[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 157 (Wednesday, October 17, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1372-D1373]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 21 public bills, H.R. 3863-
3883; and 6 resolutions, H.J. Res. 59; H. Con. Res. 238; and H. Res. 
752-755 were introduced.
  Pages H11727-28
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H11728-29
Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today.
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. Ginger 
Gaines-Cirelli, Capitol Hill United Methodist Church, Washington, DC. 
                                                            Page H11641
Discharge Petition: Representative Pence moved to discharge the 
Committee on Rules from the consideration of H. Res. 694, providing for 
the consideration of the bill (H.R. 2905) to prevent the Federal 
Communications Commission from repromulgating the fairness doctrine 
(Discharge Petition No. 3).
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measures which were debated on Tuesday, October 
16th:
  Recognizing the importance of America's Waterway Watch program: H. 
Res. 549, to recognize the importance of America's Waterway Watch 
program, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 420 yeas with none voting 
``nay'', Roll No. 976 and
  Pages H11655-56
  Commending NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia on the 
celebration of its 90th anniversary on October 26 and 27, 2007: H. Con. 
Res. 222, to commend NASA Langley Research Center in Virginia on the 
celebration of its 90th anniversary on October 26 and 27, 2007, by a 
\2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 421 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 
978.
  Pages H11670-71
Responsible Electronic Surveillance That is Overseen, Reviewed, and 
Effective Act of 2007: The House began consideration of H.R. 3773, to 
amend the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to establish a 
procedure for authorizing certain acquisitions of foreign intelligence. 
Further proceedings were postponed.
  Pages H11656-68
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
printed in part A of H. Rept. 110-385, modified by the amendment 
printed in part B of such report, shall be considered as adopted in 
lieu of the amendments recommended by the Committee on the Judiciary 
and the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence now printed in the 
bill.
Pages H11659-68
  H. Res. 746, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 196 nays, Roll No. 975, 
after agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 
221 yeas to 199 nays, Roll No. 974.
Pages H11645-55
Recess: The House recessed at 1:02 p.m. and reconvened at 2:53 p.m. 
                                                            Page H11667

[[Page D1373]]

Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007: The House passed H.R. 
2095, to amend title 49, United States Code, to prevent railroad 
fatalities, injuries, and hazardous materials releases and to authorize 
the Federal Railroad Safety Administration, by a yea-and-nay vote of 
377 yeas to 38 nays, Roll No. 980.
  Pages H11671-96
  Rejected the Sali motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure with instructions to report the same 
back to the House forthwith with amendments, by a yea-and-nay vote of 
198 yeas to 222 nays, Roll No. 979.
Pages H11694-95
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now 
printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment.
Pages H11677-87
Accepted:
  Oberstar amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-371) that requires 
the Federal Railroad Safety Administration to issue regulations 
requiring owners of track carried on one or more railroad bridges to 
adopt safety practices to prevent the deterioration of railroad bridges 
and reduce the risk of human casualties, environmental damage, and 
disruption to the Nation's transportation system that would result from 
a catastrophic bridge failure. The amendment also strikes Sections 301, 
610, and 616 of the reported bill because these sections were enacted 
in Public Law 110-53, the ``Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 
Commission Act of 2007.'' The amendment also requires the Secretary to 
consider additional criteria regarding communities when reviewing 
applications for a waiver or exemption from sounding locomotive horns 
at highway-rail grade crossings;
Pages H11687-89
  Napolitano amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-371) that 
prohibits mechanical and brake inspections performed in Mexico of rail 
cars entering the United States from satisfying U.S. rail safety laws 
unless inspection standards, enforcement standards, and worker training 
are certified to meet those of the United States and prohibits 
hazardous material inspections performed in Mexico from satisfying 
applicable U.S. rail safety laws and regulations;
Pages H11689-90
  Pallone amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-371) that allows 
state and local authorities to regulate solid waste management 
facilities and states that the Surface Transportation Board does not 
have exclusive authority to preempt state and local regulation of solid 
waste management facilities, as defined in the amendment; and 
                                                        Pages H11690-92
  Rohrabacher amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-371) that 
authorizes funds to the Secretary to design and develop a pilot 
electric cargo conveyor system for the transportation of containers 
from ports to depots outside of urban areas.
Pages H11692-94
  Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming 
changes to reflect the actions of the House.
Page H11696
  H. Res. 724, 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 218 yeas to 194 nays, Roll No. 977. 
                                                        Pages H11667-70
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H11656.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Seven yea-and-nay votes developed during the 
proceedings of today and appear on pages H11654, H11654-55, H11655, 
H11670, H11670-71, H11695, and H11695-96. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 10:48 p.m.