Thursday, March 8, 2007 [[Page D288]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S2853-S2954 Measures Introduced: Twenty five bills and five resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 807-831, S.J. Res. 6-9, and S. Res. 101. Pages S2898-99 Measures Reported: S. 655, to amend the Congressional Charter of The American National Red Cross to modernize its governance structure, to enhance the ability of the board of governors of The American National Red Cross to support the critical mission of The American Red Cross in the 21st century, with an amendment. Page S2898 Measures Passed: 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 S2856-68, S2874-83, S2885-88 Pending: Reid Amendment No. 275, in the nature of a substitute. Page S2856 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 S2856, S2857 Salazar/Lieberman Modified Amendment No. 290 (to Amendment No. 275), to require a quadrennial homeland security review. Page S2856 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 S2856, S2875-78 Landrieu Amendment No. 321 (to Amendment No. 275), to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to include levees in the list of critical infrastructure sectors. Page S2856 Landrieu Amendment No. 296 (to Amendment No. 275), to permit the cancellation of certain loans under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act. Page S2856 Landrieu Modified Amendment No. 295 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide adequate funding for local governments harmed by Hurricane Katrina of 2005 or Hurricane Rita of 2005. Page S2856 Allard Amendment No. 272 (to Amendment No. 275), to prevent the fraudulent use of social security account numbers by allowing the sharing of social security data among agencies of the United States for identity theft prevention and immigration enforcement purposes. Page S2856 McConnell (for Sessions) Amendment No. 305 (to Amendment No. 275), to clarify the voluntary inherent authority of States to assist in the enforcement of the immigration laws of the United States and to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide information related to aliens found to have violated certain immigration laws to the National Crime Information Center. Pages S2856-57 McConnell (for Cornyn) Amendment No. 310 (to Amendment No. 275), to strengthen the Federal Government's ability to detain dangerous criminal aliens, including murderers, rapists, and child molesters, until they can be removed from the United States. Page S2857 McConnell (for Cornyn) Amendment No. 311 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide for immigration injunction reform. Page S2857 McConnell (for Cornyn) Modified Amendment No. 312 (to Amendment No. 275), to prohibit the recruitment of persons to participate in terrorism, to clarify that the revocation of an alien's visa or other documentation is not subject to judicial review, to strengthen the Federal Government's ability to detain dangerous criminal aliens, including murderers, rapists, and child molesters, until they can be removed from the United States, to prohibit the rewarding of suicide bombings and allow adequate punishments for terrorist murders, kidnappings, and sexual assaults. Page S2857 McConnell (for Kyl) Modified Amendment No. 317 (to Amendment No. 275), to prohibit the rewarding of suicide bombings and allow adequate [[Page D289]] punishments for terrorist murders, kidnappings, and sexual assaults. Page S2857 McConnell (for Kyl) Amendment No. 318 (to Amendment No. 275), to protect classified information. McConnell (for Kyl) Amendment No. 319 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide for relief from (a)(3)(B) immigration bars from the Hmong and other groups who do not pose a threat to the United States, to designate the Taliban as a terrorist organization for immigration purposes. Page S2857 McConnell (for Kyl) Amendment No. 320 (to Amendment No. 275), to improve the Classified Information Procedures Act. Page S2857 McConnell (for Grassley) Amendment No. 300 (to Amendment No. 275), to clarify the revocation of an alien's visa or other documentation is not subject to judicial review. Page S2857 McConnell (for Grassley) Amendment No. 309 (to Amendment No. 275), to improve the prohibitions on money laundering. Page S2857 Thune Amendment No. 308 (to Amendment No. 275), to expand and improve the Proliferation Security Initiative while protecting the national security interests of the United States. Page S2857 Cardin Amendment No. 326 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide for a study of modification of area of jurisdiction of Office of National Capital Region Coordination. Page S2857 Cardin Amendment No. 327 (to Amendment No. 275), to reform mutual aid agreements for the National Capital Region. Page S2857 Cardin Modified Amendment No. 328 (to Amendment No. 275), to require Amtrak contracts and leases involving the State of Maryland to be governed by the laws of the District of Columbia. Page S2857 Schumer/Clinton Amendment No. 336 (to Amendment No. 275), to prohibit the use of the peer review process in determining the allocation of funds among metropolitan areas applying for grants under the Urban Area Security Initiative. Page S2857 Schumer/Clinton Amendment No. 337 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide for the use of funds in any grant under the Homeland Security Grant Program for personnel costs. Page S2857 Coburn Amendment No. 325 (to Amendment