[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 80 (Thursday, June 18, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D662-D665]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
SELECTIVE AGRICULTURAL EMBARGOES ACT; RECREATIONAL CABIN FEES
Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported amended H.R. 3654, Selective 
Agricultural Embargoes Act of 1998.
  The Committee also held a hearing on H.R. 3765, to gradually increase 
the fees paid by current holders of Forest Service special use permits 
that authorize the construction and occupancy of private recreation 
houses or cabins. Testimony was heard from Gloria Manning, Associate 
Deputy Chief, National Forest System, USDA; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported the Legislative 
Appropriations for fiscal year 1999.
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the District of Columbia 
held a hearing on District of Columbia's Fiscal Year 1999 Budget 
Request. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
District of Columbia: Marion Barry, Jr., Mayor; and Linda W. Cropp, 
Chairman, Council; and Andrew F. Brimmer, D.C. Financial Responsibility 
and Management Assistance Authority.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior approved for full 
Committee action the Interior appropriations for fiscal year 1999.
VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent 
Agencies began mark up of the VA, HUD and Independent Agencies 
appropriations for fiscal year 1999.
BUDGET PROCESS REFORM
Committee on the Budget: Task Force on Budget Process held a hearing on 
Members' Proposals to Reform the Budget Process. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Cox of California, Barton of Texas, Stenholm, Sabo 
and Castle.
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials 
held a hearing on Electronic Commerce: Investing On-line. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
WIPO COPYRIGHT TREATIES IMPLEMENTATION ACT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 
2281, WIPO Copyright Treaties Implementation Act.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT PRACTICES--LEGISLATIVE OPTIONS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on 
Government Management, Information, and Technology held a hearing on 
Making the Federal Government Accountable: Legislative Options to 
Improve Financial Management Practices. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Armey and Neumann; Gene L. Dodaro, Assistant 
Comptroller General, GAO; and a public witness.
DRUG CULTURE--SHATTERING MYTHS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Security, International Affairs, and Criminal Justice held a hearing on 
``Shattering the Myths of the Drug Culture-Celebrity Role Models Just 
Say No.'' Testimony was heard from Representatives Watts of Oklahoma 
and Ryun; and public witnesses.
INDIA-PAKISTAN NUCLEAR PROLIFERATION
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific held a hearing on India-Pakistan Nuclear Proliferation. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
State: Karl F. Inderfurth, Assistant Secretary, South Asian Affairs; 
and Robert J. Einhorn, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Nonproliferation; 
and David Aaron, Under Secretary, International Trade, Department of 
Commerce.
CLASS ACTION JURISDICTION ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual 
Property held a hearing on H.R.

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3789, Class Action Jurisdiction Act of 1998. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Moran of Virginia; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held 
a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2986, for the relief of the 
survivors of the 14 members of the Armed Forces and the one United 
States civilian who were killed on April 14, 1994, when the United 
States fighter aircraft mistakenly shot down 2 helicopters in Iraq; and 
H.R. 3022, to amend title 19, United States Code, to authorize the 
settlement and payment of claims against the United States for injury 
and death of members of the Armed Forces and Department of Defense 
civilian employees arising from incidents in which claims are settle 
for death or injury of foreign nationals. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Collins; Elijay B. Bowron, Assistant Comptroller 
General, Special Investigations, GAO; Capt. Elliott L. Bloxom, USN, 
Director of Compensation, Military Personnel Policy, Office of Under 
Secretary (Personnel and Readiness), Department of Defense; Donald M. 
Remy, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, Department of 
Justice; and public witnesses.
EXPORTS OF SATELLITES TO CHINA--U.S. POLICY
Committee on National Security: and the Committee on International 
Relations continued joint hearings on U.S. policy regarding the export 
of satellites to China. Testimony was heard from Jan Lodel, Principal 
Deputy Under Secretary, Policy, Department of Defense; John Holum, 
Acting Under Secretary, Political Affairs, Department of State; and 
William Reinsch, Under Secretary, Export Administration, Department of 
Commerce.
  Hearings continue June 23.
ROYALTY ENHANCEMENT ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 3334, Royalty 
Enhancement Act of 1998.
GREAT LAKES FISH AND WILDLIFE RESTORATION ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 1481, Great Lakes Fish and 
Wildlife Restoration Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives LaTourette and English of Pennsylvania; Gary Edwards, 
Assistant Director, Fisheries, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Department of the Interior; Gavin C. Christie, Integrated Management of 
Sea Lamprey Specialist, Great Lakes Fishery Commission, Department of 
State; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands 
held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2970, National Historic 
Lighthouse Preservation Act of 1997; H.R. 3746, to authorize the 
addition of the Paoli Battlefield site in Malvern, Pennsylvania, to the 
Valley Forge National Historical Park; H.R. 3883, to revise the 
boundary of the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site to 
include Knob Creek Farm; and H.R. 3910, Automobile National Heritage 
Area Act of 1998. Testimony was heard from Representatives Weldon of 
Pennsylvania, Souder, Lewis of Kentucky, Dingell, Levin, Knollenberg 
and Upton; Denis Galvin, Deputy Director, National Park Service, 
Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing 
on the following bills: H.R. 1688, Lewis and Clark Rural Water System 
Act of 1997; H.R. 2108, Dutch John Federal Property Disposition and 
Assistance Act of 1997; and H.R. 2306, Fort Peck Reservation Rural 
Water System Act of 1997. Testimony was heard from Senator Johnson; 
Representatives Thune, Minge, and Latham; Eluid Martinez, Commissioner, 
Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Susan D. Kladiva, 
Associate Director, Energy, Resources and Science Issues, GAO; Gary 
Hanson, Mayor, Sioux Falls, State of South Dakota; and public 
witnesses.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 4059, making appropriations for military 
construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure for the 
Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 1999. 
The rule waives points of order against provisions in the bill for 
failure to comply with clause 2 of rule XXI (prohibiting unauthorized 
appropriations and legislative provisions in general appropriations 
bill), and clause 6 of rule XXI (prohibiting re-appropriations in 
general appropriations bills).
  The rule permits the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to accord 
priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed their 
amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule allows the Chairman of 
the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during consideration of 
the bill, and to reduce voting time to five minutes on a postponed 
question provided the vote follows a fifteen minute vote. The

