[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 52 (Thursday, April 15, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D391-D392]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
APPROPRIATIONS--AGRICULTURE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Interior concluded 
hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2000 for the 
Forest Service of the Department of Agriculture, after receiving 
testimony from James R. Lyons, Under Secretary for Natural Resources 
and Environment, and Mike Dombeck, Chief, Forest Service, both of the 
Department of Agriculture, who were accompanied by several of their 
associates.
APPROPRIATIONS--VETERANS AFFAIRS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent 
Agencies concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
year 2000 for the Department of Veterans Affairs, after receiving 
testimony from Togo D. West, Jr., Secretary, D. Mark Catlett, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary for Budget, Kenneth W. Kizer, Under Secretary for 
Health, and Joseph Thompson, Under Secretary for Benefits, all of the 
Department of Veterans Affairs.
APPROPRIATIONS--TREASURY
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury and General 
Government concluded hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal 
year 2000 for the Department of the Treasury, after receiving testimony 
in behalf of funds for their respective activities from James E. 
Johnson, Under Secretary for Enforcement, Raymond W. Kelly, 
Commissioner of the Customs Service, John W. Magaw, Director, Bureau of 
Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, Brian L. Stafford, Director, United 
States Secret Service, W. Ralph Basham, Director, Federal Law 
Enforcement Training Center, and James F. Sloan, Director, Financial 
Crimes Enforcement Network, all of the Department of the Treasury.
U.S.-KOSOVO POLICY
Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings on the United 
States policy regarding Kosovo, and a revised strategic concept for 
NATO, after receiving testimony from William S. Cohen, Secretary of 
Defense; and Henry H. Shelton, USA, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff.
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT INVESTMENTS
Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation: Subcommittee on 
Science, Technology, and Space concluded hearings to examine the 
President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2000 for research 
and development, after receiving testimony from Neal Lane, Assistant to 
the President for Science and Technology; C. Dan Brand, Federal 
Laboratory Consortium, National Center for Toxicology Research, 
Jefferson, Arkansas; Albert H. Teich, American Association for the 
Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C.; and Teri F. Willey, ARCH 
Development Corporation, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
ALASKA LANDS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded hearings 
on the following bills:
  S. 501, to address resource management issues in Glacier Bay National 
Park, Alaska, after receiving testimony from Donald J. Barry, Assistant 
Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks; Alaska State 
Senator Robin Taylor, Robert W. Loescher, Sealaska Corporation, Frank 
Rue, Alaska Department of Fish and Game, Buck Lindekugel, Southeast 
Alaska Conservation Council, Dale Kelley, on behalf of the Alaska 
Trollers Association and Allied Fishermen of Southeast Alaska, all of 
Juneau, Alaska; Jack Hession, Sierra Club, Anchorage, Alaska; Marcia

[[Page D392]]

Frenz-Argust, National Parks and Conservation Association, Washington, 
D.C.; and Gerry Merrigan, Petersburg Vessel Owners Association, 
Petersburg, Alaska; and
  S. 744, to provide for the continuation of higher education through 
the conveyance of certain public lands in the State of Alaska to the 
University of Alaska, after receiving testimony from Donald J. Barry, 
Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish, Wildlife and Parks; 
Alaska State Senator Robin Taylor, and Marc Wheeler, Southeast Alaska 
Conservation Council, both of Juneau, Alaska; and Mark R. Hamilton, 
University of Alaska, and Jack Hession, Sierra Club, both of Anchorage, 
Alaska.
PARKS/HISTORIC PRESERVATION/RECREATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National 
Parks, Historic Preservation, and Recreation concluded hearings on S. 
109, to improve protection and management of the Chattahoochee River 
National Recreation Area in the State of Georgia, S. 340, to amend the 
Cache La Poudre River Corridor Act to make technical corrections, S. 
582, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into an 
agreement for the construction and operation of the Gateway Visitor 
Center at Independence National Historical Park, S. 589, to require the 
National Park Service to undertake a study of the Loess Hills area in 
western Iowa to review options for the protection and interpretation of 
the area's natural, cultural, and historical resources, S. 591, to 
authorize a feasibility study for the preservation of the Loess Hills 
in western Iowa, and H.R. 149, to make technical corrections to the 
Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996, after receiving 
testimony from Patricia Beneke, Assistant Secretary for Water and 
Science, and Katherine Stevenson, Associate Director, Cultural Resource 
Stewardship and Partnerships, National Park Service, both of the 
Department of the Interior; Roy Richards, Jr., Southwire Company, 
Carolton, Georgia; William W. Moore, Gateway Visitor Center 
Corporation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Maurice Welte, Loess Hills 
Alliance, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; and Shirley Frederiksen, Golden Hills 
Resource Conservation and Development, Oakland, Iowa.
TRANSPORTATION EQUITY ACT
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure held oversight hearings on the 
Department of Transportation's implementation of the Transportation 
Equity Act for the 21st century, receiving testimony from Kenneth R. 
Wykle, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Gordon J. Linton, 
Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, and Ricardo Martinez, 
Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, all of 
the Department of Transportation; Missouri State Representative Joan 
Bray, St. Louis, on behalf of the National Conference of State 
Legislatures; Jean Jacobson, Racine County, Wisconsin, on behalf of the 
National Association of Counties; Mayor Kenneth L. Barr, Fort Worth, 
Texas, on behalf of the U.S. Conference of Mayors; Mayor Robert T. 
Bartlett, Monrovia, California, on behalf of the National League of 
Cities; and Taylor R. Bowlden, American Highway Users Alliance, and Roy 
Kienitz, Surface Transportation Policy Project, both of Washington, 
D.C.
  Hearings recessed subject to call.
INDIVIDUAL INCOME TAX
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings on issues relating 
to the complexity of the individual income tax, focusing on the impact 
of changes to tax law, Alternative Minimum Tax, phase outs, education 
savings incentives, child and child care credit, retirement plans, and 
simplifications proposals, after receiving testimony from W. Val 
Oveson, National Taxpayer Advocate, Internal Revenue Service, 
Department of the Treasury; Kathy T. Burlison, H & R Block, Inc., 
Kansas City, Missouri; David A. Lifson, American Institute of Certified 
Public Accountants, New York, New York; Gregory L. Steinbis, Morgan 
Hill, California, on behalf of the National Association of Enrolled 
Agents; and William J. Wilkins, American Bar Association Section of 
Taxation, Washington, D.C.
BALLISTIC MISSILE THREAT
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee held hearings on United 
States vulnerability to ballistic missile attack, focusing on proposed 
amendments to revive and expand the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty 
(Treaty Doc. 92-24), after receiving testimony from Caspar Weinberger, 
former Secretary of Defense.
  Hearings recessed subject to call.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee began mark-up of S. 625, to amend 
title 11, United States Code, to amend title 11, United States Code, to 
reform bankruptcy law, but did not complete consideration thereof, and 
will meet again on Thursday, April 22.
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 Wednesday, April 21.