[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 129 (Thursday, September 24, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1037-D1039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
OVERSIGHT--FEDERAL HOUSING FINANCE BOARD
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital 
Markets, Securities and Government Sponsored Enterprises held an oversight 
hearing on the Federal Housing Finance Board's responsibility for safety and 
soundness and mission regulation of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. 
Testimony was heard from Richard S. Carnell, Assistant Secretary, Financial 
Institutions, Department of the Treasury; Nancy Kingsbury, Acting Assistant 
Comptroller General, GAO; and Bruce Morrison, Chairman, Federal Housing 
Finance Board.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 3888, 
amended, Consumer Anti-Slamming and Spamming Prevention Act; H.R. 3783, 
amended, Child Online Protection Act; H.R. 563, amended, to establish a 
toll-free number in the Department of Commerce to assist consumers in 
determining if products are American-made; H.R. 4353, amended, International 
Anti-Bribery and Fair Competition Act of 1998; H.R. 4321, amended, Financial 
Information Privacy Act of 1998; 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 hydroelectric 
project in the State of Arkansas.
IMPEDIMENTS TO UNION DEMOCRACY
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-Employee 
Relations, continued hearings on Impediments to Union Democracy, Part IV: 
Rank and File Rights at the American Radio Association. Testimony was heard 
from representatives of the American Radio Association.
FEHB PREMIUM INCREASES
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Civil Service 
held a hearing on FEHB Premium Increases for 1999. Testimony was heard from 
William E. Flynn, III, Associate Director, Retirement and Insurance 
Services, OPM; and public witnesses.
DRAFT REPORTS
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Human Resources met to 
consider, but no action was taken on the following draft reports: ``Fixing 
the Consumer Price Index: The Bureau of Labor Statistics Needs to Develop a 
Long Range, Systematic Approach to CPI Improvements''; ``Early Head Start: 
Linking Early Childhood Programs to Success''; ``Hepatitis C: Silent 
Epidemic, Mute Public Health Response''; and ``Medicare Home Health 
Services: No Surety in the Fight Against Fraud and Waste''.
POSTAL REFORM ACT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Postal Service approved for 
full Committee action amended H.R. 22, Postal Reform Act of 1997.
U.S. POLICY TOWARD NORTH KOREA
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on U.S. Policy Toward 
North Korea. Testimony was heard from Ambassador Charles Kartman, Special 
Envoy for the Korean Peace Talks, Department of State; Kurt Campbell, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Asia and Pacific Affairs, Department of Defense; and 
public witnesses.
WESTERN SAHARA REFERENDUM FUTURE
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa held a hearing 
on The Future of the Western Sahara Referendum. Testimony was heard from 
Ronald E. Neumann, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern 
Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses.
DEFENSE HEALTH PROGRAM ADEQUACY
Committee on National Security: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a 
hearing on the adequacy of the fiscal year 1999 Defense health program. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Defense: Lt. Gen. Ronald Blanck, USA, Surgeon General, Department of the 
Army; Vice Adm. Richard Nelson, USN, Surgeon General, Department of the 
Navy; Lt. Gen. Charles Roadman, USAF, Surgeon General, Department of the Air 
Force; Rudy de Leon, Under Secretary (Personnel and Readiness); and William 
J. Lynn, III, Under Secretary (Comptroller/Chief Financial Officer).

[[Page D1038]]


