Tuesday, June 27, 2006 [[Page D705]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate rejected S.J. Res. 12, Flag Anti-Desecration Resolution. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S6499-S6589 Measures Introduced: Seventeen bills and four resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3570-3586, S. Res. 521-523, and S. Con. Res. 106. Page S6560 Measures Reported: S. 2430, to amend the Great Lakes Fish and Wildlife Restoration Act of 1990 to provide for implementation of recommendations of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service contained in the Great Lakes Fishery Resources Restoration Study, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 109-270) Page S6559 Measures Rejected: Flag Anti-Desecration Resolution: By 66 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 189), two-thirds of the Senators voting, a quorum being present, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate failed to pass 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, agreeing to the committee amendment, after taking action on the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S6503-15, S6515-47 Rejected: By 36 yeas to 64 nays (Vote No. 188), Durbin Amendment No. 4543, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S6536-46 Measures Passed: Celebrating Twin Cities of Bristol: Senate agreed to S. Res. 522, celebrating the 150th anniversary of the cities of Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia. Page S6588 Commending Oregon State Baseball Team: Senate agreed to S. Res. 523, commending the Oregon State University baseball team for winning the 2006 College World Series. Page S6589 John Milton Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse: Senate passed S. 801, to designate the United States courthouse located at 300 North Hogan Street, Jacksonville, Florida, as the ``John Milton Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse''. Page S6589 Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Federal Courthouse: Senate passed S. 2650, to designate the Federal courthouse to be constructed in Greenville, South Carolina, as the ``Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Federal Courthouse''. Page S6589 Coast Guard Authorization--Conference Report: Pursuant to the order of June 22, 2006, Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany H.R. 889, to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2006, to make technical corrections to various laws administered by the Coast Guard. Page S6516 Subsequently, the adoption of the conference report was vitiated. Page S6589 Messages From the House: Page S6558 Measures Referred: Page S6558 Executive Communications: Pages S6558-59 Executive Reports of Committees: Pages S6559-60 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S6560-61 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S6561-86 Additional Statements: Pages S6557-58 Amendments Submitted: Pages S6586-87 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S6587-88 Privileges of the Floor: Page S6588 Record Votes: Two record votes were taken today. (Total--189) Page S6546 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:45 a.m., and adjourned at 8 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Wednesday, June 28, 2006. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6589.) [[Page D706]] Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) STEM CELL RESEARCH Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine the potential impact of S. 2754, to derive human pluripotent stem cell lines using techniques that do not knowingly harm embryos (referred to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions), after receiving testimony from Senator Santorum; James F. Battey, Jr., Director, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, and Chair, National Institutes of Health Stem Cell Task Force, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services; Stephen Strom, University of Pittsburgh Department of Pathology, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; and Alan I. Leshner, American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, D.C. APPROPRIATIONS: INTERIOR Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies approved for full Committee consideration H.R. 5386, making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. APPROPRIATIONS: ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water approved for full Committee consideration H.R. 5427, making appropriations for energy and water development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. APPROPRIATIONS: HOMELAND SECURITY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security approved for full Committee consideration H.R. 5441, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. NORTH KOREA Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on recent North Korean ballistic missile developments from Brian Green, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Forces Policy, Patricia Sanders, Executive Director, Missile Defense Agency, and Brad Ahlskog, Senior Intelligence Officer, Korean Branch, Defense Intelligence Agency, all of the Department of Defense. NOMINATIONS Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of Michael L. Dominguez, of