Wednesday, June 14, 2006 [[Page D627]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS The House passed H.R. 5576, Departments of Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007. House Committees ordered reported 15 sundry measures. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S5821-S5902 Measures Introduced: Nine bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3507-3515, S. Res. 512, and S. Con. Res. 101. Page S5874 Measures Passed: 231st Birthday of the Army: Senate agreed to S. Res. 512, celebrating the 231st birthday of the Army and commending the men and women of the Army as exceptional individuals who live by the values of loyalty, duty, and selfless service. Pages S5897-98 Recognizing Ignacy Jan Paderewski: Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 491, recognizing the accomplishments of Ignacy Jan Paderewski as a musician, composer, statesman, and philanthropist, and commemorating the 65th anniversary of his death on June 29, 1941, and the resolution was then agreed to. Pages S5898-99 National Defense Authorization: Senate continued consideration of S. 2766, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S5837-66 Adopted: Levin (for Lautenberg/Stabenow) Modified Amendment No. 4205, to provide a temporary prohibition on an increase in copayments required under the retail pharmacy system of the pharmacy benefits program of the Department of Defense. Pages S5837, S5839-40 Warner Amendment No. 4211, to name the CVN-78 aircraft carrier the U.S.S. Gerald Ford. Pages S5837, S5840-45 By a unanimous vote of 98 yeas (Vote No. 170), McCain Amendment No. 4242, to require regular budgeting for ongoing military operations. Pages S5859-61, S5862-65 Rejected: Dorgan Amendment No. 4230, to improve Federal contracting and procurement by eliminating fraud and abuse and improving competition in contracting and procurement and by enhancing administration of Federal contracting personnel. (By 55 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 169), Senate tabled the amendment.) Pages S5845-47, S5852-53, S5854-57, S5861 Withdrawn: Martinez/Nelson (FL) Amendment No. 4237, to provide that States likely to be affected by the hurricane season in 2007 are afforded a priority in funding for replacement equipment for the National Guard. Pages S5853-54 Pending: Santorum Amendment No. 4234, to authorize, with an offset, assistance for pro-democracy programs and activities inside and outside Iran, to make clear that the United States supports the ability of the people of Iran to exercise self-determination over their own form of government, and to make enhancements to the Iran-Libya Sanctions Act of 1996. Pages S5847-52 McCain Amendment No. 4241, to name the Act after John Warner, a Senator from Virginia. Pages S5857-59 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill on Thursday, June 15, 2006, following the vote on adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R. 4939 (listed below). Page S5899 [[Page D628]] Emergency Supplemental Appropriations--Conference Report: Senate continued consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 4939, making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2006. Pages S5828-37 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the conference report at 10 a.m., on Thursday, June 15, 2006, with a vote on adoption of the conference report to occur immediately. Page S5899 Fort Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the nomination of Randall M. Fort, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State for Intelligence and Research, be discharged from the Committee on Foreign Relations and that it then be referred to the Select Committee on Intelligence. Page S5898 Ikuta Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for consideration of the nomination of Sandra Segal Ikuta, of California, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit, at 3:30 p.m., on Monday, June 19, 2006, with the time until 5:30 p.m., to be equally divided between the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, or their designees, with a vote to occur at 5:30 p.m., on confirmation of the nomination. Page S5898 Tributes--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that Senators be permitted to submit tributes to Senator Byrd and former Senator Dole for the Record until Friday, June 16, 2006, and that each then be printed as a Senate document. Page S5898 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: 32 Air Force nominations in the rank of general. 1 Army nomination in the rank of general. 2 Marine Corps nominations in the rank of general. 1 Navy nomination in the rank of admiral. Routine lists in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy. Pages S5899-S5902 Messages From the House: Page S5872 Measures Referred: Page S5872 Executive Communications: Pages S5872-74 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S5874 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S5874-76 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S5876-79 Additional Statements: Pages S5869-72 Amendments Submitted: Pages S5879-95 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S5895-96 Privileges of the Floor: Pages S5896-97 Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--170) Pages S5861, S5865 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 6:01 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, June 15, 2006. