Wednesday, May 9, 2007 [[Page D644]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S5755-S5879 Measures Introduced: Ten bills were introduced, as follows: S. 1340- 1349. Page S5869 Measures Passed: Prescription Drug User Fee Amendments: By 93 yeas and 1 nay (Vote No. 157), Senate passed S. 1082, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize drug and device user fees and ensure the safety of medical products, after agreeing to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as modified and amended, and after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S5759-S5824 Adopted: By 64 yeas and 30 nays (Vote No. 155), Brown (for Grassley) Amendment No. 998, to provide for the application of stronger civil penalties for violations of approved risk evaluation and mitigation strategies. Pages S5759, S5769-70, S5772 Rejected: By 46 yeas and 47 nays (Vote No. 154), Brown (for Grassley) Amendment No. 1039, to clarify the authority of the Office of Surveillance and Epidemiology with respect to postmarket drug safety pursuant to recommendations by the Institute of Medicine. Pages S5759, S5768-69, S5771-72 By 47 yeas and 47 nays (Vote No. 156), Brown (for Durbin/Bingaman) Amendment No. 1034, to reduce financial conflict of interest in FDA Advisory Panels. Pages S5759, S5765-68, S5770-71, S5772-73 Subsequently, the motion to invoke cloture on the bill was withdrawn. Page S5773 Congressional Budget Resolution--Motions To Instruct Conferees: Senate began consideration of the message from the House of Representatives to accompany S. Con. Res. 21, setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2008 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2007 and 2009 through 2012, after taking action on the following motions to instruct Conferees proposed thereto: Pages S5837-62 Adopted: Cornyn Motion to Instruct Conferees to create a point of order against legislation that raises income tax rates. Page S5855 Stabenow Motion to Instruct Conferees relative to the Deficit-Neutral Reserve Fund for Energy legislation in section 307. Page S5855 By 54 yeas and 41 nays (Vote No. 159), Kyl Motion to Instruct Conferees relative to permanent death tax relief and other family tax relief. Pages S5838-41, S5861 By 51 yeas and 44 nays (Vote No. 160), Conrad Motion to Instruct Conferees relative to tax relief. Pages S5842-55, S5862 Rejected: By 44 yeas and 51 nays (Vote No. 161), Gregg Motion to Instruct Conferees relative to the extension of popular tax cuts. Pages S5842-46, S5862 Senate disagreed to the House amendment, requested a conference with the House thereon, and the Chair was authorized to appoint the following conferees on the part of the Senate: Senators Conrad, Murray, Wyden, Gregg and Domenici. Page S5862 Water Resources Development Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, May 10, 2007, Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 1495, 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; that the time until 9:45 a.m., be equally divided and controlled between the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Environment and Public Works, and that at approximately 9:45 a.m., Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill. Page S5878 Message from the President: Senate received the following message from the President of the United States: Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on [[Page D645]] the continuation of the national emergency with respect to the blocking of property of certain persons and prohibiting the exportation and reexportation of certain goods to Syria as declared in Executive Order 13338 of May 11, 2004; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM 12) Page S5866 Nomination Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nomination: By a unanimous vote of 91 yeas (Vote No. EX. 158), Debra Ann Livingston, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit. Pages S5824, S5832-37, S5879 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: 2 Air Force nominations in the rank of general. 2 Army nominations in the rank of general. 1 Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general. Routine lists in the Air Force, Army, Navy. Pages S5878-79 Messages from the House: Page S5866 Measures Referred: Page S5866 Measures Read the First Time: Pages S5866, S5877-78 Executive Communications: Page S5866 Petitions and Memorials: Pages S5866-69 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S5869-71 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S5871-77 Additional Statements: Pages S5864-66 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S5877 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S5877 Record Votes: Eight record votes were taken today. (Total--161) Pages S5772-73, S5837, S5861-62 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 8:38 p.m., until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 10, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S5878.