[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 140 (Thursday, October 9, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1097-D1099]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AGRICULTURAL ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities held a 
hearing on the review of the Agricultural economic outlook. Testimony was 
heard from Keith J. Collins, Chief Economist, USDA; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL LABORATORY SYSTEM MANAGEMENT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a 
hearing on Assessing the Department of Energy's Management of the National 
Laboratory System. Testimony was heard from Victor S. Rezendes, Director, 
Energy, Resources and Science Issues, Resources, Community and Economic 
Development Division, GAO; the following officials of the Department of 
Energy: John C. Layton, Inspector General; and Martha A. Krebs, Director, 
Office of Energy Research; and a public witness.
INTERNET TAX FREEDOM ACT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 1054, 
Internet Tax Freedom Act.
CHARTER SCHOOLS AMENDMENTS ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported amended H.R. 
2616, Charter Schools Amendments Act of 1997.
TRUTH IN EMPLOYMENT ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-Employee 
Relations held a hearing on H.R. 758, Truth in Employment Act of 1997. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
``CONDUIT PAYMENTS TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE''
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Held a hearing on ``Conduit 
Payments to the Democratic National Committee''. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered and adopted a 
motion urging the Chairman to request that the following measures be 
considered on the Suspension Calendar: H.R. 1129, amended, Microcredit for 
Self Reliance Act of 1997; H. Res. 245, amended, 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; H. Con. Res. 130, amended, 
concerning the situation in Kenya; and H. Con. Res. 121 expressing the sense 
of the Congress regarding proliferation of missile technology from Russia to 
Iran.
NORTHERN IRELAND--HUMAN RIGHTS AND PEACE PROCESS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on Human Rights and the Peace 
Process in Northern Ireland. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative 
Law approved for full Committee action the Internet Tax Freedom Act.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on H.R. 2592, Private Trustee Reform 
Act and the Executive Office of U.S. Trustee's assessment of post-
confirmation fees in Chapter 11 cases. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Goodlatte; the following officials of the Department of 
Justice: Joseph Patchan, Director and Kevyn D. Orr, Deputy Director, both 
with the Executive Office for U.S. Trustees; W.

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Clarkson McDow, Jr., Region 4 and Ellen B. Vergos, Region 8, both U.S. 
Trustees; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property 
held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2603, Alternative Dispute 
Resolution and Settlement Encouragement Act; and H.R. 2294, Federal Courts 
Improvement Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from Peter R. Steenland, Senior 
Counsel, Alternative Dispute Resolution, U.S. Department of Justice; D. 
Brock Hornby, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Maine; Philip M. Pro, U.S. 
District Court, Chairman, Committee on Judges, Judicial Conference; and 
public witnesses.
  The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on the need for additional 
Federal District Court judges. Testimony was heard from Elizabeth 
Kovachevich, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Middle District, Florida; and 
Julia Smith Gibbons, Chief Judge, U.S. District Court, Chair, Committee on 
Judicial Resources.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime approved for full 
Committee action the following bills: H.R. 2460, Wireless Telephone 
Protection Act; and H.R. 1753, to provide for the establishment of not less 
than 2,500 Boys and Girls Clubs of America facilities by the year 2000.
OVERSIGHT--PFIESTERIA IMPACT ON OUR FISHERY RESOURCES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and 
Oceans held an oversight hearing on Pfiesteria and Its Impact on our Fishery 
Resources. Testimony was heard from Terry D. Garcia, Acting Assistant 
Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of Commerce; Wayne McDevitt, 
Secretary, Department of Environmental and Natural Resources, State of North 
Carolina; John Griffin, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources, State of 
Maryland; Christophe A.G. Tulou, Secretary, Department of Natural Resources 
and Environmental Control, State of Delaware; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held 
a hearing on the following bills; H.R. 2186, to authorize the Secretary of 
the Interior to provide assistance to the National Historic Trails 
Interpretive Center in Casper, WY; H.R. 1811, Columbia River Habitat 
Protection and Recreational Access Act of 1997; and H.R. 1477, to amend the 
Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a portion of the Columbia River as a 
recreational river. Testimony was heard from Representatives Murray, Cubin, 
Hastings of Washington and Dicks; the following officials of the Department 
of the Interior: Mat Millenbach, Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management; 
and Thomas Dwyer, Deputy Regional Director, Pacific and Northwest, U.S. Fish 
and Wildlife Service; Dan Berkovitz, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Policy, 
Planning, and Budget, Department of Energy; the following officials of the 
State of Washington: Dorothy Perkins, Representative; and Clyde Ballard, 
Speaker; and public witnesses.
COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 hour of 
debate on H.R. 2204, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1997. The rule waives 
section 401 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (prohibiting 
consideration of legislation providing new entitlement authority which 
becomes effective during the fiscal year which ends in the calendar year in 
which the bill is reported) against consideration of the bill.
  The rule makes in order the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure 
amendment in the nature of a substitute as an original bill for the purpose 
of amendment, which shall be considered as read. The rule waives clause 7 of 
rule XVI (relating to germaneness) and section 401 of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 (prohibiting consideration of legislation providing new 
entitlement authority which becomes effective during the fiscal year which 
ends in the calendar year in which the bill is reported) against the 
committee amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members 
who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule 
further allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes 
during consideration of the bill, and to reduce to five minutes on a 
postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen minute vote. Finally, the 
rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Gilchrest.
COUNTDOWN TO KYOTO
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment continued 
hearings on Countdown to Kyoto Part II: The Economics of the Global Climate

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Change Agreement. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Energy: Marc Chupka, Acting Assistant Secretary, Policy and 
International Affairs; and Joseph J. Romm, Acting Assistant Secretary, 
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy; and public witnesses.
FAA--FOREIGN REPAIR STATION RULES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation 
held a hearing on H.R. 145, to terminate the effectiveness of certain 
amendments to the foreign repair station rules of the Federal Aviation 
Administration. Testimony was heard from Representative Borski; Guy S. 
Gardner, Associate Administrator, Regulation and Certification, FAA, 
Department of Transportation; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
2644, United States-Caribbean Trade Partnership Act; H.R. 2645, Tax 
Technical Corrections Act of 1997; and H.R. 2646, amended, Education Savings 
Act for Public and Private Schools.
HEALTH CARE WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Health 
Care Waste, Fraud and Abuse. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: Michael F. 
Mangano, Principal Deputy, Office of the Inspector General; and Linda Ruiz, 
Director, Program Integrity Group, Office of Financial Management, Health 
Care Financing Administration; Charles L. Owens, Chief, Financial Crimes 
Section, FBI, Department of Justice; William J. Scanlon, Director, Health 
Financing and Systems, GAO; and a public witness.
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