Tuesday, October 23, 2007 [[Page D1401]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS Senate passed H.R. 3043, Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Act. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S13205-S13271 Measures Introduced: Six bills were introduced, as follows: S. 2216- 2221. Page S13261 Measures Reported: 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. Rept. No. 110-203) Page S13261 Measures Passed: Labor/HHS/Education Appropriations Act: By 75 yeas to 19 nays (Vote No. 391), Senate passed H.R. 3043, making appropriations for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, after taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S13206-18, S13218-42 Adopted: Roberts Amendment No. 3365 (to Amendment No. 3325), to fund the small business child care grant program. Pages S13206, S13209-10 By 65 yeas to 28 nays (Vote No. 383), Enzi Amendment No. 3437 (to Amendment No. 3325), to prohibit the use of funds to modify certain HIV/AIDS funding formulas. Pages S13206-09, S13214-15 Harkin (for Smith) Modified Amendment No. 3351 (to Amendment No. 3325), to provide funds for programs under the Older Americans Act of 1965, for supportive services and senior centers to allow area agencies on aging to account for projected growth in the population of older individuals and inflation, for congregate and home-delivered nutrition services to help account for increased gas and food costs, and for the National Family Caregiver Support Program to fund the program at the level authorized for that program, for fiscal year 2008. Pages S13216-17 Harkin (for Smith/Biden) Modified Amendment No. 3376 (to Amendment No. 3325), to provide funding for the National Violent Death Reporting System within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pages S13216-17 Harkin (for Lautenberg) Amendment No. 3397 (to Amendment No. 3325), to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services, acting through the Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, to submit a report to the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate on workers' compensation set-asides under the Medicare secondary payer set-aside provisions under title XVIII of the Social Security Act. Pages S13216-17 Harkin (for Cardin) Amendment No. 3401 (to Amendment No. 3325), to express the sense of the Senate that the Secretary of Health and Human Services should maintain ``deemed status'' coverage under the Medicare program for clinical trials that are federally funded or reviewed as provided for by the Executive Memorandum of June 2000. Pages S13216-17 Harkin (for Feingold) Modified Amendment No. 3430 (to Amendment No. 3325), to require the Comptroller General of the United States to submit a report to Congress on the strategies utilized to assist students in meeting State student academic achievement standards, including achieving proficiency on State academic assessments. (Subsequent to its adoption, the amendment was further modified.) Pages S13216-17 Harkin (for Hatch) Amendment No. 3436 (to Amendment No. 3325), to assess the impact of education funding in western states with a high proportion of public lands. Pages S13216-17 Harkin (for Lieberman/Dodd) Amendment No. 3418 (to Amendment No. 3325), to prohibit the use of funds to close a field office of the Social Security Administration before submission of a report justifying the closure. Pages S13216-17 Harkin (for DeMint) Amendment No. 3388 (to Amendment No. 3325), to prohibit the use of funds [[Page D1402]] by cities that provide safe havens to illegal drug users. Pages S13216-17 Kerry Amendment No. 3398 (to Amendment No. 3325), to provide funding for the Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program. Pages S13217-18 Harkin (for Hatch/Bennett) Modified Amendment No. 3443 (to Amendment No. 3325), to provide for a study on retreat room and pillar mining practices. Page S13224 Harkin (for Kennedy) Modified Amendment No. 3433 (to Amendment No. 3325), to require the Secretary of Education to negotiate or renegotiate a voluntary flexible agreement so that the agreement is cost neutral. Page S13225 By a unanimous vote of 92 yeas (Vote No. 386), Cardin Amendment No. 3400 (to Amendment No. 3325), to provide support to Iraqis and Afghans who arrive in the United States under the Special Immigrant Visa program. Pages S13206, S13225 By 91 yeas to 3 nays (Vote No. 387), Ensign Amendment No. 3342 (to Amendment No. 3325), to prohibit the use of funds to administer Society Security benefit payments under a totalization agreement with Mexico. Pages S13206, S13222-23, S13225-26 By 92 yeas to 2 nays (Vote No. 388), Ensign Amendment No. 3352 (to Amendment No. 3325), to prohibit the use of funds to process claims based on illegal work for purposes of receiving Social Security benefits. Pages S13206, S13223, S13226 Vitter Modified Amendment No. 3328 (to Amendment No. 3325), of a perfecting nature. Pages S13206, S13226-27 By 88 yeas to 6 nays (Vote No. 389), Bingaman Modified Amendment No. 3440 (to Amendment No. 3325), of a perfecting nature. Page S13227 Grassley/Sanders Modified Amendment No. 3396 (to Amendment No. 3325), to invest in innovation and education to improve the competitiveness of the United States in the global economy. Pages S13227-29 Harkin (for