Wednesday, May 7, 2008 [[Page D559]] Daily Digest Highlights House Committees ordered reported eight sundry measures. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S3839-S3933 Measures Introduced: Eight bills and three resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2985-2992, S. Res. 554, and S. Con. Res. 80-81. Page S3891 Measures Passed: Use of the Capitol Grounds: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 308, authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the National Peace Officers' Memorial Service. Page S3930 Assistance to Burma: Senate agreed to S. Res. 554, expressing the Sense of the Senate on humanitarian assistance to Burma after Cyclone Nargis. Page S3930 National Women's Health Week: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 81, supporting the goals and ideals of National Women's Health Week. Pages S3930-31 International Year of Sanitation: Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged from further consideration of S. Con. Res. 72, supporting the goals and ideals of the International Year of Sanitation, and the resolution was then agreed to. Page S3931 Measures Considered: Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act: Senate began consideration of S. 2284, to amend the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968, to restore the financial solvency of the flood insurance fund, after agreeing to the motion to proceed to its consideration, and taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S3844-84 Rejected: By 19 yeas to 74 nays (Vote No. 117), Wicker Amendment No. 4719, to provide for the optional purchase of insurance against loss resulting from physical damage to or loss of real property of personal property related thereto located in the United States arising from any flood or windstorm. Pages S3850-51, S3856-61, S3877-78 By 27 yeas to 66 nays (Vote No. 118), Vitter Amendment No. 4722 (to Amendment No. 4707), to increase maximum coverage limits. Pages S3854-55, S3878-79 By 23 yeas to 69 nays (Vote No. 119), Vitter Amendment No. 4723 (to Amendment No. 4707), to allow for a reasonable 5-year phase-in period for adjusted premiums. Pages S3855-56, S3879 By 30 yeas to 62 nays (Vote No. 120), Landrieu Further Modified Amendment No. 4705 (to Amendment No. 4707), to require the Comptroller General to conduct a study regarding mandatory purchasing requirements. Pages S3866-72, S3879-80 Pending: Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4707, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S3845-47 McConnell Amendment No. 4720 (to the text of the bill proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 4707), of a perfecting nature. Page S3851 Allard Amendment No. 4721 (to Amendment No. 4720), of a perfecting nature. Pages S3851-54 Landrieu/Nelson (FL) Modified Amendment No. 4706 (to Amendment No. 4707), to improve the Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate. Pages S3862-66, S3872 Nelson (FL) Amendment No. 4709 (to Amendment No. 4707), to establish a National Catastrophe Risks Consortium and a National Homeowners' Insurance Stabilization Program. Pages S3880-82 DeMint Amendment No. 4711 (to Amendment No. 4707), to require the Director to conduct a study on the impact, effectiveness, and feasibility of amending section 1361 of the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to include widely used and nationally recognized building codes as part of the floodplain management criteria developed under such section. Page S3882 [[Page D560]] DeMint Modified Amendment No. 4710 (to Amendment No. 4707), to end the premium subsidy for any property purchased after the date of enactment of this Act. Pages S3882-83 A motion was entered to close further debate on McConnell Amendment No. 4720 (to the text of the bill proposed to be stricken by Amendment No. 4707) (listed above), and, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Friday, May 9, 2008. Pages S3851, S3884 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, May 8, 2008, and that all amendments to the bill must be offered during Thursday's session, May 8; that the only amendments in order on Monday, May 12, 2008, be the following: Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4707 (listed above); a managers' amendment if cleared by the managers and Leaders, McConnell Amendment No. 4720 (listed above), with Allard Amendment No. 4721 (listed above) to be withdrawn prior to a vote on or in relation to McConnell Amendment No. 4720, an amendment offered by Senator Reid and others relating to the subject of energy; provided further, that the McConnell and Reid amendments be subject to a 60 affirmative vote threshold, that if either amendment achieves that threshold, the amendment be agreed to, and that if neither achieves the 60 affirmative vote threshold, it be withdrawn; provided further, that the vote with respect to McConnell Amendment No. 4720 occur at 5:30 p.m., on Monday, May 12, 2008, to be followed by a vote on or in relation to the Reid amendment; and that upon disposition of all amendments, the substitute amendment, as amended, if amended, be agreed to; provided further, that Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended. Page S3884 Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act--Agreement: Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 980, to provide collective bargaining rights for public safety officers employed by States or their political subdivisions. Page S3883 A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 980, and, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Wednesday, May 7, 2008, a vote on cloture will occur on Monday, May 12, 2008 upon disposition of S. 2284 or H.R. 3121, Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act; and that on Monday, May 12, 2008, all time after the Senate convenes until 5:30 p.m., be equally divided and controlled between the two Leaders, or their designees. Page S3883 Subsequently, the motion to proceed was withdrawn. Page S3833 House Messages: Higher Education Act Programs Extension: Senate concurred in the amendment of the House of Representatives to S. 2929, to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Pages S3929-30 Appointments: Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: The Chair, on behalf of the Vice President, pursuant to Public Law 110-53, appointed the following individuals to serve as members of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: Robin Cleveland of Virginia, and James Talent of Missouri. Page S3931 Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: The Chair, on behalf of the Vice President, pursuant to Public Law 110-53, appointed the following individuals to serve as members of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: Graham Allison of Massachusetts, and Richard Verma of Maryland. Page S3931 Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: The Chair, on behalf of the Vice President, pursuant to Public Law 110-53, appointed the following individual to serve as a member and Chairman of the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: The Honorable Bob Graham of Florida. Page S3931 Messages from the President: Senate received the following messages from the President of the United States: Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the continuation of the national emergency that was originally declared in Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004, with respect to the blocking of property of certain persons and prohibition of exportation and re-exportation of certain goods to Syria; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-46) Page S3889 Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the principal agreement and administrative arrangement that has been established between the U.S. and Czech Republic relative to social security; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. (PM-47) Page S3889 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: [[Page D561]] William Walter Wilkins, III, of South Carolina, to be United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina for the term of four years. 