[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 116 (Tuesday, July 15, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D890-D892]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page D890]]




                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 15 public bills, H.R. 6491-
6505; and 7 resolutions, H. Res. 1341-1342, 1345-1349 were introduced. 
                                                         Pages H6576-77
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H6577-78
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H. Res. 1343, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 5959) to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2009 for intelligence and 
intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, the 
Community Management Account, and the Central Intelligence Agency 
Retirement and Disability System (H. Rept. 110-759) and
  H. Res. 1344, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3999) to 
amend title 23, United States Code, to improve the safety of Federal-
aid highway bridges, to strengthen bridge inspection standards and 
processes, and to increase investment in the reconstruction of 
structurally deficient bridges on the National Highway System (H. Rept. 
110-760).
Page H6576
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed 
Representative McNulty to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H6475
Recess: The House recessed at 9:15 a.m. and reconvened at 10 a.m. 
                                                             Page H6476
Private Calendar: The House agreed to dispense with the call of the 
Private Calendar today.
  Page H6477
Discharge Petition: Representative Drake moved to discharge the 
Committee on Energy and Commerce from the consideration of H.R. 2493, 
to amend the Clean Air Act to provide for a reduction in the number of 
boutique fuels, and for other purposes (Discharge Petition No. 13).
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  NASA 50th Anniversary Commemorative Coin Act: H.R. 6455, to require 
the Secretary of the Treasury to mint coins in commemoration of the 
50th anniversary of the establishment of the National Aeronautics and 
Space Administration;
  Pages H6480-87
  Timothy J. Russert Highway Designation Act: S. 3145, to designate a 
portion of United States Route 20A, located in Orchard Park, New York, 
as the ``Timothy J. Russert Highway''--clearing the measure for the 
President;
  Pages H6487-89
  Appalachian Regional Development Act Amendments: S. 496, amended, to 
reauthorize and improve the program authorized by the Appalachian 
Regional Development Act of 1965;
  Pages H6489-93
  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness 
Month: H. Con. Res. 299, amended, to support the goals and ideals of 
National Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month;
  Pages H6493-96
  Commending the Arizona State University softball team for their 
victory in the 2008 Women's College World Series: H. Res. 1323, to 
commend the Arizona State University softball team for their victory in 
the 2008 Women's College World Series, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 
425 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 490; 
                                               Pages H6496-98, H6532-33
  Congratulating the Hamilton College Continentals on winning the NCAA 
Division III women's lacrosse championship: H. Res. 1259, amended, to 
congratulate the Hamilton College Continentals on winning the NCAA 
Division III women's lacrosse championship, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote 
of 423 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 489; 
                                            Pages H6498-H6500, H6531-32
  Congratulating the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association 
(NCAA) Division I Baseball Champions, the Fresno State Bulldogs, on an 
outstanding and historic season: H. Res. 1327, amended, to congratulate 
the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I 
Baseball Champions, the Fresno State Bulldogs, on an outstanding and 
historic season;
  Pages H6500-02
  Recognizing and commending the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for 
50 years of service as a vital American cultural ambassador to the 
world: H. Res. 1088, amended, to recognize and commend the Alvin Ailey 
American Dance Theater for 50 years of service as a vital American 
cultural ambassador to the world;
  Pages H6502-04
  Congratulating East High School in Denver, Colorado, on winning the 
2008 ``We the People: The Citizen and the Constitution'' national 
competition: H. Res. 1261, amended, to congratulate East High School in 
Denver, Colorado, on winning the 2008 ``We the People: The Citizen and 
the Constitution'' national competition;
  Pages H6504-07
  Honoring the esteemed former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on 
the occasion of his 90th birthday: H. Res. 1090, amended, to honor the 
esteemed former President Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela on the occasion of 
his 90th birthday, by a \2/3\ yea-

