Friday, November 2, 2007 [[Page D1467]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S13717-S13737 Measures Introduced: Three bills and one resolution were introduced, as follows: S. 2301-2303, and S. Res. 365. Page S13725 Measures Reported: S. 950, to develop and maintain an integrated system of coastal and ocean observations for the Nation's coasts, oceans, and Great Lakes, to improve warnings of tsunami, hurricanes, El Nino events, and other natural hazards, to enhance homeland security, to support maritime operations, to improve management of coastal and marine resources, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. (S. Rept. No. 110-217) S. 1582, to reauthorize and amend the Hydrographic Services Improvement Act, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-218) S. 1769, to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to facilitate number portability in order to increase consumer choice of voice service provider. (S. Rept. No. 110-219) S. 2302, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012. (S. Rept. No. 110-220) H. Con. Res. 225, honoring the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age, and the ensuing 50 years of productive and peaceful space activities. Page S13725 Measures Passed: Dr. James Allen Veteran Vision Equity Act: Committee on Veterans Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 797, to amend title 38, United States Code, to improve compensation benefits for veterans in certain cases of impairment of vision involving both eyes, to provide for the use of the National Directory of New Hires for income verification purposes, to extend the authority of the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide an educational assistance allowance for qualifying work study activities, and to authorize the provision of bronze representations of the letter ``V'' for the graves of eligible individuals buried in private cemeteries in lieu of Government-provided headstones or markers, and the bill was then passed, after striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof, the text of S. 1163, Senate companion measure, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute. Pages S13735-36 S. 1163 was returned to the Senate calendar. Page S13736 Appointments: Board of Visitors of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy: The Chair, on behalf of the Vice President, pursuant to 14 U.S.C. 194, as amended by Public Law 101-595, and upon the recommendation of the Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, appointed the following Senators to the Board of Visitors of the U.S. Coast Guard Academy: Senator Inouye, ex officio, as Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, and Senator Cantwell, Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation. Page S13734 Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry--Agreement: A unanimous consent agreement was reached providing that notwithstanding the adjournment of the Senate, the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to file an original bill and accompanying committee report until 3:00 p.m. Friday, November 2, 2007. Pages S13736-37 Farm Bill Extension Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 3:00 p.m. on Monday, November 5, 2007, Senate begin consideration of H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs through fiscal year 2012, and that after the majority manager has offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute, there be debate only. Pages S13736-37 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Pages S13736-37 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S13717 S13725 Additional Statements: Page S13724 Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 12:20 p.m., until 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 5, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the [[Page D1468]] remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S13737.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) No committee meetings were held. House of Representatives Chamber Action The House was not in session today. The House is scheduled to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, November 5, 2007. Committee Meetings MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE PREVENTION Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Progress in Administration and Other Efforts To Coordinate and Enhance Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention.'' Testimony was heard from Robert K. Steel, Under Secretary, Domestic Finance, Department of the Treasury; Brian D. Montgomery, Assistant Secretary, Housing-Federal Housing Commissioner, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Tom Miller, Attorney General, State of Iowa; and public witnesses. CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD Week of November 5 through November 10, 2007 Senate Chamber On Monday, November 5, 2007, at 3:00 p.m., Senate will begin consideration of H.R. 2419, Farm Bill Extension Act. During the balance of the week Senate will consider any other cleared legislative and executive business, including appropriation bills, and conference reports, when available. Senate Committees (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: November 7, Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Innovation, to hold hearings to examine carbon sequestration technologies, 2:30 p.m., SR-253. November 8, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine localism, diversity, and media ownership, 10 a.m., SR-253. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: November 6, to hold hearings to examine the efficacy of the domestic energy industry, focusing on its available workforce to meet our nation's growing needs, 10 a.m., SD-366. November 8, Subcommittee on National Parks, to hold hearings to examine S. 86, to designate segments of Fossil Creek, a tributary to the Verde River in the State of Arizona, as wild and scenic rivers, S. 1365, to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to enter into cooperative agreements with any of the management partners of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area, S. 1449, to establish the Rocky Mountain Science Collections Center to assist in preserving the archeological, anthropological, paleontological, zoological, and geologic artifacts and archival documentation from the Rocky Mountain region through the construction of an on-site, secure collections facility for the Denver Museum of Nature and Science in Denver, Colorado, S. 1921, to amend the American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 to extend the authorization for that Act, S. 1941, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf House, located in Norfolk, Arkansas, as a unit of the National Park System, S. 1961, to expand the boundaries of the Little River Canyon National Preserve in the State of Alabama, S. 1991, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study to determine the suitability and feasibility of extending the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail to include additional sites associated with the preparation and return phases of the expedition, S. 2098, to establish the Northern Plains Heritage Area in the State of North Dakota, S. 2220, to amend the Outdoor Recreation Act of 1963 to authorize certain appropriations, and H.R. 1191, to authorize the National Park Service to pay for services rendered by subcontractors under a General Services Administration Indefinite Deliver Indefinite Quantity Contract issued for work to be completed at the Grand Canyon National Park, 2:30 p.m., SD-366. Committee on Environment and Public Works: November 8, to hold hearings to examine S. 2191, to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, 9:30 a.m., SD-406. Committee on Finance: November 6, Subcommittee on Social Security, Pensions and Family Policy, to hold hearings to examine the Government Pension Offset (GPO), and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP), focusing on policies affecting pensions from work not covered by Social Security, 2:30 p.m., SD-215. [[Page D1469]] Committee on Foreign Relations: November 8, Subcommittee on Near East and South and Central Asian Affairs, to hold hearings to examine Syria, focusing on options and implications for Lebanon and the surrounding region, 2:30 p.m., SD-419. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: November 8, to hold hearings to examine ways to protect the employment rights of those who protect the United States, 10 a.m., SD-430. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: November 8, to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Robert D. Jamison, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for National Protection and Programs, and W. Ross Ashley, III, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, both of the Department of Homeland Security, 10 a.m., SD-342. Committee on the Judiciary: November 6, business meeting to continue consideration of the nomination of Michael B. Mukasey, of New York, to be Attorney General, 10 a.m., SD-226. November 7, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the United States government enforcement of intellectual property rights, 10 a.m., SD-226. November 8, Full Committee, business meeting to consider S. 352, to provide for media coverage of Federal court proceedings, S. 2135, to prohibit the recruitment or use of child soldiers, to designate persons who recruit or use child soldiers as inadmissible aliens, to allow the deportation of persons who recruit or use child soldiers, S. 2248, to amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978, to modernize and streamline the provisions of that Act, and the nominations of Michael J. Sullivan, of Massachusetts, to be Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, Joseph N. Laplante, to be United States District Judge for the District of New Hampshire, Reed Charles O'Connor, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Texas, Thomas D. Schroeder, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina, and Amul R. Thapar, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Kentucky, 10 a.m., SD- 226. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: November 7, business meeting to mark up an original bill entitled, ``Small Business Contracting Revitalization Act of 2007'', 9:30 a.m., SR- 428A. Committee on Veterans' Affairs: November 6, to hold an oversight hearing to examine the hiring practices and quality control in the Veterans Affairs medical facilities, 10 a.m., SD-562. November 7, Full Committee, to hold an oversight hearing to examine the performance and structure of the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans, 9:30 a.m., SD-562. Select Committee on Intelligence: November 6, to hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. November 8, Full Committee, meeting of conferees on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2008 for the intelligence community, 2:30 p.m., S-407, Capitol. House Committees Committee on