[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 19 (Wednesday, February 3, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D96-D98]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative held a hearing 
on the Joint Economic Committee, the GAO, the GPO, the Joint Committee 
on Taxation, the Architect of the Capitol, and the Capitol Police 
Board. Testimony was heard from Representatives Saxton and Archer; 
David M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; Michael F. DiMario, Public 
Printer, GPO; Alan M. Hantman, Architect of the Capitol; the following 
officials of the Capitol Police Board: James W. Ziglar, Sergeant at 
Arms, Senate, Chairman; Wilson Livingood, Sergeant at Arms, House of 
Representatives, and Alan M. Hantman, Architect of the Capitol, both 
Board members; and Gary L. Abrecht, Chief, U.S. Capitol Police.

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U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS
Committee on Armed Services: Met in executive session to hold a hearing 
on threats to U.S. national security. Testimony was heard from George 
Tenet, Director, CIA.; and Lt. Gen. Patrick M. Hughes, USA, Director, 
Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
OVERSIGHT PLAN
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Approved an Oversight Plan 
for the 106th Congress.
CREDIT UNION MEMBERSHIP ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial 
Institutions and Consumer Credit held an oversight hearing on the 
National Credit Union Administration's implementation of the Credit 
Union Membership Access Act of 1998. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the National Credit Union Administration: Norman 
D'Amours, Chairman; Yolanda Wheat and Dennis Dollar, both Board 
Members; and public witnesses.
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET SUBMISSION
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the President's Budget 
Submission for Fiscal Year 2000. Testimony was heard from Jacob J. Lew, 
Director, OMB.
NATURAL GAS PIPELINE SAFETY ACT AND HAZARDOUS LIQUID PIPELINE SAFETY 
ACT REAUTHORIZATIONS
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing 
on reauthorization of the Natural Gas Pipeline Safety Act and the 
Hazardous Liquid Pipeline Safety Act. Testimony was heard from Kelley 
Coyner, Administrator, Research and Special Programs, Department of 
Transportation; and public witnesses.
WIRELESS PRIVACY ENHANCEMENT ACT; WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC 
SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 514, 
Wireless Privacy Enhancement Act of 1999 and H.R. 438, Wireless 
Communications and Public Safety Enhancement Act of 1999. Testimony was 
heard from Thomas Surgue, Wireless Telecommunications Bureau Chief, 
FCC; Maureen Finnerty, Associate Director, Parks Operations and 
Education, Department of the Interior; John Parsons, Associate Regional 
Director, National Capital Region, National Park Service, Department of 
the Interior; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION; OVERSIGHT PLAN
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 391, Small Business Paperwork Reduction Act Amendments of 1999; 
H.R. 433, District of Columbia Management Restoration Act of 1999; H.R. 
416, Federal Retirement Coverage Corrections Act; H.R. 437, 
Presidential and Executive Office Financial Accountability Act of 1999; 
and H.R. 436, Government Waste, Fraud and Error Reduction Act of 1999.
  Prior to this action, the Committee met for organizational purposes 
and approved an Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress.
COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Committee on House Administration: Approved an Oversight Plan for the 
106th Congress and a Drug Testing Policy for the House of 
Representatives.
  The Committee also considered other pending committee business.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; OVERSIGHT--MINNEAPOLIS-ST. PAUL AIRPORT 
EXPANSION; OVERSIGHT PLAN
Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 149, 
amended, Omnibus Parks Technical Corrections Act of 1999; H.R. 171, to 
authorize appropriations for the Coastal Heritage Trail Route in New 
Jersey; and H.R. 193, Sudbury, Assabet, and Concord Wild and Scenic 
River Act.
  The Committee also held an oversight hearing on the impact of the 
expansion of the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport on the 
Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Testimony was heard from 
Senator Grams; Representative Ramstad; Dan Ashe, Assistant Director, 
Refuges and Wildlife, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the 
Interior; Lynn Pickard, Manager, Community and Environmental Needs 
Division, FAA, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses.
  The Committee approved an Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress.
MANDATES INFORMATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 350, Mandates Information Act of 1999. The rule 
waives points of order against consideration of the bill for failure to 
comply with clause 4(a) of rule XIII (requiring a three day layover of 
the committee report) and section 306 of the Congressional Budget Act 
(prohibiting consideration of legislation within the

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Budget Committee's jurisdiction, unless reported by the Budget 
Committee).
  The rule considers the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Rules now printed in the bill, as an 
original bill for the purpose of amendment which is considered as read. 
The rule waives points of order against the amendment in the nature of 
a substitute for failure to comply with section 306 of the 
Congressional Budget Act.
  The rule allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to accord 
priority in recognition to those members who have preprinted their 
amendments in the Congressional Record prior to their consideration. 
The rule allows the chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone 
recorded votes and to reduce to five minutes the voting time on any 
postponed question, provided that the voting time on the first in any 
series of questions is not less than 15 minutes. Finally, the rule 
provides one motion to recommit, with or without instructions.
PAPERWORK ELIMINATION ACT; MICROLOAN PROGRAM TECHNICAL CORRECTIONS ACT; 
COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION
Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
439, Paperwork Elimination Act; and H.R. 440, Microloan Program 
Technical Corrections Act.
  Prior to this action, the Committee met for organizational purposes.
GROUND TRANSPORTATION--PRESENT AND FUTURE TRENDS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Ground 
Transportation held a hearing on Present and Future Trends in Ground 
Transportation. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION; OVERSIGHT PLAN
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Met for organizational purposes.
  The Committee also approved an Oversight Plan for the 106th Congress.
SSI FRAUD AND ABUSE; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing on SSI fraud and abuse. Testimony was heard from Representative 
Filner; the following officials of the SSA: John Dyer, Principal 
Deputy; and James G. Huse, Jr., Acting Inspector General; Cynthia 
Fagnoni, Director, Income Security Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee met for organizational 
purposes.
IMPACTS OF CURRENT SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security continued 
hearings on impacts of the current Social Security system, with 
emphasis on Social Security protections for women. Testimony was heard 
from Barbara Bovbjerg, Associate Director, Income Security Issues, 
Health, Education, and Human Services Division, GAO; and public 
witnesses.
  Hearings continue February 10th.
AFRICAN GROWTH AND OPPORTUNITY ACT; U.S. TRADE RELATIONS WITH SUB-
SAHARAN AFRICA
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade approved for full 
Committee action H.R. 434, African Growth and Opportunity Act.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on U.S. trade relations with 
Sub-Saharan Africa. Testimony was heard from Senator Gramm; 
Representative Jackson of Illinois; William Daley, Secretary of 
Commerce; Robert Rogowsky, Director of Operations, U.S. International 
Trade Commission; Jack Kemp, former Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development; Andrew Young, former U.S. Ambassador to the United 
Nations; and public witnesses.