The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“Senate Committee Meetings” mentioning the Department of Interior was published in the Daily Digest section on pages D395-D397 on April 23, 1998.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
FOOD STAMP PROGRAM
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded hearings to examine the incidence of fraud and abuse in the Food Stamp Program, focusing on proposed legislation to strengthen current laws to make it illegal for prisoners and fleeing felons to collect food stamps by requiring States to conduct criminal background checks on anyone applying for food stamps, and Federal efforts to ensure the integrity of the Food Stamp Program, after receiving testimony from Representative Menendez; Yvette S. Jackson, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service, Department of Agriculture; Robert A. Robinson, Director, Food and Agriculture Issues, Resources, Community, and Economic Development Division, General Accounting Office; Chris Hamilton, Abt Associates Inc., Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Harold S. Beebout, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., Washington, D.C.
APPROPRIATIONS--FOREIGN ASSISTANCE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Foreign Operations held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for foreign assistance, focusing on a multi-year United States strategy to combat infectious diseases in developing countries, receiving testimony from James M. Hughes, Director, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; Nils M.P. Daulaire, Senior Health Advisor, Population, Health and Nutrition Bureau for Programs and Policy, U.S. Agency for International Development; David L. Heymann, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland; and Gail H. Cassell, Indianapolis, Indiana, on behalf of Eli Lilly and Company.
Subcommittee will meet again on Tuesday, April 28.
APPROPRIATIONS--FOREST SERVICE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on the Interior and Related Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the Forest Service, receiving testimony from James R. Lyons, Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment, and Michael P. Dombeck, Chief, Forest Service, both of the Department of Agriculture, who were accompanied by several of their associates.
Subcommittee recessed subject to call.
APPROPRIATIONS--NASA
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies held hearings on proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 1999 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, receiving testimony from Daniel S. Goldin, Administrator, NASA, who was accompanied by several of his associates.
Subcommittee will meet again on Thursday, April 30.
AVIATION COMPETITION
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Aviation concluded hearings to examine the Department of Transportation's policy regarding unfair exclusionary conduct in the aviation industry and the competitive implications of consolidation among United States airlines, after receiving testimony from Nancy E. McFadden, General Counsel, Department of Transportation; Richard B. Hirst, Northwest Airlines, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota; Alfred Kahn, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York; Mark Kahan, Spirit Airlines, Eastpointe, Michigan; and Steven A. Morrison, Northeastern University, Boston, Massachusetts.
PUBLIC LANDS MANAGEMENT
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Public Land Management held hearings on S. 1253, to provide to the Federal land management agencies the authority and capability to manage effectively the federal lands in accordance with the principles of multiple use and sustained yield, receiving testimony from Idaho State Senator Judi Danielson, Council; Washington State Senator Robert Morton, Colville; Cindy Bowen, Montrose County, Colorado, and Louise Liston, Garfield County, Utah, both on behalf of the National Association of Counties; Sue Kupillas, Jackson County, Oregon; and Steve McClure, Union County, Oregon.
Hearings were recessed subject to call.
CLEAN AIR REGULATIONS
Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air, Wetlands, Private Property, and Nuclear Safety concluded hearings to examine the Environmental Protection Agency proposed rule to improve visibility and reduce regional haze in national parks and wilderness areas, after receiving testimony from John S. Seitz, Director, Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards, Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency; Christine L. Shaver, Chief of the Air Resources Division, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; Utah Governor Michael O. Leavitt, Salt Lake City, on behalf of the Western Governors' Association; Randolph Wood, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, Lincoln; Kenneth A. Colburn, New Hampshire Department of Environmental Services, Concord; and Lynn M. Terry, California Environmental Protection Agency, Sacramento.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Finance: Committee concluded hearings on the nominations of Thelma J. Askey, of Tennessee, Jennifer Anne Hillman, of Indiana, and Stephen Koplan, of Virginia, each to be a Member of the United States International Trade Commission, and Patrick A. Mulloy, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. Ms. Askey was introduced by Representative Archer, Ms. Hillman was introduced by Senator Lugar, Mr. Koplan was introduced by Representative Rangel, and Mr. Mulloy was introduced by Senators D'Amato and Sarbanes.
TELEPHONE SLAMMING
Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations concluded hearings to examine issues relating to telephone slamming which is the unauthorized switching of a consumer's long-distance service, including S. 1740, to improve the protections against the unauthorized change of subscribers from one telecommunications carrier to another, which entities are most responsible for intentional slamming incidents, and the technique used to deceive consumers, after receiving testimony from Eljay B. Bowron, Assistant Comptroller General for Special Investigations, Office of Special Investigations, General Accounting Office; and William E. Kennard, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items:
The nominations of James K. Robinson, of Michigan, to be Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division, and Wilma A. Lewis, to be United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, all of the Department of Justice;
S. 1504, to adjust the immigration status of certain Haitian nationals who were provided refuge in the United States, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and
S. 1360, to amend the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 to clarify and improve the requirements for the development of an automated entry-exit control system, and to enhance land border control and enforcement, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Also, committee began markup of the proposed Digital Millennium Copyright Act of 1998, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet again on Thursday, April 30.
CHEMICAL AND BIOLOGICAL TERRORISM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Technology, Terrorism, and Government Information concluded joint hearings with the Select Committee on Intelligence to examine Federal efforts in dealing with chemical and biological weapons threats to America, and the implementation of the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act
(P.L. 104-132), after receiving testimony from Donald C. Latham, Member, Defense Science Board; Christine M. Gosden, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom; and Richard Preston, New York, New York.
