[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 83 (Tuesday, May 20, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D633-D636]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 19 public bills, H.R. 6084-
6102; 1 private bill, H.R. 6102; and 9 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 355-
359; and H. Res. 1210-1211, 1215-1216 were introduced.
  Pages H4320-21
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H4321-22
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 6049, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide 
incentives for energy production and conservation, to extend certain 
expiring provisions, and to provide individual income tax relief, with 
an amendment (H. Rept. 110-658);
  Conference report on S. Con. Res. 70, setting forth the congressional 
budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 2009 and 
including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 2008 and 
2010 through 2013 (H. Rept. 110-659);
  Supplemental report on H.R. 5658, to authorize appropriations for 
fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the Department of Defense 
and to prescribe military personnel strengths for fiscal year 2009 (H. 
Rept. 110-652, Pt. 2);
  H. Res. 1212, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6049) to 
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide incentives for 
energy production and conservation, to extend certain expiring 
provisions, and to provide individual income tax relief (H. Rept. 110-
660);
  H. Res. 1213, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5658) to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities 
of the Department of Defense and to prescribe military personnel 
strengths for fiscal year 2009 (H. Rept. 110-661); and
  H. Res. 1214, providing for consideration of the conference report to 
accompany the concurrent resolution (S. Con. Res. 70) setting forth the 
congressional budget for the United States Government for fiscal year 
2009 and including the appropriate budgetary levels for fiscal years 
2008 and 2010 through 2013 (H. Rept. 110-662). 
                                        Pages H4217-78, H4297-98, H4320
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed 
Representative McNulty to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H4155
Recess: The House recessed at 9:15 a.m. and reconvened at 10 a.m. 
                                                             Page H4157
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2008: H.R. 6081, 
amended, to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide benefits 
for military personnel, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 403 yeas with 
none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 331;
  Pages H4160-71, H4187-88
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress 
should recognize the important contributions of Americans who serve as 
foster parents and, in doing so, unselfishly open their homes and 
family lives to children in need: H. Res. 1185, to express the sense of 
the House of Representatives that Congress should recognize the 
important contributions of Americans who serve as foster parents and, 
in doing so, unselfishly open their homes and family lives to children 
in need;
  Pages H4171-73
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that youth who 
age out of foster care should be given special care and attention: H. 
Res. 1208,

[[Page D634]]

to express the sense of the House of Representatives that youth who age 
out of foster care should be given special care and attention; 
                                                         Pages H4173-75
  Honoring the service and achievements of women in the Armed Forces 
and female veterans: H. Res. 1054, amended, to honor the service and 
achievements of women in the Armed Forces and female veterans; 
                                                         Pages H4178-80
  Commending the Alaska Army National Guard for its service to the 
State of Alaska and the citizens of the United States: H. Res. 961, to 
commend the Alaska Army National Guard for its service to the State of 
Alaska and the citizens of the United States;
  Pages H4180-82
  Honoring the members of the United States Air Force who were killed 
in the June 25, 1996, terrorist bombing of the Khobar Towers United 
States military housing compound near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia: H. Con. 
Res. 32, amended, to honor the members of the United States Air Force 
who were killed in the June 25, 1996, terrorist bombing of the Khobar 
Towers United States military housing compound near Dhahran, Saudi 
Arabia;
  Pages H4182-83
  Amending title 38, United States Code, to establish the position of 
Director of Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Under 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health: H.R. 2790, amended, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to establish the position of Director of 
Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Under Secretary 
of Veterans Affairs for Health;
  Pages H4183-85
  Veterans Benefits Awareness Act of 2008: H.R. 3681, amended, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to authorize the Secretary of Veterans 
Affairs to advertise in the national media to promote awareness of 
benefits under laws administered by the Secretary;
  Pages H4185-87
  Amending title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to conduct a longitudinal study of the vocational 
rehabilitation programs administered by the Secretary: H.R. 3889, 
amended, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a longitudinal study of the 
vocational rehabilitation programs administered by the Secretary; 
                                                         Pages H4191-93
  Justin Bailey Veterans Substance Use Disorders Prevention and 
Treatment Act of 2008: H.R. 5554, amended, to amend title 38, United 
States Code, to expand and improve health care services available to 
veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs for substance use 
disorders;
  Pages H4193-96
  Amending title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to update at least once every six years the plans and 
specifications for specially adapted housing furnished to veterans by 
the Secretary: H.R. 5664, amended, to amend title 38, United States 
Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to update at least 
once every six years the plans and specifications for specially adapted 
housing furnished to veterans by the Secretary;
  Pages H4196-97
  Spina Bifida Health Care Program Expansion Act: H.R. 5729, amended, 
to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to provide comprehensive health care to children of 
Vietnam veterans born with Spina Bifida;
  Pages H4197-98
  Amending the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the 
protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members of 
the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation: H.R. 
6048, to amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide for the 
protection of child custody arrangements for parents who are members of 
the Armed Forces deployed in support of a contingency operation; 
                                                         Pages H4202-06
  Providing for an additional temporary extension of programs under the 
Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958: S. 
3029, to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs 
under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 
1958--clearing the measure for the President;
  Pages H4206-09
  Expressing condolences and sympathy to the people of the People's 
Republic of China for the grave loss of life and vast destruction 
caused by the earthquake of May 12, 2008 in Sichuan Province: H. Res. 
1195, amended, to express condolences and sympathy to the people of the 
People's Republic of China for the grave loss of life and vast 
destruction caused by the earthquake of May 12, 2008 in Sichuan 
Province; and
  Pages H4209-13
  Temporarily extending the programs under the Higher Education Act of 
1965: S. 3035, to temporarily extend the programs under the Higher 
Education Act of 1965--clearing the measure for the President. 
                                                         Pages H4278-79
Oath of Office--First Congressional District of Mississippi: 
Representative-elect Travis Childers 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 Ms. Linda Dixon Rigsby, Assistant Secretary of State for 
Elections, State of Mississippi, indicating that, according to the 
unofficial

