[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 149 (Wednesday, October 3, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1315-D1317]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced:  9 public bills, H.R. 3736-
3744; and 4 resolutions, H.J. Res. 55; H. Con. Res. 225; and H. Res. 
709-710 were introduced.
  Pages H11249-50
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H11250-51
Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today.
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. Elton Van 
Welton, Crossroads Baptist Church, Leesburg, Virginia.
  Page H11173
Improving Government Accountability Act: The House passed H.R. 928, to 
amend the Inspector General Act of 1978 to enhance the independence of 
the Inspectors General and to create a Council of the Inspectors 
General on Integrity and Efficiency, by a yea-and-nay vote of 404 yeas 
to 11 nays, Roll No. 937.
  Pages H11182-86, H11187-H11203
  Agreed to the Tom Davis (VA) motion to recommit the bill to the 
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform with instructions to 
report the same back to the House forthwith with an amendment, by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 274 yeas to 144 nays, Roll No. 936. Subsequently, 
Representative

[[Page D1316]]

Towns reported the bill back to the House with the amendment and the 
amendment was agreed to.
Pages H11200-02
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform now 
printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment.
Page H11182
Accepted:
  Tom Davis (VA) amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-358) that 
revises section 3 (``direct submission of budget requests to 
Congress'') by striking language authorizing all IGs to independently 
submit their office's budget requests to Congress, separate and apart 
from the President's budget submission, and inserting language 
requiring IGs to notify Congress only if the budget request submitted 
by the agency would ``substantially inhibit the Inspector General from 
performing the duties of the office'';
Pages H11195-96
  Miller (NC) amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-358) that adds 
additional reasons for which an IG may be removed from office, makes 
certain changes to make the statute conform to existing Executive 
Orders, and requires an annual report by the Council of the Inspectors 
General on Integrity and Efficiency on the activities of its Integrity 
Committee;
Pages H11196-98
  Miller (NC) amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-358) that 
establishes a committee of Inspectors General of the Inspectors General 
Council to review the qualifications of nominees and final candidates 
for the position of Inspector General in all government establishments 
and entities to determine whether they meet the integrity and 
professional qualifications for the position established by the 
Inspector General Act. The committee is also required to report back to 
the relevant Senate committee or federal appointing entity; 
                                                            Page H11198
  Gillibrand amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-358) that 
requires that each federal agency website has a direct link to the 
website of the Office of Inspector General for that agency, that the 
Inspector General of each agency posts all reports and audits online 
within one day of being made publicly available, and that all Inspector 
General websites facilitate the individual, anonymous reporting of 
waste, fraud and abuse; and
Pages H11198-99
  Conyers amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-358) that provides 
that the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General is not required 
to refer to the Counsel of the Office of Professional Responsibility 
(OPR) of DOJ allegations of misconduct involving DOJ attorneys and 
related personnel where the allegations relate to the exercise of the 
authority of an attorney to investigate, litigate, or provide legal 
advice (by a recorded vote of 217 ayes to 192 noes, Roll No. 935). 
                                                    Pages H11199-H11200
  Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming 
changes to reflect the actions of the House.
Page H11203
  H. Res. 701, 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 216 yeas to 192 nays, Roll No. 932. 
                                                        Pages H11182-86
Presidential Veto Message--Children's Health Insurance Program 
Reauthorization Act of 2007: Read a message from the President wherein 
he announced his veto of H.R. 976, to amend title XXI of the Social 
Security Act to extend and improve the Children's Health Insurance 
Program, and explained his reasons therefor--ordered printed (H. Doc. 
110-62).
  Pages H11203-14
  Subsequently, the House agreed to the Hoyer motion to postpone 
further consideration of the veto message and bill until Thursday, 
October 18th, by a recorded vote of 222 ayes to 197 noes, Roll No. 938.
                                                        Pages H11203-14
MEJA Expansion and Enforcement Act of 2007: The House began 
consideration of H.R. 2740, to require accountability for contractors 
and contract personnel under Federal contracts. Further consideration 
is expected to resume tomorrow, October 4th. 
                                             Pages H11177-82, H11214-26
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary now printed in the bill 
shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment. 
                                                        Pages H11177-78
Accepted:
  Conyers manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-359) that 
clarifies that the FBI investigates those fatalities resulting from the 
``potentially unlawful'' use of force and also allows the Attorney 
General to request assistance from other federal agencies when 
assigning personnel and resources to the FBI Theater Investigative 
Unit. The amendment mandates that the FBI request security assistance 
from the Secretary of Defense in any case in which the FBI Units need 
adequate security;
Pages H11222-24
  Schakowsky amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-359) that 
requires the Department of Justice to report a list of charges that 
have been brought against contractors and contract employees in Iraq 
and Afghanistan, and a description of the legal actions taken by the 
United States government against contractors and contract employees in 
Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of a criminal charge or criminal 
investigation; and
Pages H11224-25

[[Page D1317]]


  Hill amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-359) that requires the 
Director of the FBI to submit an annual written report to Congress of 
the progress of the Theater Investigative Units, including the number 
of reports received of criminal misconduct by contractors, the number 
of reports received of fatalities caused by contract personnel, the 
number of cases referred to the Attorney General, and statutory changes 
necessary for the Director to carry out the duties entailed by this 
bill.
Pages H11225-26
  H. Res. 702, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to by a recorded vote of 217 ayes to 193 noes, Roll No. 934, 
after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 
218 yeas to 192 nays, Roll No. 933.
Pages H11177-82, H11186-87
Advisory Committee on the Records of Congress--Reappointment: The Chair 
announced the Speaker's reappointment of Mr. Joseph Cooper of 
Baltimore, Maryland on the part of the House to the Advisory Committee 
on the Records of Congress.
  Page H11226
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H11173.
Senate Referrals: S.J. Res. 13 was held at the desk.
  Page H11173
Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea-and-nay votes and three recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H11185-
86, H11186-87, H11187, H11200, H11202, H11202-03 and H11213-14. There 
were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:20 p.m.