Thursday, December 8, 2005

[[Page D1266]]

                              Daily Digest

                                 Senate


Chamber Action
  The Senate was not in session today. It will next meet at 2 p.m., on 
Monday, December 12, 2005.

Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
HURRICANE KATRINA
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee 
concluded hearings to examine perspectives of FEMA's operations 
professionals relative to Hurricane Katrina, after receiving testimony 
from Scott Wells, Federal Coordinating Officer, FEMA Joint Field Office 
(Baton Rouge, Louisiana), Philip E. Parr, Deputy Federal Coordinating 
Officer, FEMA Joint Field Office (Austin, Texas), and William L. 
Carwile, former Federal Coordinating Officer, FEMA Joint Field Office 
(Biloxi, Mississippi), all of the Department of Homeland Security.
NOMINATIONS
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Committee 
concluded hearings on the nominations of George W. Foresman, of 
Virginia, to be Under Secretary for Preparedness, and Tracy A. Henke, 
of Missouri, to be Executive Director of the Office of State and Local 
Government Coordination and Preparedness, both of the Department of 
Homeland Security. Ms. Henke was introduced by Representative Emerson.






                        House of Representatives


Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 28 public bills, H.R. 4471-
4498; 1 private bill, H.R. 4499; and 6 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 312-
314; and H. Res. 591-593 were introduced.
  Pages H11326-27
Additional Cosponsors:
  Pages H11327-28
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
  H.R. 972, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2006 through 
2007 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and for other 
purposes, with an amendment (H. Rept. 109-317, Pt. 2);
  H.R. 1090, to designate a Forest Service trail at Waldo Lake in the 
Willamette National Forest in the State of Oregon as a national 
recreation trail in honor of Jim Weaver, a former Member of the House 
of Representatives, with an amendment (H. Rept. 109-331);
  S. 362, to establish a program within the National Oceanic and 
Atmospheric Administration and the United States Coast Guard to help 
identify, determine sources of, assess, reduce, and prevent marine 
debris and its adverse impacts on the marine environment and navigation 
safety, in coordination with non-Federal entities, with an amendment 
(H. Rept. 109-332, Pt. 1); and
  Conference Report on H.R. 3199, to extend and modify authorities 
needed to combat terrorism, and for other purposes (H. Rept. 109-333). 
                                                            Page H11326
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein he appointed 
Representative LaHood to act as Speaker pro tempore for today. 
                                                            Page H11223
Tax Relief Extension Reconciliation Act of 2005: The House passed H.R. 
4297, to provide for reconciliation pursuant to section 201(b) of the 
concurrent resolution on the budget for fiscal year 2006, by a yea-and-
nay vote of 234 yeas to 197 nays, Roll No. 621.
  Pages H11227-64
  Rejected the Rangel motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on 
Ways and Means with instructions to report the same back to the House 
forthwith with amendments by a yea-and-nay vote of 193 yeas to 235 
nays, Roll No. 620.
Pages H11262-64

[[Page D1267]]


  Pursuant to the rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute 
recommended by the Committee on Ways and Means, now printed in the bill 
shall be considered as adopted.
Page H11227
Rejected:
  Rangel amendment in the nature of a substitute (printed in H. Rept. 
109-330) that sought to extend for one year all the expiring provisions 
contained in Title I of H.R. 4297, including the deduction for state 
and local retail sales taxes, the deduction for college tuition 
expenses, tax incentives for the District of Columbia and Indian 
reservations, 15 year depreciation period for leasehold and restaurant 
improvements, qualified zone academy bonds, the Brownfields cleanup tax 
incentive, and several other minor provisions. The amendment makes no 
substantive changes to the expiring provisions, except for the research 
credit, work opportunity tax credit, and welfare-to-work tax credit, 
which are expanded to match the Thomas bill. In addition to the one-
year extensions that are retained by the amendment, the amendment also 
would extend the temporary provision that terminates at the end of this 
calendar year and that provides a larger earned income tax credit for 
the families of those serving in Iraq and other conforming and 
technical changes, by a yea-and-nay vote of 192 yeas to 239 nays, Roll 
No. 619.
Pages H11249-62
  H. Res. 588, the rule providing for consideration of the bill was 
agreed to by voice vote, after agreeing to order the previous question 
without objection.
Page H11227
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules and pass the 
following measure which was debated on Wednesday, December 7th:
  Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of 2005: H.R. 1400, to 
amend title 18, United States Code, to provide penalties for aiming 
laser pointers at airplanes.
  Page H11264
Privileged Resolution: The Chair ruled that the resolution offered by 
Representative Pelosi did constitute a question of the privileges of 
the House. Agreed to the motion to table H. Res. 591 by a recorded vote 
of 219 ayes to 188 noes, Roll No. 622.
  Pages H11264-66
Meeting Hour: Agreed that when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to 
meet at noon on Monday, December 12th, and when the House adjourns on 
Monday, it adjourn to meet at 12:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 13th, for 
Morning Hour Debate.
  Page H11268
Calendar Wednesday: Agreed to dispense with the Calendar Wednesday 
business of Wednesday, December 14th.
  Page H11268
Quorum Calls--Votes: Three yea-and-nay votes and 1 recorded vote 
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H11261-
62, H11263-64, H11264, H11265-66. There were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