[[Page D635]]

returns of the Special Election held on May 13, 2008, the Honorable 
Travis Childers was elected Representative to Congress for the First 
Congressional District, State of Mississippi.
  Pages H4188-89, H4319
Whole Number of the House: The Speaker announced to the House that, in 
light of the administration of the oath to the gentleman from 
Mississippi, Mr. Travis Childers, the whole number of the House is 
adjusted to 435.
  Page H4189
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measures which were debated on Monday, May 19th:
  Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act of 2008: H.R. 6074, to amend the 
Sherman Act to make oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal, by a 
2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 324 yeas to 84 nays, Roll No. 332;
  Page H4189
  Expressing support for designation of a ``Frank Sinatra Day'' on May 
13, 2008, in honor of the dedication of the Frank Sinatra commemorative 
stamp: H. Res. 1144, amended, to express support for designation of a 
``Frank Sinatra Day'' on May 13, 2008, in honor of the dedication of 
the Frank Sinatra commemorative stamp, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 402 
yeas to 3 nays, Roll No. 333;
  Pages H4189-90
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``Expressing support for the 
designation of a Frank Sinatra Day, in honor of the dedication of the 
Frank Sinatra commemorative stamp.''.
Page H4190
  Great Cats and Rare Canids Act of 2008: H.R. 1464, amended, to assist 
in the conservation of rare felids and rare canids by supporting and 
providing financial resources for the conservation programs of nations 
within the range of rare felid and rare canid populations and projects 
of persons with demonstrated expertise in the conservation of rare 
felid and rare canid populations, by a 2/3 recorded vote of 294 ayes to 
119 noes, Roll No. 335;
  Pages H4280-81
  Lake Hodges Surface Water Improvement and Reclamation Act of 2008: 
H.R. 2649, amended, to make amendments to the Reclamation Projects 
Authorization and Adjustment Act of 1992, by a 2/3 recorded vote of 374 
ayes to 39 noes, Roll No. 336; and
  Pages H4281-82
  Airline Flight Crew Technical Corrections Act: H.R. 2744, amended, to 
amend the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 to clarify the 
eligibility requirements with respect to airline flight crews, by a 2/3 
yea-and-nay vote of 402 yeas to 9 nays, Roll No. 337.
  Page H4282
Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed: The House debated the following 
measures under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were 
postponed:
  Recognizing the courage and sacrifice of those members of the United 
States Armed Forces who were held as prisoners of war during the 
Vietnam conflict and calling for a full accounting of the 1,729 members 
of the Armed Forces who remain unaccounted for from the Vietnam 
conflict:  H. Res. 986, amended, to recognize the courage and sacrifice 
of those members of the United States Armed Forces who were held as 
prisoners of war during the Vietnam conflict and to call for a full 
accounting of the 1,729 members of the Armed Forces who remain 
unaccounted for from the Vietnam conflict;
  Pages H4175-78
  Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2007: H.R. 3819, amended, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, to require the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs to reimburse veterans receiving emergency treatment in 
non-Department of Veterans Affairs facilities for such treatment until 
such veterans are transferred to Department facilities; 
                                                         Pages H4190-91
  Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008: H.R. 
5826, to increase, effective as of December 1, 2008, the rates of 
disability compensation for veterans with service-connected 
disabilities and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for 
survivors of certain service-connected disabled veterans; 
                                                         Pages H4198-99
  Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and 
Lease Act of 2008: H.R. 5856, to authorize major medical facility 
projects and major medical facility leases for the Department of 
Veterans Affairs for fiscal year 2009; and
  Pages H4199-H4202
  Reaffirming the support of the House of Representatives for the 
legitimate, democratically-elected Government of Lebanon under Prime 
Minister Fouad Siniora: H. Res. 1194, to reaffirm the support of the 
House of Representatives for the legitimate, democratically-elected 
Government of Lebanon under Prime Minister Fouad Siniora. 
                                                         Pages H4213-17
Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday 
business of Wednesday, May 21st.
  Page H4279
Adjournment Resolution: The House agreed to H. Con. Res. 355, providing 
for a conditional adjournment of the House of Representatives and a 
conditional recess or adjournment of the Senate, by a yea-and-nay vote 
of 239 yeas to 175 nays, Roll No. 334.
  Pages H4279-80

[[Page D636]]

Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of 
Lionel Van Deerlin, former Member of Congress.
  Page H4281
Supplemental Report: Agreed that the Committee on Armed Services be 
permitted to file a supplemental report on H.R. 5658, to authorize 
appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for military activities of the 
Department of Defense and to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
fiscal year 2009.
  Page H4283
Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he 
notified Congress that the national emergency declared with respect to 
Iraq is to continue in effect beyond May 22, 2008--referred to the 
Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-114). 
                                                         Pages H4282-83
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on 
pages H4173, H4287.
Senate Referrals: S. 3035 was held at the desk.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H4187-88, 
H4189, H4189-90, H4279-80, H4280-81, H4281-82, and H4282. There were no 
quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 9:00 a.m. and adjourned at 10:48 p.m.