[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 122 (Tuesday, September 15, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D979-D981]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC TURMOIL
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Continued hearings on 
International Economic Turmoil. Testimony was heard from Thomas Kneir, 
Deputy Assistant Director, FBI, Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
PORTALS INVESTIGATION
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations 
continued hearings on the circumstances surrounding the FCC's planned 
relocation to the Portals, including the efforts of Franklin L. Haney and 
his representatives with respect to this matter and the circumstances 
surrounding the payments of fees to those representatives. Testimony was 
heard from Peter Knight, Wunder, Knight, Levine and Forscey.
  Hearings continue September 17.
DISARMING IRAQ: STATUS OF WEAPONS INSPECTIONS
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Disarming Iraq: The 
Status of Weapons Inspections. Testimony was heard from Ambassador Martin 
Indyk, Assistant Secretary, Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State; and 
Scott Ritter, former Weapons Inspector for the United Nations Special 
Commission.
DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO IN CRISIS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a hearing 
on Democratic Republic of Congo in Crisis. Testimony was heard from Susan E. 
Rice, Assistant Secretary, Africa, Department of State; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: On September 14, the Subcommittee on Crime 
approved for full Committee action the following measures: H.R. 4427, 
amended, Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 1998; H.R. 3046, amended, 
Police, Fire, and Emergency Prohibition Act of 1998; S. 1976, Crime Victims 
with Disabilities Awareness Act of 1998; H.R. 804, to amend part Q of title 
1 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to ensure that 
Federal funds made available to hire or rehire law enforcement officers are 
used in a manner that produces a net gain of the number of law enforcement 
officers who perform non-administrative

[[Page D980]]

public safety services; and S. 2022, Crime Identification Technology Act of 
1998.
OVERSIGHT--FOREST ROADS MANAGEMENT AND OBLITERATION
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held an 
oversight hearing on Forest Roads Management and Obliteration. Testimony was 
heard from Robert Joslin, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, Forest 
Service, USDA; and public witnesses.
WESTERN HEMISPHERE DRUG ELIMINATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified open rule providing 1 
hour of debate to be equally divided between Rep. Hastert, or his designee, 
and a Member opposed to H.R. 4300, Western Hemisphere Drug Elimination Act. 
The rule provides for a 3 hour time limit on the amendment process. The rule 
makes in order as an original bill for the purpose of amendment the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the Congressional Record 
and numbered 1, and considers it as read. The rule waives clause 7 of rule 
XVI (prohibiting nongermane amendments) against the amendment in the nature 
of a substitute. The rule permits the Chair to accord priority in 
recognition to Members who have pre-printed their amendment in the 
Congressional Record and considers them as read. The rule allows the Chair 
to postpone recorded votes and reduce to five minutes the minimum time for 
electronic voting on any postponed votes, provided that the voting time on 
the first in a series of questions shall not be less than 15 minutes. 
Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without 
instructions. Testimony was heard from Representatives McCollum, Hastert and 
Waters.
DRUG DEMAND REDUCTION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified open rule providing 1 
hour of debate equally divided between Rep. Hastert, or his designee, and a 
Member opposed to H.R. 4550, Drug Demand Reduction Act of 1998. The rule 
provides for a 3 hour time limit on the amendment process. Prior to the 
consideration of any other amendment, the rule provides for the 
consideration of the amendment printed in the Rules Committee report, if 
offered by the Member designated in the report, shall not be subject to a 
demand for a division of the question or to amendment and shall be debatable 
for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the 
proponent and an opponent. The rule provides that, should that amendment be 
adopted, the bill, as amended, be considered as original text for the 
purpose of further amendment. The rule permits the Chair to accord priority 
in recognition to Members who have pre-printed their amendment in the 
Congressional Record and considers them as read. The rule allows the Chair 
to postpone recorded votes and reduce to five minutes the minimum time for 
electronic voting on any postponed votes, provided that the voting time on 
the first in a series of questions shall not be less that 15 minutes. 
Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit, with or without 
instructions. Testimony was heard from Representatives Hastert, Portman and 
Ramstad.
METHANE HYDRATE RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACT
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing 
on S. 1418, Methane Hydrate Research and Development Act of 1998. Testimony 
was heard from Robert Kripowicz, Acting Assistant Secretary, Fossil Energy, 
Department of Energy; William P. Dillon, Research Geologist, U.S. Geological 
Survey, Department of the Interior; and a public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health approved for full 
Committee action the following: H.R. 4377, to amend title XVIII of the 
Social Security Act to expand the membership of the Medicare Payment 
Advisory Commission to 17; H.R. 3511, to amend title XI of the Social 
Security to authorize the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide 
additional exceptions to the imposition of civil money penalties in cases of 
payments to beneficiaries; and, as amended, a measure to refine the Medicare 
home health interim payment system.
WELFARE, NONCITIZEN, AND UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TECHNICAL AMENDMENTS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources approved for 
full Committee action H.R. 4558, Welfare, Noncitizen, and Unemployment 
Insurance Technical Amendments Act of 1998.
INTERETHNIC ADOPTION AMENDMENTS IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a hearing 
on the Implementation of the Interethnic Adoption Amendments. Testimony was 
heard from Olivia A. Golden, Assistant Secretary, Administration for 
Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services; Mark V. 
Nadel, Associate Director, Income Security Issues, Health, Education, and 
Human Services Division, GAO; former Senator Howard Metzenbaum of Ohio; and 
public witnesses.
Joint Meetings
HIGHER EDUCATION
  Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate-and House-
passed versions of H.R. 6, to extend the authorization of programs under the 
Higher Education Act of 1965, but did not complete action thereon, and 
recessed subject to call.