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S5899.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: S. 418, to protect members of the Armed Forces from unscrupulous practices regarding sales of insurance, financial, and investment products, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 811, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln; S. 2321, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Louis Braille; and The nominations of Sheila C. Bair, of Kansas, to be a Member and Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Kathleen L. Casey, of Virginia, to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Robert M. Couch, of Alabama, to be President, Government National Mortgage Association, Donald L. Kohn, of Virginia, to be Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and James B. Lockhart III, of Connecticut, to be Director of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight, Department of Housing and Urban Development. DEFINED BENEFIT PENSION PLANS Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Financial Accountability Standards Board's proposed standard on ``Employers' Accounting for Defined Benefit Pension and Other Postretirement Plans'', after receiving testimony from Robert H. Herz, Financial Accounting Standards Board, Norwalk, Connecticut; and David Tweedie, International Accounting Standards Board, London, England. MARK-TO-MARKET PROGRAM Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 3511, [[Page D629]] to extend for 5 years the Mark-to-Market program of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, which aims to reduce long-term Section 8 subsidy costs while preserving affordable housing, after receiving testimony from Theodore K. Toon, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Office of Affordable Housing Preservation; Chris Foster, Hampstead Partners, La Jolla, California, on behalf of the National Leased Housing Association; and Scott Kline, National Housing Trust, Washington, D.C. ALTERNATIVE ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness concluded a hearing to examine alternative energy technologies, focusing on fuel cells, the solar power industry, and ocean wave energy conversion, after receiving testimony from Alan J. Gotcher, Altair Nanotechnologies, Inc., Reno, Nevada; Francis R. Preli, Jr., UTC Power, South Windsor, Connecticut; K. R. Sridhar, Ion America Corporation, Sunnyvale, California; Thomas H. Werner, SunPower Corporation, San Jose, California; Peter L. Corsell, GridPoint, Inc., Washington, D.C.; George W. Taylor, Ocean Power Technologies, Inc., Pennington, New Jersey; and Daniel J. Raudebaugh, Center for Transportation and the Environment, Atlanta, Georgia. MINE CLEAN-UP Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine whether potential liability deters abandoned hard rock mine clean up, after receiving testimony from Senators Allard and Salazar; Stephen L. Johnson, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Dennis E. Ellis, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver; Velma M. Smith, National Environmental Trust, Washington, D.C.; John Gioia, Contra Costa County Public Works, Martinez, California; Terry A. Harwood, Athol, Idaho, former Executive Director, Hazardous Materials Policy Council of the Department of Agriculture; and Scott A. Lewis, AngloGold Ashanti North America, Inc., Greenwood Village, Colorado, on behalf of the National Mining Association. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the following bills: S. 2228, and H.R. 4456, bills to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2404 Race Street, Jonesboro, Arkansas, as the ``Hattie W. Caraway Post Office.''; S. 2376, and H.R. 3934, bills to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 80 Killian Road in Massapequa, New York, as the ``Gerard A. Fiorenza Post Office Building''; S. 2722, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 170 East Main Street in Patchogue, New York, as the ``Lieutenant Michael P. Murphy Post Office Building''; H.R. 4108, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3000 Homewood Avenue in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``State Senator Verda Welcome and Dr. Henry Welcome Post Office Building''; H.R. 3440, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Avenida RL Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico, as the ``Dr. Jose Celso Barbosa Post Office Building''; H.R. 4786, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 535 Wood Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, as the ``H. Gordon Payrow Post Office Building''; H.R. 4561, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8624 Ferguson Road in Dallas, Texas, as the ``Francisco `Pancho' Medrano Post Office Building''; H.R. 4688, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 Boyden Street in Badin, North Carolina, as the ``Mayor John Thompson `Tom' Garrison Memorial Post Office''; H.R. 