Wednesday, April 29, 2009
[[Page D467]]
Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
Senate agreed to the conference report to accompany S. Con. Res.
13, Budget Resolution.
Senate
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S4831-S4906
Measures Introduced: Ten bills and five resolutions were introduced, as
follows: S. 922-931, S. Res. 117-120, and S. Con. Res. 21.
Page S4891
Measures Reported:
S. 615, to provide additional personnel authorities for the Special
Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. (S. Rept. No. 111-15)
S. 414, to amend the Consumer Credit Protection Act, to ban abusive
credit practices, enhance consumer disclosures, protect underage
consumers, with an amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Page S4890
Measures Passed:
Commending the University of Georgia Gymnastics Team: Senate agreed
to S. Res. 119, commending the University of Georgia gymnastics team
for winning the 2009 NCAA national championship.
Pages S4904-05
Congratulating the Trinity College Bantams Squash Team: Senate agreed
to S. Res. 120, congratulating the Trinity College Bantams for their
11th-straight College Squash Association Men's Team Championship.
Page S4905
Conference Reports:
Budget Resolution: By 53 yeas to 43 nays (Vote No. 173), Senate agreed
to the conference report to accompany S. Con. Res. 13, setting forth
the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal
year 2010, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year
2009, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal
years 2011 through 2014.
Pages S4840-81
Appointments:
Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of
the American Latino: The Chair, announced on behalf of the Majority
Leader, pursuant to P.L. 110-229, the appointment of the following to
be members of the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a
National Museum of the American Latino: Susan Gonzales of Washington,
D.C., Moctezuma Esparza of California, Carlos Etzeta of Nevada, and
Katherine Archuleta of Colorado (non-voting member).
Page S4905
Helping Families Save Their Homes Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-
time agreement was reached providing that at approximately 10:30 a.m.,
on Thursday, April 30, 2009, Senate will begin consideration of S. 896,
to prevent mortgage foreclosures and enhance mortgage credit
availability, and that Senator Durbin be recognized to offer an
amendment relating to ``cramdown'', and that there be 4 hours for
debate relative to the amendment, with the time equally divided and
controlled between the two Leaders, or their designees; and that upon
the use or yielding back of time, Senate vote on or in relation to the
amendment, and that adoption of the amendment require a 60-affirmative
vote threshold, and if the amendment does not achieve that threshold,
then it be withdrawn; provided that no amendment be in order to the
amendment, and no further amendments on the subject of ``cramdown'' be
in order during the pendency of the bill; provided further, that upon
disposition of the Durbin amendment, Senator Dodd be recognized to
offer a Dodd-Shelby amendment in the nature of a substitute.
Page S4902
Strickland Nomination--Agreement: A unanimous-consent-time agreement
was reached providing that on Thursday, April 30, 2009, after Senator
Dodd has called up an amendment to S. 896, as previously agreed to,
Senate will begin consideration of the nomination of Thomas L.
Strickland, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and
Wildlife, Department of the Interior, and that there be 3 hours of
debate with respect to the nomination, with
[[Page D468]]
1 hour under the control of the Majority, and 2 hours under the control
of the Republicans, and 30 minutes of the Republican time under the
control of Senator Bunning; provided further, that upon the use or
yielding back of time, Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination.
Pages S4902-03
Morton Nomination Referral--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement
was reached providing that the nomination of John Morton, to be
Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security, reported by the Committee on
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on Monday, April 27, 2009,
be referred to the Committee on the Judiciary for a period of 30
calendar days; provided further, that at the end of the 30 days, if the
Committee on the Judiciary has not reported the nomination, then it be
automatically discharged and placed on the Executive Calendar.
Page S4905
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
Sherburne B. Abbott, of Texas, to be an Associate Director of the
Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Dana G. Gresham, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant
Secretary of Transportation.
Roy W. Kienitz, of Pennsylvania, to be Under Secretary of
Transportation for Policy.
Ronald H. Weich, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant
Attorney General.
April S. Boyd, of the District of Columbia, to be an Assistant
Secretary of Commerce.
Joseph C. Szabo, of Illinois, to be Administrator of the Federal
Railroad Administration.
