[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 96 (Wednesday, June 11, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D726-D728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 16 public bills, H.R. 6233-
6248; and 7 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 371; and H. Res. 1262-1264, 1266-
1268 were introduced.
  Pages H5327-28
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H5328-29
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 2631, to strengthen efforts in the Department of Homeland 
Security to develop nuclear forensics capabilities to permit 
attribution of the source of nuclear material, with amendments (H. 
Rept. 110-708, Pt. 1);
  H.R. 5811, to amend title 44, United States Code, to require 
preservation of certain electronic records by Federal agencies and to 
require a certification and reports relating to Presidential records, 
with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-709); and
  H. Res. 1265, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5749) to 
provide for a program of emergency unemployment compensation (H. Rept. 
110-710).
Page H5327
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, Rev. John I. 
Caples, Jr., Jesus Name Apostolic Church, Waukegan, Illinois. 
                                                             Page H5217
Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act of 2008: The House passed 
H.R. 6003, to reauthorize Amtrak, by a yea-and-nay vote of 311 yeas to 
104 nays, Roll No. 400.
  Pages H5222-65
  Rejected the Davis (KY) motion to recommit the bill to the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure with instructions to report the 
same back to the House promptly with an amendment, by a yea-and-nay 
vote of 194 yeas to 230 nays, Roll No. 399.
Pages H5263-65
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure now 
printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the 
purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule.
Page H5233
  On a demand for a separate vote on a certain amendment agreed to in 
the Committee of the Whole:
  By a recorded vote of 295 ayes to 127 noes, Roll No. 398, agreed to 
the Davis (VA) amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 110-703) that 
authorizes the Transportation Secretary to make grants to the 
Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to finance in part the 
capital and preventive maintenance projects included in the Capital 
Improvement Program approved by the Board of Directors of the Transit 
Authority; and prohibits funds to the Transit Authority unless the 
Authority ensures its rail customers have access to any services 
provided by any licensed wireless provider that notifies the Authority 
of its intent to offer services to the public (agreed to in the 
Committee of the Whole by voice vote).
Pages H5249-54, H5261-63
Accepted:
  Oberstar manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-703) that 
provides that none of the funds may be used to employ workers in 
violation of section 274A of the Immigration and Nationality

[[Page D727]]