Committee Meetings
PROSECUTING WAR CRIMINALS LIVING IN THE UNITED STATES
Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Science, The Department of 
State, Justice, and Commerce, and Related Agencies held a hearing on 
Federal efforts related to the exclusion, removal and prosecution of 
aliens and naturalized U.S. citizens who have committed war crimes or 
human rights abuses outside the U.S. Testimony was heard from Eli 
Rosenbaum, Director, Office of Special Investigations, Criminal 
Division, Department of Justice; and Stephen A. Edson, Deputy Assistant 
Secretary, Visa Services, Department of State.
PULMONARY HYPERTENSION/CHRONIC PAIN RESEARCH
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing 
entitled ``Improving America's Health: Examining Federal Research 
Efforts for Pulmonary Hypertension and Chronic Pain.'' Testimony was 
heard from Mark Gladwin, M.D., Chief, Vascular Medicine Branch, 
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH, Department of Health 
and Human Services; CPT John Pruden, USA; and public witnesses.
POST-HURRICANES HOUSING OPTIONS
Committee on Financial Services: Subcommittee on Housing and Community 
Opportunity held a hearing entitled ``Housing Options in the Aftermath 
of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.'' Testimony was heard from David E. 
Garratt, Acting Director, Recovery Division, FEMA, Department of 
Homeland Security.
RESOLUTION--IRAQ WAR DOCUMENT REQUEST
Committee on International Relations: Began markup of H. Res. 549, 
Requesting the President of the United States provide to the House of 
Representatives all documents in his possession relating to his October 
7, 2002, speech in Cincinnati, Ohio, and his January 23, 2003, State of 
the Union address.

[[Page D1268]]


BORDER PROTECTION, ANTITERRORISM, AND ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION CONTROL ACT; 
TRAFFICKING VICTIMS PROTECTION REAUTHORIZATION ACT
Committee on the Judiciary: Ordered reported, as amended, the following 
bills: H.R. 4437, Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal 
Immigration Control Act of 2005; and H.R. 972, Trafficking Victims 
Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005.
INDIAN TRUST REFORM ACT
Committee on Resources: Held a hearing on H.R. 4322, Indian Trust 
Reform Act of 2005. Testimony was heard from Jason Carson, Associate 
Deputy Secretary, Department of the Interior; and a public witness.






                     COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR FRIDAY,

                            DECEMBER 9, 2005

        (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)


                                 Senate

  No meetings/hearings scheduled.






                      CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD

             Week of December 12 through December 17, 2005

                             Senate Chamber

  On Monday, Senate will be in a period of morning business.
  During the balance of the week, Senate expects to consider any 
cleared legislative and executive business, including appropriation 
conference reports, when available.


                           Senate Committees

        (Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)
  Committee on Armed Services: December 13, to hold closed hearings 
to examine the nomination of Dorrance Smith, of Virginia, to be an 
Assistant Secretary of Defense, 9:30 a.m., SR-222.
  Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation: December 12, 
to hold hearings to examine the Transportation Security 
Administration's new security procedures and changes to the 
prohibited items list, 2:30 p.m., SD-562.
  December 13, Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the 
nominations of Deborah Taylor Tate, of Tennessee, and Michael Joseph 
Copps, of Virginia, each to be a Member of the Federal Communications 
Commission, 10 a.m., SD-106.
  December 15, Full Committee, business meeting to consider pending 
calendar business, 10 a.m., SD-106.
  Committee on Environment and Public Works: December 14, to hold 
hearings to examine the Environmental Protection Agency's spill 
prevention control and countermeasure program, 9 a.m., SD-406.
  Committee on Finance: December 14, to hold hearings to examine the 
nominations of Antonio Fratto, of Pennsylvania, to be Assistant 
Secretary of the Treasury for Public Affairs, David M. Spooner, of 
Virginia, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Import 
Administration, Vincent J. Ventimiglia, Jr., of Maryland, to be 
Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Legislation, 
Richard T. Crowder, of Virginia, to be Chief Agricultural 
Negotiator, Office of the United States Trade Representative, with 
the rank of Ambassador, and Jeffrey Robert Brown, of Illinois, to be 
a Member of Social Security Advisory Board, 11 a.m., SD-215.


