Thursday, July 10, 2008 [[Page D864]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S6511-S6582 Measures Introduced: Seventeen bills were introduced, as follows: S. 3237-3253. Pages S6559-60 Measures Reported: S. 2606, to reauthorize the United States Fire Administration, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-411) S. 2291, to enhance citizen access to Government information and services by establishing plain language as the standard style of Government documents issued to the public. (S. Rept. No. 110-412) S. 1499, to amend the Clean Air Act to reduce air pollution from marine vessels. (S. Rept. No. 110-413) S. 2844, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to modify provisions relating to beach monitoring, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-414) S. 462, to approve the settlement of the water rights claims of the Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Nevada, to require the Secretary of the Interior to carry out the settlement, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-415) Page S6559 Measures Considered: Foreclosure Prevention Act: Senate continued consideration of the amendment of the House of Representatives to H.R. 3221, to provide needed housing reform. Pages S6513, S6524-33, S6335-50 Senator Reid motion to disagree to the amendments of the House of Representatives, adding a new title and inserting a new section to the amendment of the Senate to the bill. Page S6520 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the amendment of the House of Representatives on Friday, July, 11, 2008, after all post-cloture time has expired on the motion to disagree and Senate vote on the motion to disagree to the amendments of the House of Representatives adding a new title and inserting a new section to the amendment of the Senate to the bill; provided further, that all time during any recess or adjournment of the Senate count against the post-cloture time under rule XXII. Pages S6581-82 During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the following action: By 84 yeas to 12 nays (Vote No. 170), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the motion to close further debate on the motion to disagree to the amendments of the House of Representatives, adding a new title and inserting a new section to the amendment of the Senate to the bill. Pages S6520-21 Reid motion to concur with Amendment No. 5067, to change the enactment date, in the amendment of the House adding a new title, fell when cloture was invoked on the motion to disagree to the amendments of the House of Representatives, adding a new title and inserting a new section in the amendment of the Senate to the bill. Page S6513 Reid Amendment No. 5068 (to Amendment No. 5067), of a perfecting nature, fell when Reid Amendment No. 5067 fell. Page S6513 Tom Lantos And Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that on Friday, July 11, 2008, upon disposition of the motion to disagree to the amendments of the House adding a new title and inserting a new section to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 3221, Foreclosure Prevention Act, Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2731, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, and vote on the motion to invoke cloture thereon; that if cloture is invoked, then all post-cloture time be deemed expired, and on that Monday, July 14, 2008, following a period of morning business, the motion to proceed be agreed to, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, and Senate then begin consideration of the bill; provided further, that if cloture is not invoked, then a motion to reconsider the vote by which cloture was not invoked be considered to have been entered. Pages S6549-50 [[Page D865]] Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: By 95 yeas 2 nays (Vote No. EX. 171), Gen. David H. Petraeus U.S. Army Pages S6513, S6521-24, S6533-35 By 96 yeas 1 nay (Vote No. EX. 172), Lt. Gen. Raymond T. Odierno U.S. Army Pages S6513, S6521-24, S6533-35 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Robert Hastings, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense. Clifford D. May, of Maryland, to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2009. Joyce Lee Malcolm, of Virginia, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2014. Robert L. Paquette, of New York, to be a Member of the National Council on the Humanities for a term expiring January 26, 2014. Ruth Y. Goldway, of California, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Regulatory Commission for the term expiring November 22, 2014. Christine M. Arguello, of Colorado, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado. Philip A. Brimmer, of Colorado, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado. Gregory E. Goldberg, of Colorado, to be United States District Judge for the District of Colorado. William Frederic Jung, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. Mary Stenson Scriven, of Florida, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of Florida. 5 Air Force nominations in the rank of general. 3 Army nominations in the rank of general. 5 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral. 1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral. Routine lists in the Coast Guard. Page S6582 Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the following nomination: Mark McKinnon, of Texas, to be a Member of the Broadcasting Board of Governors for a term expiring August 13, 2009 (Recess Appointment), which was sent to the Senate on January 9, 2007. Page S6582 Messages from the House: Page S6558 Measures Referred: Page S6559 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Page S6559 Executive Communications: Page S6559 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S6560-61 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S6561-81 Additional Statements: Pages S6555-58 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S6581 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S6581 Privileges of the Floor: Page S6581 Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--172) Pages S6521, S6534 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 11:35 p.m., until 3:30 p.m. on Friday, July 11, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6582.