[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 128 (Thursday, September 20, 2012)]
[Daily Digest]
[Pages D895-D896]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 35 public bills, H.R. 6444-
6478; and 10 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 138; and H.Res. 793-801 were 
introduced.                                              
  Pages H6230-32
Additional Cosponsors:                                   
  Pages H6233-34
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 4965, to preserve existing rights and responsibilities with 
respect to waters of the United States, and for other purposes, with an 
amendment (H. Rept. 112-681);
  H.R. 5961, to provide reasonable limits, control, and oversight over 
the Environmental Protection Agency's use of aerial surveillance of 
America's farmers, with an amendment (H. Rept. 112-682);
  H.R. 4278, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act with 
respect to permit requirements for dredged or fill material (H. Rept. 
112-683);
  H.R. 2541, to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to exempt 
the conduct of silvicultural activities from national pollutant 
discharge elimination system permitting requirements, with an amendment 
(H. Rept. 112-684); and
  H.R. 3563, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to direct the 
Secretary of Homeland Security to modernize and implement the national 
integrated public alert and warning system to disseminate homeland 
security information and other information, and for other purposes, 
with an amendment (H. Rept. 112-685, Pt. 1).                 
Page H6230
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed 
Representative Flake to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                             Page H6153
Recess: The House recessed at 11:08 a.m. and reconvened at 12 noon. 
                                                             Page H6161
Chaplain: The prayer was offered by the guest chaplain, Rabbi Steven 
Weil, Orthodox Union, New York, New York.                    
  Page H6161
Providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, 
United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of Family 
Assistance of the Administration for Children and Families of the 
Department of Health and Human Services relating to waiver and 
expenditure authority under section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 
U.S.C. 1315) with respect to the Temporary Assistance for Needy 
Families program: The House passed H.J. Res. 118, to provide for 
congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States 
Code, of the rule submitted by the Office of Family Assistance of the 
Administration for Children and Families of the Department of Health 
and Human Services relating to waiver and expenditure authority under 
section 1115 of the Social Security Act (42 U.S.C. 1315) with respect 
to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program, by a yea-and-
nay vote of 250 yeas to 164 nays, Roll No. 589. 
                                               Pages H6165-85, H6194-95
  H. Res. 788, the rule providing for consideration of the joint 
resolution (H.J. Res. 118) and the bill (H.R. 3409) was agreed to by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 233 yeas to 182 nays, Roll No. 588, after the 
previous question was ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 238 yeas to 179 
nays, Roll No. 587.                                      
Pages H6173-74
  A point of order was raised against the consideration of H. Res. 788 
and it was agreed to proceed with consideration of the resolution by 
voice vote.                                              
Pages H6165-67
Suspension--Failed: The House failed to agree to suspend the rules and 
pass the following measure:
  STEM Jobs Act of 2012: H.R. 6429, to amend the Immigration and 
Nationality Act to promote innovation, investment, and research in the 
United States, to eliminate the diversity immigrant program, by a 2/3 
yea-and-nay vote of 257 yeas to 158 nays, Roll No. 590. 
                                                  Pages H6185-94, H6195
Suspension--Failed: The House failed to agree to suspend the rules and 
pass the following measure which was debated yesterday, September 19th:
  Manhattan Project National Historical Park Act: H.R. 5987, amended, 
to establish the Manhattan Project National Historical Park in Oak 
Ridge, Tennessee, Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Hanford, Washington, by a 
2/3 yea-and-nay vote of 237 yeas to 180 nays, Roll No. 591. 
                                                         Pages H6195-96

[[Page D896]]

Coal Miner Employment and Domestic Energy Infrastructure Protection 
Act: The House began consideration of H.R. 3409, to limit the authority 
of the Secretary of the Interior to issue regulations before December 
31, 2013, under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977. 
Further proceedings were postponed.                          
  Page H6196
  Pursuant to the rule, an amendment in the nature of a substitute 
consisting of the text of Rules Committee Print 112-32 shall be 
considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the 
five-minute rule, in lieu of the amendment in the nature of a 
substitute recommended by the Committee on Natural Resources now 
printed in the bill.                                         
Page H6204
Agreed to:
  Bucshon amendment (No. 2 printed in H. Rept. 112-680) that requires 
that the Secretary, or any other Federal official proposing a rule 
under this Act, shall publish with each rule proposed under this Act 
each scientific study the Secretary or other official, respectively, 
relied on in developing the rule. This amendment ensures that rules 
being issued are based on scientific study;              
Pages H6212-13
  Benishek amendment (No. 6 printed in H. Rept. 112-680) that requires 
the Committee for the Cumulative Analysis of Regulations that Impact 
Energy and Manufacturing in the United States to include the health 
effects associated with regulatory costs in its assessment; and 
                                                         Pages H6217-18
  Harris amendment (No. 7 printed in H. Rept. 112-680) that reinforces 
the transparency and sound science requirements in the bill. 
Specifically, it requires EPA to make data and modeling inputs 
available to the public, and requires Regulatory Impact Analysis to 
undergo external peer review according to the agency's own peer review 
guidelines.                                              
Pages H6218-19
Proceedings Postponed:
  Markey amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 112-680) that seeks to 
allow the Secretary of the Interior to promulgate rules under the 
Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act, if such rule would reduce 
the prevalence of pulmonary diseases, lung cancer, cardiovascular 
disease or reduce the prevalence of birth defects or reproductive 
problems in pregnant women or children;                  
Pages H6211-12
  Waxman amendment (No. 3 printed in H. Rept. 112-680) that seeks to 
strike the language that would repeal EPA's scientific finding that 
carbon pollution endangers the public health and welfare; 
                                                         Pages H6213-14
  Kelly amendment (No. 4 printed in H. Rept. 112-680) that seeks to 
require the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report to Congress 
estimating the number of jobs, the fatalities and injuries, and the 
cost to the economy caused by the ``2017 and Later Model Year Light-
Duty Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Corporate Average Fuel 
Economy Standards'' rule. Would require that the Secretary shall not 
consult with the EPA or the California Air Resources Board to complete 
the report; and                                          
Pages H6214-16
  Markey amendment (No. 5 printed in H. Rept. 112-680) that seeks to 
allow the Environmental Protection Agency to take any action using its 
authority under the Clean Air Act if such action would increase North 
American energy independence by reducing demand for oil. 
                                                         Pages H6216-17
  H. Res. 788, the rule providing for consideration of the joint 
resolution (H.J. Res. 118) and the bill (H.R. 3409) was agreed to by a 
yea-and-nay vote of 233 yeas to 182 nays, Roll No. 588, after the 
previous question was ordered by a yea-and-nay vote of 238 yeas to 179 
nays, Roll No. 587.                                      
Pages H6173-74
  A point of order was raised against the consideration of H. Res. 788 
and it was agreed to proceed with consideration of the resolution by 
voice vote.                                              
Pages H6165-67
Quorum Calls--Votes: Five yea-and-nay votes developed during the 
proceedings of today and appear on pages H6173-74, H6174, H6194-95, 
H6195, H6196. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 8:44 p.m.