[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 38 (Monday, March 30, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D329-D330]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
OVERSIGHT--USDA DEBT COLLECTION
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information, and Technology held an oversight 
hearing on USDA Debt Collection. Testimony was heard from Linda Calbom, 
Director, Civil Audits, GAO; and the following officials of the USDA: 
Sally Thompson, Chief Financial Officer; Keith Kelly, Administrator, 
Farm Service Agency; Wally B. Beyer, Administrator, Rural Utilities 
Service; and Jan E. Shadburn, Administrator, Rural Housing Service.
WTO-DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BODY
Committee on International Relations and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
International Economic Policy and Trade held a hearing on WTO-Dispute 
Settlement Body. Testimony was heard from Alan Larson, Assistant 
Secretary, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, Department of 
State; Susan G. Esserman, General Counsel, Office of the U.S. Trade 
Representative; and public witnesses.
EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a recorded vote of 8 to 4, a modified 
closed rule providing one hour of general debate on H.R. 3579, 
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for fiscal year 1998 equally 
divided and controlled between the chairman and ranking minority member 
of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives points of order 
against consideration of the bill for failure to comply with clause 
2(1)(6) of rule XI (requiring a three-day layover of the committee 
report), clause 7 of rule XXI (requiring the three-day availability of 
relevant printed hearings and reports on general appropriations bills), 
or section 306 of the Budget Act of 1974 (prohibiting consideration of 
legislation within the jurisdiction of the Budget Committee unless 
reported by that committee). The rule provides an additional 30 minutes 
of debate on the provision of the bill (Title III) relating to the 
prohibition on the use of funds for military operations against Iraq 
equally divided between Mr. Skaggs and an opponent. The rule provides 
that the bill shall be considered as read. The rule provides that the 
amendments printed in part 1 of the Rules Committee report shall be 
considered as adopted. The rule waives points of order against the 
bill, as amended, for failure to comply with clause 2 of rule XXI 
(prohibiting unauthorized appropriations or legislative provisions in a 
general appropriations bill) or clause 6 of rule XXI (prohibiting 
reappropriations). The rule makes in order the amendment printed in 
part 2 of the Rules Committee report and provides that such amendment 
may be offered only by a 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 the proponent and an opponent, 
shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand 
for a division of the question. All points of order are waived against 
the

[[Page D330]]

amendment. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or 
without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Livingston, 
Neumann, Tiahrt, Chambliss, Coburn, Kim, Obey, Skaggs, Pelosi, Frank of 
Massachusetts, Clayton, Klink, Bishop, and Jackson-Lee of Texas.
FINANCIAL SERVICES ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule on 
H.R. 10, Financial Services Act of 1997, providing two hours of general 
debate equally divided between the chairman and ranking minority member 
of the Committee on Banking and Financial Services and one hour equally 
divided between the chairman and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Commerce. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute printed in part 1 of the report of the Committee 
on Rules be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment 
and that it shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of 
order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute. The rule 
provides that no amendment to the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute shall be in order except those printed in part 2 of the 
Rules Committee report, which may only be offered in the order printed 
in the report, may only be offered 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 the proponent 
and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment except as specified 
in the report, and shall not be subject to a demand for a division of 
the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points 
of order are waived against the amendments printed in the report. The 
rule allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone 
recorded votes and reduce to five minutes the voting time on any 
postponed question, provided that the voting time on the first in any 
series of questions is not less that fifteen minutes. Finally, the rule 
provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Leach, Representatives McCollum, 
Roukema, Baker, Bachus, Campbell, Metcalf, Sessions, Oxley, LaFalce, 
Vento, Barrett of Wisconsin, Bentsen, Dingell, and Clyburn.