[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 75 (Thursday, June 11, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D623-D625]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FOREST SERVICE TIMBER SALE
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review the Forest Service 
timber sale program. Testimony was heard from Representatives Herger 
and Stupak; James Lyons, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and 
Environment, USDA; Ray Craig, Assistant State Forester, Management 
Division, Department of Forestry, State of Oregon; and public 
witnesses.
TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, 
and General Government approved for full Committee action the Treasury, 
Postal Service, General Government Appropriations for fiscal year 1999.
MONEY LAUNDERING MEASURES
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Ordered reported amended 
the following bills: H.R. 4005, Money Laundering Deterrence Act of 
1998; and H.R. 1756, Money Laundering and Financial Crimes Strategy Act 
of 1997.
  Prior to this action, the Committee held a hearing on these measures. 
Testimony was heard from Senator Grassley; the following officials of 
the Department of the Treasury: Raymond W. Kelley, Under Secretary, 
Enforcement; and Robert Serino, Deputy General Counsel, Office of the 
Comptroller of the Currency; Mary Lee Warren, Deputy Assistant Attorney 
General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice; Jonathan Winer, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Narcotics and Law Enforcement 
Division, Department of State; and public witnesses.
ENERGY CONSERVATION REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power approved for 
full Committee action H.R. 4017, Energy Conservation Reauthorization 
Act of 1998.
NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS AND NATIONAL ASSESSMENT 
GOVERNING BOARD REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Early 
Childhood, Youth, and Families held a hearing on reauthorization of the 
National Assessment of Educational Progress and the National Assessment 
Governing Board. Testimony was heard from Mary Blanton, Vice 
Chairperson, National Assessment Governing Board; and public witnesses.
INSTITUTIONAL REVIEW BOARDS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Human 
Resources held a hearing on Institutional Review Boards (IRBs): A 
System in Jeopardy. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Health and Human Services: George F. Grob, Deputy 
Inspector General, Evaluation and Inspections; Eric Meslin, Executive 
Director, National Bioethics Advisory Committee; and Gary B. Ellis, 
Director, Office of Protection

[[Page D624]]

from Research Risks, Office of Extramural Research, NIH; and public 
witnesses.
RECONSTRUCTING SIERRA LEONE
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a 
hearing on Reconstructing Sierra Leone. Testimony was heard from 
Johnnie Carson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, African Affairs, 
Department of State; and public witnesses.
U.S. CUSTOMS MODERNIZATION--IMPLICATIONS ON TRADE
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on International 
Economic Policy and Trade held a hearing on Modernization of U.S. 
Customs: Implications On Trade. Testimony was heard from Stuart Seidel, 
Assistant Commissioner (Rules and Regulations), U.S. Customs Service, 
Department of the Treasury.
CHILD CUSTODY PROTECTION ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution approved 
for full Committee action amended H.R. 3682, Child Custody Protection 
Act.
OVERSIGHT; PROTECTING AMERICAN SMALL BUSINESS TRADE ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual 
Property held an oversight hearing on the United States Judicial 
Conference, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, and 
the Federal Judicial Center. Testimony was heard from Wm. Terrell 
Hodges, Chairman, Executive Committee, Judicial Conference of the 
United States; Leonidas Ralph Mecham, Director, Administrative Office 
of United States Courts; and Rya W. Zobel, Director, Federal Judicial 
Center.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on H.R. 3578, Protecting 
American Small Business Trade Act of 1998. Testimony was heard from 
Jeffrey D. Kovar, Assistant Legal Advisor, Department of State; and 
public witnesses.
FBI'S NATIONAL INSTANT-CHECK SYSTEM IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on the 
FBI's implementation of a national instant-check system for screening 
prospective gun buyers. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Justice: James E. Kessler, Jr., Section 
Chief, Operations Branch, Criminal Justice Information Services 
Division, FBI; and Jan M. Chaiken, Director, Bureau of Justice 
Statistics; Lt. Robert G. Kemmler, Assistant Records Management 
Officer, Firearms Transaction Program, Department of State Police, 
State of Virginia; Lt. Col. Cynthia Smith, Bureau Chief, Drug and 
Criminal Enforcement, State Police, State of Maryland; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; PRIVATE IMMIGRATION MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims 
approved for full Committee action amended the following bills: H.R. 
2837, Naturalization Reform Act of 1997; and H.R. 371, Hmong Veterans' 
Naturalization Act of 1997.
  The Committee also considered private immigration bills.
CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION--INFORMATION ASSURANCE
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Procurement and the 
Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint hearing 
on the Fiscal Year 1999 National Defense authorization request on 
Critical Infrastructure Protection--Information Assurance. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: 
Jeffrey Hunter, Director, Critical Infrastructure Office; Linton Wells, 
II, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Command, Control, 
Communications and Intelligence; and Brig. Gen. John H. Campbell, USAF, 
Deputy Director, Information Operations (J-39).
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the impact of the 
spiny dogfish harvest on striped bass. Testimony was heard from Richard 
Schaffer, Chief, Intergovernmental and Recreational Fisheries, National 
Marine Fisheries Service, NOAA, Department of Commerce; Hannibal 
Bolton, Division Chief, Fish and Wildlife Management Assistance, U.S. 
Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; George Lapointe, 
Director, Interstate Fisheries Management Program, Atlantic States 
Marine Fisheries Commission; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 1390, to 
authorize the Government of India to establish a memorial to honor 
Mahatma Gandhi in the District of Columbia; H.R. 1728, amended, 
National Park Service Administrative Amendment of 1997; H.R. 3109, 
Thomas Cole National Historic Site Act; H.R. 3830, Utah Schools and 
Lands Exchange Act of 1998; and H.R. 3055, amended, to deem the 
activities of the Micosukee Tribe on the Tamiami Indian Reservation to 
be consistent with the purposes of the Everglades National Park.

[[Page D625]]


PASSENGER INTERFERENCE; CARRY-ON BAGGAGE REDUCTION ACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing on the problem of passenger interference with 
flight crews and a review of H.R. 3064, Carry-on Baggage Reduction Act 
of 1997. Testimony was heard from Guy Gardner, Associate Administrator, 
Regulations and Certifications, FAA, Department of Transportation; and 
public witnesses.
ADOPTION REUNION REGISTRIES--SCREENING OF ADULTS WORKING WITH CHILDREN
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing on Adoption Reunion Registries and Screening of Adults Working 
with Children. Testimony was heard from Senators Levin, Craig and 
Bennett; Representative Bliley; Kent Markus, Deputy Chief of Staff, 
Department of Justice; Josette P. Marquess, Coordinator, Adoption 
Reunion Registry and Post Adoption Services Unit, Department of 
Children and Families, State of Florida; and public witnesses.
CHINA PROLIFERATION
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on China Proliferation. Testimony was heard from 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
IRS REFORM
Conferees on Wednesday, June 10, met to resolve the differences between 
the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 2676, to restructure and 
reform the Internal Revenue Service, but did not complete action 
thereon, and recessed subject to call.