[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 124 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D999-D1001]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
YEAR 2000 PREPARATIONS
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on 
Preparing for the Year 2000: Financial Institutions, Customers, 
Telecommunications, and Power. Testimony was heard from Edward W. 
Kelley, Jr., member, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; the 
following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Julie Williams, 
Acting Comptroller; and Ellen Seidman, Director, Office of Thrift 
Supervision; Donna Tanoue, Chairman, FDIC; Norman D'Amours, Chairman, 
National Credit Union Administration; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power approved for 
full Committee action the following bills; H.R. 3610, amended, National 
Oilheat Research Alliance Act of 1998; and H.R. 4081, to extend the 
deadline under the Federal Power Act applicable to the construction of 
a hydroelectic project in the State of Arkansas.
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 current or former employees 
of the following law firms: Wunder, Diefenderfer, Cannon and Thelen or 
Wunder, Knight, Levine, Thelen and Forscey.
CHILD ONLINE PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection approved for full Committee action amended H.R. 
3783, Child Online Protection Act.
YEAR 2000 PROBLEM--LABOR AND EDUCATION DEPARTMENTS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on the Review of the Management of the 
Year 2000 Problem by the Department of Labor and the Department of 
Education. Testimony was heard from Marshal Smith, Deputy Secretary, 
Department of Education; the following officials of the Department of 
Labor: James E. McMullen, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Administration 
and Management; and Patricia A. Dalton, Deputy Inspector General; Joel 
Willemssen, Director, Information Resources Management, Accounting and 
Information Management Division, GAO; and public witnesses.
2000 CENSUS OVERSIGHT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Census 
held a hearing on ``Oversight of the 2000 Census: Serious Problems with 
Statistical Adjustment Remain''. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
NATIONAL ID CARD
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on National 
Economic Growth, Natural

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Resources, and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing on ``A National ID 
Card: Big Government at its Worst or Technological Efficiency?'' 
Testimony was heard from Brian Flaherty, member, House of 
Representatives, State of Connecticut; Richard D. Holcomb, 
Commissioner, Department of Motor Vehicles, State of Virginia; and 
public witnesses.
U.S. AND RUSSIA; RUSSIA IN CRISIS
Committee on International Relations: Concluded hearings on the United 
States and Russia, Part II: Russia in Crisis. Testimony was heard from 
Lawrence Summers, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury; Strobe 
Talbott, Deputy Secretary, Department of State; George P. Shultz, 
former Secretary of State; and public witnesses.
INDEPENDENT COUNSEL COMMUNICATION--RELEASE OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS, 
RECORDS, AND MATERIALS
Committee on the Judiciary: Met in executive session to begin 
consideration of the release of certain documents, records, and 
materials received by the Committee from the Independent Counsel on 
September 9, 1998.
  Will continue tomorrow.
NO SECOND CHANCES FOR MURDERERS, RAPISTS, OR CHILD MOLESTERS ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on 
H.R. 4258, No Second Chances for Murderers, Rapists, or Child Molesters 
Act of 1998. Testimony was heard from Representative Salmon; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans approved for full Committee action H.R. 4337, to 
authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance 
to the State of Maryland for a pilot program to develop measures to 
eradicate or control nutria and restore marshland damaged by nutria.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 
2304, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to make technical 
corrections to a map relating to the Coastal Barrier Resources System; 
and H.R. 4248, Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamp Promotion 
Act; and H.R. 4517, Neotropical Migratory Bird Habitat Enhancement Act. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Cunningham; Daniel M. Ashe, 
Assistant Director, Refuges and Wildlife, U. S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--FOREST SERVICE
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held 
an oversight hearing on Forest Service--Backcountry Airstrip 
Management. Testimony was heard from David Alexander, Supervisor, 
Payette National Forest, Forest Service, USDA; Bart Welsh, 
Administrator, Division of Aeronautics, State of Idaho; and public 
witnesses.
STANDING RULES OF THE HOUSE--AMENDMENT PROPOSALS
Committee on Rules: Held a hearing on proposals to amend the standing 
rules of the House. Testimony was heard from Chairman Solomon; 
Representatives Shaw, Morella, Paul, Davis of Virginia, Hostettler, 
Tiahrt, Danner, Norton, Menendez and Weygand.
SUSPENSION OF THE RULES
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing that 
suspensions will be in order on Wednesday, September 23, 1998. Any 
matter to be considered under suspension will be announced from the 
House floor at least two hours prior to consideration. The rule 
provides that the Speaker or his designee will consult with the 
Minority Leader or his designee on any suspension considered under this 
resolution.
OVERSIGHT--INDUSTRIAL BIOTECHNOLOGY
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held an oversight 
hearing on Industrial Biotechnology: A Solution for the Future? 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
RAILROAD RETIREMENT TIER II BENEFITS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Railroads held a hearing on H. Con. Res. 52, urging that the railroad 
industry, including rail labor, management and retiree organizations, 
open discussions for adequately funding an amendment to the Railroad 
Retirement Act of 1974 to modify the guaranteed minimum benefit for 
widows and widowers whose annuities are converted from a spouse to a 
widow or widower annuity. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Railroad Retirement Board: Jerome F. Kever, Management 
Member; David Lucci, Counsel to the Labor Member; and Cherryl T. 
Thomas, Chair; and public witnesses.
ESTABLISH PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT; TAXPAYER RELIEF ACT
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported amended the following 
bills: H.R. 4578, to amend the Social Security Act to establish the 
Protect Social Security Account into which the Secretary of the

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Treasury shall deposit budget surpluses until a reform measure is 
enacted to ensure the long-term solvency of the OASDI trust funds; and 
H.R. 4579, Taxpayer Relief Act of 1998.