[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 194 (Tuesday, December 18, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1649-D1651]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 63 public bills, H.R. 4774-
4836; and 14 resolutions, H.J. Res. 71-73; H. Con. Res. 272; and H. 
Res. 883-892 were introduced.
  Pages H16832-34
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H16834-35
Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows: H.R. 1834, to 
authorize the national ocean exploration program and the national 
undersea research program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric 
Administration, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-311, Pt. 2). 
                                                            Page H16832
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed 
Representative Solis to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. 
                                                            Page H16645
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measures which were debated on Monday, December 
17th:
  Veterans Guaranteed Bonus Act of 2007: H.R. 3793, amended, to amend 
title 37, United States

[[Page D1650]]

Code, to require the Secretary of Defense to continue to pay to a 
member of the Armed Forces who is retired or separated from the Armed 
Forces due to a combat-related injury certain bonuses that the member 
was entitled to before the retirement or separation and would continue 
to be entitled to if the member was not retired or separated, by a 2/3 
yea-and-nay vote of 405 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 1176 
and
  Pages H16658-59
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To amend title 37, United 
States Code, to require the continued payment to a member of the 
uniformed services who dies or is retired or separated under chapter 61 
of title 10, United States Code, bonuses and similar benefits that the 
member was entitled to before the death, retirement, or separation of 
the member and would be paid if the member had not died, retired, or 
separated, to prohibit requiring the member to repay any portion of the 
bonuses or similar benefits previously paid, and for other purposes.''.
                                                            Page H16659
  Expressing the unconditional support of the House of Representatives 
for the members of the National Guard: H. Res. 542, amended, to express 
the unconditional support of the House of Representatives for the 
members of the National Guard, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 408 yeas 
with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 1180.
  Page H16768
Renewable Fuels, Consumer Protection, and Energy Efficiency Act of 
2007: The House agreed to the Senate amendment to the House amendment 
to the Senate amendment to H.R. 6, to move the United States toward 
greater energy independence and security, to increase the production of 
clean renewable fuels, to protect consumers, to increase the efficiency 
of products, buildings, and vehicles, to promote research on and deploy 
greenhouse gas capture and storage options, and to improve the energy 
performance of the Federal Government, by a yea-and-nay vote of 314 
yeas to 100 nays, Roll No. 1177.
  Pages H16651-H16752
  H. Res. 877, the rule providing for consideration of the Senate 
amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment, was agreed to 
by a yea-and-nay vote of 215 yeas to 190 nays, Roll No. 1175, after 
agreeing to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 220 
yeas to 187 nays, Roll No. 1174.
Pages H16657-58
Committee Elections: The House agreed to H. Res. 885, electing the 
following Members to serve on certain standing committees of the House 
of Representatives: Committee on Agriculture: Representative Latta. 
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Representative Blunt (to rank after 
Representative Fossella). Committee on Foreign Affairs: Representative 
Wittman (VA). Committee on Science and Technology: Representatives 
Latta and Wittman (VA).
  Page H16752
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007: S. 2271, to 
authorize State and local governments to divest assets in companies 
that conduct business operations in Sudan and to prohibit United States 
Government contracts with such companies, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 
411 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 1179--clearing the measure 
for the President;
  Pages H16753-60, H16767-68
  Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007: Agreed 
to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2761, to extend the Terrorism Insurance 
Program of the Department of the Treasury, by a yea-and-nay vote of 360 
yeas to 53 nays, Roll No. 1178--clearing the measure for the President;
                                                        Pages H16760-67
  Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act of 2007: Agreed to the Senate 
amendment to H.R. 3648, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
exclude discharges of indebtedness on principal residences from gross 
income--clearing the measure for the President;
  Pages H16768-72
  Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendments 
to H.R. 3997, with an amendment: H. Res. 884, providing for the 
concurrence by the House in the Senate amendments to H.R. 3997, with an 
amendment, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 411 yeas with none voting 
``nay'', Roll No. 1181;
  Pages H16772-88, H16795
  OPEN Government Act of 2007: S. 2488, to promote accessibility, 
accountability, and openness in Government by strengthening section 552 
of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of 
Information Act)--clearing the measure for the President; and 
                                                        Pages H16788,92
  U.S. Capitol Police and Library of Congress Police Merger 
Implementation Act of 2007: Agreed to the Senate amendment to H.R. 
3690, to provide for the transfer of the Library of Congress police to 
the United States Capitol Police, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 413 yeas 
with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 1182 --clearing the measure for the 
President.
  Pages H16792-94, H16795-96
Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Wittman of 
Virginia, wherein he resigned from the Committee on Science and 
Technology, effective today.
  Pages H16792
Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Latta of Ohio, 
wherein he resigned from

[[Page D1651]]

the Committee on Science and Technology, effective today.
  Page H16792
Speaker Pro Tempore: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she 
appointed Representative Hoyer and Representative Van Hollen to act as 
Speaker pro tempore to sign enrolled bills and joint resolutions 
through January 15, 2008.
  Page H16796
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H16796.
Senate Referrals: S. 2499 was held at the desk.
  Page H16796
Quorum Calls--Votes: Nine yea-and-nay votes developed during the 
proceedings of today and appear on pages H16657-58, H16658, H16658-59, 
H16752, H16766-67, H16767-68, H16768, H16795, H16796. There were no 
quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 10:50 p.m.