Thursday, September 20, 2007 [[Page D1230]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S11775-S11917 Measures Introduced: Eleven bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2072-2082, and S. Res. 323-324. Page S11853 Measures Reported: S. 1771, to increase the safety of swimming pools and spas by requiring the use of proper anti-entrapment drain covers and pool and spa drainage systems, to educate the public about pool and spa safety, with amendments. (S. Rept. No. 110-182) Page S11853 Measures Passed: Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act: Senate passed H.R. 3580, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to revise and extend the user-fee programs for prescription drugs and for medical devices, to enhance the postmarket authorities of the Food and Drug Administration with respect to the safety of drugs, clearing the measure for the President. Pages S11831-41 National Life Insurance Awareness Month: Senate agreed to S. Res. 324, supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Life Insurance Awareness Month''. Pages S11862, S11914 Measures Considered: National Defense Authorization Act: Senate continued consideration of H.R. 1585, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2008 for military activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military personnel, taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S11782-S11831, S11841-48 Adopted: By 72 yeas and 25 nays (Vote No. 344), Cornyn Amendment No. 2934 (to Amendment No. 2011), to express the sense of the Senate that General David H. Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force-Iraq, deserves the full support of the Senate and strongly condemn personal attacks on the honor and the integrity of General Petraeus and all the members of the United States Armed Forces. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the amendment, having achieved 60 affirmative votes, be agreed to). Pages S11785-88 Levin (for Bond) Amendment No. 2875 (to Amendment No. 2011), to provide certain limitations to the issuance of security clearances. Page S11810 Levin (for Nelson (NE)/Graham) Amendment No. 2865 (to Amendment No. 2011), to authorize the Secretary of Defense to expand the persons eligible for continued health benefits coverage. Page S11810 Levin (for Nelson (NE)/Graham) Amendment No. 2867 (to Amendment No. 2011), to repeal the authority for payment of a uniform allowance to civilian employees of the Department of Defense. Pages S11810-11 Levin (for Nelson (NE)/Graham) Amendment No. 2868 (to Amendment No. 2011), to provide for a continuation of eligibility for TRICARE Standard coverage for certain members of the Selected Reserve. Page S11811 Levin (for Akaka) Amendment No. 2871 (to Amendment No. 2011), to provide flexibility in paying annuities to certain Federal retirees who return to work. Page S11811 Levin (for Nelson (NE)) Amendment No. 2866 (to Amendment No. 2011), to authorize demonstration projects on the provision of services to military dependent children with autism. Pages S11811-12 Levin (for Nelson (NE)) Amendment No. 2869 (to Amendment No. 2011), to authorize increases in compensation for the faculty and staff of the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences. Page S11812 Levin (for Inhofe) Amendment No. 2293 (to Amendment No. 2011), to authorize the transfer to the Government of Iraq of three C-130 E tactical airlift aircraft. Page S11812 Levin (for Boxer) Amendment No. 2285 (to Amendment No. 2011), to require recurring reports on the readiness of the National Guard for domestic emergencies. Page S11812 Levin (for Salazar) Amendment No. 2880, to require a report on the High-Altitude Aviation Training Site, Colorado. Page S11812 [[Page D1231]] Levin (for Kyl) Amendment No. 2892 (to Amendment No. 2011), to require information regarding asymmetric capabilities in the annual report on the military power of the People's Republic of China. Page S11812 Levin Amendment No. 2278 (to Amendment No. 2011), to authorize a land exchange in Detroit, Michigan. Pages S11812-13 Levin (for Bingaman) Amendment No. 2119 (to Amendment No. 2011), to require a report from the Inspector General of the Department of Defense on a pilot program for the imposition of fines for noncompliance of contractor personnel with requirements for contractor personnel performing private security functions in areas of combat operations. Page S11813 Levin (for Carper/McCaskill) Amendment No. 2123 (to Amendment No. 2011), to provide for training on contingency contracting for contractor personnel outside the defense acquisition workforce. Page S11813 Levin (for Murray) Amendment No. 2921 (to Amendment No. 2011), to require a plan for the participation of members of the National Guard and the Reserves in the benefits delivery at discharge program. Page S11813 Levin (for Hutchinson) Modified Amendment No. 2233 (to Amendment No. 2011), to require a report on the feasibility of housing a National Disaster Response Center at Kelly Air Field, San Antonio, Texas. Pages S11813-14 Levin (for Snowe/Kerry) Amendment No. 2299 (to Amendment No. 2011), to require consideration of small business concerns in evaluating actions that should be taken to address any disadvantage in the performance of contracts to