Thursday, March 1, 2007 [[Page D239]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS See Resume of Congressional Activity. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S2437-S2542 Measures Introduced: Twenty-six bills and four resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 720-745, S.J. Res. 4, S. Res. 92, and S. Con. Res. 15-16. Pages S2487-88 Measures Reported: S. 84, to establish a United States Boxing Commission to administer the Act. (S. Rept. No. 110-28) Report to accompany S. 184, to provide improved rail and surface transportation security. (S. Rept. No. 110-29) H. Con. Res. 44, honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 98th anniversary. S. Res. 78, designating April 2007 as ``National Autism Awareness Month'' and supporting efforts to increase funding for research into the causes and treatment of autism and to improve training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism. S. Res. 84, observing February 23, 2007, as the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire, honoring the distinguished life and legacy of William Wilberforce, and encouraging the people of the United States to follow the example of William Wilberforce by selflessly pursuing respect for human rights around the world. S. Con. Res. 10, honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 98th anniversary. Page S2487 Measures Passed: Senate Committee Expenditures: Senate agreed to S. Res. 89, authorizing expenditures by committees of the Senate for the periods March 1, 2007, through September 30, 2007, and October 1, 2007, through September 30, 2008, and October 1, 2008, through February 28, 2009. Pages S2534-40 Military Order of the Purple Heart: Senate passed S. 743, to amend title 36, United States Code, to modify the individuals eligible for associate membership in the Military Order of the Purple Heart of the United States of America, Incorporated. Page S2540 Conflict in Uganda: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 16, calling on the Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to recommit to a political solution to the conflict in northern Uganda and to recommence vital peace talks, and urging immediate and substantial support for the ongoing peace process from the United States and the international community. Pages S2540-41 National Medal of Honor: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 47, supporting the goals and ideals of a National Medal of Honor Day to celebrate and honor the recipients of the Medal of Honor. Page S2541 Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 4, to make the United States more secure by implementing unfinished recommendations of the 9/11 Commission to fight the war on terror more effectively, to improve homeland security, withdrawing the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S2443-60, S2460-72 Rejected: Schumer/Menendez Amendment No. 298 (to Amendment No. 275), to strengthen the security of cargo containers. (By 58 yeas to 38 nays (Vote No. 56), Senate tabled the amendment.) Pages S2449-57, S2459-60, S2460-63 [[Page D240]] Withdrawn: Collins Amendment No. 277 (to Amendment No. 275), to extend the deadline by which State identification documents shall comply with certain minimum standards. Pages S2443, S2446-47 Bingaman/Domenici Amendment No. 281 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide financial aid to local law enforcement officials along the Nation's borders. Pages S2443, S2460 Pending: Reid Amendment No. 275, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S2443-60, S2460-72 Sununu Amendment No. 291 (to Amendment No. 275), to ensure that the emergency communications and interoperability communications grant program does not exclude Internet Protocol-based interoperable solutions. Pages S2445-46 Sununu Amendment No. 292 (to Amendment No. 275), to expand the reporting requirement on cross border interoperability, and to prevent lengthy delays in the accessing frequencies and channels for public safety communication users and others. Pages S2445-46 Salazar/Lieberman Modified Amendment No. 290 (to Amendment No. 275), to require a quadrennial homeland security review. Pages S2457-59 Salazar Amendment No. 280 (to Amendment No. 275), to create a Rural Policing Institute as part of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center. Page S2459 DeMint Amendment No. 314 (to Amendment No. 275), to strike the provision that revises the personnel management practices of the Transportation Security Administration. Pages S2464, S2465-70 Lieberman Amendment No. 315 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide appeal rights and employee engagement mechanisms for passenger and property screeners. Pages S2464-65 McCaskill Amendment No. 316 (to Amendment No. 315), to provide appeal rights and employee engagement mechanisms for passenger and property screeners. Page S2465 Dorgan/Conrad Amendment No. 313 (to Amendment No. 275), to require a report to Congress on the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri, and the leadership of al Qaeda. Pages S2470-72 A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at approximately 9:30 a.m., on Friday, March 2, 2007; that the time until 10 a.m. be for concurrent debate on Sununu Amendment No. 292 and Salazar Amendment No. 280 (both listed above); that the time be equally divided and controlled between Senator Sununu and Senator Salazar, or their designees; that no amendments be in order to either amendment prior to the vote; that at 10 a.m., the Senate vote on or in relation to Sununu Amendment No. 292; that, upon disposition of Sununu Amendment No. 292, the Senate vote on or in relation to Salazar Amendment No. 280; and that there be 2 minutes, equally divided and controlled, for debate between the votes. Pages S2541 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: 30 Air Force nominations in the rank of general. 