[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 101 (Wednesday, July 8, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D801-D804]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 15 public bills, H.R. 3122-
3136; and 7 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 161-163, and H. Res. 615-16, 619-
620, were introduced.                                    
  Pages H7836-37
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H7837-38
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H. Res. 617, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 3081) 
making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, 
and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010 (H. 
Rept. 111-193) and
  H. Res. 618, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2701) to 
authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2010 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. 111-194).         
Page H7836
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the Guest Chaplain, Reverend 
Alberto Delgado, Alfa and Omega Church, Miami, Florida.      
  Page H7743
Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by a 
recorded vote of 237 ayes to 184 noes with 1 voting ``present'', Roll 
No. 487.                                             
  Pages H7743, H7781
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measures which were debated on Tuesday, July 
7th:
  Utah Recreational Land Exchange Act of 2009: H.R. 1275, amended, to 
direct the exchange of certain land in Grand, San Juan, and Uintah 
Counties, Utah, by a 2/3 recorded vote of 423 ayes with none voting 
``no'', Roll No. 481;                                        
  Page H7756
  Tule River Tribe Water Development Act: H.R. 1945, to require the 
Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility and 
suitability of constructing a storage reservoir, outlet works, and a 
delivery system for the Tule River Indian Tribe of the Tule River 
Reservation in the State of California to provide a water supply for 
domestic, municipal, industrial, and agricultural purposes, by a 2/3 
recorded vote of 417 ayes to 3 noes, Roll No. 482; and   
  Pages H7756-57
  Supporting National Men's Health Week: H. Con. Res. 142, to support 
National Men's Health Week, by a 2/3 recorded vote of 417 ayes to 3 
noes, Roll No. 495.                                      
  Pages H7798-99
Enhancing Small Business Research and Innovation Act of 2009: The House 
passed H.R. 2965, to amend the Small Business Act with respect to the 
Small Business Innovation Research Program and the Small Business 
Technology Transfer Program, by a recorded vote of 386 ayes to 41 noes, 
Roll No. 486.                                            
  Pages H7757-81

[[Page D802]]


  Agreed to table the appeal of the ruling of the chair on a point of order 
sustained against the Simpson motion to recommit the bill to the Committee 
on Small Business with instructions to report the same back to the House 
forthwith with instructions, by a recorded vote of 246 ayes to 181 noes, 
Roll No. 485.                                                 
Pages H7779-80
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Small Business now printed in the bill shall 
be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 5-
minute rule, in lieu of the amendment recommended by the Committee on 
Science and Technology now printed in the bill.                   
Page H7763
  Agreed to the committee amendment in the nature of a substitute by a 
recorded vote of 411 ayes to 15 noes, Roll No. 484.           
Pages H7778-79
  Agreed to: Velazquez manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 111-
192), as modified, that authorizes the Small Business Administration to 
establish a program to provide matching grants to minority serving 
educational institutions to develop programs that encourage minority 
participation in SBIR/STTR programs; gives priority to applications from 
companies located in areas that have lost a major source of employment; 
increases the maximum allowable award under Phase I of the SBIR program with 
respect to applications by veteran owned and controlled small businesses, 
increases the maximum allowable award under Phase II of the SBIR program 
with respect to applications by veteran owned and controlled small 
businesses, and permits small business concerns owned and controlled by 
veterans to bypass Phase I and apply directly for Phase II awards; adds 
language to require agencies to report specific reasons why those agency 
SBIR/STTR goals were or were not achieved; provides special consideration in 
the awarding of SBIR funds to projects which address renewable energy 
technologies; requires that veterans be given priority when applying for 
SBIR and STTR awards; requires the Department of Agriculture and the 
Environmental Protection Agency to develop a SBIR solicitation that requests 
research proposals for improving the efficiency of water delivery systems 
and usage patterns in the U.S. and its territories; expands outreach and 
support activities to Native American-owned small businesses; prioritizes 
SBIR outreach and support activities for areas with high unemployment and 
gives preference to SBIR and STTR award applications submitted by small 
businesses located in areas with high unemployment; and makes technical 
corrections to the legislation;                               
Pages H7771-73
  Brown-Waite (FL) amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 111-192) that 
requires GAO to examine and report to Congress on the effect that the 
venture capital ownership restrictions in Section 102 (venture capital 
operating companies investment in small businesses) have on eligibility and 
participation under this act;                                 
Pages H7773-74
  Reichert amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 111-192), as modified, that 
gives preference to organizations that are located in under represented 
states and regions, or are women-, service-disabled-veterans- or minority-
owned when awarding grants for Small Business Administration (SBA) outreach 
efforts authorized under Title III (rural development and outreach); 
                                                              Pages H7775-76
  Paulsen amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 111-192) that adds medical 
technology to the list of topics that deserve special consideration as SBIR 
research topics; and                                          
Pages H7776-77
  Kosmas amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 111-192), as modified, that 
requires commercialization programs established by agencies with space 
shuttle-related activities to include efforts to help small businesses 
affected by the termination of the space shuttle program commercialize 
technologies through SBIR (by a recorded vote of 427 ayes to 4 noes, Roll 
No. 483).                                           
Pages H7774-75, H7777-78
  H. Res. 610, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed 
to by a yea-and-nay vote of 236 yeas to 187 nays, Roll No. 480, after the 
previous question was ordered without objection.              
Pages H7747-56
Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of the 
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 the 
armed forces and their families.                                  
  Page H7781
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Westmoreland motion to adjourn by a recorded 
vote of 36 ayes to 364 noes, Roll No. 488.                    
  Pages H7781-82
Privileged Resolution--Intent to Offer: Representative Price (GA) announced 
his intent to offer a privileged resolution.                  
  Pages H7782-83
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Foxx motion to adjourn by a yea-and-nay vote 
of 35 yeas to 368 nays, Roll No. 490.                         
  Pages H7792-93
Motion to Adjourn: Rejected the Mica motion to adjourn by a recorded vote of 
41 ayes to 369 noes, Roll No. 496.                                
  Page H7799
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related 
Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010: The House began consideration of H.R. 
2997, making appropriations for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and 
Drug Administration, and Related Agencies programs for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2010. Consideration is expected to resume tomorrow, 
July 9th.                                                  
  Pages H7799-H7828
  Agreed to:
  Fortenberry amendment (No. 5 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-191) that 
increases funding for Rural Energy for America by $2 million, offset by a $2 
million reduction for the Office of the Chief Information Officer and 
                                                              Pages H7807-08