actual and potential contractors and subcontractors of the Department of Defense when employees of such contractors and subcontractors are mobilized as part of a United States military operation overseas. Page S11814 Levin (for Snowe) Amendment No. 2300 (to Amendment No. 2011), to require relevant reports to be submitted to the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship of the Senate. Page S11814 Levin (for Nelson (NE)/Graham) Amendment No. 2864 (to Amendment No. 2011), to modify the provisions relating to mandatory separation for years of service of Reserve officers in the grade of lieutenant general or vice admiral. Page S11814 Levin (for Kennedy) Amendment No. 2262 (to Amendment No. 2011), to modify the sunset date for the Office of the Ombudsman of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program. Page S11814 Levin (for McCaskill) Amendment No. 2939 (to Amendment No. 2011), to provide for independent management reviews of contracts for services. Page S11814 Levin (for McCaskill) Amendment No. 2940 (to Amendment No. 2011), to provide for the enforcement of requirements applicable to undefinitized contractual actions. Page S11814 Levin (for Bond/Leahy) Amendment No. 2893 (to Amendment No. 2011), to enhance the national defense through empowerment of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the enhancement of the functions of the National Guard Bureau. Pages S11814-16 Levin (for Reed/Dole) Amendment No. 2941 (to Amendment No. 2011), to modify the termination of assistance to State and local governments after completion of the destruction of the United States chemical weapons stockpile. Page S11816 Withdrawn: By 51 yeas and 46 nays (Vote No. 343), Boxer Amendment No. 2947 (to Amendment No. 2011), to reaffirm strong support for all the men and women of the United States Armed Forces and to strongly condemn attacks on the honor, integrity, and patriotism of any individual who is serving or has served honorably in the United States Armed Forces, by any person or organization. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the amendment, having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, be withdrawn). Pages S11782-85 By 28 yeas to 70 nays (Vote No. 345), Feingold Amendment No. 2924 (to Amendment No. 2011), to safely redeploy United States troops from Iraq. (A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the amendment, having failed to achieve 60 affirmative votes, be withdrawn). Pages S11788-S11802 Pending: Nelson (NE) (for Levin) Amendment No. 2011, in the nature of a substitute. Page S11782 Warner (for Graham/Kyl) Amendment No. 2064 (to Amendment No. 2011), to strike section 1023, relating to the granting of civil rights to terror suspects. Page S11782 Levin/Reed Amendment No. 2898 (to Amendment No. 2011), to provide for a reduction and transition of United States forces in Iraq. Pages S11802-10, S11816-27, S11828-31 Kyl/Lieberman Amendment No. 3017 (to Amendment No. 2011), to express the sense of the Senate regarding Iran. Pages S11827-28 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at 9:15 a.m., on Friday, September 21, 2007; provided that the time until 9:50 a.m., be equally divided and controlled between Senators Levin and McCain, or [[Page D1232]] their designees; that the time from 9:50 a.m. to 10 a.m., be under the control of the two Leaders, or their designees, with the Majority Leader, or his designee, controlling the final 5 minutes; provided further, that at 10 a.m., Senate vote on or in relation to Levin/Reed Amendment No. 2898 (to Amendment No. 2011) (listed above), with no amendment in order to the amendment prior to the vote; that the amendment be subject to 60 affirmative votes and that if it does not achieve 60 affirmative votes, the amendment be withdrawn; provided further, that upon disposition of Levin/Reed Amendment No. 2898 (to Amendment No. 2011), Senator Biden be recognized to offer an amendment and that whenever the Senate resumes consideration of the Biden Amendment, that there be 30 minutes of debate prior to a vote on or in relation to the amendment, with the time equally divided and controlled between Senators Biden and McCain, or their designees, with no amendment be in order to the amendment prior to the vote; provided further, that the Biden amendment be subject to a threshold of 60 affirmative votes and that if it does not achieve 60 affirmative votes, the amendment be withdrawn. Page S11801 Water Resources Development Act--Conference Report: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that at 3 p.m., on Monday, September 24, 2007, Senate begin consideration of the conference report to accompany 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; provided further, that the time until 5:45 p.m. be divided for debate as follows: 30 minutes under Senator Feingold's control with the remainder of the time under the control of the two Leaders, or their designees; provided further, that at 5:45 p.m., Senate vote on adoption of the conference report. Page S11818 Message from the President: Senate received the following message from the President of the United States: Transmitting, pursuant to law, a report on the continuation of the national emergency that was originally declared on September 23, 