[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 183 (Tuesday, December 8, 2009)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D1427-D1428]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

Committee Meetings
AFGHANISTAN STRATEGIC REVIEW
Committee on Armed Services: Continued hearings on Afghanistan: The 
Results of the Strategic Review, Part II. Testimony was heard from GEN 
Stanley McChrystal, USA, Commander, International Security Assistance 
Force (ISAF), and Commander, U.S. Forces Afghanistan (USFOR--A), 
Department of Defense; and Ambassador Karl W. Eikenberry, U.S. 
Ambassador to Afghanistan, Department of State.
U.S. EDUCATION STANDARDS
Committee on Education and Labor: Held a hearing on Improving Our 
Competitiveness: Common Core Education Standards. Testimony was heard 
from Bill Ritter, Jr., Governor, State of Colorado; and public 
witnesses.
PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICE INFLATION
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Prescription Drug Price Inflation: Are Prices Rising Too 
Fast?'' Testimony was heard from public witnesses.
PRIVATE/GOVERNMENT FORECLOSURE CRISIS RESPONSE
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``The Private 
Sector and Government Response to the Mortgage Foreclosure Crisis.'' 
Testimony was heard from the following officials of the Department of 
the Treasury: Herbert M. Allison, Jr., Assistant Secretary, Financial 
Stability; and Douglas W. Roeder, Senior Deputy Comptroller Large Bank 
Supervision, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency; Michael H. 
Krimminger, Special Advisor, Policy, Office of the Chairman, FDIC; and 
public witnesses.
JUDGE PORTEOUS IMPEACHMENT
Committee on the Judiciary: Task Force on Judicial Impeachment 
continued possible Impeachment of United States District Judge G. 
Thomas Porteous, Jr., Part II. Testimony was heard from DeWayne Horner, 
Special Agent, FBI, New Orleans, Louisiana, Department of Justice; Alan 
Baron, Special Impeachment Counsel, Committee on the Judiciary; and 
public witnesses.
  Will continue December 10.

[[Page D1428]]


DEATH PENALTY APPEALS--HABEAS CORPUS LIMITATIONS
Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil 
Rights and Civil Liberties held a hearing on the Impact of Federal 
Habeas Corpus Limitations on Death Penalty Appeals. Testimony was heard 
from Michael E. O'Hare, Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney, Civil 
Litigation Bureau, Office of the Chief State's Attorney, State of 
Connecticut; Gerald Kogan, Chief Justice (ret.), Supreme Court, State 
of Florida; and public witnesses.
TAX EXTENDERS ACT OF 2009
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a non-record vote, a closed rule. The 
rule provides one hour of general debate on H.R. 4213, the Tax 
Extenders Act of 2009, equally divided and controlled by the chair and 
ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Means.
  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 bill shall be considered as read. The rule waives all 
points of order against the bill. Finally, the rule provides one motion 
to recommit with or without instructions. Testimony was heard by 
Representatives Neal, Brady (TX), and Cao.
THE WALL STREET REFORM AND CONSUMER PROTECTION ACT OF 2009
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a non-record vote, a rule. The rule 
provides three hours of general debate on H.R. 4173, the Wall Street 
Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2009, with two hours to be 
equally divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member 
of the Committee on Financial Services, 30 minutes to be equally 
divided and controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the 
Committee on Agriculture, and 30 minutes to be equally divided and 
controlled by the chair and ranking minority member of the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce. 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 printed in the report of the 
Committee on Rules shall be considered as adopted in the House and in 
the Committee of the Whole. The rule provides that the Committee of the 
Whole shall rise without motion after general debate and that no 
further consideration of the bill shall occur except pursuant to a 
subsequent order of the House. The rule also provides that the Chair of 
the Committee of the Whole may entertain a motion that the Committee 
rise only if offered by the chair of the Committee on Financial 
Services or his designee. Testimony was heard by Chairman Frank (MA), 
and Representatives Rush, and Bachus.
PUBLIC TRANSIT SAFETY
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Subcommittee on 
Highways and Transit held a hearing on Public Transit Safety: Examining 
the Federal Role. Testimony was heard from the following officials of 
the Department of Transportation: Ray LaHood, Secretary; and Peter 
Rogoff, Administrator, Federal Transit Administration; Katherine A. 
Siggerud, Managing Director, Physical Infrastructure, GAO; Robert J. 
Chipkevich, Director, Office of Railroad, Pipeline, and Hazardous 
Materials Investigations, National Transportation Safety Board; Richard 
W. Clark, Director, Consumer Protection and Safety Division, Public 
Utilities Commission, State of California; and a public witness.
BRIEFING--NSA UPDATE
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in executive session to 
receive a briefing on NSA Update. The Committee was briefed by 
departmental witnesses.

Joint Meetings
DEPARTMENTS OF TRANSPORTATION, HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND 
RELATED AGENCIES APPROPRIATIONS ACT
  Conferees agreed to file a conference report on the differences 
between the Senate and House passed versions of H.R. 3288, making 
appropriations for the Departments of Transportation, and Housing and 
Urban Development, and related agencies for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 2010.