[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 9, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1052-D1054]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 12 public bills, H.R. 6842-
6853; and 4 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 409; and H. Res. 1420-1422 were 
introduced.
  Page H7955
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H7955-56
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  Supplemental report on H.R. 6322, to amend the District of Columbia 
School Reform Act of 1995 to permit the District of Columbia government 
to exercise authority over the Public Charter School Board in the same 
manner as the District government may exercise authority over other 
entities of the District government (H. Rept. 110-782, Pt. 2);
  H.R. 6608, to provide for the replacement of lost income for 
employees of the House of Representatives who are members of a reserve 
component of the armed forces who are on active duty for a period of 
more than 30 days (H. Rept. 110-832, Pt. 1);
  H.R. 6630, to prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting 
authority to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond 
United States municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-
Mexico border unless expressly authorized by Congress (H. Rept. 110-
833);
  H. Res. 1419, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3667) to 
amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the 
Missisquoi and Trout Rivers in the State of Vermont for study for 
potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System (H. 
Rept. 110-834);
  H.R. 6308, to ensure uniform and accurate credit rating of municipal 
bonds and provide for a review of the municipal bond insurance 
industry, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-835); and
  H.R. 4081, to prevent tobacco smuggling and to ensure the collection 
of all tobacco taxes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 110-836). 
                                                         Pages H7954-55
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed 
Representative Serrano to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H7857
Recess: The House recessed at 11:13 a.m. and reconvened at 12 p.m. 
                                                             Page H7861
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest Chaplain, the Most 
Reverend James A. Tamayo, Bishop of the Diocese of Laredo, Texas. 
                                                             Page H7861
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measures:
  Recognizing that we are facing a global food crisis: H. Con. Res. 
344, amended, to recognize that we are facing a global food crisis, by 
a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 404 yeas to 1 nay with 4 voting ``present'', 
Roll No. 570;
  Pages H7866-69, H7893-94

[[Page D1053]]


  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``Recognizing the 
disproportionate impact of the global food crisis on children in the 
developing world.''.
Page H7894
  Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the 
emergency communications services provided by the American Red Cross 
are vital resources for military service members and their families: H. 
Res. 937, amended, to express the sense of the House of Representatives 
that the emergency communications services provided by the American Red 
Cross are vital resources for military service members and their 
families, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 411 yeas with none voting 
``nay'', Roll No. 571;
  Pages H7869-70, H7894-95
  Condemning the use of television programming by Hamas to indoctrinate 
hatred, violence, and anti-Semitism toward Israel in young Palestinian 
children: H. Res. 1069, amended, to condemn the use of television 
programming by Hamas to indoctrinate hatred, violence, and anti-
Semitism toward Israel in young Palestinian children, by a 2/3 yea-and-
nay vote of 409 yeas to 1 nay, Roll No. 572;
  Pages H7870-74, H7895-96
  Agreed to amend the title so as to read: ``Condemning the 
broadcasting of incitement to violence against Americans and the United 
States in media based in the Middle East, calling for the designation 
of al-Aqsa TV as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist entity, and 
for other purposes.''.
Page H7896
  Recognizing the historical significance of the United States sloop-
of-war Constellation as a surviving witness to the horrors of the 
Transatlantic Slave Trade and a leading participant in America's effort 
to end the practice: H. Res. 1159, to recognize the historical 
significance of the United States sloop-of-war Constellation as a 
surviving witness to the horrors of the Transatlantic Slave Trade and a 
leading participant in America's effort to end the practice; 
                                                         Pages H7874-76
  Supporting the values and goals of the ``Joint Action Plan Between 
the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government 
of the United States of America to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic 
Discrimination and Promote Equality'', signed by Secretary of State 
Condoleezza Rice and Brazilian Minister of Racial Integration Edson 
Santos on March 13, 2008: H. Res. 1254, amended, to support the values 
and goals of the ``Joint Action Plan Between the Government of the 
Federative Republic of Brazil and the Government of the United States 
of America to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Discrimination and Promote 
Equality'', signed by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Brazilian 
Minister of Racial Integration Edson Santos on March 13, 2008; 
                                                         Pages H7876-78
  Recognizing the 100th anniversary of the independence of Bulgaria: H. 
Res. 1383, amended, to recognize the 100th anniversary of the 
independence of Bulgaria;
  Pages H7878-79
  Commemorating the Kingdom of Bhutan's participation in the 2008 
Smithsonian Folklife Festival and commending the people and the 
Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan for their commitment to holding 
elections and broadening political participation: H. Res. 1307, 
amended, to commemorate the Kingdom of Bhutan's participation in the 
2008 Smithsonian Folklife Festival and to commend the people and the 
Government of the Kingdom of Bhutan for their commitment to holding 
elections and broadening political participation, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay 
vote of 395 yeas to 15 nays, Roll No. 573;
  Pages H7879-81, H7928
  Government Accountability Office Act of 2008: Agreed to the Senate 
amendment to H.R. 5683, to make certain reforms with respect to the 
Government Accountability Office--clearing the measure for the 
President;
  Pages H7881-84
  Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver Post Office Building Designation Act: 
H.R. 6168, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 112 South 5th Street in Saint Charles, Missouri, as 
the ``Lance Corporal Drew W. Weaver Post Office Building'', by a 2/3 
yea-and-nay vote of 403 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 574; 
                                               Pages H7884-85, H7928-29
  Over-Classification Reduction Act: H.R. 6575, amended, to require the 
Archivist of the United States to promulgate regulations to prevent the 
over-classification of information; and
  Pages H7886-88
  Prohibiting the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority 
to a motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States 
municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border 
unless expressly authorized by Congress: H.R. 6630, amended, to 
prohibit the Secretary of Transportation from granting authority to a 
motor carrier domiciled in Mexico to operate beyond United States 
municipalities and commercial zones on the United States-Mexico border 
unless expressly authorized by Congress, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 
395 yeas to 18 nays, Roll No. 575.
  Pages H7913-18, H7929-30
Supplemental Report: Agreed that the Committee on Oversight and 
Government Reform be permitted to file a supplemental report on H.R. 
6322, to amend the District of Columbia School Reform Act