4995, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 7 Columbus Avenue in Tuckahoe, New York, as the ``Ronald Bucca Post Office''; H.R. 3549, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 210 West 3rd Avenue in Warren, Pennsylvania, as the ``William F. Clinger, Jr. Post Office Building''; H.R. 2977, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 306 2nd Avenue in Brockway, Montana, as the ``Paul Kasten Post Office Building''; S. 2690, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 8801 Sudley Road in Manassas, Virginia, as the ``Harry J. Parrish Post Office''; S. 3187, to designate the Post Office located at 5755 Post Road, East Greenwich, Rhode Island, as the ``Richard L. Cevoli Post Office''; and H.R. 5245, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1 Marble Street in Fair Haven, Vermont, as the ``Matthew Lyon Post Office Building''. [[Page D630]] Also, Committee began consideration of S. 2145, to enhance security and protect against terrorist attacks at chemical facilities, agreeing to an amendment in the nature of a substitute, but did not take final action thereon, and recessed subject to call. TRIBAL COMPENSATION Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine S. 374, to provide compensation to the Lower Brule and Crow Creek Sioux Tribes of South Dakota for damage to tribal land caused by Pick-Sloan projects along the Missouri River, and S. 1535, to amend the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Equitable Compensation Act to provide compensation to members of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe for damage resulting from the Oahe Dam and Reservoir Project, after receiving testimony from Robin M. Nazzaro, Director, and Jeffrey D. Malcolm, Assistant Director, both of Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office; Michael B. Jandreau, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe, Lower Brule, South Dakota; Lester Thompson, Crow Creek Sioux Tribe, Fort Thompson, South Dakota; Michael L. Lawson, Morgan, Angel, and Associates LLC, Washington, D.C.; and Harold Frazier, Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, and Sharon Vogel, Tribal Ventures Project, both of Eagle Butte, South Dakota. COMMUNICATIONS LAWS Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine ensuring competition and innovation relating to reconsidering communication laws, including protecting the interests of consumers and competition in the offering of broadband Internet access services, after receiving testimony from Representative Sensenbrenner; William E. Kovacic, Commissioner, Federal Trade Commission; Vinton G. Cerf, Google, Inc., Herndon, Virginia; David L. Cohen, Comcast Corporation, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Walter B. McCormick, Jr., USTelecom Association, and Chris Putala, Earthlink, Inc., both of Washington, D.C.; Blair Levin, Stifel Nicolaus and Company, Inc., St. Louis, Missouri; Paul T. Morris, Utah Telecommunication Open Infrastructure Agency, West Valley City; and Jeff C. Kuhns, Pennsylvania State University, University Park. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: On Tuesday, June 13, 2006, Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 15 public bills, H.R. 5603- 5617; 4 private bills, H.R. 5618-21; and 4 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 430 and H. Res. 867, 869-870, were introduced. Pages H4008-09 Additional Cosponsors: Page H4009 Reports Filed: Report were filed today as follows: H. Res. 868, providing for consideration of H. Res. 861, declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary (H. Rept. 109- 502). Page H4008 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Latham to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H3911 Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Monsignor Edward F. Jordan, Pastor, St. John Neumann Catholic Church, Austin, Texas. Page H3911 Transportation, Treasury, Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, the District of Columbia and Independent Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007: The House passed H.R. 5576, making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, and independent agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, by a yea-and- nay vote of 406 yeas to 22 nays, Roll No. 286, after agreeing to order the previous question. Pages H3914-74 Agreed to: McHenry amendment to prohibit the use of funds from being made available to demolish or restrict use of the interchange located at Exit 131 of Interstate Route 40 and State Route 16 in Catawba County, North Carolina; Page H3915 Engel amendment to prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act from being used in contravention of section 303 of the Energy Policy Act of 1992; Page H3922 [[Page D631]] Gordon amendment to prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act to be used in contravention of the Federal buildings performance and reporting requirements of Executive Order 13123, part 3 of title V of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8251 et seq.), or sub-title A of title I of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (including the amendments made