[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 139 (Wednesday, September 19, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1224-D1226]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
RE-EMPOWERMENT OF SKILLED AND PROFESSIONAL EMPLOYEES AND CONSTRUCTION 
TRADESWORKERS ACT
Committee on Education and Labor: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 
1644, Re-Empowerment of Skilled and Professional Employees and 
Construction Tradesworkers (RESPECT) Act.
PROTECTING CHILDREN FROM LEADED-TAINTED IMPORTS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and 
Consumer Protection held a hearing entitled ``Protecting Children From 
Lead-Tainted Imports.'' Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Consumer Product Safety Commission: Nancy A. Nord, 
Acting Chairman; and Thomas H. Moore, Commissioner; and public witness.
  Hearings continue tomorrow.
EMERGENCY COMMUNICATIONS
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Telecommunications 
and the Internet, hearing entitled ``Issues in Emergency 
Communications: A Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3403, 911 Modernization 
and Public Safety Act of 2007.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.
U.S. POLITICAL AND MILITARY EFFORTS IN IRAQ
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on Assessment of the 
Administration's September Report on the Status of U.S. Political and 
Military Efforts in Iraq. Testimony was heard from Senator Graham and 
Richard C. Holbrooke, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, 
Department of State.
U.S.-BRAZIL RELATIONS
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere 
approved for full Committee, as amended, H. Res. 651, Recognizing the 
warm friendship and expanding strategy relations between the United 
States and Brazil, commending Brazil on successfully reducing its 
dependence on oil by finding alternative ways to satisfy its energy 
needs. And recognizing the importance of the March 9, 2007, United 
States-Brazil Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on biofuels 
cooperation.
  The Subcommittee also held a hearing on U.S.-Brazil Relations. 
Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
REGULATORY IMPROVEMENT ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Commercial and 
Administrative Law approved for full

[[Page D1225]]

Committee action H.R. 3564, Regulatory Improvement Act of 2007.
  Prior to this action, the Subcommittee held a hearing on this 
legislation. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Congressional Research, Library of Congress: Mort Rosenberg, Specialist 
in American Public Law; and Curtis Copeland, Specialist in American 
National Government; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT--DIVERSIFYING NATIVE ECONOMIES
Committee on Natural Resources: Held an oversight hearing on 
Diversifying Native Economies. Testimony was heard from Robert 
Middleton, Director, Office of Indian Energy and Economic Development, 
Department of the Interior; William H. Largent, Assistant 
Administrator, Office of Native American Affairs, SBA; Katherine V. 
Schinasi, Managing Director, Acquisition and Sourcing Management, GAO; 
and public witnesses.
FAA REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by a voice vote, a structured 
rule providing 1 hour of general debate on H.R. 2881, FAA, 
Reauthorization Act of 2007, equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation 
and Infrastructure.
  The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill 
except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. The rule 
provides that, in lieu of the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now 
printed in the bill, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
printed in part A of the Rules Committee report, modified by the 
amendment printed in part B 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 the original bill for 
purpose of further amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule 
waives all points of order against provisions in the bill, as amended.
  The rule makes in order only those amendments printed in part C of 
the Rules Committee report. 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 this report equally divided and 
controlled by a 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 waives 
all points of order against such amendments except those arising under 
clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.
  The rule provides one motion to recommit H.R. 2881 with or without 
instructions. Finally, notwithstanding the operation of the previous 
question, during consideration in the House of H.R. 2881, the Chair may 
postpone further consideration until at time designated by the Speaker. 
Testimony was heard from Chairman Oberstar and Representatives 
Costello, Lipinski, Lampson, Payne, Klein of Florida, Petri, Poe, 
Shays, Garrett and Neugebauer.
BRIDGE SAFETY
Committee on Science and Technology: Held a hearing on Bridge Safety: 
Next Steps to Protect the Nation's Critical Infrastructure. Testimony 
was heard from Dennis Judycki, Associate Administrator, Research, 
Development and Technology, Federal Highway Administration, Department 
of Transportation; and public witnesses.
SBA'S CONTRACTING PROGRAM
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing to examine the Small 
Business Administration's contracting programs. Testimony was heard 
from Jovita Carranza, Deputy Administrator, SBA; and public witnesses.
CRUISE SHIP SAFETY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Coast 
Guard and Maritime Transportation held a hearing on Cruise Ship 
Security Practices and Procedures. Testimony was heard from RADM Wayne 
Justice, USCG, Assistant Commandant for Response, USCG, Department of 
Homeland Security; Salvador Hernandez, Deputy Assistant Director, 
Criminal Investigative Division, FBI, Department of Justice; and public 
witnesses.
WOUNDED SERVICE MEMBER CARE
Committee on Veterans' Affairs: Held a hearing on the findings of the 
President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded 
Warriors. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
President's Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded 
Warriors: Donna E. Shalala, Co-Chair; and Bob Dole, Co-Chair.
PAUL WELLSTONE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT OF 2007
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Health approved for full 
Committee action, as amended, H.R. 1424, Paul Wellstone Mental Health 
and Addiction Equity Act of 2007.
UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE ACCESS
Committee on Ways and Means: Subcommittee on Income Security and Family 
Support held a hearing on Unemployment Insurance to Reduce Barriers for

[[Page D1226]]

Jobless Workers. Testimony was heard from Cynthia Fagnoni, Managing 
Director, Education, Workforce and Income Security, GAO; Lynette 
Hammond, Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade, State of Virginia; 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
SUBPRIME LENDING DISASTER AND THE THREAT TO THE BROADER ECONOMY
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine the 
evolution of an economic crisis, focusing on the subprime lending 
disaster and the threat to the broader economy, after receiving 
testimony from Peter R. Orszag, Director, Congressional Budget Office; 
Robert J. Shiller, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut; and Martin 
Eakes, Center for Responsible Lending, and Alex J. Pollock, American 
Enterprise Institute, both of Washington, D.C.