[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 51 (Thursday, April 30, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D438-D441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services continued appropriation

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hearings. Testimony was heard from Members of Congress.
HOME IMPROVEMENT FINANCING--CONSUMER ABUSES
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing 
and Community Opportunity held a hearing on Consumer Abuses in Home 
Improvement Financing. Testimony was heard from Representatives Fox of 
Pennsylvania and Bentsen; Stanley J. Czerwinski, Associate Director, 
Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, GAO; Kathryn 
Kuhl-Inclan, Assistant Inspector General, Audit, Department of Housing 
and Urban Development; and public witnesses.
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
Committee on Commerce: Held a hearing on Electronic Commerce: The 
Marketplace of the 21st Century. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENAS
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations met 
and authorized the issuance of subpoenas in connection with the 
Subcommittee's Portals investigation.
REFORMING BILINGUAL EDUCATION
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early 
Childhood, Youth, and Families held a hearing on Reforming Bilingual 
Education. Testimony was heard from Representatives Livingston and 
Becerra; and public witnesses.
TEAMSTERS INVESTIGATION
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations continued hearings on the Teamsters Investigation. 
Testimony was heard from John J. Sweeney, President, AFL-CIO.
VENEZUELAN MONEY AND THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Held a hearing on 
``Venezuelan Money and the Presidential Election''. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the District Attorney's Office, New 
York County: Richard T. Preiss, Assistant District Attorney, Senior 
Investigative Counsel; and Joseph J. Dawson, Assistant District 
Attorney; and a public witness.
CAUCASUS AND CENTRAL ASIA--U.S. ROLE
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the U.S. Role 
in the Caucasus and Central Asia. Testimony was heard from Frederico 
Pena, Secretary of Energy; the following officials of the Department of 
State: Steve Sestanovich, Ambassador at Large for the Independent 
States; and Ambassador Richard Morningstar, Special Advisor to the 
President and the Secretary of State and Coordinator of Assistance to 
the Newly Independent States; and Don Pressley, Acting Assistant 
Administrator, Europe and the New Independent State, AID, U.S. 
International Development Cooperation Agency.
U.S. POLICY OPTIONS TOWARD CHINA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific held a hearing on U.S. Policy Options Toward China: Rule of Law 
and Democracy Programs. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PRIVATE TRUSTEE REFORM ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law approved for full Committee action H.R. 2592, 
Private Trustee Reform Act of 1997.
CITIZEN PROTECTION ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution approved 
for full Committee action amended H.R. 3168, Citizen Protection Act of 
1998.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual 
Property approved for full Committee action amended the following 
bills: H.R. 3723, United States Patent and Trademark Office 
Authorization Act, Fiscal Year 1999; and H.R. 1690, to amend title 28 
of the United States Code regarding enforcement of child custody 
orders.
CHILD PROTECTION AND SEXUAL PREDATOR PUNISHMENT ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on 
H.R. 3494, Child Protection and Sexual Predator Punishment Act of 1998, 
and related measures. Testimony was heard from Representatives Franks 
of New Jersey, Pryce of Ohio, Riley, Weller, Gutknecht, Lampson and 
Slaughter; Kevin DiGregory, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal 
Division, Department of Justice; and a public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims 
approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 2431, 
amended, Freedom From Religious Persecution Act of 1997; and H.R. 3736, 
Workforce Improvements and Protection Act of 1998.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Personnel 
approved for full Committee action

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amended H.R. 3616, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
1999.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Readiness 
approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 3616, National Defense 
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1999.
OVERSIGHT--WEST COAST GROUNDFISH ISSUE
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held an oversight hearing on West Coast Groundfish 
Issue. Testimony was heard from Senator Wyden; Rolland Schmitten, 
Assistant Administrator, Fisheries, Department of Commerce; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing 
on the following: H.R. 1282, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior 
to convey certain facilities of the Minidoka project to the Burley 
Irrigation District, and for other purposes; H.R. 1943, Carlsbad 
Irrigation Project Acquired Land Transfer Act; H.R. 2161, to direct the 
Secretary of the Interior to convey the Palmetto Bend Project to the 
State of Texas; H.R. 2506, Collbran Project Unit Conveyance Act; H.R. 
3056, to provide for the preservation and sustainability of the family 
farm through the transfer of responsibility for operation and 
maintenance of the Flathead Indian Irrigation Project, Montana; H.R. 
3677, to authorize and direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey 
certain works, facilities, and titles of the Gila Project, and 
Designated Lands within or adjacent to the Gila project, to the Welton-
Mohawk Irrigation and Drainage District; H.R. 3687, to authorize 
prepayment of amounts due under a water reclamation project contract 
for the Canadian River Project, Texas; H.R. 3706, Clear Creek 
Distribution System Conveyance Act; and H.R. 3715, Pine River Project 
Conveyance Act. Testimony was heard from Representative McInnis; the 
following officials of the Department of the Interior: Eluid Martinez, 
Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation; and Ross Mooney, Acting Director, 
Office of Trust Responsibilities, Bureau of Indian Affairs; and public 
witnesses.
CONFERENCE REPORT--EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 6 to 4, a rule waiving all 
points or order against the conference report accompanying H.R. 3579, 
making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1998, and against its consideration. The rule provides 
that the conference report shall be considered as read. Testimony was 
heard from Chairman Livingston and Representative Obey.
AVIATION MATTERS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation continued hearings on the impact of recent alliances, 
international agreements, DOT actions, and pending legislation on air 
fares, air services, and competition in the airline industry. Testimony 
was heard from Charles A. Hunnicutt, Assistant Secretary, Aviation and 
International Affairs, Department of Transportation; John Nannes, 
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Anti-Trust Division, Department of 
Justice; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Public 
Buildings and Economic Development approved for full Committee action 
the following measures: H.R. 2730, to designate the Federal building 
located at 309 North Church Street in Dyersburg, Tennessee, as the 
``Jere Cooper Federal Building;'' H.R. 2225, to designate the Federal 
building and United States courthouse to be constructed on Las Vegas 
Boulevard between Bridger Avenue and Clark Avenue in Las Vegas, NV, as 
the ``Lloyd D. George Federal Building and United States Courthouse;'' 
H.R. 3453, to designate the Federal Building and Post Office located at 
100 East B Street, Casper, Wyoming, as the ``Dick Cheney Federal 
Building;'' H.R. 3295, to designate the Federal building located at 
1301 Clay Street in Oakland, California, as the ``Ronald V. Dellums 
Federal Building;'' H.R. 3504, amended, John F. Kennedy Center for the 
Performing Arts Authorization Act; H. Con. Res. 255, amended, 
authorizing the use of the Capitol grounds for the Greater Washington 
Soap Box Derby; H. Con. Res. 265, authorizing the use of the East Front 
of the Capitol Grounds for performances sponsored by the John F. 
Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts; H. Con. Res. 262, amended, 
authorizing the 1998 District of Columbia Special Olympics Law 
Enforcement Torch Run to be run through the Capitol Grounds; and H. 
Con. Res. 263, amended, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for 
the seventeenth annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service.
U.S. CUSTOMS SERVICE ISSUES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on 
U.S. Customs Service Issues. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of the Treasury: Samuel H. Banks, Acting 
Commissioner, U.S. Customs Service; and

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Dennis Schindel, Assistant Inspector General, Audit; and public 
witnesses.

Joint Meetings
EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
  Conferees agreed to file a conference report on 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.
ISTEA
  Conferees continued 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 recessed subject to call.