[[Page D1054]]

of 1995 to permit the District of Columbia government to exercise 
authority over the Public Charter School Board in the same manner as 
the District government may exercise authority over other entities of 
the District government.
  Page H7881
Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of 
our brave men and women in uniform who have given their lives in the 
service of our nation in Iraq and Afghanistan, their families, and all 
who serve in our armed forces.
  Page H7894
Suspensions--Proceedings Postponed: The House debated the following 
measures under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were 
postponed:
  Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building Designation Act: 
H.R. 6169, to designate the facility of the United States Postal 
Service located at 15455 Manchester Road in Ballwin, Missouri, as the 
``Specialist Peter J. Navarro Post Office Building'';
  Pages H7885-86
  Securities Act of 2008: H.R. 6513, amended, to amend the Federal 
securities laws to enhance the effectiveness of the Securities and 
Exchange Commission's enforcement, corporation finance, trading and 
markets, investment management, and examination programs; 
                                                         Pages H7888-93
  Directing the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of 
Representatives to provide individuals whose pay is disbursed by the 
Chief Administrative Officer by electronic funds transfer with the 
option of receiving receipts of pay and withholdings electronically: H. 
Res. 1207, amended, to direct the Chief Administrative Officer of the 
House of Representatives to provide individuals whose pay is disbursed 
by the Chief Administrative Officer by electronic funds transfer with 
the option of receiving receipts of pay and withholdings 
electronically;
  Pages H7896-97
  House Reservists Pay Adjustment Act of 2008: H.R. 6608, to provide 
for the replacement of lost income for employees of the House of 
Representatives who are members of a reserve component of the armed 
forces who are on active duty for a period of more than 30 days; 
                                                         Pages H7897-99
  Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Act of 2008: H.R. 6475, to 
establish the Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship Program; 
                                                      Pages H7899-H7903
  Rural Veterans Access to Care Act: H.R. 1527, amended, to amend title 
38, United States Code, to allow highly rural veterans enrolled in the 
health system of the Department of Veterans Affairs to receive covered 
health services through providers other than those of the Department; 
                                                         Pages H7903-07
  Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008: S. 
2617, to amend title 38, United States Code, to codify increases in the 
rates of compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities 
and the rates of dependency and indemnity compensation for the 
survivors of certain disabled veterans that were effective as of 
December 1, 2007 and to provide for an increase in the rates of such 
compensation effective December 1, 2008;
  Pages H7907-09
  Veterans' Programs Extension and Construction Authorization Act of 
2008: H.R. 6832, to authorize major medical facility projects and major 
medical facility leases for the Department of Veterans Affairs for 
fiscal year 2009 and to extend certain authorities of the Secretary of 
Veterans Affairs; and
  Pages H7909-13
  Prevent All Cigarette Trafficking Act of 2008: H.R. 4081, amended, to 
prevent tobacco smuggling and to ensure the collection of all tobacco 
taxes.
  Pages H7918-28
Presidential Message: Read a message from the President wherein he 
transmitted a determination concerning Presidential Declaration 2008-19 
and the proposed Agreement for Cooperation Between the Government of 
the United States of America and the Government of the Russian 
Federation for Cooperation in the Field of Peaceful Uses of Nuclear 
Energy--referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and ordered 
printed (H. Doc. 110-145).
  Page H7930
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H7862.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Six yea-and-nay votes developed during the 
proceedings of today and appear on pages H7894, H7894-95, H7895-96, 
H7928, H7928-29, H7929-30. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10:30 a.m. and adjourned at 10:01 p.m.