thereby); Pages H3934-35 King of Iowa amendment (No. 5 printed in the Congressional record of June 13th) to prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act from being used for the construction, expansion, renovation, or building of the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center; Page H3936 Hastings amendment to prohibit the use of funds made available in this Act from being used to eliminate, consolidate, co-locate, or plan for the consolidation or co-location of a Terminal Radar Approach Control (TRACON) center (by a recorded vote of 261 ayes to 166 noes, Roll No. 281); Pages H3932-34, H3941-42 Moran amendment to prohibit any of the funds made available in this Act from being used to administer, implement, or enforce the amendment made to section 515.533 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations, that was published in the Federal Register on February 25, 2005; Pages H3947-49 Garrett amendment to prohibit any of the funds made available in this Act from being used to send or otherwise pay for the attendance of more than 50 employees from a Federal department or agency at any single conference occurring outside the United States; Page H3954 Oberstar amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available in this Act from being used by the Department of Transportation to finalize or implement the policy proposed in the notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on November 7, 2005 (70 Fed. Reg. 67389), or supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking published in the Federal Register on May 5, 2006 (71 Fed. Reg. 26425), in Docket No. OST-2003-15759 (by a recorded vote of 291 ayes to 137 noes, Roll No. 283); Pages H3944-47, H3957-58 Rejected: Flake amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act from being used by the University of Mississippi in Oxford, Mississippi, for the construction of the William Faulkner Museum; Pages H3922-23 Flake amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act from being used by Fairfax County, Virginia Park Authority for field improvements in Annandale, Virginia; Pages H3923-24 Flake amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act from being used for Xerox Area Road Improvements, Monroe County, New York; Pages H3926-27 Lipinski amendment (No. 10 printed in the Congressional Record of June 13th) that sought to increase funds for carrying out the Rail Line Relocation Projects as authorized by section 9002 of SAFETEA-LU (by a recorded vote of 209 ayes to 217 noes, Roll No. 274); Pages H3915-17, H3937 DeLauro amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds from being made available to enter into any contract with an incorporated entity where such entity's sealed bid or competitive proposal shows that such entity is incorporated or chartered in Bermuda, Barbados, the Cayman Islands, Antigua, or Panama (by a recorded vote of 195 ayes to 231 noes, Roll No. 275); Pages H3917-20, H3937-38 Hefley amendment (No. 1 printed in the Congressional Record of June 12th) that sought to reduce funds in the bill by $678,000,000 (by a recorded vote of 87 ayes to 340 noes, Roll No. 276); Pages H3915, H3938-39 Flake amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available in this Act from being used for the city of Banning, California, for renovations to the city-owned pool (by a recorded vote of 61 ayes to 365 noes, Roll No. 277); Pages H3924-26, H3939 Flake amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available in this Act from being used by the city of Weirton, West Virginia, for planning and design, construction, renovation, and build out of facilities (by a recorded vote of 73 ayes to 353 noes with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 278); Pages H3927-29, H3939-40 Flake amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available in this Act from being used for a multipurpose facility in Yucaipa, California for the design and construction of a multipurpose athletic facility at Crafton Hills College (by a recorded vote of 58 ayes to 368 noes, Roll No. 279); Pages H3929, H3940-41 Flake amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available in this Act from being used by the Strand Theater Arts Center in Plattsburgh, New York, to convert the Strand Theater into a performing arts center (by a recorded vote of 61 ayes to 366 noes, Roll No. 280); Pages H3229-30, H3941 Frank amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available in this Act from being used by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to implement, administer, or enforce the second sentence of section 6c of the Department's Notice PIH 2006-5 (HA), dated January 13, 2006 (by a recorded vote of 214 ayes to 214 noes, Roll No. 282); Pages H3942-44, H3957 [[Page D632]] Rangel amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available in this Act from being used to implement, administer, or enforce the economic embargo of Cuba (by a recorded vote of 183 ayes to 245 noes, Roll No. 284); and Pages H3949-52, H3958 Lee amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds made available in this Act from being used to implement, administer, or enforce the