[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1178-D1180]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
ADVANCES IN ANIMAL HEALTH WITHIN THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry 
held a hearing to review advances in animal health within the livestock 
industry. Testimony was heard from John Clifford, D.V.M., Deputy 
Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA; 
Bernadette Dunham, D.V. M., Director, Center for Veterinary Medicine, 
FDA, Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
BUDGET REFORM PROPOSALS FOR THE 111TH CONGRESS
Committee on the Budget: Held a hearing on Budget Reform Proposals for 
the 111th Congress. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
SAFEGUARDING RETIREE BENEFITS
Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing on Safeguarding 
Retiree Benefits. Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
CONTINUING SECURITY CONCERNS AT DOE'S NATIONAL LABS
Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and 
Investigations held a hearing to Review of Continuing Security Concerns 
at DOE's National Labs. Testimony was heard from the following 
officials of the Department of Energy: Glenn S.

[[Page D1179]]

Podonsky, Chief Health, Safety and Security Officer, Office of Health, 
Safety and Security; Gregory H. Friedman, Inspector General; Linda 
Wilbanks, Chief Information Officer, National Nuclear Security 
Administration; Thomas N. Pyke, Jr., Chief Information Officer; Bradley 
A. Peterson, Chief and Associate Administrator, Defense Nuclear 
Security, National Nuclear Security Administration; and Stanley J. 
Borgia, Deputy Director, Counterintelligence, Office of Intelligence 
and Counterintelligence; Gregory C. Wilshusen, Director, Information 
Security Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
OVERSIGHT
Committee on Financial Services: Held an oversight hearing to Examine 
Recent Treasury and FHFA Actions Regarding the Housing GSE's. Testimony 
was heard from James B. Lockart III, Director Federal Housing Finance 
Agency, Department of Housing and Urban Development; Herbert M. 
Allison, Jr., President and CEO; Fannie Mae; and David M. Moffett, CEO, 
Freddie Mac.
INTERIM AUTHORITY RESOLUTION AND REGULATIONS GOVERNING MASS MAILING AND 
MASS COMMUNICATIONS
Committee on House Administration: Committee passed an Interim 
Authority Committee resolution and amendments to Committee Regulations 
governing Mass Mailing and Mass Communications.
ENSURING THE RIGHT OF COLLEGE STUDENTS TO VOTE
Committee on House Administration: held a hearing on Ensuring the 
Rights of College Students to Vote. Testimony was heard from 
Representative Schakowsky; Sheri Iachetta, Registrar, City of 
Charlottesville, Virginia; Neil Albrecht, Assistant Director, City of 
Milwaukee Election Commission, State of Wisconsin; and public 
witnesses.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Water and Power held a 
hearing on the following legislation: H.R. 883, Oglala Sioux Tribe 
Angostura Irrigation Project Modernization and Development Act; H.R. 
6754, White Mountain Apache Tribe Rural Water System Loan Authorization 
Act; H.R. 6768, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior, acting 
through the Commissioner of Reclamation, to develop water 
infrastructure in the Rio Grande Basin, and to approve the settlement 
of the water rights claims of the Pueblos of Nambe, Pojoaque, San 
Ildefonso, Tesuque, and Taos; and H.R. 6992, Reclamation Title Transfer 
Act of 2008. Testimony was heard from the following officials of the 
Department of the Interior: Kris Polly, Deputy Assistant Secretary, 
Water and Science; and Michael Bogert, Counselor to the Secretary; and 
public witness.
TUMORS AND CELL PHONE USE
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on Domestic 
Policy held a hearing on Tumors and Cell Phone use: What the Science 
says. Testimony was heard from Julius Knapp, Director, Office of 
Engineering and Technology, FCC; Robert N. Hoover, M.D., Director, 
Epidemiology and Biostatistics Program, National Cancer Institute, NIH, 
Department of Health and Human Services; and public witnesses.
RENEWABLE ENERGY AND JOB CREATION TAX ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a non-record vote, a rule providing for 
consideration of H.R. 7060, the ``Renewable Energy and Job Creation Tax 
Act of 2008.'' The rule provides 1 hour of debate equally divided and 
controlled by the chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee 
on Ways and Means.
  The rule waives all points of order against consideration of the bill 
except those arising under clause 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides 
that the bill shall be considered as read. The rule waives all points 
of order against the bill.
  The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, 
the Chair may postpone further consideration until a time designated by 
the Speaker. Finally, the rule lays on the table House Resolution 1489. 
Testimony was heard from Representative Blumenauer.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS THE ``RENEWABLE ENERGY AND JOB CREATION TAX ACT OF 
2008.''
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a record vote of 8 to 3, a rule 
providing for consideration of H.R. 7060, the ``Renewable Energy and 
Job Creation Tax Act of 2008.'' The rule provides one hour of debate 
equally divided and controlled by the chairman and ranking minority 
member of the Committee on Ways and Means. The rule waives all points 
of order against consideration of the bill except those arising under 
clause 10 of rule XXI. The rule provides that the bill shall be 
considered as read. The rule waives all points of order against the 
bill. The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. Notwithstanding the operation of the previous question, 
the Chair may postpone further consideration until a time designated by 
the Speaker. Finally, the rule lays on the table House Resolutions 1489 
and 1501.

