[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 147 (Tuesday, October 28, 1997)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1158-D1160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
PATIENT ACCESS TO RESPONSIBLE CARE ACT; HEALTH INSURANCE BILL OF RIGHTS 
ACT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a 
hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1415, Patient Access to 
Responsible Care Act of 1997; and H.R. 820, Health Insurance Bill of 
Rights Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from John Eisenberg, M.D., 
Administrator, Agency for Health Care Policy Research, Department of 
Health and Human Services and public witnesses.
IRS'S SUSPENSION--AFFIRMATIVE ACTION PROGRAM
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Civil 
Service held a hearing on IRS' Suspension of Its Affirmative Action 
Program. Testimony was heard from Charles D. Fowler, III, National 
Director, Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity, IRS, Department 
of the Treasury.
U.S. PERSONNEL OVERSEAS--SECURITY STATUS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Security, International Affairs and Criminal Justice met in executive 
session to hold a hearing on the Security Status of U.S. Personnel 
Overseas. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: Maj. Gen. James C. King, USA, Director, 
Intelligence, Joints Chiefs of Staff; H. Allen Holmes, Assistant 
Secretary, Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict; Brig. Gen. 
James T. Conway, USMC, Deputy Director, Combating Terrorism, Joints 
Chiefs of Staff; and the following officials from the Department of 
State; J. Eric Boswell, Assistant Secretary, Diplomatic Security; 
Jacquelyn L. Williams-Bridgers, Inspector General; and Mark Gebicke, 
Director, Military Operations and Capabilities Issues, National 
Security and International Affairs Division, GAO.
U.S./CHINA RELATIONS AND HUMAN RIGHTS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Operations and Human Rights held a hearing on U.S./China Relations and 
Human Rights: Is Constructive Engagement Working? Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
AMENDMENT--RESTORING RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution approved 
for full Committee action amended H.J. Res 78, proposing an amendment 
to the Constitution of the United States restoring religious freedom.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forest and Forest Health held a 
hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1659, Mount St. Helens National 
Volcanic Monument Completion Act; H.R. 2416, to provide for the 
transfer of certain rights and property to the United States Forest 
Service in exchange for a payment to the occupant of such property; and 
H.R. 2574, to consolidate certain mineral interest in the National 
grasslands in Billings County, ND, through the exchange of Federal and 
private mineral interest to enhance land management capabilities and 
environmental and wildlife protection. Testimony was heard from Senator 
Dorgan; Representative Earl Pomeroy; the following officials of the 
Forest Service, USDA: Sandra Key, Associate Deputy Chief, Programs and 
Legislation; and Paul Tittman, Chief Appraiser; Bob Anderson, Deputy 
Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty and Resource Protection, Bureau of 
Land Management, Department of the Interior and public witnesses.
FORAGE IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted by voice vote, a modified open rule on H.R. 
2493, Forage Improvement Act of 1997, providing one hour of general 
debate with 30 minutes equally divided between the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Resources and 30 minutes equally 
divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Agriculture. The rule limits the amendment process to 
three hours. The rule makes in order the Resources Committee amendment 
in the nature of a substitute as an original bill for the purpose of 
amendment. The rule makes in order, before the consideration of any 
other amendment, a manager's amendment offered by Representative Smith 
of Oregon or his designee, which is printed in the Rules Committee 
report, is debatable for 10 minutes equally divided between the 
proponent and an opponent, is not subject to a demand for a division of 
the question, and if adopted will be considered as part of the base 
text. The rule provides priority recognition to members who pre-print 
their amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule also allows the 
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during 
consideration of the bill, and to reduce votes 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 Representatives Smith of Oregon, Chenoweth, 
and Vento.