Durbin) Amendment No. 3449 (to Amendment No. 3404), to increase the number of nursing faculty and students in the United States, to encourage global health care cooperation. Pages S13229-30 Harkin (for Schumer/Hutchison) Amendment No. 3404 (to Amendment No. 3325), to increase the domestic supply of nurses and physical therapists. Pages S13229-30 Harkin (for DeMint) Amendment No. 3450 (to Amendment No. 3325), to prevent Federal employees from purchasing unnecessary first class or premium class airline tickets at taxpayers' expense. Page S13230 Harkin/Specter Amendment No. 3325, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S13206-18, S13218-41 Rejected: Coburn Amendment No. 3358 (to Amendment No. 3325), to require Congress to provide health care for all children in the U.S. before funding special interest pork projects. (By 68 yeas to 26 nays (Vote No. 384), Senate tabled the amendment). Pages S13206, S13212-14, S13215 DeMint Amendment No. 3387 (to Amendment No. 3325), to replace non- competitive earmarks for the AFL-CIO with competitive grants. (By 60 yeas to 34 nays (Vote No. 385), Senate tabled the amendment). Pages S13210-12, S13215-16 By 40 yeas to 54 nays (Vote No. 390), McConnell/Lott motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Appropriations with instructions to report the same back to the Senate with the total discretionary amounts not to exceed the amount, one hundred forty billion, nine hundred twenty million dollars ($140,920,000,000), recommended in the President's budget submitted to Congress for Fiscal Year 2008. Pages S13230-32 Withdrawn: Lautenberg/Snowe Amendment No. 3350 (to Amendment No. 3325), to prohibit the use of funds to provide abstinence education that includes information that is medically inaccurate. Pages S13206, S13217 Landrieu Amendment No. 3446 (to Amendment No. 3325), relative to the Elementary and Secondary School Counseling program. Pages S13206, S13217 Dorgan Amendment No. 3345 (to Amendment No. 3325), to require that the Secretary of Labor report to Congress regarding jobs lost and created as a result of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Pages S13206, S13224 Chambliss Modified Amendment No. 3391 (to Amendment No. 3325), to provide for a declaration of a public health emergency with respect to Sumter County, Georgia. Pages S13206, S13230 Senate insisted on its 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 Harkin, Inouye, Kohl, Murray, Landrieu, Durbin, Reed, Lautenberg, Byrd, Specter, Cochran, Gregg, Craig, Hutchison, Stevens, Shelby, and Domenici. Pages S13224, S13242 DREAM Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing that on Wednesday, October 24, 2007, following disposition of the nomination of Leslie Southwick, of Mississippi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2205, to authorize the cancellation of removal and adjustment of status of certain alien students who are long-term United States residents and who entered the United [[Page D1403]] States as children, provided that there be 20 minutes of debate equally divided between the Majority and Republican Leaders, or their designees, prior to the vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill. Page S13224 Removal of Injunction of Secrecy: The injunction of secrecy was removed from the following treaty: Protocol of Amendments to Convention on International Hydrographic Organization (Treaty Doc. No. 110-9). 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 S13270 Southwick Nomination--Agreement: Senate began consideration of the nomination of Leslie Southwick, of Mississippi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. Pages S13242-54 A motion was entered to close further debate on the nomination, and, in accordance with the provisions of Rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, and pursuant to the unanimous-consent agreement of Tuesday, October 23, 2007, a vote on cloture will occur at 11:00 a.m., on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. Page S13242 A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the nomination at 9:00 a.m., on Wednesday, October 24, 2007, with 2 hours of debate equally divided between the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary, or their designees, that the time from 10:40 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. be divided and controlled by the Majority and Republican Leaders, that the Majority Leader control the final 10 minutes, and Senate then vote on the motion to invoke cloture thereon, and that if cloture is invoked Senate then vote immediately on confirmation of the nomination; provided further, that if cloture is not invoked on the nomination, the nomination be returned to the calendar. Page S13270 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: James Shinn, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense. Robert A. Sturgell, of Maryland, to be Administrator of the Federal Aviation Administration for the term of five years. Routine lists in the Foreign Service. Pages S13270-71 Messages from the House: Pages S13257-58 Measures Referred: Page S13258 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Page S13258 Measures Read the First Time: Page S13258 Petitions and Memorials: Pages S13258-61 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S13261-63 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S13263-67 Amendments Submitted: Pages S13267-69 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S13269-70 Record Votes: Nine record votes were taken today. (Total--391) Pages S13215, S13216, S13225, S13226, S13227, S13232, S13242 Adjournment: Senate convened at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:28 p.m., until 9 a.m. on Wednesday, October 24, 2007. