[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 60 (Wednesday, May 13, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D503-D504]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
OVERSIGHT--EPA ACTIVITIES--ANIMAL FEEDING OPERATIONS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Forestry, Resource 
Conservation, and Research and the Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, 
and Poultry held a joint oversight hearing on EPA activities related to 
concentrated animal feeding operations. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Miller of California; the following officials of the 
EPA: Michael Cook, Director, Office of Wastewater Management, Office of 
Water; and Elaine Stanley, Director, Office of Compliance, Office of 
Enforcement and Compliance Assurance; Pearlie Reed, Chief, Natural 
Resources Conservation Service, USDA; John Baker, Commissioner, Natural 
Resources Conservation Commission, State of Texas; and Peter Rooney, 
Secretary, Environmental Protection Agency, State of California.
OVERSIGHT--IS FHA LIMITING CHOICES FOR HOME FINANCE?
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing 
and Community Development held an oversight hearing on Is FHA Limiting 
Choices for Home Finance? An Examination of Fair Housing Compliance. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Davis of Illinois; and public 
witnesses.
FUNDING SPECIAL EDUCATION--GOVERNMENT'S COMMITMENT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing on First 
Things First: Review of the Federal Government's Commitment to Funding 
Special Education. Testimony was heard from Representatives Bass and 
McCarthy of New York; and 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.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on the Kyoto 
Protocol: Problems with U.S. Sovereignty and the Lack of Developing 
Country Participation. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Knollenberg; Janet Yellen, Chair, Council of Economic Advisors; Stuart 
Eizenstat, Under Secretary, Economic, Business and Agricultural 
Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Western 
Hemisphere approved for full Committee action amended the following 
resolutions: H. Con. Res. 254, calling on the Government of Cuba to 
extradite to the United States convicted felon Joanne Chesimard and all 
other individuals who have fled the United States to avoid prosecution 
or confinement for criminal offenses and who are currently living 
freely in Cuba; and H. Res. 421, expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives deploring the tragic and senseless murder of Bishop 
Juan Jose Gerardi, calling on the Government of Guatemala to 
expeditiously bring those responsible for the crime to justice, and 
calling on the people of Guatemala to reaffirm their commitment to 
continue to implement the peace accords without interruption.
BANKRUPTCY REFORM ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Began markup of H.R. 3150, Bankruptcy 
Reform Act of 1998.
  Will continue tomorrow.
OVERSIGHT--NATIONAL FOREST FOUNDATION
Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on the National 
Forest Foundation. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the USDA: Roger C. Viadero, Inspector General; and Michael Dombeck, 
Chief, Forest Service; and a public witness.
FREEDOM FROM RELIGIOUS PERSECUTION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing 
1 hour of debate on H.R. 2431, Freedom From Religious Persecution Act. 
The rule makes in order as an original bill for amendment purposes an 
amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of H.R. 
3806, as modified by the amendments printed in part 1 of the report of 
the Committee on Rules. The rule provides that the amendment in the 
nature of a substitute shall be considered as read. The rule makes in 
order only those amendments printed in part 2 of the report of the 
Committee on Rules. The rule provides that amendments will be 
considered only in the order specified in the report, may be offered 
only by the Member designated in the report, shall be considered as 
read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report, equally 
divided between a proponent and an opponent and are not subject to 
amendment or a demand for a division of the question in the House or in 
the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against 
the amendment printed in

[[Page D504]]

the Rules Committee report. Finally, the rule provides one motion to 
recommit, with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from 
Chairman Gilman; Representatives Smith of New Jersey, Manzullo, Brady, 
Smith of Texas and Watt of North Carolina.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Committee on Science: Ordered reported amended the following bills: 
H.R. 2544, Technology Transfer Commercialization Act of 1997; H.R. 
3007, Commission on the Advancement of Women in Science, Engineering, 
and Technology Development Act; H.R. 3332, Next Generation Internet 
Research Act of 1998; and H.R. 3824, amending the Fastener Quality Act 
to exempt from its coverage certain fasteners approved by the Federal 
Aviation Administration for use in aircraft.
  The Committee also considered pending Committee business.
SURFACE TRANSPORTATION BOARD REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads concluded hearings on the Surface Transportation Board 
Reauthorization: Rates, Access and Remedies. Testimony was heard from 
Linda J. Morgan, Chairwoman, Surface Transportation Board, Department 
of Transportation; and public witnesses.