SMITH, LAMAR S. (a Representative from Texas)

Appointments

Conferee: H.R. 1350, Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act, H9020 [8OC]

———H.R. 3550, Transportation Equity Act—A Legacy for Users, H3747 [3JN]

———H.R. 4200, Dept. of Defense appropriations for military activities and prescribing personnel strengths, H7701 [28SE]

———H.R. 4520, Jumpstart Our Business Strength (JOBS) Act, H7777 [29SE]

Articles and editorials

Geologist on Wheels Takes Human Curosity to Mars—Our Drive To Explore Leads to Better Lives, Seth Shostak, San Jose (CA) Mercury News, E168 [12FE]

Olympian in War, Sagacious in Peace, Frates Seeligson, San Antonio (TX) Express-News, E501 [2AP]

Bills and resolutions cosponsored

Abortion: ensure that women seeking an abortion are fully informed relative to pain experienced by the unborn child (see H.R. 4420), H5151 [25JN]

Administrative Conference of the U.S.: authorizing appropriations (see H.R. 4917), H6701 [22JY]

Armstrong, Lance: tribute (see H. Res. 761), H6997 [9SE]

Birds: mint coins celebrating recovery and restoration of the American bald eagle and noting the importance of the designation of the American bald eagle as an endangered species (see H.R. 4116), H3720 [2JN]

Budget: reform Federal budget procedures, impose spending safeguards, combat waste, fraud, and abuse, and account for accurate Government agency costs (see H.R. 3800), H1011 [10MR]

Business and industry: require mandatory expensing of stock options granted to executive officers (see H.R. 3574), H516 [11FE]

Civil Rights Act: anniversary (see H. Res. 676), H4766 [22JN]

Colorado: provide for an additional place of holding district court (see H.R. 112), H4391 (see H.R. 112), H4507 [17JN]

Columbia (space shuttle): anniversary of accident costing the lives of the crew (see H. Res. 507), H244 [28JA]

Computers: discourage spyware (see H.R. 4661), H4893 [23JN]

———provide greater cybersecurity (see H.R. 5068), H7329 [21SE]

Congressman Jack Fields Post Office, Kingwood, TX: designate (see H.R. 4232), H8168 [5OC]

Contracts: require certain Federal service contractors to participate in a pilot program for employment eligibility confirmation (see H.R. 4064), H1739 [30MR]

Copyrights: amend laws relating to reproduction of works by libraries and archives (see H.R. 5136), H7574 [23SE]

Courts: ensure judicial decisions on the meaning of U.S. laws are not based on foreign judgments, laws, or pronouncements unless they inform an understanding of the original meaning of the laws (see H. Res. 568), H1229 [17MR]

———provide greater fairness in legal fees payable in civil diversity litigation after an offer of settlement (see H.R. 4430), H6756 [7SE]

Crime: establish penalties for aggravated identity theft (see H.R. 1731), H575 [24FE]

———foster local collaborations to ensure effective and efficient use of resources within the criminal and juvenile justice systems in dealing with mentally ill offenders (see H.R. 2387), H3440 (see H.R. 2387), H3540 [20MY]

———protect children from criminal recidivists (see H.R. 4150), H2152 [2AP]

Dept. of Homeland Security: make grants to first responders (see H.R. 3266), H4580 [18JN]

Dept. of the Interior: arrange for the carving of the figure of Ronald Reagan on Mount Rushmore National Memorial (see H.R. 4980), H6704 [22JY]

Dept. of Veterans Affairs: restrict the performance of eye surgery at a facility, or under a contract with the Dept., to only licensed medical doctors and licensed doctors of osteopathy (see H.R. 3473), H2816 [11MY]

Dr. Miguel A. Nevarez Post Office Building, Edinburg, TX: designate (see H.R. 4299), H2726 [6MY]

Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act: repeal sunset on expansion of the adoption credit and adoption assistance programs (see H.R. 1057), H1593 [25MR]

Education: strengthen high school teaching of the values, contributions, and accomplishments of Western civilization (see H. Con. Res. 377), H752 [2MR]

Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: technical corrections (see H.R. 3066), H1484 [24MR]

Families and domestic relations: constitutional amendment relative to definition of marriage (see H.J. Res. 106), H7736 [28SE]

FCC: vigorously enforce indecency and profanity laws in order to protect children in the U.S. from indecent and profane programming on broadcast television and radio (see H. Res. 500), H576 [24FE]

Financial institutions: prohibit use of identification issued by foreign governments, other than passports, for purposes of verifying identity of a person opening an account (see H.R. 3674), H393 [4FE]

Gordon Wood Post Office Building, Stamford, TX: designate (see H.R. 5196), H9051 [8OC]

Help America Vote Act: require voting systems to provide a verifiable paper record of each vote cast and ensure the security of electronic data (see H.R. 4187), H2265 [21AP]

Hipolito F. Garcia Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse, San Antonio, TX: designate (see H.R. 3884), H1117 [16MR]

Immigration: enforce employment restrictions on unauthorized aliens through the use of improved Social Security cards and an Employment Eligibility Database (see H.R. 5111), H9051 [8OC]

———establish deportability and inadmissability of aliens who possess certain consular identification cards who are unlawfully present in the U.S. and use such a card for a Federal identification-related requirement (see H.R. 4440), H3438 (see H.R. 4440), H3538 [20MY]

Immigration and Nationality Act: improve process for verifying an individual's eligibility for employment (see H.R. 4306), H3720 [2JN]

———reform the judicial review process of orders of removal (see H.R. 4406), H3720 [2JN]

Iran: urge compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency resolutions on nuclear weapons program and call for international cooperation with such compliance (see H. Con. Res. 332), H1370 [23MR]

Irma Rangel Post Office Building, Kingsville, TX: designate (see H.R. 4829), H5792 [14JY]

Law enforcement: protect vulnerable persons from drug trafficking (see H.R. 4547), H5331 [7JY]

Mexico: disapprove U.S.-Mexico Social Security totalization agreement (see H. Res. 720), H5908 [15JY]

NASA: tribute to Hubble Space Telescope for extraordinary contributions to scientific research and education and reconsideration of future service missions (see H. Res. 550), H1230 [17MR]

National Computer Security Awareness Month: support goals and ideals (see H. Con. Res. 502), H8409 [6OC]

National security: enhance homeland security science and technology (see H.R. 5069), H7329 [21SE]

NSF: establish a National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (see H.R. 3980), H2266 [21AP]

Reagan, Ronald: tribute (see H.J. Res. 84), H245 [28JA]

Small business: improve results and accountability of microenterprise development assistance programs (see H.R. 3818), H1117 [16MR]

Space policy: anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing (see H. Res. 723), H5983 [19JY]

———congratulate Mojave Aerospace Ventures, LLC, and the pilots of SpaceShipOne for winning the Ansari X Prize and commend the X Prize Foundation for spurring this achievement (see H. Res. 820), H8167 [5OC]

———mint coins in commemoration of the anniversaries of NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (see H.R. 4881), H6555 [21JY]

———tribute to NASA, the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, and Cornell University for conducting the Mars Exploration Rover mission, and recognition of importance of space exploration (see H. Res. 490), H90 [21JA]

Sports: provide immunity for nonprofit athletic organizations in lawsuits arising from claims of ordinary negligence relative to the passage or adoption of rules for athletic competitions and practices (see H.R. 3369), H1072 [11MR]

Supreme Court: anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education decision (see H. Con. Res. 414), H2548 [4MY]

———clarify inconsistencies in Blakely v. Washington decision dealing with sentencing guidelines (see H. Con. Res. 478), H6705 [22JY]

Taxation: allow a deduction for premiums on mortgage insurance (see H.R. 1336), H3781 [3JN]

———allow issuance of tax-exempt private activity bonds to finance certain surface transportation facilities (see H.R. 3857), H699 [26FE]

———make allowance of the deduction of State and local general sales taxes in lieu of State and local income taxes permanent (see H.R. 5384), H9999 [18NO]

