[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 94 (Tuesday, June 29, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D743-D744]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
PUBLIC SAFETY SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on 
Science, Technology, and Space concluded hearings on proposed 
legislation authorizing funds for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, United States Fire Administration, and the National 
Earthquake Hazards Reduction Program, after receiving testimony from D. 
James Baker, Under Secretary for Oceans and Atmosphere, and 
Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and 
Raymond G. Kammer, Director, National Institute of Standards and 
Technology, both of the Department of Commerce; Michael J. Armstrong, 
U. S. Associate Director for Mitigation, and Richard A. Marinucci, 
Acting Chief Operating Officer, Fire Administration, both of the 
Federal Emergency Management Agency; P. Patrick Leahy, Chief Geologist, 
U. S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior; and Eugene Wong, 
Assistant Director for Engineering, National Science Foundation.
ELECTRIC UTILITY DEREGULATION
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee held hearings on 
S. 161, to provide for a transition to market-based rates for power 
sold by the Federal Power Marketing Administrations and the Tennessee 
Valley Authority, S. 282, to provide that no electric utility shall be 
required to enter into a new contract or obligation to purchase or to 
sell electricity or capacity under section 210 of the Public Utility 
Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, S. 516, to benefit consumers by 
promoting competition in the electric power industry, S. 1047, to 
provide for a more competitive electric power industry, S. 1273, to 
amend the Federal Power Act, to facilitate the transition to more 
competitive and efficient electric power markets, and S. 1284, to amend 
the Federal Power Act to ensure that no State may establish, maintain, 
or enforce on behalf of any electric utility an exclusive right to sell 
electric energy or otherwise unduly discriminate against any consumer 
who seeks to purchase electric energy in interstate commerce from any 
supplier, receiving testimony from Senator Schumer; Bill Richardson, 
Secretary, and James J. Hoecker, Chairman, Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission, both of the Department of Energy; and Nebraska Governor 
Mike Johanns, Lincoln, on behalf of the Governors' Public Power 
Alliance.
  Hearings continue on Thursday, July 15.
WILDLAND FIRE PREPAREDNESS
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and 
Public Land Management concluded oversight hearings on the federal 
government's state of preparedness for this year's wildland fire 
season, including fire fighting budgets, availability and retention of 
trained fire fighters, and cooperative programs outside the federal 
government to enhance fire suppression capabilities, after receiving 
testimony from Les Rosenkrance, Director, and Dennis Pendleton, 
Assistant Director, both of the Office of Fire and Aviation, Ron 
Dunton, Fire Program Manager, all of the Bureau of Land Management, and 
Arch Wells, Chief Forester, Bureau of Indian Affairs, all of the 
Department of the Interior; Larry Payne, Assistant Deputy Chief for 
State and Private Forestry, Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; 
and Ron Burnham, Fire Chief, Red River, New Mexico; and Toby Martinez, 
Santa Fe, New Mexico.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably 
reported the following business items:
  S. 1100, to amend the Endangered Species Act of 1973 to provide that 
the designation of critical habitat for endangered and threatened 
species be required as part of the development of recovery plans for 
those species, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute;
  An original resolution authorizing expenditures by the Committee on 
Environment and Public Works; and
  The nomination of Timothy Fields, Jr., of Virginia, to be Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Solid Waste, Environmental Protection Agency.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations 
of Stuart E. Eizenstat, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of the 
Treasury, Jeffrey Rush, Jr., of Virginia, to be Inspector General, 
Department of the Treasury, and Lewis Andrew Sachs, of Connecticut, to 
be Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Financial Markets, after the 
nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Mr. 
Eizenstat was introduced by Senators Sarbanes and Coverdell.

[[Page D744]]


ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee resumed 
hearings on proposed legislation authorizing funds for programs of the 
Elementary and Secondary Education Act, focusing on arts education and 
magnet schools, receiving testimony from John Sykes, VH1, New York, New 
York; John D. Kemp, VSA arts, and Derek Gordon, John F. Kennedy Center 
for the Performing Arts, both of Washington, D.C.; Tom Durante, 
Arlington County Public Schools, Arlington, Virginia; Benjamin O. 
Canada, Portland Public Schools, Portland, Oregon, on behalf of the 
Americans for the Arts; Danielle Rice, Philadelphia Museum of Art, 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Sandra B. Burks, Roanoke City Public 
Schools, Roanoke, Virginia.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.