![](media/image1.jpeg){width="6.489583333333333in"
height="1.15625in"}**Legislative
Bulletin.....................................September 17, 2007**

> **Contents:**
>
> **H.R. 3246 ---** Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act
> of 2007
>
> **H.Res. 593 ---** Congratulating scientists F. Sherwood Rowland,
> Mario Molina, and Paul Crutzen for their work in atmospheric
> chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of
> ozone, that led to the development of the Montreal Protocol on
> Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
>
> **H.R. 1657 ---** To establish a Science and Technology Scholarship
> Program to award scholarships to recruit and prepare students for
> careers in the National Weather Service and in National Oceanic and
> Atmospheric Administration marine research, atmospheric research, and
> satellite programs
>
> **H.R. 3527 ---** To extend for two months the authorities of the
> Overseas Private Investment Corporation
>
> **H.R. 3528 ---** To provide authority to the Peace Corps to provide
> separation pay for host country resident personal services contractors
> of the Peace Corps\
> **H.R. 3096** --- Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007
>
> **H. Res. 238 ---** Commending the first democratic elections in Aceh,
> a province in Sumatra, Indonesia, and expressing support for the
> further democratic development and implementation of the Helsinki
> Memorandum of Understanding
>
> **H. Res. 497 ---** Expressing the sense of the House of
> Representatives that the Government of the People's Republic of China
> should immediately release from custody the children of Rebiya Kadeer
> and Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil and should refrain from further
> engaging in acts of cultural, linguistic, and religious suppression
> directed against the Uyghur people
>
> **H. Res. 518 ---** Recognizing the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's
> independence
>
> **H. Res. 583 ---** Recognizing the remarkable example of Sir Nicholas
> Winton who organized the rescue of 669 Jewish Czechoslovakian children
> from Nazi death camps prior to the outbreak of World War II
>
> **H. Res. 639 ---** Commending the actions of the Government of
> Germany and its cooperation with United States intelligence agencies
> in preventing a large-scale terrorist attack against locations in
> Germany, including sites frequented by Americans
>
> **H. R. 1154 ---** To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Michael
> Ellis DeBakey, M.D.

**H.R. 3246 --- Regional Economic and Infrastructure Development Act of
2007 *(Oberstar, D-MN)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.R. 3246 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 3246 would authorize \$1.25 billion over
five years to create five regional road commissions. The commissions
would be state-federal partnerships that would provide grants to state
and local governments to promote infrastructure and road development.
The bill would create the following five commissions, three of which are
new and two of which replace current entities:

-   The Delta Regional Commission, which would replace the existing
    Delta Regional Authority, and would include counties in Alabama,
    Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and
    Tennessee;

-   The Northern Great Plains Regional Commission, which would replace
    the existing Northern Great Plains Regional Authority, and would
    include counties in Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota and
    South Dakota, as well as certain counties in Missouri;

-   The Southeast Crescent Regional Commission, which would include all
    counties in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia,
    Alabama, Mississippi and Florida that are not included in the
    Appalachian Regional Commission or Delta Regional Commission;

-   The Southwest Border Regional Commission, which would in include
    counties in Arizona, California, New Mexico, and Texas; and

-   The Northern Border Regional Commission, which would include
    counties in Maine, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.

The bill would require each regional commission to evaluate the region
and to establish strategies for awarding grants in the region that would
encourage development and meet the specific needs of the region. The
commission would be required to support the creation of local
development districts and to work with private and local entities to
foster development and cooperation throughout the region.

The commissions would also be required to designate specific
"distressed," "transitional," or "attainment" counties within the
region. H.R. 3246 would require that 50% of the commission's assistance
be given to counties that are defined as "distressed," which is defined
as having high rates of unemployment and poverty. In general,
"attainment" counties would not be able to receive funds for any other
costs than administrative expenses.

Each commission would consist of a federally appointed co-chair
appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. The commission
would also include the governors of all participating states. The bill
would also require that a tribal co-chair be appointed to the Northern
Great Plains Regional Commission. In addition, tribes in the Southwest
Border Regional Commission would be allowed to participate in the
official business of the commission. Each commission would be
responsible for hiring and paying an executive director and staff to
carry out the functions of the commission.