                            House Committees

  Committee on Agriculture, December 14, Subcommittee on General 
Farm Commodities and Risk Management, hearing to review Technical 
Procedures of USDA's Establishment of Posted County Prices, 10 a.m., 
1300 Longworth.
  Committee on Energy and Commerce, December 13, Subcommittee on 
Oversight and Investigations, hearing entitled ``Safety of Imported 
Pharmaceuticals: Strengthening Efforts to Combat the Sales of 
Controlled Substances Over the Internet'', 1 p.m., 2123 Rayburn.
  December 15, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, hearing 
entitled ``Oversight and Administration of the 340B Drug Discount 
Program: Improving Efficiency and Transparency'', 1 p.m., 2322 
Rayburn.
  Committee on Government Reform, December 13, Subcommittee on 
National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations and 
the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human 
Resources, joint hearing entitled ``International Maritime 
Security'', 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn.
  Committee on Homeland Security, December 14, Subcommittee on 
Prevention of Nuclear and Biological Attack, hearing and markup of 
H.R. 3197, Secure Handling of Ammonium Nitrate Act of 2005, 10 a.m., 
2237 Rayburn.
  Committe on International Relations, December 14, full Committee, 
to continue markup of H. Res. 549, Requesting the President of the 
United States provide to the House of Representatives all documents 
in his possession relating to his October 7, 2002, speech in 
Cincinnati, Ohio, and his January 28, 2003, State of the Union 
address, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
  Committee on the Judiciary, December 13, Subcommittee on 
Commercial and Administrative Law, hearing on H.R. 4019, To amend 
title 4 of the United States Code to clarify the treatment of self-
employment for purposes of the limitation on State taxation of 
retirement income, 4 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.
  Committee on Resources, December 14, Subcommittee on National 
Parks, oversight hearing on The National Park Service Organic Act 
and its Implementation through Daily Park Management, 2 p.m., 1324 
Longworth.

[[Page D1269]]


  December 15, Subcommittee on Fisheries and Oceans, oversight 
hearing on the Effects of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita on Fishing 
Resources, the Fishing Industry and Fishing Communities in the Gulf 
of Mexico, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
  Committee on Science, December 14, Subcommittee on Energy, hearing 
on Department of Energy's Plan for Climate Change Technology 
Programs, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.
  Committee on Veterans' Affairs, December 15, Subcommittee 
Oversight and Investigations, oversight hearing on the Department of 
Veterans Affairs' flu vaccination program, and preparations for a 
possible Avian Flu Pandemic, 10 a.m., 334 Cannon.
  Committee on Ways and Means, December 13, Subcommittee on 
Oversight, hearing to Review the Response by Charities to Hurricane 
Katrina, 3 p.m., 1100 Longworth.
  Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, December 15, 
executive, briefing on Global Updates/Hotspots, 9 a.m., H-405 
Capitol.
  Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation for and 
Response to Hurricane Katrina, December 14, hearing entitled 
``Hurricane Katrina: Preparedness and Response by the State of 
Louisiana'', 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.

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[[Page D1270]]

_______________________________________________________________________


                       Next Meeting of the SENATE
                      2 p.m., Monday, December 12

                               
                             Senate Chamber
Program for Monday: Senate will be in a period of morning business.

              Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
                      12 noon, Monday, December 12

                               
                             House Chamber
Program for Monday: The House will meet in pro forma session at 12 
noon.
_______________________________________________________________________


            Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue
              HOUSE
  
Abercrombie, Neil, Hawaii, E2500
Ackerman, Gary L., N.Y., E2495
Baldwin, Tammy, Wisc., E2494
Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E2489
Brown, Corrine, Fla., E2490
Burgess, Michael C., Tex., E2494
Capuano, Michael E., Mass., E2500
Cuellar, Henry, Tex., E2481, E2483, E2486, E2486
Davis, Danny K., Ill., E2500
Diaz-Balart, Lincoln, Fla., E2494
Emanuel, Rahm, Ill., E2481, E2484
Filner, Bob, Calif., E2493
Frank, Barney, Mass., E2489
Gordon, Bart, Tenn., E2494
Gutierrez, Luis V., Ill., E2495
Hart, Melissa A., Pa., E2488
Hensarling, Jeb, Tex., E2495, E2498, E2500
Higgins, Brian, N.Y., E2481, E2483, E2486, E2486, E2487, E2488
Jackson-Lee, Sheila, Tex., E2481, E2484
Jones, Stephanie Tubbs, Ohio, E2490
Jones, Walter B., N.C., E2494
Kind, Ron, Wisc., E2486
Larson, John B., Conn., E2501
Lee, Barbara, Calif., E2496, E2499
McCollum, Betty, Minn., E2481, E2482, E2483, E2484, E2485, E2486, 
E2487, E2488, E2489
McIntyre, Mike, N.C., E2493
Maloney, Carolyn B., N.Y., E2490, E2495, E2498, E2499
Moran, James P., Va., E2491
Nadler, Jerrold, N.Y., E2490
Oberstar, James L., Minn., E2492
Pallone, Frank, Jr., N.J., E2501
Porter, Jon C., Nev., E2495, E2498
Reynolds, Thomas M., N.Y., E2482, E2485
Salazar, John T., Colo., E2491
Schwartz, Allyson Y., Pa., E2487
Tancredo, Thomas G., Colo., E2482, E2484
Tauscher, Ellen O., Calif., E2487
Udall, Mark, Colo., E2483, E2485, E2493
Weller, Jerry, Ill., E2490
Wilson, Heather, N.M., E2491