[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 118 (Tuesday, September 9, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D919-D920]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
THRIFT DEPOSITOR PROTECTION OVERSIGHT BOARD ABOLISHMENT ACT; COMMITTEE 
BUSINESS
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Ordered reported amended 
H.R. 2343, Thrift Depositor Protection Oversight Board Abolishment Act.
  Prior to this action, the Committee held a hearing on this 
legislation. Testimony was heard from John D. Hawke, Jr., Under 
Secretary, Domestic Finance, Department of the Treasury.
  The Committee also approved pending Committee business.
SCHOOL CHOICE LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early 
Childhood and Families held a hearing on School Choice legislative 
proposals. Testimony was heard from Senators Coats and Moseley-Braun; 
Speaker Gingrich; Representatives Armey, Watts of Oklahoma, Flake, 
Paul, Scott and DeLauro.
FREEDOM FROM RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION ACT
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the Freedom 
from Religious Persecution Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from 
Senator Specter; Representatives Wolf and Strickland; and John

[[Page D920]]

Shattuck, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and 
Labor, Department of State.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported amended the following 
bills: H.R. 1683, Jacob Wetterling Crimes Against Children and Sexually 
Violent Offenders Registration Improvements Act of 1997; H.R. 424, to 
provide for increased mandatory minimum sentences for criminals 
possessing firearms; and H.R. 1493, to require the Attorney General to 
establish a program in local prisons to identify, prior to arraignment, 
criminal aliens and aliens who are unlawfully present in the United 
States.
  The Committee also met and considered a private claims bill.
SECURITY AND FREEDOM THROUGH ENCRYPTION (SAFE) ACT
Committee on National Security: Ordered reported amended H.R. 695, 
Security and Freedom Through Encryption (SAFE) Act.
BOUNDARY WATERS CANOE AREA WILDERNESS
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held 
a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1739, BWCAW Accessibility and 
Fairness Act of 1997; and H.R. 2149, BWCA Wilderness Legacy Act. 
Testimony was heard from Senator Grams; Representatives Ramstad, Minge 
and Oberstar; Janice McDougle, Associate Deputy Chief, National Forest 
System, Forest Service, USDA; Tom Bakk, member, Legislature, State of 
Minnesota; and public witnesses.
OKLAHOMA CITY NATIONAL MEMORIAL ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
held a hearing on H.R. 1849, Oklahoma City National Memorial Act of 
1997. Testimony was heard from Representatives Lucas of Oklahoma and 
Istook; Maureen Finnerty, Associate Director, Park Operations and 
Education, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; John 
Poulard, Regional Administrator, Region 7, GSA; Ronald J. Norick, 
Mayor, Oklahoma City; and public witnesses.
PILOTS ENGAGED IN FLIGHT OPERATIONS OUTSIDE U.S.--APPLY RAILWAY LABOR 
ACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing on H.R. 991, to amend the Railway Labor Act 
concerning the applicability of requirements of that Act to U.S. air 
carriers and flight deck crews engaged in flight operations outside the 
United States. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
REPORT--NATIONAL COMMISSION ON RESTRUCTURING THE IRS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight continued 
hearings on the Recommendations of the National Commission on 
Restructuring the Internal Revenue Service to expand Electronic Filing 
of Tax Systems Improvements. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of the Treasury: Donald C. Lubick, Acting 
Assistant Secretary, Tax Policy; and Michael P. Dolan, Acting 
Commissioner, IRS; and public witnesses.
ENCRYPTION LEGISLATION
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 695, Security and Freedom 
Through Encryption (SAFE) Act; and S. 909, Secure Public Networks Act 
of 1997. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION
Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between 
the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 2016, making 
appropriations for military construction, family housing, and base 
realignment and closure for the Department of Defense for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 1998.