[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 61 (Thursday, May 14, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D511-D513]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported the following measures: H. Con. 
Res. 171, declaring the memorial service sponsored by the National 
Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Memorial Service Board of Directors to 
honor emergency medical services personnel to be the ``National 
Emergency Medical Services Memorial Service''; H.R. 2202, amended, 
National Bone Marrow Registry Reauthorization Act of 1998; and H.R. 
3849, amended, Internet Tax Freedom Act.
CHINA TRADE POLICY
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing on China Trade Policy. Testimony was 
heard from Ambassador David Aaron, Under Secretary, International 
Trade, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce 
Protections approved for full Committee action the following bills: 
H.R. 2869, to amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 to 
exempt safety and health assessments, audits, and reviews conducted by 
or for an employer from enforcement action under such Act; H.R. 2873, 
amended, to amend the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970; H.R. 
2661, amended, Sound Scientific Practices Act; and H.R. 3725, amended, 
Postal Service Health and Safety Promotion Act.
GULF WAR VETERANS' ILLNESSES
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Human 
Resources held a hearing on the Status of Efforts to Identify Gulf War 
Veterans' Illnesses: Tumor Data. Testimony was heard from Kwai Chan, 
Director, Special Studies and Evaluation Group, GAO; Susan Mather, 
M.D., Chief, Public Health and Environmental Hazards Officer, 
Department of Veterans Affairs; Gary Christopherson, Acting Assistant 
Secretary (Health Affairs), Department of Defense; Richard Miller, 
M.D., Director, Medical Follow-Up Agency, Institute of Medicine/
National Academy of Sciences; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific approved for full Committee action the following resolutions: 
H. Res. 392, relating to the importance of Japanese-American relations

[[Page D512]]

and the urgent need for Japan to more effectively address its economic 
and financial problems and open its markets by eliminating informal 
barriers to trade and investment, thereby making a more effective 
contribution to leading the Asian region out of its current financial 
crisis, insuring against a global recession, and reinforcing regional 
stability and security; and H. Res. 404, commemorating 100 years of 
relations between the people of the United States and the people of the 
Philippines.
BANKRUPTCY REFORM ACT; RELIGIOUS LIBERTY AND CHARITABLE DONATION 
PROTECTION ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
3150, amended, Bankruptcy Reform Act of 1998; and H.R. 2604, Religious 
Liberty and Charitable Donation Protection Act of 1997.
OVERSIGHT--PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS VALOR--CONGRESSIONAL RECOGNITION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held an oversight 
hearing on Congressional Recognition for Acts of Exceptional Valor by 
Public Safety Officers. Testimony was heard from Peter E. Bergin, 
Acting, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Director, Diplomatic 
Security Service, Department of State; Donnie R. Marshall, Acting 
Deputy Administrator, DEA, Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--OUTER CONTINENTAL SHELF OIL AND GAS LEASING
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held an oversight hearing on Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas 
Leasing. Testimony was heard from Senator Boxer; Representatives Jones, 
Pallone, Cunningham, Capps, Lampson, Regula, Scarborough, Goss and 
Taylor of Mississippi; and Cynthia Quarterman, Director, Minerals 
Management Service, Department of the Interior.
DISABLED SPORTSMEN'S ACCESS ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 2760, Disabled Sportsmen's 
Access Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives Cunningham, 
Peterson of Minnesota, Chambliss and Kelly; the following officials of 
the Department of Defense: Sherri W. Goodman, Deputy Under Secretary, 
Environmental Security; and Lt. Col. A. Lewis Deal, USMC, Executive 
Officer, Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico Marine Corps Base; and 
public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--ROCKY MOUNTAIN WEST--FOREST HEALTH
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held 
an oversight hearing on Forest Health in the Rocky Mountain West. 
Testimony was heard from Lyle Laverty, Regional Forester, Rocky 
Mountain Region, Forest Service, USDA; and public witnesses.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing 1 hour of 
debate on H.R. 3616, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 
1999. The rule waives all points of order against the bill. Finally, 
the rule provides that there shall be no further consideration of the 
measure except by subsequent order of the House. Testimony was heard 
from Chairman Spence and Representative Skelton.
SENSE OF THE HOUSE RESOLUTION CONCERNING EXECUTIVE PRIVILEGE; 
COOPERATION WITH CONGRESSIONAL INVESTIGATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted by a vote of 7 to 1, a rule providing for 
consideration of H. Res. 432, expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives concerning the President's assertions of executive 
privilege, in the House with 1 hour of debate equally divided and 
controlled by the Majority Leader or his designee and an opponent. The 
rule provides that the resolution shall be considered as read. The rule 
provides that the previous question shall be considered as ordered on 
the resolution to final adoption without intervening motion.
  The rule provides for consideration of H. Res. 433, calling upon the 
President of the United States to urge full cooperation by his former 
political appointees and friends and their associates with 
congressional investigations, in the House with one hour of debate 
equally divided and controlled by the Majority Leader and an opponent. 
The rule provides that the resolution be considered as read. Finally, 
the rule provides that the previous question shall be considered as 
ordered on the resolution to final adoption without intervening motion.
COMMUNICATING SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
Committee on Science: Held an oversight hearing on Communicating 
Science and Engineering in a Sound-Bite World. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.

[[Page D513]]


OVERSIGHT--MILLENNIUM SHORT CIRCUIT
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology and the Subcommittee 
on Management, Information, and Technology of the Committee on 
Government Reform and Oversight held a joint oversight hearing on 
Millennium Short Circuit: The Y2K Effect on Energy Utilities. Testimony 
was heard from Hugh L. Thompson, Jr., Deputy Executive Director, 
Regulatory Programs, NRC; Kathleen M. Hirning, Chief Information 
Officer, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, Department of Energy; 
and public witnesses.
DRUG-FREE WORK PLACES
Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Empowerment held a hearing 
on how to best obtain drug-free work places. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Portman; and public witnesses.
AVIATION SECURITY EFFORTS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing on the Status of Aviation Security efforts with 
a focus on the National Safe Skies Alliance and Passenger Profiling 
Criteria. Testimony was heard from Keith O. Fultz, Assistant 
Comptroller General, Resources, Community and Economic Development 
Division, GAO; the following officials of the Department of 
Transportation: Alexis M. Stefani, Deputy Assistant Inspector General, 
Aviation; and Adm. Cathal L. Flynn, Associate Administrator, Civil 
Aviation Security, FAA; James E. Orlando, Advisor to the Aviation Mail 
Security Committee, U.S. Postal Service; and public witnesses.
OIL POLLUTION--CRIMINAL LIABILITY
Committee on Transportation: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime 
Transportation held a hearing on Criminal Liability for Oil Pollution. 
Testimony was heard from Capt. Malcolm Williams, USCG, Chief, Office of 
Maritime and International Law, Department of Transportation; and 
public witnesses.
VA MEDICAL CENTER--ALLEGED DEATH COVERUPS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on the GAO report of the Inspector 
General investigation of an alleged cover-up of deaths at the Columbia, 
Missouri VA Medical Center in 1992, and an examination of VA's 
development of a quality assurance/risk management reporting system. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Hulshof; Eljay B. Bowron, 
Assistant Comptroller General, Special Investigations, Office of 
Special Investigations, GAO; and the following officials of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs: Richard J. Griffin, Inspector General; 
and Thomas L. Garthwaite, M.D., Deputy Under Secretary, Veterans Health 
Administration.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported amended the following 
bills: H.R. 3828, Veterans Medicare Access Improvement Act of 1998; and 
H.R. 3809, Drug Free Borders Act of 1998.