Wednesday, December 10, 2008 [[Page D1314]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS The House passed H.R. 7321, Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages Page S10841-S10887 Measures Introduced: Seven bills and three resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 3725-3731, S.J. Res. 46, and S. Res. 728-729. Page S10881 Measures Reported: Special Report entitled ``Recognition of Excellence in Aging Research Committee Report''. (S. Rept. No. 110-527) Pages S10880-81 Measures Passed: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act: Senate passed S. 3731, to amend the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (division A of Public Law 110-343) to provide the Special Inspector General with additional authorities and responsibilities. Pages S10884-85 America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act: Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs was discharged from further consideration of H.R. 6184, to provide for a program for circulating quarter dollar coins that are emblematic of a national park or other national site in each State, the District of Columbia, and each territory of the United States, and the bill was then passed, clearing the measure for the President. Page S10885 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games: Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation was discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 196, commending Idaho on winning the bid to host the 2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games, and the resolution was then agreed to. Page S10885 Secretary of State Compensation: Senate passed S.J. Res. 46, ensuring that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the office of Secretary of State are those which were in effect on January 1, 2007. Pages S10885-86 Trafficking Victims Protection Act: Senate passed H.R. 7311, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2011 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, to enhance measures to combat trafficking in persons, clearing the measure for the President. Pages S10886-87 Measures Considered: Advancing America's Priorities Act: Senate resumed consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3297, to advance America's priorities. Page S10859 Subsequently, the motion to proceed was withdrawn. Page S10859 Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 7005, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide alternative minimum tax relief for individuals for 2008. Page S10859 A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill, and, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will occur on Friday, December 12, 2008. Page S10859 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill at approximately 11 a.m., on Thursday, December 11, 2008. Page S10887 Messages from the House: Page S10880 Additional Cosponsors: Page S10881 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S10881-84 Additional Statements: Pages S10879-80 [[Page D1315]] Authorities for Committees to Meet: Page S10884 Recess: Senate convened at 10:30 a.m. and recessed at 6:45 p.m., until 10 a.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page S10887.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) CLEAN ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a hearing to examine investments in clean energy and natural resources projects and programs to create ``green jobs''--family-supporting, middle-skill jobs in the primary sectors of a clean energy economy of efficiency, renewables, and alternative transportation and fuels, and to stimulate the economy, after receiving testimony from Mark A. Limbaugh, former Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, and Denis Galvin, former Deputy Director National Park Service, National Parks Conservation Association, both of the Department of the Interior; Malcolm D. Woolf, Maryland Energy Administration, Annapolis, on behalf of the National Association of State Energy Officials; Bracken Hendricks, Center for American Progress Action Fund, and Joe Loper, Alliance to Save Energy, both of Washington, D.C.; Steven G. Hauser, GridPoint, Inc., and Kevin Book, Friedman Billings Ramsey and Company Capital Markets Corporation, both of Arlington, Virginia; and Cassandra Moseley, University of Oregon Institute for a Sustainable Environment, Eugene. PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee concluded a hearing to examine disease prevention and public health, focusing on transforming the health care system, after receiving testimony from Donald Wright, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Health; Jeffrey Levi, Trust for America's Health, Washington, D.C.; Kenneth E. Thorpe, Emory University Rollins School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management, Atlanta, Georgia; John J. Mahoney, Pitney Bowes, Stamford, Connecticut; and Carol Hibbs, Marshalltown Community Y, Marshalltown, Iowa, on behalf of the YMCA of the USA's Activate America: Pioneering Healthier Communities. House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 18 public bills, H.R. 7321, 7325-7340; and 2 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 443; and H. Res. 1535 were introduced. Page H10975 