1 Army nomination in the rank of general. 12 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general. Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy. Pages S2533-34, S2541 Messages from the House: Pages S2486-87 Messages Referred: Page S2487 Measures Read the First Time: Page S2487 Executive Communications: Page S2487 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S2487 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S2487-90 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S2490-S2517 Additional Statements: Page S2486 Amendments Submitted: Pages S2517-33 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S2533 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--56) Page S2463 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 7:40 p.m., until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, March 2, 2007. Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of Commerce, after receiving testimony from Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary, William Jeffrey, Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Technology Administration, and Jon W. Dudas, Director, Patent and Trademark Office, all of the Department of Commerce. [[Page D241]] AFGHANISTAN Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Afghanistan, after receiving testimony from Eric S. Edelman, Under Secretary of Defense for Policy; Lieutenant General Douglas E. Lute, USA, Director for Operations, J-3, The Joint Staff; General James L. Jones, Jr., USMC (Ret.), Former Commander, United States European Command and Supreme Allied Commander, Europe; and Barnett R. Rubin, New York University Center on International Cooperation, New York, New York. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE BUDGET Committee on the Budget: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the President's proposed budget for fiscal year 2008 for defense and war costs, after receiving testimony from Gordon England, Deputy Secretary, and Tina W. Jonas, Under Secretary (Comptroller) and Chief Financial Officer, both of the Department of Defense; and Admiral Edmund P. Giambastiani, Jr., Vice Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff. UNIVERSAL SERVICE FUND Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the present and future of the universal service fund, after receiving testimony from Deborah Taylor Tate, and Michael J. Copps, both a Commissioner, Federal Communications Commission, Larry S. Landis, Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, Indianapolis, John Downes Burke, Vermont Public Service Board, Montpelier, and Billy Jack Gregg, Public Service Commission of West Virginia, Charleston, all of the Federal-State Joint Board on Universal Service; David Crothers, North Dakota Association of Telephone Cooperatives, Mandan, on behalf of the National Telecommunications Cooperative Association; Brian K. Staihr, Embarq Corporation, Overland Park, Kansas; Richard Massey, Alltel Corporation, Little Rock, Arkansas; Tom Tauke, Verizon, Washington, D.C.; and Tom Simmons, Midcontinent Communications, Sioux Falls, South Dakota. ANNUAL ENERGY OUTLOOK Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Energy Information Administration's Annual Energy Outlook 2007, after receiving testimony from Guy Caruso, Administrator, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy. SECURE RURAL SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY SELF-DETERMINATION ACT Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests concluded a hearing to examine S. 380, to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000, after receiving testimony from Mark Rey, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment; Julie Jacobson, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Land and Minerals Management; John Douglas Robertson, Douglas County Board of Commissioners, Roseburg, Oregon; Jonathan Kusel, Sierra Institute for Community and Environment, Taylorsville, California; and Michael A. Francis, Wilderness Society, Washington, D.C. GLOBAL WARMING Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee held a hearing to examine state, local, and regional government approaches to address global warming, receiving testimony from New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine, Trenton; California State Assembly Representative Fabian Nunez, and California State Senator Don Perata, both of Sacramento; Oklahoma State Representative Dennis Adkins, Oklahoma City; Colorado State Senator Ted Harvey, Denver; Mayor Greg Nickels, Seattle, Washington; Mayor Frank Cownie, Des Moines, Iowa; and Mayor Richard P. Homrighausen, Dover, Ohio. Hearings recessed subject to the call. MEDICARE PAYMENTS Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Medicare payments for physician services, focusing on new approaches to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) system used in Medicare's physician payment system, after receiving testimony from Peter R. Orszag, Director, Congressional Budget Office; Glenn M. Hackbarth, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, Washington, D.C.; and Cecil B. Wilson, Winter Park, Florida, on behalf of the American Medical Association, and Byron Thames, both of AARP, Orlando, Florida. FEDERAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security concluded a hearing to examine improving federal financial management, focusing on the progress that has been made and the challenges ahead, after receiving testimony from Linda M. Combs, Controller, Office of Management and Budget; and David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, Government Accountability Office. ASBESTOS Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety concluded a hearing to examine asbestos, focusing on efforts to better protect the health of American [[Page D242]] workers and their families, after receiving testimony from John Thayer, Supervisor, Capitol Power Plant Tunnel Crew, Office of the Architect of the Capitol; Harvey I. Pass, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; Richard Wilson, Harvard University Department of Physics and Center for Risk Analysis, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Barry Castleman, Garrett Park, Maryland; and Susan Vento, Maplewood, Minnesota. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: S. 378, to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect judges, prosecutors, witnesses, victims, and their family members, with an amendment; S. 442, to provide for loan repayment for prosecutors and public defenders, with amendments; S. Con. Res. 10, honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 98th anniversary; H. Con. Res. 44, honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 98th anniversary; S. Res. 78, designating April 2007 as ``National Autism Awareness Month'' and supporting efforts to increase funding for research into the causes and treatment of autism and to improve training and support for individuals with autism and those who care for individuals with autism; S. Res. 84, observing February 23, 2007, as the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade in the British Empire, honoring the distinguished life and legacy of William Wilberforce, and encouraging the people of the United States to follow the example of William Wilberforce by selflessly pursuing respect for human rights around the world; and The nominations of John Preston Bailey, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia, Otis D. Wright II, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California, and George H. Wu, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of California. 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. BUSINESS MEETING Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to consider pending intelligence matters and adopted its rules of procedure for the 110th Congress. Committee recessed subject to the call. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 54 public bills, H.R. 1254- 1307; and 5 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 76-77 and H. Res. 207-209, were introduced. Pages H2118-21 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H2121-22 Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows: H.R. 137, to amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-27, Pt. 1). Page H2118 Employee Free Choice Act: The House passed H.R. 800, to amend the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations and to provide for mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing, by a recorded vote of 241 ayes to 185 noes, Roll No. 118. Pages H2054-91 Rejected the McKeon motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Education and Labor with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 202 ayes to 225 noes with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 117. Pages H2089-91 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 and shall be considered as read. Pages H2078-89 Rejected: King (IA) amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-26) that sought to add a section to the bill to [[Page D243]] amend the National Labor Relations Act to discourage the practice of ``salting'', by a recorded vote of 164 ayes to 264 noes, Roll No. 114; Pages H2078-80, H2087 Foxx amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-26) that sought to require the National Labor Relations Board to promulgate standards and a model notice for an employee to put him- or herself on a ``do not call or contact'' list to avoid union solicitation, by a recorded vote of 173 ayes to 256 noes, Roll No. 115; and Pages H2080-82, H2087-88 McKeon amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-26) that sought to strike the underlying text and insert in its place the text of H.R. 866, the Secret Ballot Protection Act, by a recorded vote of 173 ayes to 256 noes, Roll No. 116. Pages H2082-87, H2088-89 H. Res. 203, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a recorded vote of 230 ayes to 195 noes, Roll No. 113, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 228 yeas to 197 nays, Roll No. 112. Pages H2043-54 Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, March 5th for Morning Hour debate; and further, when the House adjourns on Thursday, March 8th, it adjourn to meet at 9:00 a.m. on Friday, March 9th. Page H2093 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed by unanimous consent to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, March 7th. Page H2093 Quorum Calls--Votes: One yea-and-nay vote and six recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H2053-54, H2054, H2087, H2088, H2088-89, H2090-91, and H2091. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:58 p.m. Committee Meetings BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES Committee on Agriculture: Approved Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal Year 2008 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on USDA's Inspector General. