[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 64 (Thursday, May 15, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D491-D492]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
USDA'S PROGRESS IN IMPLEMENTING DAIRY REFORMS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry 
held a hearing to review the USDA's progress in implementing the dairy 
reforms in the Foreign Agriculture Improvement and Reform Act of 1996. 
Testimony was heard from Lon Hatamiya, Administrator, Agricultural 
Marketing Service, USDA; and public witnesses.
TREASURY DEPARTMENT STUDY OF CASH SURPLUSES
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on the 
Department of the Treasury Study of Cash Surpluses at the San Antonio 
Branch of the Dallas Federal Reserve Bank. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of the Treasury: James Johnson, 
Assistant Secretary, Enforcement; Stanley Morris, Director, Financial 
Crimes Enforcement Network; and Edward Federico, Deputy Assistant 
Commissioner, IRS; Jonathan Wiener. Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
International Narcotics and Law Enforcement, Department of State; and 
public witnesses.
CONCURRENT BUDGET RESOLUTION
Committee on the Budget: Began markup of the Fiscal Year l998 
Concurrent Budget Resolution.
  Will continue tomorrow.
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 the following officials of the EPA: 
Carol M. Browner, Administrator; Mary D. Nichols, Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation; and Jonathan Z. Cannon, 
General Counsel.
OVERSIGHT--JUDICIAL MISCONDUCT AND DISCIPLINE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual 
Property held an oversight hearing on Judicial Misconduct and 
Discipline. Testimony was heard from Representatives Barr of Georgia, 
DeLay, Hostettler and Lowey; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL MISSILE DEFENSE
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Research and 
Development and the Subcommittee on Military Procurement held a joint 
hearing on National Missile Defense. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: Paul Kaminski, Under 
Secretary (Acquisition and Technology); and Lt. Gen. Lester L. Lyles, 
USAF, Director, Ballistic Missile Defense Organization.
MIGRATORY BIRD TREATY REFORM ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 741, Migratory Bird Treaty 
Reform Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from Senator Breaux; 
Representative Stearns; Robert Streeter, Assistant Director, Refuges 
and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the 
Interior; Brent Manning, Director, Department of Natural Resources, 
State of Illinois; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
held an oversight hearing on Bureau of Land Management Law Enforcement 
Authorities. Testimony was heard from Sylvia Baca, Acting Director, 
Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; and public 
witnesses.
EMPLOYMENT, TRAINING, AND LITERACY ENHANCEMENT ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote an open rule providing 1 hour 
of debate on H.R. 1385, Employment, Training, and Literacy Enhancement 
Act of 1997. The rule makes in order the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce amendment in the nature of a substitute as an original bill 
for amendment purposes, which shall be considered by division rather 
than by section and each division shall be considered as read. The rule 
waives clause 5(a) of rule XXI (appropriating on a legislative bill) 
against the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  The rule provides for the consideration of the amendment numbered 1 
printed in the Congressional Record if offered by Representative McKeon 
or his designee, which is considered as read, not subject to amendment 
or to a division of the question, and is debatable for 10 minutes 
equally divided between the proponent and an opponent. If adopted, the 
amendment is considered as part of the base text for further amendment 
purposes. 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 
Goodling and Representatives McKeon, Kildee and Clay.

[[Page D492]]


``DOES OPIC HELP SMALL BUSINESS EXPORTERS?''
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Tax, Finance, and Exports 
held a hearing on ``Does OPIC Help Small Business Exporters?'' 
Testimony was heard from Mildred O. Callear, Acting President and CEO, 
Overseas Private Investment Corporation, U.S. International Development 
Cooperation Agency; and public witnesses.
ONE YEAR AFTER VALUJET CRASH
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing on One Year After Valujet Crash--FAA Response 
to Hazmat and Cargo Fire Protection Issues. Testimony was heard from 
Barry Valentine, Acting Administrator, FAA, Department of 
Transportation; James E. Hall, Chairman, National Transportation Board; 
and public witnesses.
INNOVATIVE FINANCING--ACQUIRING FEDERAL REAL ESTATE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Public 
Buildings and Economic Development held a hearing on Innovative 
Financing for Acquiring Federal Real Estate and Scoring Issues. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Blumenauer; Robert A. Peck, 
Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, GSA; Herbert M. Franklin, 
Executive Officer, Architect of the Capitol; and public witnesses.
VETERANS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health approved for 
full Committee action the following: H.R. 1362, amended, Veterans 
Medicare Reimbursement Demonstration Act of 1997; and a measure on 
physician's special pay.
OVERSIGHT--U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held an oversight 
hearing on U.S. Customs Service. Testimony was heard from George Weise, 
Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury; Norman 
J. Rabkin, Director, Administration of Justice Issues, General 
Government Division, GAO; and public witnesses.
BRIEFING--NORTH KOREA
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on North Korea. The Committee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
COLUMBIA BASIN PLAN
Joint Hearings: Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources' 
Subcommittee on Forests and Public Land Management concluded joint 
hearings with the House Committee on Resources' Subcommittee on Forests 
and Forest Health to review proposed environmental impact statements, 
and a related alternative, relating to the Interior Columbia Basin 
Ecosystem Management Project, initiated by the Forest Service and 
Bureau of Land Management to respond to forest and rangeland ecosystem 
health, after receiving testimony from Senator Kempthorne; 
Representative Nethercutt; and Bob Williams, Regional Forester, Pacific 
Northwest Region, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture, on behalf 
of the Executive Steering Committee of the Interior Columbia Basin 
Ecosystem Management Project.