Wednesday, July 19, 2006 [[Page D798]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate passed H.R. 2864, Water Resources Development Act. House committees ordered reported 31 sundry measures. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S7809-S7947 Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and one resolution were introduced, as follows: S. 3685-3695, and S. Con. Res. 110. Pages S7920-21 Measures Reported: S. 2464, to revise a provision relating to a repayment obligation of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation under the Fort McDowell Indian Community Water Rights Settlement Act of 1990. (S. Rept. No. 109-284) S. 2802, to improve American innovation and competitiveness in the global economy, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 109-285) S. 2703, to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965, with an amendment. Page S7920 Measures Passed: Water Resources Development Act: Senate passed H.R. 2864, to provide for the conservation and development of water and related resources, to authorize the Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers and harbors of the United States, after striking all after the enacting clause, and inserting in lieu thereof, the text of S. 728, Senate companion measure, after agreeing to the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S7813-94 Adopted: By 54 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 208), Feingold Modified Amendment No. 4681, to modify a section relating to independent peer review of water resources projects. Pages S7814-24, S7839 Rejected: By 49 yeas to 51 nays (Vote No. 209), Inhofe Amendment No. 4682, to modify a section relating to independent reviews. Pages S7824-39 By 19 yeas to 80 nays (Vote No. 210), McCain Amendment No. 4684, to provide for a water resources construction project prioritization report. Pages S7840-42, S7851-52 By 43 yeas to 56 nays (Vote No. 211), Inhofe/Bond Amendment No. 4683, to modify a section relating to a fiscal transparency and prioritization report. Pages S7842-52 Subsequently, S. 728 was returned to the Senate calendar (pursuant to the order of July 14, 2006). Copyright Royalty Judges Program Technical Corrections Act: Senate passed H.R. 1036, to amend title 17, United States Code, to make technical corrections relating to Copyright Royalty Judges, after agreeing to the committee amendment. Pages S7934-36 Violence Against Women Technical Corrections: Senate passed S. 3693, to make technical corrections to the Violence Against Women and Department of Justice Reauthorization Act of 2005. Pages S7933-34, S7936-41 Military Personnel Financial Services Protection Act: Senate passed S. 418, to protect members of the Armed Forces from unscrupulous practices regarding sales of insurance, financial, and investment products, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. Pages S7941-44 Voting Rights Reauthorization Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that at 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, July 20, 2006, Senate begin consideration of H.R. 9, to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965, that there be eight hours of debate equally divided between the Majority Leader and Minority Leader, or their designees; that there be no amendments in order to the bill; and that following the use, or yielding back of time, Senate vote on final passage of the bill. Pages S7894, S7944 [[Page D799]] Escort Committee--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the President of the Senate be authorized to appoint a committee on the part of the Senate to join with a like committee on the part of the House of Representatives to escort His Excellency Nuri al-Maliki, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq, into the House Chamber for a joint meeting to be held at 11 a.m., on Wednesday, July 26, 2006. Page S7933 Energy Bill Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that if the Majority Leader or his designee introduces a bill related to energy on Thursday, July 20, 2006, it shall be in order to move to proceed to that legislation on Friday, July 21, 2006. Page S7947 Messages From the House: Pages S7905-06 Measures Referred: Page S7906 Enrolled Bills Presented: Page S7906 Petitions and Memorials: Pages S7906-20 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S7920 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S7921-22 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S7922-29 Additional Statements: Page S7905 Amendments Submitted: Pages S7929-32 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S7932 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S7932-33 Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--211) Pages S7839, S7851-52 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 7:41 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, July 20, 2006. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7944.