The bill limits the federal share of funding for projects carried out by
the commission to 50%, unless the project is conducted in a county that
is designated as distressed, in which case the share would be as high as
80%. H.R. 2346 would allow the commissions to use federal funds to
supplement the cost of current federal projects within the region. Under
those circumstances, federal funds could account for up to 80% of the
cost of the project.

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: Regional Commissions, such as
the Appalachian Regional Commission, the Denali Commission, and the
Tennessee Valley Authority, have been used in the past as a means to
fund development in certain parts of the country. H.R. 3246 would create
three new regional commissions and replace two existing commissions. The
Delta Regional Authority and the Northern Great Plains Regional
Authority, which would be replaced by H.R. 3246, both expire at the end
of FY 2007 and have not been extended.

According to House Report [110 --
321](http://www.congress.gov/cgi-lis/cpquery/R?cp110:FLD010:@1(hr321)),
the purposes of the new regional commissions are to "provide a
comprehensive regional approach to economic and infrastructure
development in the most severely economically distressed regions in the
Nation," and to "ensure that the most severely economically distressed
regions in the Nation have the necessary tools to develop the basic
building blocks for economic development, such as transportation and
basic public infrastructure, job skills training, and business
development."

In the past, grants and awards given by regional commissions have been
criticized for being duplicative of other federal programs.
Additionally, regional commission projects are often designated through
earmarks and have been suggested to be a source of pork-barrel federal
spending.

**[Possible Conservative Concerns]{.underline}**: Some conservatives may
be concerned that the authorized spending level for this new program is
not offset by reducing existing low-priority federal programs.  Some
conservatives may also be concerned that the suspension calendar,
intended for non-controversial bills, is being used to create new,
potentially duplicative programs.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 3246 was introduced on July 31,
2007 and referred to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
as well as the Committee on Financial Services. On August 2, 2007, the
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure held a mark-up and
reported the bill, as amended, was reported by voice vote. On September
7, 2007, the bill was discharged by the Committee on Financial Services.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: According to CBO, H.R. 3246 would
authorize \$200 million in FY 2008 and \$1.25 billion over the FY 2008
-- FY 2012 period.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** Yes. The bill would create five state-federal
commissions to provide grants and awards for local development purpose.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: House Report 110-321 did not
cite specific Constitutional authority. However, House Rule XIII,
Section 3(d)(1), requires that all committee reports contain "a
statement citing the *specific* *powers* granted to Congress in the
Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint resolution."
*\[emphasis added\]*

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.Res. 593 --- Congratulating scientists F. Sherwood Rowland, Mario
Molina, and Paul Crutzen for their work in atmospheric chemistry,
particularly concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone, that
led to the development of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that
Deplete the Ozone Layer. *(Sanchez, D-CA)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.Res. 593 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 593 would express the sense that the
House of Representatives:

-   "congratulates scientists F. Sherwood Rowland, Mario Molina, and
    Paul Crutzen for their work in atmospheric chemistry, particularly
    concerning the formation and decomposition of ozone, that led to the
    development of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
    Ozone Layer; and

-   "encourages the continued research of the interaction of humans and
    their actions with the Earth\'s ecosystem."

H.Res. 593 lists the following findings:

-   "in 1973, on the University of California, Irvine campus,
    chemists F. Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina began researching the
    depletion of stratospheric ozone by the chlorofluorocarbon gases
    then used worldwide as refrigerants and aerosol propellants;

-   "on June 28, 1974, F. Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina published in
    the scientific journal Nature, their path-breaking article,
    'Stratospheric Sink for Chlorofluoromethanes: Chlorine
    Atom-Catalysed Destruction of Ozone';

-   "in 1976, the work of F. Sherwood Rowland and Mario Molina
    connecting chlorofluorocarbons and atmospheric ozone depletion was
    confirmed by the National Academy of Sciences;

-   "in 1978, the United States banned chlorofluorocarbons as
    propellants in aerosol cans;

-   "in 1987, because of the research of F. Sherwood Rowland, Mario
    Molina, Paul Crutzen, and many other scientists, the international
    community acted through the adoption of the Montreal Protocol on
    Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer ('Montreal Protocol');

-   "the Montreal Protocol created the Multilateral Fund for the
    Implementation of the Montreal Protocol which provides funds to help
    developing countries to phase out the use of ozone-depleting
    substances;

-   "the Multilateral Fund for Implementation of the Montreal Protocol
    was the first financial mechanism to be created under an
    international treaty;