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S13270.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) RAILROAD REGULATION Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security concluded an oversight hearing to examine the Surface Transportation Board and regulation related to railroads, focusing on recent changes that have occurred in railroad rates and how those changes compare to changes in rail rates since 1985, the extent of captivity in the industry and Surface Transportation Board (STB) efforts to protect captive shippers, and STB actions to address Government Accountability Office (GAO) recent recommendations, including S. 953, to amend title 49, United States Code, to ensure competition in the rail industry, enable rail customers to obtain reliable rail service, and provide those customers with a reasonable process for challenging rate and service disputes, and 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, after receiving testimony from Charles D. Nottingham, Chairman, Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation; JayEtta Z. Hecker, Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO; Charles W. Moorman, Norfolk Southern Corporation, Norfolk, Virginia, on behalf of the Association of American Railroads; David J. McGregor, BASF Corporation, Florham Park, New Jersey; John B. Ficker, National Industrial Transportation League, and Glenn English, National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, both of Arlington, Virginia; and Robert Carlson, North Dakota Farmers [[Page D1404]] Union, Jamestown, on behalf of sundry organizations. NOMINATIONS Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Todd J. Zinser, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Commerce, Robert Clarke Brown, of Ohio, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, who was introduced by Senators Brown and Voinovich, and Carl B. Kress, of California, and A. Paul Anderson, of Florida, who was introduced by Senator Nelson (FL), both to be a Federal Maritime Commissioner, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. GLOBAL WARMING HEALTH IMPACTS Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the human impacts of global warming, after receiving testimony from Julie L. Gerberding, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Department of Health and Human Services; Donald R. Roberts, Division of Tropical Health, Department of Preventive Medicine and Biometrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences; Susan R. Cooper, Tennessee Department of Health, Nashville, on behalf of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials; and Michael McCally, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Washington, D.C. SIX YEARS AFTER ANTHRAX ATTACKS Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the anthrax attacks of September and October 2001, focusing on our preparedness to respond to bioterrorism, after receiving testimony from Jay M. Cohen, Under Secretary of Homeland Security for Science and Technology; Gerald W. Parker, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response, Department of Health and Human Services; Keith Rhodes, Chief Technologist, Center for Technology and Engineering, Applied Research and Methods, Government Accountability Office; and Tara O'Toole, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Center for Biosecurity, Baltimore, Maryland. ENERGY EMPLOYEES OCCUPATIONAL ILLNESS COMPENSATION PROGRAM Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the efficacy of the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program (EEOICPA), focusing on our Cold War heroes, after receiving testimony from Senator Reid; Shelby Hallmark, Director, Office of Worker's Compensation Programs, Employment Standards Administration, and Malcolm D. Nelson, Ombudsman for the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program, both of the Department of Labor; John Howard, Director, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services; John Melius, New York State Laborers Health and Safety Trust Fund, Albany; and Ken Silver, East Tennessee State University Department of Environmental Health, Johnson City. FBI STRATEGIC PLAN Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) strategic plan, after receiving testimony from Thomas H. Kean, former Chairman, and Lee H. Hamilton, former Vice Chairman, both of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States; and Willie T. Hulon, Executive Assistant Director, and Philip Mudd, Associate Executive Assistant Director, both of the National Security Branch, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Department of Justice. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 24 public bills, H.R. 3927- 3950; and 6 resolutions, H. Res. 766-771, were introduced. Pages H11933-34 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H11934-35 Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today. Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative Lincoln Davis to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H11849 Recess: The House recessed at 9:06 a.m. and reconvened at 10 a.m. Page H11850 [[Page D1405]] Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. Bobby L. Johnson, First Assembly of God, Van Buren, Arkansas. Page H11850 Privileged Resolution: The House agreed to table H. Res. 767, raising a question of the privileges of the House, by a yea-and-nay vote of 196 yeas to 173 nays with 8 voting ``present'', Roll No. 986. Pages H11853-54 Point of Personal Privilege: Representative Stark rose to a point of personal privilege and was recognized. Page H11854 Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measures: Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007: H.R. 1955, amended, to prevent homegrown terrorism, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 404 yeas to 6 nays, Roll No. 993; Pages H11854-56, H11899-H11900 Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Act of 2007: H.R. 1680, amended, to authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to regulate the sale of ammonium nitrate to prevent and deter the acquisition of ammonium nitrate by terrorists; Pages H11862-66 Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To authorize the Secretary of Homeland Security to regulate the sale of ammonium nitrate to prevent and deter the acquisition of ammonium nitrate by terrorists, and for other purposes.''. Page H11866 Eliminating the exemption from State regulation for certain securities designated by national securities exchanges: H.R. 2868, amended, to eliminate the exemption from State regulation for certain securities designated by national securities exchanges; Pages H11866-68 Joshua Omvig Veterans Suicide Prevention Act: Concur in Senate amendment to H.R. 327, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop and implement a comprehensive program designed to reduce the incidence of suicide among veterans, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 417 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 987--clearing the measure for the President; Pages H11868-73, H11886-87 Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center Designation Act: H.R. 1808, to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Augusta, Georgia, as the ``Charlie Norwood Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center'', by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 417 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 988; Pages H11873-78, H11887-88 Milo C. Huempfner Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic Designation Act: H.R. 2408, to designate the Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic in Green Bay, Wisconsin, as the ``Milo C. Huempfner Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic''; Pages H11878-79 Condemning the actions of September 7, 2007, resulting in damage to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial: H. Res. 680, to condemn the actions of September 7, 2007, resulting in damage to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 418 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 989; Pages H11879-83, H11888 Supporting and encouraging greater support for Veterans Day each year: H. Res. 237, to support and encourage greater support for Veterans Day each year; and Pages H11883-85 Third Higher Education Extension Act of 2007: H.R. 3927, to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher Education Act of 1965. Pages H11385-86 Amending the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to extend the authorization for certain national heritage areas--Rule for Consideration: The House agreed to H. Res. 765, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 1483, to amend the Omnibus Parks and Public Lands Management Act of 1996 to extend the authorization for certain national heritage areas, by a yea-and-nay vote of 231 yeas to 186 nays, Roll No. 992, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 228 yeas to 191 nays, Roll No. 991. Pages H11894-97, H11898-99 Virginia Ridge and Valley Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 1011, to designate additional National Forest System lands in the State of Virginia as wilderness or a wilderness study area, to designate the Kimberling Creek Potential Wilderness Area for eventual incorporation in the Kimberling Creek Wilderness, to establish the Seng Mountain and Bear Creek Scenic Areas, and to provide for the development of trail plans for the wilderness areas and scenic areas, by voice vote. Pages H11900-08 Agreed to the Lamborn motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Natural Resources with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 236 yeas to 178 nays, Roll No. 994. Subsequently, Representative Rahall reported the bill back to the House with the amendment and the amendment was agreed to. Pages H11907-08 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee [[Page D1406]] on Natural Resources now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopted. Page H11902 Accepted: Goodlatte amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-403) that changes the boundary of the Brush Mountain East