[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 38 (Wednesday, March 10, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D248-D249]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
CROP INSURANCE
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee held 
hearings to examine the nature of risk management in agriculture and 
federal crop insurance programs, receiving testimony from Senator 
Grams; Joseph W. Glauber, Deputy Chief Economist, Department of 
Agriculture; Jerry R. Skees, University of Kentucky Department of 
Agricultural Economics, Lexington; Keith H. Coble, Mississippi State 
University, University; William W. Biedermann, Allendale, Inc., 
McHenry, Illinois; David A. Bossman, American Feed Industry 
Association, Arlington, Virginia; Gregg Doud, World Perspectives, Inc., 
Washington, D.C.; and Tom Coyle, Continental Grain, Chicago, Illinois, 
on behalf of the National Grain and Feed Association.
  Hearings continue on Wednesday, March 17.
APPROPRIATIONS--JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION/JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE/
OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch 
concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2000, 
after receiving testimony from Senator Roth, in behalf of funds for the 
Joint Committee on Taxation; Senator Mack, in behalf of funds for the 
Joint Economic Committee; and Ricky Silberman, in behalf of funds for 
the Office of Compliance.
APPROPRIATIONS--AMTRAK
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related 
Agencies concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
year 2000 for the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), 
focusing on issues relating to Amtrak's short-and long-term financial 
health, and the operational decisions which determine the railroad's 
present and future status, after receiving testimony from Kenneth M. 
Mead, Inspector General, Department of Transportation; George 
Warrington, President, National Railroad Passenger Corporation 
(Amtrak); and Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson, Madison, on behalf of 
the Amtrak Board of Directors.
APPROPRIATIONS--NAVY/MARINE CORPS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded hearings 
on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2000 for Navy and Marine 
Corps programs, after receiving testimony from Richard Danzig, 
Secretary of the Navy; Adm. J.L. Johnson, USN, Chief of Naval 
Operations; and Gen. C.C. Krulak, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and Management 
Support concluded hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds 
for fiscal year 2000 for the Department of Defense, focusing on 
military installations and facilities, military construction, family 
housing, homeowners assistance fund, reserve base realignment and 
closure, and shore infrastructure, after receiving testimony from 
Randall A. Yim, Acting Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for 
Installations; Mahlon Apgar, IV, Assistant Secretary of the Army for 
Installations and Environment; Robert B. Pirie, Jr., Assistant 
Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment; and Ruby B. 
DeMesme, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Manpower, Reserve 
Affairs, Installations, and Environment.
AUTHORIZATION--DEFENSE
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland concluded hearings 
on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2000 for the 
Department of Defense, focusing on tactical aviation modernization, and 
the future years defense program, after receiving testimony from Gen. 
Joseph W. Ralston, USAF, Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 
Department of Defense; Christopher Jehn, Assistant Director for 
National Security, Congressional Budget Office; and Andrew F. 
Krepinevich, Jr., Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, 
Washington, D.C.
STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL LIFT
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower concluded 
hearings to examine strategic and tactical lift requirements versus 
capabilities, focusing on the environment of future conflicts, 
engagement and combat employment, equipment requirements, and the 
Defense Transportation System, after receiving testimony from Gen. 
Charles T. Robertson, Jr., USAF, Commander in Chief, United States 
Transportation Command; and Lt. Gen. Martin R. Steele, USMC, Deputy 
Chief of Staff for Plans, Policies, and Operations, Headquarters Marine 
Corps.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered 
favorably reported S. 303, to

[[Page D249]]

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, with an amendment in the 
nature of a substitute.
MEDICARE FINANCIAL STATUS
Committee on Finance: Committee held hearings to examine spending 
trends in the Medicare program, the impact on those trends of Medicare 
savings in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, and the President's 
proposed budget request for fiscal year 2000 for Medicare, including 
the fifteen-percent surplus funding proposal, receiving testimony from 
Jacob J. Lew, Director, Office of Management and Budget.
  Hearings continue on Thursday, March 18.
HUMAN RIGHTS IN CUBA
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded hearings to examine 
the current human rights situation in Cuba, focusing on Fidel Castro's 
recent crackdown on Cubans and independent journalists, U.S. support 
for dissidents, and the codification of the embargo, after receiving 
testimony from Frank Calzon, Center for a Free Cuba, Washington, D.C.; 
and Eloy Gutierrez-Menoyo, Cambio Cubano, Ruth Montaner, Internal 
Dissident Working Group, on behalf of the Cuban Dissidence Task Group, 
and Luis Zuniga, Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba, all of Miami, 
Florida.
INTELLIGENCE
Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on 
intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the 
intelligence community.
  Committee will meet again on Thursday, March 18.