Virginia, to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and a list of 979 nominations in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps. SAFETEA-LU IMPLEMENTATION Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Housing and Transportation concluded an oversight hearing to examine the current state of progress and future outlook relating to SAFETEA-LU implementation, including changes SAFETEA-LU made to the New Starts program, changes SAFETEA-LU made to the JARC program, and issues that may be important as FTA moves forward with implementing the Act, after receiving testimony from Sandra Bushue, Deputy Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation; Katherine Siggerud, Physical Infrastructure, Government Accountability Office; and William W. Millar, American Public Transportation Association, Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee continued markup of H.R. 5252, to promote the deployment of broadband networks and services, but did not complete action thereon, and will meet again on Wednesday, June 28. ROCKY MOUNTAIN OIL AND GAS PRODUCTION Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine implementation of the Energy Policy Act provisions on enhancing oil and gas production on Federal lands in the Rocky Mountain Region, after receiving testimony from Kathleen Clarke, Director, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; Mary Flanderka, Wyoming Office of the Governor, Cheyenne; Jeffrey Eppink, Advanced Resources International, Inc., and Tom Reed, Trout Unlimited, both of Arlington, Virginia; and Duane Zavadil, Independent Petroleum Association of Mountain States, Denver, Colorado. NOMINATION Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nomination of Henry M. Paulson, Jr., of New York, to be Secretary of the Treasury, after the nominee, who was introduced by Senator Schumer, testified and answered questions in his own behalf. [[Page D707]] OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce and the District of Columbia concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Office of Personnel Management, focusing on whether the Office of Personnel Management is positioned to be the Federal government's leader in personnel policy today and in the future, after receiving testimony from David M. Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, Government Accountability Office; and Linda M. Springer, Director, Office of Personnel Management. PRESIDENTIAL SIGNING STATEMENTS Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the purpose, history, and legal significance of presidential signing statements, which are mainly issued when a President signs new legislation into law, after receiving testimony from Michelle E. Boardman, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Counsel, Department of Justice; Charles J. Ogletree, Jr., Harvard Law School Charles Hamilton Houston Institute for Race and Justice, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Christopher S. Yoo, Vanderbilt University Law School, Nashville, Tennessee; and Bruce Fein, Fein & Fein LLC, and Nicholas Quinn Rosenkranz, Georgetown University Law Center, both of Washington, D.C. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community. HEALTHCARE GLOBALIZATION Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine if medical tourism can reduce health care costs relating to the globalization of health care, after receiving testimony from Arnold Milstein, Mercer Health & Benefits, San Francisco, California; Bonnie Grissom Blackley, Blue Ridge Paper Products Inc., Canton, North Carolina; Rajesh Rao, IndUShealth, Inc., Raleigh, North Carolina; Bruce Cunningham, University of Minnesota Department of Plastic Surgery, Minneapolis, on behalf of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons; and Howard Staab and Maggi Ann Grace, both of Carrboro, North Carolina. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 5 public bills, H.R. 5688- 5692; and 4 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 436-438 and H. Res. 894, were introduced. Pages H4679-80 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H4680-81 Reports Filed: A report was filed today as follows: H.R. 4125, to permit the Administrator of General Services to make repairs and lease space without approval of a prospectus if the repair or lease is required as a result of damages to buildings or property attributable to Hurricane Katrina or Hurricane Rita (H. Rept. 109-532). Page H4679 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Wilson of New Mexico to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H4559 Recess: The House recessed at 9:08 a.m. and reconvened at 10:00 a.m. Page H4562 Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures: Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005: H.R. 42, to ensure that the right of an individual to display the flag of the United States on residential property not be abridged; Pages H4574-76 Seasoned Customer CTR Exemption Act of 2006: H.R. 5341, amended, to amend section 5313 of title 31, United States Code, to reform certain requirements for reporting cash transactions; and Pages H4576-82 Recognizing National Homeownership Month and the importance of homeownership in the United States: H. Res. 