[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 113 (Tuesday, July 26, 2011)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D845-D847]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




[[Page D845]]




                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 21 public bills, H.R. 2642-
2662; and 3 resolutions, H.J. Res. 74; and H. Res. 373-374 were 
introduced.                                              
  Pages H5579-80
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H5580-81
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 2056, to instruct the Inspector General of the Federal Deposit 
Insurance Corporation to study the impact of insured depository 
institution failures, and for other purposes, with an amendment (H. 
Rept. 112-182) and
  H. Res. 372, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 2587) to 
prohibit the National Labor Relations Board from ordering any employer 
to close, relocate, or transfer employment under any circumstance (H. 
Rept. 112-183).                                              
Page H5579
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed 
Representative Ross (FL) to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H5493
Recess: The House recessed at 11:07 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon. 
                                                             Page H5500
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest chaplain, Reverend 
Miroslaus Stelmaszczyk, Holy Family Church, Creighton, Pennsylvania. 
                                                             Page H5500
Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 313 yeas to 111 nays with 2 voting ``present'', 
Roll No. 639.                                     
  Pages H5500, H5508-09
Recess: The House recessed at 1:02 p.m. and reconvened at 1:11 p.m. 
                                                             Page H5507
Suspension--Proceedings Resumed: The House agreed to suspend the rules 
and pass the following measure which was debated yesterday, July 25th:
  Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011: Concurred in the Senate 
amendments to H.R. 1383, to temporarily preserve higher rates for 
tuition and fees for programs of education at non-public institutions 
of higher learning pursued by individuals enrolled in the Post-9/11 
Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs 
before the enactment of the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance 
Improvements Act of 2010, by a 2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 424 yeas with 
none voting ``nay,'' Roll No. 638.                       
  Pages H5507-08
Recess: The House recessed at 1:50 p.m. and reconvened at 1:55 p.m. 
                                                             Page H5509
Official Photograph of the House in Session: The official photograph of 
the House in session was taken pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 
299.                                                         
  Page H5509
North American-Made Energy Security Act: The House passed H.R. 1938, to 
direct the President to expedite the consideration and approval of the 
construction and operation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline, by a 
recorded vote of 279 ayes to 147 noes with 1 voting ``present,'' Roll 
No. 650.                                       
  Pages H5504-07, H5509-39
  Rejected the Sutton motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Energy and Commerce with instructions to report the same back to the 
House forthwith with amendments, by a recorded vote of 181 ayes to 248 
noes, Roll No. 649.                                      
Pages H5537-38
  Pursuant to the rule, the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Energy and Commerce now printed in the 
bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of 
amendment under the five-minute rule.                        
Page H5518
  Agreed to:
  Jackson Lee (TX) amendment (No. 10 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that 
adds a sense of Congress that the United States must decrease its 
dependence on oil from countries that are hostile to the interests of 
the United States of America and that Canada has long been a strong 
trading partner and increasing access to their energy resources will 
create jobs in the United States.                        
Pages H5527-29
Rejected:
  Christensen amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that sought 
to include a finding stating that the Supplemental Draft Environmental 
Impact Statement estimates that the Keystone XL pipeline would increase 
carbon pollution associated with United States fuel use by up to 
23,000,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide;                
Pages H5521-22
  Welch amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that sought to 
add language to the findings section that states that the Keystone XL 
pipeline would run through the Ogallala Aquifer and explain the risk 
involved with this route (by a recorded vote of 164 ayes to 260 noes, 
Roll No. 640);                                    
Pages H5518-19, H5531
  Rush amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that sought to 
strike paragraph 15 of the findings section (by a recorded vote of 164 
ayes to 261 noes with 1 voting ``present,'' Roll No. 641); 
                                               Pages H5519-20, H5531-32
  Eshoo amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that sought to 
include a finding stating

[[Page D846]]

