Friday, September 7, 2007 [[Page D1171]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate adopted the conference report to accompany H.R. 2669, College Cost Reduction Act. The House agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2669, College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S11241-S11281 Measures Introduced: Three bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2031-2033, and S. Res. 310-311. Page S11269 Measures Reported: S. 1692, to grant a Federal charter to Korean War Veterans Association, Incorporated. Pages S11269, S11270 Measures Passed: Adopt A School Library Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 134, designating September 2007 as ``Adopt a School Library Month''. Page S11278 National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 282, supporting the goals and ideals of a National Polycystic Kidney Disease Awareness Week to raise public awareness and understanding of polycystic kidney disease and to foster understanding of the impact polycystic kidney disease has on patients and future generations of their families. Pages S11278-79 National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 288, designating September 2007 as ``National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month''. Page S11279 National Assisted Living Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 292, designating the week beginning September 9, 2007, as ``National Assisted Living Week''. Page S11279 Little Rock Central High School: Senate agreed to S. Res. 301, recognizing the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Little Rock Central High School, one of the most significant events in the American civil rights movement. Page S11279 Museum of the History of American Diplomacy: Senate agreed to S. Res. 253, expressing the sense of the Senate that the establishment of a Museum of the History of American Diplomacy through private donations is a worthy endeavor. Pages S11279-80 Marquis de Lafayette 250th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 310, commending the city of Lafayette, Louisiana, for engaging in a year- long celebration of the 250th anniversary of the birth of Marie-Joseph- Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert Du Motier, commonly known as the Marquis de Lafayette. Page S11280 National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 311, supporting the goals and ideals of National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. Pages S11280-81 Conference Reports: Higher Education Access Act Conference Report: By 79 yeas to 12 nays (Vote No. 326) Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2669, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 601 of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2008. Pages S11241-63 Barrasso Maiden Speech--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that after the votes on the confirmations of the nominations of William Lindsay Osteen, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina, Martin Karl Reidinger, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, and Janis Lynn Sammartino, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California, that Senator Barrasso be recognized to speak in morning business. Pages S11256-57 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations [[Page D1172]] Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that on Monday, September 10, 2007, at the conclusion of the remarks from Senator Barrasso, Senate begin consideration of H.R. 3074, making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. Pages S11256-57 Osteen/Reidinger/Sammartino Nominations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 10 a.m., on Monday, September 10, 2007, Senate begin consideration of the nominations of William Lindsay Osteen, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina, Martin Karl Reidinger, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, and Janis Lynn Sammartino, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California; that there be 60 minutes of debate equally divided between the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, or their designees; provided further, that at 11 a.m., Senate vote on confirmation of the nominations, respectively. Pages S11256-57 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Walter Lukken, of Indiana, to be Chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. Todd J. Zinser, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Commerce. Vincent Obsitnik, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Slovak Republic. Harvey E. Johnson, Jr., of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security. Page S11281 Nomination Withdrawn: Senate received notification of withdrawal of the following nomination: Vincent Obsitnik, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Slovenia, which was sent to the Senate on July 25, 2007. Page S11281 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S11269-70 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S11270-71 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S11271 Privileges of the Floor: Page S11271 Text of H.R. 2642 as Previously Passed: Pages S11271-78 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--326) Page S11256 Adjournment: Senate convened at 8:55 a.m. and adjourned at 12:29 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Monday, September 10, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S11281.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE'S ASSESSMENT ON 18 IRAQ BENCHMARKS Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine a report of the Government Accountability Office's assessment of 18 Iraq benchmarks, including the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007 (Public Law 110-28), after receiving testimony from David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, Government Accountability Office. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 14 public bills, H.R. 3494- 3507; and 5 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 206-207 and H. Res. 640-642, were introduced. Pages H10318-19 Additional Cosponsors: Page H10319 Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows: H.R. 3246, to amend title 40, United States Code, to provide a comprehensive regional approach to economic and infrastructure development in the most severely economically distressed regions in the Nation, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-321, Pt. 1). Page H10318 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative Pomeroy to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H10247 College Cost Reduction Act of 2007: The House agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 2669, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 601 of the concurrent resolution on the budget [[Page D1173]] for fiscal year 2008, by a yea-and-nay vote of 292 yeas to 97 nays, Roll No. 864. Pages H10259-70, H10307-08 H. Res. 637, the rule providing for consideration of the conference report, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 220 yeas to 185 noes, Roll No. 861, after agreeing to order the previous question. Pages H10255-58, H10259 Patent Reform Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 1908, to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform, by a recorded vote of 220 ayes to 175 noes, Roll No. 863. Pages H10270-H10307 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment. Page H10285 Accepted: Pence amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-319) that prohibits a post-grant review from being instituted based upon the best mode requirement of patent law; Pages H10303-06 Issa amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-319) that permits applicants to delay publication of applications until the later of (1) three months after a second PTO decision or (2) 18 months after the filing date (after agreeing by unanimous consent to withdraw the earlier request for a recorded vote); Pages H10297-98, H10306 Issa amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-319) that amends the section relating to United States Patent and Trademark Office regulatory authority by adding the requirement that Congress be provided 60 days to review regulations before they take effect (after agreeing by unanimous consent to withdraw the earlier request for a recorded vote); Pages H10298-H10300, H10306 Jackson-Lee (TX) amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-319) that requires the Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office to conduct a study of patent damage awards in cases from at least 1990 to the present where such awards have been based on a reasonable royalty under Section 284 of Title 35 of the United States Code and requires the Director of the PTO to submit findings to Congress no later than one year after the Act's enactment (after agreeing by unanimous consent to withdraw the earlier request for a recorded vote); and Pages H10300-03, H10306 Conyers manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-319) that incorporates a number of revisions including revisions to the sections on damages, willful infringement, prior user rights, post-grant review, venue, inequitable conduct, applicant disclosure information and inventor's oath requirements, among others (by a recorded vote of 263 ayes to 136 noes, Roll No. 862). Pages H10292-97, H10306 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H10308 H. Res. 636, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 222 yeas to 181 nays, Roll No. 860, after agreeing to order the previous question. Pages H10249-55, H10258-59 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed by unanimous consent to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, September 19th. Page H10310 Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, September 10th for morning hour debate; that when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 11th; that when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet 10 a.m. on Friday, September, 14th; and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, September 17th for morning hour debate. Page H10310 Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on pages H10259 and H10308. Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on page H10321. Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H10258- 59, H10259, H10306, H10307, and H10307-08. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at 4:52 p.m. Committee Meetings BRIEFING--UPDATE ON GERMANY AND DENMARK ARRESTS Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to receive a briefing on the Germany and Denmark Arrests. The Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses. BRIEFING--IRAQ NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to receive a briefing on Iraq National Intelligence Estimate. The Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses. [[Page D1174]] CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD Week of September 10 through September 15, 2007 Senate Chamber On Monday, at 10 a.m., Senate will begin consideration of the nominations of William Lindsay Osteen, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina, Martin Karl Reidinger, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, and Janis Lynn Sammartino, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California, and