This document presents the transcript (and written statements) of a congressional hearing on the potential politicization of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the trustworthiness of the scores that the states received during the 1998 reading assessment. It addresses whether Vice President Al Gore's "release" of the results violated the apolitical nature of the NAEP, and whether or not including students with disabilities affected the results of the assessment. The document presents the opening statements of Subcommittee chairman Pete Hoekstra, and an opening statement of ranking Subcommittee member Tim Roemer. It then presents the statements hearing transcripts of Pascal D. Forgione, Jr., Commissioner of Educational Statistics, and Mark D. Musick, Chairman of the National Assessment Governing Board. Appendixes contain the opening statement of Pete Hoekstra, the written statements of Pascal Forgione, Jr. and Mark Musick; a policy statement on reporting and dissemination of NAEP results; and correspondence between committee members and those testifying. (RS)