Congressman Vernon J. Ehlers said last week that he is pleased that President George W. Bush has sent a slate of judicial nominations – including five judgeships affecting Michigan – to the U.S. Senate for confirmation. Two of the nominees for U.S. District Judge are from Grand Rapids, Ehlers noted. Robert James Jonker is a partner at Warner Norcross & Judd, while Janet T. Neff is a judge on the Third District of the Michigan Court of Appeals.

Voting in federal elections should remain confined to only American citizens, witnesses testifying to the Committee on House Administration agreed in a hearing Thursday, but differences still remain over how to achieve that goal.

Joining more than 300 other high school student artists from around the country, Jessica Zevalkink proudly saw her artwork displayed in the U.S. Capitol Wednesday during the opening of the 2006 Congressional Arts Competition exhibition. Zevalkink, 17, was the winner of the competition for Michigan’s Third Congressional District, sponsored by Congressman Ehlers.

On Monday, the House will meet at 2 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Suspensions (8 bills):

(Bills on suspension are generally considered non-controversial and have reduced debate time, but require a two-thirds majority vote to be passed.)

1. H.R. 122 - Eastern Municipal Water District Recycled Water System Pressurization and Expansion Project: Amends the Reclamation Wastewater and Groundwater Study and Facilities Act to authorize the Secretary of the Interior, in cooperation with the Eastern Municipal Water District, California, to participate in the design, planning, and construction of permanent facilities needed to establish operational pressure zones that will be used to provide recycled water in the district. Limits the federal share to 25 percent of project costs. Bars the use of funds provided by the Secretary for project operation or maintenance. Authorizes appropriations. Terminates the Secretary's authority to carry out this act 10 years after its enactment.
2. H.R. 2563 - To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to conduct feasibility studies to address certain water shortages within the Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems in Idaho, and for other purposes: Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Bureau of Reclamation, to conduct feasibility studies on projects that address water shortages within the Snake, Boise, and Payette River systems in Idaho that are deemed appropriate for further study by the 2006 Bureau of Reclamation Boise Payette water storage assessment report. Authorizes appropriations. Terminates the Secretary's authority to carry out this act 10 years after its enactment.
3. H.R. 3897 - Madera Water Supply and Groundwater Enhancement Project Act: Authorizes the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation, to study and report to Congress on the feasibility of constructing the Madera Water Supply and Enhancement Project. Limits the federal share of the cost of the study to 50 percent.
4. H.R. 3462 - To provide for the conveyance of the Bureau of Land Management parcels known as the White Acre and Gambel Oak properties and related real property to Park City, Utah, and for other purposes: Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to Park City, Utah, two parcels of property located in Park City that are currently under the management jurisdiction of the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and known as the White Acre and Gambel Oak properties.
5. H.R. 5061 - Paint Bank and Wytheville National Fish Hatcheries Conveyance Act: Directs the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the State of Virginia without reimbursement all right, title, and interest of the United States in and to the Paint Bank National Fish Hatchery and Wytheville National Fish Hatchery for use by the Virginia Department of Fish and Game as part of the State of Virginia fish culture program.
6. H.R. 5232 - Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge Study Act: Requires the Secretary of the Interior, acting through the Director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), to initiate a study to evaluate fish and wildlife habitat and aquatic and terrestrial communities in northeastern Pennsylvania for potential acquisition and subsequent inclusion in a future Cherry Valley National Wildlife Refuge.
7. H.Con.Res. 427 - Permitting the use of the rotunda of the Capitol for a ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Veterans Affairs: Authorizes the use of the rotunda of the Capitol on July 19, 2006, for a ceremony to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
8. H.R. 5589 - To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to transfer to United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement all functions of the Customs Patrol Officers unit operating on the Tohono O’odham Indian reservation

On Tuesday, the House will meet at 9 a.m. for morning hour and 10 a.m. for legislative business.

Suspensions (4 bills):

1. H.R. 5646 - To study and promote the use of energy efficient computer servers in the United States: Stipulates that no later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, through the Energy Star program, shall report to the Congress the results of a study analyzing the rapid growth and energy consumption of computer data centers by the Federal Government and private enterprise.
2. S. 655 - A bill to amend the Public Health Service Act with respect to the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Amends the Public Health Service Act to change the duration of voluntary service that may be accepted from an individual provided by the National Foundation for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to aid or facilitate the work of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from a maximum of two years to until such time as the private funding for such individual ends
3. H.Res. 576 - Celebrating Advancement Via Individual Determination’s 25 years of success: Congratulates AVID's students and their teachers on increasing college eligibility and attendance.
4. H.J.Res. 86 - Approving the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003, and for other purposes: Amends the Burmese Freedom and Democracy Act of 2003 to extend from three years to six years after enactment of that Act the maximum duration of any renewal under it of import restrictions on Burmese products. Approves the renewal of import restrictions contained in the Act. Deems this resolution a renewal resolution.

H.R. 2990 - Credit Rating Agency Duopoly Relief Act of 2006: Amends the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to revise the definition of statistical rating organization (SRO) to include an entity: (1) whose primary business, for at least the most recent three consecutive years, has been the issuance of publicly available ratings; and (2) that employs either a quantitative or qualitative model to determine its publicly available ratings.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10 a.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 4411 - Internet Gambling Prohibition and Enforcement Act: Amends the federal criminal code to prohibit persons engaged in the business of betting or wagering from knowingly accepting credit, electronic fund transfers, checks, drafts, or similar instruments, or the proceeds of any other financial transaction in connection with unlawful Internet gambling (this prohibition is defined by this Act as a "restricted transaction"). Directs the Secretary of the Treasury and the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System to prescribe regulations to identify and block restricted transactions and transmissions of wagering information. Grants financial organizations immunity from civil liability for blocking transactions which they reasonably believe are restricted transactions. Grants U.S. district courts original and exclusive jurisdiction to prevent and restrain restricted transactions. Authorizes the Attorney General or any state attorney general to institute proceedings to prevent or restrain a restricted transaction. Imposes fines and/or a five-year term of imprisonment for violations of this Act. Authorizes a court to enter a permanent injunction prohibiting an individual convicted of a violation of this Act from engaging in betting or wagering activities. Authorizes the prosecution of otherwise exempt financial transaction providers, interactive computer services, or telecommunications services that have actual knowledge and control of bets and wagers and that operate, or are controlled by an entity that operates, an unlawful Internet gambling site. Calls for the U.S. government, in deliberations with foreign governments, to: (1) encourage cooperation by foreign governments in identifying whether Internet gambling operations are being used for money laundering, corruption, or other crimes; (2) advance policies that promote international cooperation in enforcing this Act; and (3) encourage the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering to study the extent to which Internet gambling operations are being used for money laundering purposes.

H.R. 9 - Fannie Lou Hamer, Rosa Parks, and Coretta Scott King Voting Rights Act Reauthorization and Amendments Act of 2006: Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to revise requirements for: (1) the use of election examiners and observers; (2) declaratory judgment on the issue of voting qualifications or standards intended to diminish the ability of U.S. citizens to elect preferred candidates; and (3) award of attorney fees in enforcement proceedings to include expert fees and other reasonable costs of litigation. Extends bilingual election requirements through August 5, 2032. Revises the requirements for determining states and political subdivisions covered by them to require use of 2010 American Community Survey census data. Amends the Voting Rights Act of 1965 with respect to the prohibition against the use of tests or devices to deny the right to vote in any federal, state, or local election. Extends both the prohibition and the date for mandatory congressional reconsideration of it.

• Possible Motions to go to Conference
• Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees

On Friday, there are no votes expected in the House.