Wednesday, May 6, 2009
[[Page D507]]
Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
Senate passed S. 896, Helping Families Save Their Homes Act.
House Committees ordered reported 18 sundry measures.
Senate
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages S5169-S5248
Measures Introduced: Ten bills and five resolutions were introduced, as
follows: S. 983-992, S.J. Res. 15, and S. Res. 132-135.
Pages S5231-32
Measures Reported:
Special Report entitled ``Activities of the Committee on Banking,
Housing, and Urban Affairs During the 110th Congress Pursuant to rule
XXVI of the Standing Rules of the United States Senate''. (S. Rept. No.
111-17)
Page S5231
Measures Passed:
Helping Families Save Their Homes Act: By 91 yeas to 5 nays (Vote No.
185), Senate passed S. 896, to prevent mortgage foreclosures and
enhance mortgage credit availability, as amended, after taking action
on the following amendments proposed thereto:
Pages S5173-75, S5179-S5205
Adopted:
Dodd (for Reed) Modified Amendment No. 1039 (to Amendment No. 1018),
to address impediments to liquidating warrants.
Page S5173
Dodd (for Boxer) Amendment No. 1035 (to Amendment No. 1018), to
require notice to consumers when a mortgage loan has been sold,
transferred, or assigned to a third party.
Pages S5173-74
Casey Amendment No. 1033 (to Amendment No. 1018), to enhance State
and local neighborhood stabilization efforts by providing foreclosure
prevention assistance to families threatened with foreclosure and
permitting Statewide funding competition in minimum allocation States.
Page S5173
Dodd (for Grassley/Baucus) Modified Amendment No. 1020 (to Amendment
No. 1018), to enhance the oversight authority of the Comptroller
General of the United States with respect to expenditures under the
Troubled Asset Relief Program.
Pages S5173-74
By 57 yeas to 39 nays (Vote No. 182), Dodd (for Kerry) Modified
Amendment No. 1036 (to Amendment No. 1018), to protect the interests of
bona fide tenants in the case of any foreclosure on any dwelling or
residential real property.
Pages S5173-75
Reed/Bond Amendment No. 1040 (to Amendment No. 1018), to amend the
McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act to reauthorize the Act.
Pages S5173, S5180-81
By 95 yeas to 1 nay (Vote No. 184), Dodd (for Grassley/Baucus)
Modified Amendment No. 1021 (to Amendment No. 1018), to amend Chapter 7
of title 31, United States Code, to provide the Comptroller General
additional audit authorities relating to the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.
Pages S5173, S5181-82
Dodd/Shelby Amendment No. 1018, in the nature of a substitute.
Page S5173
Withdrawn:
Dodd (for Schumer) Modified Amendment No. 1031 (to Amendment No.
1018), to establish a multifamily mortgage resolution program.
Pages S5173, S5179
During consideration of this measure today, Senate also took the
following action:
By 50 yeas to 46 nays (Vote No. 183), three-fifths of those Senators
duly chosen and sworn, not having voted in the affirmative, Senate
rejected the motion to waive section 202 of S. Con. Res. 21, FY08
Congressional Budget Resolution, with respect to Coburn Amendment No.
1042 (to Amendment No. 1040), to establish a pilot program for the
expedited disposal of Federal real property. Subsequently, the pay-as-
you-go point of order that the amendment would cause or increase an on-
budget deficit for either of the applicable time periods set out in S.
Con. Res. 21, was sustained, and the amendment thus fell.
Pages S5173, S5179-80
Commending the Heroic Efforts of People Fighting North Dakota Floods:
Senate agreed to S. Res.
[[Page D508]]
132, commending the heroic efforts of the people fighting the floods in
North Dakota.
Page S5246
National Physical Education and Sport Week: Senate agreed to S. Res.
133, designating May 1 through May 7, 2009, as ``National Physical
Education and Sport Week''.
Page S5246
National Charter Schools Week: Senate agreed to S. Res. 134,
congratulating the students, parents, teachers, and administrators at
charter schools across the United States for their ongoing
contributions to education and supporting the ideas and goals of the
10th annual National Charter Schools Week, May 3 through May 9, 2009.