Peter H. Appel, of Virginia, to be Administrator of the Research and
Innovative Technology Administration, Department of Transportation.
Robert S. Rivkin, of Illinois, to be General Counsel of the
Department of Transportation.
4 Coast Guard nominations in the rank of admiral.
Routine lists in the Coast Guard.
Pages S4903, S4905-06
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
Andrew Charles Weber, of Virginia, to be Assistant to the Secretary
of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs.
Peter M. Rogoff, of Virginia, to be Federal Transit Administrator.
Eric P. Goosby, of California, to be Ambassador at Large and
Coordinator of United States Government Activities to Combat HIV/AIDS
Globally.
Martha J. Kanter, of California, to be Under Secretary of Education.
Kevin W. Concannon, of Maine, to be Under Secretary of Agriculture
for Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services.
Robert M. Groves, of Michigan, to be Director of the Census.
Page S4905
Messages from the House:
Pages S4889-90
Measures Referred:
Page S4890
Executive Communications:
Page S4890
Executive Reports of Committees:
Pages S4890-91
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S4891-92
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S4892-S4901
Additional Statements:
Pages S4888-89
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
Page S4901
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Pages S4901-02
Record Votes: One record vote was taken today. (Total--173)
Page S4881
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:53 p.m.,
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 30, 2009. (For Senate's program, see
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page
S4905.)
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
WOUNDED WARRIORS
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Personnel concluded a
hearing to examine the implementation of Wounded Warrior policies and
programs, after receiving testimony from Randall B. Williamson,
Director, Health Care, Valerie C. Melvin, Director, Human Capital and
Management, Information Systems Issues, and Daniel Bertoni, Director,
Education, Workforce, and Income Security Issues, all of the Government
Accountability Office; Gail H. McGinn, Deputy Under Secretary for
Plans, Ellen P. Embrey, Acting Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for
Health Affairs, Major General Keith W. Meurlin, USAF, Director, Office
of Transition Policy and Care Coordination, and Rear Admiral Gregory A.
Timberlake, USN, Director, Interagency Program Office, all of the
Department of Defense; and Roger Dimsdale, Executive Director,
Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense Collaboration,
Office of Policy and Planning, and Karen S. Guice, Executive Director
of the Federal Recovery Coordination Program, both of the Department of
Veterans Affairs; Lieutenant Colonel Gregory D. Gadson, USA, Lieutenant
Colonel Raymond T.
[[Page D469]]
Rivas, USA (Ret.), Colleen O. Rivas, Kimberly R. Noss, and First
Lieutenant Andrew K. Kinard, USMC (Ret.).
HEALTH CARE DELIVERY SYSTEM
Committee on Finance: Committee met in closed session to discuss
transforming the health care delivery system, focusing on proposals to
improve patient care and reduce health care costs.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the nominations of Johnnie Carson, of Illinois, to be Assistant
Secretary for African Affairs, who was introduced by Representatives
Royce and Payne, and Luis C. de Baca, of Virginia, to be Director of
the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking, who was introduced by
Senator Harkin and Representative Conyers, both of the Department of
State, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own
behalf.
SWINE FLU
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee
concluded a hearing to examine swine flu, focusing on coordinating the
federal response, after receiving testimony from Janet Napolitano,
Secretary of Homeland Security; and Anne Schuchat, Acting Deputy
Director for Science and Program, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, Assistant Surgeon General, United States Public Health
Service, Department of Health and Human Services.
INFORMED FINANCIAL DECISIONS
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee
on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the
District of Columbia concluded a hearing to examine the federal
government's role in empowering Americans to make informed financial
decisions, after receiving testimony from John Berry, Director, Office
of Personnel Management; James H. Shelton III, Assistant Deputy
Secretary for Innovation and Improvement, Department of Education;
Arthur J. Meyers, Acting Deputy Secretary for Military Community and
Family Policy, Department of Defense; Sandra F. Braunstein, Director,
Division of Consumer and Community Affairs, Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System; Richard J. Hillman, Managing Director,
Financial Markets and Community Investment, Government Accountability
Office; Robert F. Duvall, Council for Economic Education, New York, New
York; and Dallas L. Salisbury, Employee Benefit Research Institute,
Washington, D.C.