-   "the Montreal Protocol recognized that world-wide emissions of
    certain substances can significantly deplete and otherwise modify
    the ozone layer in a manner that is likely to result in adverse
    effects on human health and the environment;

-   "because of the adoption of the Montreal Protocol the levels of
    chlorofluorocarbon gases in the Earth\'s atmosphere have decreased;

-   "on September 17, 1987, the Montreal Protocol was open for
    signatures;

-   "to date, 191 nations have signed the Montreal Protocol;

-   "F. Sherwood Rowland, Mario Molina, and Paul Crutzen were awarded
    the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1995 for their work in atmospheric
    chemistry, particularly concerning the formation and decomposition
    of ozone; and

-   "September 17, 2007, marks the twentieth anniversary of the signing
    of the Montreal Protocol."

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: Some outside organizations
have asserted that environmentalist claims about ozone depletion that
lead to the Montreal Protocol were exaggerated. To read more about the
issue please click on the links below:

<http://www.heritage.org/Press/Commentary/ed091407a.cfm>

<http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2007/s2918.htm>

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 593 was introduced on July
31, 2007, and was referred to the Committee on Science and Technology,
which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution does not authorize
expenditures.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.R. 1657 --- To establish a Science and Technology Scholarship
Program to award scholarships to recruit and prepare students for
careers in the National Weather Service and in National Oceanic and
Atmospheric Administration marine research, atmospheric research, and
satellite programs (Rohrabacher, R-CA)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.R. 1657 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 1657 would establish a new scholarship
program for science and technology students that are studying for
careers at the Nation Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
marine, atmospheric, or satellite research programs.

H.R. 1657 would make scholarships available to U.S. citizens or
permanent residents that were full-time students that were or were
playing to study in an approved scientific field (as determined by NOAA)
at an institution of higher learning. The bill would require any
recipient of a scholarship under the program to work for two years at
NOAA for every one year of study through the program.

Students would lose their scholarships for failing to maintain high
academic standards or full-time enrollment. Penalties and regulations
regarding the work requirements under the program, including waivers for
students unable to fulfill their obligation, would be issued by NOAA.

Scholarships could not be awarded to any one student for more than four
years.

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: NOAA is a federal agency that
studies marine and atmospheric conditions. According to their website,
NOAA offers K---12 educational materials to encourage scientific studies
as well as scholarships for students interested in oceanic and
atmospheric research. Currently NOAA offers the Hollings scholarship
which offers undergraduate students up to \$8,000 in tuition assistance
annually to study in approved scientific research fields. According to
CQ, "Colleges and universities have expressed concern that their
educational programs that prepare students for jobs at NOAA are not
graduating enough students to meet NOAA's hiring needs."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 1657 was introduced on March
22, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Science and Technology. On
May 8, 2007, the bill was referred to the Subcommittee on Energy and
Environment, which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: A CBO score for H.R. 1657 was not
available as of press time.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** It would create a new federal scholarship
program.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: A House Report citing
specific Constitutional authority was not available. However, House Rule
XIII, Section 3(d)(1), requires that all committee reports contain "a
statement citing the *specific* *powers* granted to Congress in the
Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint resolution."
*\[emphasis added\]*

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.R. 3527 --- To extend for two months the authorities of the Overseas
Private Investment Corporation *(Sherman, D-CA)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.R. 3527 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 3527 would extend the authorization of
the Overseas Private Investment Corporation, which is set to expire at
the end of FY 2007, by two months.

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: The Overseas Private
Investment Corporation (OPIC) was established as an agency of the U.S.
government in 1971. According to their website, "OPIC helps U.S.
businesses invest overseas, fosters economic development in new and
emerging markets, complements the private sector in managing risks
associated with foreign direct investment, and supports U.S. foreign
policy. Because OPIC charges market-based fees for its products, it
operates on a self-sustaining basis at no net cost to taxpayers."

