Tuesday, July 17, 2007 [[Page D987]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S9293-S9368 Measures Introduced: Sixteen bills were introduced, as follows: S. 1793-1808. (See next issue.) Measures Considered: National Defense Authorization Act: Senate continued consideration of H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S9301-10, S9317-66 Adopted: By 94 yeas to 3 nays (Vote No. 248), Cornyn Amendment No. 2100 (to Amendment No. 2011), to express the sense of the Senate that it is in the national security interest of the United States that Iraq not become a failed state and a safe haven for terrorists. Pages S9317-21 Withdrawn: McConnell Amendment No. 2241 (to the language proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 2011), relative to a sense of the Senate on the consequences of a failed state in Iraq. (See next issue.) Pending: Nelson (NE) (for Levin) Amendment No. 2011, in the nature of a substitute. Page S9301 Levin Amendment No. 2087 (to Amendment No. 2011), to provide for a reduction and transition of United States forces in Iraq. Page S9301 Reed Amendment No. 2088 (to Amendment No. 2087), to change the enactment date. Page S9301 Dodd (for Levin) Amendment No. 2274 (to the language proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 2011), to provide for a reduction and transition of United States forces in Iraq. Pages S9301-02 Levin Amendment No 2275 (to Amendment No. 2274), to provide for a reduction and transition of United States forces in Iraq. Pages S9302-10 During consideration of this measure today, the Senate also took the following action: The McConnell motion to invoke cloture on McConnell Amendment No. 2241 (listed above), was withdrawn. Page S9301 Durbin Amendment No. 2252 (to Amendment No. 2241), to change the enactment date, fell when McConnell Amendment No. 2241 (listed above) was withdrawn. Page S9301 By 44 yeas to 47 nays (Vote No. 249), Senate did not agree to the motion to instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request the attendance of absent Senators, but a quorum was present. Pages S9350-51 By 41 yeas to 37 nays (Vote No. 250), Senate agreed to the motion to instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request the attendance of absent Senators. (See next issue.) A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Levin Amendment No. 2087 (listed above) at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, July 18, 2007. (See next issue.) Message from the President: Senate received the following message from the President of the United States: Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report relative to the issuance of an Executive Order blocking the property of persons determined to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of threatening the peace or stability of Iraq; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-21) (See next issue.) Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Sean R. Mulvaney, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development. Robert J. Conrad, Jr., of North Carolina, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit. Catharina Haynes, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. Shalom D. Stone, of New Jersey, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit. John Daniel Tinder, of Indiana, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit. 24 Air Force nominations in the rank of general. [[Page D988]] Routine lists in the Army, Navy. Pages S9366-68 Messages from the House: (See next issue.) Measures Referred: (See next issue.) Measures Placed on the Calendar: (See next issue.) Enrolled Bills Presented: (See next issue.) Executive Communications: (See next issue.) Additional Cosponsors: (See next issue.) Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: (See next issue.) Additional Statements: (See next issue.) Amendments Submitted: (See next issue.) Notices of Hearings/Meetings: (See next issue.) Authorities for Committees to Meet: (See next issue.) Privileges of the Floor: (See next issue.) Quorum Calls: Two quorum calls were taken today. (Total--5) Page S9350, (See next issue.) Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--250) Pages S9321, S9350-51 Adjournment: Senate convened at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 18, 2007 and continued in session on Wednesday, July 18, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in the next issue of the Record.