[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 109 (Thursday, July 29, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D891-D893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FEDERAL ENERGY REGULATORY COMMISSION--PROVIDE RELIEF FROM UNFAIR 
PENALTIES ON REFUNDS
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing 
on H.R. 1117, to provide relief from unfair interest and penalties on 
refunds retroactively ordered by the Federal Energy Regulatory 
Commission. Testimony was heard from Representative Moran of Kansas; 
Carla Stovall, Attorney General, State of Kansas; and a public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection approved for full Committee action, amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 1714, Electronic Signatures in Global and 
National Commerce Act; H.R. 1858, Consumer and Investor Access to 
Information Act of 1999; H.R. 486, Community Broadcasters Protection 
Act of 1999; and H.R. 2630, NTIA Reauthorization Act of 1999.
TRUTH IN EMPLOYMENT ACT; FAIR ACCESS TO INDEMNITY AND REIMBURSEMENT ACT
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Ordered reported the 
following bills: H.R. 1441, Truth in Employment Act of 1999; and H.R. 
1987, amended, Fair Access to Indemnity and Reimbursement Act.
BEIJING-U.S. EMBASSY--STATE DEPARTMENT'S HANDLING OF ALLEGATIONS OF 
VISA FRAUD
Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing on the State 
Department's Handling of Allegations of Visa Fraud and Other 
Irregularities at the U.S. Embassy in Beijing. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of State: Jacquelyn L. 
Williams-Bridgers, Inspector General; Peter Bergin, Deputy Director, 
Diplomatic Security; and Bonnie Cohen, Under Secretary, Management; and 
Don Schurman, former Regional Security Officer, U.S. Embassy, Beijing.
  In refusing to answer questions, Charles M. Parish, Jr., former First 
Consul and Secretary, U.S. Embassy, Beijing, invoked Fifth Amendment 
privileges.
FEDERALISM ACT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Economic Growth, 
Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs approved for full Committee 
action, amended, H.R. 2245, Federalism Act of 1999.
PANAMA-U.S. SECURITY AND COUNTER-DRUG INTERESTS
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on Post-1999 U.S. 
Security and Counter-Drug Interests in Panama. Testimony was heard from 
Thomas E. McNamara, former U.S. Chief Negotiator in Panama and Gen. 
George A. Joulwan, USA, (Ret.), former Supreme Allied Commander in 
Europe and former Commander in Chief, U.S. Southern Command.
OVERSIGHT--REINVENTED TAXATION AND THE TAXPAYERS DEFENSE ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held an oversight hearing on Reinvented Taxation and 
The Taxpayers Defense Act. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Hayworth and Terry; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law approved for full Committee action the following 
measures: H.J. Res. 54, granting the consent of Congress to the 
Missouri-Nebraska Boundary Compact; H.J. Res. 62, to grant the consent 
of Congress to the boundary change between Georgia and South Carolina; 
and H.R. 1604, amended, Dairy Consumers and Producers Protection Act.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on H.J. Res. 54 
and H.J. Res. 62. Testimony was heard from Representatives Bereuter, 
Danner and Kingston; Charles W. Challstrom, Acting Director, National 
Geodetic Survey, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and a public witness.
OVERSIGHT--DEA
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held an oversight 
hearing on the Drug Enforcement Administration, Department of Justice. 
Testimony was heard from Norman J. Rabkin, Director, Administration of 
Justice Issue Area, GAO; Donnie R. Marshall, Acting Administrator, DEA, 
Department of Justice; and public witnesses.
IMMIGRATION REORGANIZATION AND IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims held 
a hearing on H.R. 2528, Immigration Reorganization and Improvement Act 
of 1999. Testimony was heard from Representatives Rogers and Reyes; 
from the following officials of the Department of Justice: Michael 
Bromwich, Inspector General; and Doris Meissner, Commissioner, 
Immigration and Naturalization Service; Richard M. Stana, Associate 
Director, Administration of Justice Issues, General Government 
Division, GAO; and public witnesses.

