[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 85 (Wednesday, May 23, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D737-D740]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
ENERGY AND WATER DEVELOPMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water 
Development, and Related Agencies approved for full Committee the 
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies appropriations for 
fiscal year 2008.
INTERIOR, ENVIRONMENT, AND RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and 
Related Agencies approved for full Committee action the Interior, 
Environment, and Related Agencies appropriations for fiscal year 2008.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 2347, amended, Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2007; H.R. 1980, 
Housing Assistance Council Authorization Act of 2007; H.R. 1982, 
amended, Rural Housing and Economic Development Act of 2007; H.R. 2139, 
amended, FHA Manufactured Housing Loan Modernization Act of 2007.
  The Committee began mark up of H.R. 1851, Section 8 Voucher Reform 
Act of 2007. Will continue tomorrow.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Ordered reported the following bills: 
H.R. 885, amended, International Nuclear Fuel for Peace and 
Nonproliferation Act 2007; H.R. 2446, Afghanistan Freedom Support Act 
of 2007; H.R. 2420, amended, International Climate Cooperation Re-
Engagement Act of 2007.
  The Committee also favorably considered the following resolutions and 
adopted a motion urging the Chairman to request that they be considered 
on the Suspension Calendar: S. 676, To provide that the Executive 
Director of the Inter-American Development Bank or the Alternate 
Executive Director of the Inter-American Development Bank may serve on 
the Board of Directors of the Inter-American Foundation; H. Con. Res. 
21, amended, Calling on the United Nations Security Council to charge 
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad with violating the 1948 
Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide 
and the United Nations Charter because of his calls for the destruction 
of the State of Israel; H. Con. Res. 80, amended, Calling on the 
Government of Uganda and the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) to recommit 
to a political solution to the conflict in northern Uganda and to 
recommence vital peace talks, and urging immediate and substantial 
support for the ongoing peace process from the United States and the 
international community; H. Con. Res. 151, amended, Noting the 
disturbing pattern of killings of dozens of independent journalists in 
Russia over the last decade, and calling on Russian President Vladimir 
Putin to authorize cooperation with outside investigators in solving 
these murders; H. Con. Res. 152, Relating to the 40th anniversary of 
the reunification of the City of Jerusalem; H. Res. 137, amended, 
Honoring the life and six decades of public service of Jacob Birnbaum 
and especially his commitment freeing Soviet Jews from religious, 
cultural and communal extinction; H. Res. 226, amended, To recognize 
John Pehle for his contributions to the Nation in helping rescue Jews 
and other minorities from the Holocaust during World War II; H. Res. 
233, amended, Recognizing over 200 years of sovereignty of the 
Principality of Liechtenstein, and expressing support for efforts by 
the United States to continue to strengthen its relationship with that 
country; H. Res. 295, amended, Recognizing the strong alliance between 
the Republic of Korea and the United States and expressing appreciation 
to the Republic of Korea for its efforts in the global war against 
terrorism; H. Res. 395, Supporting the ideals and values of the Olympic 
movement; H. Res. 397, amended, Condemning violence in Estonia and 
attacks on Estonia's embassies in 2007, and expressing solidarity with 
the Government and the people of Estonia; H. Res.

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412, amended, Expressing gratitude to her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II 
and His Royal Highness, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, for their 
State Visit to the United States and reaffirming the friendship that 
exists between the United States and the United Kingdom; H. Res. 418, 
Recognizing and welcoming the delegation of Presidents, Prime Ministers 
and Foreign Ministers from the Caribbean to Washington, D.C., and 
commending the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) for holding the Conference 
on the Caribbean; H. Res. 222, Calling on the Government of the 
People's Republic of China to use its unique influence and economic 
leverage to stop genocide and violence in Darfur, Sudan; and H. Res. 
430, amended, Calling on the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran 
to immediately release Dr. Haleh Esfandiari.
U.S. AID TO PALESTINIANS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on Middle East and South 
Asia held a hearing on U.S. Assistance to the Palestinians. Testimony 
was heard from the following officials of the Department of State: C. 
