Chronology of Committee Work

Chairman Waxman Questions GSA Advisory Panel

Chairman Waxman wrote to GSA Acting Administrator Bibb to question whether the Multiple Award Schedule Advisory Panel is a wise use of taxpayers’ money given that no officials other than former Administrator Doan have expressed the view that it is necessary.

Committee Holds Hearing on Medicare Part D

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing titled, “The Medicare Drug Benefit: Are Private Insurers Getting Good Discounts for the Taxpayer?” on Thursday, July 24, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

Chairman Waxman Presses EPA for Clean Water Documents

In a letter to EPA Administrator Johnson, Chairman Waxman and Chairman Oberstar requested that EPA work with the Committee to set a timeline for the production of documents regarding EPA’s faltering enforcement of the Clean Water Act.

Business Meeting

The Committee held a business meeting in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building, on July 23, 2008.

Committee Investigates Disabled Access for New Department of Transportation Headquarters

Chairman Waxman wrote to DOT, GSA, and the developer responsible for the construction of the new headquarters to request information regarding allegations that the building is not compliant with requirements concerning accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Committee Continues Investigation of Widespread Electrical Problems in Iraq

Chairman Waxman requests additional information about Defense Department and KBR failures to address defective electrical systems throughout Iraq that have caused hundreds of fires and resulted in multiple fatalities.

Committee Approves Tillman Report

A Committee report on the investigations into the death of Corporal Patrick Tillman and the capture of Private Jessica Lynch discloses important new details about the incidents, but could not resolve “the key issue of what senior officials knew” because “the investigation was frustrated by a near universal lack of recall.”

Committee Holds Hearing on Terminations of Individual Health Insurance Policies

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is holding a hearing titled, “Business Practices in the Individual Health Insurance Market: Terminations of Coverage” on Thursday, July 17, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

Chairman Waxman Requests Assurance that EPA Will Not Hurt Air Quality in National Parks

Chairman Waxman wrote to EPA Administrator Johnson to request a