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H10975-76 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H.R. 7322, making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009 (H. Rept. 110-919); H.R. 7323, making appropriations for financial services and general government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009 (H. Rept. 110- 920); H.R. 7324, making appropriations for energy and water development and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009 (H. Rept. 110-921); and H. Res. 1534, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7321) to authorize financial assistance to eligible automobile manufacturers (H. Rept. 110-922). Pages H10870, H10876, H10974-75 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed Representative Tauscher to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. Page H10869 Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by a recorded vote of 215 ayes and 170 noes with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 686. Pages H10869, H10877-78 Calendar Wednesday: Agreed that the business in order under the Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with today. Page H10869 Recess: The House recessed at 10:11 a.m. and reconvened at 2:30 p.m. Page H10870 United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission-- Appointment: Read a letter from Representative Boehner, Minority Leader, in which he reappointed Mr. Larry Wortzel of Williamsburg, Virginia, to the United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission, effective January 1, 2009. Page H10871 [[Page D1316]] Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules: The House agreed to H. Res. 1533, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, by a yea-and-nay vote of 226 yeas to 169 nays, Roll No. 685, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 174 nays, Roll No. 684. Pages H10871-77 Pursuant to section 2 of H. Res. 1533, H. Res. 1516 and H. Res. 1526 are laid on the table. William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008: The House agreed to discharge from committee and pass H.R. 7311, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2011 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and to enhance measures to combat trafficking in persons. Pages H10888-H10905 Condemning the November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, and expressing sympathy to the innocent victims from India and around the world: The House agreed to discharge from committee and agree to H. Res. 1532, to condemn the November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India, and to express sympathy to the innocent victims from India and around the world. Pages H10905-06 Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of the men and women in uniform who have given their lives in the service of our Nation in Iraq and Afghanistan, their families, and all who serve in the armed forces and their families. Page H10907 Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act: The House passed H.R. 7321, to authorize financial assistance to eligible automobile manufacturers, by a recorded vote of 237 ayes to 170 noes with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 690. Pages H10908-35 Accepted: LaTourette amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-922) that requires that any lending assistance provided under TARP or EISA to an insured depository institution shall report the amount of any increase or decrease in new lending attributed to the TARP or EISA assistance (by a recorded vote of 403 ayes with none voting ``no'' and 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 689). Pages H10932-34 H. Res. 1534, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 225 yeas to 179 noes with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 688, after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 225 yeas to 180 nays with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 687. Pages H10878-88, H10906-07, H10907-08 Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008: The House agreed to discharge from committee and pass H.R. 7327, to make technical corrections related to the Pension Protection Act of 2006. Pages H10935-43 Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act: The House agreed to discharge from committee and pass S. 3663, to require the Federal Communications Commission to provide for a short-term extension of the analog television broadcasting authority so that essential public safety announcements and digital television transition information may be provided for a short time during the transition to digital television broadcasting. Pages H10943-44 Making a technical correction in the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008: The House agreed to discharge from committee and pass S. 3712, to make a technical correction in the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008. Page H10944 Ensuring that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the office of Secretary of State are those which were in effect on January 1, 2007: The House agreed by unanimous consent to S.J. Res. 46, to ensure that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the office of Secretary of State are those which were in effect on January 1, 2007. Pages H10944-45 Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page H10935. Senate Referrals: S. 3731 was referred to the Committee on Financial Services. Page H10957 Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea-and-nay votes and three recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H10876, H10876-77, H10877-78, H10906-07, H10907-08, H10934, and H10935. