[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 46 (Thursday, April 23, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D399-D401]
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 International Organizations and 
Peacekeeping. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of State: Ambassador Bill Richardson, U.S. Representative to 
the United Nations; and Princeton Lyman, Assistant Secretary, 
International Organizations.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on Corporation for National and 
Community Service, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, the 
U.S. Institute of Peace, the Federal Mine Safety and Health Review 
Commission and the National Council on Disability. Testimony was heard 
from Harris Wofford, CEO, Corporation for National Service; the 
following officials of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service: 
John Calhoun Wells, Director; C. Richard Barnes, Deputy Director, Field 
Operations; Vella M. Traynham, Deputy Director, National Office 
Operations; and Frances L. Leonard, Director, Budget and Finance 
Office; Richard H. Solomon, President, United States Institute of 
Peace; Mary Lu Jordan, Chairman, Federal Mine Safety and Health Review 
Commission; and Marca Bristo, Chairperson, National Council on 
Disability.
VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent 
Agencies continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from 
Members of Congress.
HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE AVAILABILITY ACT
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on H.R. 
219, Homeowners' Insurance Availability Act of 1997. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Fazio, Emerson and Christian-Green; Lawrence 
Summers, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury; Donald A. 
Dowdell, Deputy General Counsel, Department of Insurance, State of 
Florida; David Knowles, Chief Deputy Insurance Commissioner, Department 
of Insurance, State of California; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL INSURANCE PROGRAMS BUDGETING
Committee on the Budget: Task Force on Budget Process held a hearing on 
Budgeting for Federal Insurance Programs. Testimony was heard from 
Susan J. Irving, Associate Director, Budget Issues, GAO; Marvin Phaup, 
Deputy Assistant Director, Special Studies, CBO; and Rudolph G. Penner, 
Senior Fellow, Urban Institute.
DIGITAL HIGH DEFINITION TV
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing on Digital High Definition 
Television: Coming Soon to a Home Theater Near You. Testimony was heard 
from public witnesses.
AMERICAN WORKER PROJECT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on the American Worker Project: Emerging 
Trends in the High-Tech Workplace. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
CAMPAIGN FUNDRAISING
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Failed to obtain two-
thirds Committee majority to grant immunity to four individuals 
regarding campaign fundraising investigation.
KUOTO PROTOCOL
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs held a 
hearing on ``The Kuoto Protocol: Is the Clinton-Gore Administration 
Selling Out Americans?'' Testimony was heard from Senator Hagel; 
Representatives Calvert, Knollenberg, Wise, and McCarthy of Missouri; 
Edward Montgomery, Chief Economist, Department of Labor; Dan Reicher, 
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department 
of Energy; David Gardiner, Assistant Administrator, Policy, Planning, 
and Evaluation, EPA; William A. Walaska, Senator, State of Rhode 
Island; Tom Alley,

[[Page D400]]

