[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 153 (Wednesday, October 21, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1208-D1210]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
OVER-THE COUNTER DERIVATIVES MARKETS ACT; AND WATERSHED PROJECTS
Committee on Agriculture: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 3795, 
Over-the-Counter Derivatives Markets Act of 2009.
  The Committee also approved the Dunloup Creek Watershed of West 
Virginia and the Cape Cod Watershed of Massachusetts projects.
USDA RURAL BUSINESS PROGRAMS
Committee on Agriculture: Subcommittee on Rural Development, 
Biotechnology, Specialty Crops and Foreign Agriculture held a hearing 
to examine U.S. Department of Agriculture rural business programs, 
conditions for rural entrepreneurship and business development. 
Testimony was heard from Judy Canales, Administrator, Rural Business 
and Cooperative Program, USDA; and public witnesses..
MILITARY REDEPLOYMENT FROM IRAQ
Committee on Armed Services: Held a hearing on U.S. Military 
Redeployment from Iraq: Issues and Challenges. Testimony was heard from 
the following officials of the Department of Defense: Michele Flournoy, 
Under Secretary, Policy; Alan Estevez, Acting Deputy Under Secretary, 
Logistics and Materiel Readiness; LTG Kathleen Gainey, USA, Joint 
Staff. Director, Logistics (J-4); and VADM James A. Winnefeld, USN, 
Joint Staff, Director, Strategic Plans and Policy (J-5).
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Ordered reported, as amended, 
following bills: H.R. 3276, American

[[Page D1209]]

Medical Isotopes Production Act of 2009; H.R. 3258, Drinking Water 
System Security Act of 2009; H.R. 2858, Chemical Facilities Anti-
Terrorism Act of 2009; and H.R. 2190, Mercury Pollution Reduction Act.
CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION ACT OF 2009
Committee on Financial Assistance: Continued mark up of the Discussion 
Draft of the Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 2009 (to be 
reported as H.R. 3126, Consumer Financial Protection Agency Act of 
2009).
  Will continue tomorrow.
U.S. BURMA POLICY
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on U.S. Policy Toward 
Burma. Testimony was heard from Kurt M. Campbell, Assistant Secretary, 
Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Department of State; and 
public witnesses.
INTERNATIONAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Subcommittee on International 
Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight held a hearing on 
International Violence Against Women: Stories and Solutions. Testimony 
was heard from Representative Schakowsky; Melanne Verveer, Ambassador-
at-Large, Office of Global Women's Issues, Department of State; and 
public witnesses.
ELECTION REGISTRATION MODERNIZATION
Committee on House Administration: Subcommittee on Elections held a 
hearing on Modernizing the Election Registration Process. Testimony was 
heard from Todd Rokita, Secretary of State, State of Indiana; Elaine 
Manlove, Commissioner of Elections, State of Delaware; Katie Blinn, 
Assistant Director, Elections, State of Washington; and a public 
witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported the following bills: H.R. 
3596, amended, Health Insurance Industry Antitrust Enforcement Act of 
2009; H.R. 412, amended, Commission on Wartime Relocation and 
Internment of Latin Americans of Japanese Descent Act; H.R. 1425, 
amended, Wartime Treatment Study Act; and H.R. 3237, To enact certain 
laws relating to national and commercial space programs as title 51, 
United States Code, ``National and Commercial Space Programs.''
  The Committee also approved the following: Rules of Procedure and 
Statement of Policy for Private Immigration bills; and Rules of 
Procedure for Private Claims bills.
TRIBAL HOMEOWNERSHIP ACT
Committee on Natural Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 2523, Helping 
Expedite and Advance Responsible Tribal Homeownership Act or the HEARTH 
Act. Testimony was heard from Jerry Gidner, Director, Bureau of Indian 
Affairs, Department of the Interior; and public witnesses.
CENSUS MASTER ADDRESS FILE AND CONCERNS
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform: Subcommittee on 
Information Policy, Census, and National Archives held a hearing 
entitled: ``The 2010 Census Master Address File: Issues and Concerns.'' 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
Commerce: Robert Groves, Director, Bureau of the Census; and Todd 
Zinser, Inspector General; Robert Goldenkoff, Director, Strategic 
Issues, GAO; and a public witness.
COAST GUARD AUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2010
Committee on Rules: Committee granted, by a voice vote, a structured 
rule providing for consideration of H.R. 3619, the ``Coast Guard 
Authorization Act of 2010''. The rule provides one hour of general 
debate, with 40 minutes equally divided and controlled by the chairman 
and ranking minority member of the Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure and 20 minutes equally divided and controlled by the 
chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee on Homeland 
Security. The rule waives all points of order against consideration of 
the bill except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI.
  The rule provides that the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure shall 
be considered as adopted in the House and in the Committee of the 
Whole. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as an original bill 
for the purpose of amendment and shall be considered as read. The rule 
waives all points of order against the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute except for clause 10 of rule XXI.
  The rule further makes in order only those amendments printed in the 
report of the Committee on Rules. The amendments made in order may be 
offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by 
a Member designated in the report, shall be considered as read, shall 
be debatable for the time specified in the report equally divided and 
controlled by the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to 
amendment, and shall not be subject to a demand for division of the 
question. All

[[Page D1210]]

points of order against the amendments except for clauses 9 and 10 of 
rule XXI are waived. In the case of sundry amendments reported from the 
Committee, the question of their adoption shall be put to the House en 
gros and without division of the question.
  The rule provides one motion to recommit with or without 
instructions. The rule provides that the Chair may entertain a motion 
that the committee rise only if offered by the chair of the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure or his designee. Finally, the rule 
provides that the chair may not entertain a motion to strike out the 
enacting words of the bill. Testimony was heard from Chairman Oberstar 
and Representatives Taylor, Scott of Virginia and LoBiondo.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on Science and Technology: Ordered reported, as amended, the 
following bills: H.R. 3791, Fire Grants Reauthorization Act of 2009; 
and H.R. 3820, Natural Hazards Risk Reduction Act of 2009.
BIOMASS ENERGY RESEARCH
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Energy and 
Environment held a hearing on Biomass for Thermal Energy and 
Electricity Through a Research and Development Portfolio for the 
Future. Testimony was heard from Scott M. Klara, Director, Strategic 
Center for Coal, National Energy Technology Laboratory, Department of 
Energy; and public witnesses.
SMALL BUSINESS FINANCIAL AND INVESTMENT ACT OF 2009
Committee on Small Business: Ordered reported H.R. 3854, Small Business 
Financing and Investment Act of 2009.
VETERANS MEASURES
Committee on Veterans Affairs: Subcommittee Disability Assistance and 
Memorial Affairs approved for full Committee action the following 
bills: H.R. 761, amended, To amend title 38, United States Code, to 
provide for the eligibility of parents of certain deceased veterans for 
interment in national cemeteries; H.R. 3485, Veterans Pensions 
Protection Act.
BRIEFING--UPDATE COUNTERNARCOTICS EFFORTS IN MEXICO
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Update on Counternarcotics Efforts in Mexico. The 
Committee was briefed by departmental witnesses.
PATRIOT ACT REAUTHORIZATION
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
hold a hearing on Patriot Act Reauthorization, Testimony was heard from 
David Kris, Assistant Attorney General, National Security, Department 
of Justice; Michael Leiter, Director, National Counterterrorism Center, 
Office of the Director of National Intelligence; and Robert Joyce, 
Associate Deputy Director, Counterterrorism, NSA, Department of 
Defense.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.