[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 163 (Wednesday, November 4, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1286-D1288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
DISTRACTED DRIVING
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and 
Consumer Protection and the Subcommittee on Communications, Technology 
and the Internet held a joint hearing on Driven To Distraction: 
Technological Devices and Vehicle Safety.

[[Page D1287]]

Testimony was heard from Ray LaHood, Secretary of Transportation; 
Julius Genachowski, Chairman, FCC; former Representative Steve Largent 
of Oklahoma; and public witnesses.
INVESTOR PROTECTION ACT
Committee on Financial Services: Ordered reported, as amended, H.R. 
3817, Investor Protection Act of 2009.
COPENHAGEN AND BEYOND: IS THERE A SUCCESSOR TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL?
Committee on Foreign Affairs: Held a hearing on Copenhagen and Beyond: 
Is There a Successor to the Kyoto Protocol? Testimony was heard from 
Todd D. Stern, Special Envoy for Climate Change, Department of State; 
former Senator Timothy E. Wirth, State of Colorado; Eileen Claussen, 
former Assistant Secretary, Oceans and International Environmental and 
Scientific Affairs, Department of State; and a public witness.
MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
Committee on House Administration: Ordered reported the following 
bills: H.R. 3224, To authorize the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian 
Institution to plan, design, and construct a vehicle maintenance 
building at the vehicle maintenance branch of the Smithsonian 
Institution located in Suitland, Maryland, and for other purposes; H.R. 
2843, Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2009; H.R. 3489, To 
amend the Help America Vote Act of 1972 to prohibit State election 
officials from accepting a challenge to an individual's eligibility to 
register to vote in an election for Federal office or to vote in an 
election for Federal office in a jurisdiction on the grounds that the 
individual resides in a household in the jurisdiction which is subject 
to foreclosure proceedings or that the jurisdiction was adversely 
affected by a hurricane or other major disaster, and for other 
purposes; and, as amended, H.R. 3542, State Admission Day Recognition 
Act of 2009.
  The Committee also agreed to the following: Committee Resolution 
(111-6), to adopt voucher documentation standards; and Committee 
Resolution (111-7), to prohibit text messaging while driving on 
official business.
USA PATRIOT AMENDMENTS ACT OF 2009
Committee on the Judiciary: Began consideration of H.R. 3845, USA 
PATRIOT Amendments Act of 2009.
  Will continue tomorrow.
INDIAN LAND TRUSTS
Committee on Natural Resources: Held a hearing on the following bills: 
H.R. 3742, To amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm the authority 
of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for Indian 
tribes; and H.R. 3697, To amend the Act of June 18, 1934, to reaffirm 
the authority of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust 
for Indian tribes. Testimony was heard from Representatives Arcuri and 
Cole; Donald Laverdure, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Indian Affairs, 
Department of the Interior; Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General, State 
of Connecticut; and public witnesses.
AMERICAN SAMOA RESOURCES--EMPLOYMENT PROTECTION
Committee on Natural Resources: Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans 
and Wildlife, hearing on H.R. 3583, American Samoa Protection of 
Industry, Resources, and Employment Act. Testimony was heard from 
Togiola T. A. Tulafono, Governor, American Samoa; Nikolao Pula, 
Director, Office of Insular Affairs, Department of the Interior; and 
public witnesses.
CYBERSECURITY COORDINATION AND AWARENESS ACT
Committee on Science and Technology: Subcommittee on Technology and 
Innovation favorably approved for full Committee action the 
Cybersecurity Coordination and Awareness Act.
SMALL BUSINESS AND THE ESTATE TAX
Committee on Small Business: Held a hearing entitled ``Small Businesses 
and the Estate Tax: Identifying Reforms to Meet the Needs of Small 
Firms and Family Farmers.'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
WATER RESOURCES INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on Water 
Resources and Environment held a hearing on Recovery Act: Progress 
Report on Water Resources Infrastructure Investment. Testimony was 
heard from Nanci E. Gelb, Deputy Director, Office of Ground Water and 
Drinking Water, Office of Water, EPA; Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant 
Secretary, Civil Works, Corps of Engineers, Department of the Army; 
John Hanger, Secretary, Department of Environmental Protection, State 
of Pennsylvania; and public witnesses.
BRIEFING--DOD QUARTERLY UPDATE
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on Department of

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Defense Quarterly Update. The Committee was briefed by departmental 
witnesses.

Joint Meetings
  No joint committee meetings were held.