[[Page D891]]

and-nay vote of 411 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 494; 
                                               Pages H6507-10, H6545-46
  Condemning the attack on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos 
Aires, Argentina, in July 1994: H. Con. Res. 385, to condemn the attack 
on the AMIA Jewish Community Center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 
1994;
  Pages H6510-13
  Providing for the concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to 
H.R. 3890, with amendments: H. Res. 1341, to provide for the 
concurrence by the House in the Senate amendment to H.R. 3890, with 
amendments;
  Pages H6513-20
  Amending the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to permit 
candidates for election for Federal office to designate an individual 
who will be authorized to disburse funds of the authorized campaign 
committees of the candidate in the event of the death of the candidate: 
H.R. 3032, amended, to amend the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 
to permit candidates for election for Federal office to designate an 
individual who will be authorized to disburse funds of the authorized 
campaign committees of the candidate in the event of the death of the 
candidate; and
  Pages H6534-35
  Extending through 2013 the authority of the Federal Election 
Commission to impose civil money penalties on the basis of a schedule 
of penalties established and published by the Commission: H.R. 6296, to 
extend through 2013 the authority of the Federal Election Commission to 
impose civil money penalties on the basis of a schedule of penalties 
established and published by the Commission.
  Pages H6535-36
Suspension--Failed: The House failed to agree to suspend the rules and 
pass the following measure:
  Directing the Election Assistance Commission to establish a program 
to make grants to participating States and units of local government 
which will administer the regularly scheduled general election for 
Federal office held in November 2008 for carrying out a program to make 
backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a voting 
system or voting equipment in the election or some other emergency 
situation: H.R. 5803, to direct the Election Assistance Commission to 
establish a program to make grants to participating States and units of 
local government which will administer the regularly scheduled general 
election for Federal office held in November 2008 for carrying out a 
program to make backup paper ballots available in the case of the 
failure of a voting system or voting equipment in the election or some 
other emergency situation, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 248 yeas to 
170 nays, Roll No. 493.
  Pages H6536-41, H6545
Committee Resignation: Read a letter from Representative Kanjorski, 
wherein he resigned from the Committee on Science and Technology, 
effective July 14, 2008.
  Page H6520
Recess: The House recessed at 2:06 p.m. and reconvened at 2:34 p.m. 
                                                             Page H6520
Presidential Veto Message--Medicare Improvement for Patients and 
Providers Act of 2008: Read a message from the President wherein he 
announced his veto of H.R. 6331, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the 
Social Security Act to extend expiring provisions under the Medicare 
Program, to improve beneficiary access to preventive and mental health 
services, to enhance low-income benefit programs, and to maintain 
access to care in rural areas, including pharmacy access, and explained 
his reasons therefor--ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-131). 
                                                         Pages H6520-31
  Subsequently, the House voted to override the President's veto of 
H.R. 6331, to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to 
extend expiring provisions under the Medicare Program, to improve 
beneficiary access to preventive and mental health services, to enhance 
low-income benefit programs, and to maintain access to care in rural 
areas, including pharmacy access, by a yea-and-nay vote of 383 yeas to 
41 nays, Roll No. 491 (two-thirds of those present voting to override).
                                                             Page H6533
Committee Elections: The House agreed to H. Res. 1342, electing the 
following Members to serve on certain standing committees of the House 
of Representatives: Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: 
Representative Speier. Committee on Science and Technology: 
Representative Edwards (MD) (to rank immediately after Representative 
Richardson). Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: 
Representative Edwards (MD).
  Page H6534
Order of Procedure: Agreed by unanimous consent that if Representative 
Kucinich offers a resolution as a question of the privileges of the 
House at any time on the legislative day of July 15, 2008--(1) the 
previous question shall be considered as ordered thereon without 
intervening motion except one motion to refer and one motion to table 
(which shall have precedence in the order stated); and (2) the Speaker 
may postpone further proceedings on such a vote on any such motion as 
though under clause 8(a)(1)(A) of rule 20.
  Pages H6541-42
Privileged Resolution--Motion to Refer: Agreed to refer H. Res. 1345, 
raising a question of the privileges of the House, to the Committee on 
the Judiciary by a yea-and-nay vote of 238 yeas to 180 nays, Roll No. 
492.
  Pages H6542-45

[[Page D892]]

Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate today appear on 
pages H6513, H6547.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Six yea-and-nay votes developed during the 
proceedings of today and appear on pages H6531-32, H6532-33, H6533, 
H6544-45, H6545, H6545-46. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 9 a.m. and adjourned at 10:53 p.m.