[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 94 (Wednesday, July 15, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D766-D767]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported the Commerce, Justice, 
State, and Judiciary appropriations for fiscal year 1999.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING AND RELATED PROGRAMS 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing and Related Programs approved for full committee action the 
Foreign Operations, Export Financing and Relations appropriations for 
fiscal year 1999.
HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE AVAILABILITY ACT
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Ordered reported amended 
H.R. 219, Homeowners' Insurance Availability Act of 1997.
ELECTRONIC COMMERCE
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing 
on Electronic Commerce: The Energy Industry in the Electronic Age. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
NBA PIONEERS--PENSION FAIRNESS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-
Employee Relations held a hearing on Pension Fairness for NBA Pioneers. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
WASHINGTON CONVENTION CENTER AUTHORITY
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on the 
District of Columbia held a hearing on Washington Convention Center 
Authority. Testimony was heard from Andrew Brimmer, Chairman, District 
of Columbia Financial Responsibility and Management Assistance 
Authority; the following officials of the District of Columbia: Marion 
Barry, Mayor; and Linda Cropp, Chairman, City Council; Gloria Jarmon, 
Director, Health, Education, and Human Services Accounting and 
Financial Management Issues, GAO; Rick Hendricks, Director, Project 
Development, National Capital Division, GSA; and Terry Golden, 
Chairman, Washington Convention Center Authority.
KYOTO PROTOCOL
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs continued 
hearings on ``The Kyoto-Protocol: Is the Clinton-Gore Administration 
Selling Out Americans?'' (Part V). Testimony was heard from John C. 
Horsley, Associate Deputy Secretary and Director, Office of 
Intermodalism, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses.
AFRICA--COMBATING INTERNATIONAL CRIME
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a 
hearing on Combating International Crime in Africa. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Justice: Tom Kneir, 
Deputy Assistant Director, Criminal Investigative Division, FBI; and 
Michael Horn, Chief, Foreign Operations, DEA; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE; OVERSIGHT--ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported amended H.R. 4111, to provide 
for outlet modifications to Folsom Dam, a study for reconstruction of 
the Northfork American River Cofferdam, and to transfer to the State of 
California all right, title, and interest in and to the Auburn Dam.
  The Committee also held an oversight hearing on the Endangered 
Species Act. Testimony was heard from Michael Anable, Deputy State Land 
Commissioner, Land Department, State of Arizona; Renne Lohoefener, 
Assistant Regional Director, Region 2, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, 
Department of the Interior; Peter Coppelman, Deputy Assistant Attorney 
General, Environment and Natural Resources Division, Department of 
Justice; Eleanor S. Towns, Regional Forester, USDA; and public 
witnesses.
VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 4194, making appropriations for the Department 
of Veterans

[[Page D767]]

and Housing and Urban Development, and for sundry independent agencies, 
commissions, corporations, and offices for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1998. The rule waives section 306 (prohibiting 
consideration of legislation within the Budget Committee's 
jurisdiction, unless reported by the Budget Committee) of the 
Congressional Budget Act against consideration of the bill.
  The rule provides that the amendment printed in the report of the 
Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution shall be considered as 
adopted. The rule waives clause 6 (prohibiting reappropriations in an 
appropriation bill) of rule XXI against provisions in the bill and 
clause 2 of rule XXI (prohibiting unauthorized and legislative 
provisions in an appropriations bill) against provisions in the bill as 
amended, except as otherwise specified in the rule.
  The rule makes in order the amendment printed in the Congressional 
Record and numbered 12, which may be offered only by Representative 
Leach or a designee, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable 
for 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an 
opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject 
to 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 numbered 12.
  The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to 
Members who have preprinted their amendments in the Congressional 
Record. The rule allows for the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole 
to postpone votes during consideration of the bill, and to reduce votes 
to five minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen 
minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions. Testimony was heard from Representatives Lewis of 
California, Tiahrt, Leach, Lazio of New York, Kelly, Stokes, Obey, 
Kennedy of Massachusetts, Engel and Gutierrez.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Rules: Heard testimony from Representatives Regula, 
Johnson of Connecticut, Stearns, Greenwood, Yates and Gutierrez, but 
action was deferred on H. R. 4193, making appropriations for the 
Department of the Interior and related agencies for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 1998.
OVERSIGHT--SCIENCE OF RISK ASSESSMENT
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held an 
oversight hearing on the Science of Risk Assessment: Implications for 
Federal Regulation. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESSES--YEAR 2000 COMPUTER PROBLEM
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the Impact of the Year 
2000 (Y2K) Computer Problem on Small Businesses. Testimony was heard 
from Fred Hochberg, Deputy Administrator, SBA; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--COAST GUARD MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND COMPLIANCE 
PROGRAM
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held an oversight hearing on the U.S. 
Coast Guard Marine Environmental Protection and Compliance Programs. 
Testimony was heard from Capt. Thomas H. Gilmour, USCG, Director, Field 
Activities, Office of Marine Safety and Environmental Protection, U.S. 
Coast Guard, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses.
U.S.-JAPAN TRADE RELATIONS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade held a hearing on 
United States-Japan Trade Relations. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Levin, Bereuter and Graham; and public witnesses.