Page S5247
Military Spouse Appreciation Day: Senate agreed to S. Res. 135,
designating May 8, 2009, as ``Military Spouse Appreciation Day''.
Page S5247
Measures Considered:
Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act: Senate began consideration of S.
454, to improve the organization and procedures of the Department of
Defense for the acquisition of major weapon systems, taking action on
the following amendments proposed thereto:
Pages S5205-25
Adopted:
Collins/McCaskill Amendment No. 1045, to require the Secretary of
Defense to apply uniform earned value management standards to
reliability and consistently measures contract performance, and to
ensure that contractors establish and use approved earned value
management systems.
Pages S5215-19
Levin (for Inhofe) Amendment No. 1044, to require a report on certain
cost growth matters following the termination of a major defense
acquisition program for critical cost growth.
Pages S5219, S5220-21
Levin (for Chambliss) Amendment No. 1053, to clarify an exception to
conflict of interest requirements applicable to contracts for systems
engineering and technical assistance functions.
Pages S5219, S5222-24
Levin (for Coburn) Amendment No. 1046, to require reports on the
operation and support costs of major defense acquisition programs and
major weapons systems.
Pages S5219-20
Levin (for McCaskill) Amendment No. 1051, to enhance the review of
joint military requirements.
Pages S5220-22
Levin (for McCaskill) Amendment No. 1049, to specify certain inputs
to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council from the commanders of the
combatant commands on joint military requirements.
Pages S5220-22
Levin (for McCaskill) Amendment No. 1050, to provide for a review by
the Comptroller General of the United States of waivers of the
requirement for competitive prototypes based on excessive cost.
Pages S5220-22
Levin (for Whitehouse) Amendment No. 1047, to further improve the
cost assessment procedures and processes of the Department of Defense.
Page S5220
Levin (for Carper) Amendment No. 1048, to require consultation
between the Director of Defense Research and Engineering and the
Director of Developmental Test and Evaluation in assessments of
technological maturity of critical technologies of major defense
acquisition programs.
Page S5220
Levin (for Bingaman) Amendment No. 1055, to clarify the submittal of
certifications of the adequacy of budgets by the Director of the
Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center.
Pages S5224-25
A unanimous-consent-time agreement was reached providing for further
consideration of the bill at approximately 10:30 a.m., on Thursday, May
7, 2009, and that the following be the only first-degree amendments in
order to the bill, other than the committee reported amendment in the
nature of a substitute, that the listed first-degree amendments be
subject to second-degree amendments which are relevant to the amendment
to which offered; provided that with respect to any subsequent
agreement which provides for a limitation of debate regarding an
amendment on the list, then that time be equally divided and controlled
in the usual form; that if there is a sequence of votes with respect to
these amendments, the there be 2 minutes equally divided and controlled
prior to a vote on or in relation thereto; provided that upon
disposition of the listed amendments, the substitute amendment, as
amended be agreed to, and Senate vote on passage of the bill: Snowe
Amendment No. 1056 relative to small business contracting, Thune
Amendment relative to weapons systems, Coburn Amendment relative to
financial management, Chambliss Amendment No. 1054 relative to ``make
buy'', and Murray Amendment No. 1052 relative to National Security
objectives.
Page S5225
Credit Cardholders' Bill of Rights Act--Cloture: Senate began
consideration of the motion to proceed to 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.
Page S5246
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, May 8, 2009.
Page S5246
Subsequently, the motion to proceed was withdrawn.
Page S5246
[[Page D509]]
Nominations Confirmed: Senate confirmed the following nominations:
Ronald C. Sims, of Washington, to be Deputy Secretary of Department
of Housing and Urban Development.
Alan B. Krueger, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury.
Ivo H. Daalder, of Virginia, to be United States Permanent
Representative on the Council of the North Atlantic Treaty
Organization, with the rank and status of Ambassador.
Ivan K. Fong, of Ohio, to be General Counsel, Department of Homeland
Security.
William V. Corr, of Virginia, to be Deputy Secretary of Health and
Human Services.
Demetrios J. Marantis, of the District of Columbia, to be a Deputy
United States Trade Representative, with the rank of Ambassador.