[[Page D1159]]


NUCLEAR WASTE POLICY ACT OF 1997
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule on H.R. 
1270, Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1997, providing one hour of general 
debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Commerce and twenty minutes of 
general debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on Resources. The rule waives 
points of order against consideration of the bill for failure to comply 
with section 306 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (requiring 
provisions in the jurisdiction of the Committee of the Budget to be 
referred to or reported by the Committee on the Budget). The rule 
provides for consideration of the bill for amendment under the five 
minute rule. The rule provides for the consideration of the amendment 
in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Commerce 
as an original bill for the purpose of amendment. The rule waives 
points of order against the committee amendment in the nature of a 
substitute for failure to comply with clause 5(a) of rule XXI 
(prohibiting appropriations in authorization measures) and section 306 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (requiring provisions in the 
jurisdiction of the Committee of the Budget to be referred to or 
reported by the Committee on the Budget). The rule also provides, 
notwithstanding clause 5(c) of rule XXIII (relating to motions to 
strike unfunded mandates), for consideration of only those amendments 
printed in the report of the Committee on Rules and that these 
amendments may only be offered in the order listed in the report and 
only by the Member designated in the report, shall be considered as 
read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally 
divided and controlled by a proponent and an opponent, shall not be 
subject to amendment and shall not be subject to a demand for a 
division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. 
The rule waives points of order against the last amendment printed in 
the Rules Committee report for failure to comply with clause 5(a) of 
rule XXI (prohibiting appropriations in authorization measures) and 
section 306 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (requiring 
provisions in the jurisdiction of the Committee of the Budget to be 
referred to or reported by the Committee on the Budget). The rule 
allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to reduce the voting 
time on any postponed question to five minutes provided that that vote 
follows a fifteen minute vote. The rule provides that after a motion 
that the Committee rise has been rejected on a day, the Chairman may 
entertain another such motion on that day only if offered by the 
Majority Leader or his designee. The rule also provides that after the 
motion to strike out the enacting words of the bill (as described in 
clause 7 of rule XXIII) has been rejected, the Chairman may not 
entertain another such motion during the further consideration of the 
bill. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Further, the rule waives points of order against 
consideration in the House of S. 104 for failure to comply with section 
306 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (requiring provisions in 
the jurisdiction of the Committee of the Budget to be referred to or 
reported by the Committee on the Budget). The rule provides for the 
consideration of a motion to strike all after the enacting clause of S. 
104 and to insert in lieu thereof the provisions of H.R. 1270, as 
passed by the House. Finally, the rule provides that upon the adoption 
of the motion and the Senate bill as amended, it is in order to move 
that the House insist on its amendment to S. 104 and request a 
conference thereon.
SIGNATURES IN A DIGITAL AGE
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing on Do 
You Know Who You Are Doing Business With? Signatures In a Digital Age. 
Testimony was heard from Andrew J. Pincus, General Counsel, Department 
of Commerce; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Public 
Buildings and Grounds approved for full Committee action the following: 
H.R. 623, to amend the Public Buildings Act of 1959 concerning the 
calculation of public building transactions; H.R. 2118, amended, Ban on 
Smoking in Federal Buildings Act; General Services Administration 
Improvement Act of 1997; 10 leasing resolutions; three amendments to 
previously approved resolutions; and one repair and alteration 
resolution.
IMPACTS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE--FAMILIES RECEIVING WELFARE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing on protecting children from the Impacts of Substance Abuse on 
Families Receiving Welfare. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Rangel; Jane Ross, Director, Income Security Issues, GAO; and public 
witnesses.
EMPOWERMENT ZONE--ENTERPRISE COMMUNITY PROGRAM
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
on the performance of the Empowerment Zone/Enterprise Community 
Program. Testimony was heard from Representatives

[[Page D1160]]

Rangel and Hinchey; John Karl Scholz, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Tax 
Analysis, Department of the Treasury; Howard Glaser, Acting General 
Counsel and Deputy General Counsel, Department of Housing and Urban 
Development; Stanley J. Czerwinski, Associate Director, Housing and 
Community Development, GAO; Dick Posthumus, member, Senate, State of 
Michigan; Karl Schmoke, Mayor, Baltimore, Maryland; Paul D. Fraim, 
Mayor, Norfolk, Virginia; and public witnesses.