OPIC, however, has been criticized by many conservative organizations,
including the Heritage Foundation, which claims that "OPIC activity does
not lead to any net increase in U.S. employment. OPIC subsidies merely
shift employment from certain sectors of the economy to subsidized
businesses\... subsidies to businesses like those provided by OPIC
distort the market-driven distribution of capital and labor resources.
Therefore, OPIC subsidies are most likely to have no effect---and may
even have a detrimental effect---on overall national income." **Last
year's RSC budget called for the elimination of OPIC in an effort to
trim unnecessary federal spending.**

For more information about conservative opposition to OPIC, please
visit:

<http://www.heritage.org/Research/PoliticalPhilosophy/BG1127.cfm>

On July 23, 2007, the House passed a bill that would have modified and
extended OPIC through 2001 by voice vote. The Senate has to take any
action on the legislation.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 3527 was introduced on
September 14, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: A CBO score for H.R. 3527 was not
available as of press time.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: A House Report citing
specific Constitutional authority was not available. However, House Rule
XIII, Section 3(d)(1), requires that all committee reports contain "a
statement citing the *specific* *powers* granted to Congress in the
Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint resolution."
*\[emphasis added\]*

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.R. 3528 --- To provide authority to the Peace Corps to provide
separation pay for host country resident personal services contractors
of the Peace Corps *(Lantos, D-CA)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.R. 3528 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 3528 would allow the Peace Corps to
establish a fund to pay resident personal services contractors on
nations that host Peace Corps activities.

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: The Peace Corps, which was
created in 1961, sends people to serve developing nations by living and
working in foreign countries. According to the Peace Corps, more than
187,000 volunteers have served overseas since its inception. The Peace
Corps is currently focusing many of its efforts on carrying out the
president's emergency AIDS plan around the world.

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 3528 was introduced on
September 14, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs,
which took no official action.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: A CBO score for H.R. 3528 was not
available as of press time.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: A House Report citing
specific Constitutional authority was not available. However, House Rule
XIII, Section 3(d)(1), requires that all committee reports contain "a
statement citing the *specific* *powers* granted to Congress in the
Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint resolution."
*\[emphasis added\]*

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H.R. 3096 --- Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2007 (Smith, R-NJ)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.R. 3096 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.R. 3096 would prohibit the U.S. government
from providing non-humanitarian aid to the government of Vietnam until
the president issues a report stating that the government has made
significant progress in respecting human rights.

The report must confirm that Vietnam has made substantial progress
toward respecting religious freedom, releasing political prisoners,
returning government confiscated property, granting free access to U.S.
refugee programs, and respecting basic human rights. The bill would also
designate money for AIDS relief as "humanitarian aid" so that it can
still be given to Vietnam.

H.R. 3096 would authorize \$2 million for each of FY 2008 and FY 2009
for individuals and organizations that promote democracy and human
rights in Vietnam. The bill would also authorize \$9 million in FY 2008
and \$1.1 million in FY 2009 to stop the government of Vietnam from
jamming broadcasts from Radio Free Asia. Finally, the bill would urge
the use of cultural exchange programs to encourage democracy in Vietnam
and authorize refugee status to citizens of Vietnam who were previously
refused because of administrative error.

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: According to the findings
listed in the bill, "the United States Congress agreed to Vietnam
becoming an official member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in
2006, amidst assurances that the Vietnamese Government was steadily
improving its human rights record and would continue to do so. Despite
that assurance, Vietnam remains a one-party state, ruled and controlled
by the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV), which continues to deny the
right of citizens to change their government. Although in recent years
the National Assembly of Vietnam has played an increasingly active role
as a forum for highlighting local concerns, corruption, and
inefficiency, the National Assembly remains subject to the direction of
the CPV and the CPV maintains control over the selection of candidates
in national and local elections. Government of Vietnam forbids public
challenge to the legitimacy of the one-party state, restricts freedoms
of opinion, the press, and association and tightly limits access to the
Internet and telecommunication."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.R. 3096 was introduced on July 19,
2007, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, which held a
markup and reported the bill by voice vote on July 31, 2007.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: According to CBO, H.R. 3096 would
authorize \$11 million in FY 2008 and \$20 million over the FY 2008 --
FY 2012 period.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[Constitutional Authority]{.underline}**: A House Report citing
specific Constitutional authority was not available. However, House Rule
XIII, Section 3(d)(1), requires that all committee reports contain "a
statement citing the *specific* *powers* granted to Congress in the
Constitution to enact the law proposed by the bill or joint resolution."
*\[emphasis added\]*

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Andy Koenig;
<andy.koenig@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-9717.

