[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D395-D397]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded 
hearings to examine the incidence of fraud and abuse in the Food Stamp 
Program, focusing on proposed legislation to strengthen current laws to 
make it illegal for prisoners and fleeing felons to collect food stamps 
by requiring States to conduct criminal background checks on anyone 
applying for food stamps, and Federal efforts to ensure the integrity 
of the Food Stamp Program, after receiving testimony from 
Representative Menendez; Yvette S. Jackson, Administrator, Food and 
Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture; Robert A.

[[Page D396]]

Robinson, Director, Food and Agriculture Issues, Resources, Community, 
and Economic Development Division, General Accounting Office; Chris 
Hamilton, Abt Associates Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Harold S. 
Beebout, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., Washington, D.C.
APPROPRIATIONS--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations held 
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for foreign 
assistance, focusing on a multi-year United States strategy to combat 
infectious diseases in developing countries, receiving testimony from 
James M. Hughes, Director, National Center for Infectious Diseases, 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and 
Human Services; Nils M.P. Daulaire, Senior Health Advisor, Population, 
Health and Nutrition Bureau for Programs and Policy, U.S. Agency for 
International Development; David L. Heymann, World Health Organization, 
Geneva, Switzerland; and Gail H. Cassell, Indianapolis, Indiana, on 
behalf of Eli Lilly and Company.
  Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, April 28.
APPROPRIATIONS--FOREST SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Interior and Related 
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 
1999 for the Forest Service, receiving testimony from James R. Lyons, 
Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and Michael P. 
Dombeck, Chief, Forest Service, both of the Department of Agriculture, 
who were accompanied by several of their associates.
  Subcommittee recessed subject to call.
APPROPRIATIONS--NASA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent 
Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 
1999 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, receiving 
testimony from Daniel S. Goldin, Administrator, NASA, who was 
accompanied by several of his associates.
  Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, April 30.
AVIATION COMPETITION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on 
Aviation concluded hearings to examine the Department of 
Transportation's policy regarding unfair exclusionary conduct in the 
aviation industry and the competitive implications of consolidation 
among United States airlines, after receiving testimony from Nancy E. 
McFadden, General Counsel, Department of Transportation; Richard B. 
Hirst, Northwest Airlines, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota; Alfred Kahn, 
Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Mark Kahan, Spirit Airlines, 
Eastpointe, Michigan; and Steven A. Morrison, Northeastern University, 
Boston, Massachusetts.
PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and 
Public Land Management held hearings on S. 1253, to provide to the 
Federal land management agencies the authority and capability to manage 
effectively the federal lands in accordance with the principles of 
multiple use and sustained yield, receiving testimony from Idaho State 
Senator Judi Danielson, Council; Washington State Senator Robert 
Morton, Colville; Cindy Bowen, Montrose County, Colorado, and Louise 
Liston, Garfield County, Utah, both on behalf of the National 
Association of Counties; Sue Kupillas, Jackson County, Oregon; and 
Steve McClure, Union County, Oregon.
  Hearings were recessed subject to call.
CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air, 
Wetlands, Private Property, and Nuclear Safety concluded hearings to 
examine the Environmental Protection Agency proposed rule to improve 
visibility and reduce regional haze in national parks and wilderness 
areas, after receiving testimony from John S. Seitz, Director, Office 
of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Office of Air and Radiation, 
Environmental Protection Agency; Christine L. Shaver, Chief of the Air 
Resources Division, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; 
Utah Governor Michael O. Leavitt, Salt Lake City, on behalf of the 
Western Governors' Association; Randolph Wood, Nebraska Department of 
Environmental Quality, Lincoln; Kenneth A. Colburn, New Hampshire 
Department of Environmental Services, Concord; and Lynn M. Terry, 
California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations 
of Thelma J. Askey, of Tennessee, Jennifer Anne Hillman, of Indiana, 
and Stephen Koplan, of Virginia, each to be a Member of the United 
States International Trade Commission, and Patrick A. Mulloy, of 
Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, after the nominees 
testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Ms. Askey was 
introduced by Representative Archer, Ms. Hillman was introduced by 
Senator Lugar, Mr. Koplan was introduced by Representative Rangel, and 
Mr. Mulloy was introduced by Senators D'Amato and Sarbanes.

[[Page D397]]


TELEPHONE SLAMMING
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on 
Investigations concluded hearings to examine issues relating to 
telephone slamming which is the unauthorized switching of a consumer's 
long-distance service, including S. 1740, to improve the protections 
against the unauthorized change of subscribers from one 
telecommunications carrier to another, which entities are most 
responsible for intentional slamming incidents, and the technique used 
to deceive consumers, after receiving testimony from Eljay B. Bowron, 
Assistant Comptroller General for Special Investigations, Office of 
Special Investigations, General Accounting Office; and William E. 
Kennard, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the 
following business items:
  The nominations of James K. Robinson, of Michigan, to be Assistant 
Attorney General for the Criminal Division, and Wilma A. Lewis, to be 
United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, all of the 
Department of Justice;
  S. 1504, to adjust the immigration status of certain Haitian 
nationals who were provided refuge in the United States, with an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
  S. 1360, to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant 
Responsibility Act of 1996 to clarify and improve the requirements for 
the development of an automated entry-exit control system, and to 
enhance land border control and enforcement, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
  Also, committee began markup of the proposed Digital Millennium 
Copyright Act of 1998, but did not complete action thereon, and will 
meet again on Thursday, April 30.
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and 
Government Information concluded joint hearings with the Select 
Committee on Intelligence to examine Federal efforts in dealing with 
chemical and biological weapons threats to America, and the 
implementation of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act 
(P.L. 104-132), after receiving testimony from Donald C. Latham, 
Member, Defense Science Board; Christine M. Gosden, University of 
Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; and Richard Preston, New York, 
New York.