What’s the easiest way to know what our federal government is doing? I’ve set out to answer that question for myself, and the answer is, “Easy shouldn’t be used in the same sentence as 'know what our federal government is doing’.”
I began by going to www.senate.gov where I clicked on Legislation and Records. At this point you begin to get the feeling that this won’t be easy. How can I consume the Congressional Record? The best way I’ve found so far, which I don’t really like is to Browse Daily Issues of the Congressional Record.
A summary of the daily proceedings is published by the Government Printing Office under the name the Daily Digest (DD).
Let’s walkthrough a recent edition of the DD:
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
[[Page D1314]]
Note that pages in the DD are prefixed with the letter “D” for Digest.
Daily Digest
HIGHLIGHTS
The House passed H.R. 7321, Auto Industry Financing and
Restructuring Act.
As far as I can tell, H.R. stands for House Resolution. Legislation introduced in the House of Representatives is uniquely identified by the H.R. prefix followed by a number, which is incremented with each new bill, 7321, in this case. Watch for the similar naming scheme for legislation originating in the Senate below, i.e. legislation is prefixed with S.:
Senate
The first section is for the business of the Senate. Business of the House of Representatives is at the bottom.
Chamber Action
Routine Proceedings, pages
Page S10841-S10887
Measures Introduced: Seven bills and three resolutions were introduced,
as follows: S. 3725-3731, S.J. Res. 46, and S. Res. 728-729.
Page S10881
Do you see the ten measures introduced? It may not be immediately obvious that some of them are glommed together. The number range in “S. 3725-3731” represents six separate measures, e.g. S. 3725, S. 3726, S.3727, S. 3728, S. 3729, S. 3730, and S. 3731. As you’ll see below, besides being introduced, measures can be reported, passed, and considered.
Measures Reported:
Special Report entitled ``Recognition of Excellence in Aging Research
Committee Report''. (S. Rept. No. 110-527)
Pages S10880-81
You’ve probably noticed the references to pages associated with the various items in the DD, e.g. Pages S10880-81. These references beg the question, “How can I see those pages?” I’m glad you asked. While you might hope that the page references would be a hyperlink, which would take you directly to the relevant material, you will be disappointed.
The best I’ve come up with is to appropriately modify the following link, substituting the page that you want to view for S10881:
http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getpage.cgi?position=all&page=S10881&dbname=2008_record
This link will take you to a PDF version of that particular page of the DD.
Measures Passed:
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act: Senate passed S. 3731, to amend
the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (division A of Public
Law 110-343) to provide the Special Inspector General with additional
authorities and responsibilities.
Pages S10884-85
America's Beautiful National Parks Quarter Dollar Coin Act: Committee
on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs was discharged from further
consideration of H.R. 6184, to provide for a program for circulating
quarter dollar coins that are emblematic of a national park or other
national site in each State, the District of Columbia, and each
territory of the United States, and the bill was then passed, clearing
the measure for the President.
Page S10885
2009 Special Olympics World Winter Games: Committee on Commerce,
Science, and Transportation was discharged from further consideration
of S. Res. 196, commending Idaho on winning the bid to host the 2009
Special Olympics World Winter Games, and the resolution was then agreed
to.
Page S10885
Secretary of State Compensation: Senate passed S.J. Res. 46, ensuring
that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the office of
Secretary of State are those which were in effect on January 1, 2007.
Pages S10885-86
Trafficking Victims Protection Act: Senate passed H.R. 7311, to
authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2011 for the
Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, to enhance measures to
combat trafficking in persons, clearing the measure for the President.
Pages S10886-87
Measures Considered:
Advancing America's Priorities Act: Senate resumed consideration of the
motion to proceed to consideration of S. 3297, to advance America's
priorities.
Page S10859
Subsequently, the motion to proceed was withdrawn.
Page S10859
Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Act--Cloture: Senate began consideration
of the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 7005, to amend the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide alternative minimum tax relief
for individuals for 2008.
Page S10859
A motion was entered to close further debate on the motion to proceed
to consideration of the bill, and, in accordance with the provisions of
rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, a vote on cloture will
occur on Friday, December 12, 2008.
Page S10859
A unanimous-consent agreement was reached providing for further
consideration of the motion to proceed to consideration of the bill at
approximately 11 a.m., on Thursday, December 11, 2008.
