Wednesday, July 16, 2008 [[Page D899]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate passed H.R. 5501, Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S6799-S6878 Measures Introduced: Nine bills and one resolution were introduced, as follows: S. 3269-3277, and S. Res. 614. Pages S6868-69 Measures Reported: Special Report entitled ``Further Revised Allocation to Subcommittees of Budget Totals from the Concurrent Resolution, Fiscal Year 2009''. (S. Rept. No. 110-423) S. 3270, to reauthorize the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (S. Rept. No. 110-422) H.R. 3248, to amend the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users to make technical corrections, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Page S6868 Measures Passed: Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act: Committee on Foreign Relations was discharged from further consideration and by 80 yeas to 16 nays (Vote No. 182), Senate passed H.R. 5501, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, after striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof, S. 2731, Senate companion measure, as amended. Pages S6809-17, S6820-57 Subsequently, S. 2731 was returned to the Senate calendar. Conquer Childhood Cancer Act: Senate passed H.R. 1553, to amend the Public Health Service Act to advance medical research and treatments into pediatric cancers, ensure patients and families have access to information regarding pediatric cancers and current treatments for such cancers, establish a national childhood cancer registry, and promote public awareness of pediatric cancer, clearing the measure for the President. Pages S6857-58 Honoring Thurgood Marshall: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 381, honoring and recognizing the dedication and achievements of Thurgood Marshall on the 100th anniversary of his birth. Pages S6877-78 Measures Considered: Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act: Senate continued consideration of S. 2731, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2009 through 2013 to provide assistance to foreign countries to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S6809-17, S6820-57 Adopted: Dorgan Amendment No. 5084 (to Amendment No. 5076), to reallocate the distribution of funds from the Emergency Fund for Indian Safety and Health. Pages S6811-13, S6815 Thune Amendment No. 5076, to provide for an emergency plan for Indian safety and health. Pages S6809-11, S15 Biden (for Gregg) Amendment No. 5085, to encourage the inclusion of cost sharing assurances and transition strategies among compacts and frameworks agreements, the activities authorized under section 104A of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961, and the highest priorities of the Federal Government. Page S6817 Biden (for Vitter) Amendment No. 5086, to withhold 20 percent of the Federal funding appropriated for the Global Fund until the Secretary certifies that the Global Fund has provided the State Department with access to financial and other data. Pages S6828-30 [[Page D900]] Biden (for Sessions) Amendment No. 5087, to advise the public about the risks of contracting HIV from blood exposures, to investigate unexplained infections, and to promote universal precautions in health care settings. Pages S6830-31 Rejected: By 32 yeas to 63 nays (Vote No. 178), Cornyn Amendment No. 5083, to establish a bipartisan commission for the purpose of improving oversight and eliminating wasteful government spending under the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. Pages S6813-16 By 44 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 179), Gregg Amendment No. 5081, to strike the provision requiring the development of coordinated oversight plans and to establish an independent Inspector General at the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator. Pages S6831-32 By 28 yeas to 67 nays (Vote No. 180), Kyl Amendment No. 5082, to limit the period during which appropriations may be made to carry out this Act and to create a point of order in the Senate against appropriation to carry out this Act that exceeds the amount authorized for fiscal year 2013. Page S6832 By 31 yeas to 64 nays (Vote No. 181), DeMint Amendment No. 5077, to reduce to $35,000,000,000 the amount authorized to be appropriated to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria in developing countries during the next 5 years. Page S6832 Appointments: U.S.-Russia Interparliamentary Group: The Chair, on behalf of the Majority Leader, pursuant to Section 154 of Public Law 108-199, as amended, appointed the following Senator as Vice Chairman of the Senate Delegation to the U.S.-Russia Interparliamentary Group conference during the 110 Congress: Senator Gregg. Page S6878 Majority Leader--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at approximately 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2008, the Majority Leader be recognized to make a motion to proceed. Page S6878 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 and related measures dealing with the former Liberian regime of Charles Taylor; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-56) Pages S6867-68 Transmitting, pursuant to law, the Agreement Between the United States and Poland on Social Security, consisting of a principal agreement and an administrative agreement; which was referred to the Committee on Finance. (PM-57) Page S6868 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Pages S6799, S6868 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S6869-70 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S6870-76 Additional Statements: Pages S6866-67 Amendments Submitted: Page S6876 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Pages S6876-77 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S6877 Privileges of the Floor: Page S6877 Record Votes: Five record votes were taken today. (Total--182) Pages S6816, S6831-32, S6832, S6833, S6842 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:30 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 17, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S6878.