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) MILITARY COMMISSION: HAMDAN V. RUMSFELD Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded hearings to examine the status of military commissions in light of the Supreme Court decision in Hamdan v. Rumsfeld, after receiving testimony from Elisa C. Massimino, Human Rights First, Katherine Newell Bierman, Human Rights Watch, Eugene R. Fidell, Feldesman Tucker Leifer Fidell, LLP, on behalf of the National Institute of Military Justice, James Jay Carafano, Heritage Foundation, and Neal K. Katyal, Georgetown University, all of Washington, D.C.; Michael Mernin, Association of the Bar of the City of New York, New York, New York; David A. Schlueter, St. Mary's University, San Antonio, Texas; and Scott L. Silliman, Duke University School of Law Center on Law, Ethics, and National Security, Durham, North Carolina. MONETARY POLICY REPORT Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Semi-Annual Monetary Policy Report of the Federal Reserve, after receiving testimony from Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the nominations of Frederic S. Mishkin, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Linda Mysliwy Conlin, of New Jersey, to be First Vice President, James Lambright, of Missouri, to be President, and J. Joseph Grandmaison, of New Hampshire, to be a Member of the Board of Directors, all of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, Geoffrey S. Bacino, of Illinois, to be a Director of the Federal Housing Finance Board, Edmund C. Moy, of Wisconsin, to be Director of the Mint, Department of the Treasury. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: S. Con. Res. 71, expressing the sense of Congress that States should require candidates for driver's licenses to demonstrate an ability to exercise greatly increased caution when driving in the proximity of a potentially visually impaired individual; S. 3661, to amend section 29 of the International Air Transportation Competition Act of 1979 relating to air transportation to and from Love Field, Texas; S. 3679, to authorize appropriations for the National Transportation Safety Board; An original bill, proposed Maritime Administration Improvements Act of 2006; and The nominations of Mark V. Rosenker, of Maryland, to be Chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, R. Hunter Biden, of Delaware, and Donna R. McLean, of the District of Columbia, each to be a Member of the Reform Board (Amtrak), John H. Hill, of Indiana, to be Administrator of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, and Andrew B. Steinberg, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs, both of [[Page D800]] the Department of Transportation, and routine lists in the Coast Guard and NOAA. HIGH-PERFORMANCE COMPUTING Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Technology, Innovation, and Competitiveness concluded a hearing to examine high-performance computing as a priority in the overall Federal research and development portfolio, the impact and success of interagency coordination in this area, and United States leadership in high-performance computing in the context of global competitiveness in information technology and its applications, after receiving testimony from Simon Szykman, Director, National Coordination Office for Networking and Information Technology Research and Development; Irving Wladawsky-Berger, IBM Corporation, Somers, New York; Christopher Jehn, Cray Inc., Arlington, Virginia; Jack Waters, Level (3) Communications, Broomfield, Colorado; Joseph Lombardo, University of Nevada National Supercomputing Center for Energy and the Environment, Las Vegas; Michael Garrett, The Boeing Company, Seattle, Washington; and Stanley Burt, Advanced Biomedical Computing Center, Frederick, Maryland. HEALTHY FORESTS RESTORATION ACT Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests concluded an oversight hearing on the implementation of The Healthy Forests Restoration Act (Public Law 108-148), after receiving testimony from Nina Rose Hatfield, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget; Dale Bosworth, Chief, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Rick Delaco, Village of Ruidoso, Lincoln County, New Mexico; Colleen MacLeod, Commissioner, Union County, La Grande, Oregon, on behalf of the National Association of Counties; Matthew Koehler, WildWest Institute, Missoula, Montana; and Jay Jensen, Council of Western State Foresters, Lakewood, Colorado. AIR QUALITY STANDARDS Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the science and risk assessment behind the Environmental Protection Agency's proposed revisions to the particulate matter air quality standards, after receiving testimony from George Gray, Assistant Administrator, Research and Development, Environmental Protection Agency; John B. Stephenson, Director, Natural Resources and Environment, Government Accountability Office; Roger O. McClellan, Toxicology and Human Health Risk Analysis, Albuquerque, New Mexico; George D. Thurston, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York; and Anne E. Smith, CRA International, and Daniel S. Greenbaum, Health Effects Institute, both of Boston, Massachusetts. DHS PURCHASE CARDS Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine Department of Homeland Security purchase cards, focusing on whether DHS's control environment and management of purchase card usage were effective, key internal control activities operated effectively and provided reasonable assurance that purchase cards were used appropriately, and indications existed of potentially fraudulent, improper, and abusive or questionable purchase card activity at DHS, after receiving testimony from Gregory D. Kutz, Managing Director, and John J. Ryan, Assistant Director, both of Forensic Audits and Special Investigations, Government Accountability Office; and David L. Norquist, Chief Financial Officer, Department of Homeland Security. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: S. 3678, to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to public health security and all-hazards preparedness and response, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 843, to amend the Public Health Service Act to combat autism through research, screening, intervention and education, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and The nominations of Elizabeth Dougherty, of the District of Columbia, and Harry R. Hoglander, of Massachusetts, each to be a Member of the National Mediation Board, Ronald S. Cooper, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and Lawrence A. Warder, of Texas, to be Chief Financial Officer, and Troy R. Justesen, of Utah, to be Assistant Secretary for Vocational and Adult Education, both of the Department of Education. CREDIT CARD INTERCHANGE FEES Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine antitrust concerns relating to credit card interchange rates--the fees that credit card issuers, and/or processors, charge the merchant to process a credit card transaction, after receiving testimony from Bill Douglass, Douglass Distributing Company, Sherman, Texas, on behalf of the National Association of Convenience Stores; Kathy Miller, The Elmore Store, Elmore, Vermont; Joshua L. Peirez, MasterCard Worldwide, Purchase, New York; and Joshua R. Floum, Visa U.S.A., Inc., Timothy J. [[Page D801]] Muris, George Mason University School of Law and O'Melveny and Meyers, and W. Stephen Cannon, Constantine Cannon, on behalf of the Merchants Payments Coalition, Inc., all of Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported S. 2703, to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965, with an amendment. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to receive a briefing on certain intelligence matters from officials of the intelligence community. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 14 public bills, H.R. 5831- 5844; 2 private bills, H.R. 5845-5846; and 7 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 449-451; and H. Res. 926-929 were introduced. Pages H5490-92 Additional Cosponsors: Page H5492 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H. Res. 925, providing for consideration of H.R. 5684, to implement the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement (H. Rept. 109-579); and H.R. 4804, to modernize the manufactured housing loan insurance program under title I of the National Housing Act, with an amendment (H. Rept. 109-580). Page H5490 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Miller of Michigan to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H5383 Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Monsignor Robert Sheeran, President, Setan Hall University, South Orange, New Jersey. Page H5383 Pledge Protection Act of 2005: The House passed H.R. 2389, to amend title 28, United States Code, with respect to the jurisdiction of Federal courts over certain cases and controversies involving the Pledge of Allegiance by a recorded vote of 260 ayes to 167 noes, Roll No. 385, after ordering the previous question. Pages H5388-H5419, H5432-33 Agreed to: Atkin amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 109-577) to add language making it explicit that the Act is effective immediately and applies to all pending and future litigation. Pages H5417-19 Rejected: Jackson-Lee of Texas amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 109-577) that sought to require that Federal courts have jurisdiction when free exercise of religion is violated due to coerced or mandatory recitation of the Pledge; and Pages H5416-17 Watt amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 109-577) that sought to preserve the authority of the United States Supreme Court to hear or decide any question pertaining to the interpretation of, or the validity under the Constitution of, the Pledge of Allegiance, as defined in 4 U.S.C. section 4, or its recitation (by a recorded vote of 183 ayes to 241 noes, Roll No. 384). Pages H5415-16, H5432-33 H. Res. 920, the rule providing for further consideration of the bill was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 257 yeas to 168 nays, Roll No. 383, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 200 nays, Roll No. 382. Pages H5396-97 Suspension: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures: Preserving the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego, California, by providing for the immediate acquisition of the memorial by