[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 101 (Wednesday, June 18, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D764-D766]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

                        House of Representatives

Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 15 public bills, H.R. 6287-6303; 
and 3 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 373; and H. Res. 1282-1283 were introduced. 
                                                              Pages H5579-80
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H5580-81
Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows:
  H. Res. 1281, waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with 
respect to consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee 
on Rules.
Page H5579
Recess: The House recessed at 9:37 a.m. and reconvened at 10 a.m. 
                                                                  Page H5485
Discharge Petition: Representative English (PA) moved to discharge the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce and the Committee on Armed Services from 
the consideration of H.R. 2279, to expedite the construction of new refining 
capacity on closed military installations in the United States (Discharge 
Petition No. 9).
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the following 
measures:
  Amending certain laws relating to Native Americans: H.R. 5680, amended, to 
amend certain laws relating to Native Americans;
  Pages H5490-91
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To amend certain laws relating 
to Native Americans, and for other purposes.''.
Page H5491
  Fair, Accurate, Secure, and Timely Redress Act of 2008: H.R. 4179, 
amended, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish an appeal 
and redress process for individuals wrongly delayed or prohibited from 
boarding a flight;
  Pages H5491-96
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To amend the Homeland Security 
Act of 2002 to establish an appeal and redress process for individuals 
wrongly delayed or prohibited from boarding a flight, or denied a right, 
benefit, or privilege, and for other purposes.''.
Page H5496
  Biometric Enhancement for Airport-Risk Reduction Act of 2008: H.R. 5982, 
amended, to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security, for purposes of 
transportation security, to conduct a study on how airports can transition 
to uniform, standards-based, and interoperable biometric identifier systems 
for airport workers with unescorted access to secure or sterile areas of an 
airport;
  Pages H5496-98
  Catching Operational Vulnerabilities by Ensuring Random Testing Act of 
2008: H.R. 5909, amended, to amend the Aviation and Transportation Security 
Act to prohibit advance notice to certain individuals, including security 
screeners, of covert testing of security screening procedures for the 
purpose of enhancing transportation security at airports; 
                                                           Pages H5498-H5502
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
Transportation Security Administration should, in accordance with the 
congressional mandate provided for in the Implementing Recommendations of 
the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, enhance security against terrorist attack 
and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit lines: H. 
Res. 1150, amended, to express the sense of the House of Representatives 
that the Transportation Security Administration should, in accordance with 
the congressional mandate provided for in the Implementing Recommendations 
of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007, enhance security against terrorist 
attack and other security threats to our Nation's rail and mass transit 
lines;
  Pages H5502-06
  National Bombing Prevention Act of 2008: H.R. 4749, amended, to amend the 
Homeland Security Act of 2002 to establish the Office for Bombing 
Prevention, to address terrorist explosive threats;
  Pages H5506-10
  Civil Air Patrol Homeland Security Support Act: H.R. 1333, amended, to 
amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the Secretary to enter 
into an agreement with the Secretary of the Air Force to use Civil Air 
Patrol personnel and resources to support homeland security missions; 
                                                              Pages H5510-13
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To direct the Comptroller 
General to conduct a study on the use of Civil Air Patrol personnel and 
resources to support homeland security missions, and for other purposes.''. 
                                                                  Page H5513
  Nuclear Forensics and Attribution Act: H.R. 2631, amended, to strengthen 
efforts in the Department of Homeland Security to develop nuclear forensics 
capabilities to permit attribution of the source of nuclear material; 
                                                              Pages H5513-17

[[Page D765]]


