[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 29 (Wednesday, February 24, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D168-D171]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FOREST SERVICE--FOREST HEALTH MAPS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations, 
Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing to review Forest 
Service forest health maps. Testimony was heard from Anne Bartuska, 
Director, Forest Management, Forest Service, USDA; LeRoy N. Kline, 
Forest Health Specialist, Department of Forestry, State of Oregon; Dave 
Struble, Director, Insect and Disease Management, Forest Service, 
Department of Conservation, State of Maine; and public witnesses.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Natural Resources and Environment. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Agriculture: James Lyons, 
Under Secretary, National Resources and Environment; and Pearlie Reed, 
Chief, Resources Natural Conservation Service.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, 
and Judiciary held a hearing on Embassy Security and on the Bureau of 
Prisons. Testimony was heard from Bonnie Cohen, Under Secretary, 
Management, Department of State; and Kathleen Hawk Sawyer, Director, 
Federal Bureau of Prisons, Department of Justice.
DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense held an executive 
hearing on the fiscal year 2000 Intelligence Budget. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the CIA: George J. Tenet, 
Director; Joan Avalyn Dempsey, Deputy Director (Community Management); 
and David W. Carey, Executive Director; and the following officials of 
the Department of Defense: Lt. Gen. Patrick M. Hughes, USA, Director, 
Defense Intelligence Agency; Lt. Gen. James C. King, USA, Director, 
National Imagery and Mapping Agency; and Lt. Gen. Kenneth Minihan, 
USAF, Director, National Security Agency.
FOREIGN OPERATIONS, EXPORT FINANCING APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export 
Financing and Related Programs held a hearing on Hurricane Mitch 
Supplemental. Testimony was heard from J. Brian Atwood, Administrator, 
AID, U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency; and Peter F. 
Romero, Acting Assistant Secretary, Inter-American Affairs, Department 
of State.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on 
the Secretary of Energy and on the Secretary of the Interior. Testimony 
was heard from Bill Richardson, Secretary of Energy and Bruce Babbitt, 
Secretary of the Interior.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Heath and Human 
Services, and Education, held a hearing on the Director of NIH, on the 
National Cancer Institute and on the National Institute on Deafness and 
Other Communication Disorders. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of NIH, Department of Health and Human Services:

[[Page D169]]

Harold Varmus, M.D., Director; Richard D. Klausner, Director, National 
Cancer Institute; and James F. Battey, Director, National Institute of 
Deafness and Other Communication Disorders.
TREASURY-POSTAL SERVICE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, 
and General Government held a hearing on the IRS, on the Bureau of 
Engraving and Printing, and on the U.S. Mint and Financial Management 
Service. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Treasury: Charles O. Rossotti, Commissioner, IRS; 
Thomas A. Ferguson, Director, Bureau of Engraving and Printing; Philip 
N. Diehl, Director, John P. Mitchell, Deputy Director, Andrew Cosgarea, 
Jr., Associate Director, Circulating Coinage, Terry L. Bowie, Deputy 
Associate Director for Finance/Deputy Chief Financial Officer, all with 
the U.S. Mint; and Richard L. Gregg, Commissioner, Financial Management 
Service.
VA-HUD-INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, Independent 
Agencies, held a hearing on the Chemical Safety and Hazard 
Investigation Board, on Council on Environmental Quality, and on 
American Battle Monuments Commission. Testimony was heard from Paul L. 
Hill, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation 
Board; George Frampton, Council on Environmental Quality; and Gen. Fred 
F. Woerner, U.S. Army (Ret.), Chairman, American Battle Monuments 
Commission.
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Armed Services: Continued hearings on the fiscal year 2000 
National Defense authorization budget request. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Defense: Gen. Dennis J. 
Reimer, USA, Chief of Staff, Department of the Army; Adm. Jay L. 
Johnson, USN, Chief of Naval Operations, Department of the Navy; Gen. 
Ralph E. Eberhart, USAF, Vice Chief of Staff, Department of the Air 
Force; and Gen. Charles C. Krulak, USMC, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps.
AGING MILITARY EQUIPMENT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement held 
a hearing on aging military equipment. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: Paul J. Hoeper, 
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Research and Development and 
Acquisition) and Lt. Gen. John G. Coburn, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff 
for Logistics, both with the Department of the Army; H. Lee Buchanan, 
Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research Development and Acquisition) 
and Vice Adm. James F. Amerault, USN, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations 
(Logistics), both with the Department of the Navy; Lt. Gen. Gregory S. 
Martin, USAF, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force 
(Acquisition) and Lt. Gen. John W. Handy, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff 
for Installations and Logistics, both of the Department with the Air 
Force; Lt. Gen. Michael J. Williams, USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff for 
Programs and Resources and Maj. Gen. Gary S. McKissock, USMC, 
Commander, Marine Corps Material Command, both with Headquarters, U.S. 
Marine Corps; Lane Pierrot, Senior Analyst (National Security 
Division), CBO; and public witnesses.
CRITICAL READINESS NEEDS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Readiness held a 
hearing on the adequacy of the fiscal year 2000 budget request to meet 
critical readiness needs. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Defense: Rudy de Leon, Under Secretary 
(Personnel and Readiness); Lt. Gen. David K. Heebner, USA, Assistant 
Vice Chief of Staff, Department of the Army; Vice Adm. C. C. 
Lautenbacher, USN, Deputy Chief of Staff of Naval Operations 
(Resources, Warfare Requirements and Assessments), Department of the 
Navy; Lt. Gen. Roger G. DeKok, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Plans and 
Programs, Department of the Air Force; and Lt. Gen. M. J. Williams, 
USMC, Deputy Chief of Staff for Programs and Resources, Headquarters, 
U.S. Marine Corps.
CONDUCT OF MONETARY POLICY
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on Conduct 
of Monetary Policy. Testimony was heard from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, 
Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System.
OVERSIGHT--DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held an 
oversight hearing on the Department of Energy's Proposed Budget for 
Fiscal Year 2000. Testimony was heard from Ernest Moniz, Under 
Secretary, Department of Energy.
SUPPORTING WELFARE REFORM
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations 
held a hearing on Supporting Welfare Reform: Cracking Down on Deadbeat 
Parents. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of Health and Human Services: Jack Hartwig, Deputy Inspector 
General; and John Monahan, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary,

