Thursday, May 8, 2008 [[Page D573]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS House Committee ordered reported the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S3935-S3986 Measures Introduced: Eight bills and three resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2993-3000, and S. Res. 555-557. Page S3975 Measures Reported: S. 2996, 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. (S. Rept. No. 110-333) S.J. Res. 28, disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to broadcast media ownership. (S. Rept. No. 110-334) S. Res. 537, commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as law enforcement officers. Pages S3974-75 Measures Passed: Law Enforcement Officers: Senate agreed to S. Res. 537, commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as law enforcement officers. Pages S3984-85 Congratulating Charter Schools: Senate agreed to S. Res. 556, congratulating charter schools and their students, parents, teachers, and administrators across the United States for their ongoing contributions to education. Pages S3985-86 Measures Considered: Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 2284, to amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, to restore the financial solvency of the flood insurance fund, and taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S3946-66 Adopted: Dodd (for Coburn) Amendment No. 4724 (to Amendment No. 4707), to study alternative approaches to ensure the future of the National Flood Insurance Program by requiring greater efficiency and financial accountability. Page S3961 Dodd (for Coburn) Amendment No. 4725 (to Amendment No. 4707), to deny premium subsidies to homeowners who refuse to accept an offer of Federal assistance to alter or relocate their property in an effort to minimize future flood damages and costs. Page S3961 Dodd (for McCaskill) Amendment No. 4727 (to Amendment No. 4707), to impose a civil penalty for noncompliance with certain reporting requirements. Page S3961 Dodd (for McCaskill) Modified Amendment No. 4728 (to Amendment No. 4707), to require clear and comprehensible disclosure of conditions, exclusions, and other limitations pertaining to flood insurance coverage. Page S3962 Dodd (for Dole) Amendment No. 4730 (to Amendment No. 4707), to provide two additional members to the Technical Mapping Advisory Council. Page S3962 Dodd (for Menendez) Modified Amendment No. 4733 (to Amendment No. 4707), to require the Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency to enhance communication and outreach to States, communities, and property owners about the effects of changes to flood risk maps and flood insurance purchase requirements, and to engage with communities to enhance communication and outreach to their residents on such matters. Page S3962 Dodd (for Thune/Johnson) Amendment No. 4735 (to Amendment No. 4707), to modify the project for flood control, Big Sioux River and Skunk Creek, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Page S3962 [[Page D574]] Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4736 (to Amendment No. 4707), to ensure that the purchase price of flood insurance policies required to be purchased in areas of residual risk accurately reflects the level of flood protection provided by any levee, dam, or other man-made structure in such area. Page S3962 DeMint Amendment No. 4711 (to Amendment No. 4707), to require the Director to conduct a study on the impact, effectiveness, and feasibility of amending section 1361 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to include widely used and nationally recognized building codes as part of the floodplain management criteria developed under such section. Page S3946 Landrieu/Nelson (FL) Further Modified Amendment No. 4706 (to Amendment No. 4707), to improve the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate. Pages S3946, S3962-64 By 68 yeas to 24 nays (Vote No. 122), Durbin Modified Amendment No. 4715 (to Amendment No. 4707), to provide that no changes in flood insurance status for any areas located in the St. Louis District of the Corps of Engineers can go into effect until the remapping process is completed for that entire District. Pages S3951-52, S3964-65 Withdrawn: Coburn Amendment No. 4716 (to Amendment No. 4707), to require persons located in flood prone areas to hold flood insurance as a condition for receiving federal disaster assistance. Pages S3947-48 Nelson (FL) Amendment No. 4709 (to Amendment No. 4707), to establish a National Catastrophe Risks Consortium and a National Homeowners' Insurance Stabilization Program. Page S3946 DeMint Modified Amendment No. 4710 (to Amendment No. 4707), to end the premium subsidy for any property purchased after the date of enactment of this Act. Pages S3946, S3958-59 Ensign/Reid Amendment No. 4734 (to Amendment No. 4707), to provide compensation to the citizens of Fernley, Nevada damaged by the failure of the Truckee Canal. Pages S3950-51, S3960 Pending: Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4707, in the nature of a substitute. Page S3946 McConnell Amendment No. 4720 (to the text of the bill proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 4707), of a perfecting nature. Page S3946 Allard Amendment No. 4721 (to Amendment No. 4720), of a perfecting nature. Page S3946 During consideration of this measure today, the Senate also took the following action: By 70 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. 121), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, having voted in the affirmative, Senate agreed to the motion to waive section 201 of S. Con. Res. 21, FY08 Congressional Budget Resolution, with respect to Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4707, in the nature of a substitute. The point of order that the amendment was in violation of section 201 of S. Con. Res. 21, FY08 Congressional Budget Resolution, was not sustained. Page S3950 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that no further amendments be in order, except as provided in a previous agreement with respect to McConnell and Reid amendments; that the previous order with respect to roll call votes on Monday, May 12, 2008, be modified to reflect that the previously ordered votes occur on Tuesday, May 13, 2008, after Senate convenes and following the opening sequence of events, that there be 60 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between the Leaders, or their designees, prior to the commencement of the votes ordered under a previous order; that prior to each vote there be two minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form, and that after the first vote in the sequence, each succeeding vote be limited to ten minutes in duration; that the other provisions of the previous order remain in effect; provided further, that if cloture is invoked on the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 980, Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act, that all post-cloture time be yielded back, and the motion to proceed be agreed to. Page S3964 Senate will resume consideration of the bill on Tuesday, May 13, 2008. Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination: William J. Burns, of the District of Columbia, to be an Under Secretary of State (Political Affairs). (Prior to this action, Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged from further consideration.) Page S3986 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Glen E. Conrad, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit. Donetta Davidson, of Colorado, to be a Member of the Election Assistance Commission for a term expiring December 12, 2011. Rosemary E. Rodriguez, of Colorado, to be a Member of the Election Assistance Commission for a term expiring December 12, 2011. A routine list in the Army. Page S3986 Messages from the House: Page S3974 Measures Referred: Page S3974 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Pages S3935, S3974 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S3975 [[Page D575]] Additional Cosponsors: Pages S3975-76 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S3976-83 Additional Statements: Pages S3973-74 Amendments Submitted: Pages S3981-83 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Pages S3983-84 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S3984 Privileges of the Floor: Page S3984 Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--122) Pages S3950, S3965 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 5:42 p.m., until 2 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3986.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: ARMY AND AIR FORCE Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the United States Army and Air Force, after receiving testimony from Keith E. Eastin, Assistant Secretary for Installations and Environment, Lieutenant General Robert Wilson, U.S. Army Assistant Chief of Staff, Installation Management, Major General Raymond W. Carpenter, Special Assistant to the Director, Army National Guard, and Brigadier General Julia Ann Kraus, Deputy Chief, Army Reserve, all of the Department of the Army, and Kathleen I. Ferguson, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Installations, Brigadier General James Rubeor, Deputy to the Chief of the Air Force Reserve, and Brigadier General Stanley Clarke III, Deputy Director, Air National Guard, all of the Department of the Air Force, all of the Department of Defense. FUTUREGEN PROGRAM Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development concluded a hearing to examine the Department of Energy's decision to restructure the FutureGen program and obtain information about the elements of the original and revised approaches to advance carbon capture and storage technologies, after receiving testimony from Samuel W. Bodman, Secretary of Energy; and Paul Thompson, FutureGen Alliance, Washington, D.C. U.S. CLIMATE MODELING Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing on improving the capacity of United States climate modeling-- using quantitative methods to simulate the interactions of the atmosphere, oceans, land surface, and ice to project the future climate, after receiving testimony from Alexander MacDonald, Deputy Assistant Administrator for Laboratories and Cooperative Institutes, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; James J. Hack, Director, National Center for Computational Sciences, Oak Ridge National Laboratory; Bruce K. Carlisle, Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, Boston; Daniel A. Reed, Computing Research Association (CRA), Redmond, Washington; Edward Sarachik, University of Washington, Seattle; and John E. Walsh, University of Alaska, Fairbanks. MOVEMENT OF GOODS Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the importance to the economy of the United States of the efficient movement of goods on the nation's highways and to explore ways to improve the efficiency, after receiving testimony from Michael Gallis, Michael Gallis and Associates, Charlotte, North Carolina; Charles Potts, Heritage Construction and Materials, Indianapolis, Indiana, on behalf of the American Road and Transportation Builders Association; and Mortimer Downey, Coalition for America's Gateways and Trade Corridors, Washington, D.C. SOCIAL SECURITY FIELD OFFICES Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Social Security field offices, focusing on the resources and workforce needed to deliver quality service to the public, after receiving testimony from Barbara D. Bovbjerg, Director, Education, Workforce, and Income Security, Government Accountability Office; Linda S. McMahon, Deputy Commissioner for Operations, Social Security