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: NIH Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the National Institutes of Health, after receiving testimony from Elias A. Zerhouni, Director, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services. IRAQ NEGOTIATIONS Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on the status of negotiations with Iraq on a strategic framework agreement and a status of forces agreement from Lieutenant General Douglas E. Lute, USA, Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan, and Christopher C. Straub, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle Eastern Affairs, both of the Department of Defense; and Richard J. Schmierer, Deputy Assistant Secretary and Coordinator for Iraq, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, Department of State. LAND BILLS Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests concluded a hearing to examine S. 2354, to direct the Secretary [[Page D901]] of the Interior to convey 4 parcels of land from the Bureau of Land Management to the city of Twin Falls, Idaho, S. 3065, to establish the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area and the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area, S. 3069, to designate certain land as wilderness in the State of California, S. 3085, to require the Secretary of the Interior to establish a cooperative watershed management program, H.R. 3473, to provide for a land exchange with the City of Bountiful, Utah, involving National Forest System land in the Wasatch-Cache National Forest and to further land ownership consolidation in that national forest, H.R. 3490, to transfer administrative jurisdiction of certain Federal lands from the Bureau of Land Management to the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to take such lands into trust for Tuolumne Band of Me- Wuk Indians of the Tuolumne Rancheria, H.R. 3651, to require the conveyance of certain public land within the boundaries of Camp Williams, Utah, to support the training and readiness of the Utah National Guard, H.R. 2632, to establish the Sabinoso Wilderness Area in San Miguel County, New Mexico, and S. 2448, to amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to make certain technical corrections, after receiving testimony from Senator Boxer; Brent Wahlquist, Director, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and Henri Bisson, Deputy Director, and Avra Morgan, Reclamation Drought Coordinator, Office of Program and Policy Services, both of the Bureau of Reclamation, all of the Department of the Interior; Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, United States Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Jan McCracken, Delta County, Delta, Colorado; and Tom Hinz, Greater Gallatin Watershed Council, Bozeman, Montana. NUCLEAR PLANTS LICENSING AND RELICENSING Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety concluded a hearing to examine the Nuclear Regulatory Commission's licensing and relicensing processes for nuclear power plants, after receiving testimony from Dale E. Klein, Chairman, Gregory B. Jaczko, Peter B. Lyons, and Kristine L. Svinicki, each a Commissioner, and Hubert T. Bell, Inspector General, all of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission; David A. Christian, Dominion Nuclear, Glenn Allen, Virginia; Anthony R. Pietrangelo, Nuclear Energy Institute, and Joseph Romm, Center for American Progress Action Fund, both of Washington, D.C.; Richard Webster, Eastern Environmental Law Center, Newark, New Jersey; and H. John Gilbertson, Jr., Goldman, Sachs and Company, Chicago, Illinois. SIX-PARTY TALKS Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a closed hearing to examine North Korea's declaration and the Six-Party Talks on North Korea's nuclear weapons program, after receiving testimony from Christopher R. Hill, Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. GLOBAL NUCLEAR DETECTION Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine global nuclear detection architecture-- an integrated system of radiation detection equipment and interdiction activities, focusing on ways to build domestic defenses to combat a possible future attack, after receiving testimony from Chuck Gallaway, Deputy Director, and Mark Mullen, Assistant Director, Architecture Directorate, both of the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, Department of Homeland Security; David C. Maurer, Acting Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office; Dana A. Shea, Specialist in Science and Technology Policy, Resources, Science, and Industry Division, Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress; and Robert F. Nesbit, MITRE Corporation, Bedford, Massachusetts. HUMAN CAPITAL CRISIS AT THE DEPARTMENT OF STATE Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia concluded a hearing to examine the human capital crisis at the Department of State, focusing on the Department's efforts to hire, develop, position, and support a dedicated corps of Foreign Service, Civil Service, and locally employed staff to effectively meet the global implications, challenges, standards of operational readiness, and the worldwide mission of the Department, after receiving testimony from Harry K. Thomas, Director General of the Foreign Service and Director of Human Resources, Department of State; and John K. Naland, American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), and Ronald E. Neumann, American Academy of Diplomacy, both of Washington, D.C. CHILDHOOD OBESITY (PART I) Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Children