854, to recognize National Homeownership Month and the importance of homeownership in the United States. Pages H4282-86 Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures which were debated on yesterday, Monday, June 26th: Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2006: Conference report on H.R. 889, to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2006, to make technical corrections to various laws administered by the Coast Guard, by a (\2/3\) yea-and- [[Page D708]] nay vote of 413 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 320; and Page H4587-88 Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2006: H.R. 4843, amended, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2006, the rates of disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans, by a (\2/3\) yea-and-nay vote of 408 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 321. Page H4588 Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2006: The House passed H.R. 4973, to restore the financial solvency of the national flood insurance program by a yea-and-nay vote of 416 yeas to 4 nays, Roll No. 325. Pages H4589-H4617 Agreed to: Oxley amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) contains a number of technical and conforming changes, including: clarification that the provisions governing the phasing-in of actuarial rates for nonresidential and non-primary residence properties will apply on the date on which the director of FEMA submits a required report to Congress, as opposed to the date of this legislation's enactment; clarification that the $1 million cap on penalties for non-enforcement of mandatory flood insurance purchase requirements will not apply to a regulated institution or enterprise, for a calendar year, if in any 3 of the past 5 calendar years that institution or enterprise was assessed a penalty of $1 million; clarifications regarding the requirements for states to request FEMA participation in state-run disaster claims mediation programs and certain other provisions of the bill related to the claims mediation process; clarification of the timeline for FEMA's inclusion of certain features on updated floodplain maps; and clarification of the FEMA Director's authority regarding his ability to issue interim post-disaster flood elevation building requirements; Pages H4598-99 Burton amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) codifies existing notification regulations and further requires written notification, by first-class mail, to each property owner affected by a proposed change in flood elevations, prior to the 90-day appeal period. Notification would include an explanation of the appeal process and contact information for responsible officials; Pages H4599-H4601 Garrett amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) requires any purchaser of a pre-FIRM primary residential home to pay phased-in actuarial flood insurance prices using the same phase-in structure that non-residential and non-primary homes are currently subject to in the legislation, after the enactment of the bill; Pages H4601-02 Taylor of Mississippi amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) instructs the Inspector General of DHS to conduct an investigation of the Hurricane Katrina damage claims adjusted by the insurance companies that contract with the National Flood Insurance Program under the ``Write-Your-Own'' program to determine whether, and to what extent, the companies improperly assigned damages to flooding covered by NFIP that should have been paid by the windstorm coverage provided by the insurance companies. The Inspector General would be required to report the findings to Congress no later than 6 months after enactment; Pages H4602-03 Pickering amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) corrects an inequity in current law by exempting all purchases or transfers of property by any means, and not just purchases via a loan as under current law, from the 30-day waiting period for purposes of flood insurance coverage; Page H4603 Matsui amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) amends Section 16 of the bill to ensure that, when practical, FEMA utilizes emerging weather forecasting technologies in updating its flood maps. This will ensure that FEMA has the highest quality information when it works to determine the level of risk for vulnerable geographies. It would not impose any additional financial mandates on the NFIP. In addition, the amendment would make sure the program has the best information possible, while emphasizing the importance of this emerging technology; Pages H4603-04 Johnson, Eddie Bernice, of Texas amendment (No. 8 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) creates a program to educate communities about the update to the flood insurance program rate map; Pages H4604-06 Jackson-Lee of Texas amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) adds a provision into the GAO study on the status of the national flood insurance program for certain pre-FIRM properties that seeks to identify any inconsistencies in eligibility standards for pre-FIRM coverage; Page H4604 Matsui amendment (No. 9 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) directs GAO to conduct a study on