[Congressional Record: November 9, 1999 (Digest)]
[Page D1282-D1285]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:cr09no99-2]


                        House of Representatives

Chamber Action
Bills Introduced: 28 public bills, H.R. 3261-3288; 1 private bill, H.R.
3289; and 11 resolutions, H.J. Res. 77-78, H. Con. Res. 221-224, and H.
Res. 368-372, were introduced.
  Pages H11852-53
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  Conference report on H.R. 1554, to amend the provisions of title 17,
United States Code, and the Communications Act of 1934, relating to
copyright licensing and carriage of broadcast signals by satellite (H.
Rept. 106-464).
Pages H11769-H11818, H11852
Guest Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rabbi
Joel Kessler of Potomac, Maryland.
  Page H11712
Recess: The House recessed at 9:38 a.m. and reconvened at 10:00 a.m.
                                                            Page H11712
Waiving Enrollment Requirements: The House passed H.J. Res. 76, waiving
certain enrollment requirements for the remainder of the first session
of the One Hundred Sixth Congress with respect to any bill or joint
resolution making general appropriations or continuing appropriations
for fiscal year 2000. Subsequently, H. Res. 365, a rule to provide
consideration of the joint resolution was laid on the table.
                                                        Pages H11716-17
Honoring the National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing: The House agreed to
H. Con. Res. 205, recognizing and honoring the heroic efforts of the
Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing and its rescue of Dr. Jerri
Nielsen from the South Pole.
  Pages H11717-18
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the
following measures:
  Restoring Certain Lands to Elim Native Corporation: H.R. 3090,
amended, to amend the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act to restore
certain lands to the Elim Native Corporation;
  Pages H11718-20
  Aquatic Restoration Projects: H.R. 1444, amended, to authorize the
Secretary of the Army to develop and implement projects for fish
screens, fish passage devices, and other similar measures to mitigate
adverse impacts associated with irrigation system water diversions by
local governmental entities in the

[[Page D1283]]

States of Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho, and California. Agreed to
amend the title;
  Pages H11720-22
  Plaque Commemorating Martin Luther King's ``I Have a Dream'' Speech
at the Lincoln Memorial: H.R. 2879, to provide for the placement at the
Lincoln Memorial of a plaque commemorating the speech of Martin Luther
King, Jr., known as the ``I Have A Dream'' speech;
  Pages H11722-23
  Trafficking of Baby Body Parts: H. Res. 350, expressing the sense of
the House of Representatives with respect to private companies involved
in the trafficking of baby body parts for profit;
  Pages H11723-28
  Veterans Benefits Improvement Act: H. Res. 368, providing for the
concurrence by the House with amendments in the amendment of the Senate
to H.R. 2280, to amend title 38, United States Code, to provide a cost-
of-living adjustment in rates of compensation paid for service-
connected disabilities, to enhance the compensation, memorial affairs,
and housing programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs, to improve
retirement authorities applicable to judges of the United States Court
of Appeals for Veterans Claims;
  Pages H11728-29
  Printing of Brochures on the United States Government: H. Con. Res.
221, authorizing printing of the brochures entitled ``How Our Laws Are
Made'' and ``Our American Government'', the pocket version of the
United States Constitution, and the document-sized, annotated version
of the United States Constitution;
  Pages H11729-30
  Honesty in Sweepstakes: S. 335, amended, to amend Chapter 30 of title
39, United States Code, to provide for the nonmailability of certain
deceptive matter relating to sweepstakes, skill contests, facsimile
checks, administrative procedures, orders, and civil penalties relating
to such matter;
  Pages H11818-25
  Celebrating the Fall of the Berlin Wall: H. Con. Res. 223, expressing
the sense of the Congress regarding Freedom Day (agreed to by yea and
nay vote of 417 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 580); and
                                             Pages H11763-69, H11825-26
  Satellite Home Viewer Act: Agreed to the Conference Report on H.R.
1554, to amend the provisions of title 17, United States Code, and the
Communications Act of 1934, relating to copyright licensing and
carriage of broadcast signals by satellite (agreed to by yea and nay
vote of 411 yeas to 8 nays, Roll No. 581).
                                         Pages H11769-H11818, H11826-27
Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce: The House passed
H.R. 1714, to facilitate the use of electronic records and signatures
in interstate or foreign commerce (passed by a recorded vote of 356
ayes to 66 noes, Roll No. 579).
  Pages H11732-55, H11762-63
  Agreed to the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in the
Congressional Record of November 8 and numbered 1, as amended, pursuant
to the rule.
Pages H11741-55
  Agreed to the Inslee amendment that requires affirmative consent to
receive electronic records; allows the consumer to retain the records
and withdraw consent as desired; and clarifies that provisions do not
affect any disclosures required under regulation or law by a recorded
vote of 418 ayes to 2 noes, Roll No. 577.
Pages H11743-49
  Rejected the Dingell amendment in the nature of a substitute that
sought to recognize the validity of electronic signatures and records
in commercial transactions by a recorded vote of 126 ayes to 278 noes,
Roll No. 578.
Pages H11749-55
  H. Res. 336, the rule that provided for consideration of the bill was
agreed to by voice vote.
Pages H11731-32
Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000: The House agreed
to the conference report on H.R. 1555, to authorize appropriations for
fiscal year 2000 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities
of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and
the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System.
                                                        Pages H11755-62
  The conference report was considered pursuant to a unanimous consent
request made earlier by Representative Dreier; and H. Res. 364, a rule
to waive points of order against the conference report was laid on the
table.
Page H11716
Making Continuing Appropriations: The House passed H.J. Res. 78, making
further continuing appropriations for the fiscal year 2000.
                                                        Pages H11828-29
  The joint resolution was considered pursuant to a unanimous consent
request made earlier by Chairman Young of Florida.
Page H11828
Consideration of Suspensions: Pursuant to H. Res. 353, providing for
consideration of motions to suspend the rules, Mr. Lazio announced that
the following measures would be considered under suspension of the
rules on Wednesday, Nov. 10, 1999: H. Res. 41, H.R. 1869, H.R. 2336,
H.R. 2442, H. Con. Res. 122, H.R. 3234, and H.R. 2454.
  Page H11828
Presidential Messages: Read the following messages from the President:
  National Emergency Re Iran: Message wherein he transmitted his report
on the national emergency