Administration; Richard E. Warsinskey, National Council of Social Security Management Associations, Inc., Washington, D.C.; and Witold Skwierczynski, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), Baltimore, Maryland. NEXT GENERATION OF FEDERAL EMPLOYEES Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia concluded a hearing to examine recruiting and hiring the next generation of federal [[Page D576]] employees, after receiving testimony from Robert N. Goldenkoff, Director, Strategic Issues, Government Accountability Office; Angela Bailey, Deputy Associate Director for Talent and Capacity Policy, United States Office of Personnel Management; John Crum, Acting Director, Office of Policy and Evaluation, United States Merit Systems Protection Board; James F. McDermott, Director, Office of Human Resources, United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission; John Gage, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), AFL-CIO, Colleen M. Kelley, National Treasury Employees Union, Max Stier, Partnership for Public Service, and Dan Solomon, Virilion, Inc., all of Washington, D.C.; and Donna Mathews, Hewitt Associates, LLC, Falls Church, Virginia. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Nanci E. Langley, of Virginia, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Regulatory Commission, and Andrew Saul, of New York, Alejandro Modesto Sanchez, of Florida, and Gordon James Whiting, of New York, each to be a Member of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. FIGHTING CANCER Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine cancer relating to challenges and opportunities in the 21st century, after receiving testimony from Elizabeth Edwards, Center for American Progress, Steve Case, Revolution LLC, and Gregory C. Simon, FasterCures, all of Washington, D.C.; Lance Armstrong, Lance Armstrong Foundation, Austin, Texas; Edward J. Benz, Jr., Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts; and Hala Moddelmog, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Dallas, Texas. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following: S. 2840, to establish a liaison with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to expedite naturalization applications filed by members of the Armed Forces and to establish a deadline for processing such applications, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2504, to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America; and S. Res. 537, commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as law enforcement officers. 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. Joint Meetings RUSSIAN FEDERATION PRESIDENT Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded a hearing to examine the future administration of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitri Medvedev, focusing on the United States and Russia's relationship, after receiving testimony from Daniel Fried, Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs; Celeste A. Wallander, Georgetown University Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies, and Stephen Blank, United States Army War College Strategic Studies Institute, both of Washington, D.C.; and David Foglesong, Rutgers University Department of History, New Brunswick, New Jersey. NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D569) S. 2457, to provide for extensions of leases of certain land by Mashantucket Pequot (Western) Tribe. Signed on May 8, 2008. (Public Law 110-228) S. 2739, to authorize certain programs and activities in the Department of the Interior, the Forest Service, and the Department of Energy, to implement further the Act approving the Covenant to Establish a Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in Political Union with the United States of America, to amend the Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2003. Signed on May 8, 2008. (Public Law 110-229) [[Page D577]] House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 28 public bills, H.R. 5993- 6020; and 10 resolutions, H.J. Res. 82-83; H. Con. Res. 346-347; and H. Res. 1181-1186, were introduced. Pages H3401-03 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H3403-05 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 3021, to direct the Secretary of Education to make grants and low-interest loans to local educational agencies for the construction, modernization, or repair of public kindergarten, elementary, and secondary educational facilities, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-623); H.R. 5781, to provide that 8 of the 12 weeks of parental leave made available to a Federal employee shall be paid leave, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-624, Pt. 1); and H.R. 752, to direct Federal agencies to donate excess and surplus Federal electronic equipment, including computers, computer components, printers, and fax machines, to qualifying small towns, counties, schools, nonprofit organizations, and libraries, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-625). Page H3401 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative McNulty to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H3189 Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008: The House passed H.R. 5818, to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make loans to States to acquire foreclosed housing and to make grants to States for related costs, by a recorded vote of 239 ayes to 188 noes, Roll No. 299. Consideration of the measure began on Wednesday, May 7th. Pages H3191-S3202 Rejected the Shadegg motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Financial Services with instructions to report the same back to the House promptly with amendments, by a recorded vote of 210 ayes to 216 noes, Roll No. 298. Pages H3196-S3202 Agreed to sustain the ruling of the chair