Thursday, June 29, 2006 [[Page D729]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate passed S. 3569, U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement. Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 440, Adjournment Resolution. The House passed H.R. 5672--Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007. House Committees ordered reported 10 sundry measures. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S6729-S7260 Measures Introduced: Thirty-four bills and four resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3596-3629, S.J. Res. 40, and S. Res. 524- 526. Pages S6786-87 Measures Reported: S. 2023, to amend the Oil Pollution Act of 1990 to improve that Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 109-272) H.R. 5441, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 109-273) H.R. 5427, making appropriations for energy and water development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 109-274) H.R. 5386, making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. S. Res. 460, expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should increase its support to the people of Somalia in their efforts to end decades of violence, establish lasting peace, form a democratically elected and stable central government, and become an effective partner in eradicating radicalism and terrorism from their country and the region. S. 1554, to establish an intergovernmental grant program to identify and develop homeland security information, equipment, capabilities, technologies, and services to further the homeland security of the United States and to address the homeland security needs of Federal, State, and local governments, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. S. Con. Res. 105, commending the Government of Canada for its renewed commitment to the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan. Pages S6783-84 Measures Passed: U.S.-Oman Free Trade Agreement: By 60 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 190), Senate passed S. 3569, to implement the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement. Pages S6746-70 Adjournment Resolution: Senate agreed to H. Con. Res. 440, providing for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate. Page S7176 Printing Authority: Senate passed S.J. Res. 40, authorizing the printing and binding of a supplement to, and revised edition of, Senate Procedure. Page S7176 Louis Braille Bicentennial--Braille Literacy Commemorative Coin Act: Senate passed S. 2321, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of Louis Braille. Pages S7176-78 Abraham Lincoln Commemorative Coin Act: Senate passed S. 811, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the bicentennial of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Pages S7178-80 Democratic Republic of the Congo Relief, Security, and Democracy Promotion Act: Senate passed S. 2125, to promote relief, security, and democracy in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, after agreeing to the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S7178-80 [[Page D730]] McConnell (for Obama) Amendment No. 4545, to make certain improvements to the bill. Pages S7178-79 Recognizing the FDA: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further consideration of H. Con. Res. 426, recognizing the Food and Drug Administration of the Department of Health and Human Services on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the passage of the Food and Drugs Act for the important service it provides to the Nation, and the resolution was then agreed to. Pages S7180-81 Job Training Improvement Act: Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 27, to enhance the workforce investment system of the Nation by strengthening one-stop career centers, providing for more effective governance arrangements, promoting access to a more comprehensive array of employment, training, and related services, establishing a targeted approach to serving youth, and improving performance accountability, and the bill was then passed, after striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the text of S. 1021, Senate companion measure, agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and the following amendment proposed thereto: Pages S7181-S7257 McConnell (for Enzi) Amendment No. 4546, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S7181-S7219 Subsequently, S. 1021 was returned to the Senate calendar. Page S7219 Stem Cell Research Legislation--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at a time determined by the Majority Leader, after consultation with the Democratic Leader, Senate begin consideration en bloc of H.R. 810, to amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for human embryonic stem cell research, and S. 2754, to derive human pluripotent stem cell lines using techniques that do not knowingly harm embryos, and S. 3504, to amend the Public Health Service Act to prohibit the solicitation or acceptance of tissue from fetuses gestated for research purposes, that both bills be discharged from the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; that there be 12 hours of debate equally divided between the Majority and Democratic Leaders, or their designees; that no amendments be in order to any of the bills; that following the use, or yielding back of time, the bills be read a third time, respectively, and the Senate begin three consecutive votes on final passage of the bills in the following order: S. 3504, S. 2754, and H.R. 810; provided further, that any bill that does not receive 60 votes in the affirmative have its votes on passage be vitiated, and that those bills be returned to the calendar or to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions; and that it not be in order for the Senate to consider any bill or amendment relating to stem cell research during the remainder of the 109th Congress. Pages S7169-73 Pearce Nomination--Referral: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the nomination of Drue Pearce, of Alaska, to be the Federal