[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 159 (Thursday, October 29, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1255-D1257]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 17 public bills, H.R. 3961-
3977; and 6 resolutions, H. Res. 877-882, were introduced. 
                                                        Pages H12140-41
Additional Cosponsors:                                  
  Pages H12141-42
Report Filed: A report was filed today as follows:
  In the Matter of Representative Sam Graves (H. Rept. 111-320). 
                                                            Page H12140
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed 
Representative Edwards (MD) to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today. 
                                                            Page H12047
Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and agree to the following measure which was debated on Tuesday, 
October 27th:
  Encouraging the Government of Iran to allow Joshua Fattal, Shane 
Bauer, and Sarah Shourd to reunite with their families: S. Con. Res. 
45, to encourage the Government of Iran to allow Joshua Fattal, Shane 
Bauer, and Sarah Shourd to reunite with their families in the United 
States as soon as possible, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 423 yeas 
with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 825.                     
  Page H12057
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2010--Conference Report: The House agreed to the 
conference report to accompany H.R. 2996, making appropriations for the 
Department of the Interior, environment, and related agencies for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, by a yea-and-nay vote of 247 
yeas to 178 nays, Roll No. 826.                         
  Pages H12057-68
  H. Res. 876, the rule providing for consideration of the conference 
report, was agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 232 yeas to 184 nays, 
Roll No. 824, after the previous question was ordered by a yea-and-nay 
vote of 236 yeas to 183 nays, Roll No. 823.             
Pages H12050-57
Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of 
David Treen, former Member of Congress.                 
  Pages H12068-69
Suspensions--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and agree to the following measures which were debated on Wednesday, 
October 28th:
  Recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month and celebrating the vast 
contributions of Hispanic Americans to the strength and culture of the 
United States: H. Res. 783, amended, to recognize Hispanic Heritage 
Month and to celebrate the vast contributions of Hispanic Americans to 
the strength and culture of the United States, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay 
vote of 423 yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 827 and 
                                                            Page H12069
  Expressing support for designation of a ``National Firefighters 
Memorial Day'' to honor and celebrate the firefighters of the United 
States: H. Res. 729, amended, to express support for designation of a 
``National Firefighters Memorial Day'' to honor and celebrate the 
firefighters of the United States, by a \2/3\ yea-and-nay vote of 390 
yeas with none voting ``nay'', Roll No. 831.            
  Pages H12117-18
Small Business Financing and Investment Act of 2009: The House passed 
H.R. 3854, to amend the Small Business Act and the Small Business 
Investment Act of 1958 to improve programs providing access to capital 
under such Acts, by a yea-and-nay vote of 389 yeas to 32 nays, Roll No. 
830.                                                
  Pages H12074-H12117
  Agreed to the Cantor motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Small Business with instructions to report the same back to the House 
forthwith with an amendment by a recorded vote of 272 ayes to 149 noes, 
Roll No. 829. Subsequently, Representative Velazquez reported the bill 
back to the House with the amendment and the amendment was agreed to. 
                                                        Pages H12114-16
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment printed in part A of H. Rept. 
111-317 shall be considered as adopted in the House and in the 
Committee of the Whole. The bill, as amended, shall be considered as 
the original bill for the purpose of further amendment under the 5-
minute rule.                                                
Page H12079
Agreed to:
  Velazquez manager's amendment (No. 1 printed in part B of H. Rept. 
111-317) that makes technical and conforming changes to the bill, 
including clarifications of legislative intent;     
Pages H12099-H12100
  Schock amendment (No. 2 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
requires the SBA Administrator to pay the claim of a lender who 
demonstrates it followed the applicable requirements of the National 
Lender Training Program (Sec. 106), unless the SBA has clear and 
convincing evidence demonstrating that the lender failed to comply with 
regulatory requirements;                                
Pages H12100-01
  Schock amendment (No. 3 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
requires quarterly reports on the SBA Administrator's progress towards 
the expansion of the Renewable Energy Capital Investment

[[Page D1256]]