on a point of order raised by Representative Westmoreland by a recorded vote of 235 ayes to 182 noes with 6 voting ``present'', Roll No. 296. Pages H3193-94 Accepted: Altmire amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that was debated on Wednesday, May 7th that clarifies that illegal immigrants shall be ineligible for financial assistance under the bill (by a recorded vote of 391 ayes to 33 noes, Roll No. 297). Page H3194 Rejected: Hensarling amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that was debated on Wednesday, May 7th that sought to strike all references in the bill to providing grants to states, but leave the underlying loan program intact. Money from the grant portion of the bill ($7.5 billion) would be re-directed to the loan portion (for a total of $15 billion in loans) (by a recorded vote of 190 ayes to 219 noes, Roll No. 295). Pages H3191-92 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H3311 H. Res. 1174, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to on Wednesday, May 7th. Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures which were debated on Tuesday, May 6th: Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2008: H.R. 4279, amended, to enhance remedies for violations of intellectual property laws, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 410 ayes to 11 noes, Roll No. 300; Pages H3202-03 Recognizing National Nurses Week on May 6 through May 12, 2008: H. Res. 1086, to recognize National Nurses Week on May 6 through May 12, 2008; Page H3203 Exempting the African National Congress from treatment as a terrorist organization for certain acts or events, provide relief for certain members of the African National Congress regarding admissibility: H.R. 5690, amended, to exempt the African National Congress from treatment as a terrorist organization for certain acts or events and to provide relief for certain members of the African National Congress regarding admissibility; Page H3203 Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To remove the African National Congress from treatment as a terrorist organization for certain acts or events, provide relief for certain members of the African National Congress regarding admissibility, and for other purposes.''. Page H3203 Amending the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for compensation to States incarcerating undocumented aliens charged with a felony or two or more misdemeanors: H.R. 1512, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for compensation to States incarcerating undocumented aliens charged with a felony or two or more misdemeanors; and Page H3203 [[Page D578]] Coin Modernization and Taxpayer Savings Act of 2008: H.R. 5512, amended, to authorize the Secretary of the Treasury to prescribe the weights and the compositions of circulating coins. Pages H3203-04 Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To reduce the costs of producing 1-cent and 5-cent coins, provide authority to the Secretary of the Treasury to perform research and development on new metallic content for circulating coins, and to require biennial reports to Congress on circulating coin production costs and possible alternative metallic content.'' Page H3204 Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008: The House agreed to the Senate amendment with amendments, made in order by the rule and printed in H. Rept. 110-622, to H.R. 3221, moving the United States toward greater energy independence and security, developing innovative new technologies, reducing carbon emissions, creating green jobs, protecting consumers, increasing clean renewable energy production, and modernizing our energy infrastructure, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation. Pages H3204-H3308 On a division of the question, the House agreed to the Senate amendment with amendment No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-622 by a yea- and-nay vote of 266 yeas to 154 nays, Roll No. 301. Pages H3306-07 On a division of the question, the House agreed to the Senate amendment with amendment No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-622 by a recorded vote of 322 ayes to 94 noes, Roll No. 302. Page H3307 On a division of the question, the House agreed to the Senate amendment with amendment No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-622 by a recorded vote of 256 ayes to 160 noes, Roll No. 303. Pages H3307-08 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H3311 H. Res. 1175, the rule providing for consideration of the Senate amendments, was agreed to on Wednesday, May 7th. Food and Energy Security Act of 2007--Motion to Instruct Conferees: Rejected the Flake motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, by a yea-and-nay vote of 128 yeas to 274 nays, Roll No. 304. Consideration of the motion began on Tuesday, May 6th. Pages H3308-09 Food and Energy Security Act of 2007--Motion to Instruct Conferees: Rejected the Cantor motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, by a yea-and-nay vote of 169 yeas to 222 nays, Roll No. 305. Consideration of the motion began on Wednesday, May 7th. Page H3309 Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism--Appointment: Read a letter from Representative Boehner, Minority Leader, in which he appointed Mr. Henry Sokolski of Arlington, Virginia and Mr. Stephen Rademaker of McLean, Virginia to the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism. Page H3309 Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 2 p.m. on Monday, May 12th, and further, that when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13th for morning hour debate. Page H3311 Food and Energy Security Act of 2007--Motion to Instruct Conferees: The House began consideration of the Upton motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012. Further proceedings