Johnnie Carson, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(African Affairs).
Yvette Roubideaux, of Arizona, to be Director of the Indian Health
Service, Department of Health and Human Services, for the term of four
years.
Luis C. de Baca, of Virginia, to be Director of the Office to Monitor
and Combat Trafficking, with rank of Ambassador at Large.
Timothy W. Manning, of New Mexico, to be Deputy Administrator for
National Preparedness, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department
of Homeland Security.
Fred P. Hochberg, of New York, to be President of the Export-Import
Bank of the United States for a term expiring January 20, 2013.
Routine lists in the Foreign Service.
Pages S5245, S5248
Nominations Received: Senate received the following nominations:
Wilma A. Lewis, of the Virgin Islands, to be an Assistant Secretary
of the Interior.
Carmen R. Nazario, of Puerto Rico, to be Assistant Secretary for
Family Support, Department of Health and Human Services.
Eric P. Schwartz, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(Population, Refugees, and Migration).
Andrew J. Shapiro, of New York, to be an Assistant Secretary of State
(Political-Military Affairs).
Ellen O. Tauscher, of California, to be Under Secretary of State for
Arms Control and International Security.
Jane Oates, of New Jersey, to be an Assistant Secretary of Labor.
Tara Jeanne O'Toole, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary for Science
and Technology, Department of Homeland Security.
1 Air Force nomination in the rank of general.
Pages S5247-48
Messages from the House:
Page S5230
Measures Referred:
Page S5230
Executive Communications:
Pages S5230-31
Executive Reports of Committees:
Page S5231
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages S5232-33
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S5233-42
Additional Statements:
Pages S5228-30
Amendments Submitted:
Pages S5242-44
Notices of Hearings/Meetings:
Page S5245
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Page S5245
Privileges of the Floor:
Page S5245
Record Votes: Four record votes were taken today. (Total--185)
Pages S5174-75, S5179-80, S5182, S5185
Adjournment: Senate convened at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 7:01 p.m.,
until 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, May 7, 2009. (For Senate's program, see
the remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page
S5247.)
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
REUSE OF CARBON DIOXIDE
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water
Development concluded a hearing to examine the range of innovative,
non-geologic applications for the beneficial reuse of carbon dioxide
from coal and other fossil fuel facilities, after receiving testimony
from Scott M. Klara, Director, Strategic Center for Coal, National
Energy Technology Center, and Marjorie L. Tatro, Director of Fuel and
Water Systems, Sandia National Laboratory, both of the Department of
Energy; Jeff D. Muhs, Utah State University Energy Laboratory, Logan;
and Brent Constantz, Calera Corporation, Los Gatos, California.
BUSINESS MEETING
Committee on Armed Services: Committee ordered favorably reported the
nominations of Ines R. Triay, of New Mexico, to be Assistant Secretary
of Energy for Environmental Management; and Elizabeth Lee King, of the
District of Columbia, to be Assistant Secretary for Legislative
Affairs, Michael Nacht, of California, to be Assistant Secretary for
Global Strategic Affairs, Wallace C. Gregson, of Colorado, to be
Assistant Secretary for Asian and Pacific Security Affairs, Jo-Ellen
Darcy, of Maryland, to be Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil
Works, and 296
[[Page D510]]
nominations in the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, all of the
Department of Defense.
SPACE ISSUES
Committee on Armed Services: Subcommittee on Strategic Forces received
a closed briefing to examine space issues from Janet Fender, Chief
Scientist, Air Combat Command, Gary O'Connell, Chief Scientist,
National Air and Space Intelligence Center, General C. Robert Kehler,
USAF, Commander, Air Force Space Command, and Lieutenant General Larry
D. James, USAF, Commander, 14th Air Force, all of the Department of
Defense.
REGULATING AND RESOLVING INSTITUTIONS
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine regulating and resolving institutions considered too
big to fail, after receiving testimony from Sheila C. Bair, Chairman,
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Martin Baily, former Chairman,
Council of Economic Advisors; Gary H. Stern, Federal Reserve Bank of
Minneapolis, Minneapolis, Minnesota; Peter J. Wallison, American
Enterprise Institute, Snowmass, Colorado; and Raghuram G. Rajan,
University of Chicago Booth School of Business, Chicago, Illinois.