[[Page D1284]]

with respect to Iran--referred to the Committee on International
Relations and ordered printed H. Doc. 106-156; and
  Page H11829
  National Emergency Re Sudan: Message wherein he transmitted his
report on the national emergency with respect to Iran--referred to the
Committee on International Relations and ordered printed H. Doc. 106-
157.
  Page H11830
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate appear on pages
H11712 and H11763.
Referrals: S. 923, S. Con. Res. 30, and S. Con. Res. 68 were referred
to the Committee on International Relations; S. 1398 was referred to
the Committee on Resources; and S. 1809 was referred to the Committee
on Education and the Workforce.
  Page H11851
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea and nay votes and three recorded votes
developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages
H11749, H11754-55, H11762, H11826, and H11826-27. There were no quorum
calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at 12:00 p.m.

Committee Meetings
HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE AVAILABILITY ACT
Committee on Banking and Financial Services: Began markup of H.R. 21,
Homeowners' Insurance Availability Act of 1999.
MEDICAID FRAUD AND ABUSE
Committee on Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
held a hearing on Medicaid Fraud and Abuse: Assessing State and Federal
Responses. Testimony was heard from Leslie Aronovitz, Director, Chicago
Field Office, GAO; the following officials of the Department of Health
and Human Services: John E. Hartwig, Deputy Inspector General,
Inspections; and Penny Thompson, Medicare Program Integrity Group,
Health Care Financing Administration; John Krayniak, Director, Medicaid
Fraud Control Unit, Division of Criminal Justice, State of New Jersey;
Mark Fecteau, Assistant Director, Bureau of Medical Services,
Department of Human Services, State of Maine; and public witnesses.
FORCE PROTECTION
Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security,
Veterans' Affairs and International Relations held a hearing on Force
Protection: Improving Safeguards for Administration of Investigational
New Drugs to Members of the Armed Forces. Testimony was heard from John
Spotila, Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs,
OMB; Sue Bailey, Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs, Department of
Defense; William Raub, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Science Policy,
Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; U.S. POLICY TOWARD HAITI
Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported, as amended,
H.R. 3244, to combat trafficking of persons, especially into the sex
trade, slavery, and slavery-like conditions in the United States and
countries around the world through prevention, through prosecution and
enforcement against traffickers, and through protection and assistance
to victims of trafficking.
  The Committee also favorably considered the following resolutions and
adopted a motion urging the Chairman to request that they be considered
on the Suspension Calendar: H. Con. Res. 165, expressing United States
policy toward the Slovak Republic; H. Con. Res. 169, amended,
expressing United States policy toward Romania; H. Con. Res. 206,
amended, expressing grave concern regarding armed conflict in the North
Caucasus region of the Russian Federation which has resulted in
civilian casualties and internally displaced persons, and urging all
sides to pursue dialog for peaceful resolution of the conflict; H. Con.
Res. 222, Condemning the assassination of Armenian Prime Minister
Vazgen Sargsian and other officials of the Armenian Government and
expressing the sense of the Congress in mourning this tragic loss of
the duly elected leadership of Armenia; H. Con. Res. 211, expressing
the strong support of the Congress for the recently concluded elections
in the Republic of India and urging the President to travel to India;
and H. Con. Res. 200, amended, expressing the strong opposition of
Congress to the military coup in Pakistan and calling for a civilian,
democratically-elected government to be returned to power in Pakistan.
  The Committee also held a hearing on U.S. Policy Toward Haiti.
Testimony was heard from Senators DeWine and Graham; Representatives
Goss and Conyers; and Ambassador Peter Romero, Acting Assistant
Secretary, Western Hemisphere Affairs, Department of State.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on
Economic Development, Public Buildings, Hazardous Materials and
Pipeline Transportation approved for full Committee action the
following: GSA's Fiscal Year 2000 leasing program; 17 resolutions,
including 2 11(b) resolutions; and H.R. 809, amended, Federal
Protective Service Reform Act of 1999.

