Thursday, October 25, 2007 [[Page D1421]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S13391-S13464 Measures Introduced: Seventeen bills and one resolution were introduced, as follows: S. 2229-2245, and S. Res. 356. Pages S13437-38 Measures Reported: S. 2242, to amend the Trade Act of 1974 to establish supplemental agricultural disaster assistance and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for conservation and alternative energy sources and to provide tax relief for farmers. (S. Rept. No. 110-206) S. Res. 346, expressing heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the devastating thunderstorms that caused severe flooding during August 2007 in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, with an amendment and with an amended preamble. S. Res. 347, designating May 2008 as ``National Be Bear Aware and Wildlife Stewardship Month''. Page S13437 Measures Passed: Internet Tax Freedom Act Amendments Act: Senate passed H.R. 3678, to amend the Internet Tax Freedom Act to extend the moratorium on certain taxes relating to the Internet and to electronic commerce, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S13429-30 Reid (for Sununu) Amendment No. 3466, to amend the Internet Tax Freedom Act to extend the moratorium on certain taxes relating to the Internet and to electronic commerce. Pages S13429-30 Measures Considered: Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 294, to reauthorize Amtrak, agreeing to the committee amendments, which will be considered as original text for purpose of further amendment, and taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S13405-29, S13430 Adopted: Lautenberg (for Murray) Modified Amendment No. 3457, to require the development of a strategic plan to facilitate expanded cross-border passenger rail service on the Amtrak Cascades route during the 2010 Olympic Games. Page S13427 Lautenberg (for Murray) Modified Amendment No. 3459, to require a report by the Inspector General of the Department of Transportation on service delays on the Coast Starlight and Amtrak Cascades routes. Page S13427 Lott (for DeMint) Amendment No. 3460, to ensure that capital investment grants authorized under section 24402 of title 49, United States Code, may be used for passenger rail infrastructure. Page S13427 Lott (for DeMint) Amendment No. 3461, to direct the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study that compares passenger rail systems in certain developed countries. Page S13427 Rejected: By 28 yeas to 66 nays (Vote No. 395), Sununu Amendment No. 3453, to prohibit Federal subsidies in excess of specified amounts on any Amtrak train route. Pages S13405-12 By 27 yeas to 64 nays (Vote No. 396), Sununu Modified Amendment No. 3456, to remove the limitation on the number of Amtrak routes available for competitive bid. Pages S13412-13, S13417, S13426 Withdrawn: Sununu Amendment No. 3452, to amend the Internet Tax Freedom Act to make permanent the moratorium on certain taxes relating to the Internet and to electronic commerce. Pages S13405, S13417-19, S13430 Pending: Lautenberg (for Carper) Amendment No. 3454 (to Amendment No. 3452), of a perfecting nature. Pages S13405, S13412 Allard Amendment No. 3455, to strike the provisions repealing Amtrak's self-sufficiency requirements. Pages S13413-15 During consideration of this measure, Senate also took the following action: Motion to invoke cloture on Sununu Amendment No. 3452 (listed above), was withdrawn. Page S13430 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at approximately 9:30 a.m., on Friday, October 26, 2007. Page S13464 Messages from the House: Page S13437 Measures Referred: Page S13437 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Page S13437 Measures Read the First Time: Page S13437 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S13438-39 [[Page D1422]] Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S13439-59 Additional Statements: Pages S13435-36 Amendments Submitted: Pages S13459-63 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S13463 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S13464 Privileges of the Floor: Page S13464 Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--396) Pages S13412, S13426 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:45 p.m., until 9:30 a.m. on Friday, October 26, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S13464.