Congressional Record UNUM

E PLURIBUS

United States

of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 111th

 CONGRESS, FIRST SESSION

b This symbol represents the time of day during the House proceedings, e.g., b 1407 is 2:07 p.m.

Matter set in this typeface indicates words inserted or appended, rather than spoken, by a Member of the House on the floor.

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H39 

Vol. 155 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7, 2009 No. 2 

House of Representatives 

The House met at 10 a.m. and was 

called to order by the Speaker pro tempore (Mrs. TAUSCHER

f 

). 

DESIGNATION OF THE SPEAKER 

PRO TEMPORE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore laid before the House the following communication from the Speaker: 

WASHINGTON, DC, 

January 7, 2009. 

I hereby appoint the Honorable ELLEN O. 

TAUSCHER to act as Speaker pro tempore on 

this day. 

NANCY PELOSI, 

Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

f 

PRAYER 

The Chaplain, the Reverend Daniel P. 

Coughlin, offered the following prayer: 

Lord our God, gathered together as 

Members of the 111th Congress, we are 

ready to work for the good of this Nation. Called by Your voice and the will 

of free people, make us attentive to 

Your word. Being restless in our world, 

grant us Your peace. 

Whatever their diverse needs, let us 

respond the best we can. Having found 

common ground in this Nation’s history and principles of this sound government, guide us to accomplish deeds 

of justice and good order for all our 

citizens. 

We commend ourselves and this Nation to You, as the shepherd and guardian of our souls, now and forever. 

Amen. 

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THE JOURNAL 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair has examined the Journal of the 

last day’s proceedings and announces 

to the House her approval thereof. 

Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved. 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. Will the 

gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. 

BOOZMAN) come forward and lead the 

House in the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Mr. BOOZMAN led the Pledge of Allegiance as follows: 

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the 

United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, 

indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 

f 

MESSAGE FROM THE SENATE 

A message from the Senate by Ms. 

Curtis, one of its clerks, announced 

that the Senate agreed to the following 

resolution: 

S. RES. 8 

In the Senate of the United States, January 6, 2009. 

Whereas Claiborne Pell represented the 

people of Rhode Island with distinction for 36 

years in the United States Senate, from 1961 

to 1997, and was the longest-serving Senator 

in Rhode Island’s history; 

Whereas Claiborne Pell served in the 

United States Coast Guard and the Coast 

Guard Reserve, beginning in 1941 and retiring 

in 1978 with the rank of Captain; 

Whereas Claiborne Pell participated in the 

1945 United Nations Conference on International Organization that established the 

United Nations, and was a champion of the 

United Nations throughout his life; 

Whereas Claiborne Pell served as a Foreign 

Service Officer from 1945 to 1952; 

Whereas Claiborne Pell sponsored the legislation that, in 1965, created the National 

Endowment for the Arts and the National 

Endowment for the Humanities and, in 1966, 

created the National Sea Grant College and 

Program; 

Whereas Claiborne Pell’s vision led to the 

creation of an improved passenger rail system in the Northeast and across the United 

States; 

Whereas Claiborne Pell believed that economic means should not be a barrier to a 

higher education and sponsored legislation 

creating the Basic Educational Opportunity 

Grants in 1972, which were renamed ‘‘Pell 

Grants’’ in 1980; 

Whereas Pell Grants have helped 54,000,000 

people in the United States secure a higher 

education; 

Whereas Claiborne Pell sought to expand 

educational opportunities throughout his 

tenure as a member and as Chairman of the 

Senate Subcommittee on Education, Arts 

and Humanities; 

Whereas Claiborne Pell served as Chairman 

of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations in the 100th through 103rd Congresses; 

Whereas Claiborne Pell was a champion of 

human rights who devoted himself to promoting a peaceful resolution to international conflict and the elimination of the 

threat of nuclear weapons; and 

Whereas the hallmarks of Claiborne Pell’s 

public service were unsurpassed respect, decency, and civility: Now, therefore, be it 

Resolved, That— 

(1) the Senate has heard with profound sorrow and deep regret the announcement of the 

death of the Honorable Claiborne Pell, 

former member of the United States Senate; 

(2) the Secretary of the Senate communicate these resolutions to the House of Representatives and transmit an enrolled copy 

thereof to the family of the deceased; and 

(3) that when the Senate adjourns today, it 

stand adjourned as a further mark of respect 

to the memory of the Honorable Claiborne 

Pell. 

The message also announced that the 

Senate agreed to the following joint 

resolution: 

S.J. Res. 3. Joint resolution ensuring that 

the compensation and other emoluments attached to the office of Secretary of the Interior are those which were in effect on January 1, 2005. 

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ANNOUNCEMENT BY THE SPEAKER 

PRO TEMPORE 

The SPEAKER pro tempore. The 

Chair will entertain up to 15 requests 

for 1-minute speeches on each side of 

the aisle. 

f 

STAND FOR THE RULE OF LAW, 

NOT THE RULE OF FORCE 

(Mr. KUCINICH asked and was given 

permission to address the House for 1 

minute and to revise and extend his remarks.) 

Mr. KUCINICH. Madam Speaker, we 

cannot truly celebrate a new year, a 


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