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PROVIDING FOR CONSIDERATION OF MOTIONS TO SUSPEND THE RULES
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a non-record vote, a rule authorizing 
the Speaker to entertain motions that the House suspend the rules at 
any time through the calendar day of September 28, 2008. The Speaker or 
her designee shall consult with the Minority Leader or his designee on 
the designation of any matter for consideration pursuant to this rule.
WAIVING A REQUIREMENT OF CLAUSE 6(a) OF RULE XIII WITH RESPECT TO 
CONSIDERATION OF CERTAIN RESOLUTIONS REPORTED FROM THE COMMITTEE ON 
RULES
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a non-record vote, a rule waiving 
clause 6(a) of rule XIII (requiring a two-thirds vote to consider a 
rule on the same day it is reported from the Rules Committee) against 
certain resolutions reported from the Rules Committee. The rule applies 
the waiver to any resolution reported on the legislative day of 
September 26, 2008, providing for consideration or disposition of a 
measure making supplemental appropriations for job creation and 
preservation, infrastructure investment, and economic and energy 
assistance for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other 
purposes.
SMALL BUSINESS COMPETITION POLICY
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing on Small Business 
Competition Policy: Are Markets Open for Entrepreneurs? Testimony was 
heard from William E. Kovacic, Chairman, FTC; and public witnesses.
RUNWAY SAFETY: AN UPDATE
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Aviation held a hearing on Runway Safety: An Update. Testimony was 
heard from Hank Krakowshi, Chief Operating Officer, Air Traffic 
Organization, FAA, Department of Transportation; Gerald Dillingham, 
Director, Physical Infrastructure Issues, GAO; and public witnesses.
COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in open and executive 
sessions to consider pending business.
BRIEFING ON HOT SPOTS
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Subcommittee on Terrorism, 
Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence met in executive 
session to receive a briefing on Hot Spots. The Subcommittee was 
briefed by departmental witnesses.
FUTURE OF LIHEAP FUNDING
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming: Held a 
hearing on The Future of LIHEAP Funding: Will Families Get The Cold 
Shoulder this Winter? Testimony was heard from Howard Gruenspecht, 
Acting Administrator, Energy Information Administration, Department of 
Energy; Deval Patrick, Governor, State of Massachusetts; and public 
witnesses.
FINAL REPORT--SELECT COMMITTEE TO INVESTIGATE VOTING IRREGULARITIES OF 
AUGUST 2, 2007
Select Committee To Investigate the Voting Irregularities of August 2, 
2007: The Select Committee approved the Final Report and Summary of 
Activities of the Select Committee.

Joint Meetings
AMERICAN FAMILIES LIVING IN POVERTY
Joint Economic Committee: Committee concluded a hearing to examine ways 
to reduce the number of American families living in poverty, after 
receiving testimony from Mayor David N. Cicilline, Providence, Rhode 
Island; Rebecca M. Blank, Brookings Institution, and Robert Rector, 
Heritage Foundation Domestic Policy Studies, both of Washington, D.C.; 
Angela Glover Blackwell, PolicyLink, Oakland, California; and John W. 
Edwards, Jr., Community Action Partnership, Inc., Jacksonville, 
Florida, on behalf of the Northeast Florida Community Action Agency, 
Inc.