[Daily Digest]
[Pages D311-D313]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
COMMODITY DISTRIBUTION PROGRAMS AND FOOD STAMP PROGRAM IMPROVEMENTS
Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported amended H.R. 1135, to 
improve the Commodity Distribution Programs of the Department of 
Agriculture, to reform and simplify the Food Stamp Program.
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 the Natural Resources Conservation Service. Testimony was 
heard from the following officials of the USDA: James Lyons, Under 
Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment; and Paul W., Johnson, 
Chief, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
  The Subcommittee also continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was 
heard from Members of Congress and public witnesses.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, STATE, AND JUDICIARY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and 
State and the Judiciary, and Related Agencies held a hearing on the 
Supreme Court and on the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. Testimony 
was heard from the following Associate Justices of the Supreme Court: 
Anthony M. Kennedy; and David H. Souter; John D. Holum, Director, U.S. 
Arms Control and Disarmament Agency; William A. Reinsch, Under 
Secretary, Export Administration, Department of Commerce; and Thomas E. 
McNamara, Assistant Secretary, Political/Military Affairs, Department 
of State.
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development held a hearing on DOE: Environment, Safety and Health; and 
Environmental Restoration and Waste Management. Testimony was heard 
from the following officials of the Department of Energy: Tara J. 
O'Toole, Assistant Secretary, Environment, Safety and Health; and 
Thomas P. Grumbly, Assistant Secretary, Environmental Management.
INTERIOR APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior and Related 
Agencies held a hearing on Bureau of Indian Affairs. Testimony was 
heard from Ada E. Deer, Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, Department 
[[Page D312]] of the Interior; and Lisa G. Jacobson, Director, Civil 
Audit, Accounting and Information Management Division, GAO.
LABOR--HHS--EDUCATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human 
Services, Education and Related Agencies held a hearing on the 
Secretary of Health and Human Services, and on Assistant Secretary for 
Health, and Health Care Policy and Research. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: 
Donna E. Shalala, Secretary; Philip R. Lee, M.D., Assistant Secretary, 
Health; and Clifton R. Gans, Administrator, Agency for Health Care 
Policy and Research.
NATIONAL SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on National Security met in 
executive session to hold a hearing on National Foreign Intelligence 
Program. Testimony was heard from Adm. William D. Studeman, USN, Acting 
Director, CIA.
  The Subcommittee also met in executive session to receive a briefing 
on Special Access Programs. The Subcommittee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation and Related 
Agencies held a hearing on the Federal Transit Administration. 
Testimony was heard from Gordon J. Linton, Administrator, Federal 
Transit Administration, Department of Transportation.
VA, HUD AND INDEPENDENT AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Veterans' Affairs and 
Housing and Urban Development, and Independent Agencies held a hearing 
on the Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was heard from Hershel 
Gobar, Deputy Secretary, Department of Veterans Affairs.
COMMUNITY REINVESTMENT ACT
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Subcommittee on Financial 
Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing on the Community 
Reinvestment Act. Testimony was heard from Representative Kennedy of 
Massachusetts; Ricki Tigert Helfer, Chairman, FDIC; the following 
officials of the Department of the Treasury: Eugene A. Ludwig, 
Comptroller of the Currency; and Jonathan L. Fiechter, Acting Director, 
OTS; Lawrence B. Lindsey, member, Board of Directors, Federal Reserve 
System; and public witnesses.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
ECONOMIC FORECASTS--ROLES OF DEFICIT REDUCTION AND PRODUCTIVITY
Committee on the Budget: Concluded hearings on Economic Forecasts and 
the Roles of Deficit Reduction and Productivity. Testimony was heard 
from Alan Greenspan, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve 
System.
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH ACT
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities: Subcommittee on 
Workforce Protection held a hearing on the Occupational Safety and 
Health Act. Testimony was heard from Joe Dear, Assistant Secretary, 
Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor; and 
Dorothy Strunk, former Acting Assistant Secretary, Occupational Safety 
and Health Administration, Department of Labor.
FINANCIAL CONTROL BOARDS
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on the 
District of Columbia held a hearing on Financial Control Boards. 
