heard from Carol Browner, Administrator, 
EPA; Sally Katzen, Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory 
Affairs, OMB; and Jere Glover, Chief Counsel for Advocacy, SBA.
CAMBODIA--TERRORIST GRENADE ATTACK; SINO-AMERICAN RELATIONS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific approved for full Committee action H. Res. 121, expressing the 
sense of the House of Representatives regarding the March 30, 1997, 
terrorist grenade attack in Cambodia.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Sino-American Relations and 
U.S. Policy Options. Testimony was heard from Jeffrey Bader, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of 
State; Winston Lord, former Assistant Secretary, East Asian and Pacific 
Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses.
VOLUNTARY LIABILITY MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 
911, Volunteer Protection Act of 1997 and H.R. 1167, Volunteer 
Protection Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from Senators Coverdell, 
McConnell Ashcroft and Santorum; Speaker Gingrich and Representative 
Porter; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--BORDER SECURITY AND DETERRING ILLEGAL ENTRY
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held 
an oversight hearing on regarding border security and deterring illegal 
entry into the United States. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Reyes; the following officials of the Department of Justice: Alan 
Bersin, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of California; and George 
Regan, Acting Assistant Commissioner for Enforcement, Immigration and 
Naturalization Service; Samuel H. Banks, Deputy Commissioner, U.S. 
Custom Service, Department of the Treasury; Jonathan M. Winer, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, International Narcotics Matters and Law 
Enforcement Affairs, Department of State; Richard Gallo, Senior Special 
Agent, USDA; and public witnesses.
FAA RESEARCH, ENGINEERING AND DEVELOPMENT AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote an open rule providing 1 hour 
of debate on H.R. 1271, FAA Research, Engineering, and Development 
Authorization Act of 1997. The rule waives section 306 (prohibiting 
consideration of legislation within the Budget Committee's jurisdiction 
unless the Budget Committee reports it) of the Congressional Budget Act 
of 1974 against consideration of the bill. The rule makes in order the 
Committee on Science amendment in the nature of a substitute as an 
original bill for amendment purposes, with each section considered as 
read. Section 306 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is waived 
against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. The rule

[[Page D377]]

authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who 
have pre-printed the amendments in the Congressional Record. Finally, 
the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Sensenbrenner, Representatives 
Morella and Brown of California.
NSF AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Rules: The Committee granted by voice vote an open rule 
providing 1 hour of debate on H.R. 1273, National Science Foundation 
Authorization Act of 1997. The rule makes in order the Committee on 
Science amendment in the nature of a substitute as an original bill for 
amendment purposes, with each title considered as read. The rule 
authorizes the Chair to accord priority in the recognition to members 
who have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional Record. 
Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without 
instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Sensenbrenner, 
Representatives Morella and Brown of California.
NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Rules: The Committee granted by voice vote an open rule 
providing 1 hour of debate on H.R. 1274, National Institute of 
Standards and Technology Authorization Act of 1997. The rule waives 
points of order against consideration of the bill for failure to comply 
with clause 2(1)(6) of rule XI (3 day availability of committee 
reports). The rule makes in order the Committee on Science amendment in 
the nature of a substitute as an original bill for amendment purposes, 
with each section considered as read. The rule authorizes the Chair to 
accord priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed their 
amendments in the Congressional Record. Finally, the rule provides one 
motion to recommit, with or without instructions. Testimony was heard 
from Chairman Sensenbrenner, Representatives Morella and Brown of 
California.
CIVILIAN SPACE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote an open rule providing 1 hour 
of debate on H.R. 1275, Civilian Space Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 
1998 and 1999. The rule waives points of order against consideration of 
the bill for failure to comply with clause 2(l)(6) of rule XI (3 day 
availability of committee reports). The rule makes in order the 
Committee on Science amendment in the nature of a substitute as an 
original bill for amendment purposes. The rule further provides that 
the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute be considered by 
title, with each title being considered as read. The rule authorizes 
the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members who have pre-
printed their amendments in the Congressional Record. Finally, the rule 
provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Sensenbrenner, Representatives 
Morella and Brown of California.
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology concluded hearings on 
Surface Transportation Research and Development, Research Needs for the 
Next Century. Part II. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESS FAMILIES TAX BURDEN
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on Tax Burden on Small 
Business Families. Testimony was heard from Senator Bond; and public 
witnesses.
CLEAN WATER AND DRINKING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE NEEDS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Meeting Clean Water and 
Drinking Water Infrastructure Needs. Testimony was heard from Robert 
Perciasepe, Assistant Administrator, EPA; Robert McManus, Mayor, Lynn, 
Massachusetts; Bruce Tobey, Mayor, Gloucester, Massachusetts; and 
public witnesses.
ADOPTION PROMOTION ACT; WELFARE REFORM TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported amended the following 
bills: H.R. 867, Adoption Promotion Act of 1997, and H.R. 1048, Welfare 
Reform Technical Corrections Act of 1997.
LOW-INCOME HOUSING TAX CREDIT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
on the low-income housing tax credit. Testimony was heard from James K. 
White, Associate Director, Tax Policy and Administration, GAO; Thomas 
Smith, Assistant Commissioner, Examination, IRS, Department of the 
Treasury; and a public witness.
  Hearings continue May l.
DEA BRIEFING REGARDING MEXICO
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on DEA regarding Mexico. The Committee was briefed 
by departmental witnesses.