wilderness area, removing 26 acres which contain a power line; changes the boundaries of the Seng Mountain Scenic Area, removing 1,263 acres from the area to allow continued use of the Barton Gap Motorized trail and wildlife habitat management in key areas; changes trail language for the Raccoon Branch area, removing specific requirements to locate the trail along Rt. 650 and changing the connection road to Forest Development Road 49352. Pages H11905-07 H. Res. 763, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by voice vote after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 225 yeas to 190 nays, Roll No. 990. Pages H11888-94, H11897-98 Quorum Calls--Votes: Nine yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H11853-54, H11886-87, H11887- 88, H11888, H11897-98, H11898, H11898-99, H11899-H11900, and H11907-08. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at 9:43 p.m. Committee Meetings AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FDA, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies held a hearing on Broadband: Connecting Rural America. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade. And Consumer Protection approved for full Committee action, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 2601, To extend the authority of the Federal Trade Commission to collect fees to administer and enforce the provisions relating to the ``Do-not-call'' registry of the Telemarketing Sales Rule; H.R. 3461, Safeguarding America's Families by Enhancing and Reorganizing New and Efficient Technologies Act of 2007; and H.R. 3526, To include all banking agencies within the existing regulatory authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act with respect to depository institutions, and for other purposes. The Subcommittee also held a hearing on Enhancing FTC Consumer Protection in Financing Dealings, with Telemarketers, and on the Internet. Testimony was heard from Lydia B. Barnes, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC. MARKET TO MARKET EXTENSION ACT OF 2007 Committee on Financial Service: Held a hearing on H.R. 647, Market to Market Extension Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from Theodore K. Toon, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Affordable Housing Preservation, Department of Housing and Urban Development; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ordered reported, as amended, the following measures: H.R. 3887, William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2007; H.R. 275, Global Online Freedom Act of 2007; H.R. 3890, Block Burmese JADE Act of 2007; and H.R. 1746, Holocaust Insurance Accountability Act of 2007. The Committee favorably considered the following measures and approved a motion urging the Chairman to request that they be considered on the Suspension Calendar: H.R. 2705, amended, Compacts of Free Association Amendments Act of 2007; H.R. 2949, amended, Eurasia Foundation Act; H.R. 3320, Support for the Museum of the History of Polish Jews Act of 2007; H.R. 3913, To amend the International Center Act to authorize the lease or sublease of certain property described in such Act; H.R. 3912, Naval Vessel Transfer Act; H. Res. 435, amended, Expressing concern relating to the threatening behavior of the Iranian regime and its leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and the activities of terrorist organizations sponsored by that regime in Latin America; H. Res. 550, amended, Congratulating the people of Ethiopia on the second millennium of Ethiopia; H. Res. 573, amended, Recognizing and commending the efforts of the United States public and Advocacy groups to raise awareness about and help end the worsening humanitarian crisis and genocide in Darfur, Sudan; H. Res. 726, amended, Calling on the President of the United States and the international community to take immediate steps to respond to and prevent the acts of rape and sexual violence against women and girls in Darfur, Sudan, eastern Chad and the Central African Republic; H. Res. 740, amended, Condemning in the strongest terms the attacks on African Union peacekeepers that occurred in Haskanita, Darfur, Sudan, on September 29, 2007; H. Res. 747, Recognizing the religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali; H. Con. Res. 234, Calling on the [[Page D1407]] government of the People's Republic of China to respect the human rights of North Korean refugees; and H. Con. Res. 236, amended, Recognizing the close relationship between the United States and the Republic of San Marino. IRAN SANCTIONS AND REGIONAL SECURITY Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Middle East and South held a hearing on Iran Sanctions and Regional Security. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. VOTER REGISTRATION AND LIST MAINTENANCE Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Elections held a hearing on Voter Registration and List Maintenance. Testimony was heard from Chris Nelson, Secretary of State, South Dakota; Larry Leake, Chairman, Board of Elections, North Carolina; Patricia Hollarn, Supervisor of Elections, Okaloosa County, Florida; Jackie Harris, General Registrar, Fairfax County, Virginia; and public witnesses. ALLEGATIONS OF SELECTIVE PROSECUTION Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security and the Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law held a joint hearing on Allegations of Selective Prosecution: The Erosion of Public Confidence in Our Federal Justice System. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. GENOCIDE AND THE RULE OF LAW Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing on Genocide and the Rule of Law. Testimony was heard from Eli Rosenbaum, Director, Office of Special Investigations, Criminal Division, Department of Justice; and public witnesses. HARDROCK MINING AND RECLAMATION ACT OF 2007; PUERTO RICO DEMOCRACY ACT OF 2007 Committee on Natural Resources: Ordered reported, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 2262, Hardrock Mining and Reclamation Act of 2007; and H.R. 900, Puerto Rico Democracy Act of 2007. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 816, Orchard Detention Basin Flood Control Act; H.R. 1311, Nevada Cancer Institute Expansion Act; H.R. 1922, Jupiter Inlet Lighthouse Outstanding Natural Area Act of 2007; and H.R. 2246, To validate certain conveyances made by the Union Pacific Railroad Company of lands located in Reno, Nevada, originally conveyed by the United States to facilitate construction of transcontinental railroads. Testimony was heard from Representatives Berkley, Porter, and Mahoney of Florida; Mike Nedd, Assistant Director, Minerals, Realty and Recourse Protection, Bureau of Land Management, Department of the Interior; Karen J. Golonka, Mayor, Jupiter, Florida; Robert Cashell, Mayor, Reno, Nevada; and a public witness. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES; URANIUM MINING ON NAVAJO NATION Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Ordered reported the following measures: H. Res. 684, Congratulating Shawn Johnson on her victory in becoming the 2007 World Artistic Gymnastics Champion in women's gymnastics; H. Res. 759, Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the Mass Movement for Soviet Jewish Freedom and the 20th Anniversary of the Freedom Sunday Rally for Soviet Jewry on the Mall in Washington, D.C.; H. Res. 728, Expressing the support and sympathy of the House of Representatives and the people of the United States for the victims of the devastating flooding that occurred across many parts of Ohio in August 2007 and commending the communities, volunteer organizations, churches and emergency response agencies for their continuing work to restore the affected areas across the state; H.R. 3446, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 202 East Michigan Avenue in Marshall, Michigan, as the `` Michael W. Schragg Post Office Building''; H.R. 3470, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 744 West Oglethorpe Highway in Hinesville, Georgia, as the ``John Sidney `Sid' Flowers Post Office Building''; H.R. 3511, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2150 East Hardtner Drive in Urania, Louisiana, as the ``Murphy A. Tannehill Post Office Building;'' H.R. 3569, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16731 Santa Ana Avenue in Fontana, California, as the ``Beatrice E. Watson Post Office Building''; and S. 1896, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 11 Central Street in Hillsborough, New Hampshire, as the ``Officer Jeremy Todd Charon Post Office.'' The Committee also held a hearing on the Health and Environment Impacts of Uranium Contamination in the Navajo Nation. Testimony was heard from Wayne Nastri, Regional Administrator, Region 9, EPA; David Geiser, Deputy Director, Office of Legacy Management, Department of Energy; Charles [[Page D1408]] E. Miller, Director, Office of Federal and State Materials and Environmental Management Programs, NRC; Robert G. McSwain, Acting Director, Indian Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services; and Jerry Gidner, Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. CYBERSECURITY--EFFORTS TO SECURE INTERNET INFRASTRUCTURE Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Information, Census, and National Archives held a hearing on Cybersecurity: A Review of Public and Private Sector Efforts To Secure Our Nation's Internet Infrastructure. Testimony was heard from Gregory T. Garcia, Assistant Secretary, Cyber Security and Communications, Department of Homeland Security; Gregory C. Wilshusen, Director, Information Technology, GAO; Daniel S. Ross, Chief Information Officer, State of Missouri; and public witnesses. GEOSTATIONARY WEATHER SATELLITE PROGRAM Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and Environment held a hearing on GAO's Report on the Status of NOAA's Geostationary Weather Satellite Program. Testimony was heard from David Powner, Director, Information Technology Management Issues, GAO; and Mary Ellen Kicza, Assistant Administrator, Satellite and Information Services, NOAA, Department of Commerce. HIGHWAY BRIDGE INSPECTION Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Highways and Transit held a hearing on Highway Bridge Inspection. Testimony was heard from King Gee, Associate Administrator, Infrastructure, Federal Highway Administration, Department of Transportation; Matthew Garret, Director, Department of Transportation, State of Oregon; Bart Andersen, Level 2 Bridge Inspector, Department of Transportation, State of Minnesota; and public witnesses. CIA ACTIVITY--PART III Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis, and Counterintelligence met in executive session to continue hearings on CIA Activity, Part III. