Thursday, April 3, 2008 [[Page D367]] Daily Digest Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S2367-S2590 Measures Introduced: Ten bills and six resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2812-2821, S. Res. 499-503, and S. Con. Res. 73. Pages S2435-36 Measures Reported: S. Res. 468, designating April 2008 as ``National 9-1-1 Education Month''. S. 579, to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants for the development and operation of research centers regarding environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. Page S2435 Measures Passed: Honoring Fallen Members of the United States Armed Forces: by a unanimous vote of 95 yeas (Vote No. 87), Senate agreed to S. Res. 501, honoring the sacrifice of the members of the United States Armed Forces who have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Page S2401 Fair Housing Act 40th Anniversary: Senate agreed to S. Res. 503, recognizing and honoring the 40th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act and the 20th anniversary of the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988. Pages S2589-90 National Health Care Decisions Day: Senate agreed to S. Con. Res. 73, expressing Congressional support for the goals and ideals of National Health Care Decisions Day. Pages S2588-89 Measures Considered: New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act and the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax act: Senate began consideration of H.R. 3221, moving the United States toward greater energy independence and security, developing innovative new technologies, reducing carbon emissions, creating green jobs, protecting consumers, increasing clean renewable energy production, and modernizing our energy infrastructure, and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for the production of renewable energy and energy conservation, after agreeing to the motion to proceed to its consideration, and taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S2368-S2401, S2401-24 Rejected: Durbin/Reid Amendment No. 4388 (to Amendment No. 4387), to address the treatment of primary mortgages in bankruptcy. (By 58 yeas to 36 nays (Vote No. 88), Senate tabled the amendment). Pages S2370-S2401, S2403 Pending: Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 4387, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S2368-S2401, S2401-24 Voinovich Amendment No. 4406 (to Amendment No. 4387), to protect families most vulnerable to foreclosure due to a sudden loss of income by extending the depreciation incentive to loss companies that have accumulated alternative minimum tax and research and development tax credits. Pages S2403-07 Landrieu Modified Amendment No. 4389 (to Amendment No. 4387), to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow use of amended income tax returns to take into account receipt of certain hurricane-related casualty loss grants by disallowing previously taken casualty loss deductions, and to waive the deadline on the construction of GO Zone property which is eligible for bonus depreciation. Pages S2413, S2423-24 Sanders Amendment No. 4401 (to Amendment No. 4387), to establish a national consumer credit usury rate. Pages S2415-19 Cardin/Ensign Amendment No. 4421 (to Amendment No. 4387), to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow a credit against income tax for the purchase of a principal residence by a first-time homebuyer. Pages S2419-22 During consideration of this measure today, the Senate also took the following action: By 44 yeas to 40 nays (Vote No. 89), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to waive section 201 of S. Con. Res. 21, FY08 Congressional Budget Resolution, with respect to consideration of Murray Amendment No. 4397 (to [[Page D368]] Amendment No. 4387), to increase the funding for housing counseling resources, to condition Senate consideration of any tax cut reconciliation legislation on previous enactment of legislation to provide an outpatient prescription drug benefit under the Medicare program that is consistent with Medicare reform. Subsequently, the pay- as-you-go point of order that the amendment would cause or increase an on-budget deficit for either of the applicable time periods set out in S. Con. Res. 21, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell. Pages S2407-12, S2422 By 41 yeas to 44 nays (Vote No. 90), three-fifths of those Senators duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate rejected the motion to waive section 201 of S. Con. Res. 21, FY08 Congressional Budget Resolution, with respect to Kyl Amendment No. 4407 (to Amendment No. 4387), to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to adjust for inflation the dollar limitation for the principal residence gain exclusion. Subsequently, the pay-as-you-go point of order that the amendment would cause or increase an on-budget deficit for either of the applicable time periods set out in S. Con. Res. 21, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell. Pages S2412-13, S2422-23 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill at approximately 9 a.m., on Friday, April 4, 2008, and Senate vote on or in relation to the following two amendments: Voinovich/Stabenow Amendment No. 4406 (listed above), and Landrieu Amendment No. 4389 (listed above), with no amendments in order to the amendments prior to a vote; provided that if a point of order is raised against any of the amendments covered in this agreement, and a motion to waive the appropriate point of order if point of order is made, then there be two minutes of debate with respect to the waiver, prior to a vote on the motion to waive, equally divided and controlled in the usual form; provided further, that after the first vote, the remaining vote be 10 minutes in duration. Pages