Thursday, May 3, 2007 [[Page D612]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S5525-S5612 Measures Introduced: Thirty-five bills and six resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 1276-1310, S. Res. 185-188, and S. Con. Res. 31-32. Pages S5561-62 Measures Reported: S. 992, to achieve emission reductions and cost savings through accelerated use of cost effective lighting technologies in public buildings, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110 60) Page S5561 Measures Passed: Supporting the Accession of Israel: Senate agreed to S. Res. 188, expressing the sense of the Senate in support of the accession of Israel to the Convention on the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Pages S5609-10 National Hunger Awareness Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 186, designating June 5, 2007, as ``National Hunger Awareness Day'' and authorizing the Senate offices of Senators Gordon H. Smith, Blanche L. Lincoln, Elizabeth Dole, and Richard J. Durbin to collect donations of food during the period beginning May 7, 2007, and ending June 5, 2007, from concerned Members of Congress and staff to assist families suffering from hunger and food insecurity in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. Page S5610 Condemning Violence in Estonia: Senate agreed to S. Res. 187, condemning violence in Estonia and attacks on Estonia's embassies in 2007, and expressing solidarity with the Government and the people of Estonia. Pages S5610-11 Measures Considered: Prescription Drug User Fee Amendments: Senate continued consideration of S. 1082, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to reauthorize and amend the prescription drug user fee provisions, and taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S5526-58 Pending: Landrieu Amendment No. 1004, to require the Food and Drug Administration to permit the sale of baby turtles as pets so long as the seller uses proven methods to effectively treat salmonella. Page S5526 Dorgan Amendment No. 990, to provide for the importation of prescription drugs. Page S5526 Cochran Amendment No. 1010 (to Amendment No. 990), to protect the health and safety of the public. Pages S5526, S5532 Stabenow Amendment No. 1011, to insert provisions related to citizens petitions. Page S5526 Brown (for Brownback/Brown) Amendment No. 985, to establish a priority drug review process to encourage treatments of tropical diseases. Page S5526 Vitter Amendment No. 983, to require counterfeit-resistant technologies for prescription drugs. Page S5526 Inhofe Amendment No. 988, to protect children and their parents from being coerced into administering a controlled substance in order to attend school. Page S5526 Gregg/Coleman Amendment No. 993, to provide for the regulation of Internet pharmacies. Page S5526 A motion was entered to close further debate on the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as modified, and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Monday, May 7, 2007. Pages S5556-57 A motion was entered to close further debate on the bill and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Monday, May 7, 2007. Page S5557 During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action: By 63 yeas to 28 nays (Vote No. 150), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on Dorgan Amendment No. 990 (listed above). Pages S5531-32 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at 4 p.m. on Monday, May 7, 2007; that Senate vote on, or in relation to, Cochran Amendment No. 1010, and upon its disposition, vote on, or in relation to, Dorgan Amendment No. 990, as amended, if amended, [[Page D613]] and upon its disposition, vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as modified; provided further, that Members have until 3 p.m. on Monday, May 7, 2007, to file first-degree amendments. Page S5609 Water Resources Development Act: Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 1495, to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States. Page S5609 A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Monday, May 7, 2007. Page S5609 Subsequently, the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill was withdrawn. Page S5609 Removal of Injunction of Secrecy: The injunction of secrecy was removed from the following treaty: Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (Treaty Doc. No. 110-2). The treaty was transmitted to the Senate today, considered as having been read for the first time, and referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed. Page S5609 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Jill E. Sommers, of Kansas, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for the remainder of the term expiring April 13, 2009. Bartholomew H. Chilton, of Delaware, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for the remainder of the term expiring April 13, 2008. Charles E. F. Millard, of New York, to be Director of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Tevi David Troy, of New York, to be Deputy Secretary of Health and Human Services. Kerry N. Weems, of New Mexico, to be Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Cameron R. Hume, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Indonesia. Bradford P. Campbell, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor. Stan Z. Soloway, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring October 6, 2011. James Palmer, of California, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service for a term expiring October 6, 2011. Alejandro Modesto Sanchez, of Florida, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring October 11, 2010. Gordon James Whiting, of New York, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring September 25, 2010. Andrew Saul, of New York, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring September 25, 2008. Andrew Saul, of New York, to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board for a term expiring September 25, 2012. 