2001, with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism; which was referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. (PM-26) Pages S11851-52 Removal of Injunction of Secrecy: The injunction of secrecy was removed from the following treaty: Treaty with United Kingdom Concerning Defense Trade Cooperation (Treaty Doc. No. 110-7). The treaty was transmitted to the Senate today, considered as having been read for the first time, and referred, with accompanying papers, to the Committee on Foreign Relations and ordered to be printed. Page S11914 Padilla Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the nomination of Christopher A. Padilla, of the District of Columbia, to be Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade, be referred jointly to the Committee on Finance and the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. Page S11914 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Marine Corps nomination in the rank of general. Routine lists in the Foreign Service, Marine Corps. Page S11917 Messages from the House: Page S11852 Measures Referred: Page S11852 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Pages S11775, S11852 Executive Communications: Pages S11852-53 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S11853 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S11853-56 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S11856-62 Additional Statements: Pages S11850-51 Amendments Submitted: Pages S11862-S11913 Notices of Hearings/Meetings: Page S11913 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S11913 Record Votes: Three record votes were taken today. (Total--345) Pages S11785, S11787, S11801 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:37 p.m., until 9:15 a.m. on Friday, September 21, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S11914.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) LAND BILLS Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests concluded a hearing to examine S. 1143, to designate the Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse and the surrounding Federal land in the State of Florida as an Outstanding Natural Area and as a unit of the National Landscape System, S. 2034, to amend the Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984 to designate the Copper Salmon Wilderness and to [[Page D1233]] amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the North and South Forks of the Elk River in the State of Oregon as wild or scenic rivers, S. 1377, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the City of Henderson, Nevada, certain Federal land located in the City, S. 1608 and H.R. 815, bills to provide for the conveyance of certain land in Clark County, Nevada, for use by the Nevada National Guard, S. 1740, to amend the Act of February 22, 1889, and the Act of July 2, 1862, to provide for the management of public land trust funds in the State of North Dakota, S. 1802, to adjust the boundaries of the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness in the State of Idaho, S. 1939, to provide for the conveyance of certain land in the Santa Fe National Forest, New Mexico, S. 1940, to reauthorize the Rio Puerco Watershed Management Program, and S. 1433, to amend the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act to provide competitive status to certain Federal employees in the State of Alaska, after receiving testimony from Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Michael Nedd, Assistant Director for Mineral, Realty, and Resource Protection, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; and Mayor Jim Auborn, and Jim Rogers, Friends of Elk River, on behalf of sundry organizations, both of Port Orford, Oregon. NATION'S BRIDGES Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine the condition of our nation's bridges, focusing on the Federal Highway Administration's oversight of structurally deficient bridges with the National Highway System, after receiving testimony from Senators Klobuchar and Coleman; Mary E. Peters, Secretary, and Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General, both of the Department of Transportation; Kirk Steudle, Michigan Department of Transportation, Lansing, on behalf of the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials; and Andrew Herrmann, Hardesty and Hanover, New York, New York, on behalf of the American Society of Civil Engineers. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee ordered favorably reported S. 589, to provide for the transfer of certain Federal property to the United States Paralympics, Incorporated, a subsidiary of the United States Olympic Committee, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine a review of bank treatment of social security benefits, after receiving testimony from Montrice Godard Yakimov, Managing Director for Compliance and Consumer Protection, Office of Thrift Supervision, and Julie L. Williams, First Senior Deputy Comptroller and Chief Counsel, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, both of the Department of the Treasury; Sara A. Kelsey, General Counsel, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Margot Saunders, National Consumer Law Center, Washington, D.C.; and Waverly Taliaferro, New York, New York. HIGH RISK IT