potential methods, practices and incentives that would increase the degree to which low-income property owners living in high-risk locations participate in the national flood insurance program. This study should be reported to Congress no later than 1 year after enactment of this legislation; Pages H4606-07 Ruppersberger amendment (No. 10 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) requires the FEMA Director to issue regulations and revise materials that are provided to policy holders using ``plain language'' and ``easy to understand terms and concepts''; Page H4607 [[Page D709]] Jindal amendment (No. 11 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) clarifies that ``demolish and rebuild'' should be a mitigation option available under the regular Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) program. The ``demolish and rebuild'' option is specifically allowed under the Severe Repetitive Loss Program created by the 2004 reform act and FEMA has interpreted the difference to mean it cannot approve the measure under FMA; Pages H4607-08 Davis, JoAnn, of Virginia (No. 12 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) directs FEMA to utilize ``a methodologically valid approach for sampling files selected for operational reviews and quality assurance claims reinspections.'' A 2005 GAO study highlighted FEMA's oversight failures, stating that, ``FEMA cannot . . . determine the overall accuracy of claims settled for specific flood events or assess the overall performance of insurance companies and their adjusters in fulfilling their responsibilities for the NFIP'' (GAO-06-183T National Flood Insurance Program). The amendment improves the oversight and accountability of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP); and Page H4608 Davis, JoAnn, of Virginia (No. 13 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) extends the proof of loss filing deadline to 180 days and would prohibit NFIP from denying claims solely for failing to meet the deadline and makes this change retroactive to September 18, 2003. Pages H4608-09 Rejected: Rohrabacher amendment (No. 14 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) that sought to provide that, in a case in which a Federally funded flood control project causes an area to become at greater risk of flooding than it otherwise would have been, residents in that area shall be provided flood insurance using the price formula that would have applied had the offending flood control project not been built, or if no flood insurance would otherwise have been required, they shall be provided flood insurance at no cost. The determination of this status would be made by the Director of the National Flood Insurance Program (by a recorded vote of 98 ayes to 327 noes, Roll No. 322); Pages H4609-11, H4614 Pearce amendment (No. 15 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) that sought to immediately end all flood insurance subsidies on nonresidential, vacation, and second homes (by a recorded vote of 76 ayes to 347 noes, Roll No. 323); and Pages H4611-12, H4615 Miller of Michigan amendment (No. 16 printed in H. Rept. 109-530) that sought to instruct the Director of the National Flood Insurance Program, upon the completion of the study by the International Joint Committee of the Upper Great Lakes, to request the Army Corps of Engineers to complete a new flood map for the region to help the NFIP develop 100-year and 500-year flood plains. The amendment also prohibits flood evaluations in the upper Great Lakes to be increased until the aforementioned is completed (by a recorded vote of 416 ayes to 4 noes, Roll No. 325). Pages H4612-14, H4615-16 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H4617 H. Res. 891, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to by voice vote, after agreeing to order the previous question without objection. Pages H4565-68, H4587-88 Agreed that the Clerk will effect a technical correction in the engrossment of the resolution. Page H4617 Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007: The House began consideration of H.R. 5672, making appropriations for Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. Further consideration is expected to continue tomorrow, Wednesday, June 28th. Pages H4617-38, H4639-65 Agreed to limit the number of amendments made in order for debate and the time limit for debate on each amendment during further proceedings. Pages H4638-39 Agreed to: Wolf amendment to increase funding (by offset) for the Missing Alzheimer Program by $1,000,000; Pages H4639-40 Reichert amendment to increase funding (by offset) for Justice Assistance Grants by $25,000,000; Pages H4642-44 Boswell amendment to increase funding (by offset) for the Criminal Records Upgrade Program by $1,500,000; Page H4644 Brown-Waite, Ginny of Florida amendment to increase funding (by offset) for the Violence Against Women Act by $10,000,000; Pages H4644-45 Johnson of Connecticut amendment to increase funds (by offset) for the FBI's Innocent Images Program by $3,300,000; Pages H4651-52 Barrow amendment to increase funding (by offset) for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program by $25 million; Page H4657 Obey amendment to increase funding (by offset) for the Legal