[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 20 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D168-D172]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FOREST RECOVERY AND PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported amended H.R. 2515, Forest 
Recovery and Protection Act of 1997.

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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 Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services. Testimony was heard from 
Shirley Watkins, Under Secretary, Food, Nutrition and Consumer 
Services, USDA.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State 
and Judiciary held a hearing on the Federal Judiciary and the SBA. 
Testimony was heard from: Judge John G. Heyburn, II, U.S. District 
Court, Western District of Kentucky and Chairman and Judge Robert C. 
Broomfield, U.S. District Court, Western District of Arizona and 
member, both with the Committee on the Budget, Judicial Conference of 
the United States; Leonidas Ralph Mecham, Director, Administrative 
Office of the U.S. Courts; Judge Rya W. Zobel, U.S. District Court, 
District of Massachusetts and Director, Federal Judiciary Center; and 
Aida Alvarez, Administrator, SBA.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING, AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing, and Related Programs held a hearing on the Secretary of 
State. Testimony was heard from Madeleine K. Albright, Secretary of 
State.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior continued 
appropriation hearings, with emphasis on Energy Programs. 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 Health Resources and Services 
Administration, on the Health Care Financing Administration and the 
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials from the Department of Health and Human 
Services: Claude E. Fox, M.D., Acting Administrator, Health Resources 
and Service Administration; John M. Eisneberg, M.D., Administrator, 
Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, and Nancy-Ann-Min-DeParle, 
Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held 
a hearing on the Air Force. Testimony was heard from Rodney A. Coleman, 
Assistant Secretary, Department of the Air Force.
NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security held a 
hearing on Ballistic Missile Defense. Testimony was heard from Lt. Gen. 
Lester L. Lyles, USAF, Director, Ballistic Missile Defense, Department 
of Defense.
  The Subcommittee also met in executive session to hold a hearing on 
the U.S. Pacific Command/U.S. Forces Korea. Testimony was heard from 
Adm. Joseph W. Prueher, USN, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command; 
and Gen. John H. Tilelli, Jr., USA, Commander in Chief, U.S. Forces 
Korea.
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation held a 
hearing on the Federal Highway Administration and the National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Transportation: Ricardo Martinez, 
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration; and 
Kenneth Wykle, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, 
and General Government held a hearing on Departmental Offices; and the 
Treasury Inspector General. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials from the Department of Treasury: Robert E. Rubin, Secretary; 
Richard B. Calahan, Deputy Inspector General; Raisa Otero-Cesario, 
Assistant Inspector General, Investigations; Gary L. Whittington, 
Assistant Inspector General, Resources; Dennis S. Schindel, Assistant 
Inspector General, Audit; William Pugh, Deputy Assistant Inspector 
General, Audit; John Balakos, Associate Inspector General, Program 
Audits; Charles Little, Acting Director, Office of Information 
Technology; Emilie Bebel, Director, Office of Evaluations; and Lori 
Vassar, Counsel to the Inspector General.
NATIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent 
Agencies held a hearing on the Corporation for National and Community 
Service. Testimony was heard from Harris Wofford, CEO, Corporation for 
National Community Service.

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MANAGEMENT OF FEDERAL AGENCY PAYMENTS
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial 
Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing to Review the Proposed 
Rules Regarding the Management of Federal Agency Payments through the 
Use of Electronic Funds Transfers (EFT). Testimony was heard from 
Senator Faircloth; Representatives Franks of New Jersey and Kanjorski; 
John D. Hawke, Jr., Under Secretary, Domestic Finance, Department of 
the Treasury; John Dyer, Principal Deputy, SSA; Robert Gardner, Chief 
Financial Officer, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of 
Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses.
STATE OF THE ECONOMY
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the State of the Economy. 
Testimony was heard from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors, 
Federal Reserve System.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing 
on the Kyoto Protocol and Its Economic Implications. Testimony was 
heard from Stuart E. Eizenstat, Under Secretary, Economic Business and 
Agricultural Affairs, Department of State; and Janet Yellen, Chair, 
Council of Economic Advisors.
COMMUNICATIONS SATELLITE COMPETITIONS AND PRIVATIZATION ACT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection began markup of H.R. 1872, Communications Satellite 
Competition and Privatization Act of 1997.
  Will continue March 11.
HIGHER EDUCATION AMENDMENTS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Postsecondary 
Education, Training, and Life-Long Learning approved for full Committee 
action amended H.R. 6, Higher Education Amendments of 1998.
ELECTIONS AND POLICIES--FOREIGN INFLUENCE
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Met in executive session 
to hold a hearing on the activities of China and other countries to 
influence U.S. policies and elections. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Justice: Janet Reno, Attorney 
General and Louis J. Freeh, Director, FBI; George J. Tenet, Director, 
CIA; and Lt. General Kenneth A. Minihan, Director, National Security 
Agency, Department of Defense.
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE RESULTS ACT--TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information and Technology approved for full 
Committee action amended H.R. 2883, Government Performance and Results 
Act Technical Amendments of 1997.
TROPICAL FOREST PROTECTION ACT
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on H.R. 2870, 
Tropical Forest Protection Act. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Portman; Thomas Fox, Assistant Administrator, Policy and Planning 
Bureau, AID, U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency; Mary 
Chavez, Director, International Debt Policy, Department of the 
Treasury; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa approved 
for full Committee action the following resolutions: H. Res. 373, 
commending democracy in Botswana; and H. Res. 374, amended, expressing 
the sense of the House of Representatives regarding the ongoing 
violence in Algeria.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; CUBAN RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere approved for full Committee action the following 
resolutions: H. Con. Res. 222, expressing the sense of Congress, 
congratulating the former International Support and Verification 
Commission of the Organization of American States (OAS-CIAV) for 
successfully aiding in the transition of Nicaragua from a war-ridden 
state into a newly formed democracy and providing continued support 
through the recently created Technical Cooperation Mission (OAS-TCM) 
which is responsible for helping to stabilize Nicaraguan democracy by 
supplementing institution building; H. Con. Res. 215, amended, 
congratulating the people of Co-operative Republic of Guyana for 
holding multiparty elections; and H. Res. 362, amended, commending the 
visit of His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Cuba.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on the visit of 
His Holiness Pope John Paul II to Cuba: An Assessment of its Impact on 
Religious Freedom in Cuba. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following measures: 
H.R. 1704, amended, Congressional Office of Regulatory Analysis 
Creation Act; H.J. Res. 78, amended, proposing an amendment to

