[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 46 (Wednesday, April 12, 2000)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D362-D366]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
FEDERAL FARM POLICY
Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing on Review of federal farm 
policy. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State, 
and Judiciary held a hearing on the Report of Overseas Presence 
Advisory Panel. Testimony was heard from Ambassador Felix G. Rohatyn, 
U.S. Ambassador to France; and the following members of the Overseas 
Presence Advisory Panel, Department of State: Lewis Kaden, Chairman; 
former Ambassador Langhorne Motley, and Adm. William J. Crowe, Jr., USN 
(Ret.).

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LABOR-HHS-EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, and Education continued appropriations hearings. Testimony 
was heard from Members of Congress.
VA, HUD, AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD and Independent 
Agencies continued appropriations hearings. Testimony was heard from 
public witnesses.
AMERICA'S PRIVATE INVESTMENT COMPANIES ACT; NEW MARKETS INITIATIVE ACT
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Ordered reported, as 
amended, the following bills: H.R. 2764, America's Private Investment 
Companies Act; and H.R. 2848, New Markets Initiative Act of 1999.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Power approved for 
full Committee action the following measures: H.R. 3383, amended, to 
amend the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 to remove separate treatment or 
exemption for nuclear safety violations by nonprofit institutions; H.R. 
3906, amended, to ensure that the Department of Energy has appropriate 
mechanisms to independently assess the effectiveness of its policy and 
site performance in the areas of safeguards and security and cyber 
security; H.R. 3852, to extend the deadline for commencement of 
construction of a hydroelectric project in the State of Alabama; S. 
1236, amended, to extend the deadline under the Federal Power Act for 
commencement of the construction of the Arrowrock Dam Hydroelectric 
Project in the State of Idaho; and a measure to ensure that the 
Secretary of Energy may continue to exercise certain authorities under 
the Price-Anderson Act through the Assistant Secretary of Energy for 
Environment, Safety, and Health.
  The Subcommittee failed to approve for full Committee consideration 
H.R. 623, to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to eliminate 
certain regulation of plumbing supplies.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Education and the Workforce, Ordered reported the 
following bills: H.R. 4055, IDEA Full Funding Act of 2000; and H.R. 
3629, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to improve the program 
for American Indian Tribal Colleges and Universities under part A of 
title III.
  The Committee also continued markup of H.R. 4141, Education 
Opportunities To Protect and Invest In Our Nation's Students (Education 
OPTIONS) Act.
  Will continue tomorrow.
FEHBP DEMONSTRATION PROJECT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Civil Service held a 
hearing on ``The Failure of the FEHBP Demonstration Project: Another 
Broken Promise?'' Testimony was heard from Representatives Cunningham, 
Moran of Virginia, and Norwood; William E. Flynn, Director, Retirement 
and Insurance Programs, OMB; Rear Adm. Thomas F. Carrato, USN, U.S. 
Public Health Service, Director, Military Health Systems Operations, 
Tricare Management Activity, Department of Defense; and public 
witnesses.
HAITI--EMERGING DRUG THREAT
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug 
Policy and Human Resources held a hearing on the Emerging Drug Threat 
from Haiti. Testimony was heard from Ambassador Don Steinberg, Special 
Haiti Coordinator, Department of State; the following officials of the 
Department of Justice: Carl Alexandre, Director, Overseas Prosecutorial 
Development Assistance and Training, Criminal Division; and Michael 
Vigil, Senior Agent in Charge, Miami, DEA; John Varrone, Acting Deputy 
Assistant Commissioner, Office of Investigations, U.S. Customs Service, 
Department of the Treasury; Rear Adm. Ed. J. Barrett, USCG, Director, 
Joint Interagency Task Force East, Department of Transportation; and a 
public witness.
PROPOSED COMMISSION FOR THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY OF PRIVACY PROTECTION
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, 
Information, and Technology held a hearing on ``Legislative Hearing to 
Establish the Commission for the Comprehensive Study of Privacy 
Protection''. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
``REINVENTING PAPERWORK?: THE CLINTON-GORE ADMINISTRATION'S RECORD ON 
PAPERWORK REDUCTION''
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Economic 
Growth, Natural Resources, and Regulatory Affairs held a hearing on 
``Reinventing Paperwork?: The Clinton-Gore Administration's Record on 
Paperwork Reduction''. Testimony was heard from Charles O. Rossotti, 
Commissioner, IRS, Department of the Treasury; John T. Spotila, 
Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory

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Affairs, OMB; Nancy Kingsbury, Acting Assistant Comptroller General, 
General Government Division, GAO; Morton Rosenberg, Specialist in 
American Law, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and 
public witnesses.
U.S.-EUROPEAN UNION RELATIONS
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on United States-
European Union Relations: The View from the European Parliament. 
Testimony was heard via video conference from the following Members of 
the European Parliament: Mel Read, Chairperson, Karla Peijs, Vice 
Chairman, both with the Delegation for Relations with the U.S.; Elmar 
Brok, Chairman, Foreign Affairs, Human Rights, And Common Security and 
Defense Policy; and Carlos Wesendorp y Cabeza, Chairman, Committee on 
Industry, External Trade, Research and Energy.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa approved 
for full Committee action the following measures: H. Res. 449, 
congratulating the people of Senegal on the success of the multi-party 
electoral process; and H.R. 3879, amended, Sierra Leone Peace Support 
Act.
DEMOCRACY IN THE CENTRAL ASIAN REPUBLICS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific and the Subcommittee on International Operations and Human 
Rights held a joint hearing on Democracy in the Central Asian 
Republics. Testimony was heard from Donald Pressley, Assistant 
Administrator, Bureau for Europe and Eurasia, AID, Department of State; 
Paul Goble, Director of Communications, Radio Free Europe/Radio 
Liberty, USIA; and public witnesses.
SOUTH VIETNAM--HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS AND POLITICAL OPPRESSION
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific approved for full Committee action, as amended, H. Con. Res. 
295, relating to continuing human rights violations and political 
oppression in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam 25 years after the fall 
of South Vietnam to Communist forces.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on the Judiciary: Held an oversight hearing on the Antitrust 
Enforcement Agencies: the Bureau of Competition of the FTC and the 
Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice. Testimony was heard 
from Robert Pitofsky, Chairman, FTC; Joel Klein, Assistant Attorney 
General, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice; and public 
witnesses.
TECHNOLOGY WORKER TEMPORARY RELIEF ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration and Claims 
approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 4227, Technology 
Worker Temporary Relief Act.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Resources: Held an oversight hearing on Compromising our 
National Security by Restricting Domestic Exploration and Development 
of our Oil and Gas Resources. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
DeLay, Gekas, Largent and Fosella; David J. Hayes, Deputy Secretary, 
Department of the Interior; Bob Gee, Assistant Secretary, Fossil 
Energy, Department of Energy; and public witnesses.
DATE CERTAIN TAX CODE REPLACEMENT ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 4199, Date Certain Tax Code Replacement Act. The 
rule provides that the bill shall be considered as read and that the 
text of H.R. 4230 be considered as adopted. Finally, the rule provides 
one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was 
heard from Representatives Portman and Largent.
RADIO BROADCASTING PRESERVATION ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, an open rule providing 1 
hour of debate on H.R. 3439, Radio Broadcasting Preservation Act of 
2000. The rule makes in order the Committee on Commerce amendment in 
the nature of a substitute, now printed in the bill, as an original 
bill for the purpose of amendment. The rule waives clause 7 of rules 
XVI (prohibiting nongermane amendments) against the committee amendment 
in the nature of a substitute. The rule provides that the amendment in 
the nature of a substitute shall be open for amendment at any point. 
The rule authorizes the Chair to accord priority in recognition to 
Members who have pre-printed their amendments in the Congressional 
Record. The rule allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to 
postpone votes during consideration of the bill and to reduce voting 
time to five minutes on a postponed question if the vote follows a 
fifteen minute vote. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit 
with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Representatives 
Tauzin, Oxley, Dingell, Rush and Barrett of Wisconsin.