OVERSIGHT--GRAND CANYON NATIONAL PARK
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks and Public Lands held 
an oversight hearing on Grand Canyon National Park. Testimony was heard from 
Robert Arnberger, Superintendent, Grand Canyon National Park, National Park 
Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
TAXPAYER RELIEF ACT; SAVE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a modified closed rule providing 
for the consideration of H.R. 4578, The Save Social Security Act, in the 
House without intervention of any point of order. The rule provides that the 
bill be considered as read and that the Committee on Ways and Means 
amendment in the nature of a substitute now printed in the bill shall be 
considered as adopted. The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided 
and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Ways and Means. The rule provides for consideration, without intervention 
of any point of order, of an amendment printed in the Congressional Record 
and number 1, if offered by Representative Rangel or his designee, which 
shall be considered as read and shall be debatable for one hour equally 
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. The rule provides 
one motion to recommit with or without instructions.
  The rule further provides for the consideration, without intervention of 
any point of order, of H.R. 4579, Taxpayer Relief Act of 1998, after the 
disposition of H.R. 4578. The rule provides that the bill be considered as 
read and that the Committee on Ways and Means amendment in the nature of a 
substitute now printed in the bill, as modified by the amendment printed in 
the report of the Committee on Rules accompanying the resolution, shall be 
considered as adopted. The rule provides one hour of debate equally divided 
and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Ways and Means. The rule provides for consideration, without intervention 
of any point of order, of an amendment printed in the Congressional Record 
and numbered 1, if offered by Representative Rangel or his designee, which 
shall be considered as read and shall be debatable for one hour equally 
divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. The rule provides 
for one motion to recommit with or without instructions. The rule provides 
that in the engrossment of H.R. 4579, the Clerk shall add the text of H.R. 
4578, as passed by the House, and that upon the addition of the text, H.R. 
4578 shall be laid on the table. Testimony was heard from Chairman Archer 
and Representatives Neumann, Spratt, Stenholm, Maloney of Connecticut, 
Berry, Sanchez, and Stark.
RECIPROCAL TRADE AGREEMENT AUTHORITIES ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing two 
hours of debate on H.R. 2621, Reciprocal Trade Agreement Authorities Act. 
The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill, 
modified by the amendments printed in the report of the Committee on Rules 
accompanying this resolution, be considered as adopted. The rule waives all 
points of order against the bill, as amended. Finally, the rule provides for 
one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard 
from Representatives Crane and Peterson of Minnesota.
AGRICULTURE DISASTER RELIEF AND MARKET LOSS ASSISTANCE ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing one hour 
of debate on H.R. 4168, Agriculture Disaster and Market Loss Assistance Act. 
The rule provides for consideration of the bill in the House without the 
intervention of any point of order. The rule provides one motion to 
recommit.
Y2K: WHAT EVERY CONSUMER SHOULD KNOW
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology and the Subcommittee on 
Government Management of the Committee on Government Reform and Oversight 
held a joint hearing on Y2K: What Every Consumer Should Know. Testimony was 
heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--MARITIME ADMINISTRATION PROGRAMS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard 
and Maritime Transportation held an oversight hearing on the Programs of the 
U.S. Maritime Administration. Testimony was heard from Clyde J. Hart, Jr., 
Administrator, Maritime Administration, Department of Transportation.
MISCELLANEOUS RESOLUTIONS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Public 
Buildings and Economic Development approved for full Committee action the 
following: 9 lease resolutions; 4 courthouse construction resolutions; 1 
site acquisition and design resolution; 1 repair and alteration resolution; 
and H.R. 4595, to redesignate a Federal building located in Washington, 
D.C., as the ``Sidney R. Yates Federal Building''.
2000 (Y2K) BIOMEDICAL DEVICE ISSUES--IMPACT ON DVA
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations 
held a hearing on 2000 (Y2K) biomedical device issues and their impact on 
the Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was heard from Joel C. 
Willemssen, Director, Civil

[[Page D1039]]

Agencies Information Systems, Accounting and Information Management 
Division, GAO; Kenneth W. Kizer, M.D., Under Secretary, Health, Department 
of Veterans Affairs; John J. Callahan, Assistant Secretary, Management and 
Budget, Department of Health and Human Services; and a public witness.
Joint Meetings
APPROPRIATIONS--ENERGY AND WATER
Conferees continued in evening session to resolve the differences between 
the Senate- and House-passed versions of H.R. 4060, making appropriations 
for energy and water development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 
1999.
WIPO COPYRIGHT TREATY
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate- and House-
passed versions of H.R. 2281, to amend title 17, United States Code, to 
implement the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms 
Treaty, to provide limitation on copyright liability relating to material 
online, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to call.
F