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LEGISLATIVE DAY OF SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
111TH CONGRESS - FIRST SESSION

9:07 P.M. -

On motion to adjourn Agreed to by voice vote.

The House adjourned. The next meeting is scheduled for 10:00 a.m. on September 17, 2009.

Mr. King (IA) moved that the House do now adjourn.

7:01 P.M. -

SPECIAL ORDER SPEECHES - The House has concluded all anticipated legislative business and has proceeded to Special Order speeches.

Mr. Guthrie requested the following general leaves to address the House on September 23: Mr. Poe of TX for 5 min and Mr. Jones for 5 min.

H.R. 3221:: to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes

6:58 P.M. -

Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union rises leaving H.R. 3221 as unfinished business.

On motion that the Committee rise Agreed to by voice vote.

Mr. Miller, George moved that the Committee rise.

6:57 P.M. -

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Foxx amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. George Miller (CA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

6:45 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 746, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Foxx amendment.

Amendment offered by Ms. Foxx.

: An amendment numbered 7 printed in House Report 111-256 to strike the entire American Graduation Initiative (but maintain the privacy provisions that apply to the whole Act) and put the savings toward deficit reduction. These privacy provisions ensure that student information is protected from individuals not authorized to view it and that students cannot be identified by any unique identifier.

6:44 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Pingree (ME) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

6:36 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 746, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Pingree amendment number 6.

Amendment offered by Ms. Pingree (ME).

: An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 111-256 to remove the prohibition of funding to community colleges who received funds for construction, modernization, renovation, and repair under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, or under the higher education act of 1965.

6:35 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Pingree (ME) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

6:29 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 746, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on Pingree amendment number 5.

Amendment offered by Ms. Pingree (ME).

: An amendment numbered 5 printed in House Report 111-256 to add to the list of reserved funds for distressed areas and areas affected by natural disaster direction for the Secretary to reserve funds for local educational agencies that serve a geographic area that contains a military installation selected for base closure.

6:28 P.M. -

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the McMorris Rogers amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Kline (MN) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be announced.

6:18 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 746, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the McMorris Rogers amendment.

Amendment offered by Mrs. McMorris Rodgers.

: An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 111-256 to limit the ability of certain schools that received funding under the economic stimulus package for school construction from receiving additional money through the new Federal school construction program authorized under this bill.

6:17 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Cardoza amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

6:12 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 746, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cardoza amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Cardoza.

: An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 111-256 to direct the Secretary of Education to prioritize community colleges located in areas with high unemployment rates when awarding grants for community college reform.

6:11 P.M. -

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Hoekstra amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Hoekstra demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until a time to be determined.

6:00 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 746, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hoekstra amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Hoekstra.

: An amendment

On agreeing to the Miller, George amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

5:43 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 746, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the George Miller (CA) amendment.

5:42 P.M. -

Amendment offered by Mr. Miller, George.

: An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 111-256 to make sundry changes to the bill.

4:26 P.M. -

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3221.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Sheila Jackson-Lee to act as Chairwoman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 746 and Rule XVIII.

4:25 P.M. -

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3221 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment under the five-minute rule the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Education and Labor now printed in the bill.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 746.

H.R. 1713:: to name the South Central Agricultural Research Laboratory of the Department of Agriculture in Lane, Oklahoma, and the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 310 North Perry Street in Bennington, Oklahoma, in honor of former Congressman Wesley "Wes" Watkins

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill Agreed to by voice vote.

4:08 P.M. -

DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 1713.

Considered under suspension of the rules.

4:07 P.M. -

Mr. Ellsworth moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill.

4:06 P.M. -

The Speaker announced that votes on suspensions, if ordered, will be postponed until a time to be announced.

H.R. 3246:: to provide for a program of research, development, demonstration and commercial application in vehicle technologies at the Department of Energy

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 312 - 114 (Roll no. 709).

3:59 P.M. -

On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 180 - 245 (Roll no. 708).

3:41 P.M. -

The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection.

3:33 P.M. -

DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Broun (GA) motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment providing a limitation on future authorizations to the extent that no authorizations for programs contained in the bill may be made unless they follow a year in which the annual Federal budget deficit did not exceed $500,000,000.

3:32 P.M. -

Mr. Broun (GA) moved to recommit with instructions to Science and Technology.

The House adopted the amendment in the nature of a substitute as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.

The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.

3:31 P.M. -

The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 3246.

On agreeing to the Massa amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 416 - 14 (Roll no. 707).

3:20 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Donnelly (IN) amendment Agreed to by recorded vote: 369 - 62 (Roll no. 706).

3:08 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Hall (TX) amendment Failed by recorded vote: 179 - 253 (Roll no. 705).

2:39 P.M. -

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question of adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Massa amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Massa demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

2:30 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Massa amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Massa.

: An amendment numbered 12 printed in House Report 111-255 to authorize support for public-private partnerships and industry programs that seek to overcome barriers to commercial production.

2:29 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Altmire amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:26 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Altmire amendment.

2:25 P.M. -

Amendment offered by Mr. Altmire.

: An amendment numbered 11 printed in House Report 111-255 to require the Secretary of Energy to research and develop methods of reducing waste and emissions from advanced battery technology and to increase advanced battery calendar and cycle life.

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Donnelly amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mrs. Biggert demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

2:18 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Donnelly amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Donnelly (IN).

: An amendment numbered 10 printed in House Report 111-255 to include recreational vehicles as eligible under the Medium and Heavy Duty Commercial and Transit Vehicles research and development program (sec. 201).

2:17 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Cohen amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:14 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Cohen amendment.

2:13 P.M. -

Amendment offered by Mr. Cohen.