the PHMSA Administrator testified at a Congressional hearing and stated 
that the PHMSA had not done a study analyzing the risks associated with 
transporting diluted bitumen; also require PHMSA to complete a review 
of the risks associated with transporting diluted bitumen, and whether 
current pipeline regulations are sufficient (by a recorded vote of 163 
ayes to 264 noes, Roll No. 642);               
Pages H5520-21, H5532-33
  Cohen amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that sought to 
strike finding 16 and replace it with language that outlines 
TransCanada's recent pipeline safety issues with the Keystone pipeline 
(by a recorded vote of 155 ayes to 272 noes, Roll No. 643); 
                                                  Pages H5522-23, H5533
  Murphy (CT) amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that sought 
to add findings language noting that construction of the pipeline would 
permit a new source of oil exports to China and other nations (by a 
recorded vote of 152 ayes to 275 noes, Roll No. 644); 
                                               Pages H5523-25, H5533-34
  Rush amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that sought to 
extend the deadline for permit decision to 120 days after final 
environmental impact statement or until January 1, 2012 (by a recorded 
vote of 161 ayes to 265 noes, Roll No. 645);   
Pages H5525-26, H5534-35
  Hanabusa amendment (No. 8 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that sought to 
require that a Presidential Permit approving the construction and 
operation of the Keystone XL pipeline will not be issued unless the 
Secretary of Energy in consultation with the Pipeline and Hazardous 
Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), certify that the applicant has 
calculated a worst-case oil spill scenario for the proposed pipeline; 
and has demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Secretary and the PHMSA 
that the applicant possesses the capability and technology to respond 
immediately and effectively to such a worst case scenario (by a 
recorded vote of 168 ayes to 260 noes, Roll No. 646); 
                                                     Pages H5526, H5535
  Johnson (GA) amendment (No. 9 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that 
sought to require a study on the health impacts of increased air 
pollution in communities surrounding the refineries that will transport 
diluted bitumen through the proposed Keystone XL pipeline (by a 
recorded vote of 163 ayes to 263 noes, Roll No. 647); and 
                                               Pages H5526-27, H5535-36
  Kucinich amendment (No. 11 printed in H. Rept. 112-181) that sought 
to require an analysis of the effect of the proposed pipeline on 
manipulation of oil markets and increased gas prices for American 
consumers (by a recorded vote of 164 ayes to 261 noes, Roll No. 648). 
                                                  Pages H5529-30, H5536
  H. Res. 370, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 246 yeas to 171 nays, Roll No. 637, 
after the previous question was ordered without objection.   
Page H5507
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 H5531
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measure:
  Small Business Program Extension and Reform Act of 2011: H.R 2608, 
amended, to provide for an additional temporary extension of programs 
under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 
1958.                                                    
  Pages H5539-41
Suspension--Proceedings Postponed: The House debated the following 
measure under suspension of the rules. Further proceedings were 
postponed:
  Instructing the Inspector General of the Federal Deposit Insurance 
Corporation to study the impact of insured depository institution 
failures: H.R. 2056, amended, to instruct the Inspector General of the 
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation to study the impact of insured 
depository institution failures.                         
  Pages H5541-43
Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2012: The House resumed consideration of H.R. 2584, 
making appropriations for the Department of the Interior, environment, 
and related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2012. 
Consideration of the measure began yesterday, July 25th. 
                                                         Pages H5543-78
  Agreed to:
  Bass (NH) amendment that increases funding, by offset, for several 
land acquisition accounts by a total of $20 million;     
Pages H5546-48
  Tipton amendment that increases funding, by offset, for the land 
acquisition accounts of the Bureau of Land Management and the Forest 
Service by $2,500,000 each;                              
Pages H5549-50
  Griffin (AR) amendment that increases funding, by offsest, for the 
North American Wetlands Conservation Fund by $3 million; 
                                                         Pages H5561-62
  Carter amendment that redirects $1 million in funding with respect to 
National Park Service, Construction;                     
Pages H5565-66
  Gosar amendment that allows use of funds in the bill to operate 
charter schools; and                                     
Pages H5569-70
  Gosar amendment that increases funding, by offset, for Indian Health 
Services by $4,367,000.                                  
Pages H5575-78

[[Page D847]]

Rejected:
  Lamborn amendment that sought to eliminate funding for several land 
acquisition accounts and apply $50,721,000 to the spending reduction 
account and                                              
Pages H5548-49
  Jackson Lee (TX) amendment that sought to increase funding, by 
offset, for Environmental Programs and Management by $5 million. 
                                                         Pages H5573-75
Withdrawn:
  Norton amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that 
would have redirected $300,000 in funding with respect to National 
Recreation and Preservation and                          
Pages H5564-65
  Mica amendment that was offered and subsequently withdrawn that would 
have increased funding, by offset, for National Park Service, 
Construction by $2 million.                              
Pages H5566-69
  Proceedings Postponed:
  Clarke (MI) amendment that seeks to increase funding, by offset, for 
Environmental Programs and Management by $10 million;    
Pages H5544-46
  Dicks amendment that seeks to strike the proviso relating to funding 
limitations for carrying out certain subsections of the Endangered 
Species Act;                                             
Pages H5550-61
  Tonko amendment that seeks to increase funding, by offset, for 
National Recreation and Preservation by $8,408,000;      
Pages H5562-63
  Amash amendment (No. 5 printed in the Congressional Record of July 
25, 2011) that seeks to striking funding for the National Capital 
Performing Arts/Capital Concerts and apply the savings to the spending 
reduction account;                                       
Pages H5563-64
  Dold amendment that seeks to increase funding, by offset, for 
Environmental Programs and Management by $24,700,000;    
Pages H5570-71
  Reed amendment (No. 44 printed in the Congressional Record of July 
25, 2011) that seeks to increase funding, by offset, for State and 
Private Forestry by $8,291,000; and                      
Pages H5571-72
  Scalise amendment, as modified, that seeks to reduce funding for the 
Office of the Secretary, Departmental Operations by $420,000. 
                                                         Pages H5572-73
  H. Res. 363, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was 
agreed to yesterday, July 25th.
Amendments: Amendments ordered printed pursuant to the rule appear on 
pages H5581-82.
Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and 11 recorded votes 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H5507, 
H5508, H5508-09, H5531, H5531-32, H5532-33, H5533, H5533-34, H5534, 
H5535, H5535-36, H5536, H5538, H5538-39. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 11:34 p.m.