Wednesday, October 10, 2007 [[Page D1341]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action The Senate was not in session today. It will next meet at 2 p.m. on Monday, October 15, 2007. Committee Meetings No committee meetings were held. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 30 public bills, H.R. 3791- 3820; and 15 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 230-233; and H. Res. 722-723, 725-733 were introduced. Pages H11489-91 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H11491-92 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 2102, to maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by certain persons connected with the news media, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-370) and H. Res. 724, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2095) to amend title 49, United States Code, to prevent railroad fatalities, injuries, and hazardous materials releases and to authorize the Federal Railroad Safety Administration (H. Rept. 110-371). Page H11489 Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, His Holiness Karekin II, Supreme Patriarch and Catholicos of All Armenians, Holy Etchmiadzin, Republic of Armenia. Page H11397 Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of Joseph David Waggonner, Jr., former Member of Congress. Page H11414 Committee Elections: The House agreed to H. Res. 722, electing the following Members to serve on certain standing committees of the House of Representatives: Committee on Armed Services: Representative Lamborn. Committee on Foreign Affairs: Representative Blunt, to rank after Representative Chabot. Page H11415 National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 2895, to establish the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund in the Treasury of the United States to provide for the construction, rehabilitation, and preservation of decent, safe, and affordable housing for low-income families, by a yea-and-nay vote of 264 yeas to 148 nays, Roll No. 958. Pages H11410-14, H11415-46 Rejected the Musgrave motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Financial Services with instructions to report the same back to the House promptly with amendments, by a recorded vote of 199 ayes to 218 noes, Roll No. 957. Pages H11443-45 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. Page H11410 Accepted: Frank (MA) amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-369) that adds additional flexibility to permitted fund uses by allowing a grantee to use up to 10% of their funds for project operating accounts to cover shortfalls for projects assisted with trust fund dollars in order to facilitate affordability for families below the SSI income limit; Pages H11431-32 Hastings (FL) amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-369) that amends the Affordable Housing Trust Fund homeownership counseling criteria to include flood or other disaster specific insurance in applicable regions; Page H11432 Frank (MA) amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-369) that includes among the factors for consideration in selecting applicants to receive Trust Fund grant amounts a consideration of the extent to [[Page D1342]] which the design, construction, and operation of the housing reduces utility costs for residents; Pages H11432-33 Frank (MA) amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-369) that allows grantees to give preference to public employees, including first responders and teachers, who cannot afford to live in high-cost areas; these workers have to meet the income eligibility requirements stated in the text of H.R. 2895; Page H11433 Frank (MA) amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 110-369) that directs the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to establish an internet-based ``Green Housing Clearinghouse'' including best practices, technical recommendations and other informational material regarding green building techniques. Additionally, grantees would be required to self-certify how many of the total units they built with money from the national affordable housing trust fund were green; Pages H11433-34 Frank (MA) amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 110-369) that provides that, for the purpose of increasing accountability, previous grant recipients applying for new grants must include in their applications progress reports for projects for which they used funds in the previous fiscal year; and Page H11434 Frank (MA) manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-369) that establishes a state minimum allocation percentage, under which every state will receive at least one half of one percent (.5%) of the total funds available each year that are allocated to states, Indian Tribes, and insular areas. Allocations to all other states would be reduced pro rata to bring these states up to this .5% minimum. The amendment also provides that the local jurisdiction in each state that is slated to receive the largest amount by formula in such state would be entitled to receive such funds directly (notwithstanding the bill's provision that jurisdictions entitled to their state in any year that nationwide funding is less than $2 billion). The amendment includes a technical clarification to ensure that the mixed income limitation capping the number of units initially rented to extremely low income families at 50% applies to all of the units in a project (not just those units assisted by trust fund dollars). The amendment provides that the exception to the mixed income rule applies to all ``elderly only'' projects, not just those projects of 25 or fewer units (by a recorded vote of 418 ayes to 2 noes, Roll No. 955). Pages H11441-42 Rejected: Neugebauer amendment in the nature of a substitute (No. 8 printed in H. Rept. 110-369) that sought to establish a National Affordable Housing Grant Fund program within the HOME program, which is currently administered through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (by a recorded vote of 163 ayes to 257 noes, Roll No. 956). Pages H11434-41, H11442-43 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H11446 H. Res. 720, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a recorded vote of 224 ayes to 194 noes, Roll No. 952, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 195 nays, Roll No. 951. Pages H11410-13 Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of George Sangmeister, former Member of Congress. Page H11445 Tax Collection Responsibility Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 3056, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the authority of the Internal Revenue Service to use private debt collection companies, to delay implementation of withholding taxes on government contractors, and to revise the tax rules on expatriation, by a recorded vote of 232 ayes to 173 noes, Roll No. 960. Pages H11400-10, H11446-64 Rejected the Hulshof motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Ways and Means with instructions to report the same back to the House promptly with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 196 yeas to 212 nays, Roll No. 959. Pages H11462-64 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the bill, modified by the amendment printed in H. Rept. 110-368, shall be considered as adopted. Page H11400 H. Res. 719, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 217 yeas to 198 nays, Roll No. 954, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 220 yeas to 198 nays, Roll No. 953. Pages H11400, H11414-15 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed by unanimous consent to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, October 17. Page H11466 Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, October 12, and further, when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, October 15 for morning hour debate. Page H11466 Privileged Resolution: The House agreed to H. Res. 723, providing for the expenses of the select committee established under House Resolution 611. Pages H11466-67 [[Page D1343]] Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes and five recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H11412- 13, H11413, H11414, H11414-15, H11441-42, H11442-43, H11445, H11445-46, H11463-64, H11464. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:31 p.m. Committee Meetings PAKISTAN SECURITY CHALLENGES Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on security involving Pakistan and policy implications for the Department of Defense. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. CHILD NEGLECT AND ABUSE Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing on Cases of Child Neglect and Abuse at Private Residential Treatment Facilities. Testimony was heard from Greg Kutz, Managing Director, Forensic Adults and Special Investigations, GAO; and public witnesses. PAUL WELLSTONE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT OF 2007 Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health approved for full Committee action, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 1236, To make permanent the authority of the United States Postal Service to issue a special postage stamp to support breast cancer research; and H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act of 2007. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet approved for full Committee action the following: H.R. 3403, amended, 911 Modernization and Safety Act of 2007; and the Broadband Census of America Act of 2007. ARMENIAN GENOCIDE Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ordered reported H. Res. 106, Affirmation of the United States Record on the Armenian Genocide Resolution. NUCLEAR FORENSICS AND ATTRIBUTION ACT Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology held a hearing on H.R. 2631, Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act. Testimony was heard from Representative Schiff; Vayl Oxford, Director, Domestic Nuclear Detention Office, Department of Homeland Security; Steven Aoki, Deputy Under Secretary, Counterterrorism, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy; Mike Evenson, Associate Director, Operations, Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Department of Defense; Vahid Majidi, Assistant Director, Weapons of Mass Destruction Directorate, FBI, Department of Justice; Andrew Grant, Acting Director for WMD Terrorism, Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation, Department of State; and Carol Burns, Group Leader, Nuclear and Radiochemistry, Chemistry Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 3773, Responsibility Electronic Surveillance That is Overseen, Reviewed, and Effective Act of 2007; H.R. 3678, amended, Internet Tax Freedom Act of 2007; H.R. 3387, To update and improve the codification of title 46, United States Code; and H.R. 3564, Regulatory Improvement Act of 2007. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 53, amended, Virgin Islands National Park School Lease Act; H.R. 767, amended, Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response Act; H.R. 830, amended, Denali National Park and Alaska Railroad Land Exchange Act of 2007; H.R. 3111, Port Chicago Naval Magazine National Memorial Enhancement Act of 2007; H.R. 783, amended, Mesa Verde National Park Boundary Expansion Act of 2007; H.R. 1528, amended, New England National Scenic Trail Designation Act; H.R. 2094, amended, To provide for certain administrative and support for the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission; H.R. 2197, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Boundary Adjustment Act; H.R. 523, amended, Douglas County, Washington, PUD Conveyance Act; H.R. 1462, amended, Platte River Recovery Implementation Program and Pathfinder Modification Authorization Act; H.R. 29, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to construct facilities to provide water for irrigation, municipal, domestic, military, and other uses from the Santa Margarita River, California; H.R. 135, Twenty-First Century Water Commission Act of 2007; and H.R. 664, Dana Point Desalination Project Authorization Act. PUBLIC STADIUM FUNDING's EFFECT ON INFRASTRUCTURE Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Domestic Policy held a hearing on Professional Sport Stadiums: Do they Divert Taxpayer Funds from Public Infrastructure? Testimony [[Page D1344]] was heard from Eric Solomon, Assistant Secretary, Tax Policy, Department of the Treasury; Arthur J. Rolnick, Senior Vice President and Research Director, Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Federal Reserve System; Steven Maguire, Specialist in Public Finance, CRS, Library of Congress; and public witnesses. U.S. SECURITY STRATEGY Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing on Six Years Later: Assessing Long-Term Threats, Risks and the U.S. Strategy for Security in a Post 9/11 World. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. FEDERAL RAILROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2007 Committee on Rules: Granted, by a non-record vote, a structured rule providing 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 2095, Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007, equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against the committee amendment except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report. Amendments so printed may be offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a Member designated in this report, shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for the time specified in this report equally divided and controlled by a proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against such amendments except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides one motion to recommit H.R. 2095 with or without instructions. Finally, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the bill to a time designated by the Speaker Chairman Oberstar and Representatives Ginny Brown-Waite, Napolitano, Gonzalez, Shuster and Rohrabacher. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment approved for full action the following bills: H.R. 1834, National Ocean Exploration Program Act; H.R. 3776, Energy Storage Technology Advancement Act of 2007; and H.R. 3775, Industrial Energy Efficiency Research and Development Act of 2007. SCIENCE AND MATH EDUCATION Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Research and Science Education held a hearing on Assessment of the National Science Board's Action Plan for STEM Education. Testimony was heard from Steven C. Beering, Chairman, National Science Board, NSF; and public witnesses. SMALL BUSINESS PRIORITIES Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the impact of the 700 Megahertz Wireless Spectrum Auction on Small Business. Testimony was heard from Kevin Martin, Chairman, FCC; and public witnesses. FLIGHT SERVICE STATION TRANSITION Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing on The Transition from FAA to Contractor- Operated Flight Service Stations: Lessons Learned. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Transportation: Calvin L. Scovel, III, Inspector General; James H. Washington, Vice President for Acquisition and Business Services, Air Traffic Organization; and John Staples, Director, Office of Flight Services Program Operations, both with the FAA; and public witnesses. VETERANS' DISABILITY BENEFITS COMMISSION Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on the Findings of the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission. Testimony was heard from LTG James Terry Scott, USA (Ret.), Chairman, Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission. RESTORE ACT OF 2007 Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 3773, RESTORE Act of 2007. LOW-CARBON ENERGY ECONOMY Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a hearing entitled ``The Business Opportunity in a Low-Carbon Energy Economy.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. [[Page D1345]] COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings are scheduled. 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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 D1346]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 2 p.m., Monday, October 15 Senate Chamber Program for Monday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 3 p.m.), Senate will resume consideration of H.R. 3093, Commerce and Justice, and Science Appropriations Act. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 11 a.m., Friday, October 12 House Chamber Program for Friday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Akin, W. Todd, Mo., E2103 Alexander, Rodney, La., E2110 Baldwin, Tammy, Wisc., E2105 Barrett, J. Gresham, S.C., E2115 Bishop, Sanford D., Jr., Ga., E2117 Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E2119 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E2106 Boyda, Nancy E., Kans., E2105 Brown-Waite, Ginny, Fla., E2115 Camp, Dave, Mich., E2106 Capps, Lois, Calif., E2104 Costello, Jerry F., Ill., E2107 Courtney, Joe, Conn., E2097, E2100 Cuellar, Henry, Tex., E2118 Ellison, Kieth, Minn., E2114 Engel, Eliot L., N.Y., E2107 Eshoo, Anna G., Calif., E2108 Etheridge, Bob, N.C., E2119 Feeney, Tom, Fla., E2112 Filner, Bob, Calif., E2120 Fossella, Vito, N.Y., E2104 Frank, Barney, Mass., E2102 Garrett, Scott, N.J., E2111, E2113 Giffords, Gabrielle, Ariz., E2119 Hall, Ralph M., Tex., E2106 Hensarling, Jeb, Tex., E2103 Higgins, Brian, N.Y., E2098, E2101, E2104 Hodes, Paul W., N.H., E2109 Jackson, Jesse L., Jr., Ill., E2114 Johnson, Timothy V., Ill., E2108 Jones, Stephanie Tubbs, Ohio, E2116 Jordan, Jim, Ohio, E2116 King, Peter T., N.Y., E2113 Kirk, Mark Steven, Ill., E2116 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E2111, E2113, E2114 Levin, Sander M., Mich., E2112, E2114 Lewis, Ron, Ky., E2097, E2111 Lipinski, Daniel, Ill., E2117 Lofgren, Zoe, Calif., E2116 McGovern, James P., Mass., E2106 Mack, Connie, Fla., E2118 Mahoney, Tim, Fla., E2099 Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E2105 Meek, Kendrick B., Fla., E2118 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E2107 Nunes, Devin, Calif., E2113 Ortiz, Solomon P., Tex., E2099 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E2111 Price, Tom, Ga., E2109 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E2097, E2100, E2105, E2108 Rogers, Harold, Ky., E2103 Sanchez, Linda T., Calif., E2110 Sarbanes, John P., Md., E2104 Schiff, Adam B., Calif., E2109 Scott, Robert C. ``Bobby'', Va., E2112 Sessions, Pete, Tex., E2115 Sherman, Brad, Calif., E2117 Space, Zachary T., Ohio, E2111, E2112, E2113, E2114, E2115, E2116, E2116, E2117, E2118, E2119, E2120 Tiahrt, Todd, Kans., E2110 Udall, Mark, Colo., E2109 Visclosky, Peter J., Ind., E2107 Weller, Jerry, Ill., E2110, E2119 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E2106 Wu, David, Ore., E2109