No. 275), to ensure the fiscal integrity of grants awarded by the Department of Homeland Security. Page S2857 Sessions Amendment No. 347 (to Amendment No. 275), to express the sense of the Congress regarding the funding of Senate approved construction of fencing and vehicle barriers along the southwest border of the United States. Page S2857 Coburn Amendment No. 301 (to Amendment No. 275), to prohibit grant recipients under grant programs administered by the Department from expending funds until the Secretary has reported to Congress that risk assessments of all programs and activities have been performed and completed, improper payments have been estimated, and corrective action plans have been developed and reported as required under the Improper Payments Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 note). Page S2857 Coburn Amendment No. 294 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide that the provisions of the Act shall cease to have any force or effect on and after December 31, 2012, to ensure congressional review and oversight of the Act. Page S2857 Lieberman (for Menendez) Amendment No. 354 (to Amendment No. 275), to improve the security of cargo containers destined for the United States. Page S2857 Specter Amendment No. 286 (to Amendment No. 275), to restore habeas corpus for those detained by the United States. Page S2857 Kyl Modified Amendment No. 357 (to Amendment No. 275), to amend the data-mining technology reporting requirement to avoid revealing existing patents, trade secrets, and confidential business processes, and to adopt a narrower definition of data-mining in order to exclude routine computer searches. Page S2857 Ensign Amendment No. 363 (to Amendment No. 275), to establish a Law Enforcement Assistance Force in the Department of Homeland Security to facilitate the contributions of retired law enforcement officers during major disasters. Page S2857 Biden Amendment No. 383 (to Amendment No. 275), to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop regulations regarding the transportation of high hazard materials. Page S2857 Biden Amendment No. 384 (to Amendment No. 275), to establish a Homeland Security and Neighborhood Safety Trust Fund and refocus Federal priorities toward securing the Homeland. Page S2857 Bunning Amendment No. 334 (to Amendment No. 275), to amend title 49, United States Code, to modify the authorities relating to Federal flight deck officers. Page S2857 Schumer Modified Amendment No. 367 (to Amendment No. 275), to require the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration to establish and implement a program to provide additional safety measures for vehicles that carry high hazardous materials. Schumer Amendment No. 366 (to Amendment No. 275), to restrict the authority of the Nuclear [[Page D290]] Regulatory Commission to issue a license authorizing the export to a recipient country of highly enriched uranium for medical isotope production. Page S2857 Wyden Amendment No. 348 (to Amendment No. 275), to require that a redacted version of the Executive Summary of the Office of Inspector General Report on Central Intelligence Agency Accountability Regarding Findings and Conclusions of the Joint Inquiry into Intelligence Community Activities Before and After the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001 is made available to the public. Page S2857 Bond/Rockefeller Amendment No. 389 (to Amendment No. 275), to provide the sense of the Senate that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and the Select Committee on Intelligence of the Senate should submit a report on the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission with respect to intelligence reform and congressional intelligence oversight reform. Page S2857 Stevens Amendment No. 299 (to Amendment No. 275), to authorize NTIA to borrow against anticipated receipts of the Digital Television Transition and Public Safety Fund to initiate migration to a national IP-enabled emergency network capable of receiving and responding to all citizen activated emergency communications. Page S2857 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at approximately 9:15 a.m., on Friday, March 9, 2007; that the time until 9:30 a.m., be equally divided and controlled between the Majority Leader and the Republican Leader, or their designees; provided that at 9:30 a.m., the live quorum with respect to the McConnell cloture motion be waived, and Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on McConnell (for Cornyn) Modified Amendment No. 312 (to Amendment No. 275) (listed above); provided further that all second-degree amendments be filed by 10:00 a.m., on Friday, March 9, 2007. Page S2954 Message from the President: Senate received the following message from the President of the United States: Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the continuation of the national emergency with respect to Iran that was declared on March 15, 1995; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-9) Page S2897 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: By unanimous vote of 95 yeas (Vote No. EX. 67), John Alfred Jarvey, of Iowa, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Iowa. Sara Elizabeth Lioi, of Ohio, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Ohio. Pages S2883-85, S2954 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: 2 Army nominations in the rank of general. Page S2954 Messages from the House: Pages S2897-98 Messages Referred: Page S2898 Measures Read the First Time: Pages S2898, S2954 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S2898 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S2899-S2900 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S2900-27 Additional Statements: Page S2897 Amendments Submitted: Pages S2927-53 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S2953 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S2953-54 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--67) Page S2884 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 8:29 p.m., until 9:15 a.m. on Friday, March 9, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S2954.