Wednesday, May 10, 2006 [[Page D462]] Daily Digest HIGHLIGHTS The House agreed to the Conference Report to accompany H.R. 4297, Tax Relief Act of 2005. Senate Chamber Action Routine Proceedings, pages S4241-S4383 Measures Introduced: Nine bills and two resolutions were introduced, as follows: S. 2774-2782, and S. Res. 472-473. Page S4339 Measures Passed: Commemorating Law Enforcement Officers: Senate agreed to S. Res. 472, commemorating and acknowledging the dedication and sacrifice made by the men and women who have lost their lives while serving as law enforcement officers. Pages S4379-80 National Police Survivors Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 473, designating May 14, 2006, as National Police Survivors Day. Pages S4380-81 Honoring NAACP: Committee on the Judiciary was discharged from further consideration of H. Con. Res. 335, honoring and praising the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on the occasion of its 97th anniversary, and the resolution was then agreed to. Page S4381 Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act: Pursuant to the order of May 9, 2006, Senate agreed to the motion to proceed and then began consideration of S. 1955, to amend title I of the Employee Retirement Security Act of 1974 and the Public Health Service Act to expand health care access and reduce costs through the creation of small business health plans and through modernization of the health insurance marketplace, modifying the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, and taking action on the following amendments proposed thereto: Pages S4262-S4327 Pending: Frist Amendment No. 3886 (to S. 1955 (committee substitute) as modified), to establish the enactment date. Pages S4285-86 Frist Amendment No. 3887 (to Amendment No. 3886), to change the enactment date. Page S4286 Motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, with instructions to report back forthwith, with Frist Amendment No. 3888, in the nature of a substitute. Pages S4286-94 Frist Amendment No. 3889 (to the instructions of the motion to recommit), to change the enactment date. Page S4294 Frist Amendment No. 3890 (to Amendment No. 3889), to provide for the enactment date. Pages S4294-95 A motion was entered to close further debate on the pending modified committee amendment in the nature of a substitute and, in accordance with the provisions of rule XXII and, pursuant to the order of May 10, 2006, the cloture vote will occur on Thursday, May 11, 2006. Pages S4326-27 A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further consideration of the bill on Thursday, May 11, 2006, with a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the pending modified committee substitute, to occur following the vote on the conference report to accompany H.R. 4297 (listed below). Page S4382 Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that on Thursday, May 11, 2006, Senate begin consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 4297, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 201(b) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006; provided further, that 8 hours remain out of the statutory time limit and that it be equally divided; followed by a vote on the adoption of the conference report; provided further, that following the vote and notwithstanding rule XXII, there be 60 minutes of debate equally divided between the Chairman and [[Page D463]] Ranking Member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions or their designees, prior to a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the modified committee substitute to S. 1955 (listed above). Page S4382 National Defense Authorizations--Agreement: A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing that the order of November 15, 2005 with respect to S. 1042, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, S. 1043, Department of Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, S. 1044, Military Construction Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, and S. 1045, Department of Energy National Security Act for Fiscal Year 2006, be vitiated. Page S4379 Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations: Neil M. Gorsuch, of Colorado, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Tenth Circuit. 1 Army nomination in the rank of general. Routine lists in the Navy. Pages S4383-84 Nominations Discharged: The following nomination was discharged from further committee consideration and placed on the Executive Calendar: George McDade Staples, of Kentucky, to be Director General of the Foreign Service, which was sent to the Senate on March 2, 2006, from the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. Page S4384 Messages From the House: Page S4331 Measures Referred: Page S4331 Petitions and Memorials: Pages S4331-39 Executive Reports of Committees: Page S4339 Additional Cosponsors: Pages S4339-40 Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions: Pages S4340-42 Additional Statements: Page S4330 Amendments Submitted: Pages S4342-78 Authorities for Committees to Meet: Pages S4379-80 Privileges of the Floor: Page S4380 Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m., and adjourned at 8:30 p.m., until 9:30 a.m., on Thursday, May 11, 2006. (For Senate's program, see the remarks of the Majority Leader in today's Record on page S4382.) Committee Meetings (Committees not listed did not meet) FARM BILL: SUGAR PROVISIONS Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the implementation of the sugar provisions