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2007 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: business meeting to mark up the 2007 Farm Bill, 10 a.m., SR-328A. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment, to hold hearings to examine international accounting standards, focusing on opportunities, challenges, and global convergence issues, 2 p.m., SD-538. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: to hold hearings to examine the future of radio, 10 a.m., SR-253. Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Private Sector and Consumer Solutions to Global Warming and Wildlife Protection, 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, 2:30 p.m., SD- 406. Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on African Affairs, to hold hearings to examine the United States role in consolidating peace and democracy in the Great Lakes region, 9:30 a.m., SD-419. Full Committee, business meeting to consider the nominations of Henrietta Holsman Fore, of Nevada, to be Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, Robin Renee Sanders, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Barry Leon Wells, of Ohio, to be Ambassador to the Republic of The Gambia, Mark M. Boulware, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania, James D. McGee, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Zimbabwe, Ronald K. McMullen, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to the State of Eritrea, P. Robert Fannin, of Arizona, to be Ambassador to the Dominican Republic, Christopher Egan, of Massachusetts, to be Representative of the United States of America to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, with the rank of Ambassador, Louis John Nigro, Jr., of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Chad, David T. Johnson, of Georgia, to be an Assistant Secretary of State (International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs), Paul E. Simons, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Chile, Gail Dennise Mathieu, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Namibia, Dan Mozena, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Angola, Eunice S. Reddick, of New York, to be Ambassador to the Gabonese Republic, and to serve concurrently and without additional compensation as Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Daniel V. Speckhard, of Wisconsin, to be Ambassador to Greece, Thomas F. Stephenson, of California, to be Ambassador to the Portuguese Republic, Vincent Obsitnik, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Slovak Republic, William H. Frist, of Tennessee, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, [[Page D1409]] George E. Pataki, of New York, to be a Representative of the United States of America to the Sixty-second Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations; to be immediately followed by an open hearing to examine issues relative to the global fight against HIV/AIDS, 1:45 p.m., SD-419. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: to hold hearings to examine ways to build an effective terrorist screening system, 10 a.m., SD-342. Committee on the Judiciary: to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Ronald Jay Tenpas, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General, 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. Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the role of federally- funded university research in the patent system, 1:30 p.m., SD-226. Committee on Veterans' Affairs: to hold hearings to examine pending legislation, 9:30 a.m., SD-562. Special Committee on Aging: to hold hearings to examine hidden 401K fees, focusing on ways that disclosure can increase retirement security, 10:30 a.m., SD-628. House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management, hearing to review reauthorization of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, 1:30 p.m., 1300 Longworth. Committee on Armed Services, hearing on Air Force Strategic initiatives, 9 a.m., 2118 Rayburn. Committee on the Budget, hearing on the Growing Budgetary Costs of the Iraq War, 10 a.m., 210 Cannon. Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``NASPER'': Why Has the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting Act Not Been Implemented? 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, hearing entitled ``Legislative Proposals on Reforming Mortgage Practices,'' 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Foreign Affairs, hearing on U.S. Policy in the Middle East, 9:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border Maritime, and Global Counterterrorism and the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight, joint hearing entitled ``The Future of Border Security: Can SBInet Succeed?'' 