3 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral. Page S3933 Messages from the House: Page S3899 Measures Referred: Page S3889 Measures Read the First Time: Pages S3890, S3931 Executive Communications: Pages S3890-91 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S3891 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S3892-93 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S3893-S3908 Additional Statements: Pages S3886-89 Amendments Submitted: Pages S3908-29 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S3929 Privileges of the Floor: Page S3929 Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--120) Pages S3878-80 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 9:01 p.m., until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 8, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S3932.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF LABOR Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the Department of Labor, after receiving testimony from Elaine L. Chao, Secretary of Labor. APPROPRIATIONS: UNITED STATES INTELLIGENCE COMMUNITY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded a closed hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the United States intelligence community, after receiving testimony from Mike McConnell, Director, National Intelligence; and James Clapper, Jr., Under Secretary for Intelligence, Department of Defense. APPROPRIATIONS: COMMODITY FUTURES TRADING COMMISSION AND THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the Commodity Futures Trading Commission and the Securities and Exchange Commission, after receiving testimony from Walter L. Lukken, Acting Chairman, Commodity Futures Trading Commission; and former Representative Christopher Cox, Chairman, United States Securities and Exchange Commission. REGULATION OF INVESTMENT BANKS Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment concluded a hearing to examine United States credit markets, focusing on the regulation of investment banks by the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, after receiving testimony from Erik Sirri, Director, Division of Trading and Markets, and Arthur Levitt, Jr. and David S. Ruder, both former Chairmen, all of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. NASA REAUTHORIZATION Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Space, Aeronautics, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine issues relative to the upcoming reauthorization of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), after receiving testimony from Gene Kranz, Coalition for Space Exploration, Seabrook, Texas; Joan Johnson-Freese, Naval War College National Security Decision Making Department, Newport, Rhode Island; Frederick A. Tarantino, Universities Space Research Association, Columbia, Maryland; Major General Robert Dickman, USAF (Ret.), American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA), Reston, Virginia; and George T. Whitesides, National Space Society, Washington, D.C. AIRLINE MERGER Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security concluded a hearing to examine the financial state of the airline industry, focusing on the impact of the Delta Airlines, Inc.-Northwest Airlines, Inc., merger, after receiving testimony from Richard H. Anderson, Delta Air Lines, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia; Mark Cooper, Consumer Federation of America, on behalf of Consumers Union, Patricia A. Friend, Association of Flight Attendants--CWA, AFL-CIO, and Patrick V. Murphy, Jr., Gerchick-Murphy Associates, LLC, all of Washington, D.C.; Ray Neidl, Caylon Securities, New York, New York; Robert [[Page D562]] Roach, Jr., International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Upper Marlboro, Maryland; and Douglas M. Steenland, Northwest Airlines, Inc., Saint Paul, Minnesota. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably reported: S. 27, to authorize the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 570, to designate additional National Forest System lands in the State of Virginia as wilderness or a wilderness study area, to designate the Kimberling Creek Potential Wilderness Area for eventual incorporation in the Kimberling Creek Wilderness, to establish the Seng Mountain and Bear Creek Scenic Areas, to provide for the development of trail plans for the wilderness areas and scenic areas, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 617, to make the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass available at a discount to certain veterans, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 662, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to evaluate resources at the Harriet Beecher Stowe House in Brunswick, Maine, to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing the site as a unit of the National Park System, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 783, to adjust the boundary of the Barataria Preserve Unit of the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve in the State of Louisiana, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 827, to establish the Freedom's Way National Heritage Area in the States of Massachusetts and New Hampshire, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 832, to provide for the sale of approximately 25 acres of public land to the Turnabout Ranch, Escalante, Utah, at fair market value, with an amendment; S. 868, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Taunton River in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 900, to authorize the Boy Scouts of America to exchange certain land in the State of Utah acquired under the Recreation and Public Purposes Act, with an amendment; S. 1171, to amend the Colorado River Storage Project Act and Public Law 87-483 to authorize the construction and rehabilitation of water infrastructure in Northwestern New Mexico, to authorize the use of the reclamation fund to fund the Reclamation Water Settlements Fund, to authorize the conveyance of certain Reclamation land and infrastructure, to authorize the Commissioner of Reclamation to provide for the delivery of water, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 1281, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain rivers and streams of the headwaters of the Snake River System as additions to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 1380, to designate as wilderness certain land within the Rocky Mountain National Park and to adjust the boundaries of the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the Arapaho National Recreation Area of the Arapaho National Forest in the State of Colorado, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 1633, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a