[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 26 (Thursday, March 9, 2000)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D190-D194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported the Emergency 
Supplemental Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2000.
AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES 
APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural 
Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a 
hearing on Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the USDA: August Schumacher, Jr., Under 
Secretary, Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; Stephen Dewhurst, 
Budget Officer; and Hugh Parmer, Assistant Administrator, Humanitarian 
Response, AID, Department of State.

[[Page D191]]


COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, 
and Judiciary held a hearing on Department of State Administration of 
Foreign Affairs. Testimony was heard from Bonnie Cohen, Under Secretary 
for Management, Department of State.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior held a hearing on 
the Forest Service. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the USDA: James Lyons, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and 
Environment; and Michael P. Dombeck, Chief, Forest Service.
LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education held a hearing on the Secretary of Education. 
Testimony was heard from Richard Riley, Secretary of Education.
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction held 
a hearing on Air Force Construction. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of the Air Force, Department of 
Defense: Ruby B. DeMesme, Assistant Secretary, Manpower, Reserve 
Affairs, Installations and Environment; and Maj. Gen. Earnest Robbins, 
USAF, Air Force Civil Engineer.
TREASURY, POSTAL SERVICE, AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Treasury, Postal Service, 
and General Government held a hearing on Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and 
Firearms. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Treasury: James Johnson, Under Secretary, Law 
Enforcement; and Bradley A. Buckles, Director, Bureau of Alcohol, 
Tobacco and Firearms.
VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Veterans Affairs, HUD and 
Independent Agencies held a hearing on the Neighborhood Reinvestment 
Corporation, and the Community Development Financial Institutions. 
Testimony was heard from George Knight, Director, Neighborhood 
Reinvestment Corporation; and Ellen Lazar, Community Development 
Financial Institutions Fund, Department of the Treasury.
BUDGET REQUEST--MILITARY CONSTRUCTION AND MILITARY HOUSING PROGRAMS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Installations and 
Facilities held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2001 budget request for 
the military construction and military family housing programs of the 
Department of Defense. Testimony was heard from the following officials 
of the Department of Defense: Robert B. Pirie, Jr., Assistant Secretary 
(Installations and Environment), Rear Adm. Louis M. Smith, USN, 
Commander, Naval Facilities Engineering Command; Maj. Gen. Harold 
Mashburn, USMC, Assistant Deputy Chief of Staff (Installations and 
Logistics (Facilities), Headquarters, U.S. Marine Corps; and Rear Adm. 
John G. Cotton, USN, Deputy Director, Naval Reserve, all with the 
Department of the Navy; and Ruby B. Demesme, Assistant Secretary 
(Manpower, Reserve Affairs, Installations, and Environment); Maj. Gen. 
Earnest O. Robbins II, USAF, The Civil Engineer; Maj, Gen. Paul A. 
Weaver, Jr., USAF; and Brig. Gen. Robert Duignan, USAF, Deputy to the 
Chief, Office of the Air Force Reserve, all with the Department of the 
Air Force.
ARMY PROGRAMS AND TRANSFORMATION
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Procurement and 
the Subcommittee on Military Research and Development held a joint 
hearing on Army programs and transformation. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of the Army, Department of 
Defense; Paul J. Hoeper, Assistant Secretary (Acquisition, Logistics 
and Technology); Mike Andrews, Deputy Assistant Secretary (Research and 
Technology); and Lt. Gen. Paul Kern, USA, Military Deputy to the 
Assistant Secretary of the Army (Acquisition, Logistics and 
Technology).
CIVILIAN PERSONNEL READINESS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Readiness and the 
Subcommittee on Civil Service of the Committee on Government Reform 
held a joint hearing on Civilian Personnel Readiness. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the GAO: Michael Brostek, 
Associate Director, Federal Management and Workforce Issues; and Barry 
Holman, Associate Director, Defense Management Issues; and the 
following officials of the Department of Defense: Diane M. Disney, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary (Civilian Personnel Policy); David L. 
Snyder, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Army (Civilian Personnel Policy); 
Betty S. Welch, Deputy Assistant

[[Page D192]]