**H. Res. 238 --- Commending the first democratic elections in Aceh, a
province in Sumatra, Indonesia, and expressing support for the further
democratic development and implementation of the Helsinki Memorandum of
Understanding *(Crowley, D-NY)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.Res. 238 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 238 would express that the sense of
the House of Representatives;

-   "commends the first democratic elections in Aceh, a province in
    Sumatra, Indonesia, in which the Acehnese have shown their strong
    commitment to democracy and peace, and congratulates Irwandi Yusuf,
    the first democratic elected governor of Aceh;

-   "expresses its ongoing support for the further democratic
    development of Aceh and the Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding
    signed by the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement on
    August 15, 2005;

-   "encourages both parties to live up to their commitments under the
    Helsinki Memorandum of Understanding, especially with regard to
    establishing a Human Rights Court for Aceh and a Commission of Truth
    and Reconciliation; and

-   "encourages the Secretary of State and the Administrator of the
    United States Agency for International Development to commit
    resources in supporting the peace and building a strong civil
    society in Aceh."

The resolution lists the following findings:

-   "for three decades there has been a continuous armed conflict in
    Aceh, a province in Sumatra, Indonesia;

-   "violence between the Indonesian military and the Free Aceh Movement
    has resulted in an estimated 15,000 deaths in the region;

-   "the tsunami on December 26, 2004, killed at least 165,000 people in
    Aceh, devastated the landscape, and led to the loss of livelihood
    for 600,000 people;

-   "the Government of Indonesia and the Free Aceh Movement signed a
    Memorandum of Understanding on August 15, 2005, in Helsinki;

-   "the Aceh Monitoring Mission (AMM), led by the European Union (EU),
    the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Norway, and
    Switzerland, has supported the implementation of the Helsinki
    Memorandum of Understanding successfully;

-   "the Free Aceh Movement has demobilized its military troops and
    decommissioned its arms;

-   "the Government of Indonesia has withdrawn its nonorganic military
    and police forces from Aceh;

-   "the Law on the Governing of Aceh (LoGA) was signed into law by
    Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on August 1, 2006;

-   "the general life situation of the Acehnese has improved
    significantly since the signing of the Helsinki Memorandum of
    Understanding and the Acehnese populate markets and celebrate
    festivities in public;

-   "the first democratic and peaceful gubernatorial and district
    administrative elections in Aceh were held on December 11, 2006, and
    more than 80 percent of entitled Acehnese voted; and

-   "Irwandi Yusuf, a former leader of the Free Aceh Movement, won the
    gubernatorial election with the highest support of more than 38
    percent of total votes."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 238 was introduced on March
12, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. A mark-up
session was held for H.Res. 238 on July 17, 2007 and the bill was
reported by unanimous consent.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-0718.

**H. Res. 497 --- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives
that the Government of the People's Republic of China should immediately
release from custody the children of Rebiya Kadeer and Canadian citizen
Huseyin Celil and should refrain from further engaging in acts of
cultural, linguistic, and religious suppression directed against the
Uyghur people, and for other purposes (Ros-Lehtinen, R-FL)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.Res. 497 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 497 would express that the sense of
the House of Representatives;

-   " should recognize, and seek to ensure, the linguistic, cultural,
    and religious rights of the Uyghur people of the Xinjiang Uyghur
    Autonomous Region;

-   "should immediately release the children of Rebiya Kadeer from both
    incarceration and house arrest and cease harassment and intimidation
    of the Kadeer family members; and

-   "should immediately release Canadian citizen Huseyin Celil and allow
    him to rejoin his family in Canada."

The resolution lists numerous followings, including the following:

-   "the protection of the human rights of minority groups is consistent
    with the actions of a responsible stakeholder in the international
    community and with the role of a host of a major international event
    such as the Olympic Games;

-   "recent actions taken against the Uyghur minority by authorities in
    the People's Republic of China and, specifically, by local officials
    in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, have included major
    violations of human rights and acts of cultural suppression;

-   "the authorities of the People's Republic of China have manipulated
    the strategic objectives of the international war on terror to
    increase their cultural and religious oppression of the Muslim
    population residing in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region;

-   "an official campaign to encourage Han Chinese migration into the
    Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region has resulted in the Uyghur
    population becoming a minority in their traditional homeland and has
    placed immense pressure on those who are seeking to preserve the
    linguistic, cultural, and religious traditions of the Uyghur people;

-   "the House of Representatives has a particular interest in the fate
    of Uyghur human rights leader Rebiya Kadeer, a Nobel Peace Prize
    nominee, and her family as Ms. Kadeer was first arrested in August
    1999 while she was en route to meet with a delegation from the
    Congressional Research Service and was held in prison on spurious
    charges until her release and exile to the United States in the
    spring of 2005;

