[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 124 (Tuesday, July 31, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1096-D1098]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced:38 public bills, H.R. 3232-
3269; 6 resolutions, H. Res. 588-593 were introduced.
  Pages H9274-76
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H9276-77
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  Conference report on H.R. 1495, to provide for the conservation and 
development of water and related resources and to authorize the 
Secretary of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to 
rivers and harbors of the United States (H. Rept. 110-280);
  H.R. 3056, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the 
authority of the Internal Revenue Service to use private debt 
collection companies, to delay implementation of withholding taxes on 
government contractors and to revise the tax rules on expatriation, 
with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-281);
  H.R. 3159, to mandate minimum periods of rest and recuperation for 
units and members of the regular and reserve components of the Armed 
Forces between deployments for Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation 
Enduring Freedom, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-282);
  H.R. 3087, to require the President, in coordination with the 
Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of 
Staff, and other senior military leaders, to develop and transmit to 
Congress a comprehensive strategy for the redeployment of United States 
Armed Forces in Iraq, with amendments (H. Rept. 110-283); [Filed on 
August 1 (legislative day, July 31), 2007]
  H.R. 3162, to amend titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security 
Act to extend and improve the children's health insurance program, to 
improve beneficiary protections under the Medicare, Medicaid, and the 
CHIP program, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-284 Pt. I);
  H. Res. 594, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3162) to 
amend titles XVIII, XIX, and XXI of the Social Security Act to extend 
and improve the children's health insurance program, to improve 
beneficiary protections under the Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP program 
(H. Rept. 110-285);
  H. Res. 595, A resolution waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of 
rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain resolutions from the 
Committee on Rules (H. Rept. 110-286);
  H. Res. 596, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3222) 
making appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2008 (H. Rept. 110-287); and
  H. Res. 597, providing for consideration of the conference report to 
accompany the bill (H.R. 1495) to provide for the conservation and 
development of water and related resources, to authorizes the Secretary 
of the Army to construct various projects for improvements to rivers 
and harbors of the United States (H. Rept. 110-288). 
                                               Pages H9058-H9188, H9274
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed 
Representative McNerney to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H9055
Recess: The House recessed at 9:25 a.m. and reconvened at 10:06 a.m. 
                                                             Page H9057
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. Richard D. 
Turpin, Second Baptist Church, Catskill, New York.
  Pages H9057-58
Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 214 yeas to 210 nays, Roll No. 774. 
                                                  Pages H9058, H9230-31
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Providing greater transparency in the legislative process: S. 1, 
amended, to provide greater transparency in the legislative process, by 
a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 411 yeas to 8 nays, Roll No. 763--clearing 
the measure for the President.
  Pages H9192-H9210
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures which were debated on Monday, July 30th:
  Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007: H.R. 180, amended, 
to require the identification of companies that conduct business 
operations in Sudan and to prohibit United States Government

[[Page D1097]]

