[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 50 (Wednesday, April 29, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D428-D430]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
BANK MERGERS
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on Bank 
Mergers. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Treasury: John D. Hawke, Jr., Under Secretary, 
Domestic Finance; Ellen Seidman, Director, Office of Thrift 
Supervision; and Julie Williams, Acting Comptroller of the Currency; 
Laurence Meyer, member, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; 
Andrew C. Hove, Jr., Acting Chairman, FDIC; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 3532, 
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999; 
H.R. 2217, to extend the deadline under the Federal Power Act 
applicable to the construction of FERC Project No. 9248 in the State of 
Colorado; and H.R. 2841, to extend the time required for the 
construction of a hydroelectric project.
TEAMSTERS INVESTIGATION
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Teamsters Investigation. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the International Brotherhood of 
Teamsters: Marvin Levy, Independent Financial Auditor; and Michael 
Cherkasky, Election Officer.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
OSHA LEGISLATION
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections held a hearing on pending OSHA legislation (H.R. 3725, H.R. 
3519, H.R. 2869, H.R. 2871, H.R. 2873, H.R. 2879 and H.R. 2661). 
Testimony was heard from Charles N. Jeffress, Assistant Secretary, 
Occupational Safety and Health, Occupational Safety and Health 
Administration, Department of Labor; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS
  Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on 
Human Resources held a hearing on Bureau of Labor Statistics 
Oversight: Fixing the Consumer Price Index (Part II). Testimony was 
heard from Edward M. Gramlich, member, Board of Governors, Federal 
Reserve System; Katharine G. Abraham, Commissioner, Bureau of Labor 
Statistics, Department of Labor; Bernard Ungar, Director, Government 
Business Operations Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
ANNUAL DRUG CERTIFICATION
Committee on International Relations: Held hearing on U.S. Annual Drug 
Certification. Testimony was heard from the following former officials 
of the Department of State: Jeane Kirkpatrick, U.S. Ambassador to the 
United Nations; and Bernard Aronson, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
Inter-American Affairs; Brent Scowcroff, former National Security 
Advisor; John Walters, former Deputy Director, Office of National Drug 
Control Policy; and a public witness.
TRADE IN THE AMERICAS:
BEYOND THE SANTIAGO
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Economic Policy and Trade held a

[[Page D429]]

hearing on Trade in the Americas: Beyond the Santiago. Testimony was 
heard from Regina Vargo, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Western 
Hemisphere, Department of Commerce; Richard Brown, Director, Economic 
Policy and Summit Coordination, Bureau of Inter-American Affairs, 
Department of State; and public witnesses.
DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE
AUTHORIZATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported amended H.R. 3303, 
Department of Justice Appropriation Authorization Act, Fiscal Years 
1999, 2000, and 2001.
NATIONAL DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on National Security: Special Oversight Panel on Merchant 
Marine approved for full Committee action recommendations on H.R. 3616, 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999.
NATIONAL DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on National Security: Special Oversight Panel on Morale, 
Welfare and Recreation approved for full Committee action 
recommendations on H.R. 3616, National Defense Authorization Act for 
Fiscal Year 1999.
NATIONAL DEFENSE
AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Installations 
and Facilities approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 3616, 
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
1021, Miles Land Exchange Act of 1997; H.R. 2556, amended, to 
reauthorize the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and the 
Partnerships for Wildlife Act; H.R. 2863, amended, Migratory Bird 
Treaty Reform Act; and H.R. 2886, amended, Granite Watershed 
Enhancement and Protection Act of 1997.
EXPEDITED PROCEDURES
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving clause 4(b) 
of rule XI (requiring a two-thirds vote consider a rule on the same day 
it is reported from the Rules Committee) against certain resolutions 
reported from the Rules Committee. The rule applies the waiver to a 
special rule reported before May 1, 1998 providing for consideration or 
disposition of H.R. 3579, making emergency supplemental appropriations 
for the fiscal year ending September 20, 1998, an amendment thereto, a 
conference thereon, or an amendment reported in disagreement from a 
conference thereon.
DC STUDENT OPPORTUNITY
SCHOLARSHIP ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing 2 
hours of debate on S. 1502, District of Columbia Student Opportunity 
Scholarship Act of 1997, equally divided between the Majority Leader or 
his designee and an opponent. The rule provides one motion to recommit. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives Armey, Norton and Scott.
PASSENGER SERVICES ACT--DOMESTIC CRUISE INDUSTRY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on the Effect of the 
Passenger Services Act on the Domestic Cruise Industry. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Smith of Michigan and Taylor of Mississippi; 
and public witnesses.
FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads held a hearing on Federal Railroad Administration 
Reauthorization: Human Factors Issues. Testimony was heard from Jolene 
Molitoris, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Department 
of Transportation; James E. Hall, Chairman, National Transportation 
Safety Board; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL CEMETERY SYSTEM OPERATIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits held an 
oversight hearing on operations within the National Cemetery System. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the GAO: Stephen P. 
Backhus, Director, Veterans' Affairs and Military Health Care Issues; 
and Dave Clark, Director, Audit Oversight and Liaison; Carolyn Becraft, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Personnel, Family Support and Education, 
Department of Defense; Roger R. Rapp, Acting Director, National 
Cemetery System, Department of Veterans Affairs; Gen. Fred Woerner, USA 
(Ret.), Chairman, American Battle Monuments Commission; and John 
Vitikacs, Director, National Veterans and Rehabilitation Commission, 
The American Legion.
INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Ordered reported amended 
H.R. 3694, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999.

[[Page D430]]



Joint Meetings
EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
  Conferees continued to resolve the differences between the Senate- 
and House-passed versions of H.R. 3579, making emergency supplemental 
appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1998, but did 
not complete action thereon and will meet again tomorrow.