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the following: An original bill making appropriations for the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009; An original bill making appropriations for Energy and Water Development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009; and An original bill making appropriations for Financial Services and General Government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009. EPA OVERSIGHT Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), focusing on implementing the renewable fuel standard, after receiving testimony from Robert J. Meyers, Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency; Steven G. Chalk, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Energy for Renewable Energy; John Pierce, E.I. DuPont de Nemours and Company, Inc., Wilmington, Delaware; Scott Faber, Grocery Manufacturers Association, Washington, D.C.; and Nathanael Greene, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, New York. TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine issues and options for the transportation infrastructure, focusing on current surface transportation policies and programs, after receiving testimony from Peter R. Orszag, Director, Congressional Budget Office; and Jayetta Z. Hecker, Director, [[Page D866]] Physical Infrastructure Issues, Government Accountability Office. TREATIES Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Protocol Amending the Convention Between the United States of America and Canada with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital done at Washington on September 26, 1980, as Amended by the Protocols done on June 14, 1983, March 28, 1984, March 17, 1995, and July 29, 1997, signed on September 21, 2007, at Chelsea (the ``Proposed Protocol'') (Treaty Doc. 110-15), Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Iceland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income, and accompanying Protocol, signed on October 23, 2007, at Washington, D.C. (Treaty Doc. 110-17), Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion With Respect to Taxes on Income, with accompanying Protocol, signed at Washington on February 23, 2007 (the ``Proposed Treaty''), as well as the Protocol Amending the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Bulgaria for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion With Respect to Taxes on Income, signed at Sofia on February 26, 2008 (Treaty Doc. 110-18), International Convention on the Control of Harmful Anti-Fouling Systems on Ships, 2001 (the ``Convention'') (Treaty Doc. 110-13), 1996 Protocol to the Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter (the ``London Convention''), done in London on November 7, 1996, the Protocol was signed by the United States on March 31, 1998, and entered into force on March 24, 2006 (Treaty Doc. 110- 05), Protocol Concerning Pollution from Land-Based Sources and Activities (the ``Protocol'') to the Convention for the Protection and Development of the Marine Environment of the Wider Caribbean Region, with Annexes, done at Oranjestad, Aruba, on October 6, 1999, and signed by the United States on that same date (Treaty Doc. 110-01), Amendments to the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 1992), as Amended by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Kyoto, 1994) and the Plenipotentiary Conference (Marrakesh, 2002), Together with the Declarations and Reservations by the United States, all as contained in the Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference (Antalya, 2006) (Treaty Doc. 110-16), Amendments to the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union (Geneva, 1992), as amended by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Kyoto, 1994) and the Plenipotentiary Conference (Minneapolis, 1998), together with the declarations and reservations by the United States, all as contained in the Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference (Marrakesh, 2002) (Treaty Doc. 109- 11), 1995 Revision of the Radio Regulations, with appendices, signed by the United States at Geneva on November 17, 1995 (the ``1995 Revision''), together with declarations and reservations of the United States as contained in the Final Acts of the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC-95) (Treaty Doc. 108-28), Amendments to the Constitution and Convention of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU) (Geneva, 1992), as amended by the Plenipotentiary Conference (Kyoto, 1994), together with declarations and reservations by the United States as contained in the Final Acts of the Plenipotentiary Conference (Minneapolis, 1998) (Treaty Doc. 108-05), and 1992 Partial Revision of the Radio Regulations (Geneva, 1979), with appendices, signed by the United States at Malaga-Torremolinos on March 3, 1992 (the ``1992 Partial Revision''), together with declarations and reservations of the United States as contained in the Final Acts of the World Administrative Radio Conference for Dealing with Frequency Allocations in Certain Parts of the Spectrum (WARC-92) (Treaty Doc. 107-17), after receiving testimony from Emily S. McMahon, Deputy Chief of Staff, Joint Committee on Taxation, United States Congress; Michael F. Mundaca, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for International Tax Affairs; and David A. Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, Bureau of Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs, and Richard C. Beaird, Senior Deputy Coordinator for International Communications and Information Policy, Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs, both of the Department of State. ISLAMIST EXTREMISM Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the roots of violent Islamist extremism and efforts to counter it, after receiving testimony from Michael Leiter, Director, National Counterterrorism Center; Maajid Nawaz, Quilliam Foundation, Essex, United Kingdom; Peter P. Mandaville, George Mason University Center for Global Studies, Fairfax, Virginia; and Zeyno Baran, Hudson Institute, and Fathali M. Moghaddam, Georgetown University Department of Government, both of Washington, D.C. [[Page D867]] PASSPORT FILES PRIVACY Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine issues relative to passport files, focusing on privacy protection for all Americans, after receiving testimony from Harold W. Geisel, Acting Inspector General, and Mark W. Duda, Assistant Inspector General for Audits, both of the Office of Inspector General, Department of State; and Marc Rotenberg, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Ari Schwartz, Center for Democracy and Technology, and Alan Charles Raul, Sidley Austin LLP, all of Washington, D.C. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community. Committee recessed subject to the call. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 29 public bills, H.R. 6452- 6480; and 10 resolutions, H. Res. 1329-1338 were introduced. Pages H6405-07 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H6407-08 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 3999, to amend title 23, United States Code, to improve the safety of Federal-aid highway bridges, to strengthen bridge inspection standards and processes, and to increase investment in the reconstruction of structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System (H. Rept. 110-750); H.R. 2490, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a pilot program for the mobile biometric identification in the maritime environment of aliens unlawfully attempting to enter the United States, with amendments (H. Rept. 110-751); H.R. 6098, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to improve the financial assistance provided to State, local, and tribal governments for information sharing activities, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110- 752); H.R. 5464, to direct the Attorney General to make an annual grant to the A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center to assist law enforcement agencies in the rapid recovery of missing children (H. Rept. 110-753); Supplemental report on H.R. 5959, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 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. 110-665, Pt. 2); and H.R. 3036, to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 regarding environmental education, with amendments (H. Rept. 110- 754). Page H6405 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative Tauscher to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H6345 Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Major Matthew P. Franke, Chaplain, United States Air Force. Page H6345 Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act--Motion to go to Conference: The House disagreed to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 3121, to restore the financial solvency of the national flood insurance program and to provide for such program to make available multiperil coverage for damage resulting from windstorms and floods, and agreed to a conference. Pages H6355-63, H6377-78 Agreed to the Neugebauer motion to instruct conferees on the bill by a yea-and-nay vote of 385 yeas to 26 nays, Roll No. 485. Page H6377 Later, the Chair appointed the following Members of the House to the conference committee on the bill: from the Committee on Financial Services, for consideration of the House bill and the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Frank (MA), Kanjorski, Waters, Watt, Clay, Klein (FL), Mahoney (FL), Bachus, Biggert, Capito, Garrett (NJ), and Price (GA). Page H6378 From the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for consideration of sec. 302 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Dingell, Boucher, and Barton (TX). Page H6378 From the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for consideration of secs. 7 and 22 of the House bill, and secs. 107, 119, and 301 of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives Eddie Bernice Johnson (TX), Braley (IA), and Graves. Page H6378 For consideration of secs. 7 and 35 of the House bill, and sec. 128 of the Senate amendment, and [[Page D868]] modifications committed to conference: Representative Taylor. Page H6378 Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Designation Act: The House passed H.R. 1286, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, by a recorded vote of 345 ayes to 69 noes, Roll No. 484. Pages H6349-55, H6363-77 A point of order was sustained against the first Fallin motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Natural Resources with instructions to report the same back to the House promptly with an amendment. Pages H6374-75 Rejected the second Fallin motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Natural Resources with instructions to report the same back to the House promptly with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 202 yeas to 211 nays, Roll No. 483. Pages H6375-76 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in part A of H. Rept. 110-744, shall be considered an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule. Page H6371 Accepted: Bishop (UT) amendment (No. 1 printed in part B of H. Rept. 110-744) that amends the language in the bill prohibiting the use of eminent domain by the Federal government to specifically prohibit the Federal government from acquiring, for the trail, from State or local governments, land acquired by a State or local government through its own use of eminent domain and Pages H6371-72 Pearce amendment (No. 2 printed in part B of H. Rept. 110-744) that requires the Secretary to complete and submit to Congress a report on the energy resources included in the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail (by a recorded vote of 424 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 482). Pages H6372-73 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H6378 H. Res. 1317, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 182 nays, Roll No. 481, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 226 yeas to 185 nays, Roll No. 480. Pages H6363-64 Order of Procedure: The House agreed by unanimous consent that the motions to suspend the rules relating to the following measures be considered as adopted in the form considered by the House on Wednesday, July 9th: Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the first American woman in space, Dr. Sally K. Ride, and honoring her contributions to the space program and to science education: H. Res. 1313, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the first