Agriculture, November 7, Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy and Poultry, hearing to review recent recalls in the meat industry, 2 p.m., 1300 Longworth. Committee on Armed Services, November 8, Subcommittee on Seapower and Expeditionary Forces and Air and Land Forces, hearing on the Joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Program, 2 p.m., 2118 Rayburn. Committee on Education and Labor, November 8, Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions, hearing on Securing Retirement Coverage for Future Generations, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, November 6, Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, hearing entitled ``Comprehensive Children's Product Safety and Consumer Product Safety Commission Reform Legislation,'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, November 6, to mark up the following bills: H.R. 3915, Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act of 2007; H.R. 3837, Escrow, Appraisal, and Mortgage Servicing Improvements Act; H.R. 4051, Housing Assistance Authorization Act of 2007; H.R. 4043, Preserving and Expanding Minority Depository Institutions Act; and H.R. 4050, Levee-Like Structure Consideration Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. November 8, hearing on H.R. 2634, Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. November 8, Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade, and Technology, hearing on H.R. 3956, Coin Modernization and Taxpayer Savings Act of 2007, 2 p.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Foreign Affairs, November 6, hearing on Yahoo! Inc.'s Provision of False Information to Congress, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. November 6, Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, hearing on Human Rights Concerns in Vietnam, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. November 7, Full Committee, hearing on Democracy, Authoritarianism, and Terrorism in Contemporary Pakistan, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. November 8, Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia, hearing on Lebanon on the Brink, 9:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, November 6, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, hearing entitled ``Using the Web as a Weapon: The Internet as a Tool for Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism,'' 2 p.m., 311 Cannon. November 8, full Committee, hearing entitled ``The Progress and Pitfalls of the Terrorist Watch List,'' 10 a.m., 311 Cannon. Committee on House Administration, November 7, hearing on the Construction of the United States Capital: Recognizing the Contributions of Slave Labor, 1 p.m., 1310 Longworth. November 9, Subcommittee on Elections, oversight hearing on Election Day Registration and Provisional Voting, 10 a.m., 1310 Longworth. [[Page D1470]] Committee on the Judiciary, November 6, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law, oversight hearing on the Congressional Review Act, 2 p.m., 2237 Rayburn. November 6, Subcommittee on Crime, hearing and markup of H.R. 1759, Managing Arson Through Criminal History (MATCH) Act of 2007, 1 p.m., 2141 Rayburn. November 8, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties, oversight hearing on Torture and the Cruel, Inhuman, and Degrading Treatment of Detainees: The Effectiveness and Consequences of ``Enhanced'' Interrogation, 9:30 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. November 8, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, hearing on Review of the Prison Reform Act: A Decade of Reform or an Increase in Prison and Abuses?; and H.R. 1889, Private Prison Information Act of 2007, 1 p.m., 2141 Rayburn. November 8, Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, hearing on H.R. 750, Save America Comprehensive Immigration Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 2237 Rayburn. Committee on Natural Resources, November 7, to mark up the following measures: H.R. 3079, Northern Mariana Islands Covenant Implementation Act; Northern Mariana Islands Delegate Act; H.R. 1497, Legal Timber Protection Act; H.R. 3998, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct special resources studies of certain lands and structures to determine the appropriate means for preservation, use and management of the resources associated with such lands and structures; a measure To authorize the implementation of the San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement Act; H.R. 1662, To amend the Reclamation Safety Dams Act of 1978 to authorize improvements for the security of dams and other facilities; and H.R. 2246, To validate certain conveyances made by the Union Pacific Railroad Company of lands located in Reno, Nevada, that were originally conveyed by the United States to facilitate construction of transcontinental railroads, 11 a.m., 1324 Longworth. November 8, full Committee, hearing on H.R. 3994, Department of the Interior Tribal Self-Governance Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, November 6, Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, hearing on Telework: Breaking New Ground, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. November 6, Subcommittee on National Security, and Foreign Affairs, to continue hearings on Six Years Later: Smart Power and the U.S. Strategy for Security in a Post-9/11 World, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. November 7, full Committee, hearing on Drug Resistant Infections in the Community: Consequences