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rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. 
Finally, the rule provides that the allocations contemplated by section 
302(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 shall be considered as 
made to the Committee on Appropriations. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Packard and Hefner.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 4060, making appropriations for energy and water 
development for the fiscal year ending September 30 1999. The rule 
waives clause 7 of rule XXI (requiring relevant printed hearings and 
reports to be available for three-days prior to the consideration of a 
general appropriations bill) against consideration of the bill.
  The rule waives clause 2 (prohibiting unauthorized appropriations or 
legislative provisions in a general appropriations bill); clause 5(b) 
(prohibiting tax or tariff provisions in a bill not reported by a 
committee with jurisdiction over revenue measures); and clause 6 
(prohibiting reappropriations in a general appropriations bill) of rule 
XXI against the bill.
  The rule permits the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to accord 
priority in recognition to Members who have pre-printed their 
amendments in the Congressional Record. The rule also allows the 
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone votes during 
consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting time to five minutes on 
a postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen minute vote. The 
rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. 
Testimony was heard from Representatives McDade and Fazio.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 
4058, to amend title 49, United States Code, to reauthorize programs of 
the Federal Aviation Administration; H.R. 2748, amended, Airline 
Service Improvement Act; and H.R. 4057, amended, Airport Improvement 
Program Reauthorization Act of 1998, 9:30 a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
VETERANS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits approved for 
full Committee action a measure providing the following: a cost-of-
living adjustment and making various improvements in education, 
housing, and cemetery programs; and administrative provisions relating 
to the Board of Veterans' Appeals and the Court of Veterans Appeals.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on these 
proposals. Testimony was heard from Nora Egan, Deputy Under Secretary, 
Management, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans 
Affairs; and representatives of veterans organizations.
FUTURE OF SOCIAL SECURITY
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security continued 
hearings on the Future of Social Security for this Generation and the 
Next, examining proposals regarding personal accounts. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
U.S.-VIETNAM TRADE RELATIONS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on 
U.S.-Vietnam trade relations, including the Administration's renewal of 
Vietnam's waiver under the Jackson-Vanik amendment to the Trade Act of 
1974. Testimony was heard from Senator Kerry; Representatives Smith of 
New Jersey and Rohrabacher; Pete Peterson, Ambassador to Vietnam; and 
public witnesses.
CHINA AND MISSILE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on China and Missile Technology Transfers. Testimony was 
heard from George J. Tenet, Director, CIA.

Joint Meetings
ORGAN DONATION ALLOCATION
Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources and the 
House Committee on Commerce Subcommittee on Health and Environment 
concluded hearings to examine the allocation process of distributing 
transplant organs, and proposals to revise Department of Health and 
Human Services' organ donation regulations, after receiving testimony 
from Senators Torricelli, Santorum, Kerrey, and Hollings; 
Representatives Barrett, Stokes, Boswell, Thurman, and Inglis; Donna 
Shalala, Secretary of Health and Human Services; Lawrence G. Hunsicker, 
University of Iowa Hospital and Clinic, Iowa City, and Walter Graham, 
Richmond, Virginia, both on behalf of UNOS; James F. Childress, 
University of Virginia, Charlottesville; Ron Busuttil, University of 
California at Los Angeles Medical Center, Los Angeles, California; Mark 
A. Joenson, CONSAD Research Corporation, Jorge D. Reyes, University of 
Pittsburgh Medical Center, and Alan Pritsker, Pritsker Corporation, all 
of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Hector C. Ramos, Lifelink Transplant 
Institute, Tampa, Florida; Clive Callender, Howard University 
Transplant Center, Washington, D.C.;

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Jeffrey Reese, University of Vermont, Burlington; William E. Harmon, 
Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts; Bruce Weir, Transplant 
Recipients International Organization, Cleveland, Ohio; Peggy Dreker, 
Kearny, New Jersey; and Tom Meredith, Antioch, Tennessee.