SWINE FLU EPIDEMIC
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee
concluded a hearing to examine the swine flu epidemic, focusing on the
public health and medical response, after receiving testimony from
Richard E. Besser, Acting Director, Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and Anthony Fauci, Director, National Institute for Allergy
and Infectious Diseases, National Institutes of Health, both of the
Department of Health and Human Services.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee ordered
favorably reported the nominations of Russlynn Ali, of California, to
be Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, Carmel Martin, of Maryland, to
be Assistant Secretary for Planning, Evaluation, and Policy
Development, Charles P. Rose, of Illinois, to be General Counsel, Peter
Cunningham, of Illinois, to be Assistant Secretary for Communications
and Outreach, and Gabriella Cecilia Gomez, of California, to be
Assistant Secretary for Legislation and Congressional Affairs, all of
the Department of Education, Brian Kennedy, of Virginia, to be
Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs,
and T. Michael Kerr, of the District of Columbia, to be Assistant
Secretary for Administration and Management, both of the Department of
Labor, and Thomasina Rogers, of Maryland, to be a Member of the
Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
CRACK-POWDER COCAINE FEDERAL SENTENCING
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs concluded a
hearing to examine restoring fairness to federal sentencing, focusing
on addressing the crack-powder disparity, after receiving testimony
from Lanny Breuer, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division,
Department of Justice; Judge Reggie B. Walton, United States District
Court for the District of Columbia, on behalf of the Judicial
Conference of the United States; Ricardo H. Hinojosa, Acting Chair,
United States Sentencing Commission; Asa Hutchinson, former
Administrator of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration,
Rogers, Arkansas; John F. Timoney, Chief of Police, City of Miami
Police Department, Miami, Florida; and Cedric Parker, Alton, Illinois.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine
the nominations of Andre M. Davis, of Maryland, to be United States
Circuit Judge for the Fourth Circuit, who was introduced by Senator
Mikulski and former Senator Sarbanes, David
[[Page D470]]
F. Hamilton, of Indiana, to be United States Circuit Judge for the
Seventh Circuit, and Thomas E. Perez, of Maryland, to be Assistant
Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice, after
the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf.
BENEFITS LEGISLATION
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine pending benefits legislation, after receiving testimony from
Bradley G. Mayes, Director, Compensation and Pension Service, Veterans
Benefits Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs; R. Chuck
Mason, Legislative Attorney, American Law Division, Congressional
Research Service, Library of Congress; Robert Jackson, Veterans of
Foreign Wars of the United States, and Ian DePlanque, American Legion,
both of Washington, D.C.; Raymond Kelley, AMVETS, Lanham, Maryland; and
Rebecca Poynter, Annapolis, Maryland.
LIFE SETTLEMENT MARKET
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine
the life settlement market, focusing on what is at stake for seniors,
after receiving testimony from Mary Beth Senkewicz, Florida Deputy
Insurance Commissioner, Office of Insurance Regulation, Tallahassee;
Michael T. McRaith, Illinois Director of Insurance, Chicago; Fred J.
Joseph, Colorado Securities Commissioner, Denver, on behalf of the
North American Securities Administrators Association, Inc., Stephan R.
Leimberg, Leimberg Information Services, Inc., Havertown, Pennsylvania;
James J. Avery, Individual Life Insurance, Prudential Financial,
Newark, New Jersey, on behalf of the American Council of Life Insurers;
Scott Peden, Life Partners, Inc., Waco, Texas; and Michael Freedman,
Coventry First LLC, Fort Washington, Pennsylvania.
House of Representatives
Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 24 public bills, H.R. 2159-
2182; and 5 resolutions, H.J. Res. 44; H. Con. Res. 114; and H.Res.
377-378, 380, were introduced.
Pages H4998-99
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages H4999-H5000
Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows:
H. Res. 379, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 627) to
amend the Truth in Lending Act to establish fair and transparent
practices relating to the extension of credit under an open end
consumer credit plan (H. Rept. 111-92).
Page H4998
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Reverend
Grzegorz ``Greg'' Brozonowicz, St. Mary's Mother of the Redeemer Roman
Catholic Church, Groton, Connecticut.
