Thursday, December 6, 2007 [[Page D1581]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S14807-S15001 Measures Introduced: Fourteen bills and five resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2419-2432, and S. Res. 390-394. Pages S14847-48 Measures Reported: S. 1245, to reform mutual aid agreements for the National Capitol Region. (S. Rept. No. 110-237) Page S14847 Measures Passed: Temporary Tax Relief Act: By 88 yeas to 5 nays (Vote No. 415), Senate passed H.R. 3996, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend alternative minimum tax relief, after striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S14835-38 Adopted: Baucus Amendment No. 3804, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S14835-38 During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action: By 46 yeas to 48 nays (Vote No. 414), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to close further debate on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill. Pages S14809-14 Senator Reid entered a motion to reconsider the vote by which the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill (listed above) failed. Page S14814 Everglades National Park 60th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 392, recognizing the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park. Pages S14998-99 Omaha, Nebraska Westroads Mall Tragedy: Senate agreed to S. Res. 393, expressing the condolences of the Senate to those affected by the tragic events of December 5, 2007, at Westroads Mall in Omaha, Nebraska. Page S14999 National Cancer Research Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 394, recognizing the 100th Anniversary of the founding of the American Association for Cancer Research and declaring the month of May 2007 as National Cancer Research Month. Pages S14999-S15000 National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 54, supporting the designation of a week as ``National Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Automated External Defibrillator Awareness Week'', and the resolution was then agreed to. Page S15000 Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund: Senate passed H.R. 4118, to exclude from gross income payments from the Hokie Spirit Memorial Fund to the victims of the tragic event at Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, clearing the measure for the President. Page S15000 Emancipation Hall: Senate passed H.R. 3315, to provide that the great hall of the Capitol Visitor Center shall be known as Emancipation Hall, clearing the measure for the President. Page S15000 House Messages: Higher Education Act: Senate concurred in the amendment of the House of Representatives to S. 2371, to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to make technical corrections, clearing the measure for the President. Page S14827 Charlie W. Norwood Living Organ Donation Act: Senate concurred in the amendments of the House of Representatives to the Senate amendment to H.R. 710, to amend the National Organ Transplant Act to provide that criminal penalties do not apply to paired donations of human kidneys, clearing the measure for the President. Pages S14827-29 Farm Bill Extension Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that there be a limitation of 20 first-degree amendments per side to H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012; that the amendments be from the original list of amendments already agreed to on Wednesday, November 14, 2007; that all other provisions of the [[Page D1582]] previous agreement continue in effect, and that managers amendments cleared by both managers not be counted toward the 20 first-degree amendments; provided further, that the vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Harkin Amendment No. 3500 to H.R. 2419, be delayed to occur at a later time to be determined by the Majority Leader after consultation with the Republican Leader. Page S14838 Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act House Message--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at approximately 9 a.m., on Friday, December 7, 2007, Senate begin consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 6, to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers from price gouging, to increase the energy efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, notwithstanding the receipt of the papers from the House of Representatives; that the Majority Leader be immediately recognized to move to concur in the House amendment and to file cloture on that motion; that there be 20 minutes of debate equally divided on the Majority Leader's motion to be followed by a cloture vote on that motion; provided further, that no other motions or amendments be in order prior to that vote. Pages S14838, S14839 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Ed Schafer, of North Dakota, to be Secretary of Agriculture. Ricardo H. Hinojosa, of Texas, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2013. Ricardo H. Hinojosa, of Texas, to be Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission. Michael E. Horowitz, of Maryland, to be a Member of the United States Sentencing Commission for a term expiring October 31, 2013. Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., of Missouri, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri. William E. Smith, of Rhode Island, to be United States Circuit Judge for the First Circuit. George W. Venables, of California, to be United States Marshal for the Southern District of California for the term of four years. Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard. Page S15001 Messages from the House: Page S14843 Measures Referred: Page S14843 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Page S14843 Executive Communications: Pages S14843-45 Petitions and Memorials: Pages S14845-47 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S14847 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S14848-49 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S14849-58 Additional Statements: Pages S14841-43 Amendments Submitted: Pages S14858-S14998 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S14998 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S14998 Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--415) Pages S14814, S14838 Adjournment: Senate convened at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:17 p.m., until 9 a.m. on Friday, December 7, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S15000.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) ARMY CONTRACTING REPORT Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support concluded a hearing to examine the report of the Commission on Army Acquisition and Program Management in Expeditionary Operations entitled ``Urgent Reform Required: Army Expeditionary Contracting'', after receiving testimony from Jacques S. Gansler, Chairman, Commission on Army Acquisition and Program Management in Expeditionary Operations; and Claude M. Bolton, Jr., Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, Lieutenant General Ross N. Thompson, III, USA, Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, and Kathryn A. Condon, Executive Deputy to the Commanding General Army Material Command, all of the United States Army, Department of Defense. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE TO PAKISTAN Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the foreign assistance of the United States to Pakistan, focusing on the effectiveness of financial aid, after receiving testimony from Richard A. Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs; James R. Kunder, Acting Deputy Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID); and Teresita C. Schaffer, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), Lawrence Korb, Center for American [[Page D1583]] Progress, and Robert M. Hathaway, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, all of Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following: S. 344, to permit the televising of Supreme Court proceedings; and The nominations of Ronald Jay Tenpas, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General, Gregory A. Brower, to be United States Attorney for the District of Nevada, Diane J. Humetewa, to be United States Attorney for the District of Arizona, and Edmund A. Booth, Jr., to be United States Attorney for the Southern District of Georgia. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 40 public bills, H.R. 4299- 4338; 2 private bills, H.R. 4339-4340; and 9 resolutions, H.J. Res. 66- 67; H. Con. Res. 266-268; and H. Res. 847-848 and 851-852, were introduced. Pages H14492-94 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H. Res. 849, providing for the consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2761) to extend the Terrorism Insurance Program of the Department of the Treasury (H. Rept. 110-475); H. Res. 850, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules (H. Rept. 110-476); Conference report on H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense and to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2008 (H. Rept. 110-477); and Conference report on H.R. 2082, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System (H. Rept. 110-478). Pages H14462, H14462-90, H14492 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative Obey to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H14253 Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures which were debated on Wednesday, December 5th: Securities Law Technical Corrections Act of 2007: H.R. 3505, amended, to make various technical and clerical amendments to the Federal securities laws, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 404 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 1135 and Page H14259 Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act of 2007: H.R. 4253, to improve and expand small business assistance programs for veterans of the armed forces and military reservists, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 407 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 1138. Pages H14269-70 Call of the House: On the Call of the House, 380 Members reported their presence, Roll No. 1139. Page H14434 Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 2007: The House agreed to the Senate amendments with amendments, made in order by the rule and printed in H. Rept. 110-474, to H.R. 6, to move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers from price gouging, to increase the energy efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, by a yea-and-nay vote of 235 yeas to 181 nays, Roll No. 1140. Pages H14270-H14444 Pursuant to the rule, the title is amended so as to read: ``To move the United States toward greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy performance of the Federal Government, and for other purposes.''