of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002, after receiving testimony from J.B. Penn, Under Secretary of Agriculture for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services; John C. Roney, American Sugar Alliance, Arlington, Virginia; Wallace Ellender, III, American Sugar Cane League, Bourg, Louisiana; Steve Williams, Red River Valley Sugarbeet Growers Association, Fisher, Minnesota, on behalf of American Sugarbeet Growers Association; Margaret Blamberg, American Cane Sugar Refiners' Association, Brooklyn, New York; Robert A. Peiser, Imperial Sugar Company, Sugar Land, Texas; Joe Goehring, The Hershey Company, Hershey, Pennsylvania, on behalf of the Sweetener Users Association; and Mrinal Roy, Mauritius Sugar Syndicate and Mauritius Chamber of Agriculture, London, United Kingdom. APPROPRIATIONS: MISSILE DEFENSE PROGRAM Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Defense concluded a hearing to examine proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2007 for the missile defense program, after receiving testimony from Lieutenant General Henry A. Obering, III, USAF, Director, Missile Defense Agency; and Lieutenant General Larry J. Dodgen, USA, Commanding General, U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command, and U.S. Army Forces Strategic Command. WAR IN AFGHANISTAN Committee on Armed Services: Committee met in closed session to discuss the current situation in Afghanistan with Lieutenant General Karl W. Eikenberry, USA, Commanding General, Combined Forces Command- Afghanistan. BUSINESS MEETING Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee ordered favorably reported the nomination of Dirk Kempthorne, of Idaho, to be Secretary of the Interior. LAND BILLS Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests concluded a hearing to examine S. 906, to promote wildland firefighter safety, S. 2003, to make permanent the authorization for watershed restoration and enhancement agreements, H.R. 585, to require Federal land [[Page D464]] managers to support, and to communicate, coordinate, and cooperate with, designated gateway communities, to improve the ability of gateway communities to participate in Federal land management planning conducted by the Forest Service and agencies of the Department of the Interior, and to respond to the impacts of the public use of the Federal lands administered by these agencies, and H.R. 3981, to authorize the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out certain land exchanges involving small parcels of National Forest System land in the Tahoe National Forest in the State of California, after receiving testimony from Representative Radanovich; Joel Holtrop, Deputy Chief, National Forest System, U.S. Forest Service, Department of Agriculture; Christopher Kearney, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Policy, Management and Budget; Steve Duerr, Jackson Hole Chamber of Commerce, Jackson Hole, Wyoming; and Bob Warren, City of Redding, California, on behalf of the National Alliance of Gateway Communities. CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM Committee on Finance: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the progress achieved and challenges ahead for America's child welfare system, focusing on foster care, mentoring the children of prisoners, and the Promoting Safe and Stable Families program, after receiving testimony from Joan E. Ohl, Commissioner, Administration for Children, Youth and Families, Administration for Children and Families, Department of Health and Human Services; Gary Stangler, Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative, St. Louis, Missouri; Arlene Templer, Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation Department of Human Resources Development, Pablo, Montana; Joe Kroll, North American Council on Adoptable Children, St. Paul, Minnesota; and Jackie Hammers-Crowell, Iowa City, Iowa. NOMINATIONS: Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the nominations of Earl Anthony Wayne, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to Argentina, David M. Robinson, of Connecticut, to be Ambassador to the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and Lisa Bobbie Schreiber Hughes, of Pennsylvania, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Suriname, after the nominees testified and answered questions in their own behalf. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Committee on Indian Affairs: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to examine Indian economic development, focusing on the recent Bureau of Indian Affairs Indian labor force report and unemployment in Indian population, after receiving testimony from Robert W. Middleton, Director, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Indian Affairs; Joe Garcia, National Congress of American Indians, Washington, D.C.; Tex G. Hall, InterTribal Economic Alliance, Sisseton, South Dakota; Lance Morgan, Ho-Chunk, Inc., Winnebago, Nebraska; Elsie M. Meeks, First Nations Oweesta Corporation, Rapid City, South Dakota; and Miriam Jorgensen, Harvard University Project on American Indian Economic Development, Cambridge, Massachusetts, and University of Arizona Native Nations Institute. VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded a hearing to examine modern enforcement and reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, including S. 2703, to amend the Voting Rights Act of 1965, after receiving testimony from Wan J. Kim, Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice; Robert B. McDuff, Law