Page H4917
Setting forth the congressional budget for the United States Government
for fiscal year 2010, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for
fiscal year 2009, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels
for fiscal years 2011 through 2014--Conference Report: The House agreed
to the conference report to accompany S. Con. Res. 13, setting forth
the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal
year 2010, revising the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal year
2009, and setting forth the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal
years 2011 through 2014, by a yea-and-nay vote of 233 yeas to 193 nays,
Roll No. 216. Consideration of the conference report began on Tuesday,
April 28th.
Pages H4920-28
H. Res. 371, the rule providing for consideration of the conference
report, was agreed to on Tuesday, April 28th.
Pursuant to the provisions of the conference report accompanying S.
Con. Res. 13, H.J. Res. 45, increasing the statutory limit on the
public debt, is considered agreed to in the House.
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules
and pass the following measures which were debated on Tuesday, April
28th:
Supporting the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month 2009: H.
Res. 357, to support the goals and ideals of Financial Literacy Month
2009, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 419 ayes to 3 noes, Roll No. 217;
Page H4928
Supporting the mission and goals of 2009 National Crime Victims'
Rights: H. Res. 109, to support the mission and goals of 2009 National
Crime Victims' Rights week to increase public awareness of the rights,
needs, and concerns of victims and survivors of crime in the United
States, and to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the enactment of the
Victims of Crime Act of 1984, by a \2/3\ recorded
[[Page D471]]
vote of 422 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 218; and
Pages H4928-29
Family Self-Sufficiency Act of 2009: H.R. 46, to provide for payment
of an administrative fee to public housing agencies to cover the costs
of administering family self-sufficiency programs in connection with
the housing choice voucher program of the Department of Housing and
Urban Development, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 397 ayes to 19 noes,
Roll No. 221.
Page H4940
Oath of Office--Twentieth Congressional District of New York:
Representative-elect Scott Murphy presented himself in the well of the
House and was administered the Oath of Office by the Speaker. Earlier,
the Clerk of the House transmitted a facsimile copy of a letter from
Mr. Todd D. Valentine and Mr. Stanley L. Zalen, Co-Executive Directors
of the New York State Board of Elections, indicating that, according to
the unofficial returns of the Special Election held March 31, 2009, the
Honorable Scott Murphy was elected Representative to Congress for the
Twentieth Congressional District, State of New York.
Page H4939
Whole Number of the House: The Speaker announced to the House that, in
light of the administration of the oath to the gentleman from New York,
Mr. Murphy, the whole number of the House is adjusted to 434.
Pages H4939-40
Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act of 2009: The House
passed H.R. 1913, to provide Federal assistance to States, local
jurisdictions, and Indian tribes to prosecute hate crimes, by a
recorded vote of 249 ayes to 175 noes, Roll No. 223.
Pages H4940-58
Rejected the Gohmert motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on
the Judiciary with instructions to report the same back to the House
forthwith with amendments, by a yea-and-nay vote of 185 yeas to 241
nays, Roll No. 222.
Pages H4956-58
Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute
recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill,
modified by the amendment printed in H. Rept. 111-91, shall be
considered as adopted.
Page H4940
H. Res. 372, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was
agreed to by a recorded vote of 234 ayes to 190 noes, Roll No. 220,
after agreeing to order the previous question by a recorded vote of 234
ayes to 181 noes, Roll No. 219.
Pages H4929-38
Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules
and agree to the following measure which was debated on Monday, April
27th:
Supporting the observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month:
H. Res. 337, to support the observance of National Child Abuse
Prevention Month.
Pages H4958-59
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the
following measure:
Protecting Incentives for the Adoption of Children with Special Needs
Act of 2009: S. 735, to ensure States receive adoption incentive
payments for fiscal year 2008 in accordance with the Fostering
Connections to Success and Increasing Adoptions Act of 2008.
Pages H4959-60
Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009: The House began
consideration of H.R. 627, to amend the Truth in Lending Act to
establish fair and transparent practices relating to the extension of
credit under an open end consumer credit plan. Further proceedings were
postponed until tomorrow, April 30th.