were postponed. Pages H3311-12 Food and Energy Security Act of 2007--Motion to Instruct Conferees: The House began consideration of the Skimkus motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012. Further proceedings were postponed. Pages H3312-17 Food and Energy Security Act of 2007--Motion to Instruct Conferees: The House considered the Terry motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012. Agreed by unanimous consent that the motion be withdrawn. Pages H3317-19 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H3189. Senate Referrals: S. Con. Res. 72 was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and S. Con. Res. 81 was held at the desk. Page H3189 Quorum Calls--Votes:Three yea-and-nay votes and eight recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H3192, H3193-94, H3194, H3201-02, H3202, H3203, H3306-07, H3307, H3307-08, H3308-09 and H3309. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:28 p.m. [[Page D579]] Committee Meetings NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Readiness approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities approved for full Committee action H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. FINANCING INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS Committee on the Budget: and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a joint hearing on Financing Infrastructure Investments. Testimony was heard from Peter R. Orszag, Director, CBO; and Patricia A. Dalton, Managing Director, Physical Infrastructure Team, GAO. NATIONAL ARTS AND HUMANITIES PROGRAMS Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities held a hearing on The National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts: Overview of Programs and National Impact. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the National Foundation on the Arts and the Humanities: Bruce Cole, Chairman, National Endowment for the Humanities; and Dana Gioia, Chairman, National Endowment for the Arts; William F. Glacken, Mayor, Freeport, New York; and public witnesses. STEM CELL SCIENCE Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``Stem Cell Science: The Foundation for Future Cures.'' Testimony was heard from Elias A. Zerhouni, M.D., Director, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER ADVERTISING Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: Marketing, Education, or Deception.'' Testimony was heard from Marcia G. Crosse, Director, Health Care, GAO; and public witnesses. FEDERAL GULF COAST HOUSING FUNDS Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Emergency CDBG Funds in the Gulf Coast: Uses, Challenges, and Lessons for the Future.'' Testimony was heard from Stanley Gimont, Acting Director, Block Grant Programs, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Bill Johnson, Director, Department of Economic and Community Affairs, State of Alabama; Gail Stafford, Administrator, Community Development Block Grant Funds, Department of Community Affairs, State of Florida, David Bowman, Director, Research and Special Projects, Recovery Authority, State of Louisiana; Jack Norris, Director, Governor's Office of Recovery and Renewal, State of Mississippi; William Dally, Deputy Executive Director, Department of Housing and Community Affairs, State of Texas; and public witnesses. U.S. MIDDLE EAST AID Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia held a hearing on U.S. Assistance to the Middle East: Old Tools for New Tasks? Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of State: C. David Welch, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; and George A. Laudato, Administrator's Special Assistant for the Middle East, The Middle East Bureau, U.S. Agency for International Development. CENTRAL AMERICA ORGANIZED CRIME INITIATIVE Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere held a hearing on Central America and the Merida Initiative. Testimony was heard from Thomas A. Shannon, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs; and public witnesses. PERFORMANCE-BASED ACQUISITIONS Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing entitled ``Performance Based Acquisitions: Creating Solutions or Causing Problems?'' Testimony was heard from John Hutton, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, GAO; Thomas Essig, Chief Procurement Officer, Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses. [[Page D580]] MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security and International Law approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 4080, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a separate nonimmigrant classification for fashion models. The Subcommittee also approved private relief bills. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3840, To prohibit commercial fishing of Atlantic menhaden for reduction purposes in inland, State, and Federal water along the Atlantic coast of the United States, and for other purposes; and H.R. 3841, To prohibit the commercial harvesting of Atlantic menhaden for reduction purposes in the coastal waters and the exclusive economic zone. Testimony was heard from Peyton Robertson, Director, Chesapeake Bay Office, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 155, Lower Brule and Crow Creek Tribal Compensation Act; H.R. 5511, Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Remediation Act of 2008; and H.R. 5710, Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System Authorization Act. Testimony was heard from Robert Quint, Director of Operations, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the Interior; Martha Rudolph, Director, Environmental Programs, Department of Public Health and Environment, State of Colorado; and public witnesses. UNIVERSAL MAIL ECONOMICS Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia held a hearing on The Economics of Universal Mail Post PAEA. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the U.S. Postal Service: John E. Potter, Postmaster General, and CEO; and David C. Williams, Inspector General; Dan Blair, Chairman, Postal Regulatory Commission; and public witnesses. WOMEN IN ACADEMIC SCIENCE/ENGINEERING Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing on Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 2008. Testimony was heard from Lynda T. Carlson, Director, Division of Science Resource Statistics, Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences, NSF; Linda G. Blevins, Senior Technical Advisor, Office of the Deputy Director for Science and Programs, Department of Energy; and a public witness. MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE CUTS SMALL PRACTICE IMPACTS Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Medicare Physician Fee Cuts: Can Small Practices Survive.'' Testimony was heard from Herb B. Kuhn, Deputy Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. FOSTER CHILDREN's PSYCHOTROPIC MEDICATION USE Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support held a hearing on the Utilization of Psychotropic Medication for Children in Foster Care. Testimony was heard from Jeffery Thompson, M.D., Department of Social and Health Services, State of Washington; Tricia Lea, Director, Medical and Behavioral Services, Department of Children's Services, State of Tennessee; and public witnesses INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION FISCAL YEAR 2009 Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 5959, Intelligence Authorization Act for fiscal Year 2009. CLIMATE MEASURES--ROLE OF EFFICIENCY POLICIES Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a hearing entitled ``Negawatts: The Role of Efficiency Policies in Climate Legislation.'' Testimony was heard from Paul DeCotis, Deputy Secretary of Energy, State of New York; Dian Grueneich, Commissioner, Public Utilities Commission, State of California; and public witnesses. CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD Week of May 12 through May 17, 2008 Senate Chamber On Monday, Senate will be in a period of morning business. On Tuesday, Senate will resume consideration of S. 2284, Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act, vote on certain amendments and on passage of the bill; following which, Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 980, Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperative Act. During the balance of the week, Senate may consider any cleared legislative and executive business. [[Page D581]] Senate Committees (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Committee on Appropriations: May 14, Subcommittee on Defense, to hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the United States National Guard and Reserve, 9:30 a.m., SD-192. May 14, Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, to hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the Federal Trade Commission, 3 p.m., SD-192. May 15, Full Committee, business meeting to mark up the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2008, 2 p.m., SD- 106. Committee on Armed Services: May 15, business meeting to consider pending military nominations, 9:30 a.m., SR-222. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: May 15, to hold hearings to examine the condition of our nation's infrastructure, focusing on perspectives from our nation's mayors, 10 a.m., SD-538. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: May 13, to hold an oversight hearing to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2009 for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), 10 a.m., SR-253. May 14, Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety, to hold hearings to examine plastic additives in consumer products, 10 a.m., SR-253. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: May 13, to hold hearings to examine the impacts of climate change on the reliability, security, economics, and design of critical energy infrastructure in coastal regions, 10 a.m., SD-366. May 15, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine development of oil shale resources, 2:30 p.m., SD-366. Committee on Environment and Public Works: May 13, to hold hearings to examine proposed legislation on mercury, 10 a.m., SD- 406. Committee on Finance: May 13, to hold hearings to examine cracking the code, focusing on tax reform for individuals, 10 a.m., SD-215. Committee on Foreign Relations: May 14, to hold hearings to examine responding to the global food crisis, 9:30 a.m., SD-419. May 15, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine United States- China relations in the era of globalization, 2 p.m., SD-419. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: May 14, Subcommittee on Children and Families, to hold hearings to examine addressing the challenge of children with food allergies, 2:30 p.m., SD-430. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: May 14, to hold hearings to examine the nomination of Paul A. Schneider, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, 10 a.m., SD- 342. May 14, Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security, to hold an oversight hearing to examine the National Archives, focusing on protecting our nation's history for future generations, 3 p.m., SD- 342. May 15, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine nuclear terrorism, focusing on providing medical care and meeting basic needs in an aftermath, 10 a.m., SD-342. May 15, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, to hold hearings to examine the organizational structures of the State Department responsible for arms control, counterproliferation, and nonproliferation, focusing on the processes they have in place for optimizing national efforts, and how responsive