and Families held a hearing to examine childhood obesity, focusing on the declining health of America's next generation (Part I), receiving testimony from Jeffrey Levi, Trust for America's Health (TFAH), and Bruce Lesley, First [[Page D902]] Focus, both of Washington, D.C.; Francine Kaufman, University of Southern California, Los Angeles; and Margaret Grey, Yale University School of Nursing, New Haven, Connecticut. Hearing recessed subject to the call. U.S. DETAINEE/TERRORISM POLICIES Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Administration's detainee policies and the global fight against terrorism, focusing on legal foundations and the military justice and federal court systems, after receiving testimony from Kate Martin, Center for National Security Studies, and David B. Rivkin, Jr., Baker Hostetler, LLP, both of Washington, D.C.; and Colonel Will A. Gunn, USAF (Ret.), Fort Belvoir, Virginia. U.S. CAPITOL POLICE Committee on Rules and Administration: Committee concluded a hearing to examine administrative and management operations of the United States Capitol Police, after receiving testimony from Phillip D. Morse, Sr., Chief of Police, United States Capitol Police; Richard A. Stana, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, Government Accountability Office; and Matthew A. Tighe, Fraternal Order of Police U.S. Capitol Police Labor Committee, Washington, D.C. RETIREMENT SAVINGS Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine smart ways Americans can save for their retirement, after receiving testimony from Gregory T. Long, Executive Director, Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board; Christian E. Weller, University of Massachusetts Boston Department of Public Policy and Public Affairs; J. Mark Iwry, Brookings Institution, and David C. John, Heritage Foundation, both on behalf of the Retirement Security Project, and John Gannon, Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, all of Washington, D.C.; and Bruce R. Bent, The Reserve, New York, New York. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 22 public bills, H.R. 6506- 6527; and 1 resolution H. Res. 1351 were introduced. Pages H6673-74 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H6674-75 Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows: H. Res. 1350, providing for consideration of motions to suspend the rules (H. Rept. 110-761). Page H6673 Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. John C. Garrett, Parish of Our Lady of Sorrows-St. Anthony, Hamilton, New Jersey. Page H6579 Burma Democracy Promotion Act: The House agreed by unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to make the changes placed at the desk in the engrossment of the House amendment to the Senate amendment to the text of H.R. 3890, to impose sanctions on officials of the State Peace and Development Council in Burma, to amend the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 to prohibit the importation of gemstones and hardwoods from Burma, and to promote a coordinated international effort to restore civilian democratic rule to Burma. Page H6599 Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2009: The House passed H.R. 5959, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, by voice vote. Pages H6582-87, H6596-97, H6599-H6648 Rejected the Hoekstra motion to recommit the bill to the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence with instructions to report the same back to the House promptly with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 200 ayes to 225 noes, Roll No. 502. Pages H6626-29 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule. Page H6607 Accepted: Reyes amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-759) that adds an exception to the alternative fuel procurement requirement, clarifying that the bill does not prohibit an element of the intelligence community from entering into a contract to purchase a generally available fuel that is not an alternative or synthetic fuel or predominantly produced from a [[Page D903]] nonconventional petroleum source when certain requirements are met. It also adds an assessment of the feasibility of employing foreign nationals lawfully present in the U.S. who have previously worked as translators for the Armed Forces or another department or agency of the Federal Government in Iraq or Afghanistan to meet the critical language needs of such element. Finally, it requires that the report required in section 412 on intelligence resources dedicated to Iraq and Afghanistan include resources dedicated to intelligence analysis; Pages H6617-18 Holt amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-759) that requires the Director of National Intelligence to inform all holders of the October 2007 National Intelligence Estimate on Iran's nuclear program of any new intelligence on Iran's nuclear program that has emerged since the publication of the NIE; Pages H6619-20 Harman amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-759) that expresses the sense of Congress that the Director of National Intelligence should work with other government agencies and the aerospace industry to develop and implement policies to sustain and expand the aerospace industry workforce; Pages H6621-22 Hinchey amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 110-759) that instructs the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency to submit a report on the activities of the intelligence community with regard to human rights violations of the Argentine military government from the mid- 1970's until the mid-1980's. The amendment also instructs the inclusion of a compilation of declassified documents and consents to the inclusion of a classified annex in the report; Pages H6623-24 Hoekstra amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-759) that expresses the sense of Congress