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CONFERENCE REPORT--CONCURRENT BUDGET RESOLUTION
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving all points 
of order against the conference report on H. Con. Res. 290, 
establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government 
for fiscal year 2001, revising the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2000, and setting forth appropriate 
budgetary levels for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2005 and against 
its consideration. The rule provides that the conference report be 
considered as read. The rule provides one hour of debate equally 
divided and controlled between the chairman and ranking minority member 
of the Committee on the Budget. H. Con. Res. 290, establishing the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2001, revising the congressional budget for the United States 
Government for fiscal year 2000, and setting forth appropriate 
budgetary levels for each of fiscal years 2002 through 2005. Testimony 
was heard from Chairman Kasich.
RURAL LOCAL BROADCAST SIGNAL ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a closed rule on H.R. 3615, 
Rural Local Broadcast Signal Act providing one hour of debate in the 
House equally divided among and controlled by the chairmen and ranking 
minority members of the Committees on Agriculture and Commerce. The 
rule provides that, in lieu of the amendments recommended by the 
Committees on Agriculture and Commerce, the amendment in the nature of 
a substitute printed in the report of the Committee on Rules 
accompanying the resolution shall be considered as adopted. Finally, 
the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions.. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Goodlatte.
NASA'S MARS PROGRAM
Committee on Science: Held a hearing on NASA's Mars Program After the 
Young Report. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
FIRE GRANTS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Oversight, Investigations, and Emergency Management held a hearing on 
Fire Grants: H.R. 1168, Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement 
(FIRE) Act; and H.R. 3155, Firefighter's Local-Federal Assistance for 
Management of Emergencies Act; and the Administration's Proposal for 
Assistance to Firemen. Testimony was heard from Senators DeWine and 
Dodd; Representatives Pascrell, Weldon of Pennsylvania, Gekas, Smith of 
Michigan and Hoyer; Kenneth O. Burris, Chief Operating Officer, U.S. 
Fire Administration, FEMA; Robert A. McGuire, Deputy Associate 
Administrator, Hazardous Materials Safety, Research and Special 
Programs Administration, Department of Transportation; and public 
witnesses.
GREAT LAKES SEDIMENT REMEDIATION
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on H.R. 3670, to amend the 
Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reauthorize the Great Lakes 
program. Testimony was heard from Charles Fox, Assistant Administrator, 
Office of Water, EPA; Michael L. Davis, Deputy Assistant Secretary 
(Civil Works), Department of the Army; and public witnesses.
VA HEALTH CARE WORKFORCE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
on status of recruitment, retention and compensation of the VA health 
care workforce including nurses, physicians and dentists. Testimony was 
heard from Kenneth J. Clark, Chief Network Officer, Department of 
Veterans Affairs.
FUNDAMENTAL TAX REFORM
Committee on Ways and Means: Continued hearings on fundamental tax 
reform. Testimony was heard from Representatives English, Armey, Tauzin 
and Traficant; and public witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
NSA LEGAL AUTHORITIES
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Held a hearing on NSA Legal 
Authorities. Testimony was heard from Representative Barr of Georgia, 
George J. Tenet, Director, CIA, and Lt. Gen. Michael V. Hayden, USAF, 
Director, National Security Agency, Department of Defense.

Joint Meetings
IMF/WORLD BANK REFORM
  Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine 
issues relating to reform of the International Monetary Fund and the 
World Bank, after receiving testimony from Allan H. Meltzer, Carnegie 
Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Charles Calomiris, 
Columbia University, New York, New York, Adam Lerrick, Lerrick and 
Company, Inc, Barrytown, New York, and Jerome Levinson, American 
University, Washington, D.C., all on behalf of the International 
Financial Institution Advisory Committee.
2000 BUDGET
  Conferees: On Tuesday, April 11, met to resolve the differences 
between the Senate and House passed

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versions of H. Con. Res. 290, establishing the congressional budget for 
the United States Government for fiscal year 2001, revising the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2000, and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for each of fiscal 
years 2002 through 2005, but did not complete action thereon, and 
recessed subject to call.