[[Page D803]]


  Garrett (NJ) amendment (No. 6 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-191) that 
increases funding for the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) 
Conservation Operation Account by $5,000,000 and offsets the increase by 
decreasing funding for Farm Service Agency (FSA) Salaries and Expenses by 
the same amount.                                                  
                                                                  Page H7811
  Proceedings Postponed:
  DeLauro manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in part A of H. Rept. 111-191) 
that seeks to increase funding for the Agricultural Research Service 
salaries and expenses account by $2 million to go toward Colony Collapse 
Disorder and pollinator decline research, offset by a $1 million reduction 
in the Office of the Chief Information Officer and a $1 million reduction in 
Departmental Administration. Would increase funding for the National 
Institute of Food and Agriculture competitive grants by $3,000,000 to be 
used for Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD) and pollinator decline research, and 
offsets the increase by a reduction in funding for the Departmental 
Administration. Seeks to increase funding for the Office of Inspector 
General at USDA by $500,000 to determine whether the USDA Organic 
certification program ensures that the most rigorous standards for 
certification are honored, and to investigate whether non-organic substances 
inappropriately remain allowed in small amounts in USDA certified products 
after organic alternatives have been discovered. The increase is offset by a 
decrease of the same amount in funding for the Agriculture Buildings and 
Facilities, General Services Administration account. Seeks to increase the 
appropriation for the Higher Education Multicultural Scholars Program by 
$519,000 to a total of $1.5 million. The amount would be offset by 
decreasing appropriations for ``administrative expenses necessary to carry 
out direct and guaranteed loan programs'' within the Agricultural Credit 
Insurance Fund Program Account. Seeks to appropriate tobacco product user 
fees authorized under the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act 
(Public Law 111-31). Seeks to fund the Methamphetamine Inhibitor Grant 
Program created in the 2008 Farm Bill at $2,000,000. Offsets the increase in 
spending by reducing spending on Rural Development Salaries and Expenses. 
Seeks to prohibit the use of funds for first class travel for employees of 
agencies funded by the bill, in contravention of Federal regulations; 
                                                               Page H7805-06
  Brady (TX) amendment (No. 2 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-191) that 
seeks to transfer $50,000 from the Chief Economist to the Economic Research 
Service;                                                      
                                                              Pages H7806-07
  Capito amendment (No. 4 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-191) that seeks 
to transfer $10,038,000 in the bill from the USDA Office of the Chief 
Information Officer (OCIO) to the Rural Utilities Service Rural Water and 
Waste Disposal Program (restoring the latter to FY09 appropriation levels); 
                                                                  Page H7807
  Broun (GA) amendment (No. 3 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-191) that 
seeks to reduce FDA funding by $373 million to equal the FY09 level; 
                                                              Pages H7815-17
  Blackburn amendment (No. 1 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-191) that 
seeks to make an across-the-board cut of 5 percent to all discretionary 
funding accounts in the bill;                                 
                                                              Pages H7819-20
  Hensarling amendment (No. 6 printed in part E of H. Rept. 111-191) that 
seeks to prohibit certain funds in the bill from being used for the National 
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy project, Kiski Basin, PA and seeks to 
reduce funds under the heading ``Agricultural Research Service--Salaries and 
Expenses'' by the amount that was to have been spent on the National 
Biodiversity Conservation Strategy project, Kiski Basin, PA; 
                                                              Pages H7820-21
