[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 43 (Thursday, March 13, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D299-D300]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 38 public bills, H.R. 5602-
5639; 8 resolutions, H.J. Res. 78-79; and H. Res. 1045-1050 were 
introduced.
  Pages H1700-02
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H1702-03
Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today.
Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 222 yeas to 183 nays, with 1 voting ``present'', 
Roll No. 136.
  Pages H1621, H1626-27
Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of 
in honor of all those serving in the military, past and present, during 
the war in Iraq.
  Page H1621
Privileged Resolution--Intent To Offer: Representative Price (GA) 
announced his intention to offer a privileged resolution. 
                                                         Pages H1624-25
Question of Privilege: The Chair ruled that the resolution offered by 
Representative Price (GA) did not constitute a question of the 
privileges of the House. Agreed to table the motion to appeal the 
ruling of the Chair by a yea-and-nay vote of 222 yeas to 192 nays, Roll 
No. 135.
  Pages H1625-26
Revising the congressional budget for the United States Government for 
fiscal year 2008, establishing the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2009, and setting forth appropriate 
budgetary levels for fiscal years 2010 through 2013: The House passed 
H. Con. Res. 312, revising the congressional budget for the United 
States Government for fiscal year 2008, establishing the congressional 
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009, and 
setting forth appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2010 
through 2013, by a yea-and-nay vote of 212 yeas to 207 nays, Roll No. 
141. Consideration of the measure began on Wednesday, March 12th. 
                                               Pages H1627-59, H1661-84
Rejected:
  Kilpatrick amendment in the nature of a substitute (No. 1 printed in 
H. Rept. 110-548), submitted on behalf of the Congressional Black 
Caucus, that sought an alternative budget that would balance the budget 
in FY 2012. The CBC budget would have funded programs and services in 
the areas of health care, education, veterans benefits and services for 
low-income families. It also provided for additional services for the 
administration of justice and funded the recommendations of the House 
Committee on Homeland Security (by a recorded vote of 126 ayes to 292 
noes, Roll No. 137);
Pages H1633-46
  Lee amendment in the nature of a substitute (No. 2 printed in H. 
Rept. 110-548), submitted on behalf of the Congressional Progressive 
Caucus, that sought to provide at least $551.7 billion for domestic, 
non-military discretionary spending in FY09; provide a $118.9 billion 
economic stimulus package; extend unemployment insurance, food stamp 
benefits, and Medicaid payments to states; and, spend $468.3 billion on 
defense. The Progressive Caucus budget balances by FY12 and rebalances 
again in FY18, upon completion of the Reinvest and Rebuild

[[Page D300]]

America Initiative (by a recorded vote of 98 ayes to 322 noes, Roll No. 
138); and
Pages H1646-59
  Ryan (WI) amendment in the nature of a substitute (No. 3 printed in 
H. Rept. 110-548) that sought to balance the budget by 2012, retain 
provisions enacted in 2001/2003, prevent expansion of the AMT for the 
next 3 years, and achieve full repeal in 2013. Provides total 
discretionary budget authority of $1.04 trillion in fiscal year 2009, a 
4.3-percent increase from 2008 enacted level. It imposes a moratorium 
on congressional earmarks for the balance of the 110th Congress; 
requires a separate vote on increasing the public debt; requires cost 
estimates on conference reports and unreported bills; prohibits 
domestic add-ons to emergency war spending bills; limits long-term 
spending commitments; prevents use of reconciliation to increase 
spending; limits ``advance appropriations'' to $23.565 billion in 2010; 
provides a $7.3-billion domestic emergency reserve fund; provides for 
contingency war funds; incorporates bipartisan Legislative Line Item 
Veto. Calls for 1 percent decrease in entitlement program spending (by 
a recorded vote of 157 ayes to 263 noes, Roll No. 140). 
                                                         Pages H1661-80
  H. Res. 1036, the rule providing for consideration of the concurrent 
resolution, was agreed to on Wednesday, March 12th.
Oath of Office--Seventh Congressional District of Indiana: 
Representative-elect Andre Carson presented himself in the well of the 
House and was administered the Oath of Office by the Speaker. Earlier, 
the Clerk of the House transmitted a facsimile copy of a letter from 
Mr. Matthew Tusing, Deputy Secretary of State, Office of the Indiana 
Secretary of State, indicating that, according to the unofficial 
results of the Special Election held on March 11, 2008, the Honorable 
Andre Carson was elected Representative to Congress for the Seventh 
Congressional District, State of Indiana.
  Pages H1660, H1699
Whole Number of the House: The Speaker announced to the House that, in 
light of the administration of the oath to the gentleman from Indiana, 
Mr. Andre Carson, the whole number of the House is adjusted to 431. 
                                                             Page H1660
Call of the House: The Speaker called the House to order and 
ascertained the presence of a quorum (384 present, Roll No. 139). 
                                                        Pages H16760-61
Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measure which was debated on Wednesday, March 
12th:
  Recognizing the exceptional sacrifice of the 69th Infantry Regiment, 
known as the Fighting 69th, in support of the Global War on Terror: H. 
Res. 991, recognizing the exceptional sacrifice of the 69th Infantry 
Regiment, known as the Fighting 69th, in support of the Global War on 
Terror, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 406 yeas with none voting ``nay'', 
Roll No. 142.
  Page H1684
Pension Protection Technical Corrections Act of 2007: Agreed by 
unanimous consent that the Clerk be authorized to engross H.R. 3361, to 
make technical corrections related to the Pension Protection Act of 
2006, in the form of the bill placed at the desk.
  Pages H1685-90
Order of Procedure: Agreed by unanimous consent that it be in order, on 
the legislative day of March 13, 2008, at a time to be determined by 
the Speaker, that the House resolve itself into a secret session as 
though pursuant to clause 9, rule XVII; that debate held in secret 
session continue for not to exceed one hour, equally divided and 
controlled; and at the conclusion of that debate, the secret session 
shall be dissolved.
  Pages H1690-99
  Agreed by unanimous consent that when the secret session of the House 
is dissolved pursuant to the previous order of the House, the House 
stand adjourned.
Page H1699
Recess: The House recessed at 7:33 p.m. and at 10:11 p.m., the House 
began proceedings held in secret session.
  Page H1699
Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea-and-nay votes and three recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H1626, 
H1626-27, H1645-46, H1659, H1680, H1683-84, and H1684. One quorum call 
(Roll No. 139) developed during the proceedings of today and appears on 
pages H1660-61
Adjournment: The House met at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at 11:09 p.m.