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) FARM BILL Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee ordered favorably reported the 2007 Farm Bill. TOY INDUSTRY SWEATSHOPS Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Interstate Commerce, Trade, and Tourism concluded a hearing to examine sweatshop conditions in the toy industry in China, including S. 367, to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit the import, export, and sale of goods made with sweatshop labor, after receiving testimony from Senator Sanders; Charles Kernaghan, National Labor Committee, and Peter Eio, ICTI CARE Foundation, both of New York, New York; and Harry Wu, Laogai Research Foundation, and Bama Athreya, International Labor Rights Forum, both of Washington, D.C. FEDERAL DRUNK DRIVING PREVENTION PROGRAMS Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Transportation Safety, Infrastructure Security, and Water Quality concluded an oversight hearing to examine the effectiveness of federal drunk driving prevention programs, after receiving testimony from Vice Admiral Thomas J. Barrett, USCG (Ret.), Deputy Secretary, Mark V. Rosenker, Chairman, National Transportation Safety Board, and Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General, all of the Department of Transportation; John Wheeler, New Mexico Department of Public Safety, Santa Fe; Judge Michael R. Fields, Harris County Criminal Court of Law #14, Houston, Texas; and Glynn R. Birch, Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Irving, Texas. SMALL BUSINESS AND HEALTH INSURANCE Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine small business health insurance, focusing on ways to increase coverage, after receiving testimony from Joel Ario, Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Harrisburg, on behalf of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners; Alden J. Bianchi, Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C., Boston, Massachusetts; Linda J. Blumberg, Urban Institute, Washington, D.C.; and Monty Newman, National Association of Realtors (NAR), Hobbs, New Mexico. SINGLE AUDITS Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security concluded a hearing to examine implementation of the Single Audit Act (Public Law 98-502), focusing on a recent study on the potential impacts that implementing certain recommendations could have to help ensure that federal funds are safeguarded, after receiving testimony from Daniel I. Werfel, Acting Controller, Office of Federal Financial Management, Office of Management and Budget; Jeanette M. Franzel, Director, Financial Management and Assurance, Government Accountability Office; Hugh M. Monaghan, Director, National Single Audit Sampling Project, and Director, Non-Federal Audit, Office of the Inspector General, Department of Education; and Mary M. Foelster, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following: S. Res. 347, designating May 2008 as ``National Be Bear Aware and Wildlife Stewardship Month''; and S. Res. 346, expressing heartfelt sympathy for the victims of the devastating thunderstorms that caused severe flooding during August 2007 in the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, with an amendment. 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. [[Page D1423]] House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 17 public bills, H.R. 3964- 3980; and 4 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 241-242; and H. Res. 775-776, were introduced. Pages H12102-03 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H12103-04 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 1236, to make permanent the authority of the United States Postal Service to issue a special postage stamp to support breast cancer research, with amendments (H. Rept. 110-409, Pt. 1) and H.R. 3796, to amend the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act to minimize the adverse effects of employment dislocation, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-410). Page H12102 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative Serrano to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H12023 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Blackburn motion to adjourn by a yea- and-nay vote of 158 yeas to 220 nays, Roll No. 1001. Pages H12024-25 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Sessions motion to adjourn by a recorded vote of 170 ayes to 222 noes, Roll No. 1002. Pages H12026-27 Question of Consideration: The House agreed to consider H. Res. 774, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3963) to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program, by a yea-and-nay vote of 216 yeas to 181 nays, Roll No. 1003. The House further agreed to the Slaughter motion to table the motion to reconsider the vote, by a recorded vote of 218 ayes to 183 noes, Roll No. 1004. Pages H12027-30 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Campbell (CA) motion to adjourn by a recorded vote of 165 ayes to 224 noes, Roll No. 1005. Pages H12030-31 Amending title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program: The House passed H.R. 3963, to amend title XXI of the Social Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance Program, by a yea-and-nay vote of 265 yeas to 142 nays, Roll No. 1009. Pages H12042-90 Rejected the Barton (TX) motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Energy and Commerce