[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 80 (Tuesday, June 10, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D593-D594]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on National Institute of Health 
Priority-Setting. Testimony was heard from Harold Varmus, M.D., 
Director, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services.
BUDGET RECONCILIATION
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment approved 
for full Committee action the following Budget Reconciliation 
recommendations: Title IV--Committee on Commerce-Medicare; Title III, 
Subtitle E--Medicaid; and Title III, Subtitle F--Child Health 
Assistance Programs.
BUDGET RECONCILIATION
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection approved for full Committee action amended the 
following Budget Reconciliation recommendation: Title III, Subtitle D--
Communications.
OVERSIGHT--FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held an oversight hearing on the Family and Medical 
Leave Act. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE; BUDGET RECONCILIATION
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Civil 
Service approved for full Committee action the following: H.R. 1316, to 
amend chapter 87 of title 5, United States Code, with respect to the 
order of precedence to be applied in the payment of life insurance 
benefits; and Budget Reconciliation recommendations.
OVERSIGHT--DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S: MISSION, MANAGEMENT AND PERFORMANCE
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Human 
Resources continued hearings on Department of Labor's: Mission, 
Management, and Performance. Testimony was heard from Alexis M. Herman, 
Secretary of Labor.
ADMINISTRATION'S--TRADE PRIORITIES
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Trade 
Priorities of the Administration. Testimony was heard from Charlene 
Barshefsky, U.S. Trade Representative.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual 
Property approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 
567, Madrid Protocol Implementation Act; H.R. 1661, amended, to 
implement the provisions of the Trademark Law

[[Page D594]]

Treaty; H.R. 1581, to reauthorize the program established under chapter 
44 of title 28, United States Code, relating to arbitration; and H.R. 
1252, amended, Judicial Reform Act of 1997.
PROHIBITION OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS WITH COUNTRIES SUPPORTING 
TERRORISM ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on 
H.R. 748, Prohibition of Financial Transactions with Countries 
Supporting Terrorism Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from William C. 
Ramsay, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Energy, Sanctions, and Commodities, 
Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Department of State; R. 
Richard Newcomb, Director, Office of Foreign Assets Control, Department 
of the Treasury; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Procurement 
approved for full Committee action H.R. 1119, National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Research and 
Development approved for full Committee action H.R. 1119, National 
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Years 1998 and 1999.
AMERICAN LAND SOVEREIGNTY PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 901, American Land 
Sovereignty Protection Act. Testimony was heard from Rafe Pomerance, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Oceans and International Environmental and 
Scientific Affairs, Department of State; Denis P. Galvin, Acting Deputy 
Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; Charles P. 
Childers, Representative, State of Wyoming; Jeannette James, 
Representative, State of Alaska; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources; Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 588, National Discovery 
Trails Act of 1997; and H.R. 1513, to amend the National Trails System 
Act to designate the Lincoln National Historic Trail as a component of 
the National Trails System. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Bereuter; Katherine H. Stevenson, Associate Director, Cultural Resource 
Stewardship and Partnership, National Park Service, Department of the 
Interior; Robert C. Joslin, Deputy Chief, Forest Service, USDA; and 
public witnesses.
NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate, on H.R. 437, National Sea Grant College Program 
Reauthorization Act of 1997, with 40 minutes equally divided between 
the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Resources 
and 20 minutes equally divided between the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Science. The rule provides that, in 
lieu of the Science Committee amendment now printed in the bill, that 
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 provides that the amendment 
shall be considered as read. Finally, the rule provides one motion to 
recommit, with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Saxton.
DESECRATION OF THE FLAG--CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing 2 
hours of debate on 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. The rule 
provides one motion to recommit which may include instructions only if 
offered by the Minority Leader or his designee, and if including 
instructions, shall be debatable for 1 hour equally divided between the 
proponent and an opponent. Testimony was heard from Chairman Hyde and 
Representative Canady.
BUDGET RECONCILIATION WELFARE RECOMMENDATIONS
Committee on Ways and Means: Approved welfare reconciliation 
recommendations to be transmitted to the Committee on the Budget for 
inclusion in Budget Reconciliation legislation.