amendments made to paragraphs (a) and (b) of section 515.565 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to specific licenses for United States academic institutions and other specific licenses), as published in the Federal Register on June 16, 2004 (69 Fed. Reg. 33772). The limitation in the preceding sentence shall not apply to the implementation, administration, or enforcement of section 515.560(c)(3) of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (by a recorded vote of 187 ayes to 236 noes, Roll No. 285). Pages H3952-54, H3959 Withdrawn: Flake amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn which sought to prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act from being made available to amend section 515.566 of title 31, Code of Federal Regulations (relating to religious activities in Cuba), as in effect on June 14, 2006; Pages H3920-22 Tiahrt amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn which sought to prohibit use of funds made available to the IRS by this Act to develop or provide taxpayers with free individual income tax electronic preparation and filing products or services other than through the Free File program and the IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers, Tax Counseling for the Elderly, and the volunteer income tax assistance programs; Pages H3930-31 Kennedy of Minnesota amendment (No. 2 printed in the Congressional record of June 12th) that was offered and subsequently withdrawn which sought to prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act be used to apply the revised cost-effectiveness index rating system established by the Federal Transit Administration (described in its April 29, 2005, ``Dear Colleague'' letter) to the Northstar Corridor Rail project; Pages H3935-36 Jackson-Lee of Texas amendment (No. 12 printed in the Congressional record of June 13th) that was offered and subsequently withdrawn which sought to prohibit the use of funds made available by this Act from being used to apply the assumption contained in section A150.101(d) of title 14, Code of Federal Regulations; and Pages H3954-55 Garrett amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn which sought to, not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of the Act, require the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study to determine the amount each State department of transportation spent in fiscal year 2005 to comply with laws and regulations of the United States Department of Transportation. Pages H3955-56 Point of Order sustained against: Flake amendment that sought to prohibit the use of funds from being used for the Bakersfield Beltway System, California; and Page H3926 Bishop amendment that sought to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the crash of TWA Flight 800 by offering the condolences of the U.S. Congress to the surviving families and friends of the 230 passengers and crew who perished as a result of the crash and to recognize the importance of continually upgrading aircraft technology, particularly with regard to the flammability of fuel tanks, to safeguard the flying public. Page H3956 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H3974 H. Res. 865, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to yesterday, Tuesday, June 13th, by a recorded vote of 221 ayes to 194 noes, Roll No. 262, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 249 yeas to 167 nays, Roll No. 261. Quorum Calls--Votes: One yea-and-nay vote and twelve recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H3937, H3937-38, H3938-39, H3939, H3939-40, H3940-41, H3941, H3941-42, H3957, H3957-58, H3958-59, H3959, and H3974. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 10:36 p.m. Committee Meetings SCIENCE, THE DEPARTMENTS OF STATE, JUSTICE, AND COMMERCE, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS FOR FY 2007 Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Science, The Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies approved for full Committee action the Science, The Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies appropriations for fiscal year 2007. LEGISLATIVE LINE ITEM VETO ACT OF 2006 Committee on the Budget: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 4890, Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006. [[Page D633]] WORKPLACE HEALTH/SAFETY STANDARDS Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Workforce Protections held a hearing entitled ``Addressing Concerns About the U.S. Department of Labor's Use of Non-Consensus Standards in Workplace Health and Safety.'' Testimony was heard from Edwin Foulke, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Department of Labor; and public witnesses. VIOLENT/EXPLICIT VIDEO GAMES Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection held a hearing on Violent and Explicit Video Games: Informing Parents and Protecting Children. Testimony was heard from public witnesses NIH HUMAN TISSUE RESEARCH POLICIES Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations continued hearings entitled ``Human Tissue Samples: NIH Research Policies and Practices.