Pages H4960-69
Consideration of the measure was initiated pursuant to an order of
the House agreed to on Tuesday, April 28th.
Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress--Appointment: The Chair
announced the Speaker's appointment of the following member on the part
of the House to the Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress: Mr.
Joseph Cooper of Baltimore, Maryland.
Page H4969
Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress--Reappointment: Read a
letter from Representative Boehner, Minority Leader, in which he
reappointed Mr. Jeffrey W. Thomas of Ohio to the Advisory Committee on
the Records of Congress.
Page H4969
Congressional-Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China--
Appointment: The Chair announced the Speaker's appointment of the
following Members of the House of Representatives to the Congressional-
Executive Commission on the People's Republic of China: Representative
Levin, Co-Chairman; Representatives Kaptur, Honda, Walz, Wu, Smith
(NJ), Manzullo, Royce, and Pitts.
Page H4970
Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the
American Latino--Appointment: Read a letter from Representative
Boehner, Minority Leader, in which he appointed Mr. Danny Vargas of
Herndon, Virginia as a voting member of the Commission to Study the
Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino.
Page H4970
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page
H4969.
[[Page D472]]
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and six recorded votes
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H4927-28,
H4928, H4929, H4937-38, H4938, H4940, H4957-58, and H4958. There were
no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 10:21 p.m.
Committee Meetings
USDA'S CIVIL RIGHTS OFFICE
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Department Operations,
Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing on the U.S. Department
of Agriculture's Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights.
Testimony was heard from Joe Leonard, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Civil
Rights. USDA; Lisa Shames, Director, Natural Resources and Environment
Division, GAO.
COMMERCE, JUSTICE, SCIENCE APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,
Science, and Related Agencies held a hearing on NASA. Testimony was
heard from Christopher J. Scolese, Acting Administrator, NASA.
FINANCIAL SERVICES, GENERAL GOVERNMENT APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Financial Services,
General Government and Related Agencies held a hearing on the FCC.
Testimony was heard from Michael J. Copps, Acting Chairman, FCC.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a
hearing on the Library of Congress and Open World Leadership Center.
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Library of
Congress: James Billington, Librarian of Congress; and Jo Ann Jenkins,
Chief Operating Officer; and Ambassador John O'Keefe, Executive
Director, Open World Leadership Center.
EFFECTIVE COUNTERINSURGENCY
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on Effective
Counterinsurgency: The Administration's Perspective on the Future of
the U.S.-Pakistan Military Partnership. Testimony was heard from the
following officials of the Department of Defense: Michele Flourney,
Under Secretary, Policy; and VADM James A. Winnefeld, Jr., USN,
Director, Strategic Plans and Policy, Joint Chiefs of Staff; and
Ambassador Richard A. Boucher, Assistant Secretary, South and Central
Asian Affairs; Department of State.
MILITARY HEALTH SYSTEM
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a
hearing on Military Health System: Health Affairs/TRICARE Management
Activity Organization. Testimony was heard from the following officials
of the Department of Defense: Gail H. McGinn, Acting Under Secretary,
Personnel and Readiness; Ellen P. Embrey, Acting Assistant Secretary,
Health Affairs; and MG Elder Granger, USA, Deputy Director, TRICARE
Management Activity; LTG Eric Schoomaker, USA, Commanding General, U.S.
Army Medical Command, Surgeon General, U.S. Army; VADM Adam Robinson,
USN, Surgeon General, U.S. Navy; and LTG James G. Roudebush, USAF,
Surgeon General, U.S. Air Force.
STRENGTHENING AMERICA'S COMPETITIVENESS
Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing on Strengthening
America's Competitiveness through Common Academic Standards. Testimony
was heard from Ken James, Commissioner, Department of Education,
Arkansas; former Governor James B. Hunt, Jr., of North Carolina; and
public witnesses.
MORTGAGE REFORM AND ANTI-PREDATORY LENDING ACT
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported, as amended., H.R.
1728, Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act.
TRANSPORTATION WORKER ID CARD
Committee on Homeland Security: Held a Member briefing on
Transportation Worker Identification Card. The Committee was briefed by
the following officials of the Department of Homeland Security: Maurine
Fanguy, Director, Maritime and Surface Credentialing, Transportation
Security Administration; and ADM James Watson, USCG, Director,
Prevention Policy for Marine Safety, Security and Stewardship, U.S.
