[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 59 (Thursday, May 8, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D455-D457]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
DAIRY AND RELATED PRODUCTS TRADE BETWEEN U.S. AND EUROPEAN UNION
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry 
held a hearing to review the status and future prospects for trade in 
livestock, dairy, and poultry products between the United States and 
the European Union. Testimony was heard from Representative Watkins; 
Paul Drazek, Special Assistant to the Secretary, International Trade, 
USDA; and public witnesses.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on District of Columbia held 
a hearing on D.C. Privatization of the Financial Management System. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
REAUTHORIZATIONS--EXPORT-IMPORT BANK AND U.S. PARTICIPATION IN 
INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic 
and International Monetary Policy approved for full Committee action as 
amended the following bills: H.R. 1370, to reauthorize the Export-
Import Bank of the United States; and H.R. 1488, to authorize U.S. 
participation in various international financial Institutions.
REVIEW OF EPA'S OZONE AND PARTICULATE MATTER NAAQS REVISIONS
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment and 
Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations continued joint hearings 
on Review of EPA's Proposed Ozone and Particulate Matter NAAQS 
Revisions. Testimony was heard from Frederick W. Lipfert, Department of 
Applied Science, Brookhaven National Laboratory; and public witnesses.
  Hearings continue May 15.
EXPANSION OF PORTABILITY AND HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-
Employee Relations held a hearing on H.R. 1515, Expansion of 
Portability and Health Insurance Coverage Act of 1997. Testimony was 
heard from Representative Moran of Virginia; Kathleen Sebelius, 
Commissioner of Insurance, State of Kansas; and public witnesses.
DOLLARS TO THE CLASSROOM
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Dollars to the Classroom. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Pitts, Graham and Blunt; Barbara Stock 
Nielsen, Superintendent of Education and CEO, Department of Education, 
State of South Carolina; and public witnesses.

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OVERSIGHT--GPO
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information and Technology held a hearing on 
``Oversight of the GPO''. Testimony was heard from Michael DiMario, 
Public Printer, GPO; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Human 
Resources held an oversight hearing of the NIH and FDA: Bioethics and 
the Adequacy of Informed Consent. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: 
William Raub, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Acting Executive Director, 
National Bioethics Advisory Committee; Mary Pendergast, Deputy 
Commissioner, FDA; David Satcher, M.D., Director, Centers for Disease 
Control and Prevention; and Harold Varmus, M.D., Director, NIH; and 
public witnesses.
ENCRYPTION
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Economic Policy and Trade held a hearing on Encryption: Individual 
Right to Privacy vs. National Security. Testimony was heard from 
William Reinsch, Under Secretary, Bureau of Export Administration, 
Department of Commerce; William Crowell, Deputy Director, NSA, 
Department of Defense; Robert Litt, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, 
Criminal Division, Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
FLAG DESECRATION--CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution approved 
for full Committee action H.J. Res. 54, proposing an amendment to the 
Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit 
the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION BUDGET
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Installations 
and Facilities held a hearing on the fiscal year 1998 military 
construction budget. Testimony was heard from Representatives Gordon, 
Farr, Pappas, Pallone, Whitfield, Bryant, Stupak, Smith of New Jersey 
and Frelinghuysen; and public witnesses.
READY RESERVE MOBILIZATION PROGRAM STATUS
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held 
a hearing on the status of the Ready Reserve Mobilization Insurance 
Program. Testimony was heard from Mark E. Gebicke, Director, Military 
Operations and Capabilities Issues, National Security and International 
Affairs Division, GAO; and the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: Robert J. Lieberman, Jr., Assistant Inspector General, 
Auditing; and Deborah R. Lee, Assistant Secretary, Reserve Affairs.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health 
approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 985, 
amended, to provide for the expansion of the Eagles Nest Wilderness 
within Arapaho and White River National Forests, CO, to include the 
lands known as the Slate Creek Addition upon the acquisition of the 
lands by the United States; H.R. 1019, to provide for a boundary 
adjustment and land conveyance involving the Raggeds Wilderness, White 
River National Forest, CO, to correct the effects of earlier erroneous 
land surveys; H.R. 1020, to adjust the boundary of the White River 
National Forest in the State of Colorado to include all National Forest 
System lands within Summit County, CO, which are currently part of the 
Dillon Ranger District of the Arapaho National Forest; H.R. 1439, 
amended, to facilitate the sale of certain land in Tahoe National 
Forest, in the State of California to Placer County, California; and 
H.R. 79, amended, Hoopa Valley Reservation South Boundary Adjustment 
Act.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 765, to 
ensure maintenance of a herd of wild horses in Cape Lookout National 
Seashore; and H.R. 1127, National Monument Fairness Act of 1997.
VETERANS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on the following: H.R. 1362, Veterans Medicare Reimbursement 
Demonstration Act of 1997; and proposals on both Medical Care Cost 
Recovery and physician's special pay. Testimony was heard from Kathleen 
A. Buto, Associate Administrator, Policy, Health Care Financing 
Administration, Department of Health and Human Services; Paul Van de 
Water, Assistant Director, Budget Analysis, CBO; Kenneth Kizer, M.D., 
Under Secretary, Health, Veterans Health Administration, Department of 
Veterans Affairs; and representatives of veterans organizations.
IRS' 1995 EARNED INCOME TAX CREDIT COMPLIANCE STUDY
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on the Internal Revenue 
Service's 1995 Earned Income Tax Credit Compliance Study. Testimony was 
heard from

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the following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Michael P. 
Dolan, Deputy Commissioner and Ted F. Brown, Assistant Commissioner, 
Criminal Investigation, both with the IRS and John Karl Scholz, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Tax Analysis; and Lynda D. Willis, Director, Tax 
Policy and Administration Issues, General Government Division, GAO.