Offices of Robert McDuff, Jackson, Mississippi; Gregory S. Coleman, Weil Gotshall and Manges, Austin, Texas; Natalie A. Landreth, Native American Rights Fund, Anchorage, Alaska; Frank B. Strickland, Strickland Brockington Lewis, LLP, Atlanta, Georgia; and Juan Cartagena, Community Service Society of New York, New York, New York. BUSINESS MEETING Select Committee on Intelligence: Committee met in closed session to consider pending intelligence matters. Committee recessed subject to the call. H [[Page D465]] House of Representatives Chamber Action Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 15 public bills, H.R. 5336-5350; and 1 resolution, H. Res. 812, were introduced. Pages H2501-02 Additional Cosponsors: Pages H2502-03 Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows: H. Res. 810, providing for further consideration of H.R. 5122, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2007 (H. Rept. 109-460); and H. Res. 811, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to the same day consideration of certain resolutions reported by the Rules Committee (H. Rept. 109-491). Page H2499 Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed Representative Campbell to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. Page H2341 Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Ross Thomson, Bammel Church of Christ, Houston, Texas. Page H2341 Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following measure: H-Prize Act of 2006: H.R. 5143, amended, to authorize the Secretary of Energy to establish monetary prizes for achievements in overcoming scientific and technical barriers associated with hydrogen energy, by a yea- and-nay vote of 416 yeas to 6 nays with 1 voting ``present'', Roll No. 131. Pages H2346-54, H2366-67 Agreed by unanimous consent that during consideration of H.R. 5122, pursuant to H. Res. 806, general debate shall not exceed two hours equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority Member of the Committee on Armed Services. Pages H2360-66 National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007: The House completed general debate and began considering amendments to H.R. 5122, to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2007 for military activities of the Department of Defense, to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2007. Pages H2360-H2453 H2466-72 Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Armed Services now printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. Page H2381 Agreed to: Hunter Manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 109-459) adds a section requiring the Secretary of Defense to submit a report on means to improve retention of members of the special operations forces. Strikes and replaces Section 662 requiring the Secretary of Defense to conduct a pilot project for disabled persons accessible golf carts at military golf courses. It also adds section conveying Army Reserve Center land in Allison Park, PA, to the local school district and incorporates a technical correction to the TRICARE effective dates in section 704 and 709 of the bill; Pages H2446-47 Andrews amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 109-459) requires the Secretary of Defense to perform an epidemiological study to determine whether any human populations have been affected by these dumps; Pages H2447-48 Tanner amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 109-459) expresses a Sense of Congress that the Army should continue to evaluate and consider the potential benefits of converting to six-month deployments for members of the Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserves in connection with service in Iraq and Afghanistan, including potential impacts on the reduced deployment periods on soldier morale, recruiting and retention, readiness, and military operations. It also requires the Secretary of the Army to submit a report to Congress containing: (1) The results of any studies conducted on soldiers and families regarding reduced deployment periods in Iraq and Afghanistan; (2) The Army's potential plans for the implementation of such reduced deployment periods; and (3) A discussion of the potential benefits and drawbacks associated with implementation of such reduced deployment times; Page H2453 Franks of Arizona amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 109-459) as modified, makes certain findings concerning humanitarian support for Iraqi children in urgent need of medical care. It also authorizes, within the amount provided in section 301 for Operation and Maintenance, $1 million for DoD support of the Peace Through Health Care Initiative, and reduces by $1 million the amount provided for Budget Activity 4; Pages H2467-68 Simmons amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 109-459) prevents DoD from revoking expired security clearances from defense contractors until an investigation moratorium and backlog is eliminated. Does not change the security clearance investigation process or prevent the department from revoking security clearances for national security purposes; and Pages H2468-70 Gutknecht amendment (No. 8 printed in H. Rept. 109-459) expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of the Army should promptly correct the pay inequity in its assignment incentive pay system. Depending on method of call to active duty, some Guardsmen and Reservists serving in the same unit in Iraq and Afghanistan will be eligible for assignment incentive pay ($1,000 extra per month) after reaching 730 