[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 67 (Tuesday, May 20, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D511-D512]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FINANCING NATIONAL FOREST ROADS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Forestry, Resource 
Conservation, and Research held a hearing to review the financing of 
National Forest roads. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
DOE CIVILIAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing 
on H.R. 1277, Department of Energy Civilian Research and Development 
Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from Kyle Simpson, Senior Policy 
Advisor, Department of Energy.
OVERSIGHT--CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISION DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held an 
oversight hearing regarding the Civil Rights Division of the Department 
of Justice. Testimony was heard from Isabelle Katz Pinzler, Acting 
Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Department of 
Justice; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held 
an oversight hearing regarding visa fraud and immigration benefits 
application fraud. Testimony was heard from Mary Ryan, Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State; the 
following officials of the Department of Justice: Paul W. Virtue, 
Acting Executive Associate Commissioner, Programs, Immigration and 
Naturalization Service; and Michael R. Bromwich, Inspector General; and 
Benjamin F. Nelson, Director, International Relations and Trade Issues, 
National Security and International Affairs Division, GAO.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held an oversight hearing on the agreement reached by the United 
States, the environmental community and the mining industry in the New 
World Mine proposed buyout. Testimony was heard from Kathleen A. 
McGinty, Chair, Council on Environmental Quality; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 60, to authorize the 
Secretary of the Interior to provide assistance to the Casa Malpais 
National Historic Landmark in Springerville, AZ; H.R. 951, to require 
the Secretary of the Interior to exchange certain lands located in 
Hinsdale, CO; H.R. 822, to facilitate a land exchange involving private 
land within the exterior boundaries of Wenatchee National Forest in 
Chelan County, WA; H.R. 1198, to direct the Secretary of the Interior 
to convey certain land to the City of Grants Pass, OR; and H.R. 960, to 
validate certain conveyances in the City of Tulare, Tulare County, CA. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Hayworth, Thomas, Hastings of 
Washington and Smith of Oregon; from the following officials of the 
Department of the Interior: Katherine H. Stevenson, Associate Director, 
Cultural Resource Stewardship and Partnership, National Park Service; 
and W. Hord Tipton, Assistant Director, Bureau of Land Management; and 
public witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL DOLPHIN CONSERVATION PROGRAM
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule 
providing 1 hour of debate on H.R. 408, International Dolphin 
Conservation Program Act. The rule provides that, in lieu of the 
Resources Committee amendment, the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute printed in the Congressional Record and numbered 1 shall be 
considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment, and said 
amendment shall be considered as read. Clause 7 of rule XVI 
(germaneness) is waived against the Resources Committee amendment in 
the nature of a substitute.
  The rule further provides for an amendment printed in the 
Congressional Record to be offered by Representative Miller of 
California or his designee; and said amendment shall be considered as 
read, shall be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by 
the proponent and an opponent, and shall not be subject to amendment.
  Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without 
instructions. Testimony was heard from Representatives Saxton, 
Gilchrest, Cunningham and Miller of California.
RURAL EMPOWERMENT
  Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Empowerment held a 
hearing on regulatory, tax, licensing incentives and impediments to 
empowerment in rural and impoverished communities. Testimony was 
heard from Senator Lugar; Representative Jones; and public 
witnesses.

[[Page D512]]



Joint Meetings
EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
Conferees: Continued in evening session to further resolve the 
differences between the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 1469, 
making emergency supplemental appropriations for recovery from natural 
disasters, and for overseas peacekeeping efforts, including those in 
Bosnia, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1997.
NATO ENLARGEMENT
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): 
Commission resumed hearings to examine the process to enlarge the 
membership of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), receiving 
testimony from H.E. Branislav Lichardus, Ambassador of the Slovak 
Republic to the United States; Gyorgy Banlaki, Ambassador of the 
Republic of Hungary to the United States; and Stefan Tafrov, 
Ambassador-at-Large of the Republic of Bulgaria to the United States.
  Hearings were recessed subject to call.