[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 31 (Thursday, March 19, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D270-D273]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, 
and Judiciary held a hearing on the DEA, and on NOAA. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of Justice: Thomas 
A. Constantine, Administrator, DEA; Donna Bucella, Director, Executive 
Office, U.S. Attorneys; and Mary Lee Warren, Deputy Assistant Attorney 
General, Criminal Division; and D. James Baker, Under Secretary, Oceans 
and Atmosphere, Department of Commerce.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on the Power Marketing Administrations. 
Testimony was heard from the following Administrators of the

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Power Administrations, Department of Energy: Rodney L. Adelman, Alaska; 
John S. Robertson, Acting, Bonneville Power Administration; Charles A. 
Borchardt, Southeastern; Michael A. Deihl, Administrator, Southwestern; 
and Michael S. Hacskaylo, Acting, Western Area.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on 
the Secretary of Agriculture and the Forest Service. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of Agriculture: 
Dan Glickman, Secretary; and James Lyons, Under Secretary, Natural 
Resources and Environment.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on the National Institute of 
Drug Abuse, the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, the 
National Institute of Mental Health and the National Institute on 
Aging. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Health and Human Services: Alan I. Leshner, M.D., 
Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse; Enoch Gordis, M.D., 
Director, National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism; Steven E. 
Hyman, M.D., Director, National Institute of Mental Health; and Richard 
J. Hodes, M.D., Director, National Institute on Aging.
NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security 
continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from Members of 
Congress and public witnesses.
TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, 
and General Government held a hearing on the FEC and the U.S. Postal 
Service. Testimony was heard from Scott E. Thomas, Vice Chairman, FEC, 
and Chairman, Finance Committee; and Marvin T. Runyon, Postmaster 
General and CEO, U.S. Postal Service.
VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent 
Agencies, held a hearing on American Battle Monuments Commission, and 
the Office of Inspector General, FDIC. Testimony was heard from Gen. 
Fred Worner, Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission; and Gaston 
Gianni, Jr., Inspector General, FDIC.
TOBACCO SETTLEMENT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment continued 
hearings on the Tobacco Settlement, with emphasis on views of the 
public. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
GAO FINDING--ALLEGED MEDICARE IMPROPRIETIES
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations 
held a hearing on GAO's Investigative Findings of Alleged Medicare 
Improprieties by a Home Health Agency. Testimony was heard from Eljay 
B. Bowron, Assistant Comptroller General, Office of Special 
Investigations, GAO; and the following officials of the Department of 
Health and Human Services: Linda Ruiz, Director, Program Integrity, 
Health Care Financing Administration; and George F. Grob, Deputy 
Inspector General, Office of Evaluations and Inspections.
HIGHER EDUCATION AMENDMENTS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported amended H.R. 
6, Higher Education Amendments of 1998.
SMALL BUSINESS PAPERWORK REDUCTION ACT; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Ordered reported amended 
H.R. 3310, Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act Amendments of 1998.
  The Committee also approved Fiscal Year 1999 Budget views and 
estimates for submission to the Committee on the Budget.
CONSUMER BANKRUPTCY ISSUES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Laws concluded hearings on the consumer bankruptcy 
issues in H.R. 3150, Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1998, H.R. 2500, 
Responsible Borrower Protection Bankruptcy Act; and H.R. 3146, Consumer 
Lenders and Borrowers Bankruptcy Accountability Act of 1998. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the U.S. Trustees: Patricia 
A. Staiano, Region 3 and Kevyn, Orr, Deputy Director, Executive Office; 
Robert F. Hershner, Jr., Chief Bankruptcy Judge, Middle District of 
Georgia; Michael J. Kaplan, Chief Bankruptcy Judge, Western District of 
New York; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual 
Property held an oversight hearing on the U.S. Patent and Trademark 
Office (PTO).

