[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 127 (Tuesday, July 29, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D972-D976]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 26 public bills, H.R. 6625-
6650; and 7 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 397; and H. Res. 1381-1383, 1385-
1387, were introduced.
  Pages H7306-07
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H7307-09
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 6083, to authorize funding for the National Advocacy Center, 
with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-784);
  H.R. 6221, to amend title 38, United States Code, to require the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include in each contract the Secretary 
enters for the acquisition of goods and services a provision that 
requires the contractee to comply with the contracting goals and 
preferences for small business concerns owned or controlled by 
veterans, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-785);
  H.R. 6445, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 
collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically 
disabled, with amendments (H. Rept. 110-786);
  Conference Report on H.R. 4040, to establish consumer product safety 
standards and other safety requirements for children's products and to 
reauthorize and modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission (H. 
Rept. 110-787);

[[Page D973]]


  H.R. 6309, to amend the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction 
Act of 1992 to define environmental intervention blood lead level and 
establish additional requirements for certain lead hazard screens, with 
an amendment (H. Rept. 110-788);
  H.R. 5892, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the disability benefits 
claims processing system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and 
their families and survivors (H. Rept. 110-789);
  H.R. 3849, to provide for the conveyance of parcels of land to 
Mantua, Box Elder County, Utah, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-790);
  H.R. 4828, to amend the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site 
Act of 1991 to expand the boundaries of the historic site, with an 
amendment (H. Rept. 110-791);
  H.R. 2933, to amend the American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 
to extend the authorization for that Act, with an amendment (H. Rept. 
110-792);
  H.R. 3299, to provide for a boundary adjustment and land conveyances 
involving Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado, to correct the effects 
of an erroneous land survey that resulted in approximately 7 acres of 
the Crystal Lakes Subdivision, Ninth Filing, encroaching on National 
Forest System land, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-793);
  H.R. 1575, to reaffirm and clarify the Federal relationship of the 
Burt Lake Band as a distinct federally recognized Indian Tribe, with an 
amendment (H. Rept. 110-794);
  H.R. 3094, to establish in the Treasury of the United States a fund 
which shall be known as the National Park Centennial Fund, with an 
amendment (H. Rept. 110-795);
  H.R. 160, to amend the American Battlefield Protection Act of 1996 to 
establish a battlefield acquisition grant program for the acquisition 
and protection of nationally significant battlefields and associated 
sites of the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, with an amendment 
(H. Rept. 110-796);
  H.R. 6176, to authorize the expansion of the Fort Davis National 
Historic Site in Fort Davis, Texas (H. Rept. 110-797);
  H.R. 3336, to direct the Secretary of the Interior to carry out a 
study to determine the suitability and feasibility of establishing a 
historic district to the Camp Hale on parcels of land in the State of 
Colorado, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-798);
  H.R. 5751, to direct the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary 
of Agriculture to jointly conduct a study of certain land adjacent to 
the Walnut Canyon National Monument in the State of Arizona (H. Rept. 
110-799); and
  H. Res. 1384, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 6599) 
making appropriations for military construction, the Department of 
Veterans Affairs, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2009 (H. Rept. 110-800).
Page H7194-H7214, H7305-06
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed 
Representative Carson to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H7171
Recess: The House recessed at 10:36 a.m. and reconvened at 12 p.m. 
                                                             Page H7171
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Charles L. Brieant, Jr. Federal Building and United States Courthouse 
Designation Act: H.R. 6340, amended, to designate the Federal building 
and United States Courthouse located at 300 Quarropas Street in White 
Plains, New York, as the ``Charles L. Brieant, Jr. Federal Building and 
United States Courthouse'';
  Pages H7174-75, H7267
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To designate the Federal 
building and United States courthouse located at 300 Quarropas Street 
in White Plains, New York, as the `Charles L. Brieant, Jr., Federal 
Building and United States Courthouse'.''.
Page H7267
  Requiring the Secretary of Homeland Security to conduct a pilot 
program for the mobile biometric identification in the maritime 
environment of aliens unlawfully attempting to enter the United States: 
H.R. 2490, amended, to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to 
conduct a pilot program for the mobile biometric identification in the 
maritime environment of aliens unlawfully attempting to enter the 
United States, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 394 yeas to 3 nays with 1 
voting ``present'', Roll No. 534;
  Pages H7182-83, H7267-68
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To require the Secretary 
of Homeland Security to conduct a program in the maritime environment 
for the mobile biometric identification of suspected individuals, 
including terrorists, to enhance border security.''.
Page H7268
  Personnel Reimbursement for Intelligence Cooperation and Enhancement 
of Homeland Security Act: H.R. 6098, amended, to amend the Homeland 
Security Act of 2002 to improve the financial assistance provided to 
State, local, and tribal governments for information sharing 
activities;
  Pages H7191-92, H7267

