[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 149 (Thursday, October 28, 1999)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1217-D1219]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
EPA'S NEW AGRICULTURAL REGULATORY PROGRAMS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations, 
Oversight, Nutrition, and Forestry held a hearing to review the EPA's 
new agricultural regulatory programs. Testimony was heard from J. 
Charles Fox, Assistant Administrator, Water, EPA; Glenda Humiston, 
Deputy Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA; Arthur 
R. Nash, Jr., Deputy Director, Department of Environmental Quality, 
State of Michigan; and public witnesses.
EXPORT OF HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTERS--U.S. POLICY
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on U.S. policy regarding 
the export of high-performance computers. Testimony was heard from 
Harold J. Johnson, Associate Director, National Security and 
International Affairs Division, GAO; William Reinsch, Under Secretary, 
Export Administration, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURE
Committee on Commerce: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1070, to 
amend title XIX of the Social Security Act to provide medical 
assistance for certain women screened and found to have breast or 
cervical cancer under a federally funded screening program.
WIPO ONE YEAR LATER
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing on WIPO One Year Later: Assessing 
Consumer Access to Digital Entertainment on the Internet and Other 
Media. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
TELEWORK--IMPACT ON WORKPLACE POLICY
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Telework: The Impact on Workplace 
Policy in the U.S. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; IMMUNITY FOR JOHN HUANG
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 170, amended, to require certain notices in any mailing using a 
game of chance for the promotion of a product or service; H.R. 2952, to 
redesignate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
100 Orchard Park Drive in Greenville, South Carolina, as the ``Keith D. 
Oglesby Station''; H.R. 3018, amended, to designate the United States 
Post Office located at 557 East Bay Street in Charleston, South 
Carolina, as the ``Marybelle H. Howe Post Office''; and H.R. 3137, to 
amend the Presidential Transition Act of 1963 to provide for training 
of individua1s a President-elect intends to nominate as department 
heads or appoint to key positions in the Executive Office of the 
President.
  The Committee also approved a Grant of Immunity for John Huang.
FEDERAL ACTIVITIES INVENTORY REFORM ACT IMPLEMENTATION
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, 
Information, and Technology held a hearing on Implementation of the 
Federal Activities Inventory Reform (FAIR) Act of 1998. Testimony was 
heard from Senator Thomas; Representatives Sessions, Duncan, and 
Kucinich; Deidre Lee, Acting Deputy Director, Management, OMB; J. 
Christopher Mihm, Associate Director, Federal Management and Workforce 
Issues, General Government Division, GAO; Sally Anne Harper, Chief 
Financial Officer, EPA; William Early, Chief

[[Page D1218]]

Financial Officer, GSA; and Linda Bilmes, Acting Assistant Secretary, 
Administration and Acting Chief Financial Officer, Department of 
Commerce.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law held a hearing on the following measures: H. Con. 
Res. 30, to express the sense of the Congress that any Executive order 
that infringes on the powers and duties of the Congress under article 
I, section 8 of the Constitution, or that would require the expenditure 
of Federal funds not specifically appropriated for the purpose of the 
Executive order, is advisory only and has no force or effect unless 
enacted as law; H.R. 2655, Separation of Powers Restoration Act; and 
H.R. 3131, to permit congressional review of certain Presidential 
orders. Testimony was heard from Representatives Metcalf, Paul, and 
Barr of Georgia; and public witnesses.
JUSTICE IN FAIR HOUSING ENFORCEMENT ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution held a 
hearing on H.R. 2437, Justice in Fair Housing Enforcement Act of 1999. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--COMMUNITY ORIENTED POLICING SERVICES PROGRAM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held an oversight 
hearing on the COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services) Programs. 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Justice: Thomas C. Frazier, Director, Office of Community Oriented 
Policing Services (COPS); and Robert L. Ashbaugh, Acting Inspector 
General; Richard Stana, Associate Director, Administration of Justice 
Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources 
held an oversight hearing on the Proposed World Heritage Committee 
Policy Prohibiting Mining in Areas Surrounding World Heritage Sites. 
Testimony was heard from Dan Barry, Assistant Secretary, Fish and 
Wildlife and Parks, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
ESTUARY HABITAT RESTORATION PARTNERSHIP ACT; OVERSIGHT--PACIFIC SALMON 
TREATY
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife and Oceans approved for full Committee action H.R. 1775, 
Estuary Habitat Restoration Partnership Act of 1999.
  The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on Pacific Salmon 
Treaty. Testimony was heard from Jim Pipkin, Special Negotiator for 
Pacific Salmon, Department of the Interior; Dave Balton, Director, 
Office of Marine Conservation, Department of State; Terry Garcia, 
Assistant Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of Commerce; 
Dave Benton, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Fish and Game, State of 
Alaska; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, and Public 
Lands held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1500, America's 
Wilderness Protection Act; and H.R. 2874, Wild Horse and Burro 
Preservation and Management Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from Henri 
Bisson, Assistant Director, Renewable Resources and Planning, Bureau of 
Land Management, Department of the Interior; the following members of 
the Senate, State of Nevada: Dan Rhoads; and Dina Titus; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a 
hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2819, Biomass Research and 
Development Act of 1999; and H.R. 2827, National Sustainable Fuels and 
Chemicals Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from Dan W. Reicher, 
Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Department 
of Energy; I. Miley Gonzales, Under Secretary, Research, Education and 
Economics, USDA; and public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESSES--CALIFORNIA PROP. 65'S EFFECT
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on California Prop. 65's 
effect on small businesses. Testimony was heard from Ann Brown, 
Chairman, Consumer Product Safety Commission; Ed Weil, Deputy Attorney 
General, State of California; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--AMTRAK
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Ground 
Transportation held an oversight hearing on Amtrak. Testimony was heard 
from Phyllis Scheinberg, Associate Director, Transportation and 
Telecommunications Issues, GAO; Kenneth Mead, Inspector General, 
Department of Transportation; Thomas G. Thompson, Governor, State of 
Wisconsin and Chairman, Board of Directors, Amtrak; and public 
witnesses.

[[Page D1219]]


VETERANS' MATTERS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits held a hearing 
on concepts for 21st Century Veterans' Employment and Training 
legislation and legislative concepts for miscellaneous VA Education 
Programs. Testimony was heard from Representative Ney; Espiridion 
Borrego, Assistant Secretary, Veterans Employment and Training, 
Department of Labor; Celia Dollarhide, Director, Education Service, 
Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; the 
following officials of the Department of Labor, State of New York: 
James Hartman, Federal Director of Veterans Employment and Training; 
and John Hall, Disabled Veterans Outreach Program; Effi Baldwin, Local 
Veterans Employment Representative, Department of Economic Security/Job 
Service, State of Arizona; representatives of veterans organizations; 
and public witness.
DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS--YEAR 2000 READINESS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing on Year 2000 readiness in the Department 
of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was heard from Joel C. Willemssen, 
Director, Civil Agencies Information Systems, Accounting and 
Information Management Division, GAO; William K. Hubbard, Senior 
Associate Commissioner, Policy, Planning and Legislation, FDA, 
Department of Health and Human Services; and Hershel W. Gober, Deputy 
Secretary, Veterans Affairs, Department of Veterans Affairs.
KOSOVO BRIEFING
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Kosovo: Lessons Learned. The Committee was 
briefed by departmental officials.