Coast Guard.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS IT STRATEGIC PLANNING
Committee on House Administration: Held a hearing on Library of
Congress IT Strategic Planning. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Library of Congress: Laura Campbell, Chief Information
Officer; James Billington, Librarian of Congress; Jo Ann Jenkins, Chief
Operating Officer; and Karl Schornagel, Inspector General.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources: Ordered reported, as amended, the
following bills: H.R. 1018, To amend the Wild and Free-Roaming Horses
and Burros Act to improve the management and long-term health of
[[Page D473]]
wild and free-roaming horses and burros, and for other purposes; and
H.R. 689, To interchange the administrative jurisdiction of certain
Federal lands between the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land
Management, and for other purposes.
OVERSIGHT--WMATA
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federal
Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia held an
oversight hearing on the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority
(WMATA). Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority: Jim Graham, Chairman,
Board of Directors; John B. Catoe, General Manager; and Helen Lew,
Inspector General; Matthew Welbes, Executive Director and Acting Deputy
Administrator, Federal Transit Administration, Department of
Transportation; and public witnesses.
U.S. POLICY TOWARD CUBA-NATIONAL SECURITY IMPLICATIONS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National
Security held a hearing entitled ``National Security Implications of
U.S. Policy Toward Cuba.'' Testimony was heard from GEN Barry
McCaffrey, USA, (ret.), former SOUTHCOM Commander, Department of
Defense; and public witnesses.
CREDIT CARD HOLDERS' BILL OF RIGHTS ACT OF 2009.
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a non-record vote, a structured rule
providing for further consideration of H.R. 627, the ``Credit
Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009.'' The resolution provides that
no general debate shall be in order pursuant to the resolution. The
rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute
recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the
bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of
amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points
of order against the amendment in the nature of a substitute except for
clause 10 of rule XXI.
The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the report
of the Committee on Rules. The amendments made in order may be offered
only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by a
Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall be
debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for a division of the
question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. All points of
order against the amendments except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI
are waived. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without
instructions. Testimony was heard from Representatives Gutierrez,
Maloney, Minnick, Pingree, Polis, Price (NC), Hinchey, Jackson-Lee
(TX), Carney, Cohen, Welch, Boccieri, Shuster, Jones, and Sessions.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science and Technology: Ordered reported the following
bills: H.R. 2020, amended, Networking and Information Technology
Research and Development Act of 2009; H.R. 1736, International Science
and Technology Cooperation Act of 2009; and H.R. 1709, amended, STEM
Education Coordination Act of 2009.
CLIMATE CHANGE SOLUTIONS FOR SMALL BUSINESSES AND FAMILY FARMERS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Climate Change
Solutions for Small Businesses and Family Farmers.'' Testimony was
heard from public witnesses.
RECOVERY ACT TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Held a hearing on
Recovery Act: 10-Week Progress Report for Transportation and
Infrastructure Programs. Testimony was heard from the following
officials of the Department of Transportation: Ray H. LaHood; and
Calvin L. Scovel III, Inspector General; the following officials of the
EPA: Lisa P. Jackson, Administrator; and Melissa Heist, Assistant
Inspector General, Audit; Terrence C. Salt, Principal Deputy Assistant
Secretary, Army (Civil Works), Corps of Engineers; Department of
Defense; Paul F. Prouty, Acting Administrator, GSA; Donald A. Stadtler,
Jr., Chief Financial Officer, AMTRAK; Dennis Alvord, Acting Deputy
Assistant Secretary, Economic Development, Department of Commerce;
Katherine A. Siggerud, Managing Director, Physical Infrastructure
Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
FUNDING THE VA OF THE FUTURE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on Funding the VA of the
Future. Testimony was heard from Jessica Banthin, Director, Modeling
and Simulation, Center for Financing, Access and Cost Trends, Agency
for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of Health and Human
Services; Eric K. Shinseki, Secretary of Veterans Affairs; Randall
Williamson, Director, Healthcare Team, VA/DOD Health Care Issues, GAO;
Sidath Viranga Panangala, Analyst in Veterans Policy, Congressional
Research Service, Library of Congress; and public witnesses.