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the USDA: Phyllis K. Fong, Inspector General; Kathleen S. Tighe, Deputy Inspector General; Robert W. Young, Jr., Assistant Inspector General, Audit; Mark R. Woods, Assistant Inspector General, Investigations; and Suzanne Murrin, Assistant Inspector General, Management, all with the Office of Inspector General; and W. Scott Steele, Budget Officer. COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS. Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on NSF. Testimony was heard from Arden L. Bement, Jr., Director, NSF. ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Bureau of Reclamation. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Interior: P. Lynn Scarlet, Deputy Secretary; and Robert Johnson, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation. FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held a hearing on Financial Services for Disadvantaged Communities. Testimony was heard from JoAnn M. Johnson, Chairman, National Credit Union Administration; Kimberly A. Reed, Director, Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses. HOMELAND SECURITY APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a hearing on Meeting Boarder Patrol Training Needs. Testimony was heard from Connie Patrick, Director, Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, Department of Homeland Security. LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration/National Institute of Drug Abuse/National Institute of Mental Health/and National Institute of Alcohol and Alcoholism. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services; NIH: Terry Cline, M.D., Administrator, [[Page D244]] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration; Nora Volkow, M.D., Director, National Institute of Drug Abuse; Thomas Insel, M.D., Director, National Institute of Mental Health; and T.K. Li, M.D., Director, National Institute of Alcohol and Alcoholism. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a hearing on the Architect of the Capitol: Budget. Testimony was heard from Stephen Ayers, Acting Architect of the Capitol. STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS. Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs held a hearing on Global HIV/AID. Testimony was heard from Ambassador Mark Dybul, U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator, Department of State. TRANSPORTATION, AND HUD, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Testimony was heard from Alphonso R. Jackson Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. NATIONAL DEFENSE BUDGET REQUEST--DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Budget Request from the Department of the Navy. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Navy: Donald C. Winter, Secretary; ADM Michael G. Mullen, USN, Chief of Naval Operations; and GEN James T. Conway, USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps. MILITARY ADVOCACY/BENEFICIARY GROUPS Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a hearing on views of military advocacy and beneficiary groups. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. NUCLEAR POWER SYSTEMS AND NAVY COMBATANTS Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces held a hearing on integrated nuclear power systems for future Naval surface combatants. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Navy: Delores Etter, Assistant Secretary, (Research, Development, and Acquisition); ADM Kirkland Donald, USN, Director, Naval Nuclear Propulsion Programs; VADM Jonathan Greenert, USN, Assistant Chief, Naval Operations for Resource Requirements; VADM Paul Sullivan, USN, Commander, Naval Sea Systems Command; and RADM Barry McCullough, USN, Director, Surface Warfare Division. VETERANS AFFAIRS BUDGET Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on the Department of Veterans Affairs Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Priorities. Testimony was heard from R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. OVERSIGHT PLAN 110TH CONGRESS; COMMITTEE BUSINESS Committee on Energy and Commerce: Approved Oversight Plan for the 110th Congress. The Committee also considered pending Committee business. EPA BUDGET Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials held a hearing entitled ``The Environmental Protection Agency Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request.'' Testimony was heard from Bill A. Roderick, Acting Inspector General, EPA; Robert W. King, Jr., Deputy Commissioner, Department of Health and Environmental Control, State of South Carolina; J. Christian Bollwage, Mayor, Elizabeth, New Jersey; and public witnesses. UNINSURED CHILDREN Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``Covering the Uninsured Through the Eyes of a Child.'' Testimony was heard from Kathryn G. Allen, Director, Health Care, GAO; Phyllis Sloyer, R.N., Division Director, Children's Medical Services, Department of Health, State of Florida; Joseph F. Vitale, member New Jersey State Senate and Chairman, Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee; and public witnesses. WORLD WIDE WEB OUTLOOK Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``Digital Future of the United States: Part I--The Future of the World Wide Web.'' Testimony was heard from a public witness. BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES Committee on Financial Services: Approved Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal Year 2008 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. [[Page D245]] NORTH KOREAN HUMAN RIGHTS Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment held a hearing on North Korean Human Rights: An Update. Testimony was heard from Jay Lefkowitz, Special Envoy for Human Rights in North Korea, Department of State. U.S. POLICY