special resource study to determine the suitability and feasibility of including the battlefield and related sites of the Battle of Shepherdstown in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, as part of Harpers Ferry National Historical Park or Antietam National Battlefield, with an amendment; S. 1929, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to conduct a feasibility study of water augmentation alternatives in the Sierra Vista Subwatershed; S. 2124, to direct the Secretary of Agriculture to convey certain land in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, Montana, to Jefferson County, Montana, for use as a cemetery; S. 2207, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating Green McAdoo School in Clinton, Tennessee, as a unit of the National Park System, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2229, to withdraw certain Federal land in the Wyoming Range from leasing and provide an opportunity to retire certain leases in the Wyoming Range, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2254, to establish the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2262, to authorize the Preserve America Program and Save America's Treasures Program, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2370, to clear title to certain real property in New Mexico associated with the Middle Rio Grande Project; S. 2379, to authorize the Secretary of Interior to cancel certain grazing leases on land in Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument that are voluntarily waived by the lessees, to provide for the exchange of [[Page D563]] certain Monument land in exchange for private land, to designate certain Monument land as wilderness, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2512, to establish the Mississippi Delta National Heritage Area in the State of Mississippi, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2513, to modify the boundary of the Minute Man National Historical Park; S. 2593, to establish a program at the Forest Service and the Department of the Interior to carry out collaborative ecological restoration treatments for priority forest landscapes on public land, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2604, to establish the Baltimore National Heritage Area in the State of Maryland, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2804, to adjust the boundary of the Everglades National Park, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 2814, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to provide financial assistance to the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water Authority for the planning, design, and construction of the Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System; S. 2833, to provide for the management of certain public land in Owyhee County, Idaho, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; H.R. 123, to authorize appropriations for the San Gabriel Basin Restoration Fund; H.R. 189, to establish the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in the State of New Jersey, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; H.R. 356, to remove certain restrictions on the Mammoth Community Water District's ability to use certain property acquired by that District from the United States, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; H.R. 523, to require the Secretary of the Interior to convey certain public land located wholly or partially within the boundaries of the Wells Hydroelectric Project of Public Utility District No. 1 of Douglas County, Washington, to the utility district; H.R. 1285, to provide for the conveyance of a parcel of National Forest System land in Kittitas County, Washington, to facilitate the construction of a new fire and rescue station; H.R. 1311, to provide for the conveyance of the Alta-Hualapai Site to the Nevada Cancer Institute; H.R. 1483, to amend the Onmibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to extend the authorization for certain national heritage areas, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; H.R. 1528, to amend the National Trails System Act to designate the New England National Scenic Trail, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; H.R. 1725, to amend the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to participate in the Rancho California Water District Southern Riverside County Recycle/Non-Potable Distribution Facilities and Demineralization/Desalination Recycled Water Treatment Facility Project; H.R. 1855, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation to enter into a cooperative agreement with the Madera Irrigation District for purposes of supporting the Madera Water Supply Enhancement Project; H.R. 2085, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the McGee Creek Authority certain facilities of the McGee Creek Project, Oklahoma; H.R. 2197, to modify the boundary of the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in the State of Ohio; H.R. 2515, to authorize appropriations for the Bureau of Reclamation to carry out the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program in the States of Arizona, California, and Nevada, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; H.R. 2627, to establish the Thomas Edison National Historical Park in the State of New Jersey as the successor to the Edison National Historic Site, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; H.R. 3332, to provide for the establishment of a memorial within Kalaupapa National Historical Park located on the island of Molokai, in the State of Hawaii, to honor and perpetuate the memory of those individuals who were forcibly relocated to the Kalaupapa Peninsula from 1866 to 1969; H.R. 3998, to establish a National Commission on the Infrastructure of the United States, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; H.R. 5151, to designate as wilderness additional National Forest System Lands in the Monongahela National Forest in the State of West Virginia, with amendments; and The nominations of Kameran L. Onley, of Washington, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Interior, and Jeffrey F. Kupfer, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of Energy. SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATORY DECISIONS Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Public Sector Solutions to Global Warming, Oversight, and Children's Health Protection concluded an oversight hearing to examine science and environmental regulatory decisions, after receiving testimony from George Gray, Assistant Administrator for Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency; Francesca T. Grifo, Union of Concerned Scientists, David Michaels, [[Page D564]] George Washington University Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, and John M. Balbus, Environmental Defense Fund, all of Washington, D.C.; Paul Gilman, Covanta Energy, Fairfield, New Jersey; George D. Thurston, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York, on behalf of the American Lung Association; Lorenz R. Rhomberg, Gradient Corporation, Cambridge, Massachusetts; and Roger O. McClellan, Albuquerque, New Mexico. NOMINATIONS Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Marcia Stephens Bloom Bernicat, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Senegal, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, Gillian Arlette