Coordinator for Alaska Natural Gas Transportation Projects, be discharged from the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation and be referred to the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Page S7176 Signing Authority--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that during this adjournment of the Senate, the Majority Whip, and Senators Warner and Allen, be authorized to sign duly enrolled bills or joint resolutions. Page S7176 Authorizing Leadership to Make Appointments--Agreement: A unanimous- consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding the adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President Pro Tempore, and the Majority and Minority Leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate. Page S7176 Homeland Security Appropriations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 3 p.m. on Monday, July 10, 2006, Senate begin consideration of H.R. 5441, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. Page S7257 Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations: Michael L. Dominguez, of Virginia, to be Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness. James B. Gulliford, of Missouri, to be Assistant Administrator for Toxic Substances of the Environmental Protection Agency. Michael E. Ranneberger, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya. Robert D. McCallum, Jr., of Georgia, to be Ambassador to Australia. Jonann E. Chiles, of Arkansas, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Legal Services Corporation for a term expiring July 13, 2008. [[Page D731]] Daniel L. Cooper, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary for Benefits of the Department of Veterans Affairs for a term of four years. Eric M. Bost, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa. John Clint Williamson, of Louisiana, to be Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues. Leslie V. Rowe, of Washington, to be Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Solomon Islands and Ambassador to the Republic of Vanuatu. Gaddi H. Vasquez, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture. Steven C. Preston, of Illinois, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration. W. Stuart Symington IV, of Missouri, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti. Gayleatha Beatrice Brown, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Benin. Peter R. Coneway, of Texas, to be Ambassador to Switzerland, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Principality of Liechtenstein. Clifford M. Sobel, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil. Robert O. Blake, Jr., of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Republic of Maldives. Thomas C. Foley, of Connecticut, to be Ambassador to Ireland. 1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general. 2 Army nominations in the rank of general. 2 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral. Routine lists in the Army, Marine Corps, Navy. Pages S7173-76, S7259 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Bruce I. Knight, of South Dakota, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture for Marketing and Regulatory Programs. Bruce I. Knight, of South Dakota, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Commodity Credit Corporation. Frank R. Jimenez, of Florida, to be General Counsel of the Department of the Navy. Charles E. McQueary, of North Carolina, to be Director of Operational Test and Evaluation, Department of Defense. Frederic S. Mishkin, of New York, to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System for the unexpired term of fourteen years from February 1, 2000. Edmund C. Moy, of Wisconsin, to be Director of the Mint for a term of five years. Nathaniel F. Wienecke, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of Commerce. Donald C. Johnson, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Equatorial Guinea. Peter D. Keisler, of Maryland, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. 17 Army nominations in the rank of general. 2 Navy nominations in the rank of admiral. Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Navy. Pages S7258-59 Messages From the House: Pages S6781-82 Measures Referred: Page S6782 Measures Placed on Calendar: Page S6782 Executive Communications: Pages S6782-83 Executive Reports of Committees: Pages S6784-86 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S6787-88 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S6788-S6812 Additional Statements: Pages S6779-81 Amendments Submitted: Pages S6812-52 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Pages S6852-53 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S6853 Privileges of the Floor: Pages S6853-54 Text of S. 2766, S. 2767, S. 2768, S. 2769, H.R. 5122, as previously passed Pages S6854-S7169 Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--190) Page S6763 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and, pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res 440, adjourned at 7 p.m., until 2 p.m., on Monday, July 10, 2006. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S7258.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: FOREIGN OPERATIONS Committee on Appropriations: on Wednesday, June 28, 2006, Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs approved for reporting to the full Committee H.R. 5522, making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. [[Page D732]] BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Appropriations: Committee ordered favorably reported the following bills: H.R. 5427, making appropriations for energy and water development for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; H.R. 5441, making appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; H.R. 5522, making appropriations for foreign operations, export financing, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; and H.R. 5386, making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. NOMINATION Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of James S. Simpson, of New York, to be Federal Transit Administrator, Department of Transportation. U.S.