  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To strengthen efforts in the 
Department of Homeland Security to develop nuclear forensics capabilities to 
permit attribution of the source of nuclear material, and for other 
purposes.''.
Page H5517
  Commending the efforts of those who sought to block an international arms 
transfer destined for Zimbabwe, where the government has unleashed a 
campaign of violence and intimidation against members of the political 
opposition: H. Res. 1270, to commend the efforts of those who sought to 
block an international arms transfer destined for Zimbabwe, where the 
government has unleashed a campaign of violence and intimidation against 
members of the political opposition;
                                                              Pages H5520-22
  Condemning the endemic restrictions on freedom of the press and media and 
public expression in the Middle East and the concurrent and widespread 
presence of anti-Semitic material, Holocaust denial, and incitement to 
violence in the Arab media and press: H. Res. 1127, amended, to condemn the 
endemic restrictions on freedom of the press and media and public expression 
in the Middle East and the concurrent and widespread presence of anti-
Semitic material, Holocaust denial, and incitement to violence in the Arab 
media and press;
                                                              Pages H5522-26
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``Condemning the endemic 
restrictions on freedom of the press and media and public expression in the 
Middle East and the concurrent and widespread presence of anti-Semitic 
incitement to violence and Holocaust denial in the Arab media and press.''. 
                                                              Pages H5525-26
  Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States, through the 
International Whaling Commission, should use all appropriate measures to end 
commercial whaling in all of its forms, including scientific and other 
special permit whaling, coastal whaling, and community-based whaling, and 
seek to strengthen the conservation and management measures to facilitate 
the conservation of whale species: H. Con. Res. 350, to express the sense of 
the Congress that the United States, through the International Whaling 
Commission, should use all appropriate measures to end commercial whaling in 
all of its forms, including scientific and other special permit whaling, 
coastal whaling, and community-based whaling, and seek to strengthen the 
conservation and management measures to facilitate the conservation of whale 
species;
                                                       Pages H5526-30, H5550
  Agreed by unanimous consent that the House vacate the ordering of the 
yeas-and-nays on agreeing to H. Con. Res. 350 to the end that the Chair put 
the question de novo.
Page H5547
  Public Housing Disaster Relief Act of 2008: H.R. 6276, to repeal section 
9(k) of the United States Housing Act of 1937; and
                                                              Pages H5530-33
  American Veterans Disabled for Life Commemorative Coin Act: Concur in 
Senate amendment to H.R. 634, to require the Secretary of the Treasury to 
mint coins in commemoration of veterans who became disabled for life while 
serving in the Armed Forces of the United States--clearing the measure for 
the President.
                                                              Pages H5533-35
Suspension--Proceedings Postponed: The House debated the following measure 
under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were postponed:
  Condemning postelection violence in Zimbabwe and calling for a peaceful 
resolution to the current political crisis: H. Res. 1230, amended, to 
condemn postelection violence in Zimbabwe and calling for a peaceful 
resolution to the current political crisis.
                                                              Pages H5517-20
Presidential Veto Message--Food, Conservation, and Energy Act of 2008: Read 
a message from the President wherein he announced his veto of H.R. 6124, to 
provide for the continuation of agricultural and other programs of the 
Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2012, and explained his 
reasons therefor--ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-125).
  Page H5535
  Subsequently, the House voted to override the President's veto of H.R. 
6124, to provide for the continuation of agricultural and other programs of 
the Department of Agriculture through fiscal year 2012, by a yea-and-nay 
vote of 317 yeas to 109 nays, Roll No. 417 (two-thirds of those present 
voting to override).
Pages H5535-37
National Aeronautics and Space Administration Authorization Act of 2008: The 
House passed H.R. 6063, to authorize the programs of the National 
Aeronautics and Space Administration, by a yea-and-nay vote of 409 yeas to 
15 nays, Roll No. 421. Consideration of the measure began on Thursday, June 
12th.
  Pages H5537-42
  Rejected the Gingrey motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Science and Technology with instructions to report the same back to the 
House promptly with amendments, by a recorded vote of 196 ayes to 225 noes, 
Roll No. 420.
Pages H5539-42
Accepted:
  Lampson amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 110-707) that was debated on 
June 12th that seeks to exempt NASA from Section 526(a) of the Energy 
Independence and Security Act of 2007 if the contract does not specifically 
require the contractor to provide an alternative or synthetic fuel or fuel 
from a nonconventional source, the purpose of the contract is not to obtain 
an alternative or synthetic fuel or fuel from a nonconventional petroleum 
source, and the contract does not provide incentives for a refinery upgrade 
or expansion to allow a refinery to use or increase its use of fuel from a 
nonconventional petroleum source (by a recorded vote of 429 ayes to 1 no, 
Roll No. 418) and
Pages H5537-38
  Hodes amendment (No. 10 printed in H. Rept. 110-707) that was debated on 
June 12th that seeks to establish a scholarship program in honor of Christa 
McAuliffe, a teacher from Concord, New