FUTURE OF JOURNALISM
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on
Communications, Technology, and the Internet concluded a hearing to
examine the future of journalism, after receiving testimony from
Senator Cardin; Marissa Mayer, Google Inc., Mountain View, California;
Alberto Ibarguen, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Miami,
Florida; James M. Moroney III, The Dallas Morning News, Dallas, Texas;
Arianna Huffington, The Huffington Post, Los Angeles, California; Steve
Coll, Washington, D.C.; and David Simon, Baltimore, Maryland.
ENGAGING IRAN
Committee on Foreign Relations: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine engaging Iran, focusing on obstacles and opportunities, after
receiving testimony from Nicholas Burns, former Under Secretary of
State for Political Affairs, Harvard University Kennedy School,
Cambridge, Massachusetts; Robert M. Morgenthau, former United States
Attorney for the Southern District of New York; and Adam Kaufmann,
Central Office of the District Attorney Investigation Division, New
York, New York.
NATO MOVING FORWARD
Committee on Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on European Affairs
concluded a hearing to examine NATO post-60, focusing on institutional
challenges moving forward, after receiving testimony from Daniel S.
Hamilton, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International
Studies, Damon Wilson, Atlantic Council of the United States, Robert
Hunter, former Ambassador to NATO, RAND Corporation, and Joseph Wood,
German Marshall Fund, all of Washington, D.C.
DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY OVERSIGHT
Committee on the Judiciary: Committee concluded an oversight hearing to
examine the Department of Homeland Security, after receiving testimony
from Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Homeland Security.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Committee concluded a hearing to
examine the nominations of Roger W. Baker, of Virginia, to be Assistant
Secretary for Information and Technology, William A. Gunn, of Virginia,
to be General Counsel, Jose D. Riojas, of Texas, to be Assistant
Secretary for Operations, Security, and Preparedness, and John U.
Sepulveda, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary for Human Resources,
all of the Department of Veterans Affairs, after the nominees testified
and answered questions on their own behalf.
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID FRAUD
Special Committee on Aging: Committee concluded a hearing to examine
solutions to stop Medicare and Medicaid fraud from hurting seniors and
taxpayers, after receiving testimony from R. Alexander Acosta, United
States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Department of
Justice; Daniel R. Levinson, Inspector General, Department of Health
and Human Services; Robert A. Hussar, New York State Office of the
Medicaid Inspector General, Hauppauge, New York; James Frogue, Center
for Health Transformation, Washington, D.C.; and Steve Horne, Dow Jones
Enterprise Media Group, Edgewater, New Jersey.
[[Page D511]]
House of Representatives
Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 29 public bills, H.R. 2265-
2293; and 10 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 120; and H. Res. 404-405, 407-
413 were introduced.
Pages H5306-07
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages H5308-09
Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows:
H. Res. 406, providing for further consideration of the bill (H.R.
1728) to amend the Truth in Lending Act to reform consumer mortgage
practices and provide accountability for such practices and to provide
certain minimum standards for consumer mortgage loans (H. Rept. 111-
98).
Page H5279
Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act: The House began
consideration of H.R. 1728, to amend the Truth in Lending Act to reform
consumer mortgage practices and provide accountability for such
practices and to provide certain minimum standards for consumer
mortgage loans. Further proceedings were postponed until tomorrow, May
7th.
Pages H5174-88
H. Res. 400, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was
agreed to by voice vote after agreeing to order the previous question
without objection.
Pages H5174-79
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the
following measures:
Recognizing May as ``National Foster Care Month'': H. Res. 391, to
recognize May as ``National Foster Care Month'' and to acknowledge that
the House of Representatives should continue to work to improve the
Nation's foster care system;
Pages H5188-90
Honoring the life and recognizing the far-reaching accomplishments of
the Honorable Jack Kemp, Jr.: H. Res. 401, to honor the life and to
recognize the far-reaching accomplishments of the Honorable Jack Kemp,
Jr.;
Pages H5190-99
Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor
Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha: H.