: An amendment numbered 9 printed in House Report 111-255 to add hydraulics, flywheels, and compressed air storage as technologies eligible for the proposed program.

2:12 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Marshall amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:06 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Marshall amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Marshall.

: An amendment numbered 8 printed in House Report 111-255 to require that research into refueling and recharging infrastructure for alternative and hybrid fuel vehicles include the unique challenges facing rural areas.

2:05 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Gordon (TN) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

2:04 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gordon amendment.

2:03 P.M. -

Amendment offered by Mr. Gordon (TN).

: An amendment numbered 7 printed in House Report 111-255 to explicitly include agricultural and construction equipment in the nonroad systems pilot program (sec. 204).

2:02 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Gordon (TN) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:56 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Gordon (TN) amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Gordon (TN).

: An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 111-255 to amend industry participation in the vehicle research and development program (sec. 101) to include manufacturers of all qualified plug-in electric vehicles.

1:55 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Posey amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:50 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Posey ammendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Posey.

: An amendment numbered 6 printed in House Report 111-255 to direct the Secretary of Energy to establish within the existing Vehicle Technologies Program an Innovative Automotive Demonstration Program to make competitively awarded grants for the purpose of demonstrating and bringing to market very high energy efficiency vehicles achieving at least 70 miles per gallon.

1:49 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Peters amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:47 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Peters amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Peters.

: An amendment numbered 4 printed in House Report 111-255 to include retrofitting advanced vehicle technologies to existing vehicles as an area of research under the bill.

1:46 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Broun (GA) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:41 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Broun (GA) amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Broun (GA).

: An amendment numbered 3 printed in House Report 111-255 to add a requirement to title I that the Secretary of Energy submit to Congress an annual report describing activities undertaken in the previous year, active industry participants, efforts to recruit new participants, progress of the program in meeting goals and timelines, and a strategic plan for funding of activities across agencies.

1:40 P.M. -

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Hall (TX) amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Broun (GA) demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.

1:31 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Hall (TX) amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Hall (TX).

: An amendment numbered 2 printed in House Report 111-255 to freeze authorization amounts at FY2010 levels through FY2013 and cut funding in FY2014

1:30 P.M. -

On agreeing to the Gordon (TN) amendment Agreed to by voice vote.

1:25 P.M. -

DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 745, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Gordon (TN) amendment.

Amendment offered by Mr. Gordon (TN).

: An amendment numbered 1 printed in House Report 111-255 to (1) amend title I to require the Secretary of Energy to report to Congress after 18 months, and annually thereafter through 2015, after enactment on the technologies developed, the success of the adopted technologies for commercial applications, and whether those technologies are manufactured in the United States; (2) amend the reporting requirement in title II to clarify that the Secretary of Energy must submit the report to Congress annually; and (3) expand the nonroad systems program from heavy duty nonroad equipment to mobile nonroad equipment.

1:24 P.M. -

Pursuant to the provisions of H.Res. 745, an amendment in the nature of substitute printed in the bill shall be considered as an original bill for the purpose of amendment.

12:46 P.M. -

GENERAL DEBATE - The Committee of the Whole proceeded with one hour of general debate on H.R. 3246.

The Speaker designated the Honorable Pedro R. Pierluisi to act as Chairman of the Committee.

House resolved itself into the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union pursuant to H. Res. 745 and Rule XVIII.

12:45 P.M. -

Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 3246 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit with or without instructions. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. All points of order against consideration of the bill are waived except those arising under clause 9 or 10 of rule XXI. It shall be in order to consider as an original bill for the purpose of amendment, the amendment in the nature of a substitute recommended by the Committee on Science and Technology now printed in the bill. The Chair may entertain a motion that the Committee rise only if offered by the chair of the Committee on Science and Technology or his designee. The Chair may not entertain a motion to strike out the enacting words of the bill.

Considered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 745.

H. Res. 260:: supporting efforts to reduce infant mortality in the United States

12:42 P.M. -

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 415 - 0 (Roll no. 704).

12:35 P.M. -

Considered as unfinished business.

H. Res. 746:: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 3221) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes

12:34 P.M. -

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: 241 - 179 (Roll no. 703).

12:10 P.M. -

Considered as unfinished business.

12:09 P.M. -

UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was adoption of H.Res. 746 and a motion to suspend the rules which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.

H. Res. 745:: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 3246) to provide for a program of research, development, demonstration, and commercial application in vehicle technologies at the Department of Energy

Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

On agreeing to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote.

The previous question was ordered without objection.

11:52 A.M. -

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 745.

11:48 A.M. -

Considered as privileged matter.

H. Res. 746:: providing for consideration of the bill ( H.R. 3221) to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, and for other purposes

POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on H.Res. 746, the Chair put the question on adoption of the resolution and by voice vote announced that the yeas had prevailed. Ms. Foxx demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings on adoption of the resolution until later in the legislative day.

11:47 A.M. -

The previous question was ordered without objection.

10:43 A.M. -

DEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H. Res. 746.

10:41 A.M. -

Considered as privileged matter.

10:05 A.M. -

ONE MINUTE SPEECHES - The House proceeded with one minute speeches which by direction of the Chair would be limited to 15 per side of the aisle.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - The Chair designated Mr. Lance to lead the Members in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

10:04 A.M. -

The Speaker announced approval of the Journal. Pursuant to clause 1, rule I, the Journal stands approved.

10:02 A.M. -

Today's prayer was offered by Reverend Tri Robinson, Vineyard Boise Church, Boise, ID

10:01 A.M. -

The Speaker designated the Honorable Barbara Lee to act as Speaker pro tempore for today.

10:00 A.M. -

The House convened, starting a new legislative day.