Milovanovic, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Mali, who was introduced by Representative Pomeroy, Donald Gene Teitelbaum, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Ghana, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, of Louisiana, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Liberia, Peter William Bodde, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Malawi, Donald E. Booth, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Zambia, Marianne Matuzic Myles, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Cape Verde, Stephen James Nolan, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Botswana, and Patricia McMahon Hawkins, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Togolese Republic, all of the Department of State, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. TREATIES Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the International Convention for the Suppression of Acts of Nuclear Terrorism (the ``Convention''), adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on April 13, 2005, and signed on behalf of the United States of America on September 14, 2005 (Treaty Doc. 110-04), Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (the ``Amendment''). A conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, adopted on October 28, 1979, adopted the Amendment on July 8, 2005, at the International Atomic Energy Agency in Vienna (Treaty Doc. 110-06), and the Protocol of 2005 to the Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Maritime Navigation (the ``2005 SUA Protocol'') and the Protocol of 2005 to the Protocol for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Fixed Platforms Located on the Continental Shelf (the ``2005 Fixed Platforms Protocol'') (together, ``the Protocols''), adopted by the International Maritime Organization Diplomatic Conference in London on October 14, 2005, and signed by the United States of America on February 17, 2006 (Treaty Doc. 110-08), after receiving testimony from John C. Demers, Deputy Assistant Attorney General, National Security Division, Department of Justice; Patricia A. McNerney, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for International Security and Nonproliferation; and Richard Douglas, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Counter-Narcotics, Counter- Proliferation and Global Threats. FUEL SUBSIDIES Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine fuel subsidies relating to food supply and prices, after receiving testimony from Andrew Siegel, When Pigs Fly, Inc., York, Maine; Bruce A. Babcock, Iowa State University Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, Ames; and David Beckmann, Bread for the World, and Mark W. Rosegrant, International Food Policy Research Institute, both of Washington, D.C. NOMINATIONS Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded open and closed hearings to examine the nominations of Helene N. White, and Raymond M. Kethledge, both of Michigan, each to be a United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit, and Stephen Joseph Murphy, III, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, who were introduced by Senators Levin and Stabenow, after each nominee testified and answered questions in their own behalf. ANTITRUST ENFORCEMENT IN AGRICULTURE Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights concluded a hearing to examine antitrust enforcement in the agriculture marketplace, focusing on recent acquisitions, challenges and opportunities in international markets, major technological changes, and major concerns of the business relationships between the producers and processors, including S. 1759, to provide for the review of agricultural mergers and acquisitions by the Department of Justice, after receiving testimony from Douglas Ross, Special Counsel for Agriculture, Antitrust Division, Department of Justice; Peter C. Carstensen, University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison; Wesley M. Batista, JBS Swift and Company, Greeley, Colorado; Steven D. Hunt, United States Premium Beef, Ltd., Kansas City, Missouri; Bill Bullard, Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund, United Stockgrowers of America [[Page D565]] (R-CALF USA), Billings, Montana; Dillon M. Feuz, Utah State University, Logan; Michael Stumo, Organization for Competitive Markets, Lincoln, Nebraska; and David A. Balto, Center for American Progress, Washington, D.C. VETERANS BENEFITS LEGISLATION Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine pending veterans benefits legislation, including S. 22, to amend title 38, United States Code, to establish a program of educational assistance for members of the Armed Forces who serve in the Armed Forces after September 11, 2001, S. 961, to amend title 46, United States Code, to provide benefits to certain individuals who served in the United States merchant marine (including the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service) during World War II, and S. 2674, to amend titles 10 and 38, United States Code, to improve and enhance procedures for the retirement of members of the Armed Forces for disability and to improve and enhance authorities for the rating and compensation of service-connected disabilities in veterans, after receiving testimony from Senators Nelson (NE) and Thune; Representative Filner; Keith R. Pedigo, Associate Deputy Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Policy and Program Management; Carl Blake, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Richard Paul Cohen, National Organization of Veterans' Advocates, Inc., both of Washington, D.C.; Eric A. Hilleman, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, Kansas City, Missouri; Raymond C. Kelley, AMVETS, Lanham, Maryland; Steve Smithson, American Legion, Indianapolis, Indiana; Joseph A. Violante, Disabled American Veterans, Cold Spring, Kentucky; Richard Weidman, Vietnam Veterans of America, Silver Spring, Maryland; H. Gerald Starnes, Saint Augustine, Florida; and Charles Dana Gibson, Camden, Maine. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 11 public bills, H.R. 5982- 5992; and 6 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 343-345; and H. Res. 1178-1180, were introduced. Pages H3185-86 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H3186-87 Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today. Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Pastor Joe Hishmeh, Fellowship Bible Church, Topeka, Kansas. Page H3111 Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by a yea-and-nay vote of 229 yeas to 184 nays, with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 268. Pages H3116-17 Calendar Wednesday: On a call of committees pursuant to the Calendar Wednesday rule, no bills were called up for consideration. Pages H3114-15 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Sessions motion to adjourn by a yea- and-nay vote of 132 yeas to 269 nays, Roll No. 267. Page H3115 Oath of Office--First Congressional District of Louisiana: Representative-elect Steve Scalise presented himself in the well of the House and was administered the Oath of Office by the Speaker. Earlier, the Clerk of the House transmitted a facsimile copy of a letter from the Honorable Jay Dardenne, Secretary of State for the State of Louisiana, indicating that, according to the unofficial returns of the Special Election held on May 3, 2008, the Honorable Steve Scalise was elected Representative to Congress for the First Congressional District, State of Louisiana. Pages H3115-16, H3184 Whole Number of the House: The Speaker announced to the House that, in light of the administration of the oath to the gentleman from Louisiana, Mr. Steve Scalise, the whole number of the House is adjusted to 434. Page H3116 Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and agree to the following measures which were debated on Monday, May 5th: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding provocative and dangerous statements and actions taken by the Government of the Russian Federation that undermine the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia: H. Res. 1166, to express the sense of the House of Representatives regarding provocative and dangerous statements and actions taken by the Government of the Russian Federation that undermine the territorial integrity of the Republic of Georgia, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 390 ayes to 23 noes with 2 voting ``present'', Roll No. 269; Pages H3117-18 [[Page D566]] The House further agreed to the Castor motion to table the Rehberg motion to reconsider the vote, by a recorded vote of 218 ayes to 191 noes, Roll No. 270. Page H3118 Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day: H. Res. 1113, to celebrate the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 412 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 274; and Pages H3130-32 The House further agreed to the Castor motion to table the Tiahrt motion to reconsider the vote, by a recorded vote of 237 ayes to 178 noes, Roll No. 275. Page H3131 Honoring the life, achievements, and contributions of Charlton Heston and extending its deepest sympathies to the family of Charlton Heston for the loss of such a great generous man, husband, and father: H. Res. 1091, amended, to honor the life, achievements, and contributions of Charlton Heston and extending its deepest sympathies to the family of Charlton Heston for the loss of such a great generous man, husband, and father. Page H3177 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Rehberg motion to adjourn by a recorded vote of 140 ayes to 246 noes, Roll No. 271. Pages H3118-19 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Hastings (WA) motion to adjourn by a yea-and-nay vote of 144 yeas to 250 nays, Roll No. 272. Page H3124 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Culberson motion to adjourn by a yea- and-nay vote of 138 yeas to 272 nays, Roll No. 273. Page H3129 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Tiahrt motion to adjourn by a recorded vote of 146 ayes to 276 noes, Roll No. 276. Pages H3131-32 Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measure which was debated on Tuesday, May 6th: Facilitating the preservation of certain affordable housing dwelling units: H.R. 5937, to facilitate the preservation of certain affordable housing dwelling units, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 345 ayes to 73 noes, Roll No. 277. Pages H3132-33 The House further agreed to the Welch (VT) motion to table the Simpson motion to reconsider the vote, by a recorded vote of 225 ayes to 190 noes, Roll No. 278. Page H3133 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Calvert motion to adjourn by a yea-and- nay vote of 137 yeas to 260 nays, Roll No. 279. Pages H3133-34 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Sessions motion to adjourn by a yea- and-nay vote of 138 yeas to 268 nays, Roll No. 280. Pages H3142-43 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Price (GA) motion to adjourn by a recorded vote of 111 ayes to 311 noes, Roll No. 285. Page H3147 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Kingston motion to adjourn by a recorded vote of 143 ayes to 272 noes, Roll No. 286. Pages H3149-50 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Walsh (NY) motion to adjourn by a recorded vote of 140 ayes to 264 noes, Roll No. 291. Pages H3152-53 Intent to Offer Motion to Instruct Conferees: Representative Shimkus gave notice of his intent to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2419, Food and Energy Security Act of 2007. Page H3153 Intent to Offer Motion to Instruct Conferees: Representative Terry gave notice of his intent to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2419, Food and Energy Security Act of 2007. Page H3153 Intent to Offer Motion to Instruct Conferees: Representative Upton gave notice of his intent to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2419, Food and Energy Security Act of 2007. Pages H3153-54 Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism--Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the following members on the part of the House of Representatives to the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: Mr. Timothy J. Roemer of Great Falls, Virginia and Ms. Wendy R. Sherman of Bethesda, Maryland. Page H3154 Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008: The House began consideration of H.R. 5818, to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to make loans to States to acquire foreclosed housing and to make grants to States for related costs. Further proceedings were postponed until Thursday, May 8th. Pages H3119-29, H3149-77 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule. Page H3163 Accepted: Waters amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that provides for direct allocations to qualified metropolitan cities and qualified urban counties, makes the definition of operating expenses consistent with other HUD programs, and caps purchase price under the loan program at the current [[Page D567]] appraised value of the foreclosed property (by a recorded vote of 256 ayes to 157 noes, Roll No. 293); Pages H3166-67, H3168-69 Capito amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that directs the funds to be administered through the Office of Community Planning and Development of the Department of Housing and Urban Development rather than directing the Secretary to create a new program within the Department (by a recorded vote of 425 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 294); Pages H3167-68, H3169-70 Mahoney (FL) amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that clarifies that nothing in this Act shall affect the right to bear arms under the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; Pages H3170-72 Kucinich amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that modifies the purposes of the legislation to emphasize the increasing rates of vacant and abandoned properties, and change the state-to-local jurisdiction funding formula to ensure that up-to-date vacancy statistics are used to allocate the funds; and Pages H3173-75 McCotter amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that directs States using federal loans and grants for housing rehabilitation to give priority to veterans, members of the Armed Forces on active duty, members of the National Guard or Armed Forces reserves, school teachers, and emergency responders when reselling the rehabilitated property. Pages H3175-77 Proceedings Postponed: Hensarling amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that seeks to strike all references in the bill to providing grants to states, but leave the underlying loan program intact. Money from the grant portion of the bill ($7.5 billion) would be re-directed to the loan