the United States: H.R. 5683, amended, to preserve the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial in San Diego, California, by providing for the immediate acquisition of the memorial by the United States, by a (2/3) yea-and-nay vote of 349 yeas to 74 nays with 3 voting ``present'' , Roll No. 386; and Pages H5422-26, H5433-34 Expressing sympathy for the people of India in the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai on July 11, 2006: H. Res. 911, amended, to express sympathy for the people of India in the aftermath of the deadly terrorist attacks in Mumbai on July 11, 2006, by a (2/3) yea-and-nay vote of 425 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 387. Pages H5426-32, H5434-35 Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``Resolution condemning in the strongest possible terms the [[Page D802]] July 11, 2006, terrorist attacks in India and expressing condolences to the families of the victims and sympathy to the people of India.''. Page H5435 Presidential Veto Message--Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005: Read a message from the President wherein he announces his veto of H.R. 810, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research, and explains his reasons therefor-- ordered printed (H. Doc. 109-127). Pages H5435-51 Subsequently, the House voted to sustain the President's veto of H.R. 810, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research by a yea-and-nay vote of 235 yeas to 193 nays, Roll No. 388 (two-thirds of those present not voting to override). Pages H5450-51 Subsequently, the message and the bill were referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Page H5451 Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed: The House completed debate on the following measures under suspension of the rules. Further consideration of the measures is expected to resume tomorrow, July 20th: Commending the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on the completion of the Space Shuttle's second Return-to-Flight mission: H. Con. Res. 448, to commend the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on the completion of the Space Shuttle's second Return- to-Flight mission; and Pages H5419-22 Condemning the recent attacks against the State of Israel, holding terrorists and their state-sponsors accountable for such attacks, supporting Israel's right to defend itself: H. Res. 921, to condemn the recent attacks against the State of Israel, holding terrorists and their state-sponsors accountable for such attacks, supporting Israel's right to defend itself (agreed by unanimous consent to extend the time for debate). Pages H5451-80 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appear on page H5383. Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages H5396, H5397, H5432-33, H5433, H5434, H5434-35 and H5450-51. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at midnight. Committee Meetings GUEST WORKER PROGRAMS Committee on Education and the Workforce: Held a hearing entitled ``Guest Worker Programs: Impact on the American Workforce and U.S. Immigration Policy.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. YUCCA MOUNTAIN SCHEDULE Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality held a hearing entitled ``DOE's Revised Schedule for Yucca Mountain.'' Testimony was heard from Edward F. Sproat, III, Director, Office of Civilian Radioactive Waste Management, Department of Energy. CLIMATE CHANGE ASSESSMENTS Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Questions Surrounding the `Hockey Stick' Temperature Studies: Implications for Climate Change Assessments.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. NONADMITTED AND REINSURANCE REFORM ACT Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 5637, Nonadmitted and Reinsurance Reform Act of 2006. COIN AND CURRENCY ISSUES Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology held a hearing entitled ``Coin and Currency Issues Facing Congress: Can We Still Afford Money?'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Treasury: Larry Felix, Director, Bureau of Engraving and Printing; and David A. Lebryk, Acting Director, U.S. Mint; Louise Roseman, Director, Division of Reserve Bank Operations and Payment Systems, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; Scott Johnson, Deputy Special Agent in Charge, Criminal Investigative Division, U.S. Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security; Brent D. Glass, Director, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution; and public witnesses. CUTTING GOVERNMENT WASTE Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``Cutting Out the Waste: An Overview of H.R. 5766, Government Efficiency Act; and H.R. 3282, Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2005.'' Testimony was heard from Representatives Tiahrt and Brady of Texas; and public witnesses. [[Page D803]] DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AUTHORIZATION FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 Committee on Homeland Security: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 5814, Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 5414, To enact certain laws relating to public contracts as title 41, United States Code, ``Public Contracts;'' H.R. 3509, amended, Workplace Goods Job Growth and Competitiveness Act of 2005; and H.R. 5535, amended, Prevention of Civil RICO Abuse Act of 2006. The Committee began markup of H.R. 1704, Second Chance Act of 2005. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 138, amended, To revise the boundaries of John H. Chafee Coastal Barrier Resources System Jekyll Island Unit GA-06P; H.R. 383, amended, Ice Age Floods National Geologic Trail Designation Act of 2005; H.R. 631, To provide for acquisition of subsurface mineral rights to land owned by the Pascua Yaqui Tribe and land held in trust for the Tribe; H.R. 1796, Mississippi River Trail Study Act; H.R. 2110, amended, Colorado Northern Front Range Mountain Backdrop Protection Study Act; H.R. 2334, amended, City of Oxnard Water Recycling and Desalination Act of 2005; H.R. 3350, Tribal Development Corporation Feasibility Study Act of 2005; H.R. 3534, Piedras Blancs Historic Light Station Outstanding Natural Area Act of 2005; H.R. 3961, To authorize the National Park Service to pay for services rendered by subcontractors under a General Service Administration Indefinite Deliver/Quantity Contract issued for work to be completed at the Grant Canyon National Park; H.R. 4382, Southern Nevada Readiness Center Act; H.R. 4588, amended, Water Resources Research Act Amendments of 2005; H.R. 4750, amended, Lower Republican River Basin Study Act; H.R. 4789, amended, 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. 4857, Endangered Species Compliance and Transparency Act of 2006; H.R. 4957, amended, Tylersville Fish Hatchery Conveyance Act; H.R. 5016, amended, Las Cienegas Enhancement Act; H.R. 5025, amended, Mount Hood Stewardship Legacy Act; H.R. 5132, amended, River Basin National Battlefield Study Act; H.R. 5381, National Fish Hatchery System Volunteer Act of 2006; H.R. 5539, amended, North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2006; H.R. 5802, amended, NPS Concessions Reform Act of 2006, H.R. 3603, amended, Central Idaho Economic Development and Recreation Act; and H.R. 233, Northern California Coastal Wild Heritage Wilderness Act. UNITED STATES-OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 7 to 3, a closed rule providing 2 hours of debate in the House on H.R. 5684, United States- Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill. The rule provides that pursuant to section 151 of the Trade Act of 1974, the previous question shall be considered as ordered on the bill to final passage without intervening motion. Finally, the rule provides that during consideration of the bill, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker in consonance with section 151 of the Trade Act of 1974. Testimony was heard from Representatives Shaw and Cardin. VOTING MACHINES Committee on Science: and the Committee on House Administration, held a joint hearing on Voting Machines: Will New Standards and Guidelines Prevent Future Problems? Testimony was heard from Donetta Davidson, Commissioner, Election Assistance Commission; William Jeffrey, Director, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Department of Commerce; Mary Kiffmeyer, Secretary, State of Minnesota; Linda Lamone, Administrator of Elections, Board of Elections, State of Maryland; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 5483, Railroad Retirement Disability Earnings Act; H.R. 5782, amended, Pipeline Safety Improvement Act of 2006; H.R. 5808, amended, Public Transportation Security Assistance Act of 2006; H.R. 5810, amended, To amend the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980 to authorize funding for brownfields revitalization activities and State response programs; H.R. 5830, Wright Amendment Reform Act; H.R. 5811, amended, MARPOl Annex VI Implementation Act of 2006; and H.R. 4653, To repeal a prohibition on the use of certain funds for tunneling in certain areas with [[Page D804]] respect to the Los Angeles to San Fernando Metro Rail project, California. The Committee also approved GSA Capital Investment and Leasing Program Resolutions. OVERSIGHT--TRANSIT SAFETY Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines held an oversight hearing on Transit Safety: the Federal Transit Administration's State Safety Oversight Program. Testimony was heard from Susan E. Schruth, Associate Administrator, Program Management, Federal Transit Administration, Department of Transportation; Kate Siggerud, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO; and public witnesses. VETERANS SERVICE OFFICERS CLAIMS DEVELOPMENT Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs held a hearing on the role of national, state, and county veterans' service officers in claims development. Testimony was heard from Jack McCoy, Associate Deputy Under Secretary, Policy and Program Management, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; COL. Warren R. McPherson, USMC (Ret.), Executive Director, Department of Veterans Affairs, State of Florida; Tim Tetz, Executive Director, Office of Veterans Services, State of Nevada; and representatives of veterans organizations. WELFARE REFORM REVIEW Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing to Review Outcomes of 1996 Welfare Reforms. Testimony was heard from Senator Santorum; former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich of Georgia; Tommy G. Thompson, former Secretary of Health and Human Services; June O'Neill, former Director, CBO; and public witnesses. FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SURVEILLANCE ACT Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Held a hearing on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Testimony was heard from Judge Richard A. Posner, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit; and public witnesses. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2006 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: to hold hearings to examine USDA dairy programs, 10 a.m., SR-328A. Committee on Appropriations: business meeting to mark up H.R. 5631, making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, proposed legislation making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, H.R. 5385, making appropriations for the military quality of life functions of the Department of Defense, military construction, the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and H.R. 5576, making appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, Treasury, and Housing and Urban Development, the Judiciary, District of Columbia, and independent agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, 2 p.m., SD-106. Committee on Armed Services: to receive a closed briefing regarding overhead imagery systems, 9:30 a.m., S-407, Capitol. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of John Ray Correll, of Indiana, to be Director of the Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, and Mark Myers, of Alaska, to be Director of the United States Geological Survey, both of the Department of the Interior, and Drue Pearce, of Alaska, to be Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, 10 a.m., SD-366. Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine U.S. policy options regarding North Korea, 9:30 a.m., SD-419. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security, to receive a closed briefing regarding Iran, 11 a.m., S-407, Capitol. Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security, to hold hearings to examine Iran's nuclear impasse, focusing on the status of Iran's nuclear weapons capabilities, European negotiations and the UN Security Council, and the feasibility of further negotiations, democracy promotion, sanctions, and/or military operations, 1:30 p.m., SD-342. Committee on Veterans' Affairs: to hold hearings to examine ``VA Data Privacy Breach: Twenty-Six Million People Deserve Assurance of Future Security'', 10 a.m., SR-418. Select Committee on Intelligence: to receive a closed briefing regarding intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. Special Committee on Aging: to hold hearings to examine the generic drug maze relating to access to affordable, life-saving drugs, 10 a.m., SD-106. [[Page D805]] House Committee on Agriculture, hearing on H.R. 3849, PIC and POPs Conventions and the LRTAP POPs Protocol Implementation Act, 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth. Committee on Education and the Workforce, Subcommittee on Employer-Employee Relations, hearing on H.R. 16, Tribal Labor Relations Restoration Act of 2005, 10:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, hearing on H.R. 5785, Warning, Alert, and Response Network Act, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, hearing on monetary policy and the state of the economy, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Government Reform, to consider the following: H.R. 5664, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 110 Cooper Street Babylon, New York, as the ``Jacob Fletcher Post Office Building;'' H. Res. 605, Recognizing the life of Preston Robert Tisch and his outstanding contributions to New York City, the New York Giants Football Club, the National Football League, and the United States; H. Res. 823, Commending the outstanding efforts by members of faith-based and community organizations in response to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita; H. Res. 901, Honoring former President William Jefferson Clinton on the occasion of his 60th birthday; a Committee Report entitled ``Brownfields: What Will It Take to Turn Lost Opportunities Into America's Gain?'' H.R. 3282, Abolishment of Obsolete Agencies and Federal Sunset Act of 2005; and H.R. 5766, Government Efficiency Act of 2006; followed by a hearing entitled ``Climate Change: Understanding the Degree of the Problem,'' 9:30 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources and the Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection, and Cyber-Security of the Committee on Homeland Security, joint hearing entitled ``Expanding the Border: Construction Options and Strategic Placement Fence,'' 2 p.m., 2118 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Energy and Resources, hearing entitled ``Hybrid Cars: Increasing Fuel Efficiency and Reducing Oil Dependence,'' 2 p.m., 2247 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, executive, briefing on the National Asset Database by the Department of Homeland Security Office of Infrastructure Protection, 10 a.m., H2-176 Ford. Committee on International Relations, hearing on Asian Free Trade Agreements: Are They Good for the USA? 10 a.m., and a hearing on the Sale of F-16 Aircraft and Weapons Systems to Pakistan, 1:30 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, hearing on Angola's Long Delayed Election, 2 p.m., 2255 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing on U.S. Nonproliferation Strategy: Policies and Technical Capabilities, 9:30 a.m., 2255 Rayburn. Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, hearing on H.R. 682, Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act, 11:30 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, oversight hearing entitled ``Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program Act: Are We Fulfilling the Promise We Made to Cold War Veterans When We Created the Program? Part 3 in a Series,'' 2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans, oversight hearing on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Growing Operations Crisis Within the National Wildlife Refuge System, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Rural Enterprises, Agriculture, and Technology and the Subcommittee on Tax, Finance, and Exports, joint hearing entitled ``Chinese Barriers to Trade: Does China Play Fair?'' 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, oversight hearing on U.S. Coast Guard Licensing and Documentation of Merchant Mariners, 11 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, to mark up the following measures: Veterans Identify and Credit Protection Act of 2006; Construction and Lease Authorization; H. Con. Res. 125, Expressing the support for the designation and goals of ``Hire a Veteran Week'' and encouraging the President to issue a proclamation supporting those goals; and H. Con. Res. 347, Honoring the National Association of State Veterans Homes and the 119 State veterans homes providing long-term care to veterans that are represented by that association for their contributions to the health care of veterans and the health-care system of the Nation, 10:30 a.m., 334 Cannon. Committee on Ways and Means, to consider the United States-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act, 9:30 a.m., 1100 Longworth. Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence, executive, hearing on FBI Confidential Human Source Operations, 1:30 p.m., H-405 Capitol. Joint Meetings Conference: meeting of conferees on S. 250, to amend the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 to improve the Act, 3 p.m., HC-5, Capitol. 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. 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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 D806]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Thursday, July 20 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: Senate will begin consideration of H.R. 9, Voting Rights Reauthorization Act, and after a period of debate, vote on final passage of the bill. Also, Senate expects to begin consideration of S. 403, Child Custody Protection Act, the Adam Walsh Child Protection and Safety Act, and vote on the confirmation of certain judicial nominations. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Thursday, July 20 House Chamber Program for Thursday: Consideration of H.R. 5684--United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act and H. Res. 925 (Rule). _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Ackerman, Gary L., N.Y., E1463 Andrews, Robert E., N.J., E1450 Boehlert, Sherwood, N.Y., E1456 Bono, Mary, Calif., E1457 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E1458 Cooper, Jim, Tenn., E1452 Cuellar, Henry, Tex., E1452 Davis, Danny K., Ill., E1458 Delahunt, William D., Mass., E1457 Dingell, John D., Mich., E1456 Emerson, Jo Ann, Mo., E1464 Garrett, Scott, N.J., E1465 Graves, Sam, Mo., E1449, E1449, E1450, E1452, E1453, E1454, E1454, E1455 Green, Al, Tex., E1449, E1449 Grijalva, Raul, Ariz., E1455 Hefley, Joel, Colo., E1459 Inslee, Jay, Wash., E1454 Jones, Stephanie Tubbs, Ohio, E1454 Lee, Barbara, Calif., E1450, E1455 Lowey, Nita M., N.Y., E1455 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1449 McGovern, James P., Mass., E1453 McIntyre, Mike, N.C., E1454 McMorris, Cathy, Wash., E1456 Markey, Edward J., Mass., E1455 Miller, George, Calif., E1459 Musgrave, Marilyn N., Colo., E1462 Nadler, Jerrold, N.Y., E1455 Pascrell, Bill, Jr., N.J., E1464 Paul, Ron, Tex., E1458, E1459 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E1461, E1462, E1463, E1464 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E1460 Rothman, Steven R., N.J., E1462 Sanchez, Loretta, Calif., E1456 Shuster, Bill, Pa., E1463 Slaughter, Louise McIntosh, N.Y., E1461 Tanner, John S., Tenn., E1461 Thomas, William M., Calif., E1462 Tiahrt, Todd, Kans., E1453 Whitfield, Ed, Ky., E1463