Services Corporation by $25,000,000 (by a recorded vote of 237 ayes to 185 noes, Roll No. 326); Pages H4640-42, H4662 Velazquez amendment that sought to increase funds (by offset) for the direct and guaranteed loan programs by $40,000,000 (by a recorded vote of 214 ayes to 207 noes, Roll No. 327); and Pages H4645-48, H4662-63 [[Page D710]] Kennedy of Minnesota amendment that sought to increase funding (by offset) to the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program by $50 million (by a recorded vote of 291 ayes to 129 noes, Roll No. 330). Pages H4657-61, H4664-65 Rejected: Nadler amendment that sought to increase funds (by offset) for the FBI by $40,000,000 (by a recorded vote of 176 ayes to 243 noes, Roll No. 328); and Pages S4649-50, H4663-64 Stearns amendment (No. 22 printed in the Congressional Record of June 26th) that sought to increase funding (by offset) for expenses necessary of the Federal Prison System by $500,000 (by a recorded vote of 163 ayes to 257 noes, Roll No. 329). Pages H4653-54, H4664 Withdrawn: Millender-McDonald amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn which sought to increase funding (by offset) for the Department of Justice Drug Court Programs by $5 million. Page H4661 Point of Order sustained against: The proviso, beginning on pages 15, line 18 thru page 16, line 4,4652-53 constituted legislation in an appropriations bill; Pages H4652-53 Mollohan amendment that sought to increase funding for State and local law enforcement authorization grants; and Pages S4655-56 Kennedy of Minnesota amendment that sought to increase funding for the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant program by $532 million. Pages S4656-57 H. Res. 890, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 188 nays, Roll No. 319, after agreeing to order the previous question without objection. Pages H4568-74, H4586-87 Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on page H4681. Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea-and-nay votes and seven recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H4587, H4587-88, H4588, H4614, H4615, H4615-16, H4616, H4662, H4662-63, H4663- 64, H4664, and H4664-65. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at midnight. Committee Meetings VETERANS AFFAIRS DATA SECURITY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Quality of Life, and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, held a hearing on Veterans Affairs Data Security. Testimony was heard from R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs and public witnesses. GROUND EQUIPMENT/ROTORCRAFT RESET STRATEGIES Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on Army and Marine Corps reset strategies for ground equipment and rotorcraft. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: GEN Peter J. Schoomaker, USA., Chief of Staff, U.S. Army; and GEN Michael W. Hagee, USMC, Commandant, U.S. Marine Corps. MAKING INTERNET SAFE FOR CHILDREN Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Making the Internet Safe for Kids: The Role of ISPs and Social Networking Sites.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. Hearings continue tomorrow. HI-TECH INFORMATION/CONTENT PROTECTION Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet held a hearing entitled ``The Audio and Video Flags: Can Content Protection and Technological Innovation Coexist?'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. CLINICAL LAB QUALITY Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources held a hearing entitled ``Clinical Lab Quality: Oversight Weaknesses Undermine Federal Standards.'' Testimony was heard from Leslie Aronovitz, Director, Health Division, GAO; Thomas Hamilton, Director, Survey and Certification Group, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census held a hearing entitled ``Moving the CDBG Program Forward: A Look at the Administration's Reform Proposal. Where Do We Go From Here?'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Housing and Urban Development: Pamela Hughes Patenaude, Assistant Secretary, Office of Community Planning and Development; and Todd M. Richardson, Senior Analyst, Office of Policy Development and Research; and the following officials of GAO: Stanley J. Czerwinski, Director, Intergovernmental Relations, Strategic Issues; and Michael Springer, Assistant Director, Strategic Issues. [[Page D711]] SEXUAL ASSAULT AND VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN THE MILITARY AND AT THE ACADEMIES Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations held as hearing entitled ``Sexual Assault and Violence Against Women in the Military and at the Academies.