[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 195 (Wednesday, December 19, 2007)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1660-D1661]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
EXTENSION OF U.N. MANDATE FOR IRAQ
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight held a hearing on the 
Extension of the United Nations Mandate for Iraq: Is the Iraqi 
Parliament Being Ignored? Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Library of Congress: Kenneth Katzman, Specialist in 
Middle East Affairs; Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Division, CRS; 
and Issam Michael Saliba, Senior Foreign Law Specialist, Middle East 
and North Africa, Law Library of Congress; and public witnesses.
FEDERAL CRIMINAL LAW ENFORCEMENT TO PROTECT AMERICANS WORKING FOR U.S. 
CONTRACTORS IN IRAQ
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and 
Homeland Security held a hearing on Enforcement of Federal Criminal Law 
to Protect Americans Working for U.S. Contractors in Iraq. Testimony 
was heard from Representative Poe; Jamie Leigh Jones, former employee 
of Halliburton Company; and public witnesses.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY RULES COMMITTEE
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a rule providing for the 
consideration of two measures. The first measure is a motion by the 
chairman of the Committee on Appropriations to concur in the Senate 
amendment to the House amendment to the Senate amendment to H.R. 2764, 
the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs 
Appropriations Act, 2008. The rule waives all points of order against 
consideration of the motion except for clause 10 of rule XXI; provides 
that the Senate amendment and the motion shall be considered as read; 
and provides one hour of debate on the motion equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Appropriations.
  The second measure is H.J. Res. 72, providing further continuing 
appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008. The closed rule waives all points 
of order against the joint resolution and against its consideration 
except for clauses 9 and 10 of rule XXI; provides that the joint 
resolution shall be considered as read; provides one hour of general 
debate in the

[[Page D1661]]

House equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking 
minority member of the Committee on Appropriations; and allows for one 
motion to recommit with or without instructions.
  The rule also provides that the Chair may postpone further 
consideration of either measure to a time designated by the Speaker. 
Finally, the rule tables House Resolution 849.
SAME DAY CONSIDERATION OF RESOLUTIONS REPORTED BY RULES COMMITTEE--
TEMPORARY TAX RELIEF ACT OF 2007
Committee on Rules: The Committee granted, by voice vote, a rule 
providing for consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill, H.R. 
3996, the ``Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007.'' The rule provides that 
it is in order for the chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means to 
make a motion that the House concur in the Senate amendment to H.R. 
3996.
  The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the 
motion. The rule provides that the Senate amendment and the motion 
shall be considered as read. It further provides that the motion shall 
be debatable for one hour equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and 
Means. The rule provides that, notwithstanding the operation of the 
previous question, the Chair may postpone further consideration of the 
motion to a time designated by the Speaker.
BRIEFINGS--HOTS SPOTS AND NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE ESTIMATE; COMMITTEE 
BUSINESS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Hot Spots--Venezuela, Australia and Pakistan. The 
Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses.
  The Committee also met in executive session to receive a briefing on 
National Intelligence Estimate. The Committee was briefed by Mike 
McConnell, Director, Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
  The Committee also met in executive session to consider pending 
Committee business.
AFTER BALI-U.N. CONFERENCE AND THE IMPACT ON INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE 
CHANGE POLICY
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a 
hearing entitled ``After Bali--UN Conference and the Impact on 
International Climate Change Policy.'' Testimony was heard from public 
witnesses.