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) CROSS-BORDER TRUCKING Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine cross-border trucking with Mexico, after receiving testimony from Mary E. Peters, Secretary, and Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General, both of the Department of Transportation; Jayson P. Ahern, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Field Operations, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security; James P. Worthington, Con- way Freight-Southern, Fort Worth, Texas, on behalf of the American Trucking Associations; James P. Hoffa, International Brotherhood of Teamsters, and Joan Claybrook, Public Citizen, both of Washington, D.C.; John B. Ficker, National Industrial Transportation League, Arlington, Virginia; and Charles Parfrey, Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, Grain Valley, Missouri. [[Page D291]] APPROPRIATIONS: NOAA/NSF Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008, after receiving testimony in behalf of funds for their respective activities from Arden L. Bement, Jr., National Science Foundation; and Vice Admiral Conrad Lautenbacher, Jr., (Ret.), United States Navy, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere, Administrator, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of Homeland Security, after receiving testimony from Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security. NOMINATIONS Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Admiral Timothy J. Keating, USN, for reappointment to the grade of admiral and to be Commander, United States Pacific Command, Lieutenant General Victor E. Renuart, Jr., USAF, for appointment to be general and to be Commander, United States Northern Command/Commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and Lieutenant General Robert L. Van Antwerp, USA, for reappointment to the grade of lieutenant general and to be Chief of Engineers/Commanding General, United States Army Corps of Engineers, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION REAUTHORIZATION Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety and Security concluded a hearing to examine the Administration's proposal to reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, Part II, after receiving testimony from Senator Inhofe; Stephen A. Alterman, Cargo Airline Association, Edward Bolen, National Business Aviation Association, Patrick Forrey, National Air Traffic Controllers Association, and James C. May, Air Transport Association of America, Inc., all of Washington, D.C.; and Charles M. Barclay, American Association of Airport Executives, Alexandria, Virginia, on behalf of the Airport Legislative Alliance. TRADE AGENDA Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine perspectives on the 2007 trade agenda, after receiving testimony from Lawrence H. Summers, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Frederick W. Smith, FedEx Corporation, and Robert Baugh, AFL-CIO, both of Washington, D.C.; Craig Lang, Iowa Farm Bureau Federation, Des Moines; Anderson Warlick, Parkdale Mills, Inc., Gastonia, North Carolina, on behalf of the National Council of Textile Organizations; and Steven L. Holland, Montana State University College of Engineering Montana Manufacturing Extension Center, Bozeman. AFGHANISTAN Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine efforts to create a new strategy relating to Afghanistan, focusing on threats that impact United States national security and the resurgence of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, after receiving testimony from Richard A. Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs; James L. Jones, Jr., United States Marine Corps (Ret.), Former Commander European Command and Supreme Allied Commander Europe, McLean, Virginia; and James Dobbins, RAND Corporation, Arlington, Virginia. FOLLOW-ON BIOLOGICS Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Food and Drug Administration follow-on biologics, generally referred to as a biotechnology-derived protein drug (or biologic) that is comparable to a novel, previously approved biologic and that is approved with less supporting data than the innovator biologic, after receiving testimony from Senator Schumer; Sid Banwart, Caterpillar, Inc., Peoria, Illinois; Nicolas Rossignol, European Commission Pharmaceuticals Unit, Brussels, Belgium; Jay P. Siegel, Johnson and Johnson, Radnor, Pennsylvania; and Ajaz S. Hussain, Sandoz, Princeton, New Jersey, on behalf of the Novartis Group of Companies. INDIAN HEALTH CARE IMPROVEMENT ACT Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Indian Health Care Improvement Act Amendments of 2007, after receiving testimony from John O. Agwunobi, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Health; C. Frederick Beckner III, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Civil Division, Department of Justice; Richard Brannan, Northern Arapaho Business Council, Fort Washakie, Wyoming; Rachel A. Joseph, National Steering Committee for the Reauthorization of the Indian Health Care Improvement Act, Lone Pine, California; Edward P. Lazarus, Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, and Feld, LLP, Los Angeles, California; and [[Page D292]] Steve Gage, SouthEast Alaska Tribal Health Consortium, Sitka, on behalf of the Alaska Association of CHAP Directors. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported: S. 655, to amend the Congressional Charter of The American National Red Cross to modernize its governance structure, to enhance the ability of the board of governors of The American National Red Cross to support the critical mission of The American Red Cross in the 21st century, with an amendment; and The nominations of Thomas M. Hardiman, of Pennsylvania, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Third Circuit, and Vanessa Lynne Bryant, to be United States District Judge for the District of Connecticut. Also, committee began consideration of S. 261, to amend title 18, United States Code, to strengthen prohibitions against animal fighting, but did not complete action thereon, and recessed subject to the call of the Chair. COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Committee concluded a hearing to examine small business solutions for combating climate change, after receiving testimony from Senator Boxer; Daniel Horowitz, Assistant Administrator for Policy and Planning, U.S. Small Business Administration; William L. Wehrum, Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of Air and Radiation, Environmental Protection Agency; Byron Kennard, Center for Small Business and the Environment, Washington, D.C.; James J. Barber, Metabolix, Cambridge, Massachusetts; David B. Goldstein, Natural Resources Defense Council, and Scott G. Hauge, Small Business California, on behalf of the National Small Business Association, both of San Francisco, California; and Christopher J. Lynch, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School Pennsylvania Small Business Development Centers Environmental Management Assistance Program, Philadelphia. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 27 public bills, H.R. 1397- 1423; and 5 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 85-87; and H. Res. 228, 230 were introduced. Pages H2339-41 Additional Cosponsors: Page H2341 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 545, to amend the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to clarify that territories and Indian tribes are eligible to receive grants for confronting the use of methamphetamine (H. Rept. 110-35, Pt. 1); H. Res. 229, providing for consideration of H.R. 720, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to authorize appropriations for State water pollution control revolving funds (H. Rept. 110-36); H.R. 740, to amend title 18, United States Code, to prevent caller ID spoofing (H. Rept. 110-37); H.R. 85, to provide for the establishment of centers to encourage demonstration and commercial application of advanced energy methods and technologies, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-38); H.R. 363, to authorize appropriations for basic research and research infrastructure in science and engineering, and for support of graduate fellowships, with amendments (H. Rept. 110-39); H.R. 1086, to amend the High-Performance Computing Act of 1991 (H. Rept. 110-40); and H.R. 1126, to reauthorize the Steel and Aluminum Energy Conservation and Technology Competitiveness Act of 1988 (H. Rept. 110-41). Page H2339 Healthy Communities Water Supply Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 700, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend the pilot program for alternative water source projects, by a yea-and-nay vote of 368 yeas to 59 nays, Roll No. 130. Pages H2307-09, H2321-30 Agreed to the Price (GA) motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 427 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 129. Subsequently, Representative Oberstar reported the bill back to the House with the amendment and the amendment was agreed to. Pages H2328-29 [[Page D293]] Agreed to: Conaway amendment (No. 3 printed in the Congressional Record of March 6, 2007) that adds a new subsection relating to the selection of projects. Page H2327 Rejected: Price (GA) amendment (No. 1 printed in the Congressional Record of March 6, 2007) that sought to add a new section to the bill relating to the requirement of offsets (by a recorded vote of 176 ayes to 256 noes, Roll No. 128) Pages H2325-26, H2327-28 Withdrawn: Kucinich amendment (No. 4 printed in the Congressional Record of March 6, 2007) that sought to add a new subsection on eligibility and Pages H2324-25 Sessions amendment (No. 5 printed in the Congressional Record of March 6, 2007) that sought to insert ``for fiscal years ending before October 1, 2008'' on page 2, line 9 after the dollar amount. Pages H2326-27 H. Res. 215, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by voice vote. Pages H2307-09 Providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Tenth Congress: The House agreed to H. Res. 202, to provide for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Tenth Congress, by a yea- and-nay vote of 269 yeas to 150 nays, Roll No. 131. Pages H2309-21, H2330-31 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on House Administration now printed in the resolution and modified by the amendment printed in H. Rept. 110-34 shall be considered as adopted. Page H2316 H. Res. 219, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by voice vote after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 228 yeas to 195 nays, Roll No. 127. Pages H2309-16 Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he notified Congress of the continuation of the national emergency with respect to Iran--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-17). Page H2331 Recess: The House recessed at 4:03 p.m. and reconvened at 5:18 p.m. Page H2338 Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H2315-16, H2327-28, H2329, H2330 and H2330-31. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at 5:19 p.m. Committee Meetings LIVESTOCK FEED COSTS Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry held a hearing to review the impact of feed costs on the livestock industry. Testimony was heard from Chuck Conner, Deputy Secretary, USDA; and public witnesses. 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 the Food and Nutrition Service. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the USDA: Nancy Montanez Johner, Under Secretary, and Kate Coler, Deputy Under Secretary, both with Food Nutrition and Consumer Services; Roberto Salazar, Administrator, Food and Nutrition Service; Eric Hentges, Executive Director, Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion; 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 National Institute of Standards and Technology. Testimony was heard from William A. Jeffrey, Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce. The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the National Telecommunications and Information Administration/Patent and Trademark Office. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Commerce: John M. R. Kneurer, Assistant Secretary, Communications and Information; and Jon W. Dudas, Under Secretary, Intellectual Property, and Director, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies held a hearing on the Department of Energy: Environmental Management, Legacy Management. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Energy: James A. Rispoli, Assistant Secretary, Environmental Management; and Michael W. Owen, Director, Office of Legacy Management. [[Page D294]] FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government held a hearing on the Supreme Court. Testimony was heard from the following Associate Justices of the Supreme Court: Anthony M. Kennedy, and Clarence Thomas. INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies held a hearing on the Secretary of the Interior. Testimony was heard from Dirk Kempthorne, Secretary of the Interior. 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 Administration for Children and Families. Testimony was heard from Wade Horn, M.D., Assistant Secretary, Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a hearing on the U.S. Capitol Police Budget. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the U.S. Capitol Police: Phillip Morse, Chief; and Dan Nichols, Assistant Chief. MILITARY CONSTRUCTION, VETERANS' AFFAIRS, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on the VA Mental Health Programs and Initiatives. Testimony was heard from Michael J. Kussman, Acting Under Secretary, Health, Department of Veterans Affairs. The Subcommittee also held a hearing on VA Homeless Programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Veterans' Affairs: Peter H. Dougherty, Director, Homeless Veterans Program; and Philip F. Mangano, Executive Director, U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs held a hearing on Foreign Assistance Budget, Foreign Affairs Restructuring. Testimony was heard from Ambassador Randall L. Tobias, Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development and Director, Foreign Assistance, Department of State. TRANSPORTATION, HUD, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on the Building Sustainable Communities: Sensible Links between Housing and Transportation. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. RECOVERY OBSTACLES FOR WOUNDED SERVICE MEMBERS Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on challenges and obstacles wounded and injured service members face during recovery. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: David S. C. Chu, Under Secretary, Personnel and Readiness; William Winkenwerder, Assistant Secretary, Health Affairs; GEN Peter J. Schoomaker, USA, Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; and LTG Kevin C. Kiley, USA, The Surgeon General, U.S. Army. SUBMARINE FORCE STRUCTURE AND ACQUISITION Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces held a hearing on submarine force structure and acquisition policy. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: VADM John J. Donnelly, USN, Commander, Submarine Forces; RADM Carl V. Mauney, USN, Director, Submarine Warfare Division N87; RADM William H. Hilarides, USN, Program Executive Officer, Submarines; and Allison Stiller, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Programs, all with the Department of the Navy; Ron O'Rourke, Senior Naval Analyst, CRS, Library of Congress; and public witnesses. U.S. STRATEGIC COMMAND POSTURE Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces held a hearing on the posture of the U.S. Strategic Command. Testimony was heard from GEN James E. Cartwright, USMC, Commander, U.S. Command, Department of Defense. HIGHER EDUCATION ACCESS AND FINANCING Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness held a hearing on the State of Higher Education: How Students Access and Finance a College Education.