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Kaye Whitley, Acting Director, Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office; VADM Rodney P. Rempt, USN, Superintendent, U.S. Naval Academy; BG Robert L. Caslen, Jr., USA, Commandant, U.S. Military Academy; and BG Susan Y. Desjardins, USAF, Commandant, U.S. Air Force Academy; RADM Paul J. Higgins, USCG, Director, Health and Safety, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security; Beth Davis, former U.S. Air Force Academy Cadet; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on International Relations: Ordered reported, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 5682, To exempt from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 a proposed nuclear agreement for cooperation with India; H.R. 4014, Millennium Challenge Reauthorization Act of 2005. The Committee also favorably considered the following measures and adopted a motion urging the Chairman to request that they be placed on the Suspension calendar: H.R. 5680, Ethiopia Freedom, Democracy, and Human Rights Advancement Act of 2006; H. Res. 700, amended, Supporting an upgrade in Israel's relationship with NATO to that of a leading member of NATO's Individual Cooperation Program, as a first step toward Israel's inclusion in NATO as a full member with all corresponding rights, privileges, and responsibilities; H. Res. 844, amended, Congratulating the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative on 10 years of significant achievement in the search for an HIV/AIDS vaccine; H. Res. 860, amended, Calling on the Government of Germany to take immediate action to combat sex trafficking in connection with the 2006 FIFA World Cup; and H. Con. Res. 435, amended, Congratulating Israel's David Adom Society for achieving full membership in the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. AFRICA MAKING SAFE BLOOD AVAILABLE Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing on Making Safe Blood Available in Africa. Testimony was heard from Representative Fattah; the following officials of the Department of State: Caroline Ryan, M.D., Senior Technical Advisor, Deputy Director, Programs Services, Office of the Global Aids Coordinator; and Robert E. Ferris, M.D., Medical Officer, Bureau for Global Health, U.S. Agency for International Development; Jerry A. Holmberg, Senior Advisor for Blood Policy, Office of Public Health and Science, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses. The Subcommittee also held a briefing on this subject. The Subcommittee was briefed by Neelam Dhingra, M.D., Coordinator, Blood Transfusion Safety, Essential Health Technologies, World Health Organization. OVERSIGHT--FEDERAL LANDS ENERGY DEVELOPMENT Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power and the Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held a joint oversight hearing on Meeting Electricity Demand in the West through Responsible Development of Energy Rights-of-Way on Federal lands. Testimony was heard from David H. Meyer, Deputy Director, Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability, Department of Energy; Laura Nelson, Energy Policy Advisor, Office of Governor Jon Huntsman, State of Utah; and public witnesses. ENERGY RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENT, DEMONSTRATION, AND COMMERCIAL APPLICATION ACT OF 2006 Committee on Science: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 5656, Energy Research, Development, Demonstration, and Commercial Application Act of 2006. S CORPORATIONS Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform and Oversight held a hearing entitled ``S Corporations--Their History and Challenges.'' Testimony was heard from Thomas M. Sullivan, Chief Counsel for Advocacy, SBA; and public witnesses. IMMIGRANT EMPLOYMENT VERIFICATION Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Workforce, Empowerment, and Government Programs held a hearing entitled ``Immigrant Employment Verification and Small Business.'' Testimony was heard from Representative Calvert; Robert Divine, Acting Deputy Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses. EISENHOWER INTERSTATE HIGHWAY SYSTEM CELEBRATING ANNIVERSARY Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines, [[Page D712]] hearing Celebrating 59 Years: The Eisenhower Interstate Highway System. Testimony was heard from Richard Capka, Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses. RAIL SAFETY INITIATIVES Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Railroads held a hearing on current FRA Rail Safety Initiatives. Testimony was heard from Joseph Boardman, Administrator, Federal Railroad Administration, Department of Transportation; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--VA RURAL HEALTH CARE Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held an oversight hearing to examine the Department of Veterans Affairs efforts to provide high quality health care to veterans in rural communities. Testimony was heard from Jonathan B. Perline, M.D., Under Secretary, Health, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses. Joint Meetings ECONOMIC EXPANSION Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine prospects for economic expansion in the United States, after receiving testimony from Edward P. Lazear, Chairman, Council of Economic Advisers; and Mickey D. Levy, Bank of America, and Brad Setser, Roubini Global Economics, LLC, both of New York, New York. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 2006 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, to resume hearings to examine the progress of the Capitol Visitor Center construction, 10:30 a.m., SD-138. Committee on Armed Services: to hold a closed meeting to discuss training and equipping Iraqi security forces, 3:15 p.m., SR-222. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: business meeting to consider the nomination of James S. Simpson, of New York, to be Federal Transit Administrator, Department of Transportation, Time to be announced, Room to be announced. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: business meeting to continue markup of H.R. 5252, to promote the deployment of broadband networks and services, 10 a.m., SH-216. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: to hold hearings to examine the nomination of Marc Spitzer, of Arizona, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 10:30 a.m., SD-366. Subcommittee on Water and Power, to hold hearings to examine S. 1812, to amend the Reclamation Projects Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992 to provide for the conjunctive use of surface and ground water in Juab County, Utah, S. 1965, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain buildings and lands of the Yakima Project, Washington, to the Yakima-Tieton Irrigation District, S. 2129, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain land and improvements of the Gooding Division of the Minidoka Project, Idaho, S. 2470, to authorize early repayment of obligations to the Bureau of Reclamation within the A & B Irrigation District in the State of Idaho, S. 2502, to provide for the modification of an amendatory repayment contract between the Secretary of the Interior and the North Unit Irrigation District, S. 3404, to reauthorize the Mni Wiconi Rural Water Supply Project, H.R. 2383, to redesignate the facility of the Bureau of Reclamation located at 19550 Kelso Road in Byron, California, as the ``C.W. `Bill' Jones Pumping Plant'', and H.R. 4204, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to transfer ownership of the American River Pump Station Project, 2:30 p.m., SD- 366. Committee on Environment and Public Works: to hold an oversight hearing on Environmental Protection Agency regional inconsistencies, 9:30 a.m., SD-628. Committee on Finance: business meeting to mark up S. 1321, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on telephone and other communications, and proposed legislation to implement the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement, 10 a.m., SD- 215. Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Richard E. Hoagland, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Armenia, Peter R. Coneway, of Texas, to be Ambassador to Switzerland, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Principality of Liechtenstein, and Thomas C. Foley, of Connecticut, to be Ambassador to Ireland, 2:30 p.m., SD-419. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: business meeting to consider S. 3570, to amend the Older Americans Act of 1965 to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2007 through 2011, S. 3546, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to serious adverse event reporting for dietary supplements and nonprescription drugs, S. 707, to reduce preterm labor and delivery and the risk of pregnancy-related deaths and complications due to pregnancy, and to reduce infant mortality caused by prematurity, S. 757, to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants for the development and operation of research centers regarding environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer, and the nomination of Jonann E. Chiles, of Arkansas, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation, 10 a.m., SD-430. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Mickey [[Page D713]] D. Barnett, of New Mexico, Katherine C. Tobin, of New York, and Ellen C. Williams, of Kentucky, each to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service, 10 a.m., SD-342. Committee on Indian Affairs: to hold an oversight hearing to examine Native American Housing Programs, 9:30 a.m., SR-485. Committee on the Judiciary: to hold hearings to examine hedge funds and independent analysts, 9:30 a.m., SD-226. Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Kimberly Ann Moore, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit, and Bobby E. Shepherd, of Arkansas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, 2 p.m., SD-226. House Committee on Armed Services, hearing on the status of security and stability in Afghanistan, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn. Committee on Education and the Workforce, hearing on The First Tee and Schools: Working to Build Character Education, 10:30 a.m, 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health, hearing on Mental Illness and Brain Disease: Dispelling Myths and Promoting Recovery Through Awareness and Treatment, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, to continue hearings entitled ``Making the Internet Safe for Kids: The Role of ISPs and Social Networking Sites,'' 2 p.m., 2322 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises, hearing entitled ``Investor Protection: A Review of Plaintiffs' Attorney Abuses in Securities Litigation and Legislative Remedies,'' 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, hearing entitled ``Is America's Housing Market Prepared for the Next Natural Catastrophe?'' 2 p.