American woman in space, Dr. Sally K. Ride, and to honor her contributions to the space program and to science education and Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration: H. Res. 1315, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Providing for certain Federal employee benefits to be continued for certain employees of the Senate Restaurants after operations of the Senate Restaurants are contracted to be performed by a private business concern: The House passed by unanimous consent S. 2967, to provide for certain Federal employee benefits to be continued for certain employees of the Senate Restaurants after operations of the Senate Restaurants are contracted to be performed by a private business concern--clearing the measure for the President. Pages H6378-80 Honoring the life of Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr., distinguished former Senator from North Carolina: The House agreed to discharge from committee and agree to H. Res. 1325, to honor the life of Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr., distinguished former Senator from North Carolina. Page H6380 Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, July 14th for morning hour debate. Pages H6383, H6403 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, July 16th. Page H6384 Privileged Resolution--Intent to Offer: Representative Kucinich announced his intent to offer a privileged resolution. Pages H6384-86 Supplemental Report: Agreed that the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence be permitted to file a supplemental report on H.R. 5959, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System. Page H6387 Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H6363-64, H6364, [[Page D869]] H6373, H6376, H6376-77 and H6377. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:52 p.m. Committee Meetings COMMODITY EXCHANGE ACT AMENDMENTS Committee on Agriculture: Continued hearings to review legislation amending the Commodity Exchange Act. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. Hearings continue tomorrow. CFTC Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on the CFTC. Testimony was heard from Walter L. Lukken, Acting Chairman, CFTC; and public witnesses. ELECTROMAGNETIC PULSE ATTACK THREAT Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on threat posed by Electromagnetic Pulse Attack. Testimony was heard from William R. Graham, Chair, Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse Attack. AIR FORCE AERIAL REFUELING TANKER REPLACEMENT Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces held a hearing on the source selection and path forward regarding the Air Force KC-(X) Program. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the GAO: Daniel Gordon, Deputy General Counsel; and Michael Golden, Managing Associate General Counsel, Procurement Law Division; and John J. Young, Jr., Under Secretary, Acquisition, Technology and Logistics, Department of Defense. PRISONER OF WAR/MISSING PERSONNEL ACTIVITIES Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held an oversight and status hearing of POW-MIA activities. Testimony was heard from .the following officials of the Department of Defense: RADM Donna L. Crisp, USN, Commander, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command; and Charles A. Ray, Deputy Assistant Secretary, POW/Missing Personnel Affairs. CARBON CAPTURE AND STORAGE EARLY DEPLOYMENT ACT Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality held a hearing on H.R. 6258, Carbon Capture and Storage Early Deployment Act. Testimony was heard from James Y. Kerr II, Commissioner, Utilities Commission, State of North Carolina; and public witnesses. FINANCIAL MARKETS Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Systemic Risk and the Financial Markets.'' Testimony was heard from Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Secretary of the Treasury; and Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT POLITICIZATION Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law held a hearing on the Politicization of the Justice Department and Allegations of Selective Prosecution. Karl Rove, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff, refused to appear to answer questions in accordance with his obligations under the subpoena served on him on May 22, 2008, based on claims of Executive Privilege. The Chair ruled that those claims are not legally valid and that Mr. Rove is required pursuant to the subpoena to be present at this hearing and to answer questions or to assert privilege with respect to specific questions. IMMIGRATION AND NATIONALITY ACT AMENDMENTS; PRIVATE RELIEF MEASURES Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law approved for full Committee action H.R. 6034, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for relief to surviving spouses and children. The Subcommittee also approved private relief measures. GLOBAL BIRD POPULATION DECLINE Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans held an oversight hearing entitled ``Going, Going, Gone? An Assessment of the Global Decline in Bird Populations.'' Testimony was heard from Paul R. Schmidt, Assistant Director, Migratory Birds and State Programs, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; David Erickson, Assistant Director, Department of Conservation, State of Missouri; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 160, Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act; H.R. 1847, National Trails System Willing Seller Act; H.R. 2933, Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of [[Page D870]] 2007; H.R. 3299, To provide for a boundary adjustment and land conveyance involving Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado, to correct the effects of an erroneous land survey that resulted in approximately 7 acres of the Crystal Lakes Subdivision, Ninth Filing, encroaching on National Forest System land; H.R. 3336, Camp Hale Historic District Study Act; H.R. 3849, Box Elder Utah Land Conveyance Act; H.R. 5263, Forest Landscape Restoration Act; H.R. 5751, Walnut Canyon Study Act of 2008; and H.R. 6177, Rio Grande Wild and Scenic River Extension Act of 2008. Testimony was heard from Representatives Pastor, Rodriguez, Gary G. Miller of California, and Musgrave; Sally Collins, Associate