[[Page D474]]
HEALTH REFORM
Committee on Ways and Means: Continued hearings on Health Reform in the
21st Century: Employer Sponsored Insurance. Testimony was heard from
public witnesses.
HUMINT/HUMINT-ENABLING BRIEFING; OVERHEAD BRIEFING
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to
receive a briefing on HUMINT/HUMINT-Enabling. Testimony was heard from
departmental witnesses.
The Committee also met in executive session to receive a briefing on
Overhead. Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.
Joint Meetings
No joint committee meetings were held.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY,
APRIL 30, 2009
(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)
Senate
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Transportation,
Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, to hold
hearings to examine the Department of Transportation's
implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA),
9:15 a.m., SD-138.
Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine proposed budget
estimates for fiscal year 2010 for the War Supplemental, 10 a.m.,
SD-106.
Committee on Armed Services: to hold hearings to examine the
Secretary of Defense's 2010 budget recommendations, 9:30 a.m., SH-
216.
Subcommittee on Airland, to hold hearings to examine the current
and future roles, missions, and capabilities of United States
military air power, 2 p.m., SR-222.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: business meeting to
consider the nominations of Kristina M. Johnson, of Maryland, to be
Under Secretary, Steven Elliot Koonin, of California, to be Under
Secretary for Science, Ines R. Triay, of New Mexico, to be Assistant
Secretary for Environmental Management, and Scott Blake Harris, of
Virginia, to be General Counsel, all of the Department of Energy,
Hilary Chandler Tompkins, of New Mexico, to be Solicitor of the
Department of the Interior, and pending legislation on Renewable
Electricity Standard and Sitting of Interstate Electric Transmission
Facilities, 2:30 p.m., SD-366.
Committee on Finance: to hold hearings to examine the nominations
of William V. Corr, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Health
and Human Services, and Alan B. Krueger, of New Jersey, to be
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury for Economic Policy, 10 a.m.,
SD-215.
Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold hearings to examine
confronting piracy off the coast of Somalia, 2:30 p.m., SD-419.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: to hold
hearings to examine primary health care access reform, focusing on
community health centers and the national health service corps, 10
a.m., SD-430.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: to hold
hearings to examine the nominations of Ivan K. Fong, of Ohio, to be
General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security; to be immediately
followed by a hearing to examine the nomination of Timothy W.
Manning, of New Mexico, to be Deputy Administrator for National
Preparedness, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of
Homeland Security, 10 a.m., SD-342.
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal
Workforce, and the District of Columbia, to hold hearings to examine
national security reform, focusing on implementing a national
security service workforce, 2:30 p.m., SD-342.
Committee on Indian Affairs: business meeting to consider S. 151,
to protect Indian arts and crafts through the improvement of
applicable criminal proceedings, S. 443, to transfer certain land to
the United States to be held in trust for the Hoh Indian Tribe, to
place land into trust for the Hoh Indian Tribe, and the nomination
of Yvette Roubideaux, of Arizona, to be Director of the Indian
Health Service, Department of Health and Human Services, 9:30 a.m.,
SD-628.
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees
and Border Security, to hold hearings to examine comprehensive
immigration reform in 2009, 2 p.m., SD-226.
Select Committee on Intelligence: to hold closed hearings to
examine certain intelligence matters, 3 p.m., S-407, Capitol.
House
Committee on Armed Services, hearing on reform of major weapons
system acquisition and related legislative proposals, 10 a.m., 2118
Rayburn.
Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, hearing on space system
acquisitions and the industrial base, 1 p.m., 2212 Rayburn.
Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Workforce
Protections, hearing on Improving OSHA's Enhanced Enforcement
Programs, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health, hearing
entitled ``Swine Flu Outbreak and the U.S. Federal Response,'' 10
a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on International
Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight, hearing on International
Efforts to Combat Maritime Piracy, 1 p.m., 2172 Rayburn.
Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border, Maritime,
and Global Counterterrorism, Member briefing to provide an update on
the Department of Homeland Security's efforts to combat violence in
the U.S.-Mexico border region, 10 a.m., 1539 Longworth.