PROJECTS Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security held an oversight hearing to examine the Office of Management and Budget's ongoing information systems projects, focusing on the efficacy of the management practices used by agencies to ensure the success of the projects, receiving testimony from Karen S. Evans, Administrator, Electronic Government and Information Technology, Office of Management and Budget; David A. Powner, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, Government Accountability Office; Barry C. West, Chief Information Officer, Department of Commerce; Daniel G. Mintz, Chief Information Officer, Department of Transportation; Michael D. Duffy, Chief Information Officer, Department of the Treasury; Scott Charbo, Chief Information Officer, Department of Homeland Security; and Paul A. Brinkley, Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Business Transformation. Hearing recess subject to the call. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following items: S. 1845, to provide for limitations in certain communications between the Department of Justice and the White House Office relating to civil and criminal investigations, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. 772, to amend the Federal antitrust laws to provide expanded coverage and to eliminate exemptions from such laws that are contrary to the public interest with respect to railroads, with an amendment; S. 1703, to prevent and reduce trafficking in persons, with an amendment; and The nominations of Jennifer Walker Elrod, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and Patrick P. Shen, of Maryland, to be Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices. [[Page D1234]] FUTURE OF WOMEN'S SMALL BUSINESS PROGRAMS Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship: Committee concluded a hearing to examine expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs, focusing on the future of women's small business programs, after receiving testimony from Anoop Prakash, Associate Administrator, Office of Entrepreneurial Development, and Debra S. Ritt, Assistant Inspector General for Auditing, both of the Small Business Administration; William B. Shear, Director, Financial Markets and Community Investments, Government Accountability Office; Wendi Goldsmith, Bioengineering Group, Salem, Massachusetts; Ann Marie Almeida, Association of Women's Business Centers, Camden, Maine; Gale King, Treats By Gale, LLC, Burke, Virginia; and Rosemary Bratton, Wyoming Women's Business Center, Laramie. LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATION Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a joint hearing with the House Committee on Veterans Affairs to examine the legislative presentation by the American Legion, after receiving testimony from Martin F. Conatser, American Legion, Champaign, Illinois. INTELLIGENCE Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee held closed hearings on intelligence matters, receiving testimony from officials of the intelligence community. Committee recessed subject to the call. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 25 public bills, H.R. 3607- 3631; 1 private bill, H.R. 3632; and 4 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 216; and H. Res. 667-669 were introduced. Pages H10695-96 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H10696-97 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 3540, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund (H. Rept. 110-337, Pt. 1) and H.R. 2830, to authorize appropriations for the Coast Guard for fiscal year 2008, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-338, Pt. 1). Page H10695 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative DeGette to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H10629 Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by voice vote. Pages H10629, H10636 Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Honda wherein he resigned from the Committee on Science and Technology, effective today. Page H10631 Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Lincoln Diaz-Balart motion to adjourn by a yea-and-nay vote of 137 yeas to 265 nays, Roll No. 886. Pages H10633-34 Discharge Petition: Representative Boehner moved to discharge the Committees on Rules from the consideration of H. Res. 559, providing for the consideration of the resolution (H. Res. 479) to amend the Rules of the House of Representatives to provide for enforcement of clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives (Discharge Petition No. 2). Page H10697 Committee Elections: The House agreed to H. Res. 667, electing the following Members to serve on certain committees of the House of Representatives: Committee on Armed Services: Representative Langevin. Committee on Homeland Security: Representative Pascrell. Committee on Science and Technology: Representative Richardson (to rank immediately after Representative McNerney). Committee on Small Business: Representatives Higgins and Hirono. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Representative Richardson. Page H10635 FAA Reauthorization Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 2881, to amend title 49, United States Code, to authorize appropriations for the Federal Aviation Administration for fiscal years 2008 through 2011, to improve aviation safety and capacity, and to provide stable funding for the national aviation system, by a recorded vote of 267 ayes to 151 noes, Roll No. 890. Pages H10631-33, H10634-35, H10636-87 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of H. Rept. 110-335, modified by the amendment printed in part B of such report, shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole and shall be considered as the original bill for the purpose of further amendment. Pages H10650-80 [[Page D1235]] Accepted: Oberstar modified manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in part C of H. Rept. 110-335) that requires the Federal Aviation Administration (``FAA'') to begin schedule reduction meetings if aircraft operations exceed hourly maximum arrival and departure rules at airports; call for an update of the Department of Transportation Inspector General's 2000 report on air carrier flight delays, cancellations, and causes for such delays and cancellations. Essential Air Service communities receive additional resources to help their communities continue to receive service, including a repeal of the local participation match, a notice to communities prior to termination of eligibility, procedures for the restoration of eligibility, and the creation of an Office of Rural Aviation. The amendment also provides for labor integration during airline mergers, directs the FAA to conduct rulemakings on flight time limitations, OSHA standards for flight attendants, and aircraft rescue and firefighting standards, and includes provisions on cabin air quality; Page H10680 LaTourette amendment (No. 2 printed in part C of H. Rept. 110-335) that provides the Secretary the authority to grant Airport Improvement Program funds no greater than $1,220,000 to Lake County for the purpose of purchasing the Lost Nation Airport from the city of Willoughby; Pages H10680-81 Poe amendment (No. 3 printed in part C of H. Rept. 110-335) that extends drug and alcohol testing to individuals performing maintenance work on U.S. air carriers at foreign aircraft repair stations; Page H10681 Shays amendment (No. 4 printed in part C of H. Rept. 110-335) that requires a GAO report assessing the possibility of utilizing market- based strategies for air congestion reduction, such as incentivizing airlines to move flights to off-peak times, implementing slotting systems for airports or quotas, and comparing these strategies' effectiveness against redesigning airspace; Pages H10681-82 Hastings (FL) amendment (No. 5 printed in part C of H. Rept. 110-335) that states that Section 807, which establishes a working group on ``Consolidation and Realignment of FAA Facilities'', covers consolidation of FAA regional offices and also ensures that the working group could include representatives of the employees of the regional offices; Page H10682 Costello amendment (No. 6 printed in part C of H. Rept. 110-335) that requires the Secretary of Transportation to issue regulations requiring air carriers to provide initial and annual recurring training for flight attendants and gate attendants regarding serving alcohol, dealing with disruptive passengers, and recognizing intoxicated persons. The training must include situational training on methods of handling an intoxicated person who is belligerent; Pages H10682-84 Klein (FL) amendment (No. 7 printed in part C of H. Rept. 110-335) that requires, subject to appropriations, the Secretary of Transportation to investigate consumer complaints regarding flight cancellations, overbooking of flights, baggage problems, ticket refund problems, incorrect or incomplete fare information, the rights of frequent flyer passengers, and deceptive or misleading advertising. The amendment also requires the Secretary to provide, as an annex to the Department's annual budget request, an estimate of resources that would have been needed to investigate all consumer complaints received the previous fiscal year; and Pages H10684-85 Neugebauer amendment (No. 8 printed in part C of H. Rept. 110-335) that requires the Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration to carry out a study on the feasibility of developing a publicly searchable, Internet Web-based resource that provides information regarding the acceptable height and distance that wind turbines may be installed in relation to aviation sites and the level of obstruction such turbines may present to such sites (by a recorded vote of 418 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 889). Pages H10685-87 Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming changes to reflect the actions of the House. Page H10687 H. Res. 664, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 218 yeas to 196 nays, Roll No. 888, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 189 nays, Roll No. 887. Pages H10634-35 Meeting Hour: Agreed by unanimous consent that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, September 24th for morning hour debate. Page H10690 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed by unanimous consent to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, September 26th. Page H10690 Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he notified Congress of the continuation of the national emergency declared with respect to persons who commit, threaten to commit, or support terrorism--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-59). Page H10690 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H10629. [[Page D1236]] Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H10633- 34, H10634-35, H10635, H10686, H10687. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 3:08 p.m. Committee Meetings ACCOUNTABILITY DURING CONTINGENCY OPERATION Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on Accountability During Contingency Operations: Preventing and Fighting Corruption in Contracting and Establishing and Maintaining Appropriate Controls on Materiel. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Defense: Thomas F. Gimble, Principle Deputy Inspector General; Shay Assad, Director, Defense Procurement and Acquisition Policy and Strategic Sourcing; LTG N. Ross Thompson, USA, Military Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology; Kathryn Condon, Executive Deputy to the Commanding General Army Materiel Command; and Peter Velz, Foreign Affairs Specialist for Iraq, Office of the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Middle East. FEDERAL BUDGET EFFICIENCY Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Using Taxpayers' Dollars Most Efficiently: Perspectives on Performance Budgeting. Testimony was heard from Clay Johnson, III, Deputy Director, Management, OMB; David M. Walker, Comptroller General, GAO; and Peter R. Orszag, Director, CBO. PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM LEAD-TAINTED IMPORTS Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection continued hearings entitled ``Protecting Children From Lead-Tainted Imports.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. MINIMIZING/MITIGATING MORTGAGE FORECLOSURES Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled `` Legislative and Regulatory Options for Minimizing and Mitigating Mortgage Foreclosures.'' Testimony was heard from Henry M. Paulson, Jr., Secretary of the Treasury; Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors, Federal Reserve System; Daniel H. Mudd, President and CEO, Fannie Mae; Richard F. Syron, Chairman and CEO, Freddie Mac; and public witnesses. EAST ASIA AND PACIFIC ASSISTANCE Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and the Global Environment held a hearing on U.S. Assistance in East Asia and the Pacific: An Overview. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of State: Glyn T. Davies, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific Islands, Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs; and Lisa Chiles, Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia and the Near East, U.S. Agency for International Development. FIRST RESPONDERS HEALTH AND SAFETY Committee on Homeland Security: Held a hearing entitled ``Protecting the Protectors: Ensuring the Health and Safety of Our First Responders in the Wake of Catastrophic Disasters.'' Testimony was heard from Jon R. Krohmer, M.D., Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary and Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Office of Health Affairs, Department of Homeland Security; John Howard, M.D., Director, National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; Cynthia A. Basscetta, Director, Health Care, GAO; Mike D. McDaniel, Secretary, Department of Environmental Quality, State of Louisiana; and public witnesses. CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES FEES Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law held a hearing on the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services Fee Increase Rule. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security: Jonathan R. Scharfen, Deputy Director; Rendell Jones, Chief Financial Officer; and Michael Aytes, Associate Director, Domestic Operations; and public witnesses. VIRGIN ISLANDS EDUCATION Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Insular Affairs approved for full Committee action H. R. 53, Virgin Islands National Park School Lease Act. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Ordered reported the following measures: H. Con. Res. 193, Recognizing all hunters across the United States for their continued commitment to safety; H. Res. 303, 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. 584, [[Page D1237]] Supporting the goals and ideals of ``National Life Insurance Awareness Month;'' H. Res. 605, Supporting the goals and ideals of Gold Star Mothers Day; H. Res. 641, Acknowledging the importance of understanding the history of the United States of America and recognizing the need to foster civic responsibility in all citizens; H.R. 2089, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 701 Loyola Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, as the ``Louisiana Armed Services Veterans Post Office;'' H.R. 2276, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 203 North Main Street in Vassar, Michigan, as the ``Corporal Christopher E. Esckelson Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3233, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at Highway 49 South in Piney Woods, Mississippi, as the ``Laurence C. and Grace M. Jones Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3297, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 