Con. Res. 80, to authorize the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol
Visitor Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King
Kamehameha;
Pages H5199-H5201
Enacting certain laws relating to public contracts as title 41,
United States Code, ``Public Contracts'': H.R. 1107, to enact certain
laws relating to public contracts as title 41, United States Code,
``Public Contracts''; and
Pages H5201-58
Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act of 2009: S. 386, amended, to
improve enforcement of mortgage fraud, securities fraud, financial
institution fraud, and other frauds related to federal assistance and
relief programs and for the recovery of funds lost to these frauds, by
a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 367 yeas to 59 nays with 1 voting
``present'', Roll No. 235.
Pages H5260-70, H5271-72
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules
and agree to the following measures which were debated on Tuesday, May
5th:
Supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day: H. Res. 367,
to support the goals and ideals of National Train Day, by \2/3\ yea-
and-nay vote of 426 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 234 and
Pages H5270-71
Congratulating the University of North Carolina men's basketball
team: H. Res. 348, to congratulate the University of North Carolina
men's basketball team for winning the 2009 NCAA Division I Men's
Basketball National Championship, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 423 ayes
with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 236.
Page H5272
Suspension--Proceedings Postponed: The House debated the following
measure under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were
postponed:
Recognizing the importance of the Border Patrol in combating human
smuggling and commending the Department of Justice for increasing the
rate of human smuggler prosecutions: H. Res. 14, amended, to recognize
the importance of the Border Patrol in combating human smuggling and to
commend the Department of Justice for increasing the rate of human
smuggler prosecutions.
Pages H5258-60
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page
H5293.
Senate Referral: S. 896 was held at the desk.
Page H5293
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and one recorded vote
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H5270-71,
H5271 and H5272. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 8:23 p.m.
[[Page D512]]
Committee Meetings
RENEWABLE FUEL STANDARD LAND USE BIOMASS PROVISIONS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Conservation, Credit, Energy
and Research held a hearing to review the impact of the indirect land
use and renewable biomass provisions in the renewable fuel standard.
Testimony was heard from Joe Glauber, Chief Economist, USDA; Margo T.
Oge, Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, EPA; Michael
Pechart, Deputy Secretary, Marketing and Economic Development,
Department of Agriculture, State of Pennsylvania; and public witnesses.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Legislative Branch held a
hearing on the House of Representatives Budget. Testimony was heard
from the following officials of the House of Representatives: Dan
Beard, Chief Administrative Officer; Loraine C. Miller, Clerk; and Bill
Livingood, Sergeant-at-Arms.
ARMY, NAVY/MARINE CORPS BUDGETS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction,
Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies held a hearing on the Army
Budget. Testimony was heard from GEN George W. Casey, Jr., USA, Army
Chief of Staff.
The Subcommittee also held a hearing on the Navy/Marine Corps Budget.
Testimony was heard from ADM Gary Roughhead, USN, Chief of Naval
Operations; and GEN James T. Conway, USMC, Commandant of the Marine
Corps.
HIGH RISK AREA ACQUISITION REFORM; U.S. STRATEGIC POSTURE REPORT
Committee on Armed Services, Held a hearing on the Department of
Defense at High Risk: The Chief Management Officer's Recommendations
for Acquisition Reform and Related High Risk Areas. Testimony was heard
from William Lynn, Deputy Secretary, Department of Defense.
The Committee also held a hearing on the report of the Congressional
Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States. Testimony was
heard the following officials of the Congressional Commission on the
Strategic Posture of the United States: William J. Perry, Chairman; and
James R. Schlesinger, Vice Chairman.
GREEN PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES
Committee on Education and Labor: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R.
2187, 21st Century Green High-Performing Public School Facilities Act.
PREVENTING LOAN MODIFICATION/FORECLOSURE FRAUD
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community
Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Legislative Solutions for
Preventing Loan Modification and Foreclosure Rescue Fraud.'' Testimony
was heard from James Freis, Jr., Director, Financial Crimes Enforcement
Network, Department of the Treasury; Peggy Twohig, Associate Director,
Division of Financial Practices, Bureau of Consumer Protection, FTC;
Martha Coakley, Attorney General, State of Massachusetts; and public
witnesses.