[[Page D974]]

  Government Accountability Office Improvement Act of 2008: H.R. 6388, 
amended, to provide additional authorities to the Comptroller General 
of the United States;
  Pages H7192-94
  Amending title 44, United States Code, to require each agency to 
include a contact telephone number in its collection of information: 
H.R. 6113, amended, to amend title 44, United States Code, to require 
each agency to include a contact telephone number in its collection of 
information, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 394 yeas with none voting 
``nay'', Roll No. 535;
  Pages H7218-20, H7268-69
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To amend title 44, United 
States Code, to require each agency to include contact information for 
the agency in its collection of information.''.
Page H7268
  Apologizing for the enslavement and racial segregation of African-
Americans: H. Res. 194, amended, to apologize for the enslavement and 
racial segregation of African-Americans;
  Pages H7224-27, H7267
  Amending title 18, United States Code, to prohibit operation by any 
means or embarking in any submersible or semi-submersible vessel that 
is without nationality and that is navigating or has navigated into, 
through or from waters beyond the outer limit of the territorial sea of 
a single country or a lateral limit of that country's territorial sea 
with an adjacent country: H.R. 6295, amended, to amend title 18, United 
States Code, to prohibit operation by any means or embarking in any 
submersible or semi-submersible vessel that is without nationality and 
that is navigating or has navigated into, through or from waters beyond 
the outer limit of the territorial sea of a single country or a lateral 
limit of that country's territorial sea with an adjacent country; 
                                                         Pages H7237-40
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``To enhance drug 
trafficking interdiction by creating a Federal felony relating to 
operating or embarking in a submersible or semi-submersible vessel 
without nationality and on an international voyage.''.
Page H7240
  Amending title 38, United States Code, to establish an Ombudsman 
within the Department of Veterans Affairs: H.R. 2192, amended, to amend 
title 38, United States Code, to establish an Ombudsman within the 
Department of Veterans Affairs, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 398 yeas 
with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 536;
  Pages H7244-45, H7269
  Congratulating University of Florida Quarterback Timothy ``Tim'' 
Tebow for winning the Heisman Trophy and honoring both his athletic and 
academic achievements: H. Res. 901, to congratulate University of 
Florida Quarterback Timothy ``Tim'' Tebow for winning the Heisman 
Trophy and honoring both his athletic and academic achievements; 
                                                         Pages H7265-67
  Establishing an earned import allowance program under Public Law 109-
53: H.R. 6560, amended, to establish an earned import allowance program 
under Public Law 109-53; and
  Pages H7272-76
  Hubbard Act: H.R. 6580, to ensure the fair treatment of a member of 
the Armed Forces who is discharged from the Armed Forces, at the 
request of the member, pursuant to the Department of Defense policy 
permitting the early discharge of a member who is the only surviving 
child in a family in which the father or mother, or one or more 
siblings, served in the Armed Forces and, because of hazards incident 
to such service, was killed, died as a result of wounds, accident, or 
disease, is in a captured or missing in action status, or is 
permanently disabled and to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 
repeal the dollar limitation on contributions to funeral trusts. 
                                                         Pages H7276-80
College Opportunity and Affordability Act of 2008--Motion to go to 
Conference: The House disagreed to the amendment of the Senate to H.R. 
4137, to amend and extend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and agreed 
to a conference.
  Page H7269
  Later, the Chair appointed the following Members of the House to the 
conference committee on the bill: from the Committee on Education and 
Labor, for consideration of the House bill and the Senate amendment, 
and modifications committed to conference: Representatives George 
Miller (CA), Hinojosa, Tierney, Wu, Bishop (NY), Altmire, Yarmuth, 
Courtney, Andrews, Scott (VA), Davis (CA), Davis (IL), Hirono, Keller 
(FL), Petri, McMorris Rodgers, Foxx, Kuhl (NY), Walberg, Castle, 
Souder, Ehlers, Biggert, and McKeon.
Page H7280
  From the Committee on the Judiciary, for consideration of secs. 951 
and 952 of the House bill, and secs. 951 and 952 of the Senate 
amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives 
Conyers, Waters, and Gohmert.
Page H7280
  From the Committee on Science and Technology, for consideration of 
secs. 961 and 962 of the House bill, and sec. 804 of the Senate 
amendment, and modifications committed to conference: Representatives 
Gordon (TN), Baird, and Neugebauer.
Page H7280
Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed: The House debated the following 
measures under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were 
postponed:

