[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 58 (Monday, April 14, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D427-D428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 7 public bills, H.R. 5781-
5787; and 3 resolutions, H. Res. 1104-1106, were introduced. 
                                                         Pages H2265-66
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H2266-67
Reports Filed: A report was filed on April 10, 2008 as follows:
  H.R. 3548, to enhance citizen access to Government information and 
services by establishing plain language as the standard style for 
Government documents issued to the public, with an amendment (H. Rept. 
110-580). Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 281, to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to allow all 
eligible voters to vote by mail in Federal elections, with an amendment 
(H. Rept. 110-581);
  H.R. 5036, to direct the Administrator of General Services to 
reimburse certain jurisdictions for the costs of obtaining paper ballot 
voting systems for the general elections for Federal office to be held 
in November 2008 and to reimburse jurisdictions for the costs incurred 
in conducting audits or hand counting of the results of the general 
elections for Federal office to be held in November 2008, with 
amendments (H. Rept. 110-582, Pt. 1);
  H.R. 5715, to ensure continued availability of access to the Federal 
student loan program for students and families (H. Rept. 110-583);
  H.R. 5719, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to conform 
return preparer penalty standards, delay implementation of withholding 
taxes on government contractors, enhance taxpayer protections, and 
assist low-income taxpayers, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-584);
  Supplemental report on H.R. 5719, to amend the Internal Revenue Code 
of 1986 to conform return preparer penalty standards, delay 
implementation of withholding taxes on government contractors, enhance 
taxpayer protections, and assist low-income taxpayers (H. Rept. 110-
584, Pt. 2);
  H. Res. 1102, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5719) to 
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to conform return preparer 
penalty standards, delay implementation of withholding taxes on 
government contractors, enhance taxpayer protections, and assist low-
income taxpayers (H. Rept. 110-585);
  H. Res. 1103, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2634) to 
provide for greater responsibility in lending and expanded cancellation 
of debts owed to the United States and the international financial 
institutions by low-income countries (H. Rept. 110-586);
  H. Res. 1068, permitting active duty members of the Armed Forces who 
are assigned to a Congressional liaison office of the Department of 
Defense at the House of Representatives to obtain membership in the 
exercise facility established for employees of the House of 
Representatives, with amendments (H. Rept. 110-587);
  H.R. 5493, to provide that the usual day for paying salaries in or 
under the House of Representatives may be established by regulations of 
the Committee on House Administration (H. Rept. 110-588); and
  H.R. 5570, to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate 
the sunset in the special immigrant nonminister religious worker visa 
program, with amendments (H. Rept. 110-589).
Page H2265
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed 
Representative Hirono to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H2227
Recess: The House recessed at 12:32 p.m. and reconvened at 2 p.m. 
                                                             Page H2227
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. Joseph T. 
Holcomb, Director of Pilgrimages, Basilica of the National Shrine of 
the Immaculate Conception, Washington, DC.
  Page H2227
Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Wynn, wherein 
he resigned from the Committee on Energy and Commerce, effective 5 p.m. 
on April 9, 2008.
  Page H2228
Official Objectors for the 110th Congress: On behalf of the Majority 
and Minority leadership, the

[[Page D428]]

Chair announced the following Official Objectors for the Private 
Calendar for the 110th Congress: Representatives Boucher, Schiff and 
Grijalva for the Majority and Representatives King (IA), Forbes and 
Smith (TX) for the Minority.
  Page H2228
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Expressing sympathy to the victims and families of the tragic acts of 
violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Arvada, Colorado: H. Res. 
886, amended, to express sympathy to the victims and families of the 
tragic acts of violence in Colorado Springs, Colorado and Arvada, 
Colorado, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 380 yeas with none voting 
``nay'', Roll No. 183;
  Pages H2228-30, H2224
  Expressing support for designation of a National Glanzmann's 
Thrombasthenia Awareness Day:  H. Res. 994, amended, to express support 
for designation of a National Glanzmann's Thrombasthenia Awareness Day, 
by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 377 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll 
No. 184;
  Pages H2230-31, H2244-45
  Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2007: H.R. 4881, amended, 
to prohibit the awarding of a contract or grant in excess of the 
simplified acquisition threshold unless the prospective contractor or 
grantee certifies in writing to the agency awarding the contract or 
grant that the contractor or grantee has no seriously delinquent tax 
debts;
  Pages H2234-37
  Plain Language in Government Communications Act of 2007: H.R. 3548, 
amended, to enhance citizen access to Government information and 
services by establishing plain language as the standard style for 
Government documents issued to the public, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 
376 yeas to 1 nay, Roll No. 185; and
  Pages H2237-39, H2245
  Honoring and recognizing the work of the Meals On Wheels Association 
of America, its member senior nutrition programs throughout the 
country, and their annual March For Meals campaigns: H. Res. 259, to 
honor and recognize the work of the Meals On Wheels Association of 
America, its member senior nutrition programs throughout the country, 
and their annual March For Meals campaigns.
  Pages H2239-41
Recess: The House recessed at 3:46 p.m. and reconvened at 6:30 p.m. 
                                                             Page H2243
Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed: The House debated the following 
measures under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were 
postponed until Tuesday, April 15th:
  Texas Military Veterans Post Office Designation Act: H.R. 5517, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
7231 FM 1960 in Humble, Texas, as the ``Texas Military Veterans Post 
Office'' and
  Pages H2231-34
  Expressing support for the designation of the month of April 2008, as 
National Child Abuse Prevention Month: H. Res. 1097, amended, to 
express support for the designation of the month of April 2008, as 
National Child Abuse Prevention Month to provide attention to the 
tragic circumstances that face some of our Nation's children on a daily 
basis and to underscore our commitment to preventing child abuse and 
neglect so that all children can live in safety and security. 
                                                         Pages H2241-43
Senate Messages: Message received from the Senate by the Clerk and 
subsequently presented to the House today and a message received from 
the Senate today appear on pages H2228 and H2246.
Senate Referrals: S. Con. Res. 76 was held at the desk.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes developed during the 
proceedings of today and appear on pages H2244, H2244-45, and H2245. 
There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 12:30 p.m. and adjourned at 9:48 p.m.