Page S10887
Messages from the House:
Page S10880
Additional Cosponsors:
Page S10881
Statements on Introduced Bills/Resolutions:
Pages S10881-84
Additional Statements:
Pages S10879-80
[[Page D1315]]
Did you realize that your government was so busy? Do you know what’s in these bills and resolutions? Do you have someone you can trust to boil it all down to what you should be concerned with?
Authorities for Committees to Meet:
Page S10884
Recess: Senate convened at 10:30 a.m. and recessed at 6:45 p.m., until
10 a.m. on Thursday, December 11, 2008. (For Senate's program, see the
remarks of the Acting Majority Leader in today's Record on page
S10887.)
Committee Meetings
(Committees not listed did not meet)
CLEAN ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Committee concluded a
hearing to examine investments in clean energy and natural resources
projects and programs to create ``green jobs''--family-supporting,
middle-skill jobs in the primary sectors of a clean energy economy of
efficiency, renewables, and alternative transportation and fuels, and
to stimulate the economy, after receiving testimony from Mark A.
Limbaugh, former Assistant Secretary for Water and Science, and Denis
Galvin, former Deputy Director National Park Service, National Parks
Conservation Association, both of the Department of the Interior;
Malcolm D. Woolf, Maryland Energy Administration, Annapolis, on behalf
of the National Association of State Energy Officials; Bracken
Hendricks, Center for American Progress Action Fund, and Joe Loper,
Alliance to Save Energy, both of Washington, D.C.; Steven G. Hauser,
GridPoint, Inc., and Kevin Book, Friedman Billings Ramsey and Company
Capital Markets Corporation, both of Arlington, Virginia; and Cassandra
Moseley, University of Oregon Institute for a Sustainable Environment,
Eugene.
PREVENTION AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Committee
concluded a hearing to examine disease prevention and public health,
focusing on transforming the health care system, after receiving
testimony from Donald Wright, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of
Health and Human Services for Health; Jeffrey Levi, Trust for America's
Health, Washington, D.C.; Kenneth E. Thorpe, Emory University Rollins
School of Public Health Department of Health Policy and Management,
Atlanta, Georgia; John J. Mahoney, Pitney Bowes, Stamford, Connecticut;
and Carol Hibbs, Marshalltown Community Y, Marshalltown, Iowa, on
behalf of the YMCA of the USA's Activate America: Pioneering Healthier
Communities.
House of Representatives
Chamber Action
Public Bills and Resolutions Introduced: 18 public bills, H.R. 7321,
7325-7340; and 2 resolutions, H. Con. Res. 443; and H. Res. 1535 were
introduced.
Page H10975
Additional Cosponsors:
Pages H10975-76
Reports Filed: Reports were filed today as follows:
H.R. 7322, making appropriations for the Departments of Commerce and
Justice, Science, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2009 (H. Rept. 110-919);
H.R. 7323, making appropriations for financial services and general
government for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009 (H. Rept. 110-
920);
H.R. 7324, making appropriations for energy and water development and
related agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009 (H.
Rept. 110-921); and
H. Res. 1534, providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 7321) to
authorize financial assistance to eligible automobile manufacturers (H.
Rept. 110-922).
Pages H10870, H10876, H10974-75
Speaker: Read a letter from the Speaker wherein she appointed
Representative Tauscher to act as Speaker Pro Tempore for today.
Page H10869
Journal: The House agreed to the Speaker's approval of the Journal by a
recorded vote of 215 ayes and 170 noes with 1 voting ``present'', Roll
No. 686.
Pages H10869, H10877-78
Calendar Wednesday: Agreed that the business in order under the
Calendar Wednesday rule be dispensed with today.
Page H10869
Recess: The House recessed at 10:11 a.m. and reconvened at 2:30 p.m.
Page H10870
United States-China Economic and Security Review Commission--
Appointment: Read a letter from Representative Boehner, Minority
Leader, in which he reappointed Mr. Larry Wortzel of Williamsburg,
Virginia, to the United States-China Economic and Security Review
Commission, effective January 1, 2009.