[[Page D975]]

  Department of Homeland Security Component Privacy Officer Act of 
2008: H.R. 5170, amended, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
provide for a privacy official within each component of the Department 
of Homeland Security;
  Pages H7175-76
  Homeland Security Network Defense and Accountability Act of 2008: 
H.R. 5983, amended, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
enhance the information security of the Department of Homeland 
Security;
  Pages H7176-80
  Next Generation Radiation Screening Act of 2008: H.R. 5531, amended, 
to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to clarify criteria for 
certification relating to advanced spectroscopic portal monitors; 
                                                         Pages H7180-82
  Reducing Over-Classification Act of 2008: H.R. 4806, amended, to 
require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop a strategy to 
prevent the over-classification of homeland security and other 
information and to promote the sharing of unclassified homeland 
security and other information;
  Pages H7186-89
  Improving Public Access to Documents Act of 2008: H.R. 6193, amended, 
to require the Secretary of Homeland Security to develop and administer 
policies, procedures, and programs to promote the implementation of the 
Controlled Unclassified Information Framework applicable to 
unclassified information that is homeland security information, 
terrorism information, weapons of mass destruction information and 
other information within the scope of the information sharing 
environment established under section 1016 of the Intelligence Reform 
and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 (6 U.S.C. 485);
  Pages H7186-89
  Homeland Security Open Source Information Enhancement Act of 2008: 
H.R. 3815, amended, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to 
require the Secretary of Homeland Security to make full and efficient 
use of open source information to develop and disseminate open source 
homeland security information products;
  Pages H7189-91
  Reducing Information Control Designations Act: H.R. 6576, amended, to 
require the Archivist of the United States to promulgate regulations 
regarding the use of information control designations;
  Pages H7214-18
  Providing that Federal employees receiving their pay by electronic 
funds transfer shall be given the option of receiving their pay stubs 
electronically: H.R. 6073, to provide that Federal employees receiving 
their pay by electronic funds transfer shall be given the option of 
receiving their pay stubs electronically;
  Page H7218
  Supporting the goals and ideals of the Apple Crunch and the Nation's 
domestic apple industry: H. Res. 1143, to support the goals and ideals 
of the Apple Crunch and the Nation's domestic apple industry; 
                                                         Pages H7220-21
  Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office Building Designation 
Act: H.R. 6208, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 1100 Town and Country Commons in Chesterfield, 
Missouri, as the ``Lance Corporal Matthew P. Pathenos Post Office 
Building'';
  Pages H7221-22
  Corporal Alfred Mac Wilson Post Office Designation Act: H.R. 6437, to 
designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 
200 North Texas Avenue in Odessa, Texas, as the ``Corporal Alfred Mac 
Wilson Post Office'';
  Pages H7222-24
  Recognizing the significance of the 20th anniversary of the signing 
of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 by President Ronald Reagan and the 
greatness of America in her ability to admit and remedy past mistakes: 
H. Res. 1357, amended, to recognize the significance of the 20th 
anniversary of the signing of the Civil Liberties Act of 1988 by 
President Ronald Reagan and the greatness of America in her ability to 
admit and remedy past mistakes;
  Pages H7227-31
  Authorizing funding for the National Advocacy Center: H.R. 6083, 
amended, to authorize funding for the National Advocacy Center; 
                                                         Pages H7232-33
  Amending title 35, United States Code, and the Trademark Act of 1946 
to provide that the Secretary of Commerce, in consultation with the 
Director of the United States Patent and Trademark Office, shall 
appoint administrative patent judges and administrative trademark 
judges: S. 3295, to amend title 35, United States Code, and the 
Trademark Act of 1946 to provide that the Secretary of Commerce, in 
consultation with the Director of the United States Patent and 
Trademark Office, shall appoint administrative patent judges and 
administrative trademark judges;
  Pages H7233-35
  Requesting that the President focus appropriate attention on 
neighborhood crime prevention and community policing, and coordinate 
certain Federal efforts to participate in National Night Out, which 
occurs the first Tuesday of August each year, including by supporting 
local efforts and community watch groups and by supporting local 
officials, to promote community safety and help provide homeland 
security: H. Res. 1324, to request that