those structures and processes are to the Executive Branch's nonproliferation and counterproliferation polices, 2 p.m., SD-342. Committee on Indian Affairs: May 13, to hold an oversight hearing to examine the successes and shortfalls of Title IV of the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act, focusing on 20 years of self-governance, 2:30 p.m., SD-562. May 15, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine S. 1080, to develop a program to acquire interests in land from eligible individuals within the Crow Reservation in the State of Montana, 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, S. 2494, to provide for equitable compensation to the Spokane Tribe of Indians of the Spokane Reservation for the use of tribal land for the production of hydropower by the Grand Coulee Dam, H.R. 2963, to transfer certain land in Riverside County, California, and San Diego County, California, from the Bureau of Land Management to the United States to be held in trust for the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians, and S. 531, to repeal section 10(f) of Public Law 93-531, commonly known as the ``Bennett Freeze'', 9:30 a.m., SD-562. Committee on the Judiciary: May 13, to hold hearings to examine the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program, focusing on protecting our nation's law enforcement officers, 10 a.m., SD-226. May 15, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine S. 2913, to provide a limitation on judicial remedies in copyright infringement cases involving orphan works, S. 2511, to amend the grant program for law enforcement armor vests to provide for a waiver of or reduction in the matching funds requirement in the case of fiscal hardship, S. 2565, to establish an awards mechanism to honor exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by Federal law enforcement officers, H.R. 4056, to establish an awards mechanism to honor Federal law enforcement officers injured in the line of duty, S. 2774, to provide for the appointment of additional Federal circuit and district judges, S. 1738, to establish a Special Counsel for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction within the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, to improve the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, to increase resources for regional computer forensic labs, and to make other improvements to increase the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute predators, S. 2756, to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a permanent background check system, [[Page D582]] S. 1515, to establish a domestic violence volunteer attorney network to represent domestic violence victims, S. 2942, to authorize funding for the National Advocacy Center, S. 2982, to amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations, and the nomination of G. Steven Agee, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit, 3:30 p.m., SD-226. Select Committee on Intelligence: May 13, to hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. May 15, Full Committee, to hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. Special Committee on Aging: May 14, to hold hearings to examine the future of Alzheimer's disease, focusing on current breakthroughs and challenges, 10:30 a.m., SD-106. House Committees Committee on Armed Services, May 14, to mark up H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn. Committee on Education and Labor, May 14, hearing on the following bills: H.R. Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act; and H.R. 5876, Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act of 2008, 10:15 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, May 14, Subcommittee on Health, hearing entitled ``Discussion Draft of the `Food an Drug Administration Globalization Act' Legislation: Device and Cosmetic Safety Provisions,'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. May 15, Subcommittee on Health, hearing on H.R. 5998, Protecting Children's Health Coverage Act of 2008, 10 a.m., 2322 Rayburn. May 15, Subcommittee Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``In the Hands of Strangers: Are Nursing Home Safeguards Working?'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, May 14, hearing entitled ``Contributing Factors and International Responses to the Global Food Crisis,'' 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Foreign Affairs, May 14, to mark up Merida Partnership to Combat Illicit Narcotics and Reduce Violence Authorization Act of 2008, 11 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. May 14, Subcommittee on Europe, hearing on Improving America's Security, Strengthening Transatlantic Relations: An Update on the Expansion of the Visa Waiver Program, 1 p.m., 2200 Rayburn. May 14, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia, hearing on U.S. Assistance to South Asia: Is there a strategy to go with all that money? 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. May 15, Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, hearing on Our Forgotten Responsibility: What Can We Do To Help Victims of Agent Orange? 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. May 15, Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, hearing on UN Security Resolution 1325: Recognizing Women's Vital Roles in Achieving Peace and Security, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, May 14, Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness, and Response, hearing entitled ``Advancing Public Alert and Warning Systems to Build a More Resilient Nation, 10 a.m., 311 Cannon. May 14, Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection, hearing entitled ``Partnering with the Private Sector to Secure Critical Infrastructure: Has the Department of Homeland Security Abandoned the Resilience-Based Approach?'' 