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) RURAL DEVELOPMENT Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded a hearing to examine farm bill policy proposals relating to farm and energy issues and rural development, after receiving testimony from Glenn English, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Arlington, Virginia; Jimmy Matthews, Georgia Rural Water Association, Barnesville, on behalf of the National Rural Water Association; Robert Grabarski, National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, Arkdale, Wisconsin; Steven A. Slack, Ohio State University Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster; Lee R. Lynd, Dartmouth College Thayer School of Engineering, Hanover, New Hampshire; Daniel G. De La Torre Ugarte, University of Tennessee Department of Agricultural Economics, Knoxville; Howard A. Learner, Environmental Law and Policy Center, Chicago, Illinois; and Neil Rich, Riksch Biofuels, Crawfordsville, Iowa. APPROPRIATIONS: DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of Defense, after receiving testimony from Robert M. Gates, Secretary, and General Peter Pace, USMC, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff, both of the Department of Defense. APPROPRIATIONS: IRS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Internal Revenue Service, Department of the Treasury, after receiving testimony from Kevin Brown, Acting Commissioner of Internal Revenue, J. Russell George, Inspector General for Tax Administration, and Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer Advocate, all of the Department of the Treasury; and James R. White, Director, Strategic Issues, and David A. Powner, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, both of the Government Accountability Office. ATV SAFETY Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Consumer Affairs, Insurance, and Automotive Safety concluded a hearing to examine All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) safety, after receiving testimony from Rachel Weintraub, Consumer Federation of America, and David P. Murray, Willkie Farr and Gallagher LLP, both of Washington, D.C. REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection concluded a hearing to examine emerging technologies and practices for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, after receiving testimony from Yet- Ming Chiang, Massachusetts Institute of Technology Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Watertown; Mark M. Little, GE Global Research, Niskayuna, [[Page D646]] New York; James W. Stanway, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., Bentonville, Arkansas; Michael W. Rencheck, American Electric Power, Columbus, Ohio; and John A. Fees, Babcock and Wilcox Companies, Lynchburg, Virginia. NATIONAL SECURITY THREATS Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine climate change relative to national security threats, focusing on the report entitled ``National Security and the Threat of Climate Change'', after receiving testimony from Admiral Joseph W. Prueher, (Ret.) USN, former Commander-in-Chief, United States Pacific Command, General Charles F. Wald, (Ret.) USAF, former Deputy Commander, United States European Command, and Vice Admiral Richard H. Truly, (Ret.) USN, former Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, all of the CNA Corporation Military Advisory Board, Alexandria, Virginia. NOMINATIONS Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Dell L. Dailey, of South Dakota, to be Coordinator for Counterterrorism, with the rank and status of Ambassador at Large, and Mark P. Lagon, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, with the rank of Ambassador at Large, after the nominees, who were introduced by Senator Reed, testified and answered questions in their own behalf. VETERANS BENEFITS LEGISLATION Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine benefits legislation, after receiving testimony from Senator Cantwell; Daniel L. Cooper, Under Secretary for Benefits, and John H. Thompson, Deputy General Counsel, both of the Department of Veterans Affairs; Meredith Beck, Wounded Warrior Project, New York, New York; Carl Blake, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Eric A. Hilleman, Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, and Brian E. Lawrence, Disabled American Veterans, all of Washington, D.C.; Kimo S. Hollingsworth, American Veterans (AMVETS), Lanham, Maryland; Colonel Robert F. Norton (Ret.) USA, Military Officers Association of America, Alexandria, Virginia; and Alec S. Petkoff, American Legion, Indianapolis, Indiana. THE FUTURE OF MEDICARE Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the future of Medicare, focusing on recognizing the need for chronic care coordination, after receiving testimony from Todd P. Semla, Clinical Pharmacy Specialist, Pharmacy Benefits Management and Strategic Health Group, Department of Veterans Affairs, on behalf of the American Geriatrics Society; Gerard F. Anderson, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Health Policy and Management, Baltimore, Maryland; David A. Dorr, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland; Stuart Guterman, Commonwealth Fund, and Stephen McConnell, Alzheimer's Association, both of Washington, D.C.; and Ann Bowers, Fort Smith, Arkansas. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 32 public bills, H.R. 2228- 2259; and 6 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 146; and H. Res. 385-386, 389-391 were introduced. Pages H4751-53 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H4753-54 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 1469, to establish the Senator Paul Simon Study Abroad Foundation under the authorities of the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act of 1961 (H. Rept. 110-138); H.R. 692, to amend title 4, United States Code, to authorize the Governor of a State, territory, or possession of the United States to order that the National flag be flown at half-staff in that State, territory, or possession in the event of the death of a member of the Armed Forces from that State, territory, or possession who dies while serving on active duty, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-139); H.R. 1593, to reauthorize the grant program for reentry of offenders into the community in the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, to improve reentry planning and implementation (H. Rept. 110- 140); H.R. 401, to amend