TOWARD LATIN AMERICA Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere held a hearing on Overview of U.S. Policy Toward Latin America. Testimony was heard from Thomas A. Shannon, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses. HOMELAND SECURITY MANAGEMENT OUTLOOK Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Management, Investigations, and Oversight held a hearing entitled ``The Department of Homeland Security's Directorate: Goals and Objectives of the New Under Secretary.'' Testimony was heard from Paul A. Schneider, Under Secretary, Management, Department of Homeland Security. IMPROVE SECURITY--RAIL AND PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection approved for full Committee action, as amended, a measure to improve the security of railroads, public transportation and over-the-road buses in the United States. COMMITTEE FUNDING RESOLUTION Committee on House Administration: Ordered reported, as amended, H. Res. 202, Providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Tenth Congress. ISSUANCE OF SUBPOENAS Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law met and approved the issuance of four subpoenas in conjunction with a Subcommittee hearing to be held next week. SENATE LOBBYING REFORM BILL Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties held a hearing on S. 1, To provide greater transparency in the legislative process. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE BUDGET REQUEST FISCAL YEAR 2008 Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held an oversight hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 Budget Request for the National Park Service. Testimony was heard from Mary A. Bomar, Director, National Park Service, Department of the Interior. SAN JOAQUIN RIVER RESTORATION SETTLEMENT ACT Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on H.R. 24, San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act. Testimony was heard from Jason Peltier, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Water and Science, Department of the Interior; the following officials of the State of California: Lois Wolk, member State Assembly and Chair, Committee on Water, Parks, and Wildlife; and Nancy Saracino, Chief Deputy Director, Department of Water Resources; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--PRESIDENTIAL RECORDS ACT Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census and National Archives held an oversight hearing on The Presidential Records Act. Testimony was heard from Allen Weinstein, Archivist of the United States, National Archives and Records Administration; Harold Relyea, Specialist in American National Government and Finance Division, CRS, Library of Congress. SMALL BUSINESS ACCESS TO CAPITAL Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Increasing Access to Capital for Our Nation's Small Businesses.'' Testimony was heard from Janet Tasker, Deputy Associate Administrator, Capital Access, SBA; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; BUDGET VIEWS AND ESTIMATES Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 1144, amended, Hurricanes Katrina and Rita Federal Match Relief Act of 2007; H.R. 1195, amended, To amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to make technical corrections; H.R. 735, To designate the Federal building under construction at 799 First Avenue in New York, New York, as the ``Ronald H. Brown United States Mission to the United Nations Building;'' H.R. 753, amended, To redesignate the Federal building located at 167 North Main Street in Memphis, Tennessee, as the ``Clifford Davis/Odell Horton Federal Building;'' H.R. 1019, To designate the United States customhouse building located at 31 Gonzalez Clements Avenue in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, as the ``Rafael Martinez Nadal United States Customhouse Building;'' H.R. 1045, To designate [[Page D246]] the Federal building located at 210 Walnut Street in Des Moines, Iowa, as the ``Neal Smith Federal Building;'' H.R. 1138, To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse located at 306 East Main Street in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, as the ``J. Herbert W. Small Federal Building and United States Courthouse;'' and H.R. 720, Water Quality Financing Act of 2007. GSA Courthouse Construction Resolution. The Committee also approved the following: GSA Courthouse Construction Resolution; and Committee Budget Views and Estimates for Fiscal Year 2008 for submission to the Committee on the Budget. MEDICARE PAYMENT POLICIES Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on Medicare Payment Advisory Commission's annual March report on Medicare payment policies. Testimony was heard from Glenn M. Hackbarth, Chairman, Medicare Payment Advisory Commission. RELEASE EXECUTIVE SESSION MATERIAL Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session and approved the release of the internal Cunningham investigation materials to the Department of Justice. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 2, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, to hold hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2008 for the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, 10 a.m., SD-138. House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, on Agency for Toxic Substance and Disease Registry/Chemical Safety Board/National Institute on Environment Health Sciences, 9:30 a.m., B-308 Rayburn. *These figures include all measures reported, even if there was no accompanying report. A total of 27 reports have been filed in the Senate, a total of 26 reports have been filed in the House. [[Page D247]] Resume of Congressional Activity FIRST SESSION OF THE ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS The first table gives a comprehensive resume of all legislative business transacted by the Senate and House. The second table accounts for all nominations submitted to the Senate by the President for Senate confirmation. DATA ON LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITY January 4 through February 28, 2007 Senate House Total Days in session............... 