SWINE FLU OUTBREAK
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health
held a hearing on Global Health Emergencies Hit Home: The Swine Flu
Outbreak. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the
Department of Health and Human Services: Anthony Fauci, M.D. Director,
National Institute of Allergies and Infectious Diseases, NIH; and RADM
Anne Schuchat, M.D., USN, Interim Deputy Director, Science and Public
Health Program, Center for Disease Control and Prevention; and Dennis
Carroll, M.D., Special Advisor to the Acting Administrator on Pandemic
Influenza, U.S. Agency for International Development, Department of
State.
TRANSPORTATION SECURITY ADMINISTRATION AUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Transportation Security
and Infrastructure approved for full Committee action, as amended, H.R.
2200, Transportation Security Administration Authorization Act.
HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS RENOVATIONS
Committee on House Administration: Held a hearing on Necessary
Renovations to House Office Buildings. Testimony was heard from Stephen
T. Ayers, Acting Architect of the Capitol; and Terrell G. Dean,
Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO.
U.S./MEXICO DRUG TRADE VIOLENCE
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and
Homeland Security held a hearing on Escalating Violence in Mexico and
the Southwest Border as a Result of the Illicit Drug Trade. Testimony
was heard from the following officials of the Department of Justice:
Stuart G. Nash, Associate Deputy Attorney General, and Director,
Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces; and William
[[Page D513]]
J. Hoover, Acting Deputy Director, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives; and the following officials of the Department of
Homeland Security: Salvador Nieto, Deputy Assistant Commissioner,
Office of Intelligence and Operations Coordination, U.S. Customs and
Border Protection; Janice Ayala, Deputy Assistant Director, Office of
Investigations, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement; and Anthony
Placido, Assistant Administrator, Intelligence, U.S. Drug Enforcement
Administration.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Ordered reported the
following measures: H.R. 2812, Enhanced Oversight of State and Local
Economic Recovery Act; H.R. 885, amended, Improved Financial and
Commodity Markets Oversight and Accountability Act; H.R. 626, Federal
Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2009; H. Con. Res. 84, Supporting
the goals and objectives of a National Military Appreciation Month; H.
Res. 356, Supporting support for the designation of February 8, 2010,
as the ``Boys Scouts of America Day,'' in celebration of the Nation's
largest youth scouting organization's 100th anniversary; H. Res. 370,
amended, Expressing support for designation of April 27, 2009, as
``National Healthy Schools Day;'' H. Res. 388, Celebrating the role of
mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of
Mother's Day; H.R. 1817, To designate the facility of the United States
Postal Service located at 116 North West Street in Somerville,
Tennessee, as the ``John S. Wilder Post Office Building;'' H.R. 2090,
To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located
at 431 State Street in Ogdensburg, New York, as the ``Frederic
Remington Post Office Building;'' H.R. 2162, To designate the facility
of the United States Postal Service located at 123 11th Avenue South in
Nampa, Idaho, as the ``Herbert A. Littleton Postal Station;'' H.R.
2173, To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service
located at 1009 Crystal Road in Island Falls, Maine, as the ``Carl B.
Smith Post Office;'' and H.R. 2174, To designate the facility of the
United States Postal Service, located at 18 Main Street in Howland,
Maine, as the ``Clyde Hichborn Post Office.''
MORTGAGE REFORM AND ANTI-PREDATORY LENDING ACT
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by a record vote of 9-4, a
structured rule providing for further consideration of H.R. 1728, the
``Mortgage Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act.'' The rule provides
that no general debate shall be in order. 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.
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 Perlmutter, Polis, Jackson-Lee of Texas, Dahlkemper, Titus,
Bachus, Manzullo, Gary G. Miller of California, Garrett, Sessions, and
Mario Diaz-Balart of Florida.
REAUTHORIZE AND MODERNIZE SBA'S ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Legislation to
Reauthorize and Modernize SBA's Entrepreneurial Development Programs.''