Secretary, Navy (Civilian Personnel/EEO); Mary Lou Keener, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Air Force (Force Management and Personnel); and 
David O. Cooke, Director, Administration and Management, Office of the 
Secretary; and a public witness.
MONEY LAUNDERING
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Held a hearing on Money 
Laundering. Testimony was heard from Senator Schumer; Stuart Eizenstat, 
Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses.
PRICE FLUCTUATIONS--OIL MARKETS
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power held a hearing 
on price fluctuations in oil markets. Testimony was heard from 
Representatives Moran of Kansas, Sherwood, Sweeney and Crowley; the 
following officials of the Department of Energy: Mark Mazur, Director, 
Office of Policy; and John Cook, Director, Petroleum Division, Energy 
Information Administration; Richard G. Parker, Director, Bureau of 
Competition, FTC; and public witnesses.
FETAL TISSUE
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Health and Environment held a 
hearing on Fetal Tissue: Is It Being Bought and Sold in Violation of 
Federal Law? Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
  The Subcommittee also adopted a resolution finding Miles Jones, M.D., 
in Contempt of Congress and directing the Chairman to report such 
findings to the full Committee for consideration.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3011, 
Truth in Billing Act of 1999; and H.R. 3022, Rest of the Truth in 
Telephone Billing Act of 1999. Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
ERISA REFORM PROPOSALS
Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Employer-
Employee Relations held a hearing on ``A More Secure Retirement for 
Workers: Proposals for ERISA Reform.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; ANTHRAX REPORT
Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 3699, designating that the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 3409 Lee Highway in Merrifield, Virginia, be known 
as the ``Joel T. Broyhill Postal Building''; H.R. 3701, designating the 
United States Postal Service located at 3118 Washington Boulevard in 
Arlington, Virginia, be known as the ``Joseph L. Fisher Post Office 
Building''; H.R. 3030, to designate the facility of the United States 
Postal Service located at 757 Warren Road in Ithaca, New York, as the 
``Matthew F. McHugh Post Office''; and H.R. 3488, to designate the 
United States Post Office located at 60 Third Avenue in Long Branch, 
New Jersey, as the ``Pat King Post Office Building''.
  The Committee also approved the following draft report entitled: 
``The Department of Defense Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program: 
Unproven Force Protection''.
COMPUTER SECURITY
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, 
Information, and Technology held a hearing on ``Computer Security: Are 
We Prepared for Cyberwar?'' Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Commerce: John Tritak, Director, 
Critical Infrastructure Assurance Office; and Karen Brown, Deputy 
Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology; John 
Gilligan, Chief Information Officer, Department of Energy; and public 
witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL POSTAL POLICY
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Postal Service held a 
hearing on International Postal Policy. Testimony was heard from 
Bernard L. Ungar, Director, Government Business Operations Issues, GAO; 
Ambassador Michael Southwick, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of 
International Organization Affairs, Department of State; T.S. Chung, 
Deputy Assistant Secretary, Services Industry, International Trade 
Administration, Department of Commerce; Joseph Papovich, Assistant U.S. 
Trade Representative, Services, Investments, and Intellectual Property, 
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative; Elizabeth Durant, Director, 
Trade Programs, U.S. Customs Service, Department of the Treasury; Donna 
Patterson, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Antitrust Division, 
Department of Justice; Robert Cohen, Director, Office of Rates, 
Analysis and Planning, U.S. Postal Rate Commission; William J. 
Henderson, Postmaster General and CEO, U.S. Postal Service; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; SOUTHEAST EUROPE--U.S. ASSISTANCE COMMITMENTS
Committee on International Relations: Favorably considered the 
following resolutions and adopted a motion urging the Chairman to 
request that they be considered on the Suspension Calendar: H. Res. 
429,

[[Page D193]]

amended, expressing the sense of the House of Representatives 
concerning the participation of the extremist FPO in the government of 
Austria; and H. Res. 431, amended, expressing support for humanitarian 
assistance to the Republic of Mozambique.
  The Committee also held a hearing on U.S. Assistance Commitments in 
Southeast Europe. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of State: Larry C. Napper, Coordinator, Eastern European 
Assistance; James Pardew, Principal Deputy Special Advisor to the 
President and the Secretary of State for Kosovo and Dayton Accords 
Implementation; and Daniel Hamilton, Special Coordinator for Southeast 
Europe Stability Pact Implementation.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 2372, 
Private Property Rights Implementation Act of 1999.
  The Committee also began mark up of H.R. 1283, Fairness in Asbestos 
Compensation Act of 1999.
  Will continue March 14.
OVERSIGHT--PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual 
Property held an oversight hearing on the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office. Testimony was heard from Q. Todd Dickinson, Assistant 
Secretary and Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks, Department of 
Commerce; and public witnesses.
INTERNET GAMBLING ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime held a hearing on 
H.R. 3125, Internet Gambling Prohibition Act of 1999. Testimony was 
heard from Senator Kyl; Representative Goodlatte; Kevin DiGregory, 
Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of 
Justice; James E. Doyle, Attorney General, State of Wisconsin; and 
public witnesses.
IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT AMENDMENTS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims 
approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 238, to amend 
section 274 of the Immigration and Nationality Act to impose mandatory 
minimum sentences, and increase certain sentences, for bringing in and 
harboring certain aliens and to amend title 18, United States Code, to 
provide enhanced penalties for persons committing such offenses while 
armed.
OVERSIGHT--MAGNUSON-STEVENS CONSERVATION ACT
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, 
Wildlife, and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the Magnuson-Stevens 
Fishery Conservation Act. Testimony was heard from Penelope Dalton, 
Assistant Administrator, Fisheries, National Marine Fisheries Service, 
NOAA, Department of Commerce; Clarence Pautzke, Executive Director, 
North Pacific Fishery Management Council; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power approved for 
full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 2647, Ak-Chin Water Use 
Amendments Act of 1999; H.R. 3236, amended, to authorize the Secretary 
of the Interior to enter into contracts with the Weber Basin Water 
Conservancy District, Utah., to use Weber Basin Project facilities for 
the impounding, storage, and carriage of nonproject water for domestic, 
municipal, industrial and other beneficial purposes; and H.R. 3577, to 
increase the amount authorized to be appropriated for the north side 
pumping division of the Minidoka reclamation project, Idaho.
CLIMATE CHANGE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a 
hearing on Fiscal Year 2001 Climate Change Budget Authorization 
Request. Testimony was heard from D. James Baker, Administrator, NOAA 
and Under Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere, Department of Commerce; Dan 
W. Reicher, Assistant Secretary, Energy Efficiency and Renewable 
Energy, Department of Energy; and Paul M. Stolpman, Director, Office of 
Atmospheric Programs, Office of Air and Radiation, EPA.
REVIEW BUDGET REQUESTS
Committee on Science: Subcommittee on Technology held a hearing to 
review the Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Request for the Technology 
Administration/National Institute of Standards and Technology, 
including Computer Security and E-Commerce Initiatives. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the Department of Commerce: Ray 
Kammer, Director and Cheryl Shavers, Under Secretary, Technology 
Administration, both with the National Institute of Standards and 
Technology; and Johnnie E. Frazier, Inspector General.