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies approved for full committee consideration an original bill making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. AIR SERVICES Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security concluded a hearing to examine improving air services to small and rural communities, after receiving testimony from Andrew B. Steinberg, Assistant Secretary of Transportation for Aviation and International Affairs; John Torgerson, Alaska Department of Transportation, Anchorage; Karen Miller, Boone County Commission, Columbia, Missouri, on behalf of the National Association of Counties; Mark F. Courtney, Lynchburg Regional Airport, Lynchburg, Virginia; and Faye Malarkey, Regional Airline Association, Washington, D.C. NOMINATIONS Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing on the nominations of Robert Boldrey, of Michigan, to be a Member of the Board of Trustees of the Morris K. Udall Scholarship and Excellence in National Environmental Policy Foundation, Kristine L. Svinicki, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, who was introduced by Senators Warner and Craig, and R. Lyle Laverty, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Fish and Wildlife. DEMOCRATIC DEVELOPMENTS IN SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on African Affairs concluded a hearing to examine the efficacy of democratic developments in Sub-Saharan Africa, after receiving testimony from Barry F. Lowenkron, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Michael Hess, Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, United States Agency for International Development; Princeton N. Lyman, Council on Foreign Relations, Chris Albin-Lackey, Human Rights Watch, Akwe Amosu, Open Society Institute, and Dave Peterson, National Endowment for Democracy, all of Washington, D.C. TREATIES Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine protocol Amending the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Finland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed at Helsinki May 31, 2006 (the ``Protocol'') (Treaty Doc.109-18), protocol Amending the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income signed at Copenhagen May 2, 2006 (the ``Protocol'') (Treaty Doc.109-19), protocol Amending the Convention Between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital and to Certain Other Taxes, Signed on August 29, 1989, signed at Berlin June 1, 2006 (the ``Protocol''), along with a related Joint [[Page D989]] Declaration (Treaty Doc.109-20), convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and accompanying Protocol, signed on November 27, 2006, at Brussels (the ``proposed Treaty'') (Treaty Doc.110-03), patent Law Treaty and Regulations Under the Patent Law Treaty (the ``Treaty''), done at Geneva on June 1, 2000, between the Governments of 53 countries including the United States of America (Treaty Doc.109-12), the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (the ``Agreement''), adopted in Geneva on July 2, 1999, and signed by the United States on July 6, 1999 (Treaty Doc.109-21), the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (the ``Treaty'' or ``Singapore Treaty'') adopted and signed by the United States at Singapore on March 28, 2006 (Treaty Doc. 110-02), and protocol to the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation Between the United States and Denmark of October 1, 1951, signed at Copenhagen on May 2, 2001 (Treaty Doc. 108- 08), after receiving testimony from Thomas A. Barthold, Acting Chief of Staff, Joint Committee on Taxation, United States Congress; John Harrington, International Tax Counsel, Department of the Treasury; Lois E. Boland, Director, Office of International Relations, United States Patent and Trademark Office, Department of Commerce; Wesley S. Scholz, Director, Office of Investment Affairs, Department of State; and William A. Reinsch, National Foreign Trade Council, and Janice Lucchesi, Organization for International Investment, both of Washington, D.C. FEDERAL ACQUISITION Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine federal acquisition and contracting, focusing on ways to strengthen competition and accountability, including S. 680, to ensure proper oversight and accountability in Federal contracting, after receiving testimony from David M. Walker, Comptroller General, Government Accountability Office; Marcia G. Madsen, Mayer Brown Rowe and Maw, LLP, Washington, D.C., on behalf of the Acquisition Advisory Panel; and Stan Soloway, Professional Services Council, Arlington, Virginia. CENSUS BUREAU Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security concluded an oversight hearing to examine the readiness of the Census Bureau for the 2010 census, after receiving testimony from Charles Louis Kincannon, Director, United States Census Bureau; Mathew J. Scire, Director, Strategic Issues, and David A. Powner, Director, Information Technology, both of the Government Accountability Office; Andrew Reamer, Brookings Institution, Washington, D.C.; and Maurice P. McTigue, George Mason University Mercatus Center, Arlington, Virginia. ALZHEIMER'S Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Retirement and Aging concluded a hearing to examine the federal response and advances being made toward defeating the epidemic of Alzheimer's disease, after receiving testimony from Elias A. Zerhouni, Director, and Richard J. Hodes, Director, National Institute on Aging, both of the National Institutes of Health, Julie L. Gerberding, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Andrew C. von Eschenbach, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, Food and Drug Administration, all