———permanently extend the increased standard deduction and certain income tax rate bracket expansions for married taxpayers filing joint returns (see H.R. 4181), H2264 [21AP]

———remove impediments to make manufacturing, service, and high-technology businesses more competitive and productive (see H.R. 4520), H3964 [14JN]

Telecommunications: increase penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane language (see H.R. 3717), H88 [21JA]

Terrorism: modify designation of foreign terrorist organizations and include information on groups seeking weapons of mass destruction or designated as terrorist organizations in Dept. of State country reports (see H.R. 3978), H2019 [1AP]

Thomas E. Creek Dept. of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Amarillo, TX: designate (see H.R. 4836), H5907 [15JY]

Veterans: increase the minimum Survivor Benefit Plan basic annuity for certain surviving spouses and provide for a one-year open season under that plan (see H.R. 3763), H1643 [29MR]

Bills and resolutions introduced

Copyrights: enhance criminal enforcement of copyright laws and educate the public about the application of copyright law to the Internet (see H.R. 4077), H1789 [31MR]

Courts: modify the prohibition on recognition of certain rights relative to certain marks, trade names, or commercial names (see H.R. 4225), H2482 [28AP]

Crime: provide additional civil and criminal remedies for domain name fraud (see H.R. 3754), H303 [3FE]

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: improve attorney accountability (see H.R. 4571), H4170 [15JN]

Immigration and Nationality Act: amend relative to certain H-1B and L nonimmigrants (see H.R. 4166), H2153 [2AP]

Motion pictures: provide that making limited portions of audio or video content imperceptible by a lawful possessor of an authorized copy for private home viewing is not a copyright or trademark infringement (see H.R. 4586), H4286 [16JN]

Television: extend statutory license for secondary transmissions of superstations and networks (see H.R. 4518), H3784 [4JN]

Letters

Assessment of war and reconstruction efforts in Iraq: Robert L. Nofsinger, E1827 [7OC]

Filing of civil actions against repatriated and foreign corporations: by, E1839 [8OC]

Satellite Home Viewer Extension and Reauthorization Act: Eddie Fritts, National Association of Broadcasters, H8220 [6OC]

———several business organizations, H8221 [6OC]

Memorandums

Filing of Civil Actions Against Repatriated and Foreign Corporations: Kenneth R. Thomas, Congressional Research Service, E1839 [8OC]

Remarks

Bankruptcy: extend reenactment period for chapter 12 of the bankruptcy code relative to family farmers (S. 1920), H157 [28JA]

———reform, H157 [28JA]

Bush, President: evaluation of administration, H6560 [22JY]

Business and industry: require mandatory expensing of stock options granted to executive officers (H.R. 3574), H6010 [20JY]

CBS Worldwide Inc.: failure to adequately report on the significant increase in jobs, H4896 [24JN]

Computers: discourage spyware (H.R. 4661), H8252 [6OC]

Copyrights: enhance criminal enforcement of copyright laws and educate the public about the application of copyright law to the Internet (H.R. 4077), H7658 [28SE], E1788-E1790 [4OC]

———replace copyright arbitration royalty panels with a Copyright Royalty Judge (H.R. 1417), H770 [3MR], H1081 [16MR], H9857 [17NO]

Courts: allow filing of civil actions against repatriated and foreign corporations, E1839 [8OC]

———allow judges to whom certain multidistrict litigation cases are transferred to retain jurisdiction (H.R. 1768), H1378 [24MR]

———divide the ninth judicial circuit into three circuits, H8060 [5OC]

———limit Federal court jurisdiction over questions under the Defense of Marriage Act (H.R. 3313), H6585 [22JY], H7828 [29SE]

Dept. of HHS: prohibit funds for National Institute of Mental Health study of college students dorm rooms, web pages, and what makes a meaningful day, H6950 [9SE]

Dept. of Homeland Security: increase detention bed space for illegal immigrants, H8871 [8OC]

Dept. of the Treasury: financial institutions acceptance of foreign consular-issued identification cards, H7162 [14SE]