[[Page D170]]

Children and Families, Administration for Children and Families; Nick 
Young, Director, Child Support Enforcement Division, State of Virginia; 
and public witnesses.
SATELLITE HOME VIEWER ACT REAUTHORIZATION
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing on reauthorization of the Satellite 
Home Viewer Act. Testimony was heard from Deborah A. Lathen, Chief, 
Cable Services Bureau, FCC; and public witnesses.
ERISA: WORKERS HEALTH INSURANCE
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-
Employee Relations held a hearing on ERISA: A Quarter Century of 
Providing Workers Health Insurance. Testimony was heard from Leslie 
Kramerich, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Policy, Department of Labor; and 
public witnesses.
TEAMSTERS REPORT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations approved a report on the ``Financial, Operating, and 
Political Affairs of the International Brotherhood of Teamsters''.
COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE
Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on Opening the 
Mainstream to Complementary and Alternative Medicine. How much 
Integration is Really Taking Place? Testimony was heard from Douglas 
Kamerow, M.D., Director, Center for Health Care Technology, Agency for 
Health Care Policy Research, Department of Health and Human Services; 
Thomas V. Holohan, M.D., Chief Patient Care Services Officer, Veterans 
Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; John F. 
Mazzuchi, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs, Clinical and 
Program Policy, Department of Defense; and public witnesses.
NEW YORK--WINNING WAR ON DRUGS AND CRIME
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug 
Policy, and Human Resources held a hearing on ``New York Mayor Rudolph 
Guiliani: Winning the War on Drugs and Crime''. Testimony was heard 
from Rudolph Guiliani, Mayor, New York City.
COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Committee on House Administration: Met in executive session and 
approved the following: U.S. Capitol Police Security Enhancement Plan; 
and the Capitol Perimeter Security Improvement Plan.
HURRICANE MITCH AFTERMATH
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on the Western 
Hemisphere held a hearing on Relief Efforts in Central America in the 
Aftermath of Hurricane Mitch. Testimony was heard from Mark L. 
Schneider, Assistant Administrator, Latin America; AID, U.S. 
International Development Cooperation Agency; Ambassador John P. 
Leonard, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Central America, Bureau of Western 
Hemisphere Affairs, Department of State; and Gen. Charles Wilhelm, 
USMC, Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Southern Command, Department of Defense.
OVERSIGHT--CONTRACT SUPPORT COSTS--INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE BUDGET
Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on Contract Support 
Costs within Indian Health Service Budget. Testimony was heard from 
Michael E. Lincoln, Deputy Director, Indian Health Service, Department 
of Health and Human Services; Kevin Gover, Assistant Secretary, Indian 
Affairs, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
PEACE CORPS ACT AUTHORIZATION
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 669, to amend the Peace Corps Act to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal years 2000 through 2003 to carry out that 
Act. The rule provides that the bill shall be considered as read. The 
rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to Members 
who have pre-printed their amendment in the Congressional Record. The 
rule allows for the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to postpone 
votes during consideration of the bill, and to reduce voting time to 
five minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a fifteen 
minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or 
without instructions.
OVERSIGHT--NOAA BUDGET AUTHORIZATION REQUEST
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment held 
an oversight hearing on Fiscal Year 2000 Budget Authorization Request: 
NOAA. Testimony was heard from D. James Baker, Under Secretary, Oceans 
and Atmosphere and Administrator, NOAA, Department of Commerce; Joel C. 
Willemssen, Director, Civil Agencies Information Systems, Accounting 
and Information Management Division, GAO; and a public witness.
OVERSIGHT--NASA POSTURE
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held an 
oversight hearing on Fiscal Year