950 West Trenton Avenue in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, as the ``Nate DeTample Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3307, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 570 Broadway, Bayonne, New Jersey, as the ``Dennis P. Collins Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3308, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 216 Main Street in Atwood, Indiana, as the ``Lance Corporal David K. Fribley Post Office;'' H.R. 3325, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 235 Mountain Road in Suffield, Connecticut, as the ``Corporal Stephen B. Bixler Post Office;'' H.R. 3382, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 299 North William Street in Goldsboro, North Carolina, as the ``Philip A. Baddour, Sr. Post Office;'' H.R. 3518, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1430 South Highway 29 in Cantonment, Florida, as the ``Charles H. Hendix Post Office Building;'' H.R. 1236, To make permanent the authority of the United States Postal Service to issue a special postage stamp to support breast cancer research; H.R. 1110, To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums; H.R. 3530, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1400 Highway 41 North in Inverness, Florida, as the ``Chief Warrant Officer Aaron Weaver Post Office Building;'' H. Con. Res. 210, Supporting the goals and ideals of Sickle Disease Awareness Month; and H.R. 663, Supporting the goals and ideals of Veterans of Foreign Wars Day. SMALL BUSINESS INVESTMENT EXPANSION ACT Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported H.R. 3567, Small Business Investment Expansion Act of 2007. OVERSIGHT--VETERANS' WORKFORCE TRANSITION Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity held an oversight hearing on Licensure and Certification of Transitioning Veterans. Testimony was heard from Leslye A. Arsht, Deputy Under Secretary, Military Community and Family Policy, Department of Defense; John McWiliam, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Veterans' Employment and Training Services, Department of Labor; Keith N. Wilson, Director, Education Service, Veterans Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; and representatives of veterans organizations. FISA Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Held a hearing on FISA with the DNI. Testimony was heard from Michael McConnell, Director, National Intelligence; and Kenneth Wainstein, Assistant Attorney General, National Security, Department of Justice. RENEWABLE ELECTRICITY STANDARDS Select Committee on Energy: Held a hearing entitled ``Renewable Electricity Standards: Lighting the Way.'' Testimony was heard from William Ritter, Governor of Colorado; and public witnesses. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Finance: Business meeting to consider original bills entitled, ``American Infrastructure Investment and Improvement Act'', ``The Habitat and Land Conservation Act of 2007'', and to review and make recommendations on proposed legislation implementing the U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement, 8 a.m., SD-215. House No committee meetings are scheduled. 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 202ÿ09512ÿ092104. 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 D1238]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:15 a.m., Friday, September 21 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will continue consideration of H.R. 1585, National Defense Authorization Act, and after a period of debate, vote on or in relation to Levin/Reed Amendment No. 2898 at 10:00 a.m. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 12:30 p.m., Monday, September 24 House Chamber Program for Monday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Ackerman, Gary L., N.Y., E1943 Allen, Thomas H., Me., E1943 Baldwin, Tammy, Wisc., E1938 Barrow, John, Ga., E1948 Berman, Howard L., Calif., E1945 Bilirakis, Gus M., Fla., E1939 Boustany, Charles W., Jr., La., E1938 Campbell, John, Calif., E1941 Castle, Michael N., Del., E1939 Conyers, John, Jr., Mich., E1942, E1944 Costa, Jim, Calif., E1947 Crenshaw, Ander, Fla., E1945, E1946, E1948 Ellison, Kieth, Minn., E1935, E1936 Garrett, Scott, N.J., E1935, E1937, E1948 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E1946, E1947, E1948, E1950 Hall, Ralph M., Tex., E1943 Hooley, Darlene, Ore., E1949 Hulshof, Kenny C., Mo., E1939 Issa, Darrell E., Calif., E1943 Jackson-Lee, Sheila, Tex., E1938, E1947 Kanjorski, Paul E., Pa., E1940 Lantos, Tom, Calif., E1944, E1946 Lofgren, Zoe, Calif., E1944 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E1935, E1936 McCotter, Thaddeus G., Mich., E1949 Meek, Kendrick B., Fla., E1940 Michaud, Michael H., Me., E1942 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E1938, E1941 Moore, Dennis, Kans., E1945 Payne, Donald M., N.J., E1949 Poe, Ted, Tex., E1938, E1940, E1944 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E1942 Salazar, John T., Colo., E1936, E1937 Slaughter, Louise McIntosh, N.Y., E1936, E1937 Smith, Adrian, Nebr., E1939 Stark, Fortney Pete, Calif., E1940 Thompson, Bennie G., Miss., E1935 Thompson, Mike, Calif., E1937 Weldon, Dave, Fla., E1945 Wolf, Frank R., Va., E1939