S2421-22 Servicememebers Civil Relief Act Amendment Referral--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the Committee on Armed Services be discharged from further consideration of S. 2764, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to enhance protections for servicemembers relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures, and the bill be referred to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs. Page S2590 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Bartholomew H. Chilton, of Delaware, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring April 13, 2013. Scott O'Malia, of Michigan, to be a Commissioner of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission for a term expiring April 13, 2012. A routine list in the Public Health Service. Page S2590 Messages from the House: Page S2434 Measures Referred: Page S2434 Measures Placed on the Calendar: Page S2434 Executive Communications: Pages S2434-35 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S2435 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S2436-37 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S2437-86 Additional Statements: Pages S2433-34 Amendments Submitted: Pages S2486-S2587 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S2587-88 Privileges of the Floor: Page S2588 Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--90) Pages S2401, S2403, S2422, S2423 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 8:32 p.m., until 9 a.m. on Friday, April 4, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S2590.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) APPROPRIATIONS: NASA Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2009 for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), after receiving testimony from Michael D. Griffin, Administrator, National Aeronautics and Space Administration. SURFACE TRANSPORTATION TRUST FUNDS Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies concluded a hearing to examine the status of the surface transportation trust funds and their impact on federal spending, after receiving testimony from James S. Simpson, Administrator, [[Page D369]] Federal Transit Administration, James D. Ray, Acting Administrator, Federal Highway Administration, Joseph H. Boardman, Federal Railroad Administrator, and David Tornquist, Assistant Inspector General, Rail and Maritime Program Audits and Economic Analysis, all of the Department of Transportation; John McCaskie, Swank Associated Companies, New Kensington, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the Transportation Construction Coalition; William M. Millar, American Public Transportation Association, and Donna McLean and Alex Kummant, both of the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak), all of Washington, D.C.; and Joel Parker, Transportation Communications Union, Rockville, Maryland. NOMINATIONS Committee on Armed Services: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of General David D. McKiernan, to be General, and Commander, International Security Assistance Force, Afghanistan, Lieutenant General Raymond T. Odierno, to be General, and Vice Chief of Staff, and Lieutenant General Walter L. Sharp, to be General, and Commander, United Nations Command/Combined Forces Command/United States Forces Korea, all of the United States Army, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION REQUEST Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Airland concluded a hearing to examine the defense authorization request for fiscal year 2009 on Army modernization, and the future years defense program, after receiving testimony from Lieutenant General Stephen M. Speakes, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff, G-8, United States Army, and Lieutenant General N. Ross Thompson III, USA, Military Deputy to the Acting Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics and Technology, both of the Department of Defense. U.S. CREDIT MARKETS Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine turmoil in United States credit markets, focusing on the recent actions of federal financial regulators, after receiving testimony from Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; former Representative Christopher Cox, Chairman, United States Securities and Exchange Commission; Robert K. Steel, Under Secretary of the Treasury for Domestic Finance; Timothy F. Geithner, President and Chief Executive Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of New York; and Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan Chase, and Alan Schwartz, Bear Stearns Companies, Inc., both of New York, New York. INTERNATIONAL FISHERIES Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard concluded a hearing to examine international fisheries, focusing on management and enforcement, after receiving testimony from John D. Negroponte, Deputy Secretary, and David A. Balton, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Oceans and Fisheries, both of the Department of State; Rear Admiral A.E. Brooks, Commander, Coast Guard District Seventeen, Department of Homeland Security; James W. Balsiger, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Department of Commerce; Jim Cook, Pacific Ocean Producers, Honolulu, Hawaii; David Benton, Marine Conservation Alliance, Juneau, Alaska; and Lisa Speer, Natural Resources Defense Council, New York, New York. PRICE OF OIL Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the current price of crude oil, focusing on the influence of non-commercial institutional investors, after receiving testimony from Jeffrey Harris, Chief Economist, Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Sarah A. Emerson, Energy Security Analysis, Inc., Wakefield, Massachusetts; Kevin Book, FBR Capital Markets Corporation, Arlington, Virginia; James