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US Congressional Record Daily Digest 07 December 2005
US Congressional Record Daily Digest 07 December 2005
Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
The House passed H.R. 4340—United States-Baharain Free Trade Agree-
ment Implementation Act.
Senate
Chamber Action Committee Meetings
The Senate was not in session today. It will next No committee meetings were held.
meet at 2 p.m., on Monday, December 12, 2005.
h
House of Representatives
Amending the Federal Water Pollution Control
Chamber Action Act to extend the authorization of appropriations
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 19 pub- for Long Island Sound: H.R. 3963, to amend the
lic bills, H.R. 4452–4470; and 3 resolutions, H. Federal Water Pollution Control Act to extend the
Con. Res. 311; and H. Res. 589–590 were intro- authorization of appropriations for Long Island
duced. Pages H11219–20 Sound; Pages H11122–24
Additional Cosponsors: Pages H11220–21 Amending section 105(b)(3) of the Ethics in
Reports Filed: Report were filed today as follows: Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App): H.R.
H. Res. 588, providing for consideration of the 4311, to amend section 105(b)(3) of the Ethics in
bill (H.R. 4297) to provide for reconciliation pursu- Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App);
ant to section 201(b) of the concurrent resolution on Pages H11124–27
the budget for fiscal year 2006 (H. Rept. 109–330).
Page H11219
Recognizing the anniversary of the ratification
of the 13th Amendment and encouraging the
Suspensions: The House agreed to suspend the rules American people to educate and instill pride and
and pass the following measures: purpose into their communities and to observe the
Honoring the pilots of United States commercial anniversary annually with appropriate programs
air carriers who volunteer to participate in the and activities: H. Res. 196, to recognize the anni-
Federal flight deck officer program: H. Con. Res. versary of the ratification of the 13th Amendment
196, to honor the pilots of United States commercial and encouraging the American people to educate and
air carriers who volunteer to participate in the Fed- instill pride and purpose into their communities and
eral flight deck officer program, by a yea-and-nay to observe the anniversary annually with appropriate
vote of 413 yeas to 2 nays, Roll No. 614; programs and activities; Pages H11128–30
Pages H11118–20, H11148–49
Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of
Amending the Federal Water Pollution Control 2005: S. 467, amended, to extend the applicability
Act to reauthorize programs to improve the quality of the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002, by a
of coastal recreation waters: H.R. 1721, to amend yea-and-nay vote of 371 yeas to 49 nays, Roll No.
the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to reau- 612—clearing the measure for the President;
thorize programs to improve the quality of coastal Pages H11130–41, H11147
recreation waters; Pages H11120–22
D1259
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D1260 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST December 7, 2005
Stealth Tax Relief Act of 2005: H.R. 4096, to Point of Order sustained against:
amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend Obey first motion to instruct conferees; and
to 2006 the alternative minimum tax relief available Pages H11179–80
in 2005 and to index such relief for inflation, by a Obey second motion to instruct conferees.
yea-and-nay vote of 414 yeas to 4 nays, Roll No. Page H11180
613; Pages H11141–47, H11147–48
Tabling the Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair
To allow binding arbitration clauses to be in- on Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 3010:
cluded in all contracts affecting land within the Agreed to table the Obey motion to appeal the rul-
Gila River Indian Community Reservation: H.R. ing of the Chair by a yea-and-nay vote of 226 yeas
327, to allow binding arbitration clauses to be in- to 196 nays, Roll No. 615. Pages H11180–81
cluded in all contracts affecting land within the Gila Later, the Chair appointed conferees: Messrs. Reg-
River Indian Community Reservation; ula, Istook, Wicker, Mrs. Northup, Ms. Granger,
Pages H11149–50
Messrs. Peterson of Pennsylvania, Sherwood, Weldon
Tax Revision Act of 2005: H.R. 4388, amended, of Florida, Walsh, Lewis of California, Obey, Hoyer,
to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to ex- Mrs. Lowey, Ms. DeLauro, Messrs. Jackson of Illi-
tend certain expiring provisions; by a yea-and-nay nois, Kennedy Rhode Island, and Ms. Roybal-Allard.