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. [[Page D295]] EPA's BUDGET REQUEST Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials and the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality held a joint hearing entitled ``The Environmental Protection Agency's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2008.'' Testimony was heard from Stephen L. Johnson, Administrator, EPA. GENETIC INFORMATION NONDISCRIMINATION ACT Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``H.R. 493, Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: Francis S. Collins, M.D., Director, National Human Genome Research Institute, NIH; and Susan McAndrew, Deputy Director, Health Information Privacy, Office for Civil Rights; Christopher J. Kuczynski, Assistant Legal Council and Director, Americans with Disabilities Act Policy Division, EEOC; Frank Swain, former Chief Counsel, Advocacy, SBA; and public witnesses. EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Empowering Shareholders on Executive Compensation: H.R. 1257, Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. FOREIGN ASSISTANCE REFORM Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on Foreign Assistance Reform. Testimony was heard from Randall L. Tobias, Director, U.S. Foreign Assistance and Administrator, U. S. Agency for International Developmental, Department of State. LATIN AMERICAN'S OPINIONS OF THE U.S. Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight and the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere held a joint hearing on Polling Data on Latin American Opinion of the United States Policies, Values and People. Testimony was heard from a public witness. BORDER SECURITY Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism continued hearings entitled ``Border Security: Infrastructure, Technology, and the Human Element, Part II.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. PIRACY ON UNIVERSITY NETWORKS Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property, hearing on ``An Update- Piracy on University Networks.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. RIGHT TO COUNSEL IN CORPORATE INVESTIGATIONS Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security held a hearing on the McNulty Memorandum's Effect on the Right to Counsel in Corporate Investigations. Testimony was heard from Barry M. Sabin, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. WATER AND POWER BUDGET Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held an oversight hearing on the fiscal year 2008 budget requests for the Bureau of Reclamation, the Federal Power Marketing Administrations, and the Water Resources division of the U.S. Geological Survey. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Interior: Robert Johnson, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation; and Robert Hirsch, Associate Director, Water, Water Resources Division, U.S. Geological Survey; and the following Administrators of the Power Administrations, Department of Energy: Steven J. Wright, Bonneville; Timothy J. Meeks, Western Area; Jon Worthington, Southeastern; and Michael A. Deihl, Southwestern. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Ordered reported the following measures: H.R. 1255, amended, Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007; H.R. 1254, amended, Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2007; H.R. 1309, amended, To promote openness in Government by strengthening section 552 of title 5, United States Code (Commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act); H.R. 1362, amended, Accountability in Contracting Act; H. Res. 198, Recognizing the significance of Black History Month; H.R. 89, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a day should be established as Dutch-American Friendship Day to celebrate the historic ties of the United States and the Netherlands; and H. Res. 136, Commending the Girls Scouts of the United States of America on the occasion of their 95th anniversary, for providing quality age-appropriate experiences that prepare girls to become the leaders of tomorrow and for raising issues important to girls. FEDERAL PERSONNEL REFORM Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia held a hearing on the Status of Federal Personnel Reform. Testimony was [[Page D296]] heard from Curtis Copeland, Specialist in American National Government, CRS, Library of Congress; and public witnesses. WATER QUALITY FINANCING ACT OF 2007 Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a structured rule providing for consideration of H.R. 720, Water Quality Financing Act of 2007. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except for clauses 9 and 10 of Rule XXI. The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in Part A of the Rules Committee report, shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. The bill as amended shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of further amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against provisions in the bill as amended, and no further amendments shall be in order except those amendments printed in Part B of the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution. The rule provides that the further amendments made in order in Part B 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 division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against the amendments printed in the report except for clauses 9 and 10 of Rule XXI. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard from Chairman Oberstar and Representatives Hirono, Stupak, Mica, Baker, Gary G. Miller of California, Boustany, Tom Davis of Virginia, Kirk, and King of Iowa. HIGH SCHOOL LABORATORY EXPERIENCE Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing on Improving the Laboratory Experience for America's High School Students Testimony was heard from Representative Hinojosa; and public witnesses. HOMELAND SECURITY RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT BUDGET Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation held a hearing on the Department of Homeland Security's R&D Budget Priorities for Fiscal Year 2008. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Jay M. Cohen, Under Secretary, Science and Technology; and Vayl Oxford, Director, Domestic Nuclear Detection Office; and public witnesses. DISASTER AND ACCESS TO CAPITAL PROGRAM Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing to review legislation affecting the SBA's Disaster and Access to Capital programs. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the SBA: Herbert L. Mitchell, Associate Administrator, Disaster Relief; and Michael Hager, Associate Deputy Administrator, Capital Access; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--COAST GUARD BUDGET Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held an oversight hearing on the Coast Guard Budget and Authorization for Fiscal Year 2008. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: ADM Thad W. Allen, USCG, Commandant; and Charles W. Bowen, USCG, Master Chief Petty Officer, both with the U.S. Coast Guard; and Richard L. Skinner, Inspector General; and Steven Caldwell, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, GAO. SERVICE MEMBERS TRANSITION TO CIVILIAN LIFE Committee on Veterans Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on Service Members Seamless Transition into Civilian Life--The Heroes Return. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Michael J. Kussman, M.D., Acting Under Secretary, Health; William F. Feeley, Deputy Under Secretary, Health for Operations and Management; Edward Huycke M.D., Veterans Health Administration/Department of Defense Coordination Office; Ira Katz, M.D., Director, Mental Health Services; Shane McNamee, M.D., Director, Polytrauma Center, VA Medical Center, Richmond, Virginia; Steven Scott, M.D., Director, Polytrauma Center, VA Medical Center, Tampa, Florida; and Kathy Dinegar and Sherry Edmonds- Clemons, both Socialworker Liaisons for Seamless Transition, Walter. Reed Medical Center/Bethesda Naval Hospital; Cynthia Bascetta, Director, Health Care, GAO; and public witnesses. MEDICARE PROGRAM INTEGRITY Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Oversight held a [[Page D297]] joint hearing on Medicare Program Integrity. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General; and Tim Hill, Director, Office of Financial Management, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and R. Alexander Acosta, U.S. Attorney, Southern District of Florida. MILITARY INTELLIGENCE PROGRAM BUDGET OVERVIEW Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to hold a hearing on Military Intelligence Program (MIP) Budget Overview. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses. Joint Meetings LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATIONS Joint Hearing: Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs concluded joint hearings with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine legislative presentations of certain veterans organizations, after receiving testimony from Norman Rosenshein, Jewish War Veterans of the United States, Randy L. Pleva, Sr., Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Larry Belote, Blinded Veterans Association, all of Washington, D.C.; John Rowan, Vietnam Veterans of America, Silver Spring, Maryland; Master Sergeant Morgan D. Brown (Ret.), United States Air Force, Air Force Sergeants Association, Suitland, Maryland; and Sergeant Major H. Gene Overstreet (Ret.), United States Marine Corps, Non Commissioned Officers Association, San Antonio, Texas. AFRICAN-AMERICAN MALE UNEMPLOYMENT Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the problem of African-American male unemployment, after receiving testimony from Ronald B. Mincy, Columbia University, and Robert Carmona, STRIVE, both of New York, New York. NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D223) H.R. 49, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1300 North Frontage Road West in Vail, Colorado, as the ``Gerald R. Ford, Jr. Post Office Building'' Signed on March 7, 2007 (Public Law 110-7) H.R. 335, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 152 North 5th Street in Laramie, Wyoming, as the ``Gale W. McGee Post Office''. Signed on March 7, 2007 (Public Law 110- 8) H.R. 433, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1700 Main Street in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the ``Scipio A. Jones Post Office Building''. Signed on March 7, 2007 (Public Law 110-9) H.R. 514, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16150 Aviation Loop Drive in