[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 60 (Thursday, April 23, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D439-D441]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 39 public bills, H.R. 2058-
2099; and 12 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 105-108; and H. Res. 356-363 
were introduced.                                         
  Pages H4731-34
Additional Cosponsors:                                       
  Page H4734
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 1746, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and 
Emergency Assistance Act to reauthorize the pre-disaster mitigation 
program of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (H. Rept. 111-83) 
and
  H. Res. 251, directing the Secretary of the Treasury to transmit to 
the House of Representatives all information in his possession relating 
to specific communications with American International Group, Inc. 
(AIG)(H. Rept. 111-84).                                      
Page H4731
National Water Research and Development Initiative Act of 2009: The 
House passed H.R. 1145, to implement a National Water Research and 
Development Initiative, by a yea-and-nay vote of 413 yeas to 10 nays, 
Roll No. 205.                                         
  Pages H4693-H4718
  Agreed to the Nunes motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Science and Technology with instructions to report the same back to the 
House forthwith with an amendment, by a recorded vote of 392 ayes to 28 
noes, Roll No. 204. Subsequently, Representative Gordon (TN) reported 
the bill back to the House with the amendment and the amendment was 
agreed to.                                               
Pages H4715-17
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Science and Technology now printed in 
the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of 
amendment under the 5-minute rule.                           
Page H4698
Agreed to:
  Gordon (TN) amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that 
requires that the National Water Research Development Plan specified in 
the bill be revised and resubmitted to Congress every 4 years after its 
initial submission; authorizes appropriations of $2 million for each of 
fiscal years 2013 and 2014; (1) requires review of measures related to 
abating water quality impairment, (2) requires the committee to work 
with institutions of higher education, (3) requires cooperation with 
commercial end users, (4) requires relevant information be posted on a 
public website, and (5) requires research into watershed hydrology; 
requires that the plan include a focus on the (1) development of the 
effect of invasive species on water supplies, (2) development of 
technologies to treat eutrophic water bodies, (3) development of a 
program to assist state and local regions regarding land conservation, 
(4) improvement of understanding of chemical impairments to water 
supply and quality, and (5) identification of whether a need exists for 
additional water research facilities; requires the Director of the 
Office of Science and Technology Policy to write to Congress and 
evaluate the budget

[[Page D440]]

as it relates to water research; expresses the sense of Congress that 
the interagency committee should collaborate with public institutions 
of higher education; and requires the EPA to establish a pilot program 
exploring the use of energy audits of water-related infrastructure to 
identify energy and water saving opportunities;       
Pages H4699-H4703
  Hastings (WA) amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that adds 
to the water research and development plan an assessment of potential 
water storage projects that would enhance water supply, water planning, 
and other beneficial uses;                                   
Page H4704
  Cardoza amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that directs the 
Secretary of the Interior and the National Academy of Science to study 
the impact of changes to snow pack, including snow pack in the Sierra 
Nevadas, on water resources and its relation to water supply, including 
the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta;                        
Pages H4704-05
  Brown-Waite (FL) amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that 
requires agencies included in the interagency committee to work on 
improvement of understanding of water-intensive sectors of the economy 
and industrial needs for water;                              
Page H4705
  Arcuri amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that requires the 
plan to include improvement of understanding of competing water supply 
uses and how different uses interact with and impact each other; 
                                                         Pages H4705-06
  Kirk amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that adds to the 
plan a direction that agencies included in the interagency committee 
work to achieve projection of the long-term ice cover and water level 
outlook for major water bodies in the United States, including the 
Great Lakes, the potential impacts of the results of such projections 
on infrastructure, and resource management options based on such 
projections;                                             
Pages H4706-07
  Blumenauer amendment (No. 10 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that creates 
a wastewater and stormwater reuse and recycling technology 
demonstration program within the Environmental Protection Agency; 
                                                             Page H4708
  Moore (WI) amendment (No. 12 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that 
requires the interagency committee to assess the role of Federal water 
research funding in helping to develop the next generation of 
scientists and engineers at institutions of higher education; 
                                                         Pages H4711-12
  Kosmas amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that directs 
agencies under the interagency committee to assess the impact of 
natural disasters, such as floods, hurricanes, and tornadoes on water 
resources (by a recorded vote of 424 ayes with none voting ``no'', Roll 
No. 200); and                                  
Pages H4703-04, H4712-13
  Teague amendment (No. 8 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that requires 
that the plan's analysis of the energy required to provide reliable 
water supplies and the water required for the production of alternative 
and renewable energy resources (by a recorded vote of 423 ayes to 1 no, 
Roll No. 201).                                       
Pages H4707, H4713
Rejected:
  Roskam amendment (No. 9 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that would have 
required GAO to study whether any of the requirements of the underlying 
legislation are duplicative of existing programs. Prior to 
implementation of the bill, the President would, based upon the GAO 
report, determine whether the programs were duplicative or not. If the 
President differed in his determination from the GAO conclusions, he 
must offer a justification for his determination. The effective date 
would be delayed until the President has made that determination (by a 
recorded vote of 194 ayes to 236 noes, Roll No. 202) and   
Pages H4707, H4713-14
  Shadegg amendment (No. 11 printed in H. Rept. 111-82) that would have 
required the interagency committee to identify and recommend against 
duplication of Federal water-related research, development, and 
technological innovation activities by more than one agency or program. 
It also would have required the President to ensure that Federal 
agencies do not request appropriations for activities duplicated by 
state, local, and tribal governments (by a recorded vote of 160 ayes to 
271 noes, Roll No. 203).                       
Pages H4709-11, H4714-15
  Agreed that the Clerk be authorized to make technical and conforming 
changes to reflect the actions of the House.                 
Page H4719
  H. Res. 352, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to by voice vote after agreeing to order the previous question 
without objection.
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measures which were debated on Wednesday, April 
22nd:
  COPS Improvements Act of 2009: H.R. 1139, amended, to amend the 
Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 to enhance the COPS 
ON THE BEAT grant program, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 342 yeas to 
78 nays, Roll No. 206 and                                    
  Page H4718
  Expressing support for designation of March 22, 2009, as ``National 
Rehabilitation Counselors Appreciation Day'': H. Res. 247, to express 
support for designation of March 22, 2009, as ``National Rehabilitation 
Counselors Appreciation Day''.                               
  Page H4719

[[Page D441]]

Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to 
meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, April 27th for morning hour debate. 
                                                             Page H4720
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page 
H4695.
Senate Referrals: S. Con. Res. 18 was referred to the Committee on 
Foreign Affairs.                                             
  Page H4729
Quorum Calls--Votes: Two yea-and-nay votes and five recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H4712-13, 
H4713, H4713-14, H4714-15, H4716-17, H4717-18, H4718. There were no 
quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 4:03 p.m.