Burkhard, Cambridge Energy Research Associates, Cambridge, Massachusetts; Sean Cota, Cota and Cota, Inc., Bellows Falls, Vermont, on behalf of the Petroleum Marketers Association of America; and John Eichberger, National Association of Convenience Stores, Alexandria, Virginia. REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS Committee on Environment and Public Works: Committee concluded a hearing to examine strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions at United States colleges and universities, after receiving testimony from Richard C. Levin, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; Jacqueline Johnson, University of Minnesota, Morris; and Robert J. Birgeneau, University of California, Berkeley. ESTATE TAX REFORM Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine creative thinking and new perspectives relative to estate tax reform, focusing on reviewing ideas to simplify planning, after receiving testimony from Dennis I. Belcher, McGuire Woods, LLP, Richmond, Virginia; Shirley L. Kovar, Branton and Wilson, APC, San Diego, California; Roby B. Sawyers, North Carolina State University College of Management, Raleigh, on behalf of the American Institute [[Page D370]] of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA); and Diana Aviv, Independent Sector, Washington, D.C. IRAQ: THE FUTURE Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine possible conditions and developments in Iraq in the year 2012, after receiving testimony from Carole A. O'Leary, American University Center for Global Peace, and Carlos Pascual, Brookings Institution, both of Washington, D.C.; Dawn Brancati, Harvard University Institute for Quantitative Social Science, Cambridge, Massachusetts; F. Gregory Gause III, University of Vermont, Burlington; and Terrence K. Kelly, RAND Corporation, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. FEMA TODAY Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), focusing on whether the agency is better prepared for a catastrophe in 2008 than it was in 2005, after receiving testimony from Richard L. Skinner, Inspector General, and R. David Paulison, Administrator, Federal Emergency Management Agency, both of the Department of Homeland Security. SENIOR EXECUTIVE DIVERSITY ASSURANCE ACT Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia concluded a joint hearing with the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on the Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia to examine managing diversity of senior leadership in the Federal workforce and Postal Service, including S. 2148 and H.R. 3774, bills to provide for greater diversity within, and to improve policy direction and oversight of, the Senior Executive Service, after receiving testimony from Nancy Kichak, Associate Director and Chief Actuary, Strategic Human Resources Policy Division, Office of Personnel Management; Susan LaChance, Vice President of Employee Development and Diversity, Steven W. Williams, Secretary and Chief Administrative Officer, Postal Regulatory Commission, Ronald Stith, Assistant Inspector General for Mission Support, Office of Inspector General, and Nicole A. Johnson, Assistant Chief Inspector Investigations and Security Support, United States Postal Inspection Service, all of the United States Postal Service; George H. Stalcup, Director of Strategic Issues, and Katherine Siggerud, Director of Physical Infrastructure, both of the Government Accountability Office; Bray Barnes, Acting Chief Human Capital Officer, and Carmen Walker, Deputy Officer, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, both of the Department of Homeland Security; William Bransford, Senior Executives Association, Rhonda Trent, Federally Employed Women, Carson Eoyang, Asian American Government Executives Network, Jose Osegueda, National Association of Hispanic Federal Executives, and Darlene Young, Blacks in Government, all of Washington, D.C.; and William Brown, African American Federal Executives Association, Upper Marlboro, Maryland. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on the Judiciary: Committee ordered favorably reported the following: S. 2136, to address the treatment of primary mortgages in bankruptcy, with an amendment; S. 2041, to amend the False Claims Act, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute; S. Res. 468, designating April 2008 as ``National 9-1-1 Education Month''; and The nominations of Catharina Haynes, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and Rebecca A. Gregory, to be United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas. NOMINATIONS Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Mark S. Davis, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, David J. Novak, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Virginia, and Elisebeth C. Cook, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney General, who were all introduced by Senators Warner and Webb, and David Gregory Kays, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Missouri, and Stephen N. Limbaugh, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri, who were both introduced by Senators Bond and McCaskill, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. VETERANS LEGISLATIVE PRESENTATIONS Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a joint hearing with the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs to examine legislative presentations from sundry veteran affairs organizations, after receiving testimony from John A. Scocos, Wisconsin Department of Veterans Affairs, Madison, on behalf of the National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs; John P. Brown III, AMVETS, Youngstown, Ohio; Henry J. Cook III, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Annandale, Virginia; Commander Rene A. Campos, USN (Ret.), Military Officers Association of America, Washington, D.C.; Rose Elizabeth Lee, Gold Star Wives of America, Inc., Birmingham, Alabama; Master Chief Joseph L. Barnes, [[Page D371]] USN (Ret.), Fairfax, Virginia; and Gunnery Sergeant Patrick Corbett, USMC (Ret.), Retired Enlisted Association, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. HEALTH INSURANCE COVERAGE Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine searching for health insurance coverage, focusing on health security for people between the ages of 55 and 64, after receiving testimony from Lee Anne Fitzpatrick, Lake Oswego, Oregon, and Mike Roach, Portland, Oregon, both of Paloma Clothing; Ben Linder, Nutshell Enterprises, Redmond, Oregon; Paul Fronstin, Employee Benefit Research Institute, Washington, D.C.; Jeanne M. Lambrew, University of Texas at Austin Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs; and John Sheils, Lewin Group, Falls Church, Virginia. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 26 public bills, H.R. 5687- 5712; and 6 resolutions, H. Res. 1075-1080, were introduced. Pages H2010-11 Additional Cosponsors: Page H2012 Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today. Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative Holden to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H1975 United States Fire Administration Reauthorization Act of 2008: The House passed H.R. 4847, to reauthorize the United States Fire Administration, by a yea-and-nay vote of 412 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 160. Pages H1979-91 Rejected the McMorris Rodgers motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Science and Technology with instructions to report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 205 yeas to 209 nays, Roll No. 159. Pages H1989-91 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in part A of H. Rept. 110-563 shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule, in lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science and Technology now printed in the bill. Pages H1984-85 Accepted: Pascrell amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-563) that provides that the National Fire Academy Training Program can train fire service personnel in response, tactics, and strategies for dealing with national catastrophes, including terrorist-caused national catastrophes and incidents that involve weapons of mass destruction; Pages H1986-87 Sali amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-563) that directs the Administrator, in collaboration with relevant Federal agencies and departments, to develop and provide information and training to such agencies and departments on the importance of clearing biomass in wildland areas of Federal lands to promote the safety of firefighters; and Pages H1987-88 Langevin amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-563) that demonstrates congressional support for the adoption of fire sprinklers in commercial buildings and educational programs that raise awareness of the importance of installing fire sprinklers in residential buildings. Pages H1988-89 H. Res. 1071, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by voice vote, after agreeing to order the previous question. Pages H1977-79 Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns on Friday, April 4th, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 8th for morning hour debate. Page H1993 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday business of Wednesday, April 9th. Page H1993 Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H1990-91 and H1991. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 3:36 p.m. Committee Meetings NATURAL RESOURCES CONSERVATION SERVICE Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Natural Resources Conservation Service Budget. Testimony was heard from Mark E. Rey, Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, USDA. [[Page D372]] ATTORNEY GENERAL; CENSUS 2010 Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Attorney General. Testimony was heard from Michael B. Mukasey, Attorney General, Department of Justice. The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Census 2010. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of Commerce: Carlos Gutierrez, Secretary; and Steven Murdock, Census Director. NUCLEAR NONPROLIFERATION Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Department of Energy--Nuclear Nonproliferation. Testimony was heard from William Tobey, Deputy Administrator, Defense Nuclear Nonproliferation, Department of Energy. GSA Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services, and General Services held a hearing on GSA. Testimony was heard from Lurita Doan, Administrator, GSA. SECRET SERVICE CANDIDATE PROTECTION Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Homeland Security held a hearing on Candidate Protection and Investigatory Programs: Balancing the U.S. Secret Service Workload. Testimony was heard from. Mark J. Sullivan, Director, U.S. Secret Service, Department of Homeland Security. INDIAN AFFAIRS/OFFICE OF SPECIAL TRUSTEE Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies held a hearing on Bureau of Indian Affairs and Office of Special Trustee. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Interior: Carl Artmen, Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, Office of the Special Trustee; and Ross O. Swimmer, Special Trustee for American Indians. The Subcommittee continued appropriation hearings. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. VA INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies held a hearing on Veterans' Affairs Information Technology. Testimony was heard from Robert T. Howard, Assistant Secretary, Information and Technology, Department of Veterans Affairs. ARMY NATIONAL GUARD/RESERVES EQUIPMENT BUDGET Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Air and Land Forces held a hearing on Fiscal Year 2009 National Defense Authorization Budget Request on Army National Guard and Army Reserve Equipment. Testimony was heard from LTG Jack C. Stultz, USA, Chief, U.S. Army Reserve; and LTG Clyde A. Vaughn, USA, Director, Army National Guard. PROTECTING THE MEDICAID SAFETY NET OF 2008 Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on H.R. 5613, Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008. Testimony was heard from James Cosgrove, Acting Director/Health Care Issues, GAO; the following officials of the Department of Health and Human Services: Dennis G. Smith, Director, Center for Medicaid and State Operations, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; and John G. Folkemer, Deputy Secretary, Health Care Financing; Herb Conaway, Jr., M.D., Assemblyman, State of New Jersey; and public witnesses. SELLING DOE'S DEPLETED URANIUM STOCKPILE Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing entitled ``Selling the Department of Energy's Depleted Uranium Stockpile: Opportunities and Challenges.'' Testimony was heard from Robert A. Robinson, Managing Director, Natural Resources and the Environment, GAO; Dennis R. Spurgeon, Assistant Secretary, Nuclear Energy, Department of Energy; and public witnesses. JUBILEE ACT FOR RESPONSIBLE LENDING AND EXPANDED DEBT CANCELLATION OF 2007 Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 2634, Jubilee Act for Responsible Lending and Expanded Debt Cancellation of 2007. FEDERAL RESTITUTION LAWS AMENDMENTS Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security held a hearing on proposals before the 110th Congress to amend Federal Restitution Laws. Testimony was heard from Senator Dorgan; and public witnesses. NATIONAL SEA GRANT COLLEGE PROGRAM AMENDMENTS ACT Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans held a hearing on H.R. 5618, National Sea Grant College Program [[Page D373]] Amendments Act of 2008. Testimony was heard from Rick Spinrad, Assistant Administrator, Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses. GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE ACT OF 2008 Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia approved for full Committee action H.R. 5683, Government Accountability Office Act of 2008. NASA'S EXPLORATION INITIATIVE Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics held a hearing on NASA's Exploration Initiative: Status and Issues. Testimony was heard from Richard Gilbrech, Associate Administrator, Exploration Systems Mission Directorate, NASA; Cristina T. Chaplain, Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, GAO; and public witnesses. SMALL BUSINESS FINANCING--ROLE OF CREDIT CARDS Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on the Role of Credit Cards in Small Business Financing. Testimony was heard from public witnesses. CRITICAL LAPSES IN FAA SAFETY OVERSIGHT OF AIRLINES Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held a hearing on Critical Lapses in FAA Safety Oversight of Airlines: Abuses of Regulatory ``Partnership Programs.'' Testimony was heard from Scott J. Bloch, Special Counsel, Office of the Special Counsel; the following officials of the Department of Transportation: Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General; Nicholas A. Sabatini, Associate Administrator, Aviation Safety; James J. Ballough, Director, Flight Standards; and Thomas Stuckey, Manager, Flight Standards Division, Southwest Region, all with the FAA; and public witnesses. FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET--SPECIAL PROGRAM Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to hold a hearing on Fiscal Year 2009 Budget--Special Program. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2008 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate No meetings/hearings scheduled. House No committee meetings are scheduled. Joint Meetings Joint Economic Committee: to hold hearings to examine the current employment situation, 9:30 a.m., SD-106. CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390). The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C. 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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents, Congressional Record, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402, Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received. [[Page D374]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9 a.m., Friday, April 4 Senate Chamber Program for Friday: Senate will continue consideration of H.R. 3221, New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act, and vote on or in relation to Voinovich/Stabenow Amendment No. 4406 and Landrieu Modified Amendment No. 4389. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Friday, April 4 House Chamber Program for Friday: The House will meet in pro forma session at 10 a.m. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Altmire, Jason, Pa., E503 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E491, E495, E497, E501 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E493, E496, E498, E501, E502 Donnelly, Joe, Ind., E492, E496 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E495, E497, E501 Holt, Rush D., N.J., E502 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E493, E496 Lewis, John, Ga., E492 Lewis, Ron, Ky., E495 McCollum, Betty, Minn., E491, E494 Perlmutter, Ed, Colo., E492, E496, E498, E501, E502 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E494, E497, E498, E501 Ruppersberger, C.A. Dutch, Md., E492, E496 Sanchez, Loretta, Calif., E502 Space, Zachary T., Ohio, E491, E492, E493, E496, E497, E501, E502 Tancredo, Thomas G., Colo., E491, E495 Walsh, James T., N.Y., E492, E495