[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 127 (Friday, August 3, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1136-D1137]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
GAO DISTRICT WORK PERIOD REQUESTS
Committee on House Administration: Election Task Force met and adopted a 
motion that the Chairman be authorized and directed to consult the Task 
Force by teleconference or other appropriate means to consider any GAO 
request received during the district work period and determined by the 
Chairman to require Task Force concurrence. For the purpose of consultation, 
as described in this motion, all members of the Task Force must be in 
simultaneous contact.
  Prior to this action, the Task Force met to receive a GAO briefing on the 
status of the Investigation into the FL-13th Congressional District 
Contested Election. The Task Force was briefed by Naba Barkakati, Senior 
Level Technologist, Center for Technology and Engineering Applied Research 
and Methods, GAO.
PRIVATE RELIEF BILLS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, 
Refugees, Border Security, and International Law met and approved a motion 
to request Department of Homeland Security Departmental Reports on the 
Beneficiaries of certain private bills.
NEW DIRECTION FOR ENERGY INDEPENDENCE, NATIONAL SECURITY, AND CONSUMER 
PROTECTION ACT; RENEWABLE ENERGY AND ENERGY CONSERVATION TAX ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a vote of 9 to 0, a resolution providing for 
consideration of the bill H.R. 3221, the ``New Direction for Energy 
Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act,'' and the bill 
H.R. 2776, the ``Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2007''.
  The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 3221 under a structured 
rule. All points of order against consideration of the bill, except clauses 
9 and 10 of rule XXI, are waived. The rule provides two hours of general 
debate with 15 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman and 
ranking minority member of each of the Committees on Energy and Commerce, 
Natural Resources, Science and Technology, Transportation and 
Infrastructure, Education and Labor, Foreign Affairs, Small Business, and 
Oversight and Government Reform. The rule provides that the amendment 
printed in part A of the Rules Committee report shall be considered as 
adopted in the House and in the Committee of the Whole. The bill, as 
amended, shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of further 
amendment and shall be considered as read. All points of order against 
provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived.
  The rule makes in order only those further amendments printed in part B of 
the Rules Committee report and waives all points of order against such 
amendments except clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI. Amendments so printed 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 division of the question 
in the House or in the Committee of the Whole. The rule provides one motion 
to recommit H.R. 3221 with or without instructions.
  The resolution provides for consideration of H.R. 2776 under a closed 
rule. All points of order against consideration of the bill, except clauses 
9 and 10 of rule XXI, are waived. The rule provides that the substitute 
amendment recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means now printed in the 
bill shall be considered as adopted and that the bill, as amended, shall be 
considered as read. All points of

[[Page D1137]]

order against provisions in the bill, as amended, are waived. The rule 
provides one hour of debate equally divided and controlled by the chairman 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule 
provides one motion to recommit H.R. 2776 with or without instructions.
  The rule further provides that, in the engrossment of H.R. 3221, the Clerk 
shall add the text of H.R. 2776, as passed by the House, as new matter at 
the end of H.R. 3221. Upon such engrossment, H.R. 2776 shall be laid on the 
table. Finally, the rule provides that, during consideration in the House of 
H.R. 3221 or H.R. 2776, notwithstanding the operation of the previous 
question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of either bill to a 
time designated by the Speaker.
PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a voice vote, a rule authorizing the Speaker 
to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules at any time on the 
legislative day of Saturday, August 4, 2007 relating to the following 
measures: (1) A bill to authorize additional funds for emergency repairs and 
reconstruction of the Interstate I-35 bridge located in Minneapolis, 
Minnesota, that collapsed on August 1, 2007, to waive the $100,000,000 
limitation on emergency relief funds for those emergency repairs and 
reconstruction, and for other purposes; and (2) A bill to amend the Foreign 
Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for 
authorizing certain electronic surveillance.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY THE RULES
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a 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 rules reported from 
the Rules Committee. The rule applies the waiver to any rules reported 
through the legislative day of Monday, August 6, 2007 providing for 
consideration of the following: (1) The bill (H.R. 3222) making 
appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2008, and for other purposes; and (2) A bill to amend the 
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a procedure for 
authorizing certain electronic surveillance.
F