with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with amendments, by a yea-and-nay vote of 164 yeas to 242 nays, Roll No. 1008. Pages H12087-90 H. Res. 774, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 215 yeas to 187 nays, Roll No. 1007, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 221 yeas to 188 nays, Roll No. 1006. Pages H12031-42 Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, October 29th for morning hour debate. Page H12092 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed by unanimous consent to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, October 31st. Page H12092 Quorum Calls--Votes: Six yea-and-nay votes and three recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H12024- 25, H12026-27, H12029, H12029-30, H12030-31, H12041, H12041-42, H12089- 90, and H12090. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 6:39 p.m. Committee Meetings AGRICULTURE DISASTER CONDITIONS Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review agriculture disaster conditions across the nation. Testimony was heard from Representative Simpson; Brad Rippey, Staff Meteorlogist, Office of Chief Economist, USDA; Mike Easley, Governor of North Carolina; Ken Givens, Commissioner, Department of Agriculture, State of Tennessee; and public witnesses. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Surface Transportation: Investment Needs and the Budget. Testimony was heard from Mary E. Peters, Secretary of Transportation; Robert A. Sunshine, CBO; and public witnesses. FAIR HOME HEALTH CARE ACT Committee on Education and Labor: Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing on H.R. 3582, Fair Home Health Care Act. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. [[Page D1424]] TRANSPARENCY OF EXTRACTIVE INDUSTRIES Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Transparency of Extractive Industries: High Stakes for Resource-Rich Countries, Citizens and International Business.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. NORTH KOREA SIX PARTY PROCESS Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment, and the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade held a hearing on The Six Party Process: Progress and Perils in North Korea's Denuclearization. Testimony was heard from Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State. U.S. SECURITY ASSISTANCE TO MEXICO Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere held a hearing on U.S. Security Assistance to Mexico. Testimony was heard from Jess T. Ford, Director, International Affairs and Trade Team, GAO; James R. Jones, former U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and former Representative from Oklahoma; and public witnesses. ARBITRATION FAIRNESS ACT OF 2007 Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law held a hearing on H.R. 3010, Arbitration Fairness Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. ORGANIZED RETAIL THEFT PREVENTION Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security held a hearing on Organized Retail Theft Prevention: Fostering a Comprehensive Public-Private Response. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. IRAQ Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing on Iraq. Testimony was heard from Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State. HEALTH INSURER CONSOLIDATIONS Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on Health Insurer Consolidation, The Impact on Small Business. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. SAFETY OF AMERICA'S RAILROADS Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held a hearing on The Impact of Railroad Injury, Accident, and Discipline Policies on the Safety of America's Railroads. Testimony was heard from Joseph H. Boardman, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses. VETERANS MEASURES Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 513, amended, National Heroes Credit Protection Act; and H.R. 3882, To amend title 38, United States Code, to change the length of the obligated period of service on active duty required for receiving certain education benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs. The Subcommittee also held an oversight hearing on VETS DVOP/LVER Program. Testimony was heard from Charles Ciccolella, Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training, Department of Labor; and public witnesses. BRIEFINGS--MIDDLE EAST EVENTS; SIZE OF DNI Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to receive a briefing on Recent Middle East Events. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses. The Committee also met in executive session to receive a briefing on the Size of DNI. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses. VOTING IN THE HOUSE--RULES, PROCEDURES, PRECEDENTS, CUSTOM AND PRACTICE Select Committee to Investigate the Voting Irregularities of August 2, 2007: Held a hearing on Voting in the House of Representatives--Rules, Procedures, Precedents, Custom and Practice. Testimony was heard from Charlie Johnson, former Parliamentarian of the House of Representatives; and Mark O'Sullivan, Chief Tally Clerk of the House of Representatives. NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D1366) H.R. 1124, to extend the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999. Signed on October 24, 2007. (Public Law 110-97) H.R. 2467, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 69 Montgomery Street in Jersey City, New Jersey, as the ``Frank J. Guarini Post Office Building''. Signed on October 24, 2007. (Public Law 110-98) H.R. 2587, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 555 South 3rd Street Lobby in Memphis, Tennessee, as the ``Kenneth T. Whalum, Sr. Post Office''. Signed on October 24, 2007. (Public Law 110-99) H.R. 2654, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 South Dumont [[Page D1425]] Avenue in Woonsocket, South Dakota, as the ``Eleanor McGovern Post Office Building''. Signed on October 24, 2007. (Public Law 110-100) H.R. 2765, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 44 North Main Street in Hughesville, Pennsylvania, as the ``Master Sergeant Sean Michael Thomas Post Office''. Signed on October 24, 2007. (Public Law 110-101) H.R. 2778, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3 Quaker Ridge Road in New Rochelle, New York, as the ``Robert Merrill Postal Station''. Signed on October 24, 2007. (Public Law 110-102) H.R. 2825, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 326 South Main Street in Princeton, Illinois, as the ``Owen Lovejoy Princeton Post Office Building''. Signed on October 24, 2007. (Public Law 110-103) H.R. 3052, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 954 Wheeling Avenue in Cambridge, Ohio, as the ``John Herschel Glenn, Jr. Post Office Building''. Signed on October 24, 2007. (Public Law 110-104) H.R. 3106, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 805 Main Street in Ferdinand, Indiana, as the ``Staff Sergeant David L. Nord Post Office''. Signed on October 24, 2007. (Public Law 110-105) H.R. 995, to amend Public Law 106-348 to extend the authorization for establishing a memorial in the District of Columbia or its environs to honor veterans who became disabled while serving in the Armed Forces of the United States. Signed on October 25, 2007. (Public Law 110-106) COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House No committee meetings are scheduled. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. 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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D1426]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Friday, October 26 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will continue consideration of S. 294, Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act; following which, at 10 a.m. Senate will be in a period of morning business, with certain Senators being recognized to speak. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 12:30 a.m., Monday, October 29 House Chamber Program for Monday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Becerra, Xavier, Calif., E2247 Bilirakis, Gus M., Fla., E2251 Bishop, Timothy H., N.Y., E2255 Boren, Dan, Okla., E2251 Boustany, Charles W., Jr., La., E2247 Brown-Waite, Ginny, Fla., E2248 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E2255 Clyburn, James E., S.C., E2254 Costa, Jim, Calif., E2253 Cramer, Robert E. (Bud), Jr., Ala., E2253 Cuellar, Henry, Tex., E2251 Davis, Danny K., Ill., E2241, E2243 Davis, David, Tenn., E2250 Davis, Susan A., Calif., E2246 Davis, Tom, Va., E2254 DeGette, Diana, Colo., E2250 Dent, Charles W., Pa., E2256 Emerson, Jo Ann, Mo., E2250 Engel, Eliot L., N.Y., E2242, E2255 Garrett, Scott, N.J., E2253 Graves, Sam, Mo., E2252, E2253, E2253, E2254, E2255 Hare, Phil, Ill., E2245 Hirono, Mazie K., Hawaii, E2246 Holt, Rush D., N.J., E2257 Honda, Michael M., Calif., E2246 Jones, Stephanie Tubbs, Ohio, E2248 Kilpatrick, Carolyn C., Mich., E2258 Knollenberg, Joe, Mich., E2251 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E2245 Lipinski, Daniel, Ill., E2245 McGovern, James P., Mass., E2241, E2242, E2244, E2245, E2246 McKeon, Howard P. ``Buck'', Calif., E2246 McNulty, Michael R., N.Y., E2247 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E2256, E2257 Miller, George, Calif., E2249 Moran, James P., Va., E2256 Musgrave, Marilyn N., Colo., E2250 Perlmutter, Ed, Colo., E2257 Petri, Thomas E., Wisc., E2252 Poe, Ted, Tex., E2241, E2243, E2244 Reyes, Silvestre, Tex., E2247 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E2258 Ross, Mike, Ark., E2257 Sires, Albio, N.J., E2253 Space, Zachary T., Ohio, E2258 Stupak, Bart, Mich., E2242, E2243 Udall, Mark, Colo., E2241, E2243, E2244 Van Hollen, Chris, Md., E2249 Wasserman Schultz, Debbie, Fla., E2255 Woolsey, Lynn C., Calif., E2256