-   "upon her release, Ms. Kadeer was warned by her Chinese jailors not
    to advocate for human rights in Xinjiang and throughout China while
    in the United States or elsewhere, and was reminded that she had
    several family members residing in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous
    Region;

-   "while residing in the United States, Ms. Kadeer founded the
    International Uyghur Human Rights and Democracy Foundation and was
    elected President of the Uyghur American Association and President
    of the World Uyghur Congress in Munich, Germany;

-   "President George W. Bush recognized the importance of Ms. Kadeer's
    human rights work in a June 5, 2007, speech in Prague, Czech
    Republic, when he stated: 'Another dissident I will meet here is
    Rebiyah Kadeer of China, whose sons have been jailed in what we
    believe is an act of retaliation for her human rights activities.
    The talent of men and women like Rebiyah is the greatest resource of
    their nations, far more valuable than the weapons of their army or
    their oil under the ground.';

-   "Ablikim Abdureyim was also convicted by a kangaroo court on April
    17, 2007, for 'instigating and engaging in secessionist' activities
    and was sentenced to nine years of imprisonment, this trial being
    held in secrecy and Mr. Abdureyim reportedly being denied the right
    to legal representation;

-   "two days later, on April 19, 2007, another court in Urumqi, the
    capital of Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, sentenced Canadian
    citizen Huseyin Celil to life in prison for 'splittism' and also for
    'being party to a terrorist organization' after having successfully
    sought his extradition from Uzbekistan where he was visiting
    relatives;

-   "Chinese authorities have continued to refuse to recognize Mr.
    Celil's Canadian citizenship, although he was naturalized in 2005,
    denied Canadian diplomats access to the courtroom when Mr. Celil was
    sentenced, and have refused to grant consular access to Mr. Celil in
    prison;

-   "a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson publicly warned Canada 'not
    to interfere in China's domestic affairs' after Mr. Celil's
    sentencing; and

-   "Mr. Celil's case was a major topic of conversation in a recent
    Beijing meeting between the Canadian and Chinese Foreign Ministers."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 497 was introduced on June
19, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. A mark-up
session was held for H.Res. 497 on June 26, 2007 and the bill was
reported by unanimous consent.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-0718.

**H. Res. 518 --- Recognizing the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's
independence *(Meeks, D-NY)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.Res. 518 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 518 would express that the sense of
the House of Representatives;

-   "recognizes the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence;

-   "expresses congratulations to Malaysia on reaching this national
    milestone; and

-   "expresses its support for an ongoing strong bilateral relationship
    between the United States and Malaysia and the continued cooperation
    of the two countries in such important areas as counter-terrorism,
    counter-narcotics, and trade."

The resolution lists the following findings:

-   "Malaysia is a modern, multi-religious, and multi-racial democracy
    in Southeast Asia that is important to the United States' strategic
    interests;

-   "Malaysia is one of the United States' key allies in the global war
    on terror, and it condemns all terrorism, regardless of its cause or
    objectives;

-   "the Prime Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi,
    has condemned those seeking to incite race and religious hatred,
    including anti-Semitism;

-   "Malaysia has taken a leading regional role in counter-terrorism and
    counter-narcotics in Southeast Asia, through intelligence sharing,
    close cooperation in law enforcement, participation in joint
    exercises and training, and other cooperative efforts with its
    neighboring countries and the United States;

-   "Malaysia is the United States' 10th largest trading partner, and
    the two countries have signed a Trade and Investment Framework
    Agreement and are currently engaged in talks for a free trade
    agreement;

-   "Malaysia has consistently been a favored destination of American
    investment due to its competitive advantages, including good
    infrastructure, a highly-trained, educated, and multilingual
    workforce, and a business-friendly government;

-   "the Malaysian Constitution guarantees gender equality, and the many
    accomplishments of Malaysian women evidence Malaysia's commitment to
    the advancement of women's social, economic, and legal status;

-   "Malaysia was ruled by the United Kingdom until 1957;

-   "Malaysia gained independence from the United Kingdom on August 31,
    1957; and

-   "August 31, 2007, is the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's
    independence, as well as the United States-Malaysia relationship."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 518 was introduced on June
26, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. A mark-up
session was held for H.Res. 518 on July 31, 2007 and the bill was
reported by unanimous consent.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-0718.