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WARNER CREEK TIMBER SALE
Committee on Resources: Task Force on Warner Creek Timber Sale and 
Related Matters met in executive session and approved a report 
regarding the Warner Creek Timber Sale and Related Matters.
PRIBILOF ISLANDS TRANSITION ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on the Pribilof Islands Transition 
Act. Testimony was heard from David Kennedy, Director, Office of 
Response and Restoration, National Ocean Service, NOAA, Department of 
Commerce; Jennifer Roberts, Environmental Manager, Department of 
Environmental Conservation, State of Alaska; and representatives of 
Municipal Governments, Village Corporations, and Tribal Councils from 
St. Paul and St. George Islands, Alaska.
OVERSIGHT--RURAL WATER PROJECT FINANCING
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held an 
oversight hearing on Rural Water Project Financing. Testimony was heard 
from Eluid Martinez, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of 
the Interior; John Romano, Deputy Administrator, Rural Utility Service, 
USDA; Cynthia C. Dougherty, Director, Office of Ground Water and 
Drinking Water, EPA; Susan Kladiva, Associate Director, Resources, 
Community and Economic Development Division, GAO; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE REORGANIZATION ACT WAIVER
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing for 
consideration in the House of a concurrent resolution waiving the 
requirement in section 132 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 
1946 that Congress adjourn sine die not later than July 31, 1999. The 
rule provides that the concurrent resolution shall be considered as 
read and shall not be debatable. All points of order against the 
concurrent resolution are waived.
MATH AND SCIENCE--ATTRACTING A NEW GENERATION
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Basic Research held a hearing on 
Attracting a New Generation to Math and Science: The Role of Public-
Private Partnerships in Education and H.R. 1265, Mathematics and 
Science Proficiency Partnership Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from 
Jane Kahle, Division Director, Division of Elementary, Secondary and 
Informal Education, Directorate for Education and Human Resources, NSF; 
and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics approved 
for full Committee action the following measures: H.R. 356, to provide 
for the conveyance of certain property from the United States to 
Stanislaus County, California; H.R. 2607, Commercial Space 
Transportation Competitiveness Act of 1999; and H.R. 1883, amended, 
Iran Nonproliferation Act of 1999.
SMALL BUSINESS ACT AMENDMENTS; CLEAN ACT AMENDMENTS--EPA'S INCLUSION OF 
PROPANE
Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
2614, Certified Development Company Program Improvements Act of 1999; 
and H.R. 2615, to amend the Small Business Act to make improvements to 
the general business loan program.
  The Committee also held a hearing to discuss the EPA's inclusion of 
propane within the Clean Act Amendments. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Blunt; James Makris, Director, Chemical Emergency 
Preparedness and Prevention Office, EPA; and public witnesses.
VETERANS EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICE PROGRAM EFFECTIVENESS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing to evaluate the Veterans Education and 
Training Service (VETS) program effectiveness and strategic planning. 
Testimony was heard from Carlotta C. Joyner, Director, Operations, 
Health, Education, and Human Services Division, GAO; Espiridion A. 
Borrego, Assistant Secretary, Veterans Employment and Training, 
Department of Labor; and representatives of veterans organizations; and 
a public witness.
Y2K AND OTHER SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ISSUES
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a 
hearing on Y2K and Other Social Security Information Technology Issues. 
Testimony was heard from Kenneth S. Apfel, Commissioner, SSA; and Joel 
C. Willemssen, Director, Civil Agencies Information Systems, Accounting 
and Information Management Division, GAO.

Joint Meetings
WATER RESOURCES DEVELOPMENT ACT
Conferees met to resolve the differences between the Senate and House 
passed versions of S. 507 and H.R.1480, bills making appropriations for 
military construction, family housing, and base realignment and closure 
for the Department of Defense for the

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fiscal year ending September 30, 2000, but did not complete action 
thereon, and recessed subject to call.