45 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral. Routine lists in the Navy. Pages S5611-12 Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the following nomination: Jane C. Luxton, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, which was sent to the Senate on January 9, 2007. Page S5612 Measures Read the First Time: Page S5561 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S5561 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S5562-65 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S5565-S5605 Additional Statements: Pages S5559-61 Amendments Submitted: Pages S5605-07 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S5608 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S5608-09 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--150) Page S5532 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 6:38 p.m., until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, May 4, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S5609.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA COURTS Committee on Appropriations: On Wednesday, May 2, 2007, Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2006 for [[Page D614]] the government of the District of Columbia, focusing on federally- funded entities, after receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Eric T. Washington, Chief Judge, District of Columbia Court of Appeals; Rufus G. King III, Chief Judge, Superior Court of the District of Columbia; Paul A. Quander, Jr., Director, Court Services and Offender Supervision Agency for the District of Columbia; Avis E. Buchanan, Director, Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia; and Deborah A. Gist, State Education Officer, Government of the District of Columbia. APPROPRIATIONS: SECRETARY OF THE SENATE/LIBRARY OF CONGRESS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008, after receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Nancy Erickson, Secretary of the Senate; and James H. Billington, Librarian of Congress. APPROPRIATIONS: EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, after receiving testimony from Naomi Churchill Earp, Chair, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, after receiving testimony from Alphonso Jackson, Secretary, Kenneth M. Donohue, Inspector General, and Orlando J. Cabrera, Assistant Secretary for Public and Indian Housing, all of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. BUDGET: DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the United States Central Command in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving testimony from Admiral William J. Fallon, United States Navy, Commander, United States Central Command. BUDGET: DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower concluded open and closed hearings to examine Navy force structure requirements and programs to meet those requirements in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program, after receiving testimony from Donald C. Winter, Secretary, and Admiral Michael G. Mullen, Chief of Naval Operations, both of the United States Navy, Department of Defense. CORPORATE AVERAGE FUEL ECONOMY (CAFE) Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine pending Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) legislation, after receiving testimony from Senators Levin, Feinstein, Stabenow; Alan Reuther, United Auto Workers, David Friedman, Union of Concerned Scientists, and David McCurdy, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, all of Washington, D.C.; Admiral Dennis Blair, (Ret.) USN, Army War College and Dickinson College, Alexandria, Virginia, on behalf of the Energy Security Leadership Council; Michael J. Stanton, Association of International Automobile Manufacturers, Inc., Arlington, Virginia; and Vice Admiral Dennis McGinn, (Ret.) USN, Columbus, Ohio. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER RESTORATION SETTLEMENT ACT Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing to examine S. 27, to authorize the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement, receiving testimony from Senators Feinstein and Boxer; Mark Limbaugh, Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Water and Science; P. Joseph Grindstaff, California Resources Agency, Sacramento; Steve Chedester, San Joaquin River Exchange Contractors Water Authority, Los Banos, California; Kenneth M. Robbins, Merced Irrigation District, Merced, California; Allen Ishida, Tulare County Board of Supervisors, Visalia, California; Daniel M. Dooley, Dooley Herr and Peltzer, LLP, Lindsay, California, on behalf of the Friant Water Users Authority; and Hamilton Candee, Natural Resources Defense Council, San Francisco, California. Hearing recessed subject to the call. LAND BILLS Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests concluded a hearing to examine S. 390, to direct the exchange of certain land in Grand, San Juan, and Uintah Counties, Utah, S. 647, to designate certain land in the State of Oregon as wilderness, S. 1139, to establish [[Page D615]] the National Landscape Conservation System, H.R. 276, to designate the Piedras Blancas Light Station and the surrounding public land as an Outstanding Natural Area to be administered as a part of the National Landscape Conservation System, H.R. 356, to remove certain restrictions on the Mammoth Community Water District's ability to use certain property acquired by that District from the United States, S. 205 and H.R. 865, bills to grant rights-of-way for electric transmission lines over certain Native allotments in the State of Alaska, after receiving testimony from Senator Bennett; Mark Rey, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment; Jim Hughes, Acting Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; Martha Schrader, Clackamas County Board of County Commissioners, Oregon City, Oregon; Kevin S. Carter, Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration, Salt Lake City; Richard Moe, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Washington, D.C.; Ron Suppah, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon, Warm Springs; John Sterling, The Conservation Alliance, Bend, Oregon; and Ty Cobb, Grand Canyon Trust, Flagstaff, Arizona. OFFSHORE TAX