**H. Res. 583 --- Recognizing the remarkable example of Sir Nicholas
Winton who organized the rescue of 669 Jewish Czechoslovakian children
from Nazi death camps prior to the outbreak of World War II *(Klein,
D-FL)***

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.Res. 583 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 583 would express that the sense of
the House of Representatives;

-   "commends Sir Nicholas Winton and those British and Czechoslovakian
    citizens who worked with him, for their remarkable persistence and
    selfless courage in saving the lives of 669 Czechoslovakian Jewish
    children in the months before the outbreak of World War II; and

-   "urges men and women everywhere to recognize in Winton's remarkable
    humanitarian effort the difference that one devoted principled
    individual can make in changing and improving the lives of others."

The resolution numerous followings, including the following:

-   "during the Holocaust, in which some 6,000,000 Jews were brutally
    put to death by the Government of Nazi Germany, a small number of
    individuals risked their lives and spent fortunes to save the lives
    of others because they were decent and courageous men and women of
    principle;

-   " in October 1938, the Nazi Government occupied the Sudetenland area
    of Czechoslovakia, which resulted in tens of thousands of Jewish
    refugees fleeing the occupied areas and seeking safety in the areas
    of as-yet unoccupied Czechoslovakia;

-   "in the face of this enormous suffering, Winton, moved by feelings
    of deep compassion, undertook a massive effort to help the children
    of many of these Jewish families escape these horrible
    circumstances, though at that time neither he nor they knew the full
    extent of the horrors that awaited them;

-   "Winton sought to find friendly governments which would grant asylum
    to these Jewish refugee children, and his efforts were rebuffed by
    the countries whose help he requested, until the Governments of
    Sweden and the United Kingdom agreed to accept children from the
    Czechoslovakian refugee camps;

-   "Winton and other volunteers gathered names and other information on
    children whose parents recognized the importance of getting their
    children beyond the reach of the Nazi Government, and Winton was
    able to use this information to identify foster homes for these
    refugee children;

-   "Winton took the lead in raising funds to pay for the transportation
    of the children from Prague to Britain and Sweden and to pay an
    enormous government-imposed fee to cover the costs of future
    repatriation;

-   "on March 14, 1939, the first 20 children left Prague under Winton's
    auspices, and the very next day the Nazi army overran the remainder
    of un-occupied Czechoslovakia;

-   "the heroic effort of Winton and other volunteers to assist these
    young children flee occupied Czechoslovakia continued for over six
    months until the outbreak of World War II on September 1, 1939,
    during which time 669 children were able to leave in a total of
    eight separate groups;

-   "this group of 669 children, saved through the efforts of Winton and
    his collaborators, includes doctors, nurses, teachers, musicians,
    artists, writers, pilots, ministers, scientists, engineers,
    entrepreneurs, and a Member of the British Parliament, and today
    they and their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren
    number over 5,000 individuals, and these individuals live in the
    United States, Canada, Australia, the Czech Republic, Britain,
    Germany, and other countries;

-   "Winton's achievement went unrecognized and unacknowledged for more
    than half a century until his wife, who knew nothing of this
    life-saving work, came across an old leather briefcase in an attic
    in which she found lists of the children, letters from their parents
    and other materials documenting his efforts;

-   "Winton has been honored with the title of Member of the British
    Empire (MBE), was awarded the Freedom of the City of Prague,
    received the Czech Order of T. G. Masaryk, and was given a
    knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II for services to humanity."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 583 was introduced on July
27, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs. A mark-up
session was held for H.Res. 583 on July 31, 2007 and the bill was
reported by unanimous consent.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-0718.

**H. Res. 639 --- Commending the actions of the Government of Germany
and its cooperation with United States intelligence agencies in
preventing a large-scale terrorist attack against locations in Germany,
including sites frequented by Americans (Gallegly, R-CA)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}:** H.Res. 639 is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the resolution.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: H.Res. 639 would express that the sense of
the House of Representatives:

-   "commends the efforts of German law enforcement authorities in
    preventing a large-scale terrorist attack on numerous targets in
    Germany, including sites frequented by Americans;

-   "recognizes the role of United States intelligence agencies in
    providing critical information to German authorities in their
    investigation and apprehension of the suspected terrorists;

-   "commends the intelligence community of Germany for its outstanding
    work in identifying the persons seeking to carry out this terrorist
    plot;

-   "condemns those individuals who would use acts of violence against
    innocent civilians to spread a message of hate and intolerance;

-   "urges the allies of the United States in the global war against
    terrorism to remain steadfast in their efforts to defeat
    international terrorism; and

-   "expresses its readiness to provide any necessary assistance to the
    Government of Germany in its counter-terrorism efforts and to bring
    to justice those individuals involved in this terrorist plot."