of the Department of Health and Human Services. PROSECUTION OF BORDER PATROL AGENTS Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the prosecution of Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean, after receiving testimony from Representatives Hunter and Rohrabacher; Luis Barker, former Chief Patrol Agent, El Paso Border Patrol Sector, and David V. Aguilar, Chief, both of the Office of Border Patrol, United States Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; Johnny Sutton, United States Attorney for the Western District of Texas, Department of Justice; T.J. Bonner, AFL-CIO, Campo, California; and David L. Botsford, Austin, Texas. [[Page D990]] House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 17 public bills, H.R. 3056- 3072; and 3 resolutions, H. Res. 552-554, were introduced. Pages H7981-82 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H7982-84 Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows: Report on the Revised Suballocation of Budget Allocations for Fiscal Year 2008 (H. Rept. 110-236). Page H7981 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative Solis to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H7855 Recess: The House recessed at 9:02 a.m. and reconvened at 10 a.m. Page H7855 Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Dr. Billy F. Hudgins, Cross Creek Community Church, Hokes Bluff, Alabama. Page H7855 Suspension: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measure: Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007: H.R. 980, amended, to provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or their political subdivisions, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 314 yeas to 97 nays, Roll No. 633. Pages H7859-66, H7871-72 Improving America's Security Act of 2007--Motion to go to Conference: The House disagreed to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 1, to provide for the implementation of the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, and agreed to a conference. Pages H7868-73, H7878 Agreed to the Blackburn motion to instruct conferees on the bill by a yea-and-nay vote of 354 yeas to 66 nays, Roll No. 635. Pages H7869-71, H7873 Later, the Chair appointed the following Members of the House to the conference committee on the bill: from the Committee on Homeland Security for consideration of the House bill and the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Thompson (MS), Loretta Sanchez (CA), Dicks, Harman, Lowey, Jackson-Lee (TX), Christensen, Etheridge, Langevin, Cuellar, Al Green (TX) Perlmutter, King (NY), Smith (TX), Souder, Tom Davis (VA), Daniel E. Lungren (CA), Rogers (AL), McCaul (TX), Dent, and Ginny Brown-Waite (FL). Page H7878 From the Committee on Armed Services, for consideration of secs. 1202, 1211, 1221, 1232, 1233, and 1241 of the House bill, and section 703 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Skelton, Spratt, and Saxton. Page H7878 From the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for consideration of Title I, Title II, secs. 743 and 901 of the House bill, and Title III, secs. 1002, 1481, 1482, 1484, and Title XVII of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Dingell, Markey, and Barton (TX). Page H7878 From the Committee on Foreign Affairs, for consideration of secs. 601, 1202, 1211, 1221, 1222, 1232, 1233, 1241, 1302, 1311, 1312, 1322, 1323, 1331-1333, 1412, 1414, 1422, 1431, and 1441-1443 of the House bill, and secs. 502, 1301, Title XVIII, secs. 1911-1913, and 1951 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Lantos, Ackerman, and Ros-Lehtinen. Page H7878 From the Committee on the Judiciary, for consideration of secs. 406, 501, 601, 702, and Title VIII of the House bill, and secs. 123, 501- 503, 601-603, 1002, and 1432 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Conyers, Zoe Lofgren (CA), and Sensenbrenner. Page H7878 From the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, for consideration of sec. 408 and subtitle A of title VIII of the House bill, and secs. 114, 601, 602, 903, 904, 1203, 1205, and 1601 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Waxman, Clay, and Issa. Page H7878 From the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, for consideration of secs. 601, 712, 723, 732, 733, 741, 742, and subtitle A of title VIII of the House bill, and secs. 111-113, 121, 122, 131, 502, 601, 602, 703, 1201-1203, 1205, 1206, and 1606 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Reyes, Cramer, and Hoekstra. Page H7878 From the Committee on Science and Technology, for consideration of secs. 703, 1301, 1464, 1467, and 1507 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Gordon (TN), Wu, and Gingrey. Page H7878 From the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for consideration of Titles I-III, sec. 1002, and Title XI of the House bill, and secs. 202, 301, Title IV, secs. 801-803, 807, 901, 1001, 1002, 1101-1103, 1422-1424, 1426, 1427, 1429, 1430, 1433, 1436-1438, 1441, 1443, 1444, 1446, 1449, [[Page D991]] 1464, 1473, 1503, and 1605 