vote of 423 yeas with none voting ‘‘nay’’, Roll No. Page H11183
617; and Pages H11150–52, H11181–82
Terrorism Risk Insurance Extension Act of
Amending the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to 2005—Motion to go to Conference: The House in-
provide tax benefits for the Gulf Opportunity Zone sisted on its amendment and requested a conference
and certain areas affected by Hurricanes Rita and on S. 467, to extend the applicability of the Ter-
Wilma: H.R. 4440, to amend the Internal Revenue rorism Risk Insurance Act of 2002. Page H11183
Code of 1986 to provide tax benefits for the Gulf The Chair appointed conferees: from the Com-
Opportunity Zone and certain areas affected by Hur- mittee on Financial Services, for consideration Senate
ricanes Rita and Wilma, by a yea-and-nay vote of bill and the House amendment, and modifications
415 yeas to 4 nays, Roll No. 618. committed to conference: Messrs. Oxley, Baker, Ms.
Pages H11152–63, H11182 Pryce of Ohio, Mrs. Kelly, Messrs. Kanjorski,
Suspension—Proceedings Postponed: The House Capuano, and Crowley. Page H11183
completed debate on the following measure under Provided that Mr. Israel is appointed in lieu of
suspension of the rules. Further consideration will Mr. Capuano for consideration of sections 4, 5, and
continue tomorrow, December 8th. 7 of the Senate bill, and sections 103 and 105 of the
Securing Aircraft Cockpits Against Lasers Act of House amendment, and modifications committed to
2005: H.R. 1400, to amend title 18, United States conference. Page H11183
Code, to provide penalties for aiming laser pointers From the Committee on the Judiciary, for consid-
at airplanes. Pages H11127–28 eration of sections 2 and 6 of the Senate bill and
modifications committed to conference: Messrs. Sen-
United States-Baharain Free Trade Agreement senbrenner, Goodlatte, and Mr. Conyers. Page H11183
Implementation Act: The House passed H.R.
4340, to implement the United States-Bahrain Free For consideration of the Senate bill and the House
Trade Agreement by a yea-and-nay vote of 327 yeas amendment, and modifications committed to con-
to 95 nays, Roll No. 616. ference: Mr. Sessions. Page H11183
Departments of Labor, Health and Human Serv- The Chair announces to the House that, in light
ices, and Education, and Related Agencies Ap- of the Administration of the Oath of Office to the
propriations Act for FY06—Motion to go to gentleman from California, the whole number of the
Conference: The House disagreed to the Senate House is 434. Page H11187
amendment and agreed to a further conference on Quorum Calls—Votes: Seven yea-and-nay votes de-
H.R. 3010, making appropriations for the Depart- veloped during the proceedings of the House today,
ments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and and appear on pages H11147, H11147–48,
Education, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year H11148–49, H11180, H11181, H11181–82,
ending September 30, 2006. Pages H11179–81 H11182. There were no quorum calls.
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December 7, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST D1261
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and ad- was heard from the following officials of the Depart-
journed at 11:06 p.m. ment of State: Anthony F. Rock, Acting Assistant
Secretary, Bureau of Oceans and International Envi-
Committee Meetings ronmental and Scientific Affairs; and Kent R. Hill,
Assistant Administrator, Global Health, U. S. Agen-
CFTC REAUTHORIZATION ACT OF 2005; cy for International Development; the following offi-
FOREST EMERGENCY RECOVERY AND cials of the Department of Health and Human Serv-
RESEARCH ACT ices: Anthony S. Fauci, M.D., Director, National In-
Committee on Agriculture: Approved, as amended, the stitute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, NIH; and
Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) Anne Schuchat, M.D., Acting Director, National
Reauthorization Act of 2005. Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease
The Committee also held a hearing on H.R. 4200, Control and Prevention; Margaret Chan, M.D., rep-
Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act. Testi- resentative of the Director-General for Pandemic In-
mony was heard from Representatives Walden of Or- fluenza, WHO; and a public witness.
egon and Baird; Dale Bosworth, Chief, Forest Serv-
ice, USDA; and public witnesses. U.N. OIL-FOR-FOOD PROGRAM REPORT
BCS/COLLEGE FOOTBALL POST-SEASON Committee on International Relations: Subcommittee on
Oversight and Investigations approved a Sub-
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on committee report entitled ‘‘The Oil-for-Food Pro-
Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection held a gram: The Systematic Failure of the United Na-
hearing entitled ‘‘Determining a Champion on the tions.’’