David Welch, Assistant Secretary, Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs; LTG 
Keith W. Dayton, U.S. Security Coordinator; and Mark Ward, Senior 
Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Asia and the Near East, U.S. 
Agency for International Development.
U.S. AGRICULTURE SECURITY
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, 
Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology held a hearing entitled 
``Reducing Threats to Our Nation's Agriculture: Authorizing a Bio and 
Agro-Defense Facility.'' Testimony was heard from John Vitko, M.D., 
Head, Chemical and Biological Division, Science and Technology 
Directorate, Department of Homeland Security; and the following 
officials of the USDA: Edward Knipling, M.D., Administrator, 
Agricultural Research Service; and Kevin Shea, Assistant Administrator, 
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
U.S. ATTORNEYS INVESTIGATION
Committee on the Judiciary: Held a hearing to continue investigation 
into the U.S. Attorneys Controversy and Related Matters. Testimony was 
heard from Monica Goodling, former Senior Counsel to the Attorney 
General and White House Liaison, Department of Justice.
IMMIGRATION REFORM
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, 
Refugees, Border Security, and International Law continued hearings on 
Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Becoming Americans--U.S. Immigrant 
Integration. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
ENERGY POLICY REFORM
Committee on Natural Resources: Held a hearing on the Energy Policy 
Reform and Revitalization Act of 2007. Testimony was heard from the 
following officials of the Department of the Interior: Walter 
Cruickshank, Deputy Director, Mineral Management Service; and Henri 
Bisson, Deputy Director, Bureau of Land Management; Michael M. Simpson, 
Deputy Under Secretary, Natural Resources and Environment, U.S. Forest 
Service, USDA; Vickie VanZandt, Senior Vice President, Transmission 
Business Line, Bonneville Power Administration, Department of Energy; 
Timothy R. E. Keeney, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Oceans and 
Atmosphere, NOAA, Department of Commerce; and public witnesses.
CLIMATE PROTECTION OPPORTUNITIES
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Held a hearing on 
Achievements and Opportunities for Climate Protection under the 
Montreal Protocol. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
WEAPONIZING SPACE
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on National 
Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing on Weaponizing Space: Is 
Current U.S. Policy Protecting Our National Security? Testimony was 
heard from MG James B. Armor, Jr., USAF, Director, National Security 
Space Office, Department of Defense; Donald Mahley, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Threat Reduction, Department of State; and public witnesses.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO EMERGENCY 
SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007
Committee on Rules: The Committee granted, by a vote of 8 to 4, a rule 
providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 2206, 
Making emergency supplemental appropriations and additional 
supplemental appropriations for agriculture and other emergency 
assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007. The rule 
makes in order a motion by the chairman of the Committee of 
Appropriations to concur in the Senate amendment with each of the two 
House amendments printed in this report. The rule waives all points of 
order against the motion and provides that the Senate amendment and the 
motion shall be considered as read. The rule provides one hour of 
debate on the motion equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
ranking

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minority member of the Committee on Appropriations. The rule also 
provides that the Chair shall divide the question of adoption of the 
motion between the two House amendments and if both amendments are 
adopted, they will be engrossed into a single amendment to the Senate 
amendment to H.R. 2206. The rule provides that the Chair may postpone 
further consideration of the motion to a time designated by the 
Speaker.
  The rule further provides that during consideration in the Committee 
of the Whole of a bill making FY08 supplemental appropriations for 
military operations in Iraq or Afghanistan, before consideration of any 
other amendment, it shall be in order to consider an amendment only 
proposing to add to the bill the text of H.R. 2451. Such amendment 
shall be considered as read and shall not be amendable or divisible. 
All points of order against such amendment are waived except clause 9 
of rule XXI. The rule provides that section 4(a) of the resolution does 
not apply to a regular FY08 Department of Defense appropriations bill. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Obey.