portion (for a total of $15 billion in loans) and Pages H3172-73 Altmire amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that seeks to clarify that illegal immigrants shall be ineligible for financial assistance under the bill. Page H3177 Rejected the Simpson motion that the Committee rise by a recorded vote of 184 ayes to 231 noes, Roll No. 292. Page H3168 H. Res. 1174, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 192 nays, Roll No. 289, and the House subsequently agreed to the Welch (VT) motion to table the Emerson motion to reconsider the vote by a recorded vote of 212 ayes to 183 noes, Roll No. 290. Earlier, the House agreed to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 220 yeas to 187 nays, Roll No. 287, and subsequently agreed to the Hastings (FL) motion to table the Simpson motion to reconsider the vote by a recorded vote of 226 ayes to 186 noes, Roll No. 288. Pages H3150-52 Senate amendments to H.R. 3221, Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008-- Rule for Consideration: The House agreed to the rule that is providing for consideration of the Senate amendments to H.R. 3221, moving the United States toward greater energy independence and security, developing innovative new technologies, reducing carbon emissions, creating green jobs, protecting consumers, increasing clean renewable energy production, and modernizing our energy infrastructure, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation, by a yea- and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 198 nays with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 283. Subsequently, the House agreed to the Welch (VT) motion to table the Aderholt motion to reconsider the vote by a recorded vote of 227 ayes to 196 noes, Roll No. 284. Earlier, the House agreed to order the previous question by a recorded vote of 226 ayes to 198 noes, Roll No. 281, and subsequently agreed to the Welch (VT) motion to table the Carter motion to reconsider the vote by a recorded vote of 225 ayes to 192 noes, Roll No. 282. Pages H3134-47 Food and Energy Security Act of 2007--Motion to Instruct Conferees: The House began consideration of the Cantor motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012. Further proceedings were postponed. Pages H3177-81 Presidential Messages: Read a message from the President wherein he notified Congress that the national emergency declared with respect to Syria is to continue in effect beyond May 11, 2008--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-109). Page H3181 Read a message from the President wherein he transmitted to Congress the Agreement Between the United States of America and the Czech Republic on Social Security--referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-110). Page H3181 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H3111. Quorum Calls--Votes: Nine yea-and-nay votes and nineteen recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H3115, H3116-17, H3117-18, H3118, H3118-19, H3124, H3129-30, H3130, H3131, H3131-32, H3132, H3133, H3133-34, H3142-43, H3144-45, H3145, H3145-46, H3146-47, H3147, H3149-50, H3150, H3150-51, H3151-52, H3152, H3152-53, H3168, [[Page D568]] H3168-69 and H3169-70. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 11:24 p.m. Committee Meetings LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces approved for full Committee action H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel approved for full Committee action H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2009 Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces approved for full Committee action H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 1343, amended, Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007; H.R. 5669, Poison Center Support, Enhancement, and Awareness Act of 2008; and H.R. 1553, amended, Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2007. U.S.-PAKISTAN FOREIGN POLICY Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on U.S. Foreign Policy in Pakistan: Implications for Regional Security, Stability and Development. Testimony was heard from the following former Ambassadors to the United Nations: Richard C. Holbrooke; and Thomas R. Pickering; and GEN James J. Jones USMC (Ret.), former Supreme Allied Commander, Europe. NATION'S SUPPLY CHAIN SECURITY Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism held a hearing entitled ``Assessing the Resiliency of the Nation's Supply Chain.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Todd Owen, Executive Director, Cargo and Conveyance Security Office, Office of Field Operations, U.S. Customs and Border Protection; and ADAM James Watson, USCG., Director, Prevention Policy for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship, U.S. Coast Guard; Paul Zimmermann, Director of Operations, Board of Commissioners of the Port of New Orleans; and a public witness. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on House Administration: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 5803, amended, To direct the Federal Assistance Commission to establish a program to make grants to participating States and units of local government which will administer the regularly scheduled general election for Federal office held in November 2008 for carrying out a program to make backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a voting system or voting equipment in the election or some other emergency situation, and for other purposes; H.R. 5893, amended, Library of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act of 2008; and H.R. 5972, United States Capitol Police Administrative Technical Corrections Act of 2008. RISING GAS PRICES' CONSUMER IMPACT Committee on the Judiciary: Task Force on Competition Policy and Antitrust Laws held a hearing on Retail Gas, Prices, Part 1: Consumer Effects. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. ORPHAN WORKS ACT OF 2008 Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 5889, Orphan Works Act of 2008. NATIONAL PARK CENTENNIAL FUND ACT Committee on Natural Resources: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 3094, National Park Centennial Fund Act. HOSPITAL EMERGENCY SURGE CAPACITY Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Concluded hearings on the Lack of Hospital Emergency Surge Capacity: Will the Administration's Medicaid Regulations Make It Worse? Testimony was heard from Michael O. Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services; and Michael Chertoff, Secretary of Homeland Security. NATIONAL NANOTECHNOLOGY INITIATIVE AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2008 Committee on Science and Technology: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 5940, National Nanotechnology Initiative Amendments Act of 2008. [[Page D569]] DIGITAL TV TRANSITION Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology held a hearing on the role of small businesses in the upcoming digital television (DTV) conversion. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment approved for full Committee action the following measures: H.R. 2452, amended, Raw Sewage Overflow Community Right-to-Know Act; H.R. 135, amended, Twenty-First Century Water Commission Act of 2007; H.R. 5770, To provide for a study by the National Academy of Sciences of potential impacts of climate change on water resources and water quality; and H. Res. 1137, Supporting the goals and ideals of National Public Works Week. NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D556) H.R. 3196, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 20 Sussex Street in Port Jervis, New York, as the ``E. Arthur Gray Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-210) H.R. 3468, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1704 Weeksville Road in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, as the ``Dr. Clifford Bell Jones, Sr. Post Office''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-211) H.R. 3532, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5815 McLeod Street in Lula, Georgia, as the ``Private Johnathon Millican Lula Post Office''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-212) H.R. 3720, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 424 Clay Avenue in Waco, Texas, as the ``Army PFC Juan Alonso Covarrubias Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-213) H.R. 3803, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3100 Cashwell Drive in Goldsboro, North Carolina, as the ``John Henry Wooten, Sr. Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-214) H.R. 3936, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 116 Helen Highway in Cleveland, Georgia, as the ``Sgt. Jason Harkins Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-215) H.R. 3988, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3701 Altamesa Boulevard in Fort Worth, Texas, as the ``Master Sergeant Kenneth N. Mack Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-216) H.R. 4166, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 701 East Copeland Drive in Lebanon, Missouri, as the ``Steve W. Allee Carrier Annex''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-217) H.R. 4203, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3035 Stone Mountain Street in Lithonia, Georgia, as the ``Specialist Jamaal RaShard Addison Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-218) H.R. 4211, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 725 Roanoke Avenue in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, as the ``Judge Richard B. Allsbrook Post Office''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-219) H.R. 4240, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 10799 West Alameda Avenue in Lakewood, Colorado, as the ``Felix Sparks Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-220) H.R. 4454, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3050 Hunsinger Lane in Louisville, Kentucky, as the ``Iraq and Afghanistan Fallen Military Heroes of Louisville Memorial Post Office Building'', in honor of the servicemen and women from Louisville, Kentucky, who died in service during Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-221) H.R. 5135, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 201 West Greenway Street in Derby, Kansas, as the ``Sergeant Jamie O. Maugans Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-222) H.R. 5220, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3800 SW. 185th Avenue in Beaverton, Oregon, as the ``Major Arthur Chin Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-223) H.R. 5400, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 160 East Washington Street in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, as the ``Sgt. Michael M. Kashkoush Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-224) H.R. 5472, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2650 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street, Indianapolis, Indiana, as the ``Julia M. Carson Post Office Building''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-225) H.R. 5489, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 6892 Main Street in Gloucester, Virginia, as the ``Congresswoman Jo Ann S. Davis Post Office''. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-226) [[Page D570]] H.R. 5715, to ensure continued availability of access to the Federal student loan program for students and families. Signed on May 7, 2008. (Public Law 110-227) COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, MAY 8, 2008 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, to hold hearings to examine the Department of Energy's decision to restructure the FutureGen program and obtain information about the elements of the original and revised approaches to advance carbon capture and storage technologies, 9:30 a.m., SD-192. Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans' Affairs, and Related Agencies, to hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the United States Army and Air Force, 10 a.m., SD-124. Full Committee, business meeting to markup the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill for fiscal year 2008, 2 p.m., SD- 106. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: to hold hearings to examine improving the capacity of United States climate modeling for decision-makers and end-users, 2:30 p.m., SR-253. Committee on Environment and Public Works: to hold hearings to examine goods movement on our nation's highways, 10 a.m., SD-406. Committee on Finance: to hold hearings to examine social security field offices, focusing on the resources and workforce needed to deliver quality service to the public, 10 a.m., SD-215. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: to hold hearings to examine cancer relating to challenges and opportunities in the 21th century, 9 a.m., SH-216. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Nanci E. Langley, of Virginia, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Regulatory Commission, and Andrew Saul, of New York, Alejandro Modesto Sanchez, of Florida, and Gordon James Whiting, of New York, all to be Members of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, Time to be announced, S- 216, Capitol. Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, to hold hearings to examine recruiting and hiring the next generation of federal employees, 10 a.m., SD-342. Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider S. 2840, to establish a liaison with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to expedite naturalization applications filed by members of the Armed Forces and to establish a deadline for processing such applications, S. 2913, to provide a limitation on judicial remedies in copyright infringement cases involving orphan works, S. 2511, to amend the grant program for law enforcement armor vests to provide for a waiver of or reduction in the matching funds requirement in the case of fiscal hardship, S. 2565, to establish an awards mechanism to honor exceptional acts of bravery in the line of duty by Federal law enforcement officers, H.R. 4056, to establish an awards mechanism to honor Federal law enforcement officers injured in the line of duty, S. 2774, to provide for the appointment of additional Federal circuit and district judges, S. 1738, to establish a Special Counsel for Child Exploitation Prevention and Interdiction within the Office of the Deputy Attorney General, to improve the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, to increase resources for regional computer forensic labs, and to make other improvements to increase the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate and prosecute predators, S. 2756, to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a permanent background check system, S. 1515, to establish a domestic violence volunteer attorney network to represent domestic violence