[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 19 (Tuesday, March 3, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D157-D159]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
USDA YEAR 2000 COMPLIANCE ENHANCEMENT ACT
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations, 
Nutrition, and Foreign Agriculture approved for full Committee action 
amended H.R. 3280, USDA Year 2000 Compliance Enhancement Act.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on this 
legislation. Testimony was heard from Representative Latham; Anne 
Thomson Reed, Chief Information Officer, USDA; and Joel Willemssen, 
Director, Civil Agencies Information System, Accountant and Information 
Management Division, GAO.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Rural Development. Testimony was heard from Jill Long 
Thompson, Under Secretary, Rural Development, USDA.

[[Page D158]]


INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior continued 
appropriation hearings with emphasis on Natural Resources. Testimony 
was heard from public witnesses.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on the Secretary of Health and 
Human Services, and the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services 
Administration and the Inspector General. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials from the Department of Health and Human Services: 
Donna E. Shalala, Secretary; and Nelba Chavez, Administrator, Substance 
Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held 
a hearing on Navy Construction. Testimony was heard from Robert B. 
Pirie, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Installations and Environment, 
Department of the Navy.
NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security met in 
executive session to hold a hearing on U.S. Special Operations Command. 
Testimony was heard from Gen. Peter J. Schoomaker, USA, Commander in 
Chief, U.S. Special Operations Command.
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a 
hearing on the Secretary of Transportation. Testimony was heard from 
Rodney E. Slater, Secretary of Transportation.
VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA-HUD and Independent 
Agencies held a hearing on FEMA. Testimony was heard from James Lee 
Witt, Director, FEMA.
EEOC--FUTURE DIRECTION
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-
Employee Relations, hearing on the Future Direction of the EEOC. 
Testimony was heard from Speaker Gingrich; Paul Igasaki, Acting 
Chairman, EEOC; and public witnesses.
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND RESULTS ACT TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information and Technology began markup of H.R. 
2883, Government Performance and Results Act Technical Amendments of 
1997.
  Will continue tomorrow.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES; COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported amended the following 
bills: H.R. 2294, Federal Courts Improvement Act of 1997; and H.R. 
2696, Vessel Hull Design Protection Act.
  The Committee approved the Committee's Fiscal Year 1999 Budget views 
and estimates for submission to the Committee on the Budget.
  The Committee also approved pending Committee business.
RESALE SYSTEM AND CBO REPORT IMPLICATIONS
Committee on National Security: Special Oversight Panel on Morale, 
Welfare and Recreation held a hearing on the resale system and CBO 
report implications. Testimony was heard from Deborah Clay-Mendez, 
Acting Deputy Assistant Director, CBO; the following officials of the 
Department of Defense: Rudy de Leon, Under Secretary, Personnel and 
Readiness; Maj. Gen. Richard E. Beale, Jr., (Ret.), Director, Defense 
Commissary Agency; Maj. Gen. Allen D. Bunger, Commander, Army and Air 
Force Exchange Service; Rear Adm. Paul Soderberg, USN, Commander, Navy 
Exchange Service Command; and Mike Tharrington, Director, Morale, 
Welfare, and Recreation, Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and public 
witnesses.
DOD--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND MILITARY FAMILY HOUSING BUDGET REQUESTS
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Installations 
and Facilities held a hearing on the Administration's fiscal year 1999 
budget request for the military construction and military family 
housing programs of the Department of Defense. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Defense: Robert B. Pirie, 
Jr., Assistant Secretary, Navy (Installations and Facilities); Rear 
Adm. David J. Nash, USN, Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering 
Command; Brig. Gen. James M. Hayes, USMC, Assistant Deputy Chief of 
Staff, Installations and Logistics (Facilities), Headquarters, U.S. 
Marine Corps; Rear Adm. John B. Totushek, USN, Deputy Director, Naval 
Reserve; Jimmy G.

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Dishner, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Air Force (Installations); Maj. 
Gen. Eugene A. Lupia, USAF, The Civil Engineer, Headquarters, U.S. Air 
Force; Maj. Gen. Paul A. Weaver, Jr., USAF, Director, Air National 
Guard; and Brig. Gen. Ralph S. Clemm, USAF, Deputy to the Chief, Office 
of Air Forces Reserve.
SPORTFISHING AND BOATING IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 2973, Sportfishing and 
Boating Improvement Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Tanner; Dan Ashe, Assistant Director, External Affairs, 
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; and public 
witnesses.
PUERTO RICO--FULL SELF GOVERNMENT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 90 
minutes of general debate on H.R. 856, to provide a process leading to 
a full self government for Puerto Rico, equally divided and controlled 
by Representative Young (AK), Representative Miller (CA), 
Representative Solomon, and Representative Gutierrez or their 
designees. The rule makes in order the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute printed in the Congressional Record and numbered 1, which 
shall be considered as read. The rule waives clause 5(a) of rule XXI 
(prohibiting appropriations in a legislative bill) against the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  The rule provides for the consideration, before any other amendment, 
of amendment numbered 3, printed in the Congressional Record, which is 
debatable for 1 hour equally divided between Representative Serrano and 
an opponent. The rule provides for the consideration of amendment 
numbered 2, printed in the Congresional Record, which is debatable for 
30 minutes equally divided between Representative Serrano and an 
opponent. The rule provides that amendments numbered 3 and 2 shall be 
considered as read and shall not be subject to a demand for a division 
of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole, and that 
consideration of those amendments, and all amendments thereto, shall 
not exceed one hour.
  The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to 
Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional 
Record. The rule allows for the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole 
to postpone votes during consideration of the bill, and to reduce 
voting time 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 
Chairman Young; and Representatives Rohrabacher, Barr of Georgia, 
Miller of California, Romero-Barcelo, Serrano and Gutierrez.
SBA'S BUDGET--ANNUAL PERFORMANCE PLAN
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the SBA's fiscal year 
1999 Budget and their annual performance plan. Testimony was heard from 
Aida Alvarez, Administrator, SBA.
REPORTS--MEDICARE PAYMENT POLICIES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
reports regarding Medicare payment policies. Testimony was heard from 
Gail R. Wilensky, Chair, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission; William 
J. Scanlon, Director, Health Financing and Systems Issues, Health, 
Education, and Human Services Division, GAO; and public witnesses.

Joint Meetings
VETERANS PROGRAMS
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs concluded joint 
hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine the 
legislative recommendations of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the 
United States, after receiving testimony from John E. Moon, Veterans of 
Foreign Wars of the United States, Washington, D.C.