days on active duty, while others [[Page D466]] will not. The Army must submit to Congress within 30 days after enactment a report specifying how many soldiers, both active and reserve, were affected by this pay disparity and proposed remedies or courses of action to correct the inequity. Pages H2470-72 Rejected: Andrews amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 109-459) which sought to lift the current ban on privately funded abortions at U.S. military facilities overseas (by a recorded vote of 191 ayes to 237 noes, Roll No. 136). Pages H2448-51, H2466-67 Postponed proceedings: Jackson-Lee of Texas amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 109-459) that clarifies the factors that must be taken into consideration when recalling a reservist to service to include the frequency of assignment over the duration of a reservist's career was offered and debated. The Chair postponed further proceedings on the amendment. Pages H2451-52 H. Res. 806, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 351 yeas to 70 nays, Roll No. 133, after agreeing to order the previous question without objection. Pages H2360-66, H2368 Tax Relief Act of 2005--Conference Report: The House agreed to the conference report on H.R. 4297, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 201(b) of the concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006, by a recorded vote 244 ayes to 185 noes, Roll No. 135, after ordering the previous question. Pages H2453-66 Rejected the Rangel motion to recommit the conference report to the committee of conference with instructions to the managers on the part of the House, by a yea-and-nay vote of 190 yeas to 239 nays, Roll No. 134. Pages H2464-65 H. Res. 805, the rule providing for consideration of the conference report was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 228 yeas to 194 nays, Roll No. 132, after agreeing to order the previous question without objection. Pages H2354-60, H2367-68 Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed: The House completed debate on the following measure under suspension of the rules. Further consideration of the measure will resume tomorrow, May 11th: Encouraging all eligible Medicare beneficiaries who have not yet elected enroll in the new Medicare Part D benefit to review the available options and to determine whether enrollment in a Medicare prescription drug plan best meets their current and future needs for prescription drug coverage: H.R. 802, Encouraging all eligible Medicare beneficiaries who have not yet elected enroll in the new Medicare Part D benefit to review the available options and to determine whether enrollment in a Medicare prescription drug plan best meets their current and future needs for prescription drug coverage. Pages H2472-79 Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea and nay votes and two recorded votes developed during the proceedings of the House today and appear on pages H2366-67, H2367-68, H2368, H2465, H2465-66 and H2466-67. There were no quorum calls. Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 11:15 p.m. Committee Meetings APPROPRIATIONS FY 2007--MILITARY QUALITY OF LIFE, AND VETERANS AFFAIRS; AND INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES Committee on Appropriations: Ordered reported, as amended, the following appropriations for Fiscal Year 2007: the Military Quality of Life, and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies. SENIOR INDEPENDENCE ACT OF 2006 Committee on Education and the Workforce: Subcommittee on Select Education approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R. 5293, Senior Independence Act of 2006. FUEL ECONOMY STANDARDS Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported, as amend, a measure to amend the automobile fuel economy provisions of title 49, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Transportation to set fuel economy standards for passenger automobiles based on one or more vehicle attributes. GASOLINE SUPPLY AND PRICE Committee on Energy and Commerce: Held a hearing entitled ``Gasoline Supply, Price and Specifications.'' Testimony was heard from Howard K. Gruenspecht, Deputy Administrator, Energy Information Administration, Department of Energy; William Wehrum, Acting-Assistant Administrator, Air and Radiation, EPA; and public witnesses. Hearings continue tomorrow. PUBLIC HOUSING MANAGEMENT Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Federalism and the Census held a hearing entitled ``Public Housing Management: Do the Public Housing Authorities Have the Flexibility They Need to Meet the Changing Demands of the 21st Century?'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses. PREVENTING KATRINA FRAUD Committee on Government Reform: Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance and Accountability held a hearing entitled ``After Katrina: The Role of the Department of Justice Katrina Fraud Task Force and Agency Inspectors General in Preventing Waste, Fraud, and Abuse.'' Testimony was heard from Alice Fisher, Assistant Attorney General, Criminal Division, Department of Justice, and Chair, Hurricane Katrina Fraud Task Force; Matt Jadacki, [[Page D467]] Special Inspector General, Gulf Hurricane Recovery, Department of Homeland Security; Ken Donohue, Inspector General, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Eric Thorson, Inspector General, SBA; and Thomas Gimble, Principal Deputy Inspector General, Department of Defense. INTELLIGENCE INFORMATION SHARING Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Risk