Brooksville, Florida, as the ``Sergeant Lea Robert Mills Brooksville Aviation Branch Post Office''. Signed on March 7, 2007 (Public Law 110-10) H.R. 577, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, as the ``Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post Office Building''. Signed on March 7, 2007 (Public Law 110-11) COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, to hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Small Business Administration, 9 a.m., SD-138. House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies, on NASA Overview, 10 a.m., 2362B Rayburn. Subcommittee on Homeland Security, on Preparing for Disasters, Natural or Otherwise, 10 a.m., 2358 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, on U.S. Geological Survey, 9:30 a.m., B-308 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, on (Panel I) Centers for Disease Control/(Panel II) Emergency Preparedness: Office of the Secretary, Centers for Disease Control, NIH, 10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, hearing entitled ``Combating Pretexting: H.R. 936, Prevention of Fraudulent Access to Phone Records Act,'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, hearing entitled ``The Section 8 Voucher Reform Act,'' 10 a.m., 2128 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. Public access to the Congressional Record is available online through GPO Access, a service of the Government Printing Office, free of charge to the user. The online database is updated each day the Congressional Record is published. The database includes both text and graphics from the beginning of the 103d Congress, 2d session (January 1994) forward. It is available through GPO Access at www.gpo.gov/gpoaccess. Customers can also access this information with WAIS client software, via telnet at swais.access.gpo.gov, or dial-in using communications software and a modem at 202ÿ09512ÿ091661. Questions or comments regarding this database or GPO Access can be directed to the GPO Access User Support Team at: E-Mail: gpoaccess@gpo.gov; Phone 1ÿ09888ÿ09293ÿ096498 (toll-free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091530 (D.C. area); Fax: 202ÿ09512ÿ091262. The Team's hours of availability are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, except Federal holidays. The Congressional Record paper and 24x microfiche edition will be furnished by mail to subscribers, free of postage, at the following prices: paper edition, $252.00 for six months, $503.00 per year, or purchased as follows: less than 200 pages, $10.50; between 200 and 400 pages, $21.00; greater than 400 pages, $31.50, payable in advance; microfiche edition, $146.00 per year, or purchased for $3.00 per issue payable in advance. The semimonthly Congressional Record Index may be purchased for the same per issue prices. To place an order for any of these products, visit the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at: bookstore.gpo.gov. Mail orders to: Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250ÿ097954, or phone orders to 866ÿ09512ÿ091800 (toll free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091800 (D.C. area), or fax to 202ÿ09512ÿ092250. Remit check or money order, made payable to the Superintendent of Documents, or use VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or GPO Deposit Account. 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 D298]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:15 a.m., Friday, March 9 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will continue consideration of S. 4, Improving America's Security by Implementing Unfinished Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act and vote on the motion to invoke cloture on McConnell (for Cornyn) Modified Amendment No. 312 (to Amendment No. 275) at approximately 9:30 a.m. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 9 a.m., Friday, March 9 House Chamber Program for Friday: Consideration of H.R. 720--Water Quality Financing Act of 2007. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks as inserted in this issue HOUSE Abercrombie, Neil, Hawaii, E498 Bartlett, Roscoe G., Md., E492 Becerra, Xavier, Calif., E497 Berry, Marion, Ark., E500 Blackburn, Marsha, Tenn., E492 Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E491 Braley, Bruce L., Iowa, E491 Butterfield, G.K., N.C., E489, E490 Capuano, Michael E., Mass., E486 Castle, Michael N., Del., E492 Cohen, Steve, Tenn., E488 Davis, Danny K., Ill., E487 Davis, Lincoln, Tenn., E488, E488 Davis, Tom, Va., E498 Donnelly, Joe, Ind., E488, E489 Ellison, Kieth, Minn., E496 Ellsworth, Brad, Ind., E491 Everett, Terry, Ala., E498 Fossella, Vito, N.Y., E486 Frelinghuysen, Rodney P., N.J., E495 Hare, Phil, Ill., E493 Hirono, Mazie K., Hawaii, E485 Kanjorski, Paul E., Pa., E494 Lampson, Nick, Tex., E491 Lee, Barbara, Calif., E487 Levin, Sander M., Mich., E497 Moran, Jerry, Kans., E495 Murphy, Patrick J., Pa., E489, E490 Musgrave, Marilyn N., Colo., E495 Norton, Eleanor Holmes, D.C., E496 Paul, Ron, Tex., E485 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E486 Reyes, Silvestre, Tex., E491 Ross, Mike, Ark., E490, E490 Ruppersberger, C.A. Dutch, Md., E493 Sali, Bill, Idaho, E497 Sessions, Pete, Tex., E493 Slaughter, Louise McIntosh, N.Y., E487 Solis, Hilda L., Calif., E495 Tanner, John S., Tenn., E488 Terry, Lee, Nebr., E499 Thompson, Bennie G., Miss., E499 Udall, Tom, N.M., E485, E494 Wasserman Schultz, Debbie, Fla., E487 Woolsey, Lynn C., Calif., E486