[[Page D976]]

the President focus appropriate attention on neighborhood crime 
prevention and community policing, and coordinate certain Federal 
efforts to participate in National Night Out, which occurs the first 
Tuesday of August each year, including by supporting local efforts and 
community watch groups and by supporting local officials, to promote 
community safety and help provide homeland security;
  Pages H7235-37
  United States Parole Commission Extension Act of 2008: S. 3294, to 
provide for the continued performance of the functions of the United 
States Parole Commission;
  Page H7237
  Amending title 38, United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs from collecting certain copayments from veterans who 
are catastrophically disabled: H.R. 6445, amended, to amend title 38, 
United States Code, to prohibit the Secretary of Veterans Affairs from 
collecting certain copayments from veterans who are catastrophically 
disabled;
  Pages H7240-44
  United States Olympic Committee Paralympic Program Act of 2008: H.R. 
4255, amended, to amend title 38, United States Code, to authorize the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide assistance to the Paralympic 
Program of the United States Olympic Committee;
  Pages H7246-48
  Injunctive Relief for Veterans Act of 2008: H.R. 6225, amended, to 
amend title 38, United States Code, relating to equitable relief with 
respect to a State or private employer
  Pages H7248-53
  Veteran-Owned Small Business Protection and Clarification Act of 
2008: H.R. 6221, amended, to amend title 38, United States Code, to 
require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to include in each contract 
the Secretary enters for the acquisition of goods and services a 
provision that requires the contractee to comply with the contracting 
goals and preferences for small business concerns owned or controlled 
by veterans;
  Pages H7253-55
  Amending title 38, United States Code, to repeal the provision of law 
requiring termination of the Advisory Committee on Minority Veterans as 
of December 31, 2009: H.R. 674, to amend title 38, United States Code, 
to repeal the provision of law requiring termination of the Advisory 
Committee on Minority Veterans as of December 31, 2009; 
                                                         Pages H7255-56
  Veterans Disability Benefits Claims Modernization Act of 2008: H.R. 
5892, amended, to amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the 
Secretary of Veterans Affairs to modernize the disability benefits 
claims processing system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to 
ensure the accurate and timely delivery of compensation to veterans and 
their families and survivors;
  Pages H7256-63
  Supporting the goals and ideals of National Campus Safety Awareness 
Month: H. Res. 1288, amended, to support the goals and ideals of 
National Campus Safety Awareness Month;
  Pages H7263-65
  Congratulating the University of Tennessee women's basketball team 
for winning the 2008 National Collegiate Athletic Association Division 
I Women's Basketball Championship: H. Res. 1151, to congratulate the 
University of Tennessee women's basketball team for winning the 2008 
National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Women's Basketball 
Championship;
  Pages H7269-71
  Recognizing the importance of connecting foster youth to the 
workforce through internship programs, and encouraging employers to 
increase employment of former foster youth: H. Res. 1332, to recognize 
the importance of connecting foster youth to the workforce through 
internship programs, and to encourage employers to increase employment 
of former foster youth; and
  Pages H7271-72
  Lead-Safe Housing for Kids Act of 2008: H.R. 6309, amended, to amend 
the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 to define 
environmental intervention blood lead level and establish additional 
requirements for certain lead hazard screens.
  Pages H7280-81
Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he 
reported that he has issued an Executive Order expanding the scope of 
the national emergency declared with respect to Zimbabwe--referred to 
the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered printed (H. Doc. 110-138).
                                                             Page H7173
Senate Messages: Messages received from the Senate and messages 
received from the Senate by the Clerk and subsequently presented to the 
House today appear on pages H7172 and H7248.
Senate Referrals: S. 3352 was held at the desk.
Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
pages H7309-30.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes developed during the 
proceedings of today and appear on pages H7267-68, H7268, and H7269. 
There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at 11:10 p.m.