the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969 to authorize additional Federal contributions for maintaining and improving the transit system of the Washington Metropolitan Area [[Page D647]] Transit Authority, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-141); H.R. 1427, to reform the regulation of certain housing-related Government-sponsored enterprises, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-142); H. Res. 387, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2237) to provide for the redeployment of United States Armed Forces and defense contractors form Iraq, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2206) making emergency supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes, and providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2207) making supplemental appropriations for agricultural and other emergency assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 110-143); and H. Res. 388, providing for the consideration of the bill (H.R. 2082) to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 110- 144). Page H4751 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative McNulty to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H4631 Suspension: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measure: Student Loan Sunshine Act: H.R. 890, amended, to establish requirements for lenders and institutions of higher education in order to protect students and other borrowers receiving educational loans, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 414 yeas to 3 nays, Roll No. 313. Pages H4634-42, H4655-56 Member Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Meehan, wherein he resigned as Representative of the 5th Congressional District of Massachusetts, effective close of business July 1, 2007. Page H4656 Department of Homeland Security Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008: The House passed H.R. 1684, amended, to authorize appropriations for the Department of Homeland Security for fiscal year 2008, by a recorded vote of 296 ayes to 126 noes, Roll No. 318. Pages H4646-55, H4656-H4718 Agreed to the Dent motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Homeland Security with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 264 yeas to 160 nays, Roll No. 317. Subsequently, Representative Thompson (MS) reported the bill back to the House with the amendment and the amendment was agreed to. Pages H4714-16 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Homeland Security now printed in the bill shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of amendment. Page H4669 On a demand for a separate vote on a certain amendment agreed to in the Committee of the Whole: By a yea-and-nay vote of 212 yeas to 209 nays, Roll No. 316, agreed to the Thompson (MS) manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that adds reporting requirements, revises annuitant provisions, requires a GAO report on law enforcement retirement systems, adds a provision related to travel efficiency and strikes some provisions of the bill (agreed to in the Committee of the Whole by a recorded vote of 216 ayes to 209 noes, Roll No. 314). Pages H4687-91, H4704-05, H4710-14 Earlier, agreed to amendments in the Committee of the Whole: Agreed to: Langevin amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that directs the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Disability Coordinator at the Department of Homeland Security to enter a cooperative agreement with the National Organization on Disability (NOD) to carry out NOD's Emergency Preparedness Initiative; Pages H4692-93 Andrews amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that provides up to 14 days per calendar year of job protection for volunteer emergency service personnel who respond to a Presidentially-declared disaster in an official capacity and allows any individual discriminated against in violation of the provision to seek redress in court; Pages H4693-95 Corrine Brown (FL) amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that directs the Secretary of Homeland Security, in awarding grants under the Urban Area Security Initiative, to consider the number of tourists that have visited an urban area in the two years preceding the year the Secretary awards the grant; Pages H4695-96 Castle amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to study foreign rail security practices that are not currently used in the U.S. and submit a report on recommendations for implementing such practices within one year of enactment; Pages H4696-97 Hastings (FL) amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that establishes a FEMA long-term recovery office in Florida; Pages H4697-98 Stupak amendment (No. 9 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that requires the Secretary of Homeland [[Page D648]] Security to issue a report to Congress outlining the resources currently devoted to Integrated Border Enforcement Teams (IBETs) and making recommendations on how to improve the effectiveness of the IBET program; Pages H4698-99 Hastings (WA) amendment (No. 10 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that requires the Department of Homeland Security's strategic plan to include a plan for fulfilling existing National Laboratory infrastructure commitments to maintain current capabilities and mission needs; Pages H4699-H4700 Terry amendment (No. 15 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that requires the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to consult with states prior to sharing information on forthcoming grant awards, including when sharing information with the U.S. Congress; Page H4700 Cardoza amendment (No. 17 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that