[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 7, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D565-D568]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 11 public bills, H.R. 5982-
5992; and 6 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 343-345; and H. Res. 1178-1180, 
were introduced.
  Pages H3185-86
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H3186-87
Reports Filed: There were no reports filed today.
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Pastor Joe 
Hishmeh, Fellowship Bible Church, Topeka, Kansas.
  Page H3111
Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 229 yeas to 184 nays, with 1 voting ``present'', 
Roll No. 268.
  Pages H3116-17
Calendar Wednesday: On a call of committees pursuant to the Calendar 
Wednesday rule, no bills were called up for consideration. 
                                                         Pages H3114-15
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Sessions motion to adjourn by a yea-
and-nay vote of 132 yeas to 269 nays, Roll No. 267.
  Page H3115
Oath of Office--First Congressional District of Louisiana: 
Representative-elect Steve Scalise 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 
the Honorable Jay Dardenne, Secretary of State for the State of 
Louisiana, indicating that, according to the unofficial returns of the 
Special Election held on May 3, 2008, the Honorable Steve Scalise was 
elected Representative to Congress for the First Congressional 
District, State of Louisiana.
  Pages H3115-16, H3184
Whole Number of the House: The Speaker announced to the House that, in 
light of the administration of the oath to the gentleman from 
Louisiana, Mr. Steve Scalise, the whole number of the House is adjusted 
to 434.
  Page H3116
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and agree to the following measures which were debated on Monday, May 
5th:
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding 
provocative and dangerous statements and actions taken by the 
Government of the Russian Federation that undermine the territorial 
integrity of the Republic of Georgia: H. Res. 1166, to express the 
sense of the House of Representatives regarding provocative and 
dangerous statements and actions taken by the Government of the Russian 
Federation that undermine the territorial integrity of the Republic of 
Georgia, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 390 ayes to 23 noes with 2 voting 
``present'', Roll No. 269;
  Pages H3117-18

[[Page D566]]


  The House further agreed to the Castor motion to table the Rehberg 
motion to reconsider the vote, by a recorded vote of 218 ayes to 191 
noes, Roll No. 270.
Page H3118
  Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting 
the goals and ideals of Mother's Day: H. Res. 1113, to celebrate the 
role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and 
ideals of Mother's Day, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 412 ayes with none 
voting ``no'', Roll No. 274; and
  Pages H3130-32
  The House further agreed to the Castor motion to table the Tiahrt 
motion to reconsider the vote, by a recorded vote of 237 ayes to 178 
noes, Roll No. 275.
Page H3131
  Honoring the life, achievements, and contributions of Charlton Heston 
and extending its deepest sympathies to the family of Charlton Heston 
for the loss of such a great generous man, husband, and father: H. Res. 
1091, amended, to honor the life, achievements, and contributions of 
Charlton Heston and extending its deepest sympathies to the family of 
Charlton Heston for the loss of such a great generous man, husband, and 
father.
  Page H3177
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Rehberg motion to adjourn by a recorded 
vote of 140 ayes to 246 noes, Roll No. 271.
  Pages H3118-19
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Hastings (WA) motion to adjourn by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 144 yeas to 250 nays, Roll No. 272.
  Page H3124
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Culberson motion to adjourn by a yea-
and-nay vote of 138 yeas to 272 nays, Roll No. 273.
  Page H3129
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Tiahrt motion to adjourn by a recorded 
vote of 146 ayes to 276 noes, Roll No. 276.
  Pages H3131-32
Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measure which was debated on Tuesday, May 6th:
  Facilitating the preservation of certain affordable housing dwelling 
units: H.R. 5937, to facilitate the preservation of certain affordable 
housing dwelling units, by a \2/3\ recorded vote of 345 ayes to 73 
noes, Roll No. 277.
  Pages H3132-33
  The House further agreed to the Welch (VT) motion to table the 
Simpson motion to reconsider the vote, by a recorded vote of 225 ayes 
to 190 noes, Roll No. 278.
Page H3133
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Calvert motion to adjourn by a yea-and-
nay vote of 137 yeas to 260 nays, Roll No. 279.
  Pages H3133-34
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Sessions motion to adjourn by a yea-
and-nay vote of 138 yeas to 268 nays, Roll No. 280.
  Pages H3142-43
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Price (GA) motion to adjourn by a 
recorded vote of 111 ayes to 311 noes, Roll No. 285.
  Page H3147
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Kingston motion to adjourn by a 
recorded vote of 143 ayes to 272 noes, Roll No. 286.
  Pages H3149-50
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Walsh (NY) motion to adjourn by a 
recorded vote of 140 ayes to 264 noes, Roll No. 291.
  Pages H3152-53
Intent to Offer Motion to Instruct Conferees: Representative Shimkus 
gave notice of his intent to offer a motion to instruct conferees on 
H.R. 2419, Food and Energy Security Act of 2007.
  Page H3153
Intent to Offer Motion to Instruct Conferees: Representative Terry gave 
notice of his intent to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 
2419, Food and Energy Security Act of 2007.
  Page H3153
Intent to Offer Motion to Instruct Conferees: Representative Upton gave 
notice of his intent to offer a motion to instruct conferees on H.R. 
2419, Food and Energy Security Act of 2007.
  Pages H3153-54
Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction 
Proliferation and Terrorism--Appointment: The Chair announced the 
Speaker's appointment of the following members on the part of the House 
of Representatives to the Commission on the Prevention of Weapons of 
Mass Destruction Proliferation and Terrorism: Mr. Timothy J. Roemer of 
Great Falls, Virginia and Ms. Wendy R. Sherman of Bethesda, Maryland. 
                                                             Page H3154
Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008: The House began consideration 
of H.R. 5818, to authorize the Secretary of Housing and Urban 
Development to make loans to States to acquire foreclosed housing and 
to make grants to States for related costs. Further proceedings were 
postponed until Thursday, May 8th.
  Pages H3119-29, H3149-77
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Financial Services now printed in the 
bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of 
amendment under the five-minute rule.
Page H3163
Accepted:
  Waters amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that provides 
for direct allocations to qualified metropolitan cities and qualified 
urban counties, makes the definition of operating expenses consistent 
with other HUD programs, and caps purchase price under the loan program 
at the current