after a period of debate, vote on the confirmations of the nominations at 11:00 a.m.; following which, Senator Barrasso will be recognized to speak in morning business; following which, Senate will begin consideration of H.R. 3074, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. During the balance of the week Senate will consider any other cleared legislative and executive business, including appropriation bills and conference reports, when available Senate Committees (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Committee on Appropriations: September 11, Subcommittee on Defense, business meeting to mark up H.R. 3222, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, 10 a.m., SD-192. September 12, Full Committee, business meeting to mark up H.R. 3222, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, 10 a.m., SD-106. September 12, Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, to hold hearings to examine enhancing the safety of toys relating to lead paint, the Consumer Product Safety Commission, and toy safety standards, 11 a.m., SD-192. Committee on Armed Services: September 11, to hold hearings to examine the situation in Iraq, focusing on the progress made by the Government of Iraq in meeting benchmarks, 2 p.m., SH-216. Committee on the Budget: September 11, to hold hearings to examine health care and the federal budget, focusing on options for achieving universal health coverage, 10 a.m., SD-608. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: September 12, Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism, to hold hearings to examine the Federal Trade Commission Reauthorization, 9:30 a.m., SR-253. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: September 11, Subcommittee on National Parks, business meeting to consider S. 127, to amend the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of 2000 to explain the purpose and provide for the administration of the Baca National Wildlife Refuge, S. 327 and H.R. 359, bills to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study of sites associated with the life of Cesar Estrada Chavez and the farm labor movement, S. 868, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Taunton River in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, S. 1051, to authorize National Mall Liberty Fund D.C. to establish a memorial on Federal land in the District of Columbia at Constitution Gardens previously approved to honor free persons and slaves who fought for independence, liberty, and justice for all during the American Revolution, S. 1184 and H.R. 1021, bills to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resources study regarding the suitability and feasibility of designating certain historic buildings and areas in Taunton, Massachusetts, as a unit of the National Park System, S. 1247, to amend the Weir Farm National Historic Site Establishment Act of 1990 to limit the development of any property acquired by the Secretary of the Interior for the development of visitor and administrative facilities for the Weir Farm National Historic Site, S. 1304, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the Arizona National Scenic Trail, S. 1329, to extend the Acadia National Park Advisory Commission, to provide improved visitor services at the park, H.R. 807, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the feasibility and suitability of establishing a memorial to the Space Shuttle Columbia in the State of Texas and for its inclusion as a unit of the National Park System, and H.R. 759, to redesignate the Ellis Island Library on the third floor of the Ellis Island Immigration Museum, located on Ellis Island in New York Harbor, as the ``Bob Hope Memorial Library'', 2:30 p.m., SD-366. September 12, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine S. 2017, to amend the Energy Policy and Conservation Act to provide for national energy efficiency standards for general service incandescent lamps, 10 a.m., SD-366. Committee on Finance: September 11, to hold hearings to examine the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, 10 a.m., SD-215. Committee on Foreign Relations: September 11, to hold hearings to examine Iraq, focusing on the Crocker-Petraeus report, 9:30 a.m., SH-216. September 11, Full Committee, business meeting to consider S. 968, to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to provide increased assistance for the prevention, treatment, and control of tuberculosis, S. 805, to amend the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to assist countries in sub-Saharan Africa in the effort to achieve internationally recognized goals in the treatment and prevention of HIV/AIDS and other major diseases and the reduction of maternal and child mortality by improving human health care capacity and improving retention of medical health professionals in sub-Saharan Africa, S. 1839, to require periodic reports on claims related to acts of terrorism against Americans perpetrated or supported by the Government of Libya, S. 2020, to reauthorize the Tropical [[Page D1175]] Forest Coral Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2007, H.R. 1678, to amend the Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 to authorize appropriations to provide assistance for domestic and foreign programs and centers for the treatment of victims of torture, patent Law Treaty and Regulations Under the Patent Law Treaty (the ``Treaty''), done at Geneva on June 1, 2000, between the Governments of 53 countries including the United States of America (Treaty Doc. 109-12), the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs (the ``Agreement''), adopted in Geneva on July 2, 1999, and signed by the United States on July 6, 1999 (Treaty Doc. 109-21), the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (Treaty Doc. 110-2), Protocol to the 1951 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation between the United States and Denmark (Treaty Doc. 108-8), and the nominations of Henrietta Holsman Fore, of Nevada, to be Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, Harry K. Thomas, Jr., of New York, to be Director General of the Foreign Service, Nancy Goodman Brinker, of Florida, to be Chief of Protocol, and to have the rank of Ambassador during her tenure of service, and Ned L. Siegel, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, 2:15 p.m., S-116, Capitol. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: September 10, to hold hearings to examine confronting the terrorist threat to the Homeland, six years after 9/11, 9:30 a.m., SD-342. September 12, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nomination of Julie L. Myers, of Kansas, to be Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, 10 a.m., SD-342. Committee on the Judiciary: September 12, to hold hearings to examine regulatory preemption relating to federal agencies usurping congressional and state authority, 11 a.m., SD-226. Committee on Rules and Administration: September 12, to hold a hearing to examine the nomination of Robert Charles Tapella, of Virginia, to be Public Printer for the Government Printing Office, 10 a.m., SR-301. Select Committee on Intelligence: September 11, to hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. House Committees Committee on Armed Services, September 10, full Committee and the Committee on Foreign Affairs, joint hearing on the status of the war and political developments in Iraq, 12:30 p.m., 345 Cannon. Committee on Education and Labor, September 10, hearing on proposals to reauthorize the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. September 12, hearing on Why Weren't 9/11 Recovery Workers Protected at the World Trade Center? 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Science and Technology, September 11, hearing on Bridge Safety: Next Steps To Protect the Nation's Critical Infrastructure, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, September 11, hearing on SBA Contracting Programs, 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, September 11, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, hearing on Readiness in the Post-Katrina and Post-9/11 World: An Evaluation of the New National Response Framework, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. The public proceedings of each House of Congress, as reported by the Official Reporters thereof, are printed pursuant to directions of the Joint Committee on Printing as authorized by appropriate provisions of Title 44, United States Code, and published for each day that one or both Houses are in session, excepting very infrequent instances when two or more unusually small consecutive issues are printed one time. 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[[Page D1176]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 10 a.m., Monday, September 10 Senate Chamber Program for Monday: Senate will begin consideration of the nominations of William Lindsay Osteen, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina, Martin Karl Reidinger, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, and Janis Lynn Sammartino, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of California, and after a period of debate, vote on the confirmations of the nominations at 11 a.m.; following which, Senator Barrasso will be recognized to speak in morning business; following which, Senate will begin consideration of H.R. 3074, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 10 House Chamber Program for Monday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as insert in this issue HOUSE Andrews, Robert E., N.J., E1842 Bilirakis, Gus M., Fla., E1838 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E1823, E1824, E1825, E1826, E1826, E1827, E1828, E1837 Boyda, Nancy E., Kans., E1831 Brown-Waite, Ginny, Fla., E1835, E1839 Calvert, Ken, Calif., E1829 Cantor, Eric, Va., E1824, E1826 Clyburn, James E., S.C., E1830 Costa, Jim, Calif., E1833 Davis, Tom, Va., E1834 Diaz-Balart, Mario, Fla., E1840 Duncan, John J., Jr., Tenn., E1828 Ehlers, Vernon J., Mich., E1838 Farr, Sam, Calif., E1835 Fox, Virginia, N.C., E1839 Green, Al, Tex., E1830, E1834 Green, Gene, Tex., E1833 Honda, Michael M., Calif., E1832 Johnson, Eddie Bernice, Tex., E1839 King, Peter T., N.Y., E1838 Klein, Ron, Fla., E1827 Lamborn, Doug, Colo., E1823, E1825 Lantos, Tom, Calif., E1832 McCarthy, Carolyn, N.Y., E1833 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1836 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E1834 Mitchell, Harry E., Ariz., E1828 Moore, Dennis, Kans., E1824, E1826, E1840 Murphy, Christopher S., Conn., E1824, E1826 Neugebauer, Randy, Tex., E1834 Norton, Eleanor Holmes, D.C., E1832 Nunes, Devin, Calif., E1831 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E1833, E1835, E1836, E1838, E1839, E1840, E1842, E1842 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E1831 Reyes, Silvestre, Tex., E1835 Ross, Mike, Ark., E1837 Ruppersberger, C.A. Dutch, Md., E1830 Schiff, Adam B., Calif., E1828 Sessions, Pete, Tex., E1827 Shuler, Heath, N.C., E1840 Sullivan, John, Okla., E1840 Thompson, Mike, Calif., E1833 Udall, Mark, Colo., E1837 Udall, Tom, N.M., E1823, E1825 Walsh, James T., N.Y., E1823, E1825, E1827 Welch, Peter, Vt., E1829 Westmoreland, Lynn A., Mac, Ga., E1837 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E1830 Young, C.W. Bill, Fla., E1839