[[Page D171]]

2000: NASA Posture. Testimony was heard from Daniel S. Goldin, 
Administrator, NASA.
SBA'S BUDGET REQUEST
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the SBA's Fiscal Year 
2000 Budget request. Testimony was heard from Aida Alvarez, 
Administrator, SBA.
COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT; FEDERAL MARITIME COMMISSION 
AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime approved for full Committee action the following: 
amended, the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 1999; and the Federal 
Maritime Commission Authorization Act of 1999.
DISASTER MITIGATION AND COST REDUCTION ACT; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Oversight, Investigations, and Emergency Management approved for full 
Committee action amended H.R. 707, Disaster Mitigation and Cost 
Reduction Act of 1999.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee met for organizational 
purposes.
VETERANS' EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING SERVICE BUDGET
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits held a hearing 
on the budget for the Department of Labor Veterans' Employment and 
Training Service. Testimony was heard from Espiridion Borrego, 
Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training, Department of 
Labor; and representatives of veterans organizations.
VA MEDICAL CARE BUDGET
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on VA Medical Care Budget for Fiscal Year 2000. Testimony was heard 
from Thomas L. Garthwaite, M.D., Deputy Under Secretary, Health, 
Department of Veterans Affairs; Nick D. Bacon, Director, Department of 
Veterans Affairs, State of Arkansas; and representatives of veterans 
organizations.
RESOLUTION CONCERNING SOCIAL SECURITY; YEAR 2000 CONVERSION EFFORTS--
IMPLICATIONS FOR BENEFICIARIES AND TAXPAYERS; BUDGET VIEWS AND 
ESTIMATES
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported amended H.J. Res. 32, 
expressing the sense of the Congress that the President and the 
Congress should join in undertaking the Social Security Guarantee 
Initiative to strengthen and protect the retirement income security of 
all Americans through the creation of a fair and modern Social Security 
Program for the 21st Century.
  The Committee also held a hearing on the Year 2000 Conversion Efforts 
and Implications for Beneficiaries and Taxpayers. Testimony was heard 
from John A. Koskinen, Chairman, President's Council on Year 2000 
Conversion; Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner, SSA; the following 
officials of the Department of Treasury: Richard L. Gregg, 
Commissioner, Financial Management Service; Dennis S. Schindel, 
Assistant Inspector General, Audit; Charles O. Rossotti, Commissioner 
and Paul Cosgrave, Chief Information Officer, both with the IRS; John 
W. Magaw, Director; and Patrick Schambach, Assistant Director, Science 
and Technology, and Chief Information Officer, both with the Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms; and S. W. Hall, Jr., Assistant 
Commissioner, and Chief Information Officer, U.S. Customs Service; the 
following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: 
Olivia Golden, Assistant Secretary, Children and Families; and Nancy-
Ann DeParle, Administrator, Health Care Financing Administration; the 
following officials of the GAO: Joel C. Willemssen, Director, Civil 
Agencies Information Systems, Accounting and Information Management 
Division; James R. White, Director, Tax Policy and Administration 
Issues, General Government Division; and Randolph C. Hite, Associate 
Director, Governmentwide and Defense Information Systems, Accounting 
and Information Management Divisions; and public witnesses.
  The Committee also adopted Committee Budget Views and Estimates for 
Fiscal Year 2000 for submission to the Committee on the Budget.
FBI INVESTIGATIVE TECHNIQUES AND ACTIVITIES; COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive an Informal Demonstration: FBI Investigative Techniques and 
Activities.
  Prior to the demonstration, the Committee met in executive session 
for organizational purposes.