Page H10871
[[Page D1316]]
Waiving a requirement of clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to
consideration of certain resolutions reported from the Committee on
Rules: The House agreed to H. Res. 1533, waiving a requirement of
clause 6(a) of rule XIII with respect to consideration of certain
resolutions reported from the Committee on Rules, by a yea-and-nay vote
of 226 yeas to 169 nays, Roll No. 685, after agreeing to order the
previous question by a yea-and-nay vote of 224 yeas to 174 nays, Roll
No. 684.
Pages H10871-77
Pursuant to section 2 of H. Res. 1533, H. Res. 1516 and H. Res. 1526
are laid on the table.
William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act
of 2008: The House agreed to discharge from committee and pass H.R.
7311, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2011
for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 and to enhance
measures to combat trafficking in persons.
Pages H10888-H10905
Condemning the November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks in Mumbai, India,
and expressing sympathy to the innocent victims from India and around
the world: The House agreed to discharge from committee and agree to H.
Res. 1532, to condemn the November 26, 2008, terrorist attacks in
Mumbai, India, and to express sympathy to the innocent victims from
India and around the world.
Pages H10905-06
Moment of Silence: The House observed a moment of silence in honor of
the men and women in uniform who have given their lives in the service
of our Nation in Iraq and Afghanistan, their families, and all who
serve in the armed forces and their families.
Page H10907
Auto Industry Financing and Restructuring Act: The House passed H.R.
7321, to authorize financial assistance to eligible automobile
manufacturers, by a recorded vote of 237 ayes to 170 noes with 1 voting
``present'', Roll No. 690.
Pages H10908-35
Accepted:
LaTourette amendment (No. 1 printed in H. Rept. 110-922) that
requires that any lending assistance provided under TARP or EISA to an
insured depository institution shall report the amount of any increase
or decrease in new lending attributed to the TARP or EISA assistance
(by a recorded vote of 403 ayes with none voting ``no'' and 1 voting
``present'', Roll No. 689).
Pages H10932-34
H. Res. 1534, the rule providing for consideration of the bill, was
agreed to by a yea-and-nay vote of 225 yeas to 179 noes with 1 voting
``present'', Roll No. 688, after agreeing to order the previous
question by a yea-and-nay vote of 225 yeas to 180 nays with 1 voting
``present'', Roll No. 687.
Pages H10878-88, H10906-07, H10907-08
Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008: The House agreed to
discharge from committee and pass H.R. 7327, to make technical
corrections related to the Pension Protection Act of 2006.
Pages H10935-43
Short-term Analog Flash and Emergency Readiness Act: The House agreed
to discharge from committee and pass S. 3663, to require the Federal
Communications Commission to provide for a short-term extension of the
analog television broadcasting authority so that essential public
safety announcements and digital television transition information may
be provided for a short time during the transition to digital
television broadcasting.
Pages H10943-44
Making a technical correction in the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici
Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008: The House agreed
to discharge from committee and pass S. 3712, to make a technical
correction in the Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity
and Addiction Equity Act of 2008.
Page H10944
Ensuring that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the
office of Secretary of State are those which were in effect on January
1, 2007: The House agreed by unanimous consent to S.J. Res. 46, to
ensure that the compensation and other emoluments attached to the
office of Secretary of State are those which were in effect on January
1, 2007.
Pages H10944-45
Senate Message: Message received from the Senate today appears on page
H10935.
Senate Referrals: S. 3731 was referred to the Committee on Financial
Services.
Page H10957
Quorum Calls--Votes: Four yea-and-nay votes and three recorded votes
developed during the proceedings of today and appear on pages H10876,
H10876-77, H10877-78, H10906-07, H10907-08, H10934, and H10935. There
were no quorum calls.
Adjournment: The House met at 10 a.m. and adjourned at 10:51 p.m.
Committee Meetings
TROUBLED ASSETS RELIEF PROGRAM OVERSIGHT
Committee on Financial Services: Held a hearing entitled ``Oversight
Concerns Regarding Treasury Department Conduct of the Troubled Assets
Relief Program.'' Testimony was heard from the following officials of
the Congressional Oversight Panel under the Emergency Economic
Stabilization Act: Representative Hensarling and Elizabeth Warren,
Chair; Gene
[[Page D1317]]
Dodaro, Acting Comptroller General, GAO; and Neel Kashkari, Interim
Assistant Secretary, Financial Stability and Assistant Secretary,
International Affairs, Department of the Treasury.