EVASION Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine offshore tax evasion, focusing on challenges in ensuring offshore tax compliance, after receiving testimony from John Harrington, Acting International Tax Counsel, Department of the Treasury; Michael Brostek, Director, Strategic Issues, Government Accountability Office; Jeffrey Owens, Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, Paris, France; and Reuven S. Avi-Yonah, University of Michigan Law School, Ann Arbor. ISLAMIST EXTREMISM Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded open and closed hearings to examine the internet as a portal to violent Islamist extremism, after receiving testimony from Michael S. Doran, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Support to Public Diplomacy; Lieutenant Colonel Joseph H. Felter, USA, Director, Combating Terrorism Center, United States Military Academy at West Point; and Frank J. Cilluffo, George Washington University Homeland Security Policy Institute, Washington, D.C. NATIVE HAWAIIAN GOVERNMENT REORGANIZATION ACT Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 310, a bill to express the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians and to provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity, after receiving testimony from Gregory G. Katsas, Principal Deputy Associate Attorney General, Department of Justice; Mark J. Bennett, Hawaii Attorney General, Micah Kane, Hawaiian Homes Commission, Haunani Apoliona, and William Meheula, both of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, and H. William Burgess, Aloha for All, all of Honolulu, Hawaii; and Viet D. Dinh, Georgetown University Law Center, Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following: S. 495, to prevent and mitigate identity theft, to ensure privacy, to provide notice of security breaches, and to enhance criminal penalties, law enforcement assistance, and other protections against security breaches, fraudulent access, and misuse of personally identifiable information, with amendments; S. 239, to require Federal agencies, and persons engaged in interstate commerce, in possession of data containing sensitive personally identifiable information, to disclose any breach of such information, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and The nominations of Debra Ann Livingston, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit, Richard Sullivan, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of New York, and Joseph S. Van Bokkelen, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Indiana. BUSINESS MEETING Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to consider pending intelligence matters. Committee recessed subject to the call. [[Page D616]] House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 58 public bills, H.R. 2122- 2179; 3 private bills, H.R. 2180-2182; and 10 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 140-142; and H. Res. 368-369, 371-373, were introduced. Pages H4483-87 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H4487-88 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 1873, to reauthorize the programs and activities of the Small Business Administration relating to procurement, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-111, Pt. 2); and H. Res. 370, providing for consideration of S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012. Page H4483 Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. Rick Astle, Director of Missions, Waccamaw Baptist Association, Conway, South Carolina. Page H4419 Committee Election: The House agreed to H. Res. 368, electing Representative Davis (AL) to the Committee on House Administration. Page H4421 Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 1592, to provide Federal assistance to States, local jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, by a yea- and-nay vote of 237 yeas to 180 nays, Roll No. 299. Pages H4429-52 Rejected the Smith (TX) motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on the Judiciary with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with amendments, by a yea-and-nay vote of 189 yeas to 227 nays, Roll No. 298. Pages H4449-51 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in H. Rept. 110-120, shall be considered as adopted. Page H4431 H. Res. 364, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 213 yeas to 199 nays, Roll No. 297, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 217 yeas to 196 nays, Roll. No. 296. Pages H4421-29 Technology Innovation and Manufacturing Stimulation Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 1868, to authorize appropriations for the National Institute of Standards and Technology for fiscal years 2008, 2009, and 2010, by a recorded vote of 385 ayes to 23 noes, Roll No. 301. Pages H4452-64 Rejected the English motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Science and Technology with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 190 yeas to 216 nays, Roll No. 300. Pages H4462-63 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science and Technology now printed in the bill shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of amendment. Page H4455 Agreed to: Wu manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-118) that makes a number of clarifications to the Technology Innovation Program, including (1) that projects should address critical national needs and be high reward; (2) that TIP should coordinate with State innovation and technology development programs; and (3) a definition of high-risk, high-reward research; Page H4459 Manzullo amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-118) that authorizes $2 million for NIST to design and develop software that monitors all of the Federal R & D databases; and Pages H4459-60 Wynn amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-118) that adds firms and/or entities that are involved in the development and advancement of biotechnology to the definition of technology-related entities eligible for grants under the Technology Innovation Program. Pages H4461-62 Withdrawn: Boyda amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-118) that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that would have highlighted that proposed technologies receiving grants under the Technology Innovation Program may include the replacement of petroleum-based materials and Page H4461 Boyda amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-118) that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that would have encouraged grants under the Technology Innovation Program to include local and regional universities that are working in collaboration with small- and medium- sized businesses. Page H4461 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to H.R. 1867 and H.R. 1868 to reflect the actions of the House. Page H4464 H. Res. 350, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to on Wednesday, May 2nd. [[Page D617]] Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, May 7th for Morning Hour debate; and further, when the House adjourns on Thursday, May 10th, it adjourn to meet at 9 a.m. on Friday, May 11th. Pages H4465, H4466 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed by unanimous consent to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, May 9th. Pages H4465-66 Reception of Former Members of Congress: Agreed that the House will meet at 9 a.m. on Thursday, May 10th, 2007, for the purpose of receiving in the Chamber former Members of Congress, and that the Speaker may declare a recess subject to the call of the Chair for such purpose. Page H4466 Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H4428-29, H4429, H4451, H4451-52, H4463, and H4463-64. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 6:03 p.m. Committee Meetings DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive session to hold a hearing on Mobility Aircraft. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Sue C. Payton, Assistant Secretary, Air Force Acquisition; and GEN Duncan J. McNabb, USAF, Commander, Air Mobility Command; and Christopher Bolkcom, Specialist in National Defense, Congressional Research Service. The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Joint Strike Fighter and Tactical Aircraft. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: LTG Carrol H. Chandler, USAF, Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Plans and Requirements; BG Charles R. Davis, USAF, Program Executive Officer, F-35 Lightning II Program; LTG John G. Castellaw, USAF, Deputy Commandant, Aviation; and Bruce W. Clingan, USN, Director, Air Warfare. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008 Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces approved for full Committee action H.R. 1585, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008 Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities approved for full Committee action H.R. 1585, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. PENSION PROTECTION Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions held a hearing on Retirement Security: Strengthening Pension Protections. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. ELECTRIC GRID TRANSITION Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality held a hearing entitled ``Facilitating the Transition to a Smart Electric Grid.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Energy: Kevin Kolevar, Director, Office of Energy Delivery and Electricity Reliability; and Jon Wellinghoff, Commissioner, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Robert F. Lieberman, Commissioner, Commerce Commission, State of Illinois; and public witnesses. EXPANDING AMERICAN HOMEOWNERSHIP ACT OF 2007 Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1852, Expanding American Homeownership Act of 2007. U.S.-EUROPE MISSILE DEFENSE SYSTEM Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Europe and the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade held a joint hearing on Do the United States and Europe Need A Missile Defense System? Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of State: Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs; and John C. Rood, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. ARAB OPINION ON AMERICAN POLICIES Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight and the Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia held a joint hearing on Arab Opinion on American Policies, Values, and People. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. COMMITTEE BUSINESS Committee on House Administration: Met to discuss pending Committee business. [[Page D618]] U.S. ATTORNEYS CONTROVERSY Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law continued hearings on the Continuing Investigation into the U.S. Attorneys Controversy. Testimony was heard from James B. Comey, former Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice. COURT SECURITY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2008 Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security held a hearing on H.R. 660, Court Security Improvement Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from John F. Clark, U.S. Marshal, Eastern District of Virginia, Department of Justice; David Bryan Sentelle, Judge, U.S. Court of Appeals, District of Columbia; Chairman, Judicial Conference Committee on Judicial Security; and Robert M. Bell, Chief Judge, Court of Appeals, State of Maryland. IMMIGRATION REFORM Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law held a hearing on the U.S. Economy, U.S. Workers, and Immigration Reform. Testimony was heard from Representative King of Iowa; Patricia Buckley, Senior Economic Adviser to the Secretary, Department of Commerce; Leon R. Sequeira, Assistant Secretary, Policy, Department of Labor; Peter R. Orszag, Director, CBO; and public witnesses. INTERNATIONAL TRADE IN ENDANGERED SPECIES Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans held an oversight hearing on the Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) as a precursor to the Conference of the Parties. Testimony was heard from Todd, Willens, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Fish and Wildlife and Parks, Department of the Interior; Osborne Earl Baker III, Department of Natural Resources, State of South Carolina; and public witnesses. FEDERAL CROP INSURANCE PROGRAM OVERSIGHT Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing on Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in the Federal Crop Insurance Program. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the USDA: Eldon Gould, Administrator, Risk Management Agency; and Phyllis K. Fong, Inspector General; Lisa Shames, Acting Director, National Resources and Environment, GAO; and public witnesses. CONCURRENT BUDGET RESOLUTION FISCAL YEAR 2008 Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule to provide for consideration in the House of S. Con Res. 21, Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the concurrent resolution and provides that the concurrent resolution shall be considered as read. An amendment in the nature of a substitute consisting of the text of H. Con. Res. 99, as adopted by the House, shall be considered as adopted. The rule waives all points of order against the concurrent resolution, as amended, and provides that, if the concurrent resolution, as amended, is adopted then it shall be in order to move that the House insist on its amendment and request a conference with the Senate. GLOBAL CHANGE RESEARCH PROGRAM Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing on Reorienting the U.S. Global Change Research Program Toward a user-driven research endeavor, H.R. 906, Global Change Research Data Management Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from James R. Mahoney, former Assistant Secretary, Oceans and Atmosphere and Deputy Administrator, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses. TRANSITING ENVIRONMENTAL MEASUREMENTS LABORATORY TO DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight held a hearing on Transitioning the Environmental Measurements Laboratory to the Department of Homeland Security. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: John F. Clarke, Deputy Director, Office of National Laboratories, Science and Technology Directorate; Jay M. Cohen, Under Secretary, Science and Technology; and Vayl Oxford, Director, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office; Tony Feinberg, former Program Manager, Radiological and Nuclear Countermeasures, Office of Research and Development, Science and Technology Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; Lynn Albin, Radiation Health Physicist, Office of Radiation Protection, Department of Health, State of Washington; and a public witness.. RENEWABLE ENERGY PRODUCTION RURAL IMPACTS Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``The Impact of Renewable Energy Production in [[Page D619]] Rural America.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMISSIONS Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management held a hearing on The Southeast Crescent Authority, The Northern Border Economic Development Commission, and the Southwest Regional Border Authority. Testimony was heard from Senator Dole; and Representatives Hodes, Welch of Vermont; McIntyre, Hayes, Butterfield, Reyes, Filner, Hinojosa, Rodriguez and Cuellar. VETERANS EDUCATION BENEFITS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a hearing on Accelerated Education Benefits for Veterans. Testimony was heard from Representative Michaud; the following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: James Bombard, Chairman, Veterans' Advisory Committee on Education; and Keith M. Wilson, Director, Education Service; representatives of veterans organizations; and a public witness. LOW-INCOME MEDICARE BENEFICIARY MEDICARE PROGRAMS Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on financial assistance programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. Testimony was heard from Representatives Doggett and Altmire; S. Lawrence Kocot, Senior Advisor to the Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; Beatrice Disman, Regional Commissioner, New York Region, SSA; J. Ruth Kennedy, Medicaid Deputy Director, Department of Health and Hospitals, State of Louisiana; and public witnesses. ECONOMIC IMPACTS OF GLOBAL WARMING Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a hearing entitled ``Economic Impacts of Global Warming: Part I-- Insurance.'' Testimony was heard from John B. Stephenson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, GAO; Mike Kreidler, Commissioner of Insurance, State of Washington; and a public witness. NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D559) H.R. 753, to redesignate the Federal building located at 167 North Main Street in Memphis, Tennessee, as the ``Clifford Davis and Odell Horton Federal Building''. Signed on May 2, 2007 (Public Law 110-20) H.R. 1003, to amend the Foreign Affairs Reform and Restructuring Act of 1998 to reauthorize the United States Advisory Commission on Public Diplomacy. Signed on May 2, 2007 (Public Law 110-21) COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, MAY 4, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. 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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D620]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Friday, May 4 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will be in a period of morning business. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 12:30 p.m., Monday, May 7 House Chamber Program for Monday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Berry, Marion, Ark., E941, E943 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E941, E944 Carney, Christopher P., Pa., E941, E944 Conyers, John, Jr., Mich., E945 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E939, E943 Gillmor, Paul E., Ohio, E939, E942 Jackson-Lee, Sheila, Tex., E945 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E940, E943 Moran, James P., Va., E940 Pelosi, Nancy, Calif., E939 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E940, E943, E945 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E942, E944 Rush, Bobby L., Ill., E941, E944 Sullivan, John, Okla., E945 Udall, Mark, Colo., E940, E943