expresses the Sense of the Congress that efforts to achieve local, regional and national interoperable emergency communications in the near term should be supported and are critical in assisting communities with their local and regional efforts to properly coordinate and execute their interoperability plans; Pages H4701-04 Van Hollen amendment (No. 18 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that requires DHS to use such funds necessary to take all necessary actions to protect the security of personal information submitted electronically to the DHS website for the Travelers Redress Inquiry Program and other websites for the Department related to the program; Pages H4705-06 Castor amendment (No. 19 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that directs the Secretary of Homeland Security to work with the State of Florida and other States, as appropriate, to resolve the differences between the Transportation Worker Identification Credential and existing access control credentials; Pages H4707-08 Lampson amendment (No. 20 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that allows an Inspector General of the Department of Homeland Security to authorize his or her staff to provide assistance on and conduct reviews of the inactive case files, or ``cold cases'' involving children or offenders outside the US, stored at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) and to develop recommendations for further investigations; and Pages H4708-09 Royce amendment (No. 21 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to implement at primary inspection points at U.S. ports of entry the Stolen and Lost Travel Document database managed by Interpol. Pages H4709-10 Rejected: Mica amendment (No. 16 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that sought to amend section 1102(a) (critical infrastructure study) to require that the Secretary of Transportation, in addition to the Secretary of Homeland Security as is in the original bill, work with the Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorism Events to evaluate the feasibility and practicality of creating further incentives for private sector stakeholders to share protected critical information with the Department of Transportation in addition to the Department of Homeland Security, as is in the original bill and Pages H4700-01 Tom Davis (VA) amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-136) that sought to remove section 407 of the bill, which requires that identification cards, uniforms, protective gear, and badges of Homeland Security personnel be manufactured in the United States (by a recorded vote of 36 ayes to 390 noes, Roll No. 315). Pages H4691-92, H4705 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H4735 H. Res. 382, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 222 yeas to 197 nays, Roll No. 311, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 217 yeas to 199 nays, Roll No. 310. Pages H4646-55 Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act: The House began debate on H.R. 1873, to reauthorize the programs and activities of the Small Business Administration relating to procurement. Further consideration is expected to resume Thursday, May 10th. Pages H4643-46, H4655-56, H4720-35 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform now printed in the bill shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of amendment. Page H4723 Agreed to: Reyes amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-137) that aids small businesses that have been included in the Small Business Subcontracting Plans of prime contractors that obtain federal contracts; Pages H4729-30 Welch amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-137) that sets a 5 percent procurement goal for the Federal government to contract with ``green'' small businesses; Pages H4731-32 Wynn amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 110-137) that commissions the Small Business Administration to complete a study on the feasibility and desirability of providing financial incentives to federal prime contractors who meet the goals set forth in their subcontracting plan of utilizing small [[Page D649]] business concerns owned by economically or socially disadvantaged individuals; Pages H4732-33 Jackson-Lee amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 110-137) that provides that, whenever the SBA and the contracting procurement agency fail to agree and the Administrator decides to take action to further the interests of a small business concern, the SBA is required to make available on their website any action taken and result achieved by the Administrator; and Pages H4733-34 Jackson-Lee amendment (No. 8 printed in H. Rept. 110-137) that requires that, when the SBA and the contracting procurement agency fail to agree and the Administrator submits the matter to the head of the agency for a determination, a copy of the written response to the Administrator be sent to the Committee of the House and Senate that has jurisdiction over the agency concerned, in addition to the Committees on Small Business and Oversight and Government Reform. Page H4734 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H4734 H. Res. 383, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 197 nays, Roll No. 312, after agreeing to order the previous question. Page H4655 Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he notified Congress of the continuation of the national emergency authorizing the blocking of property of certain persons and prohibiting the exportation and reexportation of certain goods to Syria--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110- 33). Pages H4734-35 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H4631. Recess: The House recessed at 10:24 p.m. and reconvened at 11:08 p.m. Page H4749 Quorum Calls--Votes: Six yea-and-nay votes and three recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H4654, H4654-55, H4655-56, H4656, H4704, H4705, H4713-14, H4715-16 and H4718. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at 11:11 p.m. Committee Meetings IMPORTED FOOD/FEED INGREDIENTS SAFETY Committee on Agriculture: Held a hearing to review the impact of imported contaminated food and feed ingredients and of recent food safety emergencies on food safety and animal health systems. Testimony was heard from Kenneth E. Petersen, Food Safety Inspection Service, USDA; and David Acheson, M.D., Assistant Commissioner, Food Protection, FDA, Department of Health and Human Services. DEFENSE APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense met in executive session to hold a hearing on Guantanamo, Panel I. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: RADM Harry B. Harris, Jr., USN, Commander, Joint Task Force-Guantanamo; Daniel J. Dell'Orto, Principal Deputy General Counsel; and Joseph A. Benkert, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Global Security Affairs. The Subcommittee continued hearings on this subject, Panel II. Testimony was heard from COL Dwight Sullivan, USMCR, Chief Defense Counsel, Office of Military Commissions, Department of Defense; and public witnesses. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008 Committee on Armed Services: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 1585, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. U.S. MEDICINE SUPPLY SAFETY Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing entitled ``Assessing the Safety of Our Nation's Drug Supply.'' Testimony was heard from Steven K. Galson, M.D., Director, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, FDA, Department of Health and Human Services; Marcia Crosse, Director, Health Care Issues, GAO; and public witnesses. INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC-MILITARY SUPPORT FOR IRAQ Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight held a hearing on the Economic and Military Support for the U.S. Efforts in Iraq: The Coalition of the Willing, Then and Now. Testimony was heard from Joseph A. Christoff, Director, International Affairs and Trade Team, GAO; Kenneth Katzman, Specialist in Middle East Affairs, Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division, CRS, Library of Congress; and a public witness. [[Page D650]] FEDERAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE COORDINATION Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response held a hearing entitled ``Assessing the Capabilities and Coordination of Federal Emergency Response Teams.'' Testimony was heard from Bob Powers, Acting Deputy Assistant Administrator, Disaster Operations Directorate, FEMA, Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses. IMMIGRATION REFORM Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law continued hearings on the U.S. Economy, U.S. Workers, and Immigration Reform. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT IMPLEMENTATION Committee on Natural Resources: Held an oversight hearing on Endangered Species Act Implementation: Science or Politics? Testimony was heard from P. Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary, Department of the Interior; John Young, former Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement approved for full Committee action the following bills: H.R. 1870, amended, Contractor Tax Enforcement Act; H.R. 1865, To amend title 31, United States Code, to allow certain local tax debt to be collected through the reduction of Federal tax refunds; and H.R. 404, amended, Federal Customer Service Enhancement Act. U.S. AID TO PAKISTAN Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing entitled ``Making the Grade on the 9/11 Commission Report Card: American Support of Pakistani Education Reform.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. INTELLIGENCE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2008 Committee on Rules: Granted, by vote of 8 to 3, a structured rule. The rule provides for 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 2081, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for intelligence and intelligence- related activities of the United States Government, the Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement and Disability System, and for other purposes, equally divided and controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under clause 9 of rule XXI. The rule XXI. The rule considers as an original bill for the purpose of further amendment the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. The committee amendment shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against the committee amendment except those arising under clause 8 of rule XXI. The rule makes in order those amendments printed in the report and waives all points of order against such amendments except those arising under clause 9 or 10 or rule XXI. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. Finally, the rule permits the Chair, during consideration of the bill in the House, to postpone further consideration until a time designated by the Speaker. Testimony was heard from Chairman Reyes, Representatives Hastings of Florida, Holt, Thompson of California, Hoekstra, Wilson of New Mexico, and Rogers of Michigan. TO PROVIDE FOR THE REDEPLOYMENT OF UNITED STATES ARMED FORCES AND DEFENSE CONTRACTORS FROM IRAQ--H.R. 2237 U.S. TROOP READINESS, VETERANS' CARE, KATRINA RECOVERY, AND IRAQ ACCOUNTABILITY APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007--H.R. 2206 AGRICULTURAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE AND WESTERN STATES EMERGENCY UNFINISHED BUSINESS APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007--H.R. 2207 Committee on Rules: Granted by a vote of 8 to 3, a closed rule. The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2237, to provide for the Redeployment of United States Armed Forces and Defense Contractors from Iraq. The rule provides 1 hour of general debate in the House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against the bill and against its consideration and provides that the bill shall be considered as read. The rule contains one motion to recommit with or without instructions. The rule also provides for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2206), the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007. The rule provides one hour of general debate in the House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The [[Page D651]] rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. It provides that the amendment printed in Part A of this report shall be considered as adopted and that the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. The Rule waives all points of order against the bill, as amended, and contains one motion to recommit on H.R. 2206 with or without instructions. The rule further provides for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2207), the Agricultural Disaster Assistance and Western States Emergency Unfinished Business Appropriations Act, 2007. The rule provides one hour of general debate in the House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. It provides that the amendment printed in Part B of this report shall be considered as adopted and that the bill, as amended, shall be considered as read. The Rule waives all points of order against the bill, as amended, and contains one motion to recommit on H.R. 2207 with or without instructions. The rule also provides that in the engrossment of H.R. 2206, the Clerk shall await the disposition of H.R. 2237 and H.R. 2207 and shall add the respective texts of H.R. 2237 and H.R. 2207, as passed by the House, as new matter at the end of H.R. 2206 and shall make appropriate conforming changes. Finally the rule provides that during consideration of H.R. 2237, H.R. 2206 and H.R. 2207, notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of any such bill to a time designated by the Speaker. Testimony was heard from Chairman Obey and Representative Kucinich. RURAL BROADBAND SERVICES Committee on Small Business: Subcommittee on Rural and Urban Entrepreneurship held a hearing entitled ``Maximizing the Value of Broadband Services to Rural Communities.'' Testimony was heard from Jonathan Adelstein, Commissioner, FCC; and public witnesses. AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL MODERNIZATION Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Aviation held a hearing on the Future of Air Traffic Control Modernization. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Transportation: Robert Sturgell, Deputy Administrator and Interim Chief Operating Officer, Air Traffic Organization, FAA; and Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General; Gerald Dillingham, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO; and public witnesses. GLOBAL WAR ON TERROR VETERANS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on the Results of the Administration's Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes. Testimony was heard from R. James Nicholson, Secretary of Veterans Affairs. VA'S LONG-TERM CARE PROGRAMS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing to examine VA's Long-Term Care Programs. Testimony was heard from Patricia Vandenberg, Assistant Deputy Under Secretary, Health Policy and Planning, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and representatives of veterans organizations. CURRENCY MANIPULATION IMPACTS Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Trade and the Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection of the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and the Subcommittee on Domestic and International Monetary Policy, Trade and Technology of the Committee on Financial Services held a joint hearing on Currency Manipulation and Its Effect on U.S. Businesses and Workers. Testimony was heard from Mark Sobel, Deputy Assistant Secretary, International Monetary and Financial Policy, Department of the Treasury; Stephen Claeys, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Antidumping and Countervailing Duty Operations, Department of Commerce; Daniel Brinza, Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, Monitoring and Enforcement; Donald L. Evans, former Secretary of Commerce; and public witnesses. BRIEFING--HOT SPOTS Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to receive a briefing on Hot Spots. The Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses. FOREIGN OIL--ECONOMICS OF DEPENDENCE Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a hearing entitled ``Economics of Dependence on Foreign Oil--Rising Gasoline Prices.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. NEW PUBLIC LAWS (For last listing of Public Laws, see Daily Digest, p. D 622) S. 521, to designate the Federal building and United States courthouse and customhouse located at 515 West First Street in Duluth, Minnesota, as the ``Gerald W. Heaney Federal Building and United States Courthouse and Customhouse''. Signed on May 8, 2007 (Public Law 110-25) [[Page D652]] COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, to hold hearings to examine the Federal Aviation Administration's budget performance and treatment, 9:30 a.m., SD-138. Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, to hold hearings to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2008 for the Department of State and foreign operations, 10 a.m., SD-106. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of David George Nason, of Rhode Island, to be an Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, Mario Mancuso, of New York, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for Export Administration, Michael W. Tankersley, of Texas, to be Inspector General, Export- Import Bank, Scott A. Keller, of Florida, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Robert M. Couch, of Alabama, to be General Counsel of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and Janis Herschkowitz, of Pennsylvania, David George Nason, of Rhode Island, and Nguyen Van Hanh, of California, each to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the National Consumer Cooperative Bank, 3 p.m., SD-538. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard, to hold hearings to examine the effects of climate change and ocean acidification on living marine resources, 10 a.m., SR-253. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Joseph Timothy Kelliher, of the District of Columbia, to be a Member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and R. Lyle Laverty, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife, 9:30 a.m., SD-366. Committee on Finance: to hold hearings to examine economic issues for America's working families and middle class, 10 a.m., SD-215. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, to hold hearings to examine a status report on reform efforts by the Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Management, 9 a.m., SD-342. Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine violent Islamist extremism, focusing on government efforts to defeat it, 2:30 p.m., SD-342. Committee on Indian Affairs: business meeting to consider S. 1200, to amend the Indian Health Care Improvement Act to revise and extend the Act, S. 310, to express the policy of the United States regarding the United States relationship with Native Hawaiians and to provide a process for the recognition by the United States of the Native Hawaiian governing entity, H.R. 835, to reauthorize the programs of the Department of Housing and Urban Development for housing assistance for Native Hawaiians, and S.J. Res. 4, to acknowledge a long history of official depredations and ill- conceived policies by the United States Government regarding Indian tribes and offer an apology to all Native Peoples on behalf of the United States, 9:30 a.m., SR-485. Committee on the Judiciary: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Leslie Southwick, of Mississippi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, Janet T. Neff, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Michigan, and Liam O'Grady, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, 10 a.m., SD-226. House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research, hearing to review agricultural research programs, 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth. Subcommittee on Specialty Crops, Rural Development, and Foreign Agriculture, hearing to review food aid and agriculture trade programs operated by the USDA and the U.S. Agency for International Development, 1 p.m., 1300 Longworth. Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, on Marketing and Regulatory Programs, 10 a.m., 2362A Rayburn. Subcommittee on Defense, on Contracting Out, 10 a.m., and 1:30 p.m., 2359 Rayburn. Committee on Education and Labor, hearing on Accountability for the Department of Education's Oversight of Student Loans and the Reading First Program, 10:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities, hearing on Using School Wellness Plans to Help Fight Childhood Obesity, 2 p.m., 2175 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, to consider the following bills: H.R. 964, Securely Protect Yourself Against Cyber Trespass Act; and H.R. 948, Social Security Number Protection Act of 2007, 2:30 p.m., 2123 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet, to continue hearings entitled ``Digital Future of the United States: Part V: The Future of Video,'' 9:30 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``Suspicious Activity and Currency Transaction Reports: Balancing Law Enforcement Utility and Regulatory Requirements,'' 9 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Foreign Affairs, hearing on Every State a Superpower? Stopping the Spread of Nuclear Weapons in the 21st Century, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, and the Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, hearing on Is There a Human Rights Double Standard? U.S. Policy Toward Equatorial Guinea and Ethiopia, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, hearing entitled ``Fixing the Homeland Security Information Network: Finding the Way Forward for Better Information Sharing,'' 10 a.m., 311 Cannon. [[Page D653]] Committee on the Judiciary, oversight hearing on the U.S. Department of Justice, 9:30 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Natural Resources, May 9, oversight hearing on Endangered Species Act Implementation: Science or Politics? 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, hearing entitled ``Lethal Loopholes: Deficiencies in State and Federal Gun Purchase Laws,'' 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia, hearing entitled ``The Lack of Diversity in the Top Levels of the Federal Government,'' 2 p.m., 2247 Rayburn. Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on Energy and Environment, to mark up the following bills; H.R. 364, To provide for the establishment of the Advanced Research Projects Agency- Energy; H.R. 632, H-Prize Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Technology and Innovation, hearing on Green Transportation Infrastructure: Challenges to Access and Implementation, 2 p.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Small Business, hearing on Immigration Policies and their Impact on Small Businesses, 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, hearing on General Services Administration's Fiscal Year 2008 Capital Investment and Leasing Program, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management, hearing on Legislative Fixes for Lingering Problems that Hinder Katrina Recovery,'' 2 p.m., 2167 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Highways and Transit, hearing on FTA Implementation of the New Starts and Small Starts Programs, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Health, to mark up H.R. 1470, Chiropractic Care Available to All Veterans Act, 9:30 a.m., 340 Cannon. Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Health, hearing on Options To Improve Quality and Efficiency Among Medicare Physicians, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. The public proceedings of each House of Congress, as reported by the Official Reporters thereof, are printed pursuant to directions of the Joint Committee on Printing as authorized by appropriate provisions of Title 44, United States Code, and published for each day that one or both Houses are in session, excepting very infrequent instances when two or more unusually small consecutive issues are printed one time. Public access to the Congressional Record is available online through GPO Access, a service of the Government Printing Office, free of charge to the user. The online database is updated each day the Congressional Record is published. The database includes both text and graphics from the beginning of the 103d Congress, 2d session (January 1994) forward. It is available through GPO Access at www.gpo.gov/gpoaccess. Customers can also access this information with WAIS client software, via telnet at swais.access.gpo.gov, or dial-in using communications software and a modem at 202ÿ09512ÿ091661. Questions or comments regarding this database or GPO Access can be directed to the GPO Access User Support Team at: E-Mail: gpoaccess@gpo.gov; Phone 1ÿ09888ÿ09293ÿ096498 (toll-free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091530 (D.C. area); Fax: 202ÿ09512ÿ091262. The Team's hours of availability are Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time, except Federal holidays. The Congressional Record paper and 24x microfiche edition will be furnished by mail to subscribers, free of postage, at the following prices: paper edition, $252.00 for six months, $503.00 per year, or purchased as follows: less than 200 pages, $10.50; between 200 and 400 pages, $21.00; greater than 400 pages, $31.50, payable in advance; microfiche edition, $146.00 per year, or purchased for $3.00 per issue payable in advance. The semimonthly Congressional Record Index may be purchased for the same per issue prices. To place an order for any of these products, visit the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at: bookstore.gpo.gov. Mail orders to: Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250ÿ097954, or phone orders to 866ÿ09512ÿ091800 (toll free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091800 (D.C. area), or fax to 202ÿ09512ÿ092250. Remit check or money order, made payable to the Superintendent of Documents, or use VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, or GPO Deposit Account. 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 D654]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Thursday, May 10 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to the consideration of H.R. 1495, Water Resources Development Act, 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, and vote on the motion to invoke cloture thereon at approximately 9:45 a.m. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 9 a.m., Thursday, May 10 House Chamber Program for Thursday: Complete consideration of H.R. 1873--Small Business Fairness in Contracting Act. Consideration of H.R. 2082-- Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Baldwin, Tammy, Wisc., E999 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E991, E993 Brady, Kevin, Tex., E1004 Brown-Waite, Ginny, Fla., E993, E994 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E999 Burton, Dan, Ind., E1004 Capito, Shelley Moore, W.Va., E996 Conyers, John, Jr., Mich., E1005 Costello, Jerry F., Ill., E995 Culberson, John Abney, Tex., E1001 Dreier, David, Calif., E997 Engel, Eliot L., N.Y., E1000 Gillibrand, Kirsten E., N.Y., E997 Gillmor, Paul E., Ohio, E991, E992, E994, E995, E996 Gordon, Bart, Tenn., E1004 Graves, Sam, Mo., E992, E994 Green, Al, Tex., E999 Holden, Tim, Pa., E996 Hooley, Darlene, Ore., E997 Johnson, Eddie Bernice, Tex., E1005 Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E998 Kirk, Mark Steven, Ill., E1000 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E995 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1002, E1003 McMorris Rodgers, Cathy, Wash., E998 Marchant, Kenny, Tex., E998 Mitchell, Harry E., Ariz., E998 Moore, Dennis, Kans., E1000 Neal, Richard E., Mass., E991, E993 Ortiz, Solomon P., Tex., E999 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E991, E992, E994, E995, E997, E998 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E1001, E1002 Salazar, John T., Colo., E999 Schiff, Adam B., Calif., E998 Shea-Porter, Carol, N.H., E1003 Tancredo, Thomas G., Colo., E1001 Udall, Tom, N.M., E1005 Van Hollen, Chris, Md., E1002 Velazquez, Nydia M., N.Y., E994 Wilson, Heather, N.M., E1001