[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 6 (Wednesday, January 16, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D14-D15]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced:  50 public bills, H.R. 4931-
4933, 4983-5029; 1 private bill, H.R. 5030; and 9 resolutions, H. Con. 
Res. 279-280; and H. Res. 921, 923-927 were introduced.
  Pages H293-95
Additional Cosponsors: 
  Pages H295-96
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H. Res. 922, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3524) to 
reauthorize the HOPE VI program for revitalization of severely 
distressed public housing (H. Rept. 110-509) and H.R. 3959, to amend 
the National Flood Insurance Act of 1968 to provide for the phase-in of 
actuarial rates for certain pre-FIRM properties, with an amendment (H. 
Rept. 110-510).
Page H293
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Condemning the assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister 
Benzair Bhutto and reaffirming the commitment of the United States to 
assist the people of Pakistan in combating terrorist activity and 
promoting a free and democratic Pakistan: H. Res. 912, to condemn the 
assassination of former Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and to 
reaffirm the commitment of the United States to assist the people of 
Pakistan in combating terrorist activity and promoting a free and 
democratic Pakistan, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 413 yeas with none 
voting ``nay'', Roll No. 3;
  Pages H30-35, H44
  Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to 
H.R. 4253, with an amendment: H. Res. 921, to provide for the 
concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 4253, with an 
amendment, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 406 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 4; 
and
  Pages H35-39, H44-45
  Providing for the enactment of the National Defense Authorization Act 
for Fiscal Year 2008, as previously enrolled, with certain 
modifications to address the foreign sovereign immunities provisions of 
title 28, United States Code: H.R. 4986, to provide for the enactment 
of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008, as 
previously enrolled, with certain modifications to address the foreign 
sovereign immunities provisions of title 28, United States Code, with 
respect to the attachment of property in certain judgments against Iraq 
and the lapse of statutory authorities for the payment of bonuses, 
special pays, and similar benefits for members of the uniformed 
services, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 369 yeas to 46 nays, Roll No. 
11.
  Pages H75-H260
S-MINER Act: The House passed H.R. 2768, to establish improved 
mandatory standards to protect miners during emergencies, by a year-
and-nay vote of 214 yeas to 199 nays, Roll No. 10.
  Pages H45-75
  Rejected the Souder motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Education and Labor with instructions to report the same back to the 
House promptly with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 197 ayes to 217 
noes, Roll No. 9.
Pages H73-75

[[Page D15]]


  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor now printed in the 
bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of 
amendment under the five-minute rule.
Pages H54-60
Accepted:
  George Miller (CA) manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 
110-508) that provides the mining industry with more time to install a 
new generation of fire-resistant conveyor belts, provides funds for 
MSHA to purchase a new generation of dust monitoring devices to limit 
black lung disease, and ensures that breathable air requirements of the 
MINER Act of 2006 are properly implemented. In addition, the amendment 
requires that the Secretary of Labor conduct a study on substance abuse 
by miners with recommendations for policy changes, in consultation with 
all interested parties. The Secretary shall report the findings within 
six months of the bill's enactment and, if she deems it feasible and 
effective, shall be authorized to establish a miner substance abuse 
testing, rehabilitation, and treatment program within MSHA in 
consultation with the interested parties (by a recorded vote of 234 
ayes to 183 noes, Roll No. 5);
Pages H60-64, H70
  Boucher amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-508) that authorizes 
$10,000,000 to award grants to provide rehabilitation services to 
current and former miners suffering from mental health impairments, 
including drug addiction and substance abuse issues, which may have 
been caused or exacerbated by their work as miners (by a recorded vote 
of 364 ayes to 53 noes, Roll No. 6); and
Pages H64-65, H70-71
  Ellsworth amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-508) that offers 
relief to mine operators that have been assessed penalties and pay them 
in a timely fashion. It also establishes a trust fund within Treasury, 
composed of mine safety civil penalties. Funds from the trust fund can 
be used for mine safety inspections and investigations only (by a 
recorded vote of 416 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll No. 7). 
                                                   Pages H65-66, H71-72
Rejected:
  Wilson (SC) amendment in the nature of a substitute (No. 4 printed in 
H. Rept. 110-508) that promotes the continued robust implementation of 
the 2006 MINER Act, increases worker safety by providing miners the 
opportunity to have a voice in mine safety, expands substance abuse 
programs to all mines to ensure safe working conditions for all miners, 
and addresses issues raised by the recent Crandall Canyon disaster (by 
a recorded vote of 188 ayes to 229 noes, Roll No. 8). 
                                                      Pages H66-70, H72
  Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming 
changes to reflect the actions of the House.
Page H75
  H. Res. 918, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to by voice vote after agreeing to order the previous question 
by a year-and-nay vote of 222 yeas to 191 nays, Roll No. 2. 
                                                           Pages H39-44
Adjournment Resolution: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 279, providing 
for a conditional adjournment of the House.
  Page H260
Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes and five recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H43-44, 
H44, H44-45, H70, H71, H71-72, H72, H74-75, H75, and H259-60. There 
were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:16 p.m.