Depts. of Commerce, Justice, and State, the Judiciary, and related agencies: making appropriations (H.R. 4754), H5352, H5362 [8JY]

Depts. of Labor, HHS, and Education, and related agencies: making appropriations (H.R. 5006), H6950 [9SE]

Depts. of Transportation and the Treasury, and independent agencies: making appropriations (H.R. 5025), H7162 [14SE]

Economy: evaluation of Bush administration, H7449 [23SE]

Edwards, Senator: selection as Democratic Vice Presidential candidate, H5155 [6JY]

Families and domestic relations: constitutional amendment relative to definition of marriage (H.J. Res. 106), H7910 [30SE]

Federal Rules of Civil Procedure: improve attorney accountability (H.R. 4571), H7101, H7107, H7115 [14SE], E1839 [8OC]

Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: exempt bookstores and libraries from orders requiring the production of any tangible things for certain foreign intelligence investigations, H5352 [8JY]

Gorelick, Jamie E.: resignation from, and testimony before, the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the U.S., H2383 [27AP]

House of Representatives: require States to hold special elections to fill vacancies in the House not later than 21 days after the vacancy is announced in extraordinary circumstances (H.R. 2844), H2321 [22AP], H3675 [2JN]

Idaho: establish an additional permanent Federal judgeship (S. 878), H8051, H8060 [5OC]

Immigration: enforce existing Federal law that localities report aliens who commit crimes to immigration authorities, H5362 [8JY]

Intelligence services: authorizing appropriations (H.R. 4548), H4841 [23JN]

Iraq: assessment of war and reconstruction efforts, E1827 [7OC]

Law enforcement: prevent and punish counterfeiting of copyrighted copies and phonorecords (H.R. 3632), H7266 [21SE]

Medicare: impose conditions on Federal reimbursement of emergency health services furnished to undocumented aliens (H.R. 3722), H3098 [18MY]

Members of Congress: constitutional amendment on appointment of individuals to fill House of Representatives vacancies (H.J. Res. 83), H3675 [2JN]

NASA: support space exploration, H3767 [3JN]

National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the U.S.: implement recommendation on expedited removal for aliens without proper documentation, H8688 [7OC]

National security: reform the intelligence community and enhance terrorism prevention and prosecution, border security, and international cooperation and coordination (H.R. 10), H8688 [7OC], H8871 [8OC]

News media: encourage fair and unbiased reporting, H1744 [31MR], H5545 [13JY]

———examples of alleged bias in reporting, H6717 [7SE], H7195 [15SE], H7255 [21SE], H7587 [28SE], H8643 [7OC], H9966 [18NO], E2079 [20NO]

Patent and Trademark Office: create a refund program to eliminate potential incentives for diverting revenue, and set regulations on certain types of patent searches, H802 [3MR]

Patents: amend certain laws relative to patent fees (H.R. 1561), H797, H802 [3MR], H1081 [16MR]

Political parties: efforts at bipartisanship, H9689 [16NO]

Presidents of the U.S.: recognize birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln, E501 [2AP]

Reagan, Ronald: tribute (H. Res. 664), H3857 [9JN]

Research: promote among universities, the public sector, and private enterprise (H.R. 2391), H945 [10MR], H1081 [16MR]

State Justice Institute: reauthorize (H.R. 2714), H943 [10MR]

Supreme Court: use of opinions of foreign courts in certain decisions, H1486 [25MR]

Taxation: make permanent the moratorium on the taxation of Internet and interactive computer service commerce (S. 150), H10028 [19NO]

Telecommunications: increase penalties for violations by television and radio broadcasters of the prohibitions against transmission of obscene, indecent, and profane language (H.R. 3717), H1026 [11MR]

Television: extend statutory license for secondary transmissions of superstations and networks (H.R. 4518), H8220 [6OC]

Terrorism: modify designation of foreign terrorist organizations and include information on groups seeking weapons of mass destruction or designated as terrorist organizations in Dept. of State country reports, H4841 [23JN]