LOBBYING TRANSPARENCY ACT OF 2007; HONEST LEADERSHIP AND OPEN 
GOVERNMENT ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 7 to 4, a rule providing for 
consideration of H.R. 2317, Lobbying Transparency Act of 2007 and H.R. 
2316, Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007.
  With respect to H.R. 2317, the rule provides a closed rule with one 
hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. The amendment in the 
nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary, 
modified by the amendment printed in part A of the report, shall be 
considered as adopted and the bill, as modified, shall be considered as 
read. The rule provides one motion torecommit with or without 
instructions.
  With respect to H.R. 2316, the rule provides a structured rule with 
one hour of general debate equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on the Judiciary. 
The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill 
except for those arising under clauses 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule 
considers as an original bill for the purpose of further amendment the 
amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on 
the Judiciary. The committee amendment shall be considered as read. The 
rule waives all points of order against the committee amendment except 
for those arising under clauses 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule makes in 
order those amendments printed in part B of the report and waives all 
points of order against such amendments except for those arising under 
clauses 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides one motion to recommit 
with or without instructions.
  The rule permits the Chair, during consideration of either H.R. 2317 
or H.R. 2316, to postpone further consideration until a time designated 
by the Speaker. Finally the rule amends the Rules of the House 
governing Member and staff attendance at charitable events. Testimony 
was heard from Chairman Conyers and Representatives Jackson Lee of 
Texas, Cardoza, Kaptur, Abercrombie, Moore of Kansas, Smith of Texas, 
Dreier, Wolf, Castle, English, Terry, Flake, Kirk, Ginny Brown-Waite of 
Florida, and Gingrey.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science and Technology: Ordered reported the following 
bills: H.R. 364, amended, To provide for the establishment of the 
Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy; H.R. 1467, 10,000 Trained by 
2010 Act; H.R. 1716, amended, Green Energy Education Act of 2007; and 
H.R. 632, amended, H-Prize Act of 2007.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
2359, SBA Entrepreneurial Development Programs Act of 2007; H.R. 2366, 
SBA Veterans' Programs Act of 2007; H.R. 2284, To amend the Small 
Business Act to expand and improve the assistance provided by Small 
Business Development Centers to Indian tribe members, Alaska Natives, 
and Native Hawaiians; H.R. 2397, SBA Women's Business Programs Act of 
2007; and H.R. 2389, Small Energy Efficient Businesses Act.
MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered reported H.R. 
2011, To designate the Federal building and United States courthouse 
located at 100 East 8th Avenue in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, as the ``George 
Howard, Jr., Federal Building and United States Courthouse.''
  The Committee also approved the following: General Services 
Administration Capital Investment Resolutions, as amended; and U.S. 
Army Corps of Engineers Survey Resolutions.
IRS USE OF PRIVATE COLLECTION FIRMS
Committee on Ways and Means: Held a hearing on IRS's Private Debt 
Collection. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
IRS, Department of the Treasury: Nina E. Olson, National Taxpayer

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Advocate; and Kevin M. Brown, Acting Commissioner; Gregory D. Kutz, 
Managing Director, Forensic Audits and Special Investigations, GAO; and 
public witnesses.
BRIEFING--HOT SPOTS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Hot Spots. The Committee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
U.S. PETROLEUM INDUSTRY
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded hearings to examine the 
United States petroleum industry, focusing on corporate mergers and 
other factors that influence gasoline prices, after receiving testimony 
from Thomas McCool, Director, Applied Research and Methods, Government 
Accountability Office; Michael A. Salinger, Director, Bureau of 
Economics, Federal Trade Commission; Diana L. Moss, American Antitrust 
Institute, Samantha Slater, Renewable Fuels Association, and Red 
Cavaney, American Petroleum Institute, all of Washington, D.C.; Dennis 
C. DeCota, California Service Station and Automotive Repair Association 
(CSSARA), Novato, California; and James L. Smith, Southern Methodist 
University, Department of Finance, Dallas, Texas.