contracts with such companies, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 418 yeas 
to 1 nay, Roll No. 764 and
  Pages H9210-11
  Iran Sanctions Enabling Act of 2007: H.R. 2347, amended, to authorize 
State and local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent 
investment in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in 
Iran's energy sector, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 408 yeas to 6 
nays, Roll No. 765.
  Page H9211
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To authorize State and 
local governments to direct divestiture from, and prevent investment 
in, companies with investments of $20,000,000 or more in Iran's energy 
sector, companies that sell arms to the Government of Iran, and 
financial institutions that extend $20,000,000 or more in credit to the 
Government of Iran for 45 days or more, and for other purposes.''. 
                                                         Pages H9211-12
Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 2831, to amend 
title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination in 
Employment Act of 1967, the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990, 
and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to clarify that a discriminatory 
compensation decision or other practice that is unlawful under such 
Acts occurs each time compensation is paid pursuant to the 
discriminatory compensation decision or other practice, by a yea-and-
nay vote of 225 yeas to 199 nays, Roll No 768. Consideration of the 
measure began on Monday, July 30th.
  Pages H9219-22, H9226-27
  H. Res. 579, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to on Monday, July 30th.
21st Century Competitiveness Act of 2007: The House disagreed to the 
amendment of the Senate to H.R. 2272, to invest in innovation through 
research and development, and to improve the competitiveness of the 
United States, and agreed to a conference.
  Pages H9222-23, H9227-28
  Agreed to the Hall (TX) motion to instruct conferees on the bill by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 258 yeas to 167 nays, Roll No. 770. 
                                               Pages H9222-23, H9227-28
  Later, the Chair appointed the following Members of the House to the 
conference committee on the bill: from the Committee on Science and 
Technology for consideration of the House bill and the Senate 
amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives 
Gordon, Lipinski, Baird, Wu, Lampson, Udall (CO), Giffords, McNerney, 
Hall (TX), Sensenbrenner, Ehlers, Biggert, Feeney, and Gingrey from the 
Committee on Education and Labor for consideration of Division C of the 
Senate amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Miller, 
George, Holt, and McKeon.
Page H9231
  From the Committee on Education and Labor, for consideration of 
Division C of the Senate amendment, and modifications committed to 
conference: Representatives George Miller (CA), Holt, and McKeon. 
                                                             Page H9231
Eightmile Wild and Scenic River Act: The House passed H.R. 986, to 
amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate certain segments of 
the Eightmile River in the State of Connecticut as components of the 
National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, by a yea-and-nay vote of 253 
yeas to 172 nays, Roll No. 767. Consideration of the measure began on 
Monday, July 30th.
  Pages H9223-26
  Rejected the Pearce (NM) motion to recommit the bill to the Committee 
on Natural Resources with instructions to report the same back to the 
House forthwith with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay vote of 200 yeas to 
225 nays, Roll No. 766.
Pages H9223-25
  H. Res. 580, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to Monday, July 30th.
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures which were debated on Monday, July 30th:
  Shirley A. Chisholm United States-Caribbean Educational Exchange Act 
of 2007: H.R. 176, amended, to authorize assistance to the countries of 
the Caribbean to fund educational development and exchange programs, by 
a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 371 yeas to 55 nays, Roll No. 771; 
                                                         Pages H9228-29
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read ``To authorize the 
establishment of educational exchange and development programs for 
member countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).''.
Page H9229
  Amending the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to expand and clarify the 
entities against which sanctions may be imposed: H.R. 957, amended, to 
amend the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to expand and clarify the entities 
against which sanctions may be imposed, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 
415 yeas to 11 nays, Roll No. 772; and
  Page H9229
  Integrated Deepwater Program Reform Act: H.R. 2722, amended, to 
restructure the Coast Guard Integrated Deepwater Program, by a \2/3\ 
yea-and-nay vote of 426 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 773. 
                                                         Pages H9229-30

[[Page D1098]]

Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 
Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2008: The House began 
consideration of H.R. 3161, making appropriations for Agriculture, 
Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies 
programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. Further 
consideration is expected to resume Wednesday, August 1st. 
                                               Pages H9231-44, H9253-68
  Rejected the Price (GA) motion that the Committee rise by a recorded 
vote of 172 ayes to 231 noes, Roll No. 776. Earlier, a vote was called 
pending the absence of a quorum, and, subsequently 389 members recorded 
their presence, Roll No. 775.
Pages H9253-55
  Agreed to sustain the ruling of the chair on a point of order raised 
against the content of debate by a recorded vote of 220 ayes to 178 
noes, Roll No. 777.
Pages H9256-67
  Agreed to the Hoyer motion that the Committee rise by a recorded vote 
of 235 ayes to 153 noes, Roll No. 778.
Pages H9267-68
  H. Res. 581, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to by voice vote after agreeing to order the previous question 
by a yea-and-nay vote of 228 yeas to 197 nays, Roll No. 769. 
                                                  Pages H9212-19, H9227
Recess: The House recessed at 7:47 p.m. and reconvened at 3:41a.m.
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
S9219.
Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
page 9270.
Quorum Calls--Votes: One quorum call, twelve yea-and-nay votes and 
three recorded votes developed during the proceedings of today and 
appear on pages H9210, H9210-11, H9211, H9225, H9225-26, H9226-27, 
H9227, H9227-28, H9228-29, H9229, H9229-30, H9230-31, H9253-54, H9254, 
H9266-67, and H9267-68.
Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 3:45 a.m. on 
Wednesday, August 1st.