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
VETERANS' MEASURES
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Ordered reported the following bills:
H.R. 23, amended, Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World
War II Act of 2009; H.R. 466, amended, Wounded Veteran Job Security
Act; H.R. 1088, Mandatory Veteran Specialist Training Act of 2009; H.R.
1089, amended, Veterans Employment Rights Realignment Act of 2009; and
H.R. 1170, amended, To amend chapter 21 of title 38, United States
Code, to establish a grant program to encourage the development of new
assistive technologies for specially adopted housing.
HEALTH REFORM IN THE 21ST CENTURY
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing to welcome the Secretary of
Health and Human Services, and to continue hearings on Health Reform in
the 21st Century, Testimony was heard from Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary
of Health and Human Services.
RUSSIA
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism
Human Intelligence, Analysis, and Counterintelligence met in executive
session to hold a hearing on Russia.
[[Page D514]]
Testimony was heard from departmental witnesses.
Joint Meetings
No joint committee meetings were held.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY,
MAY 7, 2009
(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)
Senate
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry: to hold
hearings to examine the nominations of Krysta Harden, of Virginia,
and Pearlie S. Reed, of Arkansas, both to be an Assistant Secretary,
Rajiv J. Shah, of Washington, to be Under Secretary for Research,
Education, and Economics, and Dallas P. Tonsager, of South Dakota,
to be Under Secretary for Rural Development, all of the Department
of Agriculture, 10:30 a.m., SD-106.
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,
Science, and Related Agencies, to hold an oversight hearing to
examine funding of the Department of Justice, 10 a.m., SD-192.
Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug
Administration, and Related Agencies, to hold hearings to examine
the 2009 H1N1 virus, 10 a.m., SD-124.
Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, to hold hearings to examine
proposed budget estimates for fiscal year 2010 for the Office of the
Architect of the Capitol, and the Office of Compliance, 2:30 p.m.,
SD-138.
Committee on Armed Services: to hold hearings to examine the
report of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of
the United States, 9:30 a.m., SH-216.
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs: Subcommittee on
Securities, Insurance and Investment, to hold hearings to examine
strengthening the Securities and Exchange Commission's enforcement
responsibilities, 2:30 p.m., SD-538.
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: to hold hearings to
examine a joint staff draft related to cybersecurity and critical
electricity infrastructure, 10 a.m., SD-366.
Subcommittee on Energy, to hold hearings to examine net metering,
interconnection standards, and other policies that promote the
deployment of distributed generation to improve grid reliability,
increase clean energy deployment, enable consumer choice, and
diversify our nation's energy supply, 2:30 p.m., SD-366.
Committee on Environment and Public Works: business meeting to
consider the nominations of Mathy Stanislaus, of New Jersey, to be
Assistant Administrator, Office of Solid Waste, Cynthia J. Giles, of
Rhode Island, to be Assistant Administrator for Enforcement and
Compliance, and Michelle DePass, of New York, to be Assistant
Administrator for International Affairs, all of the Environmental
Protection Agency, Time to be announced, Room to be announced.
Committee on Finance: to hold hearings to examine auctioning under
cap and trade, focusing on design, participation, and distribution
of revenues, 10 a.m., SD-215.
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: to hold
hearings to examine the nominations of Seth David Harris, of New
Jersey, to be Deputy Secretary, and M. Patricia Smith, of New York,
to be Solicitor, both of the Department of Labor, 10 a.m., SD-430.
Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nomination of
Margaret A. Hamburg, of the District of Columbia, to be Commissioner
of Food and Drugs, Department of Health and Human Services, 2 p.m.,
SD-430.
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal
Workforce, and the District of Columbia, to hold hearings to examine
recruitment in the Federal Government, 2:30 p.m., SD-342.
Committee on Indian Affairs: to hold hearings to examine the
nomination of Larry J. Echo Hawk, of Utah, to be Assistant Secretary
of the Interior for Indian Affairs, 2:15 p.m., SD-628.
Committee on the Judiciary: business meeting to consider S. 417,
to enact a safe, fair, and responsible state secrets privilege Act,
S. 257, to amend title 11, United States Code, to disallow certain
claims resulting from high cost credit debts, S. 448 and H.R. 985,
bills to maintain the free flow of information to the public by
providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of
information by certain persons connected with the news media, S.
