Wednesday, January 16, 2008 [[Page D14]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action The Senate was not in session today. It will next meet at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 18, 2008. Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) No committee meetings were held. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 50 public bills, H.R. 4931- 4933, 4983-5029; 1 private bill, H.R. 5030; and 9 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 279-280; and H. Res. 921, 923-927 were introduced. Pages H293-95 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H295-96 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H. Res. 922, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3524) to reauthorize the HOPE VI program for revitalization of severely distressed public housing (H. Rept. 110-509) and H.R. 3959, to amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to provide for the phase-in of actuarial rates for certain pre-FIRM properties, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-510). Page H293 Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures: Condemning the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benzair Bhutto and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to assist the people of Pakistan in combating terrorist activity and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan: H. Res. 912, to condemn the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and to reaffirm the commitment of the United States to assist the people of Pakistan in combating terrorist activity and promoting a free and democratic Pakistan, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 413 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 3; Pages H30-35, H44 Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4253, with an amendment: H. Res. 921, to provide for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4253, with an amendment, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 406 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 4; and Pages H35-39, H44-45 Providing for the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, as previously enrolled, with certain modifications to address the foreign sovereign immunities provisions of title 28, United States Code: H.R. 4986, to provide for the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, as previously enrolled, with certain modifications to address the foreign sovereign immunities provisions of title 28, United States Code, with respect to the attachment of property in certain judgments against Iraq and the lapse of statutory authorities for the payment of bonuses, special pays, and similar benefits for members of the uniformed services, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 369 yeas to 46 nays, Roll No. 11. Pages H75-H260 S-MINER Act: The House passed H.R. 2768, to establish improved mandatory standards to protect miners during emergencies, by a year- and-nay vote of 214 yeas to 199 nays, Roll No. 10. Pages H45-75 Rejected the Souder motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Education and Labor with instructions to report the same back to the House promptly with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 197 ayes to 217 noes, Roll No. 9. Pages H73-75 [[Page D15]] Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule. Pages H54-60 Accepted: George Miller (CA) manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-508) that provides the mining industry with more time to install a new generation of fire-resistant conveyor belts, provides funds for MSHA to purchase a new generation of dust monitoring devices to limit black lung disease, and ensures that breathable air requirements of the MINER Act of 2006 are properly implemented. In addition, the amendment requires that the Secretary of Labor conduct a study on substance abuse by miners with recommendations for policy changes, in consultation with all interested parties. The Secretary shall report the findings within six months of the bill's enactment and, if she deems it feasible and effective, shall be authorized to establish a miner substance abuse testing, rehabilitation, and treatment program within MSHA in consultation with the interested parties (by a recorded vote of 234 ayes to 183 noes, Roll No. 5); Pages H60-64, H70 Boucher amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-508) that authorizes $10,000,000 to award grants to provide rehabilitation services to current and former miners suffering from mental health impairments, including drug addiction and substance abuse issues, which may have been caused or exacerbated by their work as miners (by a recorded vote of 364 ayes to 53 noes, Roll No. 6); and Pages H64-65, H70-71 Ellsworth amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-508) that offers relief to mine operators that have been assessed penalties and pay them in a timely fashion. It also establishes a trust fund within Treasury, composed of mine safety civil penalties. Funds from the trust fund can be used for mine safety inspections and investigations only (by a recorded vote of 416 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 7). Pages H65-66, H71-72 Rejected: Wilson (SC) amendment in the nature of a substitute (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-508) that promotes the continued robust implementation of the 2006 MINER Act, increases worker safety by providing miners the opportunity to have a voice in mine safety, expands substance abuse programs to all mines to ensure safe working conditions for all miners, and addresses issues raised by the recent Crandall Canyon disaster (by a recorded vote of 188 ayes to 229 noes, Roll No. 8). Pages H66-70, H72 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H75 H. Res. 918, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by voice vote after agreeing to order the previous question by a year-and-nay vote of 222 yeas to 191 nays, Roll No. 2. Pages H39-44 Adjournment Resolution: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 279, providing for a conditional adjournment of the House. Page H260 Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes and five recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H43-44, H44, H44-45, H70, H71, H71-72, H72, H74-75, H75, and H259-60. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:16 p.m. Committee Meetings IRAQ--POST SURGE ALTERNATIVES Committee on Armed Services; Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on A Continuing Dialogue: Post-Surge Alternatives for Iraq. Testimony was heard from the following former officials of the Department of Defense: John J. Hume, Deputy Secretary; GEN John M. Keane, USA (Ret.), Vice Chief of Staff, Army; and GEN Barry McCaffrey, USA (Ret.) AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES--MEDICAID'S CRITICAL ROLE Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``Helping Families with Needed Care: Medicaid's Critical Role for Americans with Disabilities.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. U.S.-PAKISTAN RELATIONS Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia held a hearing on U.S.-Pakistan Relations: Assassination, Instability and the Future of U.S. Policy. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. HOPE VI IMPROVEMENT AND REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007 Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, a structured rule providing 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 3524, HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Financial Services. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. The rule [[Page D16]] provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute except for clause 10 of rule XXI. The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report. The amendments made in order may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for a division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of order against the amendments except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI are waived. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. The rule provides that, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker. Finally, the rule tables H. Res. 894. Testimony was heard from Chairman Barney Frank of Massachusetts, and Representatives Waters, Capito and Neugebauer. WOMEN'S PROCUREMENT PROGRAM--SBA'S PROGRESS Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``SBA's Progress in Implementing the Women's Procurement Program.'' Testimony was heard from Steven Preston, Administrator, SBA; Elizabeth Papez, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; GSA CAPITOL INVESTMENT AND LEASING RESOLUTIONS Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the following measures: H.R. 3913, To amend the International Center Act to authorize the lease or sublease of certain property described in such Act to an entity other than a foreign government or international organization if certain conditions are met; H.R. 4140. To designate the Port Angeles Federal Building in Port Angeles, Washington, as the ``Richard B. Anderson Federal Building;'' H. Res. 832, Honoring the Texas Water Development Board on its selection as a recipient of the Environmental Protection Agency's 2007 Clean Water State Revolving and Innovation Award; H. Res. 845, amended, Recognizing the 60th anniversary of Everglades National Park; H.R. 866, Honoring the brave men and women of the United States Coast Guard whose tireless work, dedication, and commitment to protecting the United States have led to the Coast Guard seizing over 350,000 pounds of cocaine at sea during 2007, far surpassing all of our previous records. The Committee also approved General Services Administration Capitol and Leasing Program Resolutions. ECONOMICALLY VULNERABLE BENEFICIARIES--SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Social Security held a hearing on Social Security Benefits for Economically Vulnerable Beneficiaries. Testimony was heard from David A. Rust, Acting Deputy Commissioner, Disability and Income Security Programs, SSA; Laura R. Haltzel, Specialist In Social Legislation, CRS, Library of Congress; and public witnesses. BRIEFING--HOT SPOTS Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to receive a briefing on Hot Spots. The Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses. CIA TAPES INVESTIGATION Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to hold a hearing on CIA Tapes Investigation. Testimony was heard from John Rizzo, Acting General Counsel, CIA. Joint Meetings RECESSION AVOIDANCE Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine potential efforts by the federal government to avoid a recession, after receiving testimony from Lawrence H. Summers, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Lawrence Mishel, Economic Policy Institute, and William W. Beach, Heritage Foundation, both of Washington, D.C. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, JANUARY 17, 2008 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House Committee on Armed Services, hearing on the Status of Efforts to Develop Iraqi Security Forces, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn. Committee on the Budget, hearing on the Near-Term Outlook for the U.S. Economy, 10 a.m., 210 Cannon. [[Page D17]] Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, hearing entitled ``Administration Perspectives on United Nations Climate Change Conference in Bali,'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, hearing on Naturalization Delays: Causes, Consequences and Solutions, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, hearing on Assessing Veterans' Charities--Part II, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, hearing entitled ``Oversight of the U.S. Export-Import Bank's Implementation of its Small Business Mandate,'' 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, hearing on the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission Report, 11 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity, hearing to review pending Montgomery G.I. Bill legislation, 1 p.m., 340 Cannon. Subcommittee on Health, hearing on the following bills: H.R. 2790, To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health; H.R. 3458, To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a pilot program on the provision of traumatic brain injury care in rural areas; H.R. 3819, Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2007; H.R. 4053, Mental Health Improvements Act of 2007; H.R. 4107, Women Veterans Health Care Improvement Act; H.R. 4146, To amend title 38, United States Code, to clarify the availability of emergency medical care for veterans in non-Department of Veteran Affairs medical facilities; H.R. 4204, Veterans Suicide Study Act; and H.R. 4231, Rural Veterans Health Care Access Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 340 Cannon. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence, executive, briefing on U.S. Hostages in Colombia, 10 a.m., H-405 Capitol. Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, hearing entitled ``On Thin Ice: the Future of the Polar Bear,'' 9:30 a.m., 2175 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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Following each session of Congress, the daily Congressional Record is revised, printed, permanently bound and sold by the Superintendent of Documents in individual parts or by sets. With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D18]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 10 a.m., Friday, January 18 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will meet in a pro forma session. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Thursday, January 17 House Chamber Program for Thursday: Consideration of H.R. 3524--HOPE VI Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2007 (Subject to a Rule). _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Berman, Howard L., Calif., E29 Bishop, Sanford D., Jr., Ga., E20, E21 Brady, Kevin, Tex., E28 Buchanan, Vern, Fla., E24 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E19, E20, E22, E26 Capito, Shelley Moore, W.Va., E22 Cole, Tom, Okla., E22 DeFazio, Peter A., Ore., E23 DeGette, Diana, Colo., E25 Graves, Sam, Mo., E22, E28, E28, E29, E29, E30, E30, E30, E31 Green, Gene, Tex., E24 Higgins, Brian, N.Y., E28, E28, E29 Hoekstra, Peter, Mich., E22 Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E19, E20, E21 Klein, Ron, Fla., E23 Lewis, Ron, Ky., E29 McCarthy, Kevin, Calif., E19, E21 McCaul, Michael T., Tex., E23 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E25 Moore, Gwen, Wisc., E25 Norton, Eleanor Holmes, D.C., E30 Nunes, Devin, Calif., E24 Radanovich, George, Calif., E20, E21 Rodriguez, Ciro D., Tex., E29 Thompson, Bennie G., Miss., E26 Tsongas, Niki, Mass., E30 Wolf, Frank R., Va., E23