Act; requires the Secretary of Transportation to conduct a study on 
ways to streamline compliance with National Historic Preservation Act 
requirements for federally funded railroad infrastructure projects; 
inserts provisions regarding the Northeast Corridor; requires studies 
regarding the expansion of the South Central High-Speed Rail Corridor 
to Memphis and to far south Texas; requires proposals for building 
station stops for the proposed high-speed rail system in the Northeast 
Corridor; authorizes intercity passenger rail grants to be used for 
bicycle access into rolling stock and provides bicycle racks in trains; 
and makes technical corrections to the bill;
Pages H5245-49
  Smith (WA) amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 110-703) that 
requires Amtrak to engage in good faith discussions, with commuter rail 
entities and public transportation authorities operating on the same 
trackage owned by a rail carrier as Amtrak, with respect to routing and 
timing of trains to efficiently move a maximal number of commuters, 
intercity, and passenger rail passengers, particularly during peak 
times of commuter usage. Also requires such discussion with respect to 
the expansion and enhancement of commuter rail and regional rail public 
transportation service;
Pages H5254-55
  McCarthy (NY) amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-703) that adds 
to the passenger rail system comparison study a request to study train 
horn technology, with an emphasis on reducing train horn noise and its 
effect on local communities;
Pages H5257-58
  Murphy (CT) amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 110-703) that 
expresses support for commuter rail service between New Haven, CT, and 
Springfield, MA and encourages Amtrak to cooperate with state 
Departments of Transportation to expand commuter rail service on that 
line. Also provides that Amtrak shall report to Congress and the 
Transportation Departments of Connecticut and Massachusetts on the 
total cost of uncompleted infrastructure maintenance on the rail line 
between New Haven and Springfield; and
Pages H5258-59
  Patrick Murphy (PA) amendment (No. 8 printed in H. Rept. 110-703) 
that requires Amtrak, within one year of enactment, to report to 
Congress on the results of an evaluation of passenger rail between 
Cornwells Heights, PA, and New York City, NY, and between Princeton 
Junction, NJ, and New York City, NY, to determine whether to expand 
passenger rail service by increasing the frequency of stops or reducing 
commuter ticket prices for this route.
Pages H5259-60
Rejected:
  Sessions amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 110-703) that sought to 
prohibit funds from being used for the long distance Amtrak route with 
the highest cost per seat/mile according to Amtrak's March 2008 monthly 
performance report unless the Secretary has transmitted a waiver for 
this route or a portion of it because the Secretary considers it 
critical to homeland security (by a recorded vote of 150 ayes to 275 
noes, Roll No. 397).
Pages H5255-57, H5260-61
  Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming 
changes to reflect the actions of the House.
Page H5265
  H. Res. 1253, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to on Tuesday, June 10th.
Privileged Resolution--Motion to Refer: Agreed to refer H. Res. 1258, 
impeaching George W. Bush, President of the United States, of high 
crimes and misdemeanors, to the Committee on the Judiciary by a yea-
and-nay vote of 251 yeas to 166 nays, Roll No. 401.
  Page H5266
Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and agree to the following measure which was debated on Tuesday, June 
10th:
  Expressing support for the designation of National D-Day Remembrance 
Day, and recognizing the spirit, courage, and sacrifice of the men and 
women who fought and won World War II: H. Res. 1235, to express support 
for the designation of National D-Day Remembrance Day, and to recognize 
the spirit, courage, and sacrifice of the men and women who fought and 
won World War II, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 406 yeas with none 
voting ``nay'', Roll No. 402.
  Pages H5266-67
Suspension--Failed: The House failed to agree to suspend the rules and 
pass the following measure:
  Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act of 2008: H.R. 5749, 
amended, to provide for a program of emergency unemployment 
compensation, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 279 yeas to 144 nays, Roll 
No. 403.
  Pages H5267-76, H5279
Suspension: The House agreed to suspend the rules and agree to the 
following measure:
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that rebate 
checks would better stimulate the economy if spent on American-made 
products and services from American-owned companies: H. Res. 977, to 
express the sense of the House of Representatives that rebate checks 
would better stimulate the economy if spent on American-made products 
and services from American-owned companies, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote 
of 404 yeas to 6 nays, with 6 voting ``present'', Roll No. 404. 
                                                         Pages H5276-80

[[Page D728]]

Privileged Resolution--Intent to Offer: Representative Wolf announced 
his intent to offer a privileged resolution raising a question of the 
privileges of the House.
  Pages H5280-87
Privileged Resolution--Motion to Refer: Agreed to refer H. Res. 1263, 
directing the Chief Administrative Officer and the Sergeant at Arms of 
the House of Representatives to take timely action to ensure that all 
Members, committees, and offices of the House are alerted of the 
dangers of electronic attacks on the computers and information systems 
used in carrying out their official duties and are fully briefed on how 
to protect themselves, their official records, and their communications 
from electronic security breaches, to the Committee on House 
Administration by voice vote.
  Page H5287
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 
2008--Rule for Consideration: The House began consideration of H. Res. 
1257, the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 6063, to authorize 
the programs of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 
Further proceedings were postponed.
  Pages H5287-94
Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed: The House debated the following 
measures under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were 
postponed:
  Authorizing the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency 
to accept, as part of a settlement, diesel emission reduction 
Supplemental Environmental Projects: S. 2146, amended, to authorize the 
Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to accept, as part 
of a settlement, diesel emission reduction Supplemental Environmental 
Projects and
  Pages H5294-96
  Caroline Pryce Walker Conquer Childhood Cancer Act of 2008: H.R. 
1553, amended, to amend the Public Health Service Act to advance 
medical research and treatments into pediatric cancers, ensure patients 
and families have access to the current treatments and information 
regarding pediatric cancers, establish a population-based national 
childhood cancer database, and promote public awareness of pediatric 
cancers.
  Pages H5296-H5300
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H5267.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Six yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H5261, 
H5262-63, H5264-65, H5265, H5266, H5266-67, H5279, H5280. There were no 
quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 11:57 p.m.