Field: A Comprehensive Review of the BCS and
Postseason College Football.’’ Testimony was heard OVERSIGHT—INTERNATIONAL IPR
from public witnesses. REPORT CARD
UNDERSTANDING THE PEAK OIL THEORY Committee on the Judiciary:, Subcommittee on Courts,
the Internet, and Intellectual Property held an over-
Committee on Energy and Commerce: Subcommittee on sight hearing on International IPR Report Card—
Energy and Air Quality held a hearing entitled ‘‘Un- Assessing U.S. Government and Industry Efforts to
derstanding the Peak Oil Theory,’’ focusing on H. Enhance Chinese and Russian Enforcement of Intel-
Res. 507, Expressing the sense of the House of Rep- lectual Property Rights. Testimony was heard from
resentatives that the United States, in collaboration Chris Israel, Coordinator, International Intellectual
with other international allies, should establish an Property Enforcement, Department of Commerce;
energy project with the magnitude, creativity, and Victoria Espinel, Acting Assistant U.S. Trade Rep-
sense of urgency that was incorporated in the ‘‘Man resentative, Intellectual Property; and public wit-
on the Moon’’ project to address the inevitable chal- nesses.
lenges of ‘‘Peak Oil.’’ Testimony was heard from
Representatives Bartlett of Maryland and Udall of MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES
New Mexico; Murray Smith, Minister—Counsellor Committee on Resources: Subcommittee on Water and
Government, Canadian Embassy; and public wit- Power held a hearing on the following bills: H.R.
nesses. 862, To redesignate the Rio Grande American Canal
BRIEFING—ROLL OF IMMIGRATION AND in El Paso, Texas, as the ‘‘Travis C. Johnson Canal’’;
CUSTOMS ENFORCEMENT AND FORENSIC H.R. 2334, City of Oxnard Water Recycling and
DOCUMENT LABORATORY Desalination Act of 2005; H.R. 2978, To allow the
Committee on Homeland Security: Subcommittee on In- Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian
telligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Reservation to enter into a lease or other temporary
Assessment and the Subcommittee on Economic Se- conveyance of water rights recognized under the Fort
curity, Infrastructure Protection, and Cybersecurity Peck—Montana Compact for the purpose of meeting
met in executive session to receive a joint briefing the water needs of the Dry Prairie Rural Water As-
on the overview and roll of the Immigration and sociation, Incorporated; H.R. 4000, To authorize the
Customs Enforcement (ICE) Forensic Document Lab- Secretary of the Interior to revise certain repayment
oratory (FDL). The Subcommittees were briefed by contracts with the Bostwick Irrigation District in
departmental witnesses. Nebraska, the Kansas Bostwick Irrigation District
No. 2, the Frenchman-Cambridge Irrigation District,
AVIAN FLU PANDEMIC and the Webster Irrigation District No 4, all a part
Committee on International Relations: Held a hearing on of the Pick-Sloan Missouri Basin Program; and S.
Avian Flu: Addressing the Global Threat. Testimony 101, To convey to the town of Frannie, Wyoming,
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D1262 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST December 7, 2005
certain land withdrawn by the Commissioner of Rec- ability claims process at the Veterans Benefits Ad-
lamation. Testimony was heard from Representative ministration. Testimony was heard from the fol-
Moran of Kansas; William Rinne, Deputy Commis- lowing officials of the Department of Veterans Af-
sioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of the fairs: Ronald R. Aument, Deputy Under Secretary,
Interior; Carlos Marin, Acting U.S. Commissioner, Benefits, Veterans Benefits Administration; and
International Boundary and Water Commission, De- James P. Terry, Chairman, Board of Veterans’ Ap-
partment of State; Andres Herrera, Mayor Pro Tem, peals; representatives of veterans organizations; and a
City of Oxnard, California; John Morles, Chairman, public witness.
Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the For Peck Res-
ervation; and a public witness. BRIEFING—GLOBAL UPDATES/HOTSPOTS
TAX RELIEF EXTENSION RECONCILIATION Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Met in execu-
ACT tive session to receive a briefing on Global Updates/
Hotspots. The Committee was briefed by depart-
Committee on Rules: Granted, by voice vote, a struc- mental witnesses.
tured rule providing one hour of debate in the
House on H.R. 4297, to provide for reconcilitation BRIEFING—MUSLIM EXTREMISM
pursuant to section 201(b) of the concurrent resolu- Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence: Sub-
tion on the budget for fiscal year 2006, equally di- committee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Anal-
vided and controlled by the chairman and ranking ysis and Counterintelligence and the Subcommittee
minority member of the Committee on Ways and on Intelligence Policy met in executive session to re-
Means. The rule waives all points of order against ceive a joint briefing on Muslim Extremism. The
consideration of the bill. The rule provides that the Subcommittees were briefed by departmental wit-
amendment in the nature of a substitute rec- nesses.