2 p.m., 311 Cannon. Committee on House Administration, oversight hearing on the Library of Congress: Current Issues in Library Management, 11 a.m., 1310 Longworth. Committee on the Judiciary, to mark up the following: the Procedural Fairness for September 11th Victims Act of 2007; H.R. 2405, Proud to Be an American Act; H.R. 2884, Kendell Frederick Citizenship Assistance Act; H.R. 1512, To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to provide for compensation to State incarcerating undocumented aliens charged with a felony or two or more misdemeanors; H.R. 1312, Arts Require Timely Service (ARTS) Act; H.R. 3609, Emergency Home Ownership and Mortgage Equity Protection Act of 2007; H.R. 2830, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007; and to consider a resolution that submissions to the Committee on its website tip line for Justice Department employees be received in executive session; and H.R. 2128 Sunshine in the Courtroom Act of 2007, 10:15 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans, hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1187, Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine Sanctuaries Boundary Modification and Protection Act; H.R. 1907, Coastal and Estuarine Land Protection Act; and H.R. 3352, Hydrographic Services Improvement Act Amendments of 2007, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Subcommittee on Water and Power, hearing on the following bills: H.R. 496, Tumalo Water Conservation Project Act of 2007; H.R. 3323, Goleta Water Distribution System Conveyance Act of 2007; H.R. 3437, Jackson Gulch Rehabilitation Act of 2007; and H.R. 3739, To amend the Arizona Water Settlements Act to modify the requirements for the statement of findings, 2 p.m., 1334 Longworth. Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Domestic Policy, hearing on Upholding the Spirit of CRA: Do CRA Rating Accurately Reflect Bank Practices? 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Rules, to consider the following measures: H.R. 3685, Employment Non-Discrimination Act of 2007; and H.R. 3867, Small Business Contracting Program Improvements Act, 2 p.m., H-313 Capitol. Committee on Science and Technology, to mark up the following: H.R. 1834, National Ocean Exploration Program Act; H.R. 2406, To authorize the National Institute of Standards and Technology to increase its efforts in support of the integration of the healthcare information enterprise in the United States; and H.R. 3877, Mine Communications Technology Innovation Act, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee in Small Business Subcommittee on Finance and Tax, hearing on Pension Parity: Addressing the Inequities between Retirement Plan Options for Small and Large Businesses, 10 a.m. 2360 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Aviation, hearing on Aviation and the Environment: Noise, 11 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing on Sharing Electronic Medical Records between Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs, 10 a.m., 334 Cannon. Committee on Ways and Means, to mark up the Trade and Globalization Assistance Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth. Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, hearing on The Gas is Greener on the Other Side: the Future of Biofuels, 9:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn. 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. 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[[Page D1410]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9 a.m., Wednesday, October 24 Senate Chamber Program for Wednesday: Senate will continue consideration of the nomination of Leslie Southwick, of Mississippi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and after a period of debate, vote on the motion to invoke cloture thereon, and then vote on the confirmation of the nomination if cloture is invoked; following the disposition of the nomination, Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 2205, DREAM Act, and vote on the motion to invoke cloture thereon. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Wednesday, October 24 House Chamber Program for Wednesday: To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Akin, W. Todd, Mo., E2217 Baca, Joe, Calif., E2218 Bordallo, Madeleine Z., Guam, E2215 Boyda, Nancy E., Kans., E2210 Brady, Robert A., Pa., E2214, E2215 Butterfield, G.K., N.C., E2207, E2209 Capito, Shelley Moore, W.Va., E2208 Costa, Jim, Calif., E2206 Doolittle, John T., Calif., E2209 Ellison, Kieth, Minn., E2211, E2213 Eshoo, Anna G., Calif., E2210 Everett, Terry, Ala., E2214 Farr, Sam, Calif., E2207 Israel, Steve, N.Y., E2209 Johnson, Timothy V., Ill., E2206 Kind, Ron, Wisc., E2216 King, Peter T., N.Y., E2214 Kingston, Jack, Ga., E2211 Klein, Ron, Fla., E2216 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E2203, E2203 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E2216 McHugh, John M., N.Y., E2209 McIntyre, Mike, N.C., E2208 McMorris Rodgers, Cathy, Wash., E2207 Mahoney, Tim, Fla., E2216 Marchant, Kenny, Tex., E2217, E2218 Markey, Edward J., Mass., E2210 Michaud, Michael H., Me., E2208 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E2207 Moore, Gwen, Wisc., E2208 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E2217 Rahall, Nick J., II, W.Va., E2214 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E2211, E2213 Reyes, Silvestre, Tex., E2206 Ross, Mike, Ark., E2203, E2206 Shuler, Heath, N.C., E2217 Sires, Albio, N.J., E2208 Tancredo, Thomas G., Colo., E2217 Towns, Edolphus, N.Y., E2211, E2212, E2213 Upton, Fred, Mich., E2210 Watt, Melvin L., N.C., E2213 Wilson, Joe, S.C., E2215