Chief, Forest Service, USDA; Stephen E. Whitesell, Associate Director, Park Planing, Facilities, and Lands, National Park Service, Department of the Interior; former Representative J. Alex McMillan III, of North Carolina; and public witnesses. THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN/MINORITY OPPORTUNITIES Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia held a hearing on Investing in the Future: Minority Opportunities and the TSP. Testimony was heard from Gregory T. Long, Executive Director, Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board; and public witnesses. REDUCING CENSUS 2010 UNDERCOUNT Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives held a hearing on 2010 Census: Using the Communication Campaign to Effectively Reduce the Undercount. Testimony was heard from Stephen H. Murdock, Director, Bureau of the Census, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses. COASTLINES' HARMFUL ALGAL BLOOMS Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing on Harmful Algal Blooms: The Challenges on the Nation's Coastlines. Testimony was heard from Robert Magnien, Director, Center for Sponsored Coastal Ocean Research, NOAA, Department of Commerce; Dan Ayres, Coastal Shellfish Manager and Lead Biologist, Department of Fish and Wildlife Region Six Office, State of Washington; and public witnesses. GREEN TECHNOLOGIES SPURRING ECONOMIC GROWTH Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the Role of Green Technologies in Spurring Economic Growth. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. VETERAN INDEPENDENT LIVING Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held a hearing on Independent Living. Testimony was heard from Ruth Fanning, Director, Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; representatives of veterans organizations; and public witnesses. VETERANS HEALTH MEASURES Committee on Veterans Affairs: Subcommittee on Health approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 1527, amended, Rural Veterans Access to Care Act; H.R. 6114, Simplifying and Updating National Standards to Encourage Testing of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus of 2008; H.R. 6122, Veterans Pain Care Act of 2008; H.R. 6366, Veterans Revenue Enhancement Act of 2008; H.R. 6439, Mental Health for Heroes' Families Act of 2008; and H.R. 6445, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled. BRIEFING--IC HUMINT Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence met in executive session to receive a briefing on IC HUMINT. The Subcommittee was briefed by departmental witnesses. EXTREME WEATHER--GLOBAL WARMING EFFECTS Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a hearing entitled ``Global Warming Effects on Extreme Weather.'' Testimony was heard from Angela Licata, Deputy Commissioner, Bureau of Environmental Planning and Analysis, New York City; and public witnesses. Joint Meetings RETIREMENT SECURITY Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine public pension plans, focusing on the need to strengthen retirement security and economic growth, after receiving testimony from Barbara D. Bovbjerg, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Government Accountability Office; William Pryor, Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association Board of Investments, Pasadena, California, on behalf of the National Conference on Public Employee Retirement Systems; Sherrill Neff, Quaker BioVentures, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and Christian E. Weller, University of Massachusetts Boston, on behalf of the Center for American Progress. [[Page D871]] COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, JULY 11, 2008 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House Committee on Agriculture, to continue hearings to review legislation amending the Commodity Exchange Act, 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, hearing on GSA's Capital Investment Program: Fiscal Year 2009, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. 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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 D872]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 3:30 p.m., Friday, July 11 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will continue consideration of H.R. 3221, Foreclosure Prevention Act, and vote on the motion to disagree to the amendment of the House adding a new title and inserting a new section to the amendment of the Senate to the bill at approximately 5:20 p.m.; following which, Senate will continue consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2731, Tom Lantos And Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/Aids, Tuberculosis, And Malaria Reauthorization Act, and vote on the motion to invoke cloture. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 12:30 p.m., Monday, July 14 House Chamber Program for Monday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Altmire, Jason, Pa., E1429 Bachmann, Michele, Minn., E1430 Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E1441 Buyer, Steve, Ind., E1436 Cardoza, Dennis A., Calif., E1438 Carnahan, Russ, Mo., E1440 Cohen, Steve, Tenn., E1438 Delahunt, William D., Mass., E1431 Etheridge, Bob, N.C., E1441 Filner, Bob, Calif., E1429 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E1432, E1434 Hayes, Robin, N.C., E1436 Honda, Michael M., Calif., E1444 Hoyer, Steny H., Md., E1439 Jackson-Lee, Sheila, Tex., E1441 Jefferson, William J., La., E1435, E1441 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E1442 Larson, John B., Conn., E1439 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1442, E1444 McMorris Rodgers, Cathy, Wash., E1430 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E1431, E1435, E1438 Manzullo, Donald A., Ill., E1433 Murphy, Patrick J., Pa., E1442 Neugebauer, Randy, Tex., E1440 Olver, John W., Mass., E1436 Paul, Ron, Tex., E1429 Pelosi, Nancy, Calif., E1429 Poe, Ted, Tex., E1432, E1434, E1435, E1437 Price, David E., N.C., E1430 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E1432, E1435, E1437, E1437 Rush, Bobby L., Ill., E1442 Shimkus, John, Ill., E1433, E1435, E1438 Solis, Hilda L., Calif., E1444 Stark, Fortney Pete, Calif., E1430 Stearns, Cliff, Fla., E1440 Udall, Mark, Colo., E1434 Weller, Jerry, Ill., E1437