ommended by the Committee on Ways and Means
now printed in the bill shall be considered as adopt- HURRICANE KATRINA: PREPAREDNESS
ed. The rule makes in order the amendment in the AND RESPONSE BY STATE OF MISSISSIPPI
nature of a substitute printed in the Rules Com- Select Bipartisan Committee to Investigate the Preparation
mittee report accompanying the resolution, if offered for and Response to Hurricane Katrina: Held a hearing
by Representative Rangel of New York or his des- entitled ‘‘Hurricane Katrina: Preparedness and Re-
ignee, which shall be considered as read, and shall sponse by the State of Mississippi.’’ Testimony was
be separately debatable for one hour equally divided heard from the following officials of the State of
and controlled by the proponent and an opponent. Mississippi: Haley Barbour, Governor; Brian W.
The rule waives all points of order against the Amy, M.D., State Health Officer; Robert Latham,
amendment in the nature of a substitute printed in Director, Emergency Management Agency; Brent
the Rules Committee report. Finally, the rule pro- Warr, Mayor, Gulfport; Tommy Longo, Mayor,
vides one motion to recommit with or without in- Waveland; Benjamin Spraggins, Director, Harrison
structions. Testimony was heard from Representa- County Emergency Management Agency; and Bobby
tives Camp and Neal. Strahan, Director, Pearl River County Emergency
GULF COAST RECOVERY ACT; FEDERAL Management Agency; and William Carwile, former
AND DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA FEMA Federal Coordinating Officer, State of Mis-
GOVERNMENT REAL PROPERTY ACT; sissippi.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SURVEY f
RESOLUTIONS; GSA RESOLUTION
COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY,
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure: Ordered DECEMBER 8, 2005
reported the following bills: H.R. 4438, Gulf Coast
(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)
Recovery Act of 2005; and H.R. 3699, amended,
Federal and District of Columbia Government Real Senate
Property Act of 2005. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
The Committee also approved the following: U.S. to hold hearings to examine perspectives of FEMA’s oper-
Army Corps of Engineers Survey resolutions; and a ations professionals relative to Hurricane Katrina, 10
GSA 3314(b) resolution. a.m., SD–342.
OVERSIGHT—VETERANS AFFAIRS Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the
DISABILITY CLAIMS PROCESS nominations of George W. Foresman, of Virginia, to be
Under Secretary for Preparedness, and Tracy A. Henke, of
Committee on Veterans’ Affairs: Held an oversight hear- Missouri, to be Executive Director of the Office of State
ing on the challenges and opportunities facing dis- and Local Government Coordination and Preparedness,
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December 7, 2005 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — DAILY DIGEST D1263
both of the Department of Homeland Security, 2:30 Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Pre-
p.m., SD–342. vention of Nuclear and Biological Attack, executive,
House briefing on the Defense Science Board’s 2005 summer
study entitled ‘‘Reducing Vulnerabilities to Weapons of
Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Science, Mass Destruction’’, 2 p.m., 202 John Adams Building.
The Departments of State, Justice, and Commerce, and Committee on International Relations, to mark up H. Res.
Related Agencies, hearing on Federal efforts related to the 549, Requesting the President of the United States pro-
exclusion, removal and prosecution of aliens and natural- vide to the House of Representatives all documents in his
ized U.S. citizens who have committed war crimes or possession relating to his October 7, 2002, speech in Cin-
human rights abuses outside the U.S., 10 a.m., H–309 cinnati, Ohio, and his January 28, 2003, State of the
Capitol. Union address, 10:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Committee on the Judiciary, to mark up the following
Health, hearing entitled ‘‘Improving America’s Health:
Examining Federal Research Efforts for Pulmonary Hy- bills: H.R. 4437, Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and
pertension and Chronic Pain’’, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn. Illegal Immigration Control Act of 2005; and H.R. 972,
Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Hous- Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of
ing and Community Opportunity, hearing entitled 2005, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
‘‘Housing Options in the Aftermath of Hurricanes Committee on Resources, hearing on H.R. 4322, Indian
Katrina and Rita’’, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn. Trust Reform Act of 2005, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
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Congressional Record
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