[[Page D567]]

appraised value of the foreclosed property (by a recorded vote of 256 
ayes to 157 noes, Roll No. 293);
Pages H3166-67, H3168-69
  Capito amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that directs the 
funds to be administered through the Office of Community Planning and 
Development of the Department of Housing and Urban Development rather 
than directing the Secretary to create a new program within the 
Department (by a recorded vote of 425 ayes with none voting ``no'', 
Roll No. 294);
Pages H3167-68, H3169-70
  Mahoney (FL) amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that 
clarifies that nothing in this Act shall affect the right to bear arms 
under the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; 
                                                         Pages H3170-72
  Kucinich amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that modifies 
the purposes of the legislation to emphasize the increasing rates of 
vacant and abandoned properties, and change the state-to-local 
jurisdiction funding formula to ensure that up-to-date vacancy 
statistics are used to allocate the funds; and
Pages H3173-75
  McCotter amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that directs 
States using federal loans and grants for housing rehabilitation to 
give priority to veterans, members of the Armed Forces on active duty, 
members of the National Guard or Armed Forces reserves, school 
teachers, and emergency responders when reselling the rehabilitated 
property.
Pages H3175-77
Proceedings Postponed:
  Hensarling amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that seeks 
to strike all references in the bill to providing grants to states, but 
leave the underlying loan program intact. Money from the grant portion 
of the bill ($7.5 billion) would be re-directed to the loan portion 
(for a total of $15 billion in loans) and
Pages H3172-73
  Altmire amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 110-621) that seeks to 
clarify that illegal immigrants shall be ineligible for financial 
assistance under the bill.
Page H3177
  Rejected the Simpson motion that the Committee rise by a recorded 
vote of 184 ayes to 231 noes, Roll No. 292.
Page H3168
  H. Res. 1174, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 223 yeas to 192 nays, Roll No. 289, 
and the House subsequently agreed to the Welch (VT) motion to table the 
Emerson motion to reconsider the vote by a recorded vote of 212 ayes to 
183 noes, Roll No. 290. Earlier, the House agreed to order the previous 
question by a yea-and-nay vote of 220 yeas to 187 nays, Roll No. 287, 
and subsequently agreed to the Hastings (FL) motion to table the 
Simpson motion to reconsider the vote by a recorded vote of 226 ayes to 
186 noes, Roll No. 288.
Pages H3150-52
Senate amendments to H.R. 3221, Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008--
Rule for Consideration: The House agreed to the rule that is providing 
for consideration of the Senate amendments to H.R. 3221, moving the 
United States toward greater energy independence and security, 
developing innovative new technologies, reducing carbon emissions, 
creating green jobs, protecting consumers, increasing clean renewable 
energy production, and modernizing our energy infrastructure, and to 
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax incentives for 
the production of renewable energy and energy conservation, by a yea-
and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 198 nays with 1 voting ``present'', Roll 
No. 283. Subsequently, the House agreed to the Welch (VT) motion to 
table the Aderholt motion to reconsider the vote by a recorded vote of 
227 ayes to 196 noes, Roll No. 284. Earlier, the House agreed to order 
the previous question by a recorded vote of 226 ayes to 198 noes, Roll 
No. 281, and subsequently agreed to the Welch (VT) motion to table the 
Carter motion to reconsider the vote by a recorded vote of 225 ayes to 
192 noes, Roll No. 282.
  Pages H3134-47
Food and Energy Security Act of 2007--Motion to Instruct Conferees: The 
House began consideration of the Cantor motion to instruct conferees on 
H.R. 2419, to provide for the continuation of agricultural programs 
through fiscal year 2012. Further proceedings were postponed. 
                                                         Pages H3177-81
Presidential Messages: Read a message from the President wherein he 
notified Congress that the national emergency declared with respect to 
Syria is to continue in effect beyond May 11, 2008--referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-109). 
                                                             Page H3181
  Read a message from the President wherein he transmitted to Congress 
the Agreement Between the United States of America and the Czech 
Republic on Social Security--referred to the Committee on Ways and 
Means and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-110).
Page H3181
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H3111.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Nine yea-and-nay votes and nineteen recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H3115, 
H3116-17, H3117-18, H3118, H3118-19, H3124, H3129-30, H3130, H3131, 
H3131-32, H3132, H3133, H3133-34, H3142-43, H3144-45, H3145, H3145-46, 
H3146-47, H3147, H3149-50, H3150, H3150-51, H3151-52, H3152, H3152-53, 
H3168,

[[Page D568]]

H3168-69 and H3169-70. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 11:24 p.m.