-PERU TRADE PROMOTION AGREEMENT Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, after receiving testimony from Everett Eissenstat, Assistant United States Trade Representative for the Americas, Office of U.S. Trade Representative; Jon Stoner, Montana Grain Growers Association, Havre; Joy Philippi, National Pork Producers Council, Bruning, Nebraska; Leon Trammel, TRAMCO, Wichita, Kansas, on behalf of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Association of American Chambers of Commerce in Latin America, and the U.S.-Peru Trade Coalition; Richard L. Trumka, AFL-CIO, Washington, D.C.; and Brian D. O'Neill, J.P. Morgan, New York, New York. SMALL BUSINESS PENSION PLANS Committee on Finance: Subcommittee on Long-Term Growth and Debt Reduction held a hearing to examine how to increase pension coverage for small business employees, receiving testimony from Craig Copeland, Employee Benefit Research Institute, David C. John, Heritage Foundation, and J. Mark Iwry, Brookings Institution, all of Washington, D.C.; Steven P. Bjerke, Edward Jones Investments, Pendleton, Oregon; Daniel Hall, StanCorp Equities, Inc., Portland, Oregon; and Paula A. Calimafde, Small Business Council of America, Bethesda, Maryland. Hearing recessed subject to the call. U.S.-RUSSIA RELATIONS Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the current status of political developments in Russia and the future of the United States-Russia relationship, and S. 2435, to increase cooperation on energy issues between the United States Government and foreign governments and entities in order to secure the strategic and economic interests of the United States, after receiving testimony from Stephen Sestanovich, Council on Foreign Relations, Washington, D.C.; Dmitri Trenin, Carnegie Moscow Center/Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, Moscow, Russia; and Amy Myers Jaffe, Rice University James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy, Houston, Texas. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee ordered favorably reported the following business items: Protocol between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the State of Israel, signed at Jerusalem on July 6, 2005 (Treaty Doc. 109-3); An original bill, to exempt from certain requirements of the Atomic Energy Act of 1954 United States exports of nuclear materials, equipment and technology to India, and to implement the United States Additional Protocol; S. Res. 460, expressing the sense of the Senate that the United States should increase its support to the people of Somalia in their efforts to end decades of violence, establish lasting peace, form a democratically elected and stable central government, and become an effective partner in eradicating radicalism and terrorism from their country and the region; S. Con. Res. 105, commending the Government of Canada for its renewed commitment to the Global War on Terror in Afghanistan; and The nominations of Earl Anthony Wayne, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to Argentina, Gaddi H. Vasquez, of California, for the rank of Ambassador during his tenure of service as U.S. Representative to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture, John Clint Williamson, of Louisiana, to be Ambassador at Large for War Crimes Issues, Michael E. Ranneberger, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Kenya, Eric M. Bost, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of South Africa, W. Stuart Symington IV, of Missouri, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Djibouti, Gayleatha Beatrice Brown, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Benin, Robert O. Blake, Jr., of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to [[Page D733]] the Republic of Maldives, Robert D. McCallum, Jr., of Georgia, to be Ambassador to Australia, Leslie V. Rowe, of Washington, to be Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Solomon Islands and Ambassador to the Republic of Vanuatu, Clifford M. Sobel, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Federative Republic of Brazil, Peter R. Coneway, of Texas, to be Ambassador to Switzerland, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Principality of Liechtenstein, and Thomas C. Foley, of Connecticut, to be Ambassador to Ireland. FEDERAL EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE 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 S. 3492, to strengthen performance management in the Federal Government, to make the annual general pay increase for Federal employees contingent on performance, and S. 3584, to amend chapter 41 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for the establishment and authorization of funding for certain training programs for supervisors of Federal employees, after receiving testimony from Dan G. Blair, Deputy Director, Office of Personnel Management; Darryl Perkinson, Federal Managers Association, Alexandria, Virginia, on behalf of Government Managers Coalition; Colleen M. Kelley, National Treasury Employees Union, Jacqueline Simon, American Federation of Government Employees, AFL-CIO, and Patricia McGinnis, Council for Excellence in Government, all of Washington, D.C. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT REFORM Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, and International Security concluded a hearing to examine the case for reform regarding community development block grants, focusing on issues surrounding program formulas, recipient communities, and management of grants within the Community Development Block program, including aspects of the reform package, the ``CDBG Reform Act of 2006'', after receiving testimony from Pamela H. Patenaude, Assistant Secretary for Community Planning and Development, and Kenneth M. Donohue, Inspector General, both of the Department of Housing and Urban Development; Eileen Norcross, Mercatus Center at George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia; and Cardell Cooper, National Community Development Association, Washington, D.C. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee began consideration of H.R. 1036, to amend title 17, United States Code, to make technical corrections relating to Copyright Royalty Judges, agreeing to an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and S. 155, to increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to investigation and prosecution of violent gangs, to deter and punish violent gang crime, to protect law- abiding citizens and communities from violent criminals, to revise and enhance criminal penalties for violent crimes, to reform and facilitate prosecution of juvenile gang members who commit violent crimes, to expand and improve gang prevention programs, agreeing to an amendment in the nature of a substitute, but did not take final action thereon, and recessed subject to call. MULTIDISTRICT LITIGATION RESTORATION ACT Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Administrative Oversight and the Courts concluded a hearing to examine H.R. 1038, to amend title 28, United States Code, to allow a judge to whom a case is transferred to retain jurisdiction over certain multidistrict litigation cases for trial, after receiving testimony from Judge Wm. Terrell Hodges, United States District Court for the Middle District of Florida, Ocala; and Judge Thomas W. Thrash, Jr., United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta. NOMINATION Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of Steven C. Preston, of Illinois, to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration. [[Page D734]] House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 35 public bills, H.R. 5710- 5744; 1 private bill, H.R. 5745; and 11 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 440- 444; and H. Res. 900-905 were introduced. (See next issue.) Additional Cosponsors: (See next issue.) Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 5417, to amend the Clayton Act with respect to competitive and nondiscriminatory access to the Internet, with an amendment (H. Rept. 109-541); H.R. 4019, to amend title 4 of the United States Code to clarify the treatment of self-employment for purposes of the limitation on State taxation of retirement income, with an amendment (H. Rept. 109-542); and H.R. 2730, to establish a grant program to fund eligible joint ventures between United States and Israeli businesses and academic persons, to establish the International Energy Advisory Board, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 109-543). (See next issue.) Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. W. Douglas Tanner, Jr., President, The Faith and Politics Institute, Washington, D.C. (See next issue.) Science, State, Justice, Commerce, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2007: The House passed H.R. 5672, making appropriations for Science, the Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, by a yea-and- nay vote of 393 yeas to 23 nays, Roll No. 349. Consideration of the measure began on Tuesday, June 27th. (See next issue.) Agreed to: Andrew amendment to prohibit funds from being used to implement the revision to Office of Management and Budget Circular A-76 made on May 29, 2003. (See next issue.) Rejected: Poe amendment (No. 18 printed in the Congressional Record of June 26th) that sought to prohibit funds from being used by the Secretary of State to implement a plan under section 7209 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (8 U.S.C. 1185 note) that permits travel into the United States from foreign countries using any document other than a passport to denote citizenship and identity (by a recorded vote of 90 ayes to 318 noes, Roll No. 347); and (See next issue.) Hefley amendment that sought to reduce the overall funding of the bill by $590 million or 1 percent (by a recorded vote of 94 ayes to 316 noes, Roll No. 348). (See next issue.) Point of Order sustained against: Jackson-Lee of Texas amendment that sought to prohibit funds from being used to fund State or local anti-drug task forces that do not collect, and make publicly available, data as to the racial distribution of convictions as a result of their operation. (See next issue.) Later, agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. (See next issue.) H. Res. 890, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to on Tuesday, June 27th, by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 188 nays, Roll No. 319, after agreeing to order the previous question without objection. Fourth of July District Work Period: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 440, providing for a conditional adjournment of the House and a conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate, by a yea-and-nay vote of 220 yeas to 197 nays, Roll No. 353. (See next issue.) Domestic Energy Production through Offshore Exploration and Equitable Treatment of State Holdings Act of 2006: The House passed H.R. 4761, to provide for exploration, development, and production activities for mineral resources on the Outer Continental Shelf, by a yea-and-nay vote of 232 yeas to 187 nays, Roll No. 356. (See next issue.) Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Resources now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. (See next issue.) Agreed to: Pombo amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 109-540) modified, to make a number of technical corrections and to address jurisdictional issues with the Committee on Science and the Committee on Education and the Workforce regarding section 23 of the bill by eliminating a kindergarten through grade 12 education component and by providing an authorization for a Department of Energy research, development and scholarship program; (See next issue.) Inslee amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 109-540) increases the amount made available by the Secretary for renewable ocean energy generation from $6 million to $20 million; and (See next issue.) [[Page D735]] Davis of Virginia amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 109-540) authorizes $150 million of OCS receipts to be available to the Secretary of the Treasury for each of the fiscal years 2007 through 2016 to make payments subject to appropriations to fund in part capital and preventive maintenance projects for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA). (See next issue.) Rejected: Markey amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 109-540) that sought to strike provisions in the bill lifting the 25-year moratorium on oil and gas drilling in environmentally-sensitive areas offshore and leaves provisions designed to provide oil companies with incentives to renegotiate existing leases that fail to include market-based price caps for the suspension of royalty-free drilling and begin production on active leases that are not producing (by a recorded vote of 170 ayes to 249 noes, Roll No. 354); and (See next issue.) Bilirakis amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 109-540) that sought to prohibit leasing (either oil and gas or natural gas) within 125 miles of a state's coastline unless the state requests leasing (by a recorded vote of 65 ayes to 353 noes, Roll No. 355). (See next issue.) Later, agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. (See next issue.) H. Res. 897, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to by voice vote, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 193 nays, Roll No. 352. (See next issue.) Supporting intelligence and law enforcement programs to track terrorists and terrorist finances conducted consistent with Federal law and with appropriate Congressional consultation and specifically condemning the disclosure and publication of classified information that impairs the international fight against terrorism and needlessly exposes Americans to the threat of further terror attacks by revealing a crucial method by which terrorists are traced through their finances: The House agreed to H. Res. 895, to support intelligence and law enforcement programs to track terrorists and terrorist finances conducted consistent with Federal law and with appropriate Congressional consultation and specifically condemning the disclosure and publication of classified information that impairs the international fight against terrorism and needlessly exposes Americans to the threat of further terror attacks by revealing a crucial method by which terrorists are traced through their finances, by a yea-and-nay vote of 227 yeas to 183 nays, Roll No. 357. (See next issue.) H. Res. 896, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to by a recorded vote of 220 ayes to 195 noes, Roll No. 351, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 222 yeas to 195 nays, Roll No. 350. (See next issue.) Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative McKeon wherein he resigned from the Committee on Armed Services, effective today. (See next issue.) Committee Election: The House agreed to H. Res. 902, electing the following Member to the following standing committees of the House of Representatives: Mr. Bilbray to the Committees on Armed Services, Government Reform, and Veterans' Affairs. (See next issue.) Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourn today, it adjourn to meet at noon on Monday, July 3, 2006, unless it sooner has received a message from the Senate transmitting its concurrence in H. Con. Res. 440, in which case the House shall stand adjourned pursuant to that resolution. (See next issue.) Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, July 12. (See next issue.) Late Report: Agreed that the Committee on Financial Services have until noon on July 7, 2006 to file a report on H.R. 2990. (See next issue.) Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today will appear in the next issue. Senate Referrals: S. 811, S. 2321, S. 2766, S. 2767, S. 2768 and S. 2769 were held at the desk and S.J. Res. 40 was referred to the Committee on House Administration. (See next issue.) Quorum Calls--Votes: Six yea-and-nay votes and five recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today will appear in the next issue. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and at 10:19 p.m. pursuant to the provisions of H. Con. Res. 440, stands adjourned until 2 p.m. on Monday, July 10, 2006, or until the time of any reassembly pursuant to section 2 of this concurrent resolution, whichever occurs first. Committee Meetings RENEWABLE FUELS MARKET Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review Agriculture's Role in the Renewable Fuels Market. Testimony was heard from Thomas C. Dorr, Under Secretary, Rural Development, USDA; and public witnesses. [[Page D736]] REPORTS OF WMD IN IRAQ Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on reports of weapons of mass destruction findings in Iraq. Testimony was heard from LTG Michael D. Maples, USA, Director, Defense Intelligence Agency, Department of Defense; Terence Taylor, former Commissioner, U.N. Special Commission on Iraq; and public witnesses. SPECIAL OPERATIONS COMMAND MISSIONS Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities held a hearing on assessing United States Special Operations Command's missions and roles. Testimony was heard from GEN Wayne A. Downing, USA (Ret.); and public witnesses. U.S. COMPETITIVENESS Committee on Energy and Commerce: Held a hearing on Growth, Opportunity, Competition--America Goes to Work. Testimony was heard from Carlos M. Gutierrez, Secretary of Commerce. FINANCIAL SERVICES AND INFLUENZA PREPAREDNESS Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Pandemic Influenza Preparedness in the Financial Services Sector.'' Testimony was heard from D. Scott Parsons, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Critical Infrastructure Protection and Compliance Policy, Department of the Treasury; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Government Reform: Ordered reported the following measures: H.R. 3329, Civilian Prisoner-of-War Medal Act of 2005; H.R. 5607, Federal Wildland Firefighter Classification Act; H.R. 4962, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 