Assessment held a hearing entitled ``Building the Information Sharing Environment: Addressing the Challenges of Implementation.'' Testimony was heard from Ambassador Ted McNamara, Information Sharing Program Manager, Office of the Director of National Intelligence. DHS INTELLIGENCE ENTERPRISE--PROTECTION OF PRIVACY Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing, and Terrorism Risk Assessment continued hearings entitled ``Protection of Privacy in the DHS Intelligence Enterprise.'' Testimony was heard from a public witness. CHINA'S RESURGENCE Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on A Resurgent China: Responsible Stakeholder or Robust Rival? Testimony was heard from Robert B. Zoellick, Deputy Secretary, Department of State. U.S. REFUGEE PROTECTION AND RESETTLEMENT Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on Africa, Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing on Current Issues in U.S. Refugee Protection and Resettlement. Testimony was heard from Ellen R. Sauerbrey, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, Department of State; Rachel Brand, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Legal Policy, Department of Justice; Paul; Rosenzweig, Acting Assistant Secretary, Policy Development, Department of Homeland Security; and public witnesses. VOTING RIGHTS ACT REAUTHORIZATION; PALESTINIAN ANTI-TERRORISM ACT Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 9, Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Correta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006; and H.R. 4681, Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act of 2006. WILD REFUGE MEASURES Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 4947, Cahaba River National Wildlife Refuge Expansion Act; H.R. 5094, Lake Mattamuskeet Lodge Preservation Act; and H.R. 5232, Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge Study Act. Testimony was heard from Representative Bachus; William Hartwig, Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses. MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and Power held a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 4588, Water Resources Research Act Amendments of 2005; H.R. 5079, North Unit Irrigation District Act of 2006; and S. 214 / H.R. 469, United States-Mexico Transboundary Aquifer Assessment Act. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of the Interior: William E. Rinne, Acting Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation; and P. Patrick Leahy, Acting Director, U.S. Geological Survey; and public witnesses. NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 9 to 4, a structured rule providing for further consideration of H.R. 5122, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007. The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in the Rules Committee report accompanying the resolution and amendments en bloc described in section 3 of the resolution. The rule provides that amendments printed in the report shall be considered only in the order printed in the report (except as specified in section 4 of the resolution), may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, and shall be considered as may be offered only by a Member designated in the report, and shall be considered as read. The rule provides that each amendment printed in the report 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 (except that the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services each may offer one pro forma amendment for the purpose of further debate on any pending amendment), and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule waives all points of order against amendments printed in the report and those amendments en bloc as described in Section 3 of the resolution. The rule authorizes the Chairman of the Committee on Armed Services, or his designee, to offer amendments en bloc consisting of amendments printed in the Rules Committee report not earlier disposed of, which shall be considered as read, shall be debatable for 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Armed Services or their designees, and shall not be subject to amendment or demand for a division of the question in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule provides that the original proponent of an amendment included in such amendments en bloc may insert a statement in the Congressional Record immediately before the disposition of the amendments en bloc. The rule allows the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole to [[Page D468]] recognize for consideration of any amendment printed in the report, out of the order printed, but not sooner than 30 minutes after the chairman of the Armed Services Committee or his designee announces from the floor a request to that effect. Finally, the rule provides one motion to recommit with or without instructions. WAIVING A REQUIREMENT OF CLAUSE 6(a) OF RULE XIII WITH RESPECT TO THE SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES COMMITTEE Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule waiving clause 6(a) of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) against certain resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The rule applies the waiver to any special rule reported on the legislative day of May 11, 2006, providing for consideration of the concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 376) establishing the congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2007 and setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 