[[Page D194]]


SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT CORRECTIONS ACT; SMALL BUSINESS 
REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
3845, Small Business Investment Corrections Act of 2000; and H.R. 3843, 
Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000.
HOMELESS VETERANS' ISSUES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Benefits and the 
Subcommittee on Health held a joint hearing on homeless veterans' 
issues. Testimony was heard from Tommy Thompson, Governor, State of 
Wisconsin; the following officials of the Department of Veterans 
Affairs: Fran M. Murphy, M.D., Veterans Health Administration; and 
Henrietta Fishman, VISN 3, Homeless Veterans Treatment Program; Fred 
Karnas, Jr., Deputy Assistant Secretary, Special Needs Programs, 
Department of Housing and Urban Development; Espiridion Borrego, 
Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training, Department of 
Labor; Raymond G. Boland, Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs, 
State of Wisconsin; representatives of veterans organizations; and 
public witnesses.
UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION--FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE ACT
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Human Resources held a 
hearing on Unemployment Compensation and the Family and Medical Leave 
Act. Testimony was heard from Senator Gregg; Raymond J. Uhalde, Deputy 
Assistant Secretary, Employment and Training Administration, Department 
of Labor; Christopher G. Donovan, member, House of Representatives, 
State of Connecticut; and public witnesses.
DCI BUDGET OVERVIEW
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Fiscal Year 2001-DCI Budget Overview. Testimony was 
heard from departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
SUPPLY-SIDE ECONOMICS AND THE U.S. ECONOMY
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the 
effect of the Joint Economic Committee's 1980 Plugging In The Supply 
Side report, the impact of supply-side economics on the United States 
economy over the past twenty years, and what remains to be done for a 
successful economic future, after receiving testimony from Martin 
Baily, Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers; Jack Kemp, Empower 
America, and Stephen J. Entin, Institute for Research on the Economics 
of Taxation, both of Washington, D.C.; Murray Weidenbaum, Washington 
University Center for the Study of American Business, St. Louis, 
Missouri; David Malpass, Bear Stearns, and Robert Solow, Russell Sage 
Foundation, both of New York, New York; and Alan Reynolds, Hudson 
Institute, Reston, Virginia.
BELARUS
Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission): 
Commission concluded hearings to examine certain issues with regard to 
the situation in Belarus, focusing on human rights suppression, free 
and fair parliamentary elections, deteriorating economic situation, and 
developing democracy and independence, after receiving testimony from 
Harold Hongju Koh, Assistant Secretary for Democracy, Human Rights and 
Labor, Ross Wilson, Principal Deputy to the Ambassador-at-Large and 
Special Advisor to the Secretary for the New Independent States, both 
of the Department of State; Anatoly Lebedka, Belarus Supreme Soviet 
Commission for International Affairs and United Civic Party, Semyon 
Sharetsky, Republic of Belarus Supreme Soviet, Stanislav Shushkevych, 
Belarus Supreme Soviet and National Academy of Sciences, Adrian 
Severin, OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Belarus Working Group, all of 
Minsk, Belarus; and Spencer Oliver, OSCE PA, Copenhagen, Denmark.