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 10:51 p.m. Committee Meetings TROUBLED ASSETS RELIEF PROGRAM OVERSIGHT Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Oversight Concerns Regarding Treasury Department Conduct of the Troubled Assets Relief Program.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Congressional Oversight Panel under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act: Representative Hensarling and Elizabeth Warren, Chair; Gene [[Page D1317]] Dodaro, Acting Comptroller General, GAO; and Neel Kashkari, Interim Assistant Secretary, Financial Stability and Assistant Secretary, International Affairs, Department of the Treasury. AUTO INDUSTRY FINANCING AND RESTRUCTURING ACT Committee on Rules: Granted, by a non-record vote, a structured rule providing for consideration of H.R. 7321, the Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act. The rule provides for one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of the Committee on Financial Services. The rule waives all points of order against the bill and against its consideration. The rule provides that the bill shall be considered as read. The rule makes in order the amendment printed in this report if offered by Representative LaTourette. The amendment made in order shall be considered as read and shall be debatable for 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. All points of order against the amendment are waived. The rule provides one motion to recommit the bill. Finally, the rule permits the Chair, during consideration of the bill, to postpone further consideration to a time designated by the Speaker. Testimony was heard from Chairman Frank and Representative LaTourette. COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, DECEMBER 11, 2008 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: to hold hearings to examine a report from the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation, and Terrorism, 10 a.m., SH-216. House Committee on Appropriations, hearing on the Impact of Recession on States and Local Communities, 9:30 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, hearing entitled ``Approaching Midnight: Oversight of the Bush Administration's Last-Minute Rulemakings,'' 10 a.m., 210 Cannon. 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. 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Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 11 a.m., Saturday, January 3, 2009 House Chamber Program for Saturday To be announced. _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Akin, W. Todd, Mo., E2355, E2370 Alexander, Rodney, La., E2362, E2364 Arcuri, Michael A., N.Y., E2355, E2369 Barton, Joe, Tex., E2379 Berry, Marion, Ark., E2377, E2381 Bilirakis, Gus M., Fla., E2378 Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E2355 Blunt, Roy, Mo., E2380 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E2376, E2376, E2377, E2378, E2378, E2379, E2380, E2380, E2381, E2382 Bordallo, Madeleine Z., Guam, E2382 Brady, Kevin, Tex., E2373 Braley, Bruce L., Iowa, E2353 Brown, Corrine, Fla., E2361, E2365, E2368 Calvert, Ken, Calif., E2367 Carson, Andre, Ind., E2355 Castle, Michael N., Del., E2364 Childers, Travis W., Miss., E2375 Christensen, Donna M., The Virgin Islands, E2354 Davis, Lincoln, Tenn., E2383 Doolittle, John T., Calif., E2361 Dreier, David, Calif., E2360 Emanuel, Rahm, Ill., E2371 Emerson, Jo Ann, Mo., E2354 Franks, Trent, Ariz., E2384 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E2376 Gordon, Bart, Tenn., E2360, E2360, E2374, E2375 Graves, Sam, Mo., E2354, E2354, E2355, E2356, E2357, E2358, E2358, E2359 Herger, Wally, Calif., E2357 Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E2354, E2356 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E2372, E2372, E2373, E2374 LaHood, Ray, Ill., E2353 Lewis, John, Ga., E2366 Lynch, Stephen F., Mass., E2358 McCotter, Thaddeus G., Mich., E2362 McIntyre, Mike, N.C., E2366 Marchant, Kenny, Tex., E2364 Meek, Kendrick B., Fla., E2367 Miller, George, Calif., E2372 Miller, Jeff, Fla., E2358 Mitchell, Harry E., Ariz., E2361, E2362 Moran, Jerry, Kans., E2376, E2381 Radanovich, George, Calif., E2353, E2356, E2358, E2370 Rahall, Nick J., II, W.Va., E2383 Reichert, David G., Wash., E2372, E2377, E2382 Rogers, Mike, Ala., E2377 Sanchez, Loretta, Calif., E2367 Saxton, Jim, N.J., E2362 Scott, Robert C. ``Bobby'', Va., E2384 Sestak, Joe, Pa., E2371 Shimkus, John, Ill., E2357, E2365, E2369 Sires, Albio, N.J., E2357 Skelton, Ike, Mo., E2358 Smith, Adrian, Nebr., E2365 Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E2372 Speier, Jackie, Calif.,E2383 Terry, Lee, Nebr., E2374, E2375, E2378, E2382 Towns, Edolphus, N.Y., E2359, E2365, E2365, E2366, E2367, E2368, E2369, E2369, E2370, E2371 Udall, Mark, Colo., E2384 Udall, Tom, N.M., E2383 Walden, Greg, Ore., E2374 WWittman, Robert J., Va., E2371 Wolf, Frank R., Va., E2360, E2362, E2368