Testimony was heard from Bernard E. Anderson, Assistant Secretary, 
Employment Standards, Department of Labor; George V. Voinovich, 
Governor, State of Ohio; Rudolph Giuliani, Mayor, City of New York; the 
following former officials of the State of New York: Hugh L. Carey, 
Governor; and Edward V. Regan, Comptroller; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight: Subcommittee on Postal 
Service continued hearings on general oversight of the U.S. Postal 
Service. Testimony was heard from the following Governors, U.S. Postal 
Service: Sam Winters, Chairman; Einar V. Dyhrkopp; Susan E. Alvarado; 
and Bert H. Mackie.
COMMITTEE FUNDING; NAMING CERTAIN ROOMS IN THE CAPITOL AFTER FORMER 
REPRESENTATIVE MICHEL; COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Committee on House Oversight: Ordered reported the following 
resolutions: H. Res. 107, amended, providing amounts for the expenses 
of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the 104th 
Congress; and H. Res. 65, naming certain rooms in the House of 
Representatives wing of the Capitol in honor of former Representative 
Robert H. Michel.
  The Committee also considered other pending Committee business.

[[Page D313]]

TRADE AND INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN AFRICA
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa and the 
Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade held a joint 
hearing on Trade and Investment Opportunities in Africa. Testimony was 
heard from George E. Moose, Assistant Secretary, African Affairs, 
Department of State; John Hicks, Assistant Administrator, Africa, AID, 
U.S. International Cooperation Development Agency; and public 
witnesses.
ASIA-U.S. ASSISTANCE PROGRAMS
Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the 
Pacific held a hearing on U.S. Assistance Programs in Asia. Testimony 
was heard from Margaret Carpenter, Assistant Administrator, Asia and 
the Near East, AID, U.S. International Development Cooperation Agency; 
Tim Carney, Deputy Assistant Secretary, South Asian Affairs, Department 
of State; and public witnesses.
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
Committee on National Security: Continued hearings on the fiscal year 
1996 national defense authorization request. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Defense: Gen. Barry R. 
McCaffrey, USA, Commander in Chief, U.S. Southern Command; and Gen. 
John J. Sheehan, USMC, Commander in Chief, U.S. Atlantic Command.
  Committee recessed subject to call.
COMMON SENSE LEGAL STANDARDS REFORM ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a recorded vote of 8 to 4, a modified 
closed rule on H.R. 956, Common Sense Legal Standards Reform Act of 
1995. The rule makes in order the text of H.R. 1075 as an original bill 
for the purpose of amendment which shall be considered as read. Only 
the amendments printed in the report of the Committee on Rules are in 
order. The amendments are considered as read. The amendments may only 
be offered in the order specified in the report and only by the Member 
designated in the report. The amendments are not subject to amendment 
or to a demand for a division of the question in the House or in the 
Committee of the Whole. The amendments are debatable for the time 
specified in the report, to be equally divided between the proponent 
and an opponent. Finally, the rule provides for one motion to recommit, 
with or without instructions.
  The amendments are: 1. Geren (TX) #25; 2. Schroeder (CO) #54; 3. Hyde 
(IL) #37; 4. Schumer (NY) #35; 5. Conyers (MI) #60; 6. Watt (NC) #17; 
7. Furse (OR) #12; 8. Hyde (IL) #36; 9. Oxley, Burr, Tauzin, Brewster, 
Coburn, Stenholm #13; 10. Hoke (OH) #29; 11. Cox (CA) #52; 12. Cox (CA) 
#51; 13. Dingell (MI) #32; 14. Gekas (PA) #45; and 15. Schumer (NY) 
#33.
IMPROVE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY SYSTEM AND ANCILLARY ISSUES RELATING TO 
HIGHWAY AND TRANSIT PROGRAMS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Surface 
Transportation continued hearings on legislation to Improve the 
National Highway System and Ancillary Issues Relating to Highway and 
Transit Programs. Testimony was heard from Representatives Shaw, Weldon 
of Florida, Dornan, Filner, Hamilton, Farr, Horn, Gordon, Goodlatte, 
Payne of Virginia, Sisisky, Blute, Bereuter, Johnson of South Dakota, 
Buyer, Mica, McIntosh, Roemer, Lazio, Roukema, Reed, Schaefer, Coleman 
and Ortiz.
  Hearings continue March 10.
MEDICARE LEGISLATION; WELFARE TRANSFORMATION ACT
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
1134, Medicare Presidential Budget Savings Extension Act; H.R. 483, to 
amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to permit Medicare select 
policies to be offered in all States; H.R. 1157, Welfare Transformation 
Act of 1995.