[[Page D766]]

Hampshire who died in the 1986 Challenger Space Shuttle disaster.
  The scholarship would go to women pursuing degrees in mathematics, 
science, and engineering (by a recorded vote of 423 ayes to 3 noes, Roll No. 
419).
Pages H5538-39
  Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming 
changes to reflect the actions of the House.
Page H5543
  H. Res. 1257, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed 
to on Thursday, June 12th.
Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of all 
those affected by the flooding in Iowa.
  Page H5539
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules and 
pass the following measures which were debated on Tuesday, June 17th:
  Expressing support for designation of April 2008 as ``Public Radio 
Recognition Month'': H. Res. 1002, amended, to express support for 
designation of April 2008 as ``Public Radio Recognition Month'', by a \2/3\ 
yea-and-nay vote of 414 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 422. 
                                                              Pages H5542-43
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``Expressing support for the 
designation of a Public Radio Recognition Month.''.
Page H5543
  Commending the Orange County Water District and its employees for their 
sound financial management and innovative groundwater management, water 
quality, water efficiency, and environmental programs, on its 75th 
anniversary: H. Res. 1199, to commend the Orange County Water District and 
its employees for their sound financial management and innovative 
groundwater management, water quality, water efficiency, and environmental 
programs, on its 75th anniversary;
                                                          Pages H5547, H5550
  Agreed by unanimous consent that the House vacate the ordering of the yeas 
and nays on agreeing to H. Res. 1199 to the end that the Chair put the 
question de novo.
Page H5549
  Celebrating the symbol of the United States flag and supporting the goals 
and ideals of Flag Day: H. Res. 1219, to celebrate the symbol of the United 
States flag and to support the goals and ideals of Flag Day;
                                                                  Page H5550
  John P. Gallagher Post Office Building Designation Act: H.R. 6150, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14500 
Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, as the ``John P. Gallagher Post Office 
Building'';
                                                                  Page H5550
  Gerald R. Ford Post Office Building Designation Act: H.R. 6085, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 42222 
Rancho Las Palmas Drive in Rancho Mirage, California, as the ``Gerald R. 
Ford Post Office Building'';
                                                                  Page H5550
  Recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day, 
and expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that history should 
be regarded as a means for understanding the past and more effectively 
facing the challenges of the future: H. Res. 1237, to recognize the 
historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day, and to express the 
sense of the House of Representatives that history should be regarded as a 
means for understanding the past and more effectively facing the challenges 
of the future; and
                                                                  Page H5550
  Supporting the goals and ideals of ``American Eagle Day'', and celebrating 
the recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle, the national symbol 
of the United States: H. Res. 1247, amended, to support the goals and ideals 
of ``American Eagle Day'', and to celebrate the recovery and restoration of 
the American bald eagle, the national symbol of the United States. 
                                                                  Page H5550
  Agreed by unanimous consent that the House vacate the ordering of the yeas 
and nays on agreeing to H. Res. 1247 to the end that the Chair put the 
question de novo.
Page H5547
Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he notified 
Congress that the national emergency declared with respect to the 
accumulation of nuclear material by the Russian Federation is to continue 
beyond June 21, 2008--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-126).
  Page H5552
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on pages 
H5485, and H5559.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and three recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H5536-37, 
H5537-38, H5538-39, H5541, H5542, and 5542-43. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 9:30 a.m. and adjourned at 10:35 p.m.