31 28 .. Time in session............... 233 hrs, 03 242 hrs, 56 .. Congressional Record: Pages of proceedings........... 2,435 2,039 .. Extensions of Remarks.......... .. 430 .. Public bills enacted into law. 1 5 6 Private bills enacted into law .. .. .. Bills in conference........... .. .. .. Measures passed, total........ 69 127 195 Senate bills................... 6 1 House bills.................... 11 47 .. Senate joint resolutions....... .. .. .. House joint resolutions........ 1 1 .. Senate concurrent resolutions.. 1 .. .. House concurrent resolutions... 4 14 .. Simple resolutions............. 45 64 .. Measures reported, total...... 59 26 85 Senate bills................... 28 .. .. House bills.................... 1 15 .. Senate joint resolutions....... .. .. .. House joint resolutions........ .. .. .. Senate concurrent resolutions.. 1 .. .. House concurrent resolutions... .. 1 .. Simple resolutions............. 29 10 .. Special reports............... 1 .. .. Conference reports............ .. .. .. Measures pending on calendar.. 50 10 .. Measures introduced, total.... 807 1,572 2,379 Bills.......................... 699 1,253 .. Joint resolutions.............. 3 38 .. Concurrent resolutions......... 14 75 .. Simple resolutions............. 91 206 .. Quorum calls.................. 2 1 .. Yea-and-nay votes............. 55 74 .. Recorded votes................ .. 36 .. Bills vetoed.................. .. .. .. Vetoes overridden............. .. .. .. DISPOSITION OF EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS January 4 through February 28, 2007 Civilian nominations totaling 155, disposed of as follows: Confirmed...........................................18... Unconfirmed........................................135... Withdrawn............................................2... Other Civilian nominations, totaling 215, disposed of as follows: Confirmed............................................3... Unconfirmed........................................212... Air Force nominations, totaling 3,546, disposed of as follows: Confirmed..........................................519... Unconfirmed......................................3,027... Army nominations, totaling 1,244, disposed of as follows: Confirmed..........................................612... Unconfirmed........................................632... Navy nominations, totaling 42, disposed of as follows: Confirmed...........................................24... Unconfirmed.........................................18... Marine Corps nominations, totaling 277, disposed of as follows: Confirmed...........................................10... Unconfirmed........................................267... Summary Total nominations carried over from the First Session....0 Total nominations received this Session..............5,479 Total confirmed......................................1,186 Total unconfirmed....................................4,291 Total withdrawn..........................................2 Total returned to the White House........................0 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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Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 12:30 p.m., Monday, March 5 House Chamber Program for Monday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks as inserted in this issue HOUSE Berman, Howard L., Calif., E446 Bishop, Sanford D., Jr., Ga., E432, E434 Brady, Robert A., Pa., E441 Brown, Henry E., Jr., S.C., E437 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E444 Clyburn, James E., S.C., E452 Conyers, John, Jr., Mich., E444 Costa, Jim, Calif., E431, E434 Cummings, Elijah E., Md., E444 Davis, Tom, Va., E432, E434, E437, E442, E445, E448 Doyle, Michael F., Pa., E439 Ellsworth, Brad, Ind., E440 Engel, Eliot L., N.Y., E447 Etheridge, Bob, N.C., E452 Fattah, Chaka, Pa., E451 Fortuno, Luis G., Puerto Rico, E445 Frelinghuysen, Rodney P., N.J., E433, E436 Giffords, Gabrielle, Ariz., E440 Graves, Sam, Mo., E431, E433, E437, E442 Hastings, Alcee L., Fla., E447 Hirono, Mazie K., Hawaii, E449 Honda, Michael M., Calif., E444 Hooley, Darlene, Ore., E436 Hoyer, Steny H., Md., E447 Israel, Steve, N.Y., E450 Jackson-Lee, Sheila, Tex., E449 Kennedy, Patrick J., R.I., E441 LaHood, Ray, Ill., E442 Lamborn, Doug, Colo., E449 Langevin, James R., R.I., E431, E434, E446 Lantos, Tom, Calif., E436 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E448 McIntyre, Mike, N.C., E442 Mahoney, Tim, Fla., E445 Meeks, Gregory W., N.Y., E443 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E436 Moore, Dennis, Kans., E443 Moran, James P., Va., E450 Norton, Eleanor Holmes, D.C., E439 Oberstar, James L., Minn., E451 Pallone, Frank, Jr., N.J., E450 Pascrell, Bill, Jr., N.J., E447 Paul, Ron, Tex., E441 Petri, Thomas E., Wisc., E440 Rahall, Nick J., II, W.Va., E448 Reyes, Silvestre, Tex., E446 Royce, Edward R., Calif., E446 Salazar, John T., Colo., E452 Shimkus, John, Ill., E440 Smith, Lamar, Tex., E440 Thompson, Mike, Calif., E443 Towns, Edolphus, N.Y., E432, E435, E437 Udall, Mark, Colo., E431, E433 Wamp, Zach, Tenn., E441 Waters, Maxine, Calif., E448 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E442