[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 135 (Thursday, October 1, 1998)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1074-D1077]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee ordered 
favorably reported the following business items:
  The nomination of Michael M. Reyna, of California, to be a Member of 
the Farm Credit Administration Board, Farm Credit Administration; and
  S. 2116, to clarify and enhance the authorities of the Chief 
Information Officer of the Department of Agriculture, with an amendment 
in the nature of a substitute.
NATIONAL SECURITY
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine 
the current state of Department of Energy national security programs, 
and proposed reforms thereto, after receiving testimony from Bill 
Richardson, Secretary of Energy.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered 
favorably reported the following business items:
  The nominations of Robert Clarke Brown, of Ohio, John Paul 
Hammerschmidt, of Arkansas, and Norman Y. Mineta, of California, each 
to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan

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Washington Airports Authority, Eugene A. Conti, Jr., of Maryland, to be 
Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy, and Peter J. Basso, Jr., 
of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs, both of 
the Department of Transportation, and nominations for promotion in the 
United States Coast Guard.
  H.R. 1903, to amend the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology Act to enhance the ability of the National Institute of 
Standards and Technology to improve computer security;
  S. 2238, to reform unfair and anticompetitive practices in the 
professional boxing industry, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute;
  S. 1427, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to require the 
Federal Communications Commission to preserve low power television 
stations that provide community broadcasting, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute; and
  S. 2326, to require the Federal Trade Commission to prescribe 
regulations to protect the privacy of personal information collected 
from and about children on the Internet, and to provide greater 
parental control over the collection and use of that information, with 
an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
  Also, committee began consideration of S. 2519, to promote and 
enhance public safety through use of 9-1-1 as the universal emergency 
assistance number, further deployment of wireless 9-1-1 service, 
support of States in upgrading 9-1-1 capabilities and related 
functions, encouragement of construction and operation of seamless, 
ubiquitous and reliable networks for personal wireless services, and 
ensuring access to Federal Government property for such networks, S. 
2365, to amend the Communications Satellite Act of 1962 to promote 
competition and privatization in satellite communications, and S. 2507, 
to stimulate increased domestic cruise ship opportunities for the 
American cruising public by temporarily reducing barriers for entry 
into the domestic cruise ship trade, but did not complete action 
thereon, and the bills were subsequently withdrawn.
SATELLITE TV ACCESS
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded 
hearings on S. 2494, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to enhance 
the ability of direct broadcast satellite and other multichannel video 
providers to compete effectively with cable television systems, after 
receiving testimony from Charles C. Hewitt, Satellite Broadcasting and 
Communications Association, Alexandria, Virginia; Gene Kimmelman, 
Consumers Union, Washington, D.C.; K. James Yager, Benedek Broadcasting 
Corporation, Rockford, Illinois; and Andrew J. Fisher, Cox Broadcasting 
Company, Atlanta, Georgia.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings 
on the nominations of Eljay B. Bowron, of Michigan, to be Inspector 
General, Department of the Interior, and Rose Eilene Gottemoeller, of 
Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Non-Proliferation and National 
Security, and David Michaels, of New York, to be Assistant Secretary 
for Environment, Safety and Health, both of the Department of Energy, 
after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own 
behalf. Ms. Gottemoeller was introduced by Senators Domenici and 
Bingaman.
CABIN FEES/LAND EXCHANGE
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and 
Public Land Management concluded hearings to examine the Forest Service 
cabin fee system which allows for the private use of National Forest 
System lands, and on S. 2513, to transfer administrative jurisdiction 
over certain Federal land located within or adjacent to Rogue River 
National Forest and to clarify the authority of the Bureau of Land 
Management to sell and exchange other Federal land in Oregon, S. 2413, 
to provide for the development of a management plan for the Woodland 
Lake Park tract in Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest in the State of 
Arizona reflecting the current use of the tract as a public park, and 
S. 2402, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain lands 
in San Juan County, New Mexico, to San Juan College, after receiving 
testimony from Senator Bob Smith; Sandra H. Key, Associate Deputy 
Chief, Programs and Legislation, Forest Service, Department of 
Agriculture; Cindy Banzer, Oregon Forest Homeowners Association, 
Portland; Mary Clarke Ver Hoef, National Forest Homeowners, Sacramento, 
California; David R. Mead, Sawtooth Forest Cabin Owners' Association, 
Twin Falls, Idaho; Paul R. Allman, American Land Rights Association, 
Berkeley, California; and Paula Wonnacott, Rock Springs, Wyoming.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded hearings 
on the nominations of Greta Joy Dicus, of Arkansas, and Jeffrey S. 
Merrifield, of New Hampshire, each to be a Member of the Nuclear 
Regulatory Commission, after the nominees testified and answered 
questions in their own behalf. Ms. Dicus was introduced by Senator 
Bumpers, and Mr. Merrifield was introduced by Senator Bob Smith.