AUTO INDUSTRY FINANCING AND RESTRUCTURING ACT
Committee on Rules: Granted, by a non-record vote, a structured rule
providing for consideration of H.R. 7321, the Auto Industry Financing
and Restructuring Act. The rule provides for one hour of debate equally
divided and controlled by the Chairman and Ranking Minority Member of
the Committee on Financial Services. The rule waives all points of
order against the bill and against its consideration. The rule provides
that the bill shall be considered as read. The rule makes in order the
amendment printed in this report if offered by Representative
LaTourette. The amendment made in order shall be considered as read and
shall be debatable for 10 minutes equally divided and controlled by the
proponent and an opponent. All points of order against the amendment
are waived. The rule provides one motion to recommit the bill. Finally,
the rule permits the Chair, during consideration of the bill, to
postpone further consideration to a time designated by the Speaker.
Testimony was heard from Chairman Frank and Representative LaTourette.
COMMITTEE MEETINGS FOR THURSDAY,
DECEMBER 11, 2008
(Committee meetings are open unless otherwise indicated)
Senate
Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: to hold
hearings to examine a report from the Commission on the Prevention
of Weapons of Mass Destruction, Proliferation, and Terrorism, 10
a.m., SH-216.
House
Committee on Appropriations, hearing on the Impact of Recession on
States and Local Communities, 9:30 a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming,
hearing entitled ``Approaching Midnight: Oversight of the Bush
Administration's Last-Minute Rulemakings,'' 10 a.m., 210 Cannon.
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD (USPS 087ÿ09390).
The Periodicals postage is paid at Washington, D.C.
The public proceedings of each House of Congress, as reported
by the Official Reporters thereof, are printed pursuant to
directions of the Joint Committee on Printing as authorized by
appropriate provisions of Title 44, United States Code,
and published for each day that one or both Houses are in session,
excepting very infrequent instances when two or more unusually
small consecutive issues are printed one time.
Public access to the Congressional Record is available online
through GPO Access, a service of the Government Printing Office,
free of charge to the user. The online database is updated each
day the Congressional Record is published. The database includes
both text and graphics from the beginning of the 103d Congress,
2d session (January 1994) forward. It is available through GPO
Access at www.gpo.gov/gpoaccess. Customers can also access this
information with WAIS client software, via telnet at
swais.access.gpo.gov, or dial-in using communications software
and a modem at 202ÿ09512ÿ091661. Questions or comments regarding this
database or GPO Access can be directed to the GPO Access User
Support Team at: E-Mail: gpoaccess@gpo.gov; Phone 1ÿ09888ÿ09293ÿ096498
(toll-free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091530 (D.C. area); Fax: 202ÿ09512ÿ091262.
The Team's hours of availability are Monday through Friday,
7:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Eastern Standard Time,
except Federal holidays.
The Congressional Record paper and 24x microfiche edition will
be furnished by mail to subscribers, free of postage, at the
following prices: paper edition, $252.00 for six months,
$503.00 per year, or purchased as follows: less than 200 pages,
$10.50; between 200 and 400 pages, $21.00; greater than 400 pages,
$31.50, payable in advance; microfiche edition, $146.00 per year,
or purchased for $3.00 per issue payable in advance.
The semimonthly Congressional Record Index may be purchased for
the same per issue prices. To place an order for any of these
products, visit the U.S. Government Online Bookstore at:
bookstore.gpo.gov. Mail orders to: Superintendent of Documents,
P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA 15250ÿ097954, or phone orders to
866ÿ09512ÿ091800 (toll free), 202ÿ09512ÿ091800 (D.C. area), or fax to
202ÿ09512ÿ092104. Remit check or money order, made payable to the
Superintendent of Documents, or use VISA, MasterCard, Discover,
American Express, or GPO Deposit Account.
Following each session of Congress, the daily Congressional Record
is revised, printed, permanently bound and sold by the
Superintendent of Documents in individual parts or by sets.
With the exception of copyrighted articles, there are no
restrictions on the republication of material from the
Congressional Record.
POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to the Superintendent of Documents,
Congressional Record,
U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 20402,
Along with the entire mailing label from the last issue received.
