[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 139 (Wednesday, October 8, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1086-D1088]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
BANK EXAMINATION AND SUPERVISION SYSTEMS
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial 
Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing on Current and Future 
Bank Examination and Supervision Systems. Testimony was heard from Tom 
McCool, Director, Financial Institutions and Market Issues Division, 
GAO; Susan Phillips, member, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve 
System; the following officials of the Department of the Treasury: 
Eugene Ludwig, Comptroller of the Currency; and Nicholas Retsinas, 
Acting Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Andrew C. Hove, Jr., 
Acting Chairman, FDIC; Lori A. Richards, Director, Office of Compliance 
Inspections and Examinations, SEC; Kathryn Gighlieri, Commissioner of 
Banking, State of Texas; and public witnesses.

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LONG-TERM BUDGET PROBLEMS
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on long-term budget problems 
relating to the retirement of the baby boomers. Testimony was heard 
from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve 
System.
WORKER PAYCHECK FAIRNESS ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported amended H.R. 
1625, Worker Paycheck Fairness Act.
CAMPAIGN FINANCE IMPROPRIETIES AND POSSIBLE LAW VIOLATIONS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Began discussions 
regarding ``Campaign Finance Improprieties and Possible Violations of 
Law''.
FEHB RATE HIKES--WHAT'S BEHIND THEM?
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Civil 
Service held a hearing on ``FEHB Rate Hikes--What's Behind Them?'' 
Testimony was heard from William E. Flynn, III, Associate Director, 
Retirement and Insurance Services, OPM; Joseph A. Antos, Assistant 
Director, Health and Human Resources, CBO; and a public witness.
OVERSIGHT--GSA'S GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS STRATEGIC PLAN
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information, and Technology held a hearing on 
Oversight of GSA's Government Performance and Results Act Strategic 
Plan. Testimony was heard from Dennis J. Fischer, Chief Financial 
Officer, GSA.
FREE AND FAIR REFERENDUM--PEOPLE OF WESTERN SAHARA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa approved 
for full Committee amended H.Res. 245, expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives in support of a free and fair referendum on 
self-determination for the people of Western Sahara.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Africa Crisis Response 
Initiative. Testimony was heard from Marshall McCallie, Special 
Coordinator/ACRI, Bureau for Africa, Department of State; Vincent D. 
Kern, II, Deputy Assistant Secretary, African Affairs, Department of 
Defense; and public witnesses.
U.S. POLICY TOWARD SOUTH AMERICA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere held a hearing on an Overview of U.S. Policy toward South 
America and the President's Upcoming Trip to the Region. Testimony was 
heard from Ambassador Jeffrey Davidow, Assistant Secretary, Inter-
American Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported amended H.R. 2493, Forage 
Improvement Act of 1997.
  The Committee also unfavorably reported H.R. 1270, to amend the 
Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule on 
H.R. 2607, District of Columbia Appropriations, Medical Liability 
Reform, and Education Reform Act of 1998, providing one hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all 
points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides 
that the amendment printed in part 1 of the Rules Committee report 
shall be considered as adopted. The rule waives points of order against 
provisions in the bill, as amended, for failure to comply with clause 2 
(prohibiting unauthorized appropriations and legislative provisions in 
an appropriations bill) and clause 6 (prohibiting reappropriations in 
an appropriations bill) of rule XXI. The rule provides for 
consideration of only those amendments printed in part 2 of the Rules 
Committee report, which may only be offered by the Member designated in 
the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the 
time specified and shall not be subject to amendment except as 
specified in the report, and shall not be subject to a demand for a 
division of the question. The rule waives all points of order against 
the amendments printed in the report. The rule allows the Chairman of 
the Committee of the Whole to postpone recorded votes and reduce to 
five minutes the voting time on any postponed question, provided that 
the voting time of the first in any series of questions is not less 
than 15 minutes. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, 
with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Taylor of North Carolina, Horn, Moran of Virginia, Sabo, Dixon, Hoyer, 
Meek of Florida, Norton and Jackson-Lee of Texas.
CONFERENCE REPORT--TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 2169, 
Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act 
for 1998, and against its consideration. The rule

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provides that the conference report shall be considered as read. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Wolf, Obey and Sabo.
THIRD INTERNATIONAL MATH AND SCIENCE STUDY
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on Science, Math, Engineering and 
Technology-Third International Math and Science Study. Testimony was 
heard from Rodger W. Bybee, National Academy of Science; and public 
witnesses.
FOCUS ON WOMEN BUSINESS ENTERPRISES
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Government Programs and 
Oversight held a hearing with Focus on Women Business Enterprises. 
Testimony was heard from Jane Butler, Acting Associate Administrator, 
Financial Assistance, SBA; and public witnesses.
GSA LEASING PROGRAM AND POLICY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Public 
Buildings and Grounds held a hearing on the fiscal year 1998 GSA 
Leasing Program and General GSA Leasing Policy. Testimony was heard 
from Robert Peck, Commissioner, Public Buildings Service, GSA.
VA MEDICAL CARE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on the prevention of adverse events in the provision of VA medical 
care. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs: Kenneth Kizer, M.D., Under Secretary, 
Health; John Mather, M.D., Assistant Inspector General, Health Care 
Inspections, Office of the Inspector General; and the following 
Directors of VA Medical Centers: Elwood Headley, M.D., Boston; T. C. 
Doherty, Miami; and Bill Valentine, Muskogee.
MISCELLANEOUS TRADE AND TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT; RECIPROCAL TRADE 
AGREEMENTS AUTHORITIES ACT 1997
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
2622, Miscellaneous Trade and Technical Corrections Act of 1997; and 
H.R. 2621, amended, Reciprocal Trade Agreement Authorities Act of 1997.

Joint Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--TRANSPORTATION
Conferees on Tuesday, October 7, agreed to file a conference report on 
the differences between the Senate-and House-passed versions of H.R. 
2169, making appropriations for the Department of Transportation and 
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998.