The resolution numerous followings, including the following:

-   "on September 4, 2007, German police arrested three people for
    planning large-scale terrorist attacks against locations in Germany,
    including sites frequented by Americans;

-   "possible targets included Ramstein Air Base, which serves as
    headquarters for United States Air Forces in Europe and is also a
    North Atlantic Treaty Organization installation, and Frankfurt
    Airport, the third largest airport in Europe;

-   "according to German authorities, the three suspects belonged to a
    German cell of Islamic Jihad Union, a radical Sunni group based in
    Central Asia with links to Al Qaeda;

-   "German and United States authorities worked closely together in the
    investigation;

-   "United States intelligence agencies reportedly provided critical
    information that alerted their German counterparts as to the travels
    of the suspects between Germany and Pakistan and the suspects
    affiliation with the Islamic Jihad Union;

-   "German authorities acted swiftly and decisively to prevent a
    horrific attack that could have come within days of the arrests;

-   "the successful collaborative action by United States and German
    authorities prevented the possible deaths of many innocent people;

-   "Germany and the United States have been close allies in the global
    war against terrorism;

-   "the law enforcement, intelligence, and military organizations in
    Germany and the United States continue to work together to win the
    global war against terrorism;

-   "the threat of terrorism is a grave concern for all nations,
    regardless of geographical or other boundaries;

-   "on September 4, 2007, just hours before the arrests in Germany,
    authorities in Denmark apprehended eight men with links to Al Qaeda
    on suspicion of plotting a terrorist attack involving explosives;

-   "victory in the global war against terrorism is necessary to
    preserve the liberty and ensure the safety of all people."

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: H.Res. 639 was introduced on
September 6, 2007, and referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, as
well as the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. No further
action was taken.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-0718.

**H. R. 1154 --- To award a Congressional Gold Medal to Michael Ellis
DeBakey, M.D. (*Green, D-TX*)**

**[Order of Business]{.underline}**: The bill is scheduled to be
considered on Monday, September 17, 2007, under a motion to suspend the
rules and pass the bill.

**[Summary]{.underline}**: The bill authorizes a Congressional Gold
Medal to Michael Ellis DeBakey, M.D. "in recognition of his many
outstanding contributions to the Nation." The bill also authorizes the
Secretary of the Treasury to strike and sell duplicates in bronze of the
gold medal at a price sufficient to cover the cost of the gold medal.

H.R. 1154 has one finding which states that, "In 1969, President Lyndon
B. Johnson bestowed on Dr. DeBakey the Presidential Medal of Freedom
with Distinction, and in 1985, President Ronald Reagan conferred on him
the National Medal of Science."

**[Additional Information]{.underline}**: For a complete list of the
more than 150 Congressional Gold

Medal recipients from 1776 until present go to:

<http://clerk.house.gov/art_history/house_history/goldMedal.html>

**[Committee Action]{.underline}**: The bill was introduced on February
16, 2007 and was referred to the Committee on Financial Services. No
further action was taken.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: A CBO cost estimate is unavailable,
but the bill authorizes "such amounts as may be necessary" from the U.S.
Mint's Public Enterprise Fund to pay for the costs of the medals, while
sales from the duplicate bronze medals will be deposited back into the
Public Enterprise Fund. For previous Congressional Gold Medal
legislation, CBO has estimated that it costs \$30,000 to design a Gold
Medal and that each medal has \$5,500 worth of gold.

**[Cost to Taxpayers]{.underline}**: The resolution authorizes no
expenditure.

**[Does the Bill Expand the Size and Scope of the Federal
Government?]{.underline}** No.

**[Does the Bill Contain Any New State-Government, Local-Government, or
Private-Sector Mandates?]{.underline}** No.

**[RSC Staff Contact]{.underline}**: Sarah Makin;
<sarah.makin@mail.house.gov>; 202-226-0718.

\###