that (1) the defeat of Colombian paramilitary organizations is in the national interest of the United States; (2) the recent rescue of hostages held by the FARC demonstrates the professionalism of Colombian forces; (3) U.S. intelligence and other assistance played a key role in developing and reinforcing Colombian capabilities; and (4) it is critical that U.S. assistance to the Government of Colombia continue (by a recorded vote of 414 ayes to 10 noes with 7 voting ``present'', Roll No. 499); Pages H6618-19, H6624-25 Hoekstra amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-759) that bars the use of funds to prohibit or discourage the use of the phrases ``jihadist,'' ``jihad,'' ``Islamo-fascism,'' ``caliphate,'' ``Islamist,'' or ``Islamic terrorist'' within the Intelligence Community or the Federal Government (by a recorded vote of 249 ayes to 180 noes, Roll No. 500); and Pages H6620-21, H6625 Kirk amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 110-759) that requires the Director of National Intelligence to submit to Congress a National Intelligence Estimate on the production and sale of narcotics in support of international terrorism, including the support the Taliban and al Qaeda receive from the sale of narcotics and the shift in production from opium to hashish in Afghanistan (by a recorded vote of 426 ayes to 2 noes, Roll No. 501). Pages H6622-23, H6626 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H6629 H. Res. 1343, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 226 yeas to 193 nays, Roll No. 496, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 226 yeas to 192 nays, Roll No. 495. Pages H6596-97 Amending 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: The House passed H.R. 415, 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, by a yea-and-nay vote of 242 yeas to 175 nays, Roll No. 507. Pages H6587-96, H6629-48 Rejected the Wittman (VA) motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Natural Resources with instructions to report the same back to the House promptly with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 188 yeas to 227 nays, Roll No. 506. Pages H6645-47 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule. Page H6639 Accepted: Bishop (UT) amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-758) that requires the Secretary of the Interior to report to Congress on the energy resources available on the lands and waters included in the segments of the Taunton River designated by the bill; Page H6642 Shuler amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-758) that amends the bill to state that nothing in this Act shall be construed as affecting the authority, jurisdiction, or responsibility of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts to manage, control, or regulate fish and resident wildlife under State law or regulations, including the regulation of hunting, fishing, trapping, and recreational shooting, and that [[Page D904]] nothing in the Act shall be construed as limiting access for hunting, fishing, trapping, or recreational shooting (by a recorded vote of 425 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 504); and Pages H6641-42, H6644-45 Boyda amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-758) that requires that nothing in the bill impact the supply of domestically-produced energy resources (by a recorded vote of 421 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 505). Pages H6642-43, H6645 Rejected: Bishop (UT) amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-758) that would have removed from the bill the designation as a recreational river of a 9-mile segment of the Taunton River from Muddy Cove to the confluence with the Quequechan River at the Route 195 Bridge in Fall River (by a recorded vote of 189 ayes to 235 noes, Roll No. 503). Pages H6640-41, H6643-44 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H6649 H. Res. 1339, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 195 nays, Roll No. 498, after agreeing to order the previous questions by a yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 198 nays, Roll No. 497. Pages H6598-99 Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 1339, S. 2062, as amended, is considered as passed and the House is considered to have insisted on its amendment and requested a conference with the Senate thereon. Page H6587 Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and agree to the following measure which was debated on Monday, July 14th: Expressing the deepest appreciation of Congress to the families of members of the United States Armed Forces: H. Con. Res. 295, to express the deepest appreciation of Congress to the families of members of the United States Armed Forces, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 415 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 508. Pages H6648-49 Presidential Messages: Read a message from the President wherein he transmitted the Agreement Between the United States of America and Poland on Social Security--referred to the Committee on Ways and Means and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-133). Page H6649 Read a message from the President wherein he notified Congress that the national emergency and related measures dealing with the former Liberian regime of Charles Taylor are to continue in effect beyond July 22, 2008--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-134). Pages H6649-50 Quorum Calls--Votes: Seven yea-and-nay votes and seven recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H6596, H6597, H6598, H6598-99, H6624-25, H6625, H6626, H6628-29, H6643-44, H6644-45, H6645, H6647, H6647-48, H6648-49. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 11:25 p.m. Committee Meetings INTERNATIONAL FOOD/AGRICULTURAL ASSISTANCE Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Speciality Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing to review efforts to deliver international food aid and provide foreign agricultural development assistance. Testimony was heard from Michael W. Yost, Administrator, Foreign Agricultural Service, USDA; James Kunder, Acting Deputy Administrator, U.S. Agency for International Development, Department of State; and public witnesses. STATE, FOREIGN OPERATIONS, AND RELATED PROGRAMS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs approved for full Committee action the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2009. INCREASING HEALTHCARE VALUE Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Getting Better Value in Health Care. Testimony was heard from Peter Orszag, Director, CBO; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 2851, Mitchell's Law; H.R. 6432, Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2008; and H.R. 6433, Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act of 2008. MONETARY POLICY AND STATE OF THE ECONOMY Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing on Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy. Testimony was heard from Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ordered reported as amended, the following bills: H.R. 3202, Foreign [[Page D905]] Service Overseas Pay Equity Act of 2007; and H.R. 6328, To develop a policy to address the critical needs of Iragi refugees. The Committee favorably considered the following measures and, by unanimous consent, approved a request of the Chairman that they be placed on the Suspension Calendar: H.R. 6456, amended, To provide for extensions of certain authorities of the Department of State and for other purposes; H. Res. 937, amended, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the emergency communications services provided by the American Red Cross are vital resources for military service members and their families; H. Res. 1008, amended, Condemning the persecution of Baha'is in Iran; H. Res. 1069, amended, Condemning the use of television programming by Hamas to indoctrinate hatred, violence, and anti-Semitism toward Israel in young Palestinian children; H. Res. 1159, Recognizing the historical significance of the United States sloop-of-war Constellation as a surviving witness to the horrors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and a leading participant in America's effort to end the practice; H. Res. 1254, amended, Supporting the values and goals of the ``Joint Action Plan Between the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government of the United States of America to Eliminate Racial and Ethic Discrimination and Promote Equality,'' signed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and the Brazilian Minister of Racial Integration Edson Santos on March 13, 2008; H.R. 1266, amended, Congratulating Albania and Croatia on being invited to begin accession talks with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and expressing support for continuing to enlarge the alliance; H. Res. 1279, Recognizing the Special Olympics' 40th anniversary; H. Res. 1290, amended, Joining the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in observance of World Refugee Day and calling on the United States Government, international organizations, and aid groups to take immediate steps to secure urgently needed humanitarian relief for the more than 2,000,000 people displaced by genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan; H.R. 1307, Commemorating the Kingdom of Bhutan's participation in the 2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and commending the people and the Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan for their commitment to holding elections and broadening political participation; H. Con. Res. 344, amended, Recognizing that we are facing a global food crisis; H. Con. Res. 361, Commemorating Irena Sendler, a woman whose bravery saved the lives of thousands during the Holocaust and remembering her legacy of courage, selflessness, and hope; and H. Con. Res. 371, amended, Strongly supporting an immediate and just restitution of, or compensation for, property illegally confiscated during the last century by Nazi and Communist regimes. VISA WAIVER PROGRAM ENHANCEMENT Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Border, Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism held a hearing entitled ``Implementing the 9/11 Act Mandates for Enhancing the Visa Waiver Program.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Richard C. Barth, Assistant Secretary, Office of Policy Development; and Robert Mocny, Director, US-VISIT Program; Stephen A. Edson, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Visa Services, Bureau of Consular Affairs, Department of State; and public witnesses. BIOSURVEILLANCE IMPLANTION Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology held a hearing entitled ``One Year Later--Implementing the Biosurveillance Requirements of the `9/11 Act.''' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Robert Hooks, Deputy Assistant Secretary for WMD and BioDefense, Office of Health Affairs; Eric Myers, Director, National Biosurveillance Integration Center, Office of Health Affairs; William Jenkins, Jr., Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues; and Jeffrey Stieffel, Director, BioWatch, Office of Health Affairs; William Jenkins, Jr., Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, GAO; and Frances Downes, Director, State Public Health Laboratory, Department of Community Health, State of Michigan; and a public witness. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 5546, Credit Card Fair Fee Act of 2008; H.R. 4854, False Claims Act Correction Act of 2007; H.R. 4081, PACT Act; H.R. 6083, To authorize funding for the National Advocacy Center; and H.R. 6034, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for relief to surviving spouses and children. U.S. PAROLE COMMISSION REAUTHORIZATION Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security held a hearing on the Reauthorization of the U.S. Parole Commission. Testimony was heard from Eleanor Holmes Norton, Delegate, District of Columbia; Edward F. Reilly, Jr., Chairman, United States Parole Commission, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. [[Page D906]] MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 160, amended, Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Battlefield Protection Act; H.R. 4828, amended, Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Boundary Expansion Act of 2007; H.R. 5751, Walnut Canyon Study Act of 2008; H.R. 6176, To authorize the expansion of the Fort Davis National Historic Site in Fort Davis, Texas, and for other purposes; H.R. 2933, amended, Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2007; H.R. 3299, amended, To provide for a boundary adjustment and land conveyances involving Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado, to correct the effects of an erroneous land survey that resulted in approximately 7 acres of the Crystal Lakes Subdivision, Ninth Filing, encroaching on National Forest System land; H.R. 3336, amended, Camp Hale Historic District Study Act; H.R. 3849, amended, Box Elder Utah Land Conveyance Act; H.R. 3437, amended, Jackson Gulch Rehabilitation Act of 2007; H.R. 2535, Tule River Tribe Water Development Act; H.R. 5293, amended, Shoshone-Paiute Tribes of the Duck Valley Reservation Water Rights Settlement Act; and H.R. 5350, amended, To authorize the Secretary of Commerce to sell or exchange certain National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration property located in Norfolk, Virginia, and for other purposes. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Ordered reported the following measures: H.R. 1865, amended, To amend title 31, United States Code, to allow certain local tax debt to be collected through the reduction of Federal tax refunds; H.R. 5235, amended, Ronald Reagan Centennial Commission Act; H.R. 6073, To provide that Federal employees their pay by electronic funds transfer shall be given the option of receiving their pay stubs electronically; H.R. 6113, amended, To amend title 44, United States Code, to require each agency to include a contact telephone number in its collection of information; H.R. 6322, Public Charters School Home Rule Act of 2008; H.R. 6388, amended, Government Accountability Improvement Act of 2008; H.R. 6500, amended, Thrift Savings Enhancement Act; H. Res. 732, amended, To support the designation of National Estate Planning Awareness Week; H. Con. Res. 364, Recognizing the Significance of National Caribbean-American Heritage Month; H. Res. 1128, To express support for the goals and ideals of National Carriage Driving Month; H. Res. 1143, Supporting the goals and ideals of the Apple Crunch and the Nations's domestic apple industry; H. Res. 1202, Supporting the goals and ideals of a National Guard Youth Challenge Day; H. Res. 1262, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Secretary of Commerce should use all reasonable measures to ensure that every person is counted in the 2010 decennial census; H. Res. 1311, Expressing support for the designation of National GEAR UP Day on July 22, 2008; H.R. 5932, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2801 Manhattan Boulevard in Harvey, Louisiana, as the ``Harry Lee Post Office Building;'' H.R. 6168, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 112 South 5th Street in Saint Charles, Missouri, as the ``Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver Post Office Building;'' H.R. 6169, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 15455 Manchester Road in Ballwin, Missouri, as the ``Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building;'' H.R. 6198, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1700 Cleveland Avenue in Kansas City, as the ``Reverend Earl Abel Post Officer Building;'' H.R. 6208, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1100 Town and Country Commons in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the ``Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office Building;'' H.R. 6226, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 300 East 3rd Street, Jamestown, New York, as the ``Stan Lundine Post Office Building;'' H.R. 6229, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2523 7th Avenue East in North Saint Paul, Minnesota, as the ``Mayor William Bill' Sandberg Post Office Building;'' H.R. 6338, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 4233 West Hillsboro Boulevard in Coconut Creek, Florida, as the ``Army SPC Daniel Agami Post Office Building;'' and H.R. 6437, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 200 North Texas Avenue in Odessa, Texas as the ``Corporal Alfred Mac Wilson Post Office.'' RETIRED-DISABLED VETS RETROACTIVE PAY Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Domestic Policy held a hearing on Examining Contractor Performance and Government Management of Retroactive Pay for Retired Veterans with Disabilities. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Zack E. Gaddy, Director, Finance and Accounting Service; and Gordon Heddell, Acting Inspector General; and public witnesses. [[Page D907]] PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND RULES-MEASURE CONCERNING DOMESTIC PRODUCTION OF OIL AND NATURAL GAS Committee on Rules: Granted, by record vote of 9-3, a rule providing that it shall be in order at any time on the legislative day of Thursday, July 17, 2008, for the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules relating to a measure concerning the domestic production of oil and natural gas. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Science and Technology: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 3957, amended, Water Use Efficiency and Conservation Research Act; H.R. 2339, Produced Water Utilization Act of 2007; and H.R. 6323, amended, To establish a research, development, demonstration, and commercial application program to promote research of appropriate technologies for heavy duty plug-in hybrid vehicles, and for other purposes. VETERANS AMPUTEES SMALL PROSTHETIC PRACTICES Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology held a hearing on Ensuring Continuity of Care for Veteran Amputees: The Role of Small Prosthetic Practices. Testimony was heard from Frederick Downs, Jr., Chief Prosthetics and Clinical Logistics Officer, Office of Prosthetics and Clinical Logistics, Department of Veterans Affairs; and public witnesses COAST GUARD ICEBREAKING Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on Coast Guard Icebreaking. Testimony was heard from Representative Stupak; ADM Thad Allen, USCG, Commandant, U.S. Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security; Arden L. Bement, Director, NSF; and public witnesses. FEDERAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY PROGRAMS Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Highways and Transit held a hearing on Improving Roadway Safety: Assessing the Effectiveness of the NHTSA's Highway Traffic Safety Programs. Testimony was heard from Jim Ports, Deputy Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Department of Transportation; Katherine A. Siggerud, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO; Christopher J. Murphy, Director, Office of Traffic Safety, State of California; and public witnesses. VETERANS' MEASURES Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 4255, amended, United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2007; H.R. 6225, Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act of 2008; H.R. 6221, amended, Veteran-Owned Small Business Protection and Clarification Act of 2008; H.R. 6445, amended, To amend title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically disabled; H.R. 1527, amended, Rural Veterans Access to Care Act; H.R. 2192, amended, To amend title 38, United States Code, to establish an Ombudsman within the Department of Veterans Affairs; and H.R. 674, To amend title 38, United States Code, to repeal the provision of law requiring termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans as of December 31, 2009. Joint Meetings RACISM IN OSCE Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: Commission concluded a hearing to examine racism in the 21st century, focusing on understanding global challenges and implementing solutions, addressing non-violent and violent forms of racial and ethnic discrimination in the 56 North American and European countries that make up the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) region, including racist and xenophobic political platforms, worrying increases in hate crimes, and inequalities in housing, education, employment, and the justice system, after receiving testimony from Anastasia Crickley, OSCE Chair-in-Office Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia, and Discrimination Against Christians and Members of Other Religions, Maynooth, Ireland; Gay McDougall, United Nations, Washington, D.C.; and John Payton, National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Legal Defense and Educational Fund, New York, New York. NEW PUBLIC LAWS For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D895) H.R. 6331, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access. Signed on July 15, 2008. (Public Law 110-275) [[Page D908]] H.R. 1019, to designate the United States customhouse building located at 31 Gonzalez Clemente Avenue in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, as the ``Rafael Martinez Nadal United States Customhouse Building''. Signed on July 15, 2008. (Public Law 110-276) COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, JULY 17, 2008 Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Appropriations: business meeting to markup proposed legislation making appropriations for the Departments of State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs, Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, 2 p.m., SR-325. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: business meeting to markup an original bill entitled, ``The Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Divestment Act of 2008.'', 10 a.m., SD-538. Committee on Environment and Public Works: to hold hearings to examine ways to make the nation's highways safe for travelers, 10:30 a.m., SD-408. Committee on Finance: To hold hearings to examine leveraging innovation to improve health care quality for all Americans, SD-215. Committee on Foreign Relations: To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Mimi Alemayehou, of the District of Columbia, to be United States Director of the African Development Bank, Kenneth L. Peel, of Maryland, to be United States Director of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Miguel R. San Juan, of Texas, to be United States Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank, and Patrick J. Durkin, of Connecticut, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, 2:30 p.m., SD-419. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, to hold hearings to examine financial institutions located in offshore tax havens, focusing on ways to strengthen United States domestic and international tax enforcement efforts, 9:30 a.m., SD-106. Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery, to hold hearings to examine major disaster recovery assessing the performance of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) since October 7, 2:30 p.m., SD-342. Committee on Indian Affairs: to hold an oversight hearing to examine tracking sex offenders in Indian country, focusing on tribal implementation of the Adam Walsh Act (Public Law 109-248), 10 a.m. SD-562. Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider S. 3155, to reauthorize and improve the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, S. 2746, to amend section 552(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act) to provide that statutory exemptions to the disclosure requirements of that Act shall specifically cite to the provision of that Act authorizing such exemptions, to ensure an open and deliberative process in Congress by providing for related legislative proposals to explicitly state such required citations, S. 3061, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2011 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, to enhance measures to combat trafficking in persons, S. 2838, to amend chapter 1 of title 9 of United States Code with respect to arbitration, S. 3136, to encourage the entry of felony warrants into the NCIC database by States and provide additional resources for extradition, S. 1276, to establish a grant program to facilitate the creation of methamphetamine precursor electronic logbook systems, and S. 3197, to amend title 11, United States Code, to exempt for a limited period, from the application of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7, qualifying members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for not less than 90 days, 11:30 a.m., SD-226. House Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, hearing on nuclear weapons complex modernization, 10 a.m., 2212 Rayburn. Committee on Education and Labor, hearing on Mayor and Superintendent Partnerships in Education: Closing the Achievement Gap, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, hearing entitled ``Climate Benefits of Improved Building Energy Efficiency,'' 10 a.m., 2322 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, hearing entitled ``What Your Broadband Provider Knows About Your Web Use: Deep Packet Inspection and Communications Laws and Policies,'' 9:30 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``GAO Report on Regulation B: Should Lenders Be Required to Collect Race and Gender Data of Borrowers for All Loans,'' 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, hearing on Aiding American Businesses Abroad: Government Action to Help Beleaguered American Firms and Investors, 10 a.m., 2200 Rayburn. Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, hearing on Venezuela: Looking Ahead, 10:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, hearing entitled ``The Challenge of Aligning Programs, Personnel, and Resources to Achieve Border Security,'' 10 a.m., 311 Cannon. Committee on the Judiciary, to continue hearings on From the Department of Justice to Guantanamo Bay: Administration Lawyers and Administration Interrogation Rule, Part V, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. [[Page D909]] Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, oversight hearing on Successes and Challenges of the Interagency Group on Insular Affairs, 2 p.m., 1324 Longworth. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, hearing on Business Practices in the Individual Health Insurance Market: Terminations of Coverage, 10 a.m., and to mark up a report on the Committee's investigation of the information given to the Tillman family and the public following the death of CPL Patrick Tillman on April 22, 2004, and the information released about the capture and rescue of PVT Jessica Lynch in Iraq in March and April 2003, 3 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, hearing on Small Business Administration's Contracting Programs and Recent GAO Examination of Programs, 10 a.m., 1539 Rayburn. Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, hearing on Establishing a Modern Poverty Measure, 10 a.m., B-318 Rayburn. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterterrorism, executive, briefing on Hot Spots, 8:45 a.m., H-405 Capitol. Joint Meetings Conference meeting of conferees on H.R. 4040, to establish consumer product safety standards and other safety requirements for children's products and to reauthorize and modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 10:30 a.m., SR-325. 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 D910]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 10 a.m., Thursday, July 17 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: The Majority Leader will be recognized to make a motion to proceed, following which, Senate will be in a period of morning business. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Thursday, July 17 House Chamber Program for Thursday: Consideration of H.R. 3999--National Highway Bridge Reconstruction and Inspection Act (Subject to a Rule). _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Bachmann, Michele, Minn., E1473 Barrow, John, Ga., E1482 Brady, Robert A., Pa., E1484 Castle, Michael N., Del., E1476 Conyers, John, Jr., Mich., E1478 Duncan, John J., Jr., Tenn., E1479 Foster, Bill, Ill., E1484 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E1485 Hastings, Alcee L., Fla., E1485 Johnson, Timothy V., Ill., E1474 Jones, Stephanie Tubbs, Ohio, E1474, E1477 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E1474, E1477, E1483 Mitchell, Harry E., Ariz., E1473 Moore, Dennis, Kans., E1478 Moran, Jerry, Kans., E1485 Petri, Thomas E., Wisc., E1485 Pomeroy, Earl, N.D., E1480 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E1473, E1477, E1480, E1482, E1483 Reyes, Silvestre, Tex., E1480 Rush, Bobby L., Ill., E1483 Solis, Hilda L., Calif., E1484 Space, Zachary T., Ohio, E1473, E1474, E1476, E1482 Speier, Jackie, Calif.,E1486 Towns, Edolphus, N.Y., E1483 Upton, Fred, Mich., E1477 Van Hollen, Chris, Md., E1474 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E1479 Wolf, Frank R., Va., E1475