327, to amend the Violence Against Women Act of 1994 and the Omnibus
Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to improve assistance to
domestic and sexual violence victims and provide for technical
corrections, and the nominations of William K. Sessions III, of
Vermont, to be Chair of the United States Sentencing Commission, and
John Morton, of Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Homeland
Security, 10 a.m., SD-226.
House
Committee on Appropriations, to mark up the Fiscal Year 2009
Supplemental Appropriations, 10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn.
Committee on Armed Services, to mark up H.R. 2101, Weapons
Acquisition System Reform Through Enhancing Technical Knowledge and
Oversight Act of 2009, 12 p.m., 2118 Rayburn.
Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and
Capabilities, hearing on Counterinsurgency and Irregular Warfare:
Issues and Lessons Learned, 10 a.m., 2212 Rayburn.
Committee on Education and Labor,, hearing on Ensuring
Preparedness Against the Flu Virus at School and Work, 10 a.m., 2175
Rayburn.
Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Communications,
Technology and the Internet, hearing on An Examination of
Competition in the Wireless Industry, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Capital Markets,
Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises, hearing entitled
``Perspectives on Hedge Fund Registration,'' 11 a.m., 2128 Rayburn .
[[Page D515]]
Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa and Global
Health, hearing on Zimbabwe: Opportunities for a New Way Forward, 10
a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Border, Maritime,
and Global Counterterrorism, hearing entitled ``Implementing the
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative at Land and Sea Ports: Are We
Ready?'' 10 a.m., 311 Cannon.
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on
National Security and Foreign Affairs, hearing entitled ``GPS: Can
We Avoid A Gap in Service?'' 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
Committee on Small Business, Subcommittee on Finance and Tax,
hearing entitled ``How the Complexity of the Tax Code Hinders Small
Businesses,'' 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn.
Committee on Ways and Means, hearing on the Financial Status of
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth.
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[[Page D516]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Next Meeting of the SENATE
9:30 a.m., Thursday, May 7
Senate Chamber
Program for Thursday: After the transaction of any morning business
(not to extend beyond 10:30 a.m.), Senate will continue consideration
of S. 454, Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act.
Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
10 a.m., Thursday, May 7
House Chamber
Program for Thursday: Complete consideration of H.R. 1728--Mortgage
Reform and Anti-Predatory Lending Act (Subject to a Rule).
_______________________________________________________________________
Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue
HOUSE
Bachmann, Michele, Minn., E1074
Bishop, Timothy H., N.Y., E1069, E1073
Camp, Dave, Mich., E1071
Castle, Michael N., Del., E1069
Connolly, Gerald E., Va., E1078, E1079
Davis, Susan A., Calif., E1074
Fallin, Mary, Okla., E1077
Foster, Bill, Ill., E1069
Frelinghuysen, Rodney P., N.J., E1074
Graves, Sam, Mo., E1071, E1078
Grijalva, Raul M., Ariz., E1069
Higgins, Brian, N.Y., E1072
Hinojosa, Ruben, Tex., E1076
Hirono, Mazie K., Hawaii, E1073
Holt, Rush D., N.J., E1075
Johnson, Timothy V., Ill., E1069
Jordan, Jim, Ohio, E1069, E1077
McCotter, Thaddeus G., Mich., E1079
Markey, Edward J., Mass., E1075
Meek, Kendrick B., Fla., E1076
Moran, James P., Va., E1071
Pascrell, Bill, Jr., N.J., E1070
Perlmutter, Ed, Colo., E1078, E1079, E1080, E1080, E1080, E1080, E1080,
E1080, E1080, E1080
Peters, Gary C., Mich., E1072
Poe, Ted, Tex., E1071
Rahall, Nick J., II, W.Va., E1075
Rothman, Steven R., N.J., E1070
Salazar, John T., Colo., E1074
Schakowsky, Janice D., Ill., E1073
Smith, Adrian, Nebr., E1072
Smith, Lamar, Tex., E1072
Terry, Lee, Nebr., E1070
Wasserman Schultz, Debbie, Fla., E1078
Wu, David, Ore., E1072