[[Page D1285]]

WAGE AND EMPLOYMENT GROWTH ACT; ADMINISTRATION'S NEW SOCIAL SECURITY PLAN
Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 3081, Wage
and Employment Growth Act of 1999.
  The Committee also held a hearing on the Administration's new Social
Security plan. Testimony was heard from Lawrence H. Summers, Secretary of
the Treasury; David M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; and Dan L. Crippen,
Director, CBO.
Joint Meetings
VETERANS' MILLENNIUM HEALTH CARE ACT
Conferees continued in evening session to resolve the differences between
the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 2116, to amend title 38, United
States Code, to establish a program of extended care services for veterans
and to make other improvements in health care programs of the Department of
Veterans Affairs.
F

                             NEW PUBLIC LAWS

        (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D1276)
  H.R. 1175, to locate and secure the return of Zachary Baumel, an American
citizen, and other Israeli soldiers missing in action. Signed November 8,
1999. (P.L. 106-89)
  H.J. Res. 62, to grant the consent of Congress to the boundary change
between Georgia and South Carolina. Signed November 8, 1999. (P.L. 106-90)
F

                    COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR WEDNESDAY,

                            NOVEMBER 10, 1999

          (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)

                                 Senate

  Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on International
Operations, to hold hearings to examine the work of the overseas presence
review panel, 2 p.m., SD-419.
  Committee on Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on
Investigations, to hold hearings to examine the vulnerabilities of United
States private banks to money laundering, 1 p.m., SD-628.
  Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider pending
calendar business, Time to be announced, Room to be announced.
  Full Committee, to hold hearings on pending nominations, 10 a.m., SD-
226.

                                  House

  Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Military Procurement,
hearing on the results of the Department of Energy's Inspector General
inquiries into specific aspects of the espionage investigations at the
Los Alamos National Laboratory, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.
  Committee on Banking and Financial Services, Subcommittee on Capital
Markets, Securities and Government Sponsored Enterprises, hearing on
Capital Formation in Underserved Areas, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
  Committee on Government Reform, to consider the following: a committee
draft report entitled: ``The FALN and Macheteros Clemency: Misleading
Explanations, A Reckless Decision, A Dangerous Message''; a resolution of
Immunity for Yah Lin ``Charlies'' Trie; H.R. 2376, to require agencies to
establish expedited review procedures for granting a waiver to a State
under a grant program administered by the agency if another State has
already been granted a similar waiver by the agency under such program;
and H.R. 1827, Government Waste Corrections Act of 1999, 10:30 a.m., 2154
Rayburn.
  Committee on International Relations, hearing on European Common
Foreign, Security and Defense Policies-Implications for the United States
and the Atlantic Alliance, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
  Committee on Resources, to consider the following: S. 613, Indian
Tribal Economic Development and Contract Encouragement Act of 1999; H.R.
701, Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999; H.R. 1680, to provide for
the conveyance of Forest Service property in Kern County, California, in
exchange for county lands suitable for inclusion in Sequoia National
Forest; H.R. 1749, to designate Wilson Creek in Avery and Caldwell
Counties, North Carolina, as a component of the National Wild and Scenic
Rivers System; H.R. 1953, to authorize leases for terms not to exceed 99
years on land held in trust for the Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla
Indians and the Guidiville Band of Pomo Indians of the Guidiville Indian
Rancheria; H.R. 2278, to require the National Park Service to conduct a
feasibility study regarding options for the protection and expanded
visitor enjoyment of nationally significant natural and cultural
resources at Fort Hunter Liggett, California; H.R. 2484, to provide that
land which is owned by the Lower Sioux Indian Community in the State of
Minnesota but which is not held in trust by the United States for the
Community may be leased or transferred by the Community without further
approval by the United States; H.R. 3051, to direct the Secretary of the
Interior, the Bureau of Reclamation, to conduct a feasibility study on
the Jicarilla Apache Reservation in the State of New Mexico; and the
Conservation and Reinvestment Act of 1999, 11 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
  Subcommittee on Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans, oversight
hearing on the role of the NOAA's fleet in the recovery of data from
marine airline crash sites in the Atlantic Ocean, 9:30 a.m., 1334
Longworth.
  Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to consider the
following: General Services Administration's Fiscal Year 2000 leasing
program; 2 11 (b) resolutions; H.R. 809, Federal Protective Service
Reform Act of 1999; H.R. 728, Small Watershed Rehabilitation Amendments
of 1999; the Middle Deep Red Run Creek Small Watershed Project; H.R.
1775, Estuary Habitat Restoration Partnership Act of 1999; H.R. 3039,
Chesapeake Bay Restoration Act of 1999; Corps of Engineers Survey
Resolutions; and other pending business, 10:30 a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
  Committee on Ways and Means, hearing on corporate tax shelters, 11
a.m., 1100 Longworth.