victims, S. 2942, to authorize funding for the National Advocacy Center, S. 2504, to amend title 36, United States Code, to grant a Federal charter to the Military Officers Association of America, S. Res. 537, commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as law enforcement officers, and the nomination of G. Steven Agee, of Virginia, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit, 10 a.m., SD-226. Select Committee on Intelligence: to hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. House Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Readiness, to mark up H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, 1 p.m., 2118 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces, to mark up H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, 11 a.m., 2212 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities, to mark up H.R. 5658, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009, 9 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Committee on the Budget, and the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, joint hearing on Financing Infrastructure Investments, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, hearing on The National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Endowment for the Arts: Overview of Programs and National Impact, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health, hearing entitled ``Stem Cell Science: The Foundation for Future Cures,'' 10 a.m., 2322 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: Marketing, Education, or Deception,'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, hearing entitled ``Emergency CDBG Funds in the Gulf Coast: Uses, Challenges, and Lessons for the Future,'' 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia, hearing on U.S. Assistance to the [[Page D571]] Middle East: Old Tools for New Tasks? 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, hearing on Central America and the Merida Initiative, 10 a.m., 2226 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, hearing entitled ``Performance Based Acquisitions: Creating Solutions or Causing Problems?'' 10 a.m., 311 Cannon. Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, to mark up the following: H.R. 4080, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish a separate nonimmigrant classification for fashion models; and private relief measures, 9:30 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans, hearing on the following bills: H.R. 3840, To prohibit commercial fishing of Atlantic menhaden for reduction purposes in inland, State, and Federal water along the Atlantic coast of the United States, and for other purposes; and H.R. 3841, To prohibit the commercial harvesting of Atlantic menhaden for reduction purposes in the coastal waters and the exclusive economic zone, 9:30 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Subcommittee on Water and Power, hearing on the following bills: H.R. 155, Lower Brule and Crow Creek Tribal Compensation Act; H.R. 5511, Leadville Mine Drainage Tunnel Remediation Act of 2008; and H.R. 5710, Eastern New Mexico Rural Water System Authorization Act, 10 a.m., 1334 Longworth. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia, hearing on The Economics of Universal Mail Post PAEA, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, hearing on Fulfilling the Potential of Women in Academic Science and Engineering Act of 2008, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, hearing entitled ``Medicare Physician Fee Cuts: Can Small Practices Survive,'' 10 a.m., 1539 Longworth. Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, hearing on the Utilization of Psychotropic Medication for Children in Foster Care, 11 a.m., B-318 Rayburn Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, executive, to mark up the Fiscal Year 2009 Intelligence Authorization, 9 a.m., H-405 Capitol. Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, hearing entitled ``Negawatts: The Role of Efficiency Policies in Climate Legislation,'' 10 a.m., 210 Cannon. Joint Meetings Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: to hold hearings to examine the future Administration of the President of the Russian Federation Dmitri Medvedev, focusing on United States and Russia's relationship, 3 p.m., SD-419. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. The public proceedings of each House of Congress, as reported by the Official Reporters thereof, are printed pursuant to directions of the Joint Committee on Printing as authorized by appropriate provisions of Title 44, United States Code, and published for each day that one or both Houses are in session, excepting very infrequent instances when two or more unusually small consecutive issues are printed one time. Public access to the Congressional Record is available online through GPO Access, a service of the Government Printing Office, free of charge to the user. The online database is updated each day the Congressional Record is published. 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Following each session of Congress, the daily Congressional Record is revised, printed, permanently bound and sold by the Superintendent of Documents in individual parts or by sets. With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no restrictions on the republication of material from the Congressional Record. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D572]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Thursday, May 8 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 60 minutes), Senate will continue consideration of S. 2284, Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Thursday, May 8 House Chamber Program for Thursday: Complete consideration of H.R. 5818--Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008. Consideration of Senate amendments to H.R. 3221--Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Andrews, Robert E., N.J., E845 Barrow, John, Ga., E845 Bordallo, Madeleine Z., Guam, E852 Brown-Waite, Ginny, Fla., E841 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E841 Burton, Dan, Ind., E848 Butterfield, G.K., N.C., E848 Capito, Shelley Moore, W.Va., E840 Castle, Michael N., Del., E840 Costa, Jim, Calif., E836 Crowley, Joseph, N.Y., E850 Eshoo, Anna G., Calif., E835 Fattah, Chaka, Pa., E837 Fox, Virginia, N.C., E852 Goodlatte, Bob, Va., E853 Hall, John J., N.Y., E845 Herger, Wally, Calif., E837 Hinojosa, Ruben, Tex., E850 Hodes, Paul W., N.H., E848 Jackson-Lee, Sheila, Tex., E847, E849, E851 Johnson, Eddie Bernice, Tex., E846, E848 Jordan, Jim, Ohio, E844 Kaptur, Marcy, Ohio, E847, E850, E851 Klein, Ron, Fla., E841 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E835, E839, E843 Langevin, James R., R.I., E837, E842 Lofgren, Zoe, Calif., E846 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E847, E849 Paul, Ron, Tex., E842 Platts, Todd Russell, Pa., E837 Poe, Ted, Tex., E835, E839, E843 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E846 Rush, Bobby L., Ill., E846 Salazar, John T., Colo., E836 Sali, Bill, Idaho, E839 Saxton, Jim, N.J., E845 Schakowsky, Janice D., Ill., E836 Smith, Adrian, Nebr., E850 Thompson, Bennie G., Miss., E841 Thompson, Mike, Calif., E844 Walsh, James T., N.Y., E844 Wasserman Schultz, Debbie, Fla., E837 Wexler, Robert, Fla., E845 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E842 Woolsey, Lynn C., Calif., E836, E845 WWittman, Robert J., Va., E851, E852