100 Pitcher Street in Utica, New York, as the ``Captain George A. Wood Post Office Building''; H.R. 5626, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 802 South Carrier Parkway in Grand Prairie, Texas, as the ``Alexander McRae Dechman Post Office Building''; H. Res. 189, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a day ought to be established to bring awareness to the issue of missing persons; H. Res. 721, Supporting the goals and ideals of a Salvadoran-American Day (El Dia del Salvadoreno) in recognition of all Salvadoran-Americans for their hard work, dedication, and contribution to the stability and well-being of the United States; and H.R. 5711, To permit the Joint Committee on Judicial Administration in the District of Columbia to establish a program of voluntary separation incentive payments for nonjudicial employees of the District of Columbia courts. WHISTLEBLOWERS PROTECTIONS Committee on Government Reform: Held a hearing entitled ``What Price Free Speech?: Whistleblowers and the Ceballos Decision.'' Testimony was heard from Richard Ceballos, Deputy District Attorney, Los Angeles County, California; and public witnesses. CHEMICAL FACILITY ANTI-TERRORISM ACT OF 2006 Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Economic Security, Infrastructure Protection and Cybersecurity held a hearing on H.R. 5695, Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006. Testimony was heard from Michael A.L. Balboni, Senator, New York State; and public witnesses. SOMALIA CRISIS Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations and the Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation held a joint hearing on Somalia: Expanding Crisis in the Horn of Africa. Testimony was heard from Jendayi E. Frazer, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, Department of State; Ted Dagne, Specialist in African Affairs, CRS, Library of Congress; and public witnesses. NORTH KOREAN BRINKMANSHIP Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, hearing on North Korean Brinkmanship: Is U.S. Policy Up to the Challenge? Testimony was heard from Christopher Hill, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN CITIZEN ACT Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported H.R. 5323, Proud to Be an American Citizen Act. JUDICIARY TRANSPARENCY AND ETHICS ENHANCEMENT ACT OF 2006 Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing on H.R. 5219, Judiciary Transparency and Ethics Enhancement Act of 2006. Testimony was heard from Senator Grassley; and public witnesses. NORTH AMERICAN WETLANDS CONSERVATION ACT OF 2006 Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 5539, North American Wetlands Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2006. Testimony was heard from Representative Kennedy of Minnesota; Mathew J. Hogan, Acting [[Page D737]] Assistant Secretary, Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Department of the Interior; John Frampton, Director, Department of Natural Resources, State of South Carolina; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--HEALTHY FORESTS: TARGETS AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Forests and Forest Health held an oversight hearing on Healthy Forests: Targets and Accomplishments. Testimony was heard from P. Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Interior; and Mark Rey, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA. OVERSIGHT--AIRLINE PASSENGER BAGGING SCREENING Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held an oversight hearing on Airline Passenger Baggage Screening: Technology and Airport Deployment Update. Testimony was heard from Randy Null, Assistant Administrator, Operational Process and Technology, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Homeland Security; Cathleen A. Berrick, Director, Homeland Security and Justice Issues, GAO; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--VA DATA SECURITY Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held an oversight hearing on VA's current status of mitigating the nation's second largest data breach. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Veterans Affairs: R. James Nicholson, Secretary; Gordon H. Mansfield, Deputy Secretary; Jonathan Perlin, M.D., Under Secretary, Health, Veterans Health Administration; Ronald R. Aument, Deputy Under Secretary, Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration; and William Tuerk, Under Secretary, Memorial Affairs, National Cemetery Administration. CHILD AND FAMILY SERVICES IMPROVEMENT ACT; U.S.-OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT Committee on Ways and Means: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 5640, amended, Child and Family Services Improvement Act of 2006; and H.R. 5684, United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. INTEGRATED COLLECTION ARCHITECTURE Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to hold a hearing on Integrated Collection Architecture. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses. BRIEFING--GLOBAL UPDATES/HOTSPOTS Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to receive a briefing on Global Updates/Hotspots. The Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, JUNE 30, 2006 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House Committee on International Relations, Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, hearing on The Plight of Religious Minorities: Can Religious Pluralism Survive? 9:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. 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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D738]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 2 p.m., Monday, July 10 Senate Chamber Program for Monday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 3 p.m.), Senate will begin consideration of H.R. 5441, Homeland Security Appropriations. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2 p.m., Monday, July 10 House Chamber Program for Monday, July 10th: To be announced. (House proceedings for today will appear in Issue No. 87 Book II.)