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Oberstar, DeFazio, and Mica. Page H7878 For consideration of Title II of the House bill, and Title III and subtitle C of title XIV of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representative Larson (CT). Page H7878 Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008: The House passed H.R. 2641, making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, by a yea-and-nay vote of 312 yeas to 112 nays, Roll No. 641. Consideration of the measure began on Tuesday, June 19th. Pages H7873-77, H7878-98 Agreed by unanimous consent that during further consideration of H.R. 2641 in the Committee of the Whole pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 481, no further amendment to the bill will be in order except those provided on a list at the desk. Page H7873 Agreed to: Rothman amendment that prohibits funds from being used for the Green Maintenance Building in North Bergen, New Jersey. Page H7874 Rejected: Flake amendment that sought to prohibit funds from being used for the Achieving a College Education Program at Maricopa Community Colleges; Pages H7875-76 Flake amendment that sought to prohibit funds from being used for the Alliance for NanoHealth; Pages H7876-77 Hensarling amendment (No. 36 printed in the Congressional Record of July 16, 2007) that sought to prohibit the use of funds for the Environmental Science Center at the University of Dubuque, Iowa; Pages H7880-81 Hensarling amendment (No. 38 printed in the Congressional Record of July 16, 2007) that sought to prohibit the use of funds for Roosevelt University Biology Laboratory equipment; Pages H7882-83 Flake amendment that sought to prohibit funds from being used for the Center for Instrumented Critical Infrastructure in Pennsylvania (by a recorded vote of 98 ayes to 326 noes, Roll No. 636); Pages H7893-94 Hensarling amendment (No. 35 printed in the Congressional Record of July 16, 2007) that sought to prohibit the use of funds for the South Carolina HBCU Science and Technology Initiative (by a recorded vote of 70 ayes to 357 noes, Roll No. 637); Pages H7878-80, H7894 Hensarling amendment (No. 37 printed in the Congressional Record of July 16, 2007) that sought to prohibit the use of funds for the Emmanuel College Center for Science Partnership (by a recorded vote of 79 ayes to 337 noes, Roll No. 638); Pages H7881-82, H7894-95 Hensarling amendment (No. 39 printed in the Congressional Record of July 16, 2007) that sought to prohibit the use of funds for Nanosys, Inc. (by a recorded vote of 81 ayes to 348 noes, Roll No. 639); and Pages H7883-84, H7895-96 Campbell (CA) amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds for any earmark listed in the bill (by a recorded vote 39 ayes to 388 noes, Roll No. 640). Pages H7884-93, H7896 H. Res. 481, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to on Tuesday, June 19th. Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he notified Congress of the issuance of an Executive Order blocking property of persons determined to be in a position to threaten the peace and stability of Iraq or to undermine efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-47). Page H7898 Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008: The House began consideration of H.R. 3043, to make appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. Further consideration is expected to resume tomorrow, July 18th. Pages H7866-68, H7898-H7958 Agreed to: Reichert amendment that increases funding, by offset, for the Health Resources and Services Administration by $2,500,000; Pages H7939-40 McCaul (TX) amendment that increases funding, by offset, for Special Education by $2 million; Page H7941 Shays amendment that increases funding, by offset, for the National Labor Relations Board by $500,000; Pages H7941-42 Wasserman Schultz amendment that increases funding, by offset, for the Health Resources and Services Administration by $3.5 million; Page H7948 Smith (NJ) amendment that increases funding for the National Cord Blood Stem Cell Program by $11,037,000; and Pages H7949-50 Musgrave amendment that reduces funding for the Global Fund to Fight HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Tuberculosis by $175,000. Pages H7954-55 [[Page D992]] Rejected: McKeon amendment that sought to increase funding, by offset, under the Education for the Disadvantaged heading by $75 million; Pages H7930-31 Shays amendment that sought to increase funding, by offset, for the Corporation for National and Community Service by $8,300,000 (including $1,500,000 for the National Service Trust); Page H7943 Kline (MN) amendment that sought to increase funding for the Employment Standards Administration by $2,016,000 and to reduce funding under the Departmental Management heading in Title I by $3 million (by a recorded vote of 186 ayes to 237 noes, Roll No. 642); Pages H7933-38, H7955-56 Platts amendment that seeks to increase funding, by offset, under the Education for the Disadvantaged heading by $50 million (by a recorded vote of 174 ayes to 250 noes, Roll No. 643); Pages