[[Page D1318]]
_______________________________________________________________________
Next Meeting of the SENATE
10 a.m., Thursday, December 11
Senate Chamber
Program for Thursday: After the transaction of any morning business
(not to extend beyond 11 a.m.), Senate will continue consideration of
the motion to proceed to consideration of H.R. 7005, Alternative
Minimum Tax Relief Act.
Next Meeting of the HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
11 a.m., Saturday, January 3, 2009
House Chamber
Program for Saturday To be announced.
_______________________________________________________________________
Extensions of Remarks, as inserted in this issue
HOUSE
Akin, W. Todd, Mo., E2355, E2370
Alexander, Rodney, La., E2362, E2364
Arcuri, Michael A., N.Y., E2355, E2369
Barton, Joe, Tex., E2379
Berry, Marion, Ark., E2377, E2381
Bilirakis, Gus M., Fla., E2378
Blumenauer, Earl, Ore., E2355
Blunt, Roy, Mo., E2380
Bonner, Jo, Ala., E2376, E2376, E2377, E2378, E2378, E2379, E2380,
E2380, E2381, E2382
Bordallo, Madeleine Z., Guam, E2382
Brady, Kevin, Tex., E2373
Braley, Bruce L., Iowa, E2353
Brown, Corrine, Fla., E2361, E2365, E2368
Calvert, Ken, Calif., E2367
Carson, Andre, Ind., E2355
Castle, Michael N., Del., E2364
Childers, Travis W., Miss., E2375
Christensen, Donna M., The Virgin Islands, E2354
Davis, Lincoln, Tenn., E2383
Doolittle, John T., Calif., E2361
Dreier, David, Calif., E2360
Emanuel, Rahm, Ill., E2371
Emerson, Jo Ann, Mo., E2354
Franks, Trent, Ariz., E2384
Gerlach, Jim, Pa., E2376
Gordon, Bart, Tenn., E2360, E2360, E2374, E2375
Graves, Sam, Mo., E2354, E2354, E2355, E2356, E2357, E2358, E2358,
E2359
Herger, Wally, Calif., E2357
Kildee, Dale E., Mich., E2354, E2356
Kucinich, Dennis J., Ohio, E2372, E2372, E2373, E2374
LaHood, Ray, Ill., E2353
Lewis, John, Ga., E2366
Lynch, Stephen F., Mass., E2358
McCotter, Thaddeus G., Mich., E2362
McIntyre, Mike, N.C., E2366
Marchant, Kenny, Tex., E2364
Meek, Kendrick B., Fla., E2367
Miller, George, Calif., E2372
Miller, Jeff, Fla., E2358
Mitchell, Harry E., Ariz., E2361, E2362
Moran, Jerry, Kans., E2376, E2381
Radanovich, George, Calif., E2353, E2356, E2358, E2370
Rahall, Nick J., II, W.Va., E2383
Reichert, David G., Wash., E2372, E2377, E2382
Rogers, Mike, Ala., E2377
Sanchez, Loretta, Calif., E2367
Saxton, Jim, N.J., E2362
Scott, Robert C. ``Bobby'', Va., E2384
Sestak, Joe, Pa., E2371
Shimkus, John, Ill., E2357, E2365, E2369
Sires, Albio, N.J., E2357
Skelton, Ike, Mo., E2358
Smith, Adrian, Nebr., E2365
Smith, Christopher H., N.J., E2372
Speier, Jackie, Calif.,E2383
Terry, Lee, Nebr., E2374, E2375, E2378, E2382
Towns, Edolphus, N.Y., E2359, E2365, E2365, E2366, E2367, E2368, E2369,
E2369, E2370, E2371
Udall, Mark, Colo., E2384
Udall, Tom, N.M., E2383
Walden, Greg, Ore., E2374
WWittman, Robert J., Va., E2371
Wolf, Frank R., Va., E2360, E2362, E2368
Gotta run now, but I’m still not satisfied with the tools available for staying on top of the doings of the federal government. I feel like I’m wresting with the system to squeeze information out of it rather than being delighted by finding it easier than expected.
I hit this more than once. This seems like a really poor system design at best and an effort to make it difficult to search the Congressional Record at worst.
There must be a better way. I’ll keep looking, and let you know when I find it!
Tools 
Help