[[Page D1076]]


REGIONAL HAZE/MERCURY POLLUTION
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air, 
Wetlands, Private Property, and Nuclear Safety concluded hearings to 
examine the state of current scientific understanding regarding the 
effects of mercury pollution on humans, and the Environmental 
Protection Agency's progress toward developing a rule to address the 
problem of regional haze within National Park areas, after receiving 
testimony from Senator Leahy; John S. Seitz, Director, Office of Air 
Quality Planning and Standards, Office of Air and Radiation, and 
William H. Farland, Director, National Center for Environmental 
Assessment, both of the Environmental Protection Agency; Barry L. 
Johnson, Assistant Surgeon General/Assistant Administrator, Agency for 
Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Department of Health and Human 
Services; Colorado State Senator Donald Ament, Denver; Dianne R. 
Nielson, Utah Department of Environmental Quality, Salt Lake City; John 
Paul Woodley Jr., Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources, Richmond; C. 
Mark Smith, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, 
Boston, on behalf of the New England Governors and Eastern Canadian 
Premiers Mercury Task Force; Shawn B. Kendall, Phelps Dodge 
Corporation, Phoenix, Arizona; Tim Eder, Great Lakes Natural Resource 
Center/National Wildlife Federation, Ann Arbor, Michigan; Leonard 
Levin, Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, California; and 
Gary Myers, University of Rochester, Rochester, New York.
PARENTAL ABDUCTION
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine 
the United States response to certain cases of international parental 
abduction, focusing on proposals to coordinate better diplomatic and 
law enforcement efforts to assist parents seeking the return of their 
children, after receiving testimony from Janet Reno, Attorney General, 
Department of Justice; Lady Catherine I. Meyer, British Embassy, 
Washington, D.C.; Thomas R. Sylvester, Cincinnati, Ohio; Thomas A. 
Johnson, Alexandria, Virginia; and Paul Marinkovich, Simi Valley, 
California.
POSTAL SERVICE
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Security, Proliferation and Federal Services concluded oversight 
hearings to examine the annual report of the United States Postal 
Service, after receiving testimony from William J. Henderson, 
Postmaster General, United States Postal Service.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the 
following bills:
  An original bill (S. 2536) to protect the safety of United States 
nationals and the interests of the United States at home and abroad, to 
improve global cooperation and responsiveness to international crime 
and terrorism, and to more effectively deter international crime and 
acts of violence;
  S. 1720, to amend title 17, United States Code, to reform the 
copyright law with respect to satellite retransmissions of broadcast 
signals, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
  S. 2524, to codify without substantive change laws related to 
Patriotic and National Observances, Ceremonies, and Organizations and 
to improve the United States Code;
  S. Res. 283, to refer H.R. 998 entitled ``A bill for the relief of 
Lloyd B. Gamble'' to the chief judge of the United States Court of 
Federal Claims for a report thereon;
  S. 1171, for the relief of Janina Altagracia Castillo-Rojas and her 
husband, Diogenes Patricio Rojas, with an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute;
  S. 1926, for the relief of Regine Beatie Edwards;
  S. 1961, for the relief of Suchada Kwong;
  H.R. 1949, for the relief of Nuratu Olarewaju Abeke Kadiri;
  S. 1916, for the relief of Marin Turcinovic, and his fiancee, Corina 
Dechalup;
  S. 2476, for the relief of Wei Jengsheng, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute; and
  S. 2516, to make improvements in the operation and administration of 
the Federal courts.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded hearings on the 
nominations of David O. Carter, to be United States District Judge for 
the Central District of California, Robert S. Lasnik, to be United 
States District Judge for the Western District of Washington, Anabelle 
Rodriguez, to be United States District Judge for the District of 
Puerto Rico, Margaret B. Seymour, to be United States District Judge 
for the District of South Carolina, and Aleta A. Trauger, to be United 
States District Judge for the Middle District of Tennessee, after the 
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. 
Carter was introduced by Senator Feinstein and Representatives Cox and 
Sanchez, Mr. Lasnik was introduced by Senators Gorton and Murray, Ms. 
Rodriguez was introduced by Representative Velazquez, Ms. Seymour was 
introduced by Senators Thurmond and Hollings, and Ms. Trauger was 
introduced by Senators Thompson and Frist.
CAPITOL SECURITY
Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee resumed closed 
hearings to examine United States

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Capitol security issues, receiving testimony from Wilson Livingood, 
Sergeant at Arms, U.S. House of Representatives; Gregory S. Casey, 
Sergeant at Arms, United States Senate; Alan M. Hantman, Architect of 
the Capitol; and Kenneth Lopez, Director of Security, Library of 
Congress.
NATIVE AMERICAN BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded hearings on S. 2010, 
to provide for business development and trade promotion for Native 
Americans, after receiving testimony from Daniel J. Mclaughlin, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Operations, U.S. and Foreign 
Commercial Service; Michael J. Anderson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for 
Indian Affairs, and Dominic Nessi, Acting Director, Office of Economic 
Development, both of the Department of the Interior; and Patrick 
Borunda, Oregon Native American Business Entrepreneurial Network, 
Portland, Oregon.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported S. 
2097, to encourage and facilitate the resolution of conflicts involving 
Indian tribes, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
BUSINESS MEETING
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to 
consider pending committee business, but made no announcements, and 
recessed subject to call.