through 2011. ENTREPRENEURS CAPITAL ACCESS Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Bridging the Equity Gap: Examining the Access to Capital for Entrepreneurs Act of 2006.'' Testimony was heard from Lorrie Keating-Heinemann, Secretary, Department of Financial Institutions, State of Wisconsin; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--HIGHWAY CAPACITY AND FREIGHT MOBILITY Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Highways, Transit and Pipelines held an oversight hearing on Highway Capacity and Freight Mobility: The Current Status and Future Challenges. Testimony was heard from Jeffrey Shane, Under Secretary, Transportation Policy, Department of Transportation; and Tim Martin, Secretary of Transportation, State of Illinois; and public witnesses. OVERSIGHT--RAILROAD RETIREMENT REFORM Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Railroads held an oversight hearing on Operational Experience Under the 2001 Railroad Retirement Reform Law. Testimony was heard from Michael S. Schwartz, Chairman, Railroad Retirement Board; and public witnesses. VETERANS MEASURES Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity approved for full Committee action, as amended, the following bills: H.R. 3082, Veteran-Owned Small Business Promotion Act of 2005; and H.R. 5220, Veterans Certification and Licensure Act of 2006. DRAFT IMPLEMENTING PROPOSAL--U.S.-OMAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT IMPLEMENTATION ACT Committee on Ways and Means: Approved the draft implementing proposal on the United States-Oman Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. Joint Meetings HEALTH INFORMATION TOOLS Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the next generation of health information tools for consumers, focusing on healthcare delivery system reform, medical treatment decisions, and the affordability and quality of medicare care, after receiving testimony from Carolyn M. Clancy, Director, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Department of Health and Human Services; Arnold Milstein, Pacific Business Group on Health, San Francisco, California; Michael D. Parkinson, Lumenos, Inc., Alexandria, Virginia; Paul B. Ginsburg, Center for Studying Health System Change, Washington, D.C.; Douglas G. Cave, Cave Consulting Group, Foster City, California; Donald W. Kemper, Healthwise, Inc., Boise, Idaho; and Walton Francis, Fairfax, Virginia. F COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY, MAY 11, 2006 (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated) Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: to hold hearings to examine Department of Agriculture's national response plan to detect and control the potential spread of Avian Influenza into the United States, 10:30 a.m., SD-106. Committee on the Budget: to hold hearings to examine the nomination of Robert J. Portman, of Ohio, to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget, 10 a.m., SD-608. Committee on Foreign Relations: to hold a closed briefing on Iran's nuclear program and the impact of potential sanctions, 9:30 a.m., S-407, Capitol. Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nomination of Daniel S. Sullivan, of Alaska, to be an Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, 2:30 p.m., SD-106. Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider the nominations of Brett M. Kavanaugh, of Maryland, to be United States Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit, Sean F. Cox, and Thomas L. Ludington, both to be a United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Michigan, S. 2453, to establish procedures for the review of electronic surveillance programs, S. 2455, to provide in statute for the conduct of electronic surveillance of suspected terrorists for the purposes of protecting the American people, the Nation, and its interests from terrorist attack while ensuring that the civil liberties of United States citizens are safeguarded, S. 2468, to provide standing for civil actions for declaratory and injunctive relief to persons who refrain from electronic communications through fear of being subject to warrantless [[Page D469]] electronic surveillance for foreign intelligence purposes, S. 2039, to provide for loan repayment for prosecutors and public defenders, and S.J. Res. 1, proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage, 9:30 a.m., SD-226. Committee on Veterans' Affairs: to hold hearings to examine pending health care related legislation, 10 a.m., SR-418. Select Committee on Intelligence: to hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219. House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies, to mark up the Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies for Fiscal Year 2007, 11 a.m., 2362B Rayburn. Subcommittee on Homeland Security, to mark up the Homeland Security Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2007, 9:30 a.m., B-308 Rayburn. Committee on Energy and Commerce, to continue hearings entitled ``Gasoline Supply, Price and Specifications,'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection, hearing entitled ``Social Security Numbers in Commerce: Reconciling Beneficial Uses with Threats to Privacy,'' 2 p.m., 2123 Rayburn. Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, hearing on H.R. 3206, Credit Union Charter Choice Act, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Committee on Government Reform, hearing entitled ``Working Through an Outbreak: Pandemic Flu Planning and Continuity of Operations,'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn. Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, executive, briefing on the different governance structures of State and Local Fusion Centers, 2 p.m., H2-176 Ford. Subcommittee on Management, Integration, and Oversight, hearing entitled ``CBP and ICE: Does the Current Organizational Structure Best Serve U.S. Homeland Security Interests? Part III,'' 2:30 p.m., 311 Cannon. Subcommittee on Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack, hearing entitled ``Creating a Nation-wide, Integrated Biosurveillance Network,'' 2 p.m., 1311 Longworth. Committee on International Relations, hearing on the U.S.-India Global Partnership: Legislative Options, 10:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn. Subcommittee on International Terrorism and Nonproliferation, hearing on Reviewing the State Department's Annual Report on Terrorism, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn. Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing on Visa Overstays: Can We Bar the Terrorist Door? 2 p.m., 2200 Rayburn. Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, hearing on H.R. 5318, Cyber-Security Enhancement and Consumer Data Protection Act of 2006; followed by a markup of the following bills: H.R. 5005, Firearms Corrections and Improvements Act; H.R. 1384, Firearm Commerce Modernization Act; and H.R. 1415, NICS Improvement Act of 2005, 9 a.m., 2141 Rayburn. Committee on Resources, oversight hearing on Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS) for Indian gaming, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth. Subcommittee on National Parks, oversight hearing on Disability access in the National Park System, 10 a.m., 1334 Longworth. Committee on Science, hearing on the Inspector General Report on NOAA Weather Satellites, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn. Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, oversight hearing on Coast Guard Mission Capabilities, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn. Committee on Veterans' Affairs, oversight hearing on right-seizing the Department of Veterans Affairs infrastructure and the Department's pending major medical facility project and lease authorization requests, 10:30 a.m., 334 Cannon. Committee on Ways and Means, Subcommittee on Social Security, hearing on Social Security Service Delivery Challenges, 10 a.m., B-318 Rayburn. 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[[Page D470]] _______________________________________________________________________ Next Meeting of the SENATE 9:30 a.m., Thursday, May 11 Senate Chamber Program for Thursday: Senate will begin consideration of the conference report to accompany H.R. 4297, Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act, and following eight hours of debate, vote on its adoption; following which, Senate will continue consideration of S. 1955, Health Insurance Marketplace Modernization and Affordability Act, with a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute, as modified. Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 10 a.m., Thursday, May 11 House Chamber Program for Thursday: Continue consideration of H.R. 5122--National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (Structured Rule). _______________________________________________________________________ Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue HOUSE Andrews, Robert E., N.J., E768 Baca, Joe, Calif., E766 Biggert, Judy, Ill., E792 Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E761 Bonner, Jo, Ala., E766 Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E779 Capps, Lois, Calif., E788 Cardoza, Dennis A., Calif., E789 Chocola, Chris, Ind., E765, E766 Cleaver, Emanuel, Mo., E769, E773, E773, E791 Conyers, John, Jr., Mich., E768, E769 Costello, Jerry F., Ill., E783 Cubin, Barbara, Wyo., E764 Cummings, Elijah E., Md., E766 Davis, Tom, Va., E761, E762, E763 Ehlers, Vernon J., Mich., E774, E776 Frank, Barney, Mass., E788 Frelinghuysen, Rodney P., N.J., E778 Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E792 Gibbons, Jim, Nev., E768 Gillmor, Paul E., Ohio, E773, E775, E776, E777, E778, E779, E781 Gordon, Bart, Tenn., E791 Granger, Kay, Tex., E782 Graves, Sam, Mo., E773, E775, E776, E777, E778, E779, E780, E782 Green, Gene, Tex., E782, E793 Higgins, Brian, N.Y., E762, E763 Honda, Michael M., Calif., E764 Hoyer, Steny H., Md., E768 Hunter, Duncan, Calif., E779 Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E765 Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E774, E775, E776, E777 Lee, Barbara, Calif., E781 Lipinski, Daniel, Ill., E783, E793 McDermott, Jim, Wash., E781, E792 Meehan, Martin T., Mass., E774, E776 Meek, Kendrick B., Fla., E764 Miller, George, Calif., E767 Moore, Dennis, Kans., E774, E775, E777 Moran, James P., Va., E761 Norwood, Charlie, Ga., E791 Ortiz, Solomon P., Tex., E769 Owens, Major R., N.Y., E783 Pastor, Ed, Ariz., E793 Paul, Ron, Tex., E782 Pickering, Charles W. ``Chip'', Miss., E784, E785, E787 Porter, Jon C., Nev., E761, E762, E763, E764, E764, E765, E784, E784, E786, E788 Rangel, Charles B., N.Y., E783, E784, E785, E787 Rothman, Steven R., N.J., E783 Salazar, John T., Colo., E789 Sensenbrenner, F. James, Jr., Wisc., E790 Serrano, Jose E., N.Y., E762, E763 Smith, Adam, Wash., E789 Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E780 Stearns, Cliff, Fla., E766 Tancredo, Thomas G., Colo., E788 Udall, Tom, N.M., E788 Watson, Diane E., Calif., E769 Waxman, Henry A., Calif., E790 Woolsey, Lynn C., Calif., E778