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Government Reform, Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources, hearing entitled ``Availability and Effectiveness of Programs To Treat Victims of the Methamphetamine Epidemic'' 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance and Accountability, hearing entitled ``OMB's Financial Management Line of Business Initiative: Do Recent Changes to the Implementation Guidance Clarify the Rules?'' 2 p.m., 2247 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment, hearing entitled ``DHS Intelligence and Border Security: Delivering Operational Intelligence,'' 10 a.m., 311 Cannon. Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, hearing on East Timor: Instability and Future Prospects, 1:30 p.m., 2200 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, hearing on Hurricane Reconstruction and Preparedness, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on the Judiciary, to mark up the following bills: H.R. 2389, Pledge Protection Act of 2005; H.R. 1956, Business Activity Tax Simplification Act of 2005; and H.R. 5323, Proud to Be an American Citizen Act, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on National Parks, hearing on the following bills; H.R. 2692, Acadia National Park Improvement Act of 2005; H.R. 3871, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center Foundation, Inc. Certain Federal land associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Nebraska, to be used as an historical interpretive site along the trail; and H.R. 5145, to authorize the National War Dogs Monument, Inc. to establish a national monument in honor of military working dog teams, 10 a.m., 1334 Longworth. Committee on Rules, to consider H.R. 4761, Domestic Energy Production through Offshore Exploration and Equitable Treatment of State Holdings Act of 2006, 4 p.m., H-313 Capitol. Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Tax, Finance and Exports, hearing entitled ``The Effects of the High Cost of Natural Gas on Small Businesses and Future Energy Technologies,'' 2 p.m., 2360 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to mark up the following: U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Survey Resolutions; GSA Capital Investment and Leasing Program Resolutions; S. 362, Marine Debris Research, Prevention, and Reduction Act; H.R. 4650, National Levee Safety Program Act of 2005; H.R. 5681, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2006, 11 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, hearing on What VA IT Organizational Structure would have best prevented VA's ``Meltdown'' in Information Management, 10:30 a.m., 334 Cannon. Committee on Ways and Means, hearing on Health Savings Accounts, 10:30 a.m., 1100 Longworth. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, executive, to consider the following: ``Report: `al Qaeda: The Many Faces of an Islamic Extremist Threat,''' 2:45 p.m., H-405 Capitol. Joint Meetings Joint Committee on the Library: business meeting to consider pending committee business, 3 p.m., H-140, Capitol. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: to hold hearings to examine Belgium's Chairmanship of the OSCE, focusing on developments in Central Asia and neighboring Afghanistan, the emergence of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, the political situation in the Caucasus, and human rights trends in the Russian Federation, 11 a.m., 2359 RHOB. 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 D714]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Wednesday, June 28 Senate Chamber Program for Wednesday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 2 hours), Senate may consider the United States- Oman Free Trade Agreement, if available. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Wednesday, June 28 House Chamber Program for Wednesday: Consideration of suspension as follows: (1) H. Res. 881--Congratulating the National Hockey League Champions, the Carolina Hurricanes, on their victory in the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals. Continue consideration of H.R. 5672--Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Open Rule). _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Akin, W. Todd, Mo., E1290 Bishop, Timothy H., N.Y., E1292 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E1285, E1286 Capuano, Michael E., Mass., E1286 Cole, Tom, Okla., E1294 Davis, Danny K., Ill., E1285, E1294 Davis, Tom, Va., E1291 Dingell, John D., Mich., E1293 Etheridge, Bob, N.C., E1284 Graves, Sam, Mo., E1283, E1284, E1285, E1286, E1288, E1289, E1290, E1291 Green, Gene, Tex., E1293 Israel, Steve, N.Y., E1288 Johnson, Timothy V., Ill., E1290 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E1284, E1285, E1286 McCarthy, Carolyn, N.Y., E1292 McCaul, Michael T., Tex., E1287 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1283 McKeon, Howard P. ``Buck'', Calif., E1288 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E1291 Musgrave, Marilyn N., Colo., E1287 Poe, Ted, Tex., E1292 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E1290, E1293 Rahall, Nick J., II, W.Va., E1289 Reyes, Silvestre, Tex., E1283 Rogers, Harold, Ky., E1294 Simmons, Rob, Conn., E1295 Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E1290 Thompson, Bennie G., Miss., E1289, E1294 Wilson, Heather, N.M., E1287 Woolsey, Lynn C., Calif., E1292