H7938-39, H7956 Marchant amendment that seeks to reduce funding under the Departmental Management heading in Title I by $58,419,000 (by a recorded vote of 149 ayes to 277 noes, Roll No. 644); Pages H7940-41, H7956-57 Jindal amendment that seeks to increase funding, by offset, for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention by $50 million (by a recorded vote of 183 ayes to 243 noes, Roll No. 645); and Pages H7942-43, H7957-58 Sessions amendment (No. 5 printed in the Congressional Record of July 16, 2007) that seeks to strike section 111 of the bill (by a recorded vote of 173 ayes to 251 noes, Roll No. 646). Pages H7944-46, H7958 Point of Order sustained against: Garrett (NJ) amendment that sought to increase funding, by offset, for the National Cancer Institute by $10 million. Pages H7953-54 Proceedings Postponed: Stearns amendment that seeks to increase funding, by offset, for the Health Resources and Services Administration by $12.5 million and to increase funding, by offset, for Higher Education by $12.5 million; Pages H7946-48 Jindal amendment that seeks to redirect $37,200,000 in funding within the Health Resources and Services Administration account; and Pages H7948-49 Barton (TX) amendment that seeks to strike the proviso on page 36, beginning at line 5, relating to funding for metropolitan or transitional areas under part A of title XXVI of the Public Health Service Act. Pages H7950-53 H. Res. 547, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 232 yeas to 178 nays, Roll No. 634, after agreeing to order the previous question. Page H7872 Board of Directors of the Vietnam Education Foundation--Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following Members of the House of Representatives to the Board of Directors of the Vietnam Education Foundation: Upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader, Representative Blumenauer and upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader, Representative Pitts. Pages H7958-59 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H7855. Senate Referrals: S. Con. Res. 41 and S. Con. Res. 27 were referred to the Committee on Armed Services. Page H7980 Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on pages H7984-95. Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea-and-nay votes and ten recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H7871-72, H7872, H7873, H7893-94, H7894, H7895, H7895-96, H7896, H7897-98, H7955- 56, H7956, H7956-57, H7957-58 and H7958. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at midnight. Committee Meetings FARM BILL EXTENSION ACT Committee on Agriculture: Began consideration of H.R. 2419, Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007. Will continue tomorrow. BUDGETING TO FIGHT WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Budgeting to Fight Waste, Fraud, and Abuse. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary; and Timothy B. Hill, Chief Financial Officer, Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Linda Stiff, Deputy Commissioner, Operations Support, IRS, Department of the Treasury; Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary, SSA; and M. Patricia Smith, Commissioner, Department of Labor, State of New York. FDA FOOD SUPPLY SAFETY Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Diminished Capacity: Can the FDA Assure the Safety and Security of the Nation's Food Supply?--Part 2.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the FDA, Department of Health and [[Page D993]] Human Services: Andrew C. Von Eschenbach, M.D., Commissioner; Richard M. Jacobs, Chemist/Toxic Element Specialist, District Laboratory, San Francisco; Ann M. Adams, Director, District Laboratory, Kansas City; and Carol A. Heppe, Director, Cincinnati District; William K. Hubbard, former Associate Commissioner, FDA, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. MONETARY POLICY AND STATE OF THE ECONOMY Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing on Monetary Policy and State of the Economy. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. Hearings continue tomorrow. MULTIPLE PERIL INSURANCE ACT OF 2007 Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity held a hearing on H.R. 920, Multiple Peril Insurance Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from Representatives Baker, Taylor, Melancon, and Jindal; David I. Maurstad, Assistant Administrator, Mitigation, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security; Phillip Swagel, Assistant Secretary, Economic Policy, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses. U.S. POLICY OPTIONS IN IRAQ CRISIS Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on U.S. Policy Options in the Iraq Crisis. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. U.S-ASIA FISHERIES MANAGEMENT Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment held a hearing on the Conservation and Management of Highly Migrating Fish Stocks in the Western and Central Pacific Oceans, and Other International Fisheries Agreements of U.S. Interest in Asia and the Pacific. Testimony was heard from David A. Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Oceans and Fisheries, Department of State; and public witnesses. HOMEGROWN TERRORISM PREVENTION ACT OF 2007 Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1955, Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. FAMILIES MEDICAL DEBT Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law held a hearing on Working Families in Financial Crisis: Medical Debt and Bankruptcy. Testimony was heard from Clifford J. White, Director, Executive Office for U.S. Trustees, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. DOE'S SAVANNAH RIVER ECOLOGY LABORATORY SUPPORT Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight and the Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a joint hearing on the Department of Energy's Support for the Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL), Part I. Testimony was heard from Representative Barrow; and public witnesses. PATENT AND TRADE ACT AMENDMENTS Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing on Amendments to the Patent and Trade Act of 1980--the Next 25 Years. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. WATER POLLUTION CONTROL Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held a hearing on the Status of the Nation's Waters, including Wetlands, Under the Jurisdiction of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act. Testimony was heard from Brian Schweitzer, Governor, State of Montana; Ron Curry, Secretary, Environment Department, State of New Mexico; and public witnesses. Hearings continue July 19. FALSIFIED AIRMAN MEDICAL CERTIFICATE APPLICATIONS Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing on FAA's Oversight of Falsified Airman Medical Certificate Applications. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Transportation: Calvin L. Scovel, III, Inspector General; and Nicholas A. Sabatini, Associate Administrator, Aviation Safety, FAA; Mitchell A. Garber, M.D., Medical Officer, National Transportation Safety Board; and a public witness. VETERANS MEASURES Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 2623, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the collection of copayments for all hospice care furnished by the Department of Veterans Affairs; H.R. 2874, Veterans' Health Care Improvement Act of 2007; H.R. 1315, amended, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide specially adaptive housing assistance to certain disabled members of the Armed Forces residing temporarily in housing owned by a family member; H.R. 760, amended, Filipino Veterans Equity Act of 2007; and H.R. 23, amended, Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007. [[Page D994]] COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: to hold hearings to examine modernization of Federal Housing Administration programs, 9:30 a.m., SD-538. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: to hold an oversight hearing to examine the federal response to ensuring the safety of Chinese imports, 10 a.m., SR-253. Committee on Finance: business meeting to consider an original bill entitled, ``The Children's Health Insurance Reauthorization Act'', 1:30 p.m., SD-219. Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider S. 1145, to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform, S. Res. 248, honoring the life and achievements of Dame Lois Browne Evans, Bermuda's first female barrister and Attorney General, and the first female Opposition Leader in the British Commonwealth, S. Res. 236, supporting the goals and ideals of the National Anthem Project, which has worked to restore America's voice by re-teaching Americans to sing the national anthem, S. 1060, to reauthorize the grant program for reentry of offenders into the community in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, to improve reentry planning and implementation, S. Res. 261, expressing appreciation for the profound public service and educational contributions of Donald Jeffry Herbert, fondly known as ``Mr. Wizard'', a bill entitled, ``School Safety and Law Enforcement Improvements Act'', and the nominations of Roslynn Renee Mauskopf, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of New York, William Lindsay Osteen, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina, Martin Karl Reidinger, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, Timothy D. DeGiusti, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Oklahoma, Janis Lynn Sammartino, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California, Rosa Emilia Rodriguez-Velez, to be United States Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico, and Joe W. Stecher, to be United States Attorney for the District of Nebraska, 10 a.m., SD-226. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: to hold hearings to examine increasing government accountability and ensuring fairness in small business contracting, 2 p.m., SR-428A. Special Committee on Aging: to hold hearings to examine abuse of elderly citizens, focusing on prevention methods, 10:30 a.m., SD- 628. House Committee on Agriculture, to continue consideration of H.R. 2419, Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth. Committee on Appropriations, to consider the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Bill, Fiscal Year 2008, 9 a.m., 2359 Rayburn. Committee on Armed Services, hearing on Iraq: Trends and Recent Security Developments, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, to continue hearings on A Third Way: Alternatives for Iraq's Future, Part 2, 3 p.m., 2118 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, hearing on U.S. nuclear weapons policy, 2 p.m., 2212 Rayburn. Committee on Education and Labor, to mark up H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, to continue hearings on Monetary Policy and State of the Economy, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa, and Global Health, to mark up H.R. 2003, Ethiopia Democracy and Accountability Act of 2007, 10:15 a.m., followed by a hearing on Food Security in Africa: The Impact of Agricultural Development, 10:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment, hearing on the Impact of Coup-Related Sanctions on Thailand and Fiji: Helpful or Harmful to U.S. Relations? 3 p.m., 2200 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia and the Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight, joint hearing on Reconstruction in Iraq's Oil Sector: Running on Empty? 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on the Judiciary, to mark up H.R. 1908, Patent Reform Act of 2007, 10:15 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Natural Resources, to mark up the following bills: H.R. 673, Cocopah Lands Act; H.R. 1696, To amend the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo and Alabama and Coushatta Indian Tribes of Texas Restoration Act to allow the Ysleta del Sur Pueblo Tribe to determine blood quantum requirements for membership in that Tribe; H.R. 2120, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to proclaim as reservation for the benefit of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians a parcel of land now held in trust by the United States for that Indian Tribe; H.R. 2863, To authorize the Coquille Indian Tribe of the State of Oregon to convey land and interests in land owned by the Tribe; H.R. 2952, To authorize the Saginow Chippewa Tribe of Indians of the State of Michigan to convey land and interests land owned by the Tribe; S. 375, A bill to waive application of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act to a specific parcel of real property transferred by the United States to 2 Indian tribes in the State of Oregon, 11 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement, hearing on Federal Contracting: Do Poor Performers Keep Winning? 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, hearing entitled ``Medicaid Drug Reimbursements: Are CMS Cuts Bad Medicine for Small Businesses and Beneficiaries?'' 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn. Committee on Ways and Means, to mark up the following bills: H.R. 3046, Social Security Number Privacy and [[Page D995]] Identity Theft Prevention Act of 2007; and the H.R. 3056, Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth. Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, hearing entitled ``Voluntary Carbon Offsets--Getting What You Pay For,'' 9:30 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. 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. 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[[Page D996]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 12 noon, Wednesday, July 18 Senate Chamber Program for Wednesday: Senate will continue consideration of H.R. 1585, National Defense Authorization Act and vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Levin Amendment No. 2087 at 11:00 a.m. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Wednesday, July 18 House Chamber Program for Wednesday: Continue consideration of H.R. 3043--Making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Baldwin, Tammy, Wisc., E1542 Barton, Joe, Tex., E1538 Boswell, Leonard L., Iowa, E1539 Calvert, Ken, Calif., E1545 Capito, Shelley Moore, W.Va., E1542, E1543 Diaz-Balart, Lincoln, Fla., E1542 Ellison, Kieth, Minn., E1546 Emanuel, Rahm, Ill., E1535 Fox, Virginia, N.C., E1537 Gallegly, Elton, Calif., E1541 Hall, Ralph M., Tex., E1547 Hensarling, Jeb, Tex., E1548 Johnson, Timothy V., Ill., E1543 Kingston, Jack, Ga., E1547 Latham, Tom, Iowa, E1539 Loebsack, David, Iowa, E1548 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1535, E1536, E1537, E1538, E1541 McHugh, John M., N.Y., E1541 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E1536 Moran, James P., Va., E1545 Musgrave, Marilyn N., Colo., E1542 Norton, Eleanor Holmes, D.C., E1543 Roybal-Allard, Lucille, Calif., E1537 Sanchez, Linda T., Calif., E1547 Schakowsky, Janice D., Ill., E1547, E1547, E1548 Slaughter, Louise McIntosh, N.Y., E1537 Thompson, Mike, Calif., E1535, E1546 Towns, Edolphus, N.Y., E1543 Udall, Mark, Colo., E1544 Woolsey, Lynn C., Calif., E1548