Representative, State of Michigan; and public witnesses.
COMBATING TERRORISM
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice held a hearing on 
``Combating Terrorism: The Proliferation of Agencies' Efforts.'' 
Testimony was heard from Representative Skelton; the following 
officials of the GAO: Richard Davis, Director, National Security and 
International Affairs Division; and Davi D'Agostino, Assistant 
Director, National Security Analysis Division; and Larry C. Johnson, 
former Deputy Director, Office of Counter Terrorism, Department of 
State.
AMERICANS VICTIMS OF TERRORISM
Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered and adopted 
a motion urging the Chairman to request that the following measure be 
considered on the Suspension Calendar: H. Con. Res. 220, amended, 
regarding American victims of terrorism.
  The Committee also considered pending Committee business.
ASIAN FINANCIAL CRISIS--JAPAN'S ROLE
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific and the Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade 
held a joint hearing on Japan's Role in the Asian Financial Crisis. 
Testimony was heard from James Glassman, Fellow, American Enterprise 
Institute; Bob Grondine, Governor, American Chamber of Commerce, Japan; 
Peter S. Walters, Group Vice President, Guardian Industries 
Corporation; and Richard Katz, Contributing Editor, The Oriental 
Economist Report.
BANKRUPTCY REFORM ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 
3150, Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1998.
CHILD CUSTODY ORDERS ENFORCEMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual 
Property held a hearing on H.R. 1690, to amend title 28 of the United 
States Code regarding enforcement of child custody orders. Testimony 
was heard from Representative Andrews; and public witnesses.
OCEANS ACT; OVERSIGHT--ARCTIC SNOW GEESE
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 
3445, Oceans Act of 1998.
  The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on Arctic Snow Geese: 
Is the Arctic Ecosystem in Peril? Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Hunter and Cunningham; Paul Schmidt, Chief, Office of 
Migratory Bird Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department 
of the Interior; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health 
approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 2886, 
amended, Granite Watershed Enhancement and Protection Act of 1997; H.R. 
3467, California Spotted Owl Interim Protection Act of 1998; H.R. 1021, 
Miles Land Exchange Act of 1997; and H.R. 3381, Gallatin Land 
Consolidation Act of 1998.
SAN RAFAEL SWELL HERITAGE AND CONSERVATION ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
held a hearing on H.R. 3625, San Rafael Swell Heritage and Conservation 
Act. Testimony was heard from Senator Bennett; Representative Cannon; 
Pat Shea, Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the 
Interior; the following officials of the State of Utah: Michael 
Leavitt, Governor; and Mike Dmitrich, member, Senate; and public 
witnesses.
AVIATION MATTERS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing on the impact of recent alliances, 
international agreements, DOT actions, and pending legislation on air 
fares, air service, and competition in the airline industry. Testimony 
was heard from Representatives Quinn, Walsh, Wolf, Ganske, Moran of 
Virginia, Slaughter, Manton, Jackson of Illinois and Norton; John H. 
Anderson, Jr., Director, Transportation Issues, Resources, Community, 
and Economic Development Division, GAO; Nancy McFadden, General 
Counsel, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses.
  Hearings continue April 30.
VETERANS' PROGRAMS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on the research and treatment of war-related illnesses; and to review 
the VA's sexual trauma counseling program. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: Capt. Craig Hyams, 
M.D., USN, Infectious Diseases Department, Naval Medical Research 
Institute, Department of the Navy: and Gary Christopherson, Acting 
Principal Deputy Secretary,

[[Page D401]]

Health Affairs; Richard Miller, M.D., Director, Medical Follow-Up 
Agency, Institute of Medicine, National Academy of Sciences; Thomas 
Garthwaite, M.D., Deputy Under Secretary, Health, Department of 
Veterans Affairs; Stephen Backhus, Director, Veterans' Affairs and 
Military Health Care Issues, Health, Education and Human Services 
Division, GAO; and representatives of veterans' organizations.
HEALTH CARE--PATIENT APPEALS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on 
Patient Appeals in Health Care. Testimony was heard from Mike Hash, 
Deputy Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration, Department 
of Health and Human Services; William E. Flynn, III, Associate 
Director, Retirement and Insurance, OPM; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--TAX LAW-HEALTH INSURANCE
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Oversight held a hearing 
on oversight of current tax law related to health insurance. Testimony 
was heard from George M. Reider, Jr., Commissioner, Insurance 
Department, State of Connecticut; and public witnesses.
FUTURE IMAGERY ARCHITECTURE
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Future Imagery Architecture. Testimony was heard from 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
AUTHORIZATION--NATIONAL MARROW DONOR PROGRAM
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources' 
Subcommittee on Public Health and Safety concluded joint hearings with 
the House Committee on Commerce's Subcommittee on Health and 
Environment on H.R. 2202, authorizing funds for the National Marrow 
Donor Program, after receiving testimony from Representative Bill 
Young; Claude Earl Fox, Acting Administrator, Health Resources and 
Services Administration, and Claude Lenfant, Director, National Heart, 
Lung, and Blood Institute, both of the Department of Health and Human 
Services; Adm. E.R. Zumwalt, Jr., USN (Ret.), Arlington, Virginia, and 
Craig W.S. Howe, Minneapolis, Minnesota, both on behalf of the National 
Marrow Donor Program; Edward L. Snyder, Yale University School of 
Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, on behalf of the American Association 
of Blood Banks; Clive O. Callender, National Minority Organ Tissue 
Transplant Education Program, and Robert Wedge, both of Washington, 
D.C.; and Angel Hernandez, Silver Spring, Maryland.
ISTEA AUTHORIZATION
  Conferees on Wednesday, April 22, met to resolve the differences 
between the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 2400, to 
authorize funds for Federal-aid highways, highway safety programs, and 
transit programs, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet 
again on Friday, April 24.