Chronology of Committee Work

Letter to Chairman Burton on Enron and the White House Energy Task Force

Rep. Waxman writes Chairman Burton to ask that the Committee hold a hearing to answer questions about the White House Energy Task Force, particulary regarding the participation of "big donors" such as Enron Corporation.

GAO Explains Investigation is Lawful and Appropriate

GAO formally responded to Mr. Addington by explaining that its investigation was lawful and appropriate.

Counsel to Vice President Again Questions GAO Investigation

Mr. Addington reiterated his previously stated positions.

Reports on Nursing Home Staffing

One reason for the poor care received by many nursing home residents is insufficient staffing. In a series of reports for members, the Special Invesigations Division has found that many nursing homes do not have enough staff to meet staffing levels recommended by federal officials and nursing home experts. These reports also indicate that there is a connection between insufficient staffing and poor conditions in nursing homes.

Dismay at Vice President's Unwillingness to Cooperate with GAO Investigation

Reps. Waxman and Dingell wrote to Mr. Addington to express their dismay at his unwillingness to cooperate with GAO and his questioning of GAO's authority to conduct an investigation. The letter dismissed Mr. Addington's ill-defined attempt to protect executive deliberations and explained that by precedent, executive privilege could only be invoked by the President himself.

California Needs Short-Term Price Relief

Rep. Waxman has written to Rep. Billy Tauzin, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, laying out in detail his understanding of the causes of and solutions to California’s electricity crisis. In the letter, Rep. Waxman explains why California urgently needs short-term price relief.

Members File Suit to Compel Release of Adjusted 2000 Census Data

Sixteen committee members file suit in federal court in Los Angeles against the Secretary of Commerce to compel the Administration to release adjusted 2000 census data.

Counsel to Vice President Questions GAO Investigation

Counsel to the Vice President Addington wrote to GAO asking whether GAO's investigation was appropriate, legal and productive. Mr. Addington suggested that the investigation might intrude into "Executive deliberations."

Concern Over White House's Refusal to Provide Basic Information on Energy Task Force

Reps. Waxman and Dingell again wrote to Mr. Lundquist expressing their concern over the White House's refusal to provide basic information about the task force and reiterating their desire to obtain this information.

Counsel to Vice President Refuses to Turn Over Task Force Records

David Addington, counsel to Vice President Cheney, responded with a letter to Reps. Tauzin and Burton in which he refused to identify whom the task force had met with or who served on the task force staff. Mr. Addington also declined to turn over records produced or received by the task force in connection with its meetings with outside groups.

Flaws of the “Electricity Emergency Relief Act”

The "Electricity Emergency Relief Act" being drafted by Rep. Joe Barton is intended to help California address the current electricity crisis. Unfortunately, the legislation, if enacted, would exacerbate California's problems by increasing energy costs, undermining state efforts to respond to the electricity crisis, and weakening important environmental protections.

Rep. Waxman Compiles California Electricity Crisis Myths

There is a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding about California’s electricity crisis. Rep. Waxman has compiled a number of myths about the crisis, and he explains here why they are erroneous. Rep. Waxman further explains why H.R. 1647, the "Electricity Emergency Relief Act," a bill being considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee which purports to address California’s needs, is inadequate, and why his “Price Gouging and Blackout Prevention Amendment” is needed.

The Textual Proposals

The Provisional Summary Records (Minutes)

Companies Profit from California’s Energy Crisis

At the request of Rep. Waxman, the Special Investigations Division prepared a report which documents the extraordinary revenues and profits that out-of-state energy generators doing business in California recorded last year. On average, their company-wide profits more than doubled from 1999 to 2000. In some cases, operating income from their California subsidiaries or operating units increased tenfold or more.

White House Asked for Information on Energy Task Force Operations

Rep. Waxman and Rep. Dingell wrote to Andrew Lundquist, the executive director of the White House's energy task force, asking for information on the task force's operations. President Bush established the task force in January under the Vice President's leadership, and entrusted it with the task of developing a national energy policy. Also on April 19, Reps. Waxman and Dingell wrote to the General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, asking it to investigate the conduct, operations, and funding of the task force. The congressional investigation of the task force was prompted by news reports that the task force had met privately with major campaign contributors, such as Kenneth Lay, the CEO of Enron, to discuss energy policy. According to these reports, major Republican contributors attended private sessions with Vice President Cheney and the task force met secretly with other contributors in formulating the President's National Energy Policy.

Protesting FERC Decision to Order Release of Confidential Contracts

Rep. Waxman wrote a letter protesting FERC’s decision to order power suppliers to produce copies of confidential contracts with California for disclosure to the Government Reform Committee. Rep. Waxman warned that revealing the terms of the contracts “would severely undermine [California’s] position in negotiating additional contracts."

Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act

Reps. Waxman and Tom Allen, along with over 100 other members of Congress, introduced the Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act (H.R. 1400). This bill will protect seniors from price discrimination and allow Medicare beneficiaries to purchase drugs at substantially reduced prices. The legislation achieves these goals by allowing pharmacies that serve Medicare beneficiaries to purchase drugs at the low “average foreign price.”

Investigation Finds Detroit Election Reforms Worked

At the request of Rep. Waxman, the Special Investigations Division conducted a case study of efforts to reduce uncounted ballots in Detroit, the nation's poorest city. The investigation found that Detroit's reforms worked. By replacing punch-card machines and conducting voter education, Detroit reduced the percent of uncounted votes for president by two-thirds between 1996 and 2000. The report was released during a “Special Investigations Briefing” on April 5, 2001.

Rep. Waxman Introduces Legislation to Reverse the Bush Administration Rollback

Rep. Waxman has introduced the "Get Arsenic Out of Our Drinking Water Act" (H.R. 1413) to reverse the arsenic rollback. Over 160 members of Congress have cosponsored this legislation.

Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act

Reps. Tom Allen and Henry Waxman, along with over 100 other members of Congress, introduced the Prescription Drug Fairness for Seniors Act (H.R. 1400). This bill will protect seniors from price discrimination and allow Medicare beneficiaries to purchase drugs at substantially reduced prices. The legislation achieves these goals by allowing pharmacies that serve Medicare beneficiaries to purchase drugs at the low “average foreign price.” A bill similar to H.R. 1400, H.R. 664, was introduced by Reps. Allen, Turner, and Waxman in the 106th Congress.

West Coast Democrats Ask President to Intervene at FERC

Forty-two West Coast Democrats wrote to President Bush requesting that he intervene at the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. The FERC has refused to protect Western families from skyrocketing electricity prices or to act on allegations of price gouging in the wholesale electricity market.

Reports Assess Impact of Worker Safety Rollbacks

A series of reports prepared by the Special Investigations Division of the minority staff investigates the impact of these worker safety rollbacks at the state level.

Reports on Arsenic Contamination of Drinking Water

At the request of several members, the Special Investigations Division has prepared reports that analyze the impact of the arsenic rollback at the state level.

Rep. Waxman Awards the “Golden Jackpot” Award to EPA Administrator Christine Whitman

Rep. Waxman presented the Golden Jackpot Award to EPA Adminstrator Christine Whitman in honor of the Bush Administration´s indefensible decision to revoke the arsenic standard.

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