Program. It requires the SBA Administrator to establish regulations 
necessary to carry out the program within 180 days after enactment; 
                                                        Pages H12101-02
  Bright amendment (No. 4 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
requires each of the SBA district offices to establish a marketing plan 
for rural businesses regarding financing and investment alternatives, 
designate an employer as a Rural Business Outreach Specialist, and host 
at least one annual outreach seminar;                   
Pages H12102-03
  Kosmas amendment (No. 6 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
adds ``photonics technology'' to the list of targeted business sectors 
qualified to receive grants under the Small Business Early-Stage 
Investment Program;                                     
Pages H12104-05
  Gingrey amendment (No. 7 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
increases from 5 years to 7 years the period to participate in the 
Small Business Health Information Technology Financing Program; 
                                                            Page H12105
  Kratovil amendment (No. 8 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
gives the SBA Administrator authority under the 7(a) program to 
guarantee 100 percent of loans made to veteran owned small businesses; 
                                                        Pages H12105-06
  Paulsen amendment (No. 9 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
requires a study and a report to Congress by the SBA, within one year 
of enactment, to determine the feasibility of a program to increase 
investment in the research, development and commercialization of 
medical technology by small businesses in a similar manner to the 
renewable energy program currently administered by the SBA; 
                                                        Pages H12106-07
  Massa amendment (No. 10 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
creates youth entrepreneurship programs in the Small Business 
Administration to assist the development of new businesses by young 
people who remain in their local area;                  
Pages H12107-08
  Kissell amendment (No. 12 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
amends Section 7(a)(7) of the Small Business Act to allow for repayment 
of SBA 7(A) loans (granted to small businesses after enactment of this 
bill) to be deferred for a maximum of 12 months from receipt of final 
loan disbursement if that small business concern is classified in 
sector 23 of the North American Industry Classification System; 
                                                            Page H12109
  Peters amendment (No. 13 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
increases the maximum amount of stabilization loans in high 
unemployment areas to $75,000 and delays repayment of stabilization 
loans in high unemployment areas to 18 months for new loans made after 
enactment of this act. It gives the SBA Administrator ability to 
designate high unemployment areas as eligible for operating assistance 
grants under the new market venture capital program;    
Pages H12109-10
  Miller (MI) amendment (No. 14 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) 
that requires individuals directly engaged in loan application analysis 
and/or underwriting under the new Capital Backstop Program (Sec. 111) 
to have at least two years' worth of experience in those activities; 
                                                        Pages H12110-11
  Miller (MI) amendment (No. 15 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) 
that clarifies that the Capital Backstop Program (Sec. 111) is 
authorized to start immediately and to operate through 2011, regardless 
of whether the recession is declared officially over during that time 
or SBA loan volume drops another 30% next year. It restores such 
requirements after September 30, 2011;                      
Page H12111
  Nye amendment (No. 16 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
allows the SBA Administrator to make loans to homeowners to be used for 
the repair or replacement of toxic drywall manufactured in China; and 
                                                        Pages H12111-13
  Flake amendment (No. 5 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
prohibits the earmarking of grants made available through the Small 
Business Early-Stage Investment program (by a recorded vote of 370 ayes 
to 55 noes, Roll No. 828).                   
Pages H12103-04, H12113-14
Withdrawn:
  Foxx amendment (No. 11 printed in part B of H. Rept. 111-317) that 
was offered and subsequently withdrawn that would have explicitly 
sunset all programs contained in the bill at the end of their 
authorizations or five years, whichever is earlier. The Administrator 
would have maintained the authority to carry out responsibilities 
regarding all outstanding loans, grants, and other outstanding 
commitments made before the authorization expiration.   
Pages H12108-09
  H. Res. 875, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to by voice vote after the previous question was ordered without 
objection.                                              
Pages H12069-74
Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to 
meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday, November 2nd for morning hour debate, and 
further, that when the House adjourns on that day, it adjourn to meet 
at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, November 3rd for morning hour debate and 9 a.m 
for legislative business.                                   
  Page H12121
Providing for a recess of the House for a joint meeting to receive Her 
Excellency Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of 
Germany: Agreed by unanimous consent that it may

[[Page D1257]]

be in order at any time on Tuesday, November 3, 2009 for the Speaker to 
declare a recess, subject to the call of the Chair, for the purpose of 
receiving in joint meeting Her Excellency Angela Merkel, Chancellor of 
the Federal Republic of Germany.                            
  Page H12121
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on pages 
H12123-24.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Seven yea-and-nay votes and two recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H12055-
56, H12056, H12057, H12068, H12069, H12113-14, H12115-16, H12116-17, 
and H12117-18. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 9:25 p.m.