. Page H14315 H. Res. 846, the rule providing for consideration of the Senate amendments, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 218 yeas to 195 nays, Roll No. 1137, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 216 yeas to 192 nays, Roll No. 1136. Pagess H14255-59, H14260-69 [[Page D1584]] A point of order was raised against the consideration of H. Res. 846 and it was agreed, by a yea-and-nay vote of 214 yeas to 188 nays, Roll No. 1134, to proceed with consideration of the resolution. Pages H14256-59 Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measure which was debated on Tuesday, December 4th: McGee Creek Project Pipeline and Associated Facilities Conveyance Act: H.R. 2085, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the McGee Creek Authority certain facilities of the McGee Creek Project, Oklahoma, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 373 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 1141. Pages H14444-45 Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 3 p.m. on Monday, December 10th, and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 11th for morning hour debate. Page H14448 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, December 12th. Page H14448 United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission-- Appointments: Read a letter from Representative Boehner, Minority Leader, in which he appointed the following individuals to the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission: Mr. Peter T.R. Brookes of Virginia (re-appointment) and Mr. Daniel M. Slane of Ohio. Page H14448 Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on pages H14254 and H14456. Senate Referrals: S. Con. Res. 58 was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. Page H14490 Quorum Calls--Votes: Seven yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H14258-59, H14259, H14268, H14268-69, H14269-70, H14444, and H14445. There was one quorum call, Roll No. 1139, which appears on page H14434. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 6:10 p.m. Committee Meetings FORECLOSURE PREVENTION LOAN MODIFICATIONS Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Accelerating Loan Modifications, Improving Foreclosure Prevention and Enhancing Enforcement.'' Testimony was heard from Sheila C. Bair, Chairman, FDIC; Randall S, Kroszner, member, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; the following officials of the Department of the Treasury: John C. Dugan, Comptroller of the Currency; and Scott M. Polakoff, Senior Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, Office of Thrift Supervision; Christiane Gigi Hyland, board member, National Credit Union Administration; Mark E. Pearce, Deputy Commissioner of Banks, North Carolina; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--USE OF ROBO-CALLS IN FEDERAL CAMPAIGNS Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Elections held an oversight hearing on the Use of Robo-Calls in Federal Campaigns. Testimony was heard from Representatives Bean, Altmire and Foxx; Steve Carter, Attorney General, Indiana, and public witnesses. SALES TAX FAIRNESS AND SIMPLIFICATION ACT Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law held a hearing on H.R. 3396, Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act. Testimony was heard from Joan Wagnon, Secretary of Revenue, Kansas; and public witnesses. INMATE REHABILITATION AND RELEASE PLANNING Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing on Promoting Inmate Rehabilitation and Successful Release Planning. Testimony was heard from Drew Wrigley, U.S. Attorney, District of North Dakota, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. SENATE AMENDMENT TO TERRORISM RISK INSURANCE REVISION AND EXTENSION ACT OF 2007 Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, a rule which makes in order a motion by the Chairman of the Committee on Financial Services to concur in the Senate amendment with the House amendment printed in the Rules Committee report. The rule waives all points of order against the motion except clause 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that the Senate amendment and the motion shall be considered as read. The rule provides 1 hour of debate on the motion equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services. The rule further provides that the Chair may postpone further consideration of the motion to a time designated by the Speaker. Testimony was heard from Chairman Frank [[Page D1585]] of Massachusetts, and Representatives Wasserman Schultz, and Neugebauer. SAME-DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED FROM RULES COMMITTEE Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 8 to 3, a rule waiving clause 6(a) of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) against certain resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The rule applies the waiver to any resolutions reported on the legislative day of December 11, 2007, providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 2764, the Department of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2008. The rule also permits the Chairman of the Committee on Appropriations to insert in the Congressional Record during the remainder of the first session of the 110th Congress such material as he may deem explanatory of appropriations measures for the fiscal year 2008. Finally, the rule lays House Resolution 839 on the table. REVIEW REGULATORY FLEXIBILITY ACT Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing to review legislation to improve the Regulatory Flexibility Act. Testimony was heard from Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel, Office of Advocacy, SBA; and public witnesses. DNI'S 500-DAY PLAN Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management held a hearing on DNI's 500-Day Plan. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence: Donald Kerr, Principal Deputy, and David Shedd, Deputy Director, Policy, Plans and Requirements; and public witnesses. BRIEFING--COLOMBIA Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence met in executive session to receive a briefing on Colombia. The Subcommittee was briefed by departmental witnesses. Joint Meetings DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences between the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2008. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House No committee meetings are scheduled. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. The public proceedings of each House of Congress, as reported by the Official Reporters thereof, are printed pursuant to directions of the Joint Committee on Printing as authorized by appropriate provisions of Title 44, United States Code, and published for each day that one or both Houses are in session, excepting very infrequent instances when two or more unusually small consecutive issues are printed one time. Public access to the Congressional Record is available online through GPO Access, a service of the Government Printing Office, free of charge to the user. The online database is updated each day the Congressional Record is published. The database includes both text and graphics from the beginning of the 103d Congress, 2d session (January 1994) forward. It is available through GPO Access at www.gpo.gov/gpoaccess. Customers can also access this information with WAIS client software, via telnet at swais.access.gpo.gov, or dial-in using communications software and a modem at 202ÿ09512ÿ091661. Questions or comments regarding this database or GPO Access can be directed to the GPO Access User Support Team at: E-Mail: gpoaccess@gpo.gov; Phone 1ÿ09888ÿ09293ÿ096498 (toll-free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091530 (D.C. area); Fax: 202ÿ09512ÿ091262. The Team's hours of availability are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, except Federal holidays. The Congressional Record paper and 24x microfiche edition will be furnished by mail to subscribers, free of postage, at the following prices: paper edition, $252.00 for six months, $503.00 per year, or purchased as follows: less than 200 pages, $10.50; between 200 and 400 pages, $21.00; greater than 400 pages, $31.50, payable in advance; microfiche edition, $146.00 per year, or purchased for $3.00 per issue payable in advance. The semimonthly Congressional Record Index may be purchased for the same per issue prices. To place an order for any of these products, visit the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at: bookstore.gpo.gov. Mail orders to: Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250ÿ097954, or phone orders to 866ÿ09512ÿ091800 (toll free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091800 (D.C. area), or fax to 202ÿ09512ÿ092104. Remit check or money order, made payable to the Superintendent of Documents, or use VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or GPO Deposit Account. Following each session of Congress, the daily Congressional Record is revised, printed, permanently bound and sold by the Superintendent of Documents in individual parts or by sets. With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. 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 D1586]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9 a.m., Friday, December 7 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will begin consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 6, CLEAN Energy Act, and after a period of debate, vote on the motion to invoke cloture thereon. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 3 p.m., Monday, December 10 House Chamber Program for Monday: The House will meet in pro forma session at 3 p.m. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Bonner, Jo, Ala., E2510, E2512, E2514 Boren, Dan, Okla., E2515 Brady, Robert A., Pa., E2517 Capito, Shelley Moore, W.Va., E2511, E2513, E2515, E2516, E2518 Cuellar, Henry, Tex., E2517 Dingell, John D., Mich., E2514, E2522 Filner, Bob, Calif., E2517 Fossella, Vito, N.Y., E2520 Garrett, Scott, N.J., E2520 Gordon, Bart, Tenn., E2521, E2522, E2523, E2524, E2524, E2525, E2525 Hoyer, Steny H., Md., E2515 Issa, Darrell E., Calif., E2523 Jones, Stephanie Tubbs, Ohio, E2513 Kanjorski, Paul E., Pa., E2518 Klein, Ron, Fla., E2509, E2512 Knollenberg, Joe, Mich., E2519 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E2509, E2511 Lantos, Tom, Calif., E2519, E2522 Lewis, Ron, Ky., E2523 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E2522, E2523, E2524 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E2516 Norton, Eleanor Holmes, D.C., E2514 Poe, Ted, Tex., E2509, E2511, E2514, E2516, E2517 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E2521 Rogers, Harold, Ky., E2521 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E2516 Schakowsky, Janice D., Ill., E2515, E2519 Schiff, Adam B., Calif., E2520 Shea-Porter, Carol, N.H., E2524 Shuler, Heath, N.C., E2513 Smith, Adrian, Nebr., E2516 Solis, Hilda L., Calif., E2510, E2512 Space, Zachary T., Ohio, E2509, E2510, E2513, E2515, E2516, E2518, E2521 Tancredo, Thomas G., Colo., E2524 Tanner, John S., Tenn., E2516 Tiberi, Patrick J., Ohio, E2510, E2512 Weller, Jerry, Ill., E2519 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E2521 Woolsey, Lynn C., Calif., E2509, E2511