for Public Health, 9:15 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. November 7, Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs, to continue hearings on Iran: Reality, Options and Consequences, Part 2, Negotiating with Iranians: Missed Opportunities and Paths Forward, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. November 8, full Committee, hearing on EPA Approval of New Power Plants: Failure to Address Global Warming Pollutants, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Rules, November 5, to consider the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 3043, Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008, 5 p.m., H-313 Capitol. November 6, to consider the following: H.R. 3688, United States- Peru Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act; and H.R. 3355, Homeowners' Defense Act of 2007, 3 p.m., H-313 Capitol. Committee on Science and Technology, November 6, Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, to continue hearings on Globalization of R&D and Innovation, Part IV: Implications for the Science and Engineering Workforce, 2:30 p.m., 2318 Rayburn. November 8, Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, hearing on Near-Earth Objects (NEOs)--Status of the Survey Program and Review of NASA's Report to Congress, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, November 7, hearing entitled ``The State of The Small Business Economy,'' to examine the production, employment and output of our nation's small businesses, 9 a.m., 2360 Rayburn. November 8, Subcommittee on Regulations, Health Care and Trade, hearing entitled ``Medicare Reimbursement Cuts: The Potential Impact on Solo and Small Group Medical Practices,'' 11 a.m., 2360 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, November 8, Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, hearing on Twenty- First Century Water Commission Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, November 7, to mark up H.R. 3882, To amend title 38, United States Code, to change the length of the obligated period of service on active duty required for receiving certain education benefits administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 10 a.m., 334 Cannon. November 8, Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs, hearing on the following: H.R. 3047, Veterans Claims Processing Innovation Act of 2007; H.R. 3249, Veterans Burial Benefits Improvement Act of 2007; H.R. 3286, To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce the period of time for which a veteran must be totally disabled before the veterans's survivors are eligible for the benefits provided by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for survivors of certain veterans rated totally disabled at time of death; H.R. 3415, To amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the placement in a national cemetery of memorial markers for the purpose of commemorating servicemembers or other persons whose remains are interred in an American Battle Monuments Commission cemetery; H.R. 1137, To amend title 38, United States Code, to increase to $2,000 the amount of the Medal of Honor special pension under that title and to provide for payment of that pension to the surviving spouse of a deceased Medal of Honor recipient; H.R. 3954, Providing Military Honors for our Nation's Heroes Act; and the Veterans Quality of Life Study Act of 2007, 2 p.m., 334 Cannon. [[Page D1471]] Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, November 7, executive, briefing on CIA Inspector General, 2 p.m., H-405 Capitol. Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, November 5, hearing on Youth Leadership for Clean Energy and a Healthy Climate, 9:30 a.m., 1100 Longworth. November 7, hearing entitled ``Oil Shock: Potential for Crisis,'' 9 a.m., room to be announced. Select Committee to Investigate the Voting Irregularities of August 2, 2007, November 8, hearing on Presiding Officer Perspectives: presiding over a vote in the House of Representatives, 8:45 a.m., 1537 Longworth. Joint Meetings Joint Hearing: November 8, Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, meeting of conferees on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2008 for the intelligence community, 2:30 p.m., S-407, Capitol. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: November 8, to hold hearings to examine outstanding issues relating to the 1992- 1995 conflict in Bosnia, focusing on violent ethic cleansing, and how they shape politics, society, and economic development in Bosnia, 2 p.m., B-318-RHOB. Joint Economic Committee: November 8, to hold hearings to examine the current economic outlook, 10 a.m., SH-216. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe: November 5, to hold hearings to examine the twenty-first century security in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) region, focusing on challenges among member states, protracted and unresolved conflicts, shifting political and military alliances, while still confronting the threat of terrorism, 3 p.m., 2212-RHOB. 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 D1472]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 2 p.m., Monday, November 5 Senate Chamber Program for Monday: After the transaction of any morning business (not to extend beyond 3:00 p.m.), Senate will begin consideration of H.R. 2419, Farm Bill Extension Act. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 12:30 p.m., Monday, November 5 House Chamber Program for Monday: To be announced.