[[Page D981]]

F


                         COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR

                      WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1998

          (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)


                                 Senate

  Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on 
Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine, to hold hearings to examine 
the extent of fatigue and its safety effects on the commercial motor 
carrier and railroad industries, 2:30 p.m., SR-253.
  Committee on Environment and Public Works, to hold hearings on S. 1576, 
to permit the exclusive application of California State regulations 
regarding reformulated gasoline in certain areas within the State, 
focusing on the use of methyl tertiary-butyl ether in gasoline, 2 p.m., 
SD-406.
  Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, 
Peace Corps, Narcotics and Terrorism to hold joint hearings with the 
United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, to 
examine anti-drug interdiction efforts, 9:30 a.m., SH-216.
  Committee on Governmental Affairs, Permanent Subcommittee on 
Investigations, to hold hearings to examine the National Cancer 
Institute's management of radiation studies, 9:30 a.m., SD-342.
  Subcommittee on International Security, Proliferation and Federal 
Services, to hold hearings to examine a General Accounting Office report 
on high performance computers, 2 p.m., SD-342.
  Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, to hold 
oversight hearings on the implementation of the Immigration and 
Naturalization Service and proposed reform issues, 2 p.m., SD-226.
  Committee on Rules and Administration, to hold hearings to examine 
issues with regard to the proposed renovation of the United States 
Capitol dome and the Dirksen Senate Office Building, 9:30 a.m., SR-301.
  Full Committee, to resume hearings on S. 2288, to provide for the 
reform and continuing legislative oversight of the production, 
procurement, dissemination, and permanent public access of the 
Government's publications, 10 a.m., SR-301.
  United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control to hold 
joint hearings with the Committee on Foreign Relations' Subcommittee on 
Western Hemisphere, Peace Corps, Narcotics and Terrorism, to examine 
anti- drug interdiction efforts, 9:30 a.m., SH-216.
  Committee on Indian Affairs, business meeting, to consider pending 
calendar business; to be followed by a hearing on the nomination of 
Montie R. Deer, of Kansas, to be Chairman of the National Indian Gaming 
Commission, Department of the Interior, 10 a.m., SR-485.
  Select Committee on Intelligence, to hold closed hearings on 
intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219.


                                  House

  Committee on Banking and Financial Services, to continue hearings on 
International Economic Turmoil, 1 p.m., 2128 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit and the 
Subcommittee on Housing and Community Development, joint hearing on the 
Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act and the Truth in Lending Act, and 
reforms to mortgage lending disclosure requirements, 10 a.m., 2128 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Commerce, and the Committee on Education and the 
Workforce, joint hearing on Education and Technology Initiatives, 10:30 
a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Finance and Hazardous Materials, to mark up H.R. 4353, 
International Anti-Bribery and Fair Competition Act of 1998, 2:30 p.m., 
2322 Rayburn.
  Committee on Government Reform and Oversight, Subcommittee on National 
Economic Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs, to continue 
hearings on ``The Kyoto Protocol: Is the Clinton-Gore Administration 
Selling Out Americans? Part V1'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
  Committee on International Relations, hearing on the Spread of AIDS in 
the Developing World, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
  Committee on National Security, hearing on the U.S. policy on Iraq, 10 
a.m., 2118 Rayburn.
  Committee on Resources, to consider the following: H.R. 1608, to 
authorize the Pyramid of Remembrance Foundation to establish a memorial 
in the District of Columbia or its environs to soldiers who have died in 
foreign conflicts other than declared wars; H.R. 3088, to amend the 
Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, regarding Huna Totem Corporation 
public interest land exchange; H.R. 4223, Colusa Basin Watershed 
Integrated Resources Management Act; the North Pacific Rationalized 
Fishing Act; and a report concerning the Grand Staircase Escalante 
National Monument, 11 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
  Committee on Rules, to consider the following: H.R. 3248, Dollars to 
the Classroom Act; and the Foreign Operations, Export Financing and 
Related Programs appropriations for fiscal year 1999, 4:30 p.m., H-313 
Capitol.
  Committee on Small Business, hearing on H.R. 3659, Farm and Ranch Risk 
Management Act, 1:30 p.m., 2360 Rayburn.
  Subcommittee on Tax, Finance, and Exports, hearing on pension reform 
for small businesses, 10 a.m., 311 Cannon.
  Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, executive, briefing on 
Update on North Korean Taepo Dong Missile Launch, 2:30 p.m., H-405 
Capitol.