  Campbell amendment (No. 2 printed in part C of H. Rept. 111-191) that 
seeks to prohibit certain funds in the bill from being used for Specialty 
Crops in Indiana and to reduce funds under the heading ``National Institute 
of Food and Agriculture--Research and Education Activities'' by the amount 
that was to have been spent on Specialty Crops in Indiana;    
                                                              Pages H7821-22
  Flake amendment (No. 9 printed in part D of H. Rept. 111-191) that seeks 
to prohibit certain funds in the bill from being used for the Foundry Sand 
By-Products Utilization project in Beltsville, MD and to reduce funds under 
the heading ``Agricultural Research Service--Salaries and Expenses'' by the 
amount that was to have been spent on the Foundry Sand By-Products 
Utilization project in Beltsville, MD;                        
                                                              Pages H7822-23
  Flake amendment (No. 4 printed in part D of H. Rept. 111-191) that seeks 
to prohibit certain funds in the bill from being used for the Agriculture 
Energy Innovation Center in Georgia and to reduce funds under the heading 
``National Institute of Food and Agriculture--Research and Education 
Activities'' by the amount that was to have been spent on the Agriculture 
Energy Innovation Center in Georgia;                          
                                                              Pages H7824-25
  Flake amendment (No. 12 printed in part D of H. Rept. 111-191) that seeks 
to prohibit certain funds in the bill from being used for Potato Research in 
Idaho, Oregon and Washington and to reduce funds under the heading 
``National Institute of Food and Agriculture--Research and Education 
Activities'' by the amount that was to have been spent on Potato Research in 
Idaho, Oregon and Washington; and                             
                                                              Pages H7825-26
  Kingston amendment (No. 7 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-191) that 
seeks to prohibit funds from being used to administer or pay the salary of 
personnel who administer any broadband loans or loan guarantees on or before 
September 15, 2010.                                           
                                                              Pages H7826-28
  H. Res. 609, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was agreed 
to by a yea-and-nay vote of

[[Page D804]]

238 yeas to 186 nays, Roll No. 493, and the Mica motion to reconsider the 
vote was rejected by a recorded vote of 170 ayes to 254 noes, Roll No. 494. 
Earlier, agreed to order the previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 239 
yeas to 183 nays, Roll No. 491, and rejected the Mica motion to reconsider 
the vote by a recorded vote of 175 ayes to 251 noes, Roll No. 492. 
                                                              Pages H7783-98
  A point of order was raised against the consideration of H. Res. 609 and 
it was agreed to proceed with consideration of the resolution by a yea-and-
nay vote of 244 yeas to 185 nays, Roll No. 489.               
                                                              Pages H7784-86
House of Representatives Page Board--Appointment: The Chair announced the 
Speaker's appointment of Representatives Kildee and DeGette to the House of 
Representatives Page Board.                                       
  Page H7828
House of Representatives Page Board--Appointment: Read a letter from the 
Minority Leader wherein he reappointed Representatives Bishop (UT) and Foxx 
to the House of Representatives Page Board.                       
  Page H7828
House of Representatives Page Board--Appointment: The Chair announced the 
Speaker's and Minority Leader's joint reappointment of the following 
individuals to the House of Representatives Page Board for a term of one 
year, effective July 8, 2009: Ms. Lynn Silversmith Klein of Maryland and Mr. 
Adam Jones of Michigan.                                           
  Page H7828
Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes and 12 recorded votes developed 
during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H7755-56, H7756, H7757, 
H7777-78, H7778-79, H7779-80, H7780-81, H7781, H7781-82, H7785-86, H7792-93, 
H7795, H7796, H7797, and H7797-98. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 11:28 p.m.