[[Page D475]]
Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness and
Response, Member briefing on the Department of Homeland Security's
progress on the issue of interoperable emergency communications, 9
a.m., 311 Cannon.
Committee on the Judiciary, hearing on H.R. 1260, Patent Reform
Act of 2009, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
Committee on Science and Technology, Subcommittee on
Investigations and Oversight, hearing on the Role of Science in the
Regulatory Reform, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.
Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Rural Development,
Entrepreneurship and Trade, to mark up the following bills: H.R.
1803, Veterans Business Center Act of 2009; H.R. 1807, Educating
Entrepreneurs through Today's Technology Act; H.R. 1834, Native
American Business Development Enhancement Act of 2009; H.R. 1838, To
amend the Small Business Act to modify certain provisions relating
to women's business centers; H.R. 1839, To amend the Small Business
Act to improve SCORE, and for other purposes; H.R. 1842, Expanding
Entrepreneurship Act of 2009; and H.R. 1845, Small Business
Development Centers Modernization Act of 2009, 10 a.m., 2360
Rayburn.
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on
Water Resources and Environment, hearing on Coal Combustion Waste
Storage and Water Quality, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
Committee on Veterans' Affairs, Subcommittee on Health, hearing on
Charting the VA's Progress on meeting the Mental Health Needs of our
Veterans: Discussion of Funding, Mental Health Strategic Plan, and
the Uniform Mental Health Services Handbook, 10 a.m., 334 Cannon.
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, executive, briefing on
Afghanistan, 10 a.m., 304-HVC.
Joint Meetings
Joint Economic Committee: to hold hearings to examine the economic
outlook, 10 a.m., 210-CHOB.
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[[Page D476]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Next Meeting of the SENATE
9:30 a.m., Thursday, April 30
Senate Chamber
Program for Thursday: After the transaction of any morning business
(not to extend beyond one hour), Senate will begin consideration of S.
896, Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, and after a period of
debate, vote on an amendment offered by Senator Durbin; following
which, Senate will begin consideration of the nomination of Thomas L.
Strickland, of Colorado, to be Assistant Secretary for Fish and
Wildlife, and after a period of debate, vote on confirmation thereon.
Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
10 a.m., Thursday, April 30
House Chamber
Program for Thursday: Complete consideration of H.R. 627--Credit
Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act of 2009 (Subject to a Rule).
_______________________________________________________________________
Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue
HOUSE
Alexander, Rodney, La., E1011, E1012
Bachmann, Michele, Minn., E1009
Barrett, J. Gresham, S.C., E1006
Bishop, Timothy H., N.Y., E1007, E1009
Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E1010, E1012
Braley, Bruce L., Iowa, E1013
Brown, Henry E., Jr., S.C., E1010
Butterfield, G.K., N.C., E1009, E1011
Castle, Michael N., Del., E1013, E1014
Costa, Jim, Calif., E1011
Davis, Susan A., Calif., E1005
Forbes, J. Randy, Va., E1014
Gingrey, Phil, Ga., E1007
Gonzalez, Charles A., Tex., E1006
Green, Gene, Tex., E1008
Jackson-Lee, Sheila, Tex., E1015, E1017
Klein, Ron, Fla., E1005
Larson, John B., Conn., E1007
LoBiondo, Frank A., N.J., E1005
McHugh, John M., N.Y., E1006
Miller, Jeff, Fla., E1010, E1012
Mitchell, Harry E., Ariz., E1013
Perlmutter, Ed, Colo., E1012, E1012, E1013, E1013, E1013, E1014, E1014,
E1015, E1017, E1018
Rahall, Nick J., II, W.Va., E1008
Schwartz, Allyson Y., Pa., E1011
Shea-Porter, Carol, N.H., E1008
Shuler, Heath, N.C., E1007
Simpson, Michael K., Idaho, E1008
Smith, Lamar, Tex., E1005
Space, Zachary T., Ohio, E1005, E1005, E1006, E1006, E1007, E1008,
E1008, E1009, E1010
Speier, Jackie, Calif., E1014
Tsongas, Niki, Mass., E1005
Yarmuth, John A., Ky., E1011