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services: Thomas R. Insel, M.D., Director; and Trey Sunderland, M.D., Chief, Geriatric Psychiatry Branch, both with the National Institute of Mental Health; and Michael M. Gottesman, M.D., Deputy Director, Intramural Research; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 5337, amended, Reform of National Security Reviews of Foreign Direct Investments Act; H.R. 5068, amended, Export-Import Bank Reauthorization Act of 2006; H.R. 2990, amended, Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act of 2005; H.R. 5024, amended, Promoting Transparency in Financial Reporting Act of 2006; H.R. 5585, amended, Financial Netting Improvements Act of 2006; H.R. 5039, amended, Saving America's Rural Housing Act of 2006; H.R. 4804, FHA Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act of 2006; H.R. 5527, amended, Mark-to-Market Extension Act of 2006; H.R. 5393, Natural Disaster Housing Reform Act of 2006; and H.R. 5443, amended, Section 8 Voucher Reform Act. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Homeland Security: Ordered reported, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 3197, Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Act of 2005; H.R. 4941, Homeland Security Science and Technology Enhancement Act of 2006; and H.R. 4942, Promoting Antiterrorism Capabilities Through International Cooperation Act. TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION'S OFFICE OF INTELLIGENCE Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment held a hearing entitled ``Transportation Security Administration's Office of Intelligence: Progress and Challenges.'' Testimony was heard from Bill Gaches, Assistant Administrator, Intelligence, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security; and Cathleen A. Berrick, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, GAO. HURRICANE KATRINA AFTERMATH WASTE, FRAUD AND ABUSE Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Waste, Fraud and Abuse in the Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.'' Testimony was heard from Donna Dannels, Acting Deputy Director, Office of Recovery, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security; Gregory D. Kutz, Managing Director, Forensic Audits and Special Investigations, GAO; and a public witness. WORLD CUP AND HUMAN TRAFFICKING Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing on Modern-Day Slavery: Spotlight on the 2006 Trafficking in Persons Report, Forced Labor, and Sex Trafficking at the World Cup. Testimony was heard from John Miller, Director, Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons, Department of State; and public witnesses. The Subcommittee also held a briefing on this subject. The Subcommittee was briefed by Julia Ormond, Goodwill Ambassador for the Abolition of Slavery and Human Trafficking, Office on Drugs and Crime, United Nations. DOMESTIC ENERGY PRODUCTION THROUGH OFFSHORE EXPLORATION AND EQUITABLE TREATMENT OF STATE HOLDINGS ACT OF 2006 Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 4761, Domestic Energy Production through Offshore Exploration and Equitable Treatment of State Holdings Act of 2006. Testimony was heard from Johnnie Burton, Acting Assistant Secretary, Land and Minerals Management, Department of the Interior; Senator Frank W. Wagner, Senate, State of Virginia; Colleen M. Castille, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, State of Florida; Terry Cleveland, Director, Game and Fish Department, State of Wyoming; and public witnesses. [[Page D634]] RESOLUTION--IRAQ WAR ON TERROR Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 6 to 4, a closed rule providing 10 hours of debate in the House on H. Res. 861, Declaring that the United States will complete the mission in Iraq and prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on International Relations, the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services, the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary and the chairman and ranking minority member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the resolution. The rule provides one motion to recommit which may not contain instructions. Finally, the rule provides that, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the resolution to a time designated by the Speaker. NATIONAL OCEANIC AND ATMOSPHERIC ADMINISTRATION ACT Committee on Science: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 5450, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Act. OVERSIGHT--DEEPWATER IMPLEMENTATION Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held an oversight hearing on Deepwater Implementation. Testimony was heard from ADM Thad W. Allen, USCG, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security. OVERSIGHT--INFORMATION SECURITY AT DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held an oversight hearing on information security at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Testimony was heard from Michael Staley, Assistant Inspector General, Audit, Department of Veterans Affairs; and the following officials of the GAO: Linda Koontz, Director, Information Management Issues; and Gregory Wilshusen, Director, Information Security Issues. MEDICARE PRESCRIPTION DRUG BENEFIT IMPLEMENTATION Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on the Implementation of the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary; and Mark McClellan, M.D., Administrator, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; Michael Starkowski, Deputy Commissioner, Department of Social Services, State of Connecticut; and public witnesses. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2006 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: to hold hearings to examine Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight Report of the Special Examination of Fannie Mae, 10 a.m., SD-538. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Fisheries and Coast Guard, to hold hearings to examine the Coast Guard budget, 10:30 a.m., SD-562. Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Superfund and Waste Management, to hold an oversight hearing to examine the superfund program, 9:30 a.m., SD-628. Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine the nomination of Robert O. Blake, Jr., of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Maldives, 10 a.m., SD-419. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: business meeting to consider S. 2145, to enhance security and protect against terrorist attacks at chemical facilities, S. 1554, to establish an intergovernmental grant program to identify and develop homeland security information, equipment, capabilities, technologies, and services to further the homeland security of the United States and to address the homeland security needs of Federal, State, and local governments, S. 1741, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to carry out a program for the protection of the health and safety of residents, workers, volunteers, and others in a disaster area, S. 1838, to provide for the sale, acquisition, conveyance, and exchange of certain real property in the District of Columbia to facilitate the utilization, development, and redevelopment of such property, S. 2068, to preserve existing judgeships on the Superior Court of the District of Columbia, S. 2146, to extend relocation expenses test programs for Federal employees, S. 2296, to establish a fact-finding Commission to extend the study of a prior Commission to investigate and determine facts and circumstances surrounding the relocation, internment, and deportation to Axis countries of Latin Americans of Japanese descent from December 1941 through February 1948, and the impact of those actions by the United States, and to recommend appropriate remedies, and H.R. 3508, to authorize improvements in the operation of the government of the District of Columbia, 10 a.m., SD-342. Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider S. 2453, to establish procedures for the review of electronic surveillance programs, S. 2455, to provide in statute for the conduct of electronic surveillance of suspected [[Page D635]] terrorists for the purposes of protecting the American people, the Nation, and its interests from terrorist attack while ensuring that the civil liberties of United States citizens are safeguarded, S. 2468, to provide standing for civil actions for declaratory and injunctive relief to persons who refrain from electronic communications through fear of being subject to warrantless electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes, S. 3001, to ensure that all electronic surveillance of United States persons for foreign intelligence purposes is conducted pursuant to individualized court-issued orders, to streamline the procedures of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, S. 2831, to guarantee the free flow of information to the public through a free and active press while protecting the right of the public to effective law enforcement and the fair administration of justice, H.R. 1036, to amend title 17, United States Code, to make technical corrections relating to Copyright Royalty Judges, S.J. Res. 12, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States, and the nominations of Kenneth L. Wainstein, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney General. (New Position), Frank D. Whitney, of North Carolina, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of North Carolina, and Thomas D. Anderson, of Vermont, to be United States Attorney for the District of Vermont, 9 a.m., SD-226. Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Jerome A. Holmes, of Oklahoma, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit, Daniel Porter Jordan III, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Mississippi, and Gustavo Antonio Gelpi, to be United States District Judge for the District of Puerto Rico, 2 p.m., SD-226. Select Committee on Intelligence: to receive a closed briefing regarding intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, hearing to review Efforts to Eliminate Waste, Fraud and Abuse in the Crop Insurance Program, 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth. Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, hearing on Effects of Illegal Immigration on Public and Tribal Lands, 9 a.m., B-308 Rayburn. Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, hearing to receive an update on the use of combat helmets, vehicle armor, and body armor by ground forces in Operation Iraq; Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, 3 p.m., 2118 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, to consider the following measures: S. 655, A bill to amend the Pub Health Service Act with respect to the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; H.R. 5573, Health Centers Renewal Act of 2006; H.R. 5574, Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2006; H. Con. Res. 426, Recognizing the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Food and Drug Act for the important service it provides to the Nation; and H.R. 4157, Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2005, 11 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, to consider a motion authorizing the issuance of subpoenas in connection with the Committee's investigation on silicosis, following full meeting, 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Government Reform, hearing entitled ``Regional Insecurity: DHS Grants to the National Capital Area,'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Management, Integration, and Oversight, hearing entitled ``An Examination of the Department of Homeland Security's Procurement Process Regarding Shirlington Limousine and Transportation, Inc.,'' 11:30 a.m., 311 Cannon. Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, to mark up H.R. 1369, To prevent discriminatory taxation of natural gas pipeline property, 11:30 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property, oversight hearing on Patent Trolls: Fact or Fiction? 9 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans, hearing on the following bills: H.R. 4957, Tylersville Fish Hatchery Conveyance Act; H.R. 5061, Paint Bank and Wytheville National Fish Hatcheries Conveyance Act; and H.R. 5381, National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Committee on Rules, to mark up H.R. 4890, Legislative Line Item Veto Act of 2006, 2:30 p.m., H-313 Capitol. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines, oversight hearing on Intermodalism, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, oversight hearing on recent patient safety issues, 10 a.m., 340 Cannon. Committee on Ways and Means, to mark up H.R. 4157, Health Information Technology Promotion Act of 2006, 3:30 p.m., 1100 Longworth. Subcommittee on Social Security, hearing on the Social Security Administration's Improved Disability Determination Process, 11 a.m., B-318 Rayburn. Joint Meetings Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: to hold hearings to examine human rights challenges that countries in South Central Europe face as they seek integration into the European Union and/or NATO Alliance, focusing on legal restrictions on religions activities and other attacks on religious freedom, lagging efforts to combat trafficking in persons, discrimination and violence against Roma, and the prevalence of official corruption and organized crime, 2 p.m., 2226 RHOB. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). 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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 D636]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Thursday, June 15 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 10 a.m.), Senate will vote on adoption of the conference report to accompany H.R. 4939, Emergency Supplemental Appropriations; following which, Senate will continue consideration of S. 2766, National Defense Authorization. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Thursday, June 15 House Chamber Program for Thursday: Consideration of H. Res. 861--Declaring that the United States will prevail in the Global War on Terror, the struggle to protect freedom from the terrorist adversary (Subject to a Rule). _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Andrews, Robert E., N.J., E1155 Bartlett, Roscoe G., Md., E1149 Barton, Joe, Tex., E1149 Berkley, Shelley, Nev., E1152 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E1153 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E1143, E1144 Burton, Dan, Ind., E1150, E1156 Carson, Julia, Ind., E1152 Edwards, Chet, Tex., E1155 English, Phil, Pa., E1147, E1156 Frelinghuysen, Rodney P., N.J., E1152 Granger, Kay, Tex., E1148 Graves, Sam, Mo., E1141, E1143, E1144, E1146, E1147, E1147, E1148, E1149 Harris, Katherine, Fla., E1147 Hyde, Henry J., Ill., E1152 Johnson, Sam, Tex., E1151 Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E1155 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1151 McGovern, James P., Mass., E1152 Matsui, Doris O., Calif., E1150 Moore, Gwen, Wisc., E1154 Moran, Jerry, Kans., E1150 Oxley, Michael G., Ohio, E1151 Paul, Ron, Tex., E1153 Peterson, John E., Pa., E1155 Pickering, Charles W. ``Chip'', Miss., E1151, E1153 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E1141, E1143, E1145, E1146 Rehberg, Dennis R., Mont., E1147 Ruppersberger, C.A. Dutch, Md., E1149 Stupak, Bart, Mich., E1142, E1144, E1145 Thomas, William M., Calif., E1151 Tiahrt, Todd, Kans., E1147 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E1156 Young, Don, Alaska, E1154