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Testimony was heard from Bruce A. Lehman, Assistant Secretary, Commerce 
and Commissioner, Patent and Trademarks, Department of Commerce; and 
public witnesses.
RURAL LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on 
H.R. 1524, Rural Law Enforcement Assistance Act of 1997. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Hutchinson and Baldacci; Hobart Henson, 
Director, Office of State, Local and International Training, Federal 
Law Enforcement Training Center, Department of the Treasury; and public 
witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--NATURALIZATION APPLICATIONS CASELOAD
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held 
an oversight hearing on the pending and anticipated caseload of 
naturalization applications. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, Department of 
Justice: James S. Angus, Acting Executive Director, Office of 
Naturalization Operations; and Edward J. Murphy, Deputy Director, 
Office of Naturalization Operations.
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY AUTHORIZATION REQUEST
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Procurement 
held a hearing on the Department of Energy fiscal year 1999 
authorization request and related matters. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Energy: Federico F. Pena, 
Secretary; Victor H. Reis, Assistant Secretary, Defense Programs; James 
M. Owendoff, Acting Assistant Secretary, Environmental Management; and 
Rose E. Gottemoeller, Director, Office of Nonproliferation and National 
Security.
RUSSIAN NUCLEAR SECURITY ISSUES
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Research and 
Development held a hearing on Russian nuclear security issues. 
Testimony was heard from Gen. Alexander Lebed, (Rtd.) former Secretary 
Russian Security Council.
ROYALTY ENHANCEMENT ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held a hearing on H.R. 3334, Royal Enhancement Act of 1998. Testimony 
was heard from Cynthia Quarterman, Director, Minerals Management 
Service, Department of the Interior; Jim Geringer, Governor, State of 
Wyoming, and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on the following: S. 1213 and H.R. 
2547, Oceans Act of 1997, and the Ocean Commission Act. Testimony was 
heard from D. James Baker, Under Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, 
Department of Commerce; and Kenneth Brink, Chairman, Ocean Studies 
Board, National Academy of Sciences; and public witnesses.
NORTHERN SPOTTED OWL--IMPACT ON NATIONAL FORESTS
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held 
an oversight hearing on Impact and Status of Northern Spotted Owl on 
National Forests. Testimony was heard from Representative Herger; James 
Lyons, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA; Gerry 
Jackson, Assistant Director, Ecological Services, Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
HUMAN SPACE FLIGHT BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held an 
oversight hearing on FY 99 Budget Request: Human Space Flight. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of NASA: Joe 
Rothenberg, Associate Administrator, Office of Space Flight; Brig. Gen. 
(Select) Kevin Chilton, USAF, Deputy Program Manager, Space Station 
Program Office and Tommy Holloway, Program Manager, Space Shuttle 
Program Office, both at the Johnson Space Center.
SBA BUDGET
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on SBA Budget. Testimony 
was heard from Aida Alvarez, Administrator, SBA; Jack Lew, Deputy 
Director, OMB; and public witnesses.
CHARITABLE GIVING PARTNERSHIP ACT
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Empowerment held a hearing 
on H.R. 3241, Charitable Giving Partnership Act. Testimony was heard 
from Senator Coats; Representatives Myrick and Salmon; David Long, 
member, Senate, State of Indiana; and public witnesses.
FAA AND AIRPORT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation continued hearings on reauthorization of the Federal Aviation 
Administration and Airport Improvement Program. Testimony was heard 
from Gerald L. Dillingham, Associate Director, Transportation Issues, 
GAO; and public witnesses.

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  Hearings continue March 25.
VETERANS LEGISLATION; VETERANS HEALTH ADMINISTRATION MANAGEMENT
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health approved for 
full Committee action Fiscal Year 1999 Construction Authorization 
legislation.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on quality management at the 
Veterans Health Administration. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Thomas Garthwaite, 
M.D., Deputy Under Secretary, Health; and John Mather, M.D., Assistant 
Inspector General, Health Care Inspections; and public witnesses.
TEMPORARY ASSISTANCE FOR NEEDY FAMILIES BLOCK GRANT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held an 
oversight hearing on implementation of the Temporary Assistance for 
Needy Families (TANF) block grant. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: 
Olivia A. Golden, Assistant Secretary, Children and Families; and 
Howard Rolston, Director, Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation, 
Administration for Children and Families; Daniel Weinberfg, Division 
Chief, Housing and Household Economic Statistics, Bureau of the Census, 
Department of Commerce; J. Jean Rogers, Administrator, Division of 
Economic Support, Department of Health and Social Services, State of 
Wisconsin; Don Winstead, Welfare Reform Administrator, Department of 
Children and Families, State of Florida; and public witnesses.
OVERHEAD SIGNALS INTELLIGENCE STUDY
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a briefing on Overhead Signals Intelligence Study. The Committee 
was briefed by departmental witnesses.