2 p.m., 311 Cannon. Committee on House Administration, May 14, Subcommittee on Elections, hearing on Election Contingency Plans: What Have We Learned and Is America Prepared? 2 p.m., 1310 Longworth. Committee on the Judiciary, May 14, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Laws and the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, joint hearing on Allegations of Selective Prosecution Part II: The Erosion of Public Confidence in Our Federal Justice System, 2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn. May 15, Task Force on Competition Policy and Antitrust Laws, hearing on H.R. 5546, Credit Card Fair Fee Act of 2008, 11 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Natural Resources, May 14, to mark up the following bills: H.R. 554, Paleontological Resources Preservation Act; H.R. 3022, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Wilderness Act of 2007; H.R. 2632, Sabinoso Wilderness Act of 2007; H.R. 5680, To amend certain laws relating to Native Americans, and for other purposes; and H.R. 3682, California Desert and Mountain Heritage Act, 11 a.m., 1324 Longworth. May 15, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans, oversight hearing on the management of West Coast salmon fisheries, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, May 14, hearing on Should FDA Drug and Medical Device Regulation Bar State Liability Claims? 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. May 14, Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement, hearing on Management of Civil Rights Programs at USDA, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. May 15, full Committee, hearing on Defense Base Act Insurance: Are Taxpayers Paying Too Much? 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Science and Technology, May 14, hearing on Water Supply Challenges for the 21st Century, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, May 14, Subcommittee on Regulations, Health Care and Trade, hearing on the Impact of CMS Regulations and Programs on Small Health Care Providers, 2 p.m., 1539 Longworth. May 15, full Committee, hearing entitled ``Food Prices and Small Businesses,'' 10 a.m., 1539 Longworth. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, May 14, Subcommittee on Aviation, hearing on Impact of Consolidation on the Aviation Industry, with a Focus on the Proposed Merger Between Delta Airlines and Northwest Airlines, 2 p.m., 2167 Rayburn. May 14, Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials, hearing on Amtrak Reauthorization, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. [[Page D583]] Committee on Ways and Means, May 14, Subcommittee on Health, hearing on Health Savings Accounts and Consumer Driven Health Care: Cost Containment or Cost-Shift? 10:30 a.m., 1100 Longworth. Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, May 14, hearing entitled ``Building Green, Saving Green: Construction Sustainable and Energy-Efficient Buildings, 2 p.m., room to be announced. Select Committee to Investigate the Voting Irregularities of August 2, 2007, May 13 and 14, hearings regarding Roll Call Vote 814, 10 a.m., 1539 Longworth. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. 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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 D584]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 2 p.m., Monday, May 12 Senate Chamber Program for Monday: Senate will be in a period of morning business. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2 p.m., Monday, May 12 House Chamber Program for Monday: The House will meet in pro forma session at 2 p.m. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Allen, Thomas H., Me., E871 Bordallo, Madeleine Z., Guam, E861 Boustany, Charles W., Jr., La., E860, E874 Boyda, Nancy E., Kans., E864 Braley, Bruce L., Iowa, E856, E862, E868, E872, E880 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E856, E860, E863, E873 Calvert, Ken, Calif., E871 Capps, Lois, Calif., E879 Castle, Michael N., Del., E877 Cole, Tom, Okla., E868 Conyers, John, Jr., Mich., E859 Cooper, Jim, Tenn., E878 Cubin, Barbara, Wyo., E862 Cuellar, Henry, Tex., E874, E879 Farr, Sam, Calif., E882 Filner, Bob, Calif., E855 Fox, Virginia, N.C., E868 Frank, Barney, Mass., E858 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E855 Gonzalez, Charles A., Tex., E868 Green, Al, Tex., E877 Green, Gene, Tex., E878 Hall, John J., N.Y., E876 Harman, Jane, Calif., E859, E872 Higgins, Brian, N.Y., E855, E873 Hirono, Mazie K., Hawaii, E870 Jones, Walter B., N.C., E869 Klein, Ron, Fla., E857 Knollenberg, Joe, Mich., E860 LaHood, Ray, Ill., E857 Latham, Tom, Iowa, E856, E860, E863, E867, E873, E882 Lewis, John, Ga., E860 Lofgren, Zoe, Calif., E855, E869 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E879 Matsui, Doris O., Calif., E874 Miller, Candice S., Mich., E858 Miller, George, Calif., E870 Moore, Dennis, Kans., E864, E880 Musgrave, Marilyn N., Colo., E869, E880 Oberstar, James L., Minn., E862, E875, E881 Poe, Ted, Tex., E882 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E856, E860, E863, E867, E873, E877, E879, E881 Putnam, Adam H., Fla., E865 Rahall, Nick J., II, W.Va., E872 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E867, E872, E880 Reynolds, Thomas M., N.Y., E864 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E865 Sanchez, Loretta, Calif., E867 Schwartz, Allyson Y., Pa., E876 Scott, David, Ga., E877 Shuler, Heath, N.C., E878 Simpson, Michael K., Idaho, E875 Smith, Lamar, Tex., E856 Stark, Fortney Pete, Calif., E864 Thompson, Mike, Calif., E862 Udall, Mark, Colo., E858, E881 Udall, Tom, N.M., E861 Weiner, Anthony D., N.Y., E856 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E857, E869, E880 Wolf, Frank R., Va., E865 Yarmuth, John A., Ky., E857 Young, C.W. Bill, Fla., E874