[[Page D171]]

the Constitution of the United States regarding religious freedom; H.R. 
3117, amended, Civil Rights Commission Act of 1998; H.R. 2589, amended, 
Copyright Term Extension Act; H. Res. 372, expressing the sense of the 
House of Representatives that marijuana is a dangerous and addictive 
drug and should not be legalized for medicinal use; and H.R. 118, 
amended, Traffic Stops Statistics Act of 1997.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on National Security: Held a hearing on the fiscal year 1999 
National Defense authorization budget request. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Defense: Adm. Joseph W. 
Prueher, USN, Commander in Chief, U.S. Pacific Command; Gen. John H. 
Tilelli, USA, Commander in Chief, U.S. Forces Korea; and Adm. Harold W. 
Gehman, Jr., USN, Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
FY 1999 DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE NAVY AND MARINE CORPS MODERNIZATION
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Procurement 
and Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint 
hearing on FY 1999 Department of Defense, emphasis on Navy and Marine 
Corps modernization programs. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of the Navy: John W. Douglas, Assistant 
Secretary, Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition); Vice Admiral 
Conrad C. Lautenbacher, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, 
Resources, Warfare Requirements and Assessments; and Lt. Gen. Jeffrey 
W. Oster, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff, Programs and Resources.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
CHILD SUPPORT PERFORMANCE AND INCENTIVE ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified open rule 
providing 1 hour of debate on H.R. 3130, Child Support Performance and 
Incentive Act of 1998. The rule waives points of order against 
consideration of the bill for failure to comply with section 303(a) of 
the Congressional Budget Act (Prohibiting consideration of legislation, 
as reported, providing new budget authority, changes in revenues, or 
changes in the public debt for a fiscal year until the budget 
resolution for that year has been agreed to).
  The rule makes in order the Ways and Means Committee amendment in the 
nature of a substitute now printed in the bill as an original bill for 
the purpose of amendment and provides that it shall be considered as 
read. The rule waives points of order against the committee amendment 
in the nature of a substitute for failure to comply with section 303(a) 
of the Congressional Budget Act.
  The rule provides that no amendment shall be in order unless printed 
in the Congressional Record. The rule waives points of order against 
the amendment by Mr. Cardin printed in the Congressional Record and 
numbered 2 for failure to comply with clause 7 of rule XVI (prohibiting 
nongermane amendments). The rule allows for the Chairman of the 
Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of the 
bill, and 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 Representatives Shaw, Levin and Cardin.
WIRELESS PRIVACY ENHANCEMENT ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 2369, Wireless Privacy Enhancement Act of 1997. 
The rule waives points of order against consideration of the bill for 
failure to comply with clause 2(I)(6) of rule XI(3 day availability of 
committee reports).
  The rule makes in order the Committee on Commerce amendment in the 
nature of a substitute now printed in the bill as an original bill for 
the purpose of amendment and provides that it shall be considered as 
read. The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition 
to Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional 
Record. The rule allows for the Chairman of the Committee on 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 Bliley and Representatives Tauzin and Markey.
MATH AND SCIENCE EDUCATION
Committee on Science: Held an oversight hearing on Math and Science 
Education I; Maintaining the Interest of Young Kids in Science. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
NOAA--BUDGET AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held an 
oversight hearing on FY 1999 Budget Authorization Request: NOAA. 
Testimony was heard from D. James Baker, Under Secretary, Oceans and 
Atmosphere and Administrator, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and Joel 
Willemsson, Director, Accounting and Information Management Division, 
GAO.

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MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and 
Paperwork Reduction, hearing on the Regulatory Fairness Program and the 
first annual Report to Congress submitted by the national Small 
Business Ombudsman. Testimony was heard from Peter Barca, National 
Ombudsman, SBA; and pubic witnesses.
FY 1999 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE U.S. COAST GUARD
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on the 
Administration's FY 1999 budget request for the U.S. Coast Guard. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of U.S. Coast Guard, 
Department of Transportation; Adm. Robert E. Kramek, USCG, Commandant; 
Eric A. Trent, USCG, Master Chief Petty Officer; and Everette L. 
Tucker, Jr., USCG, National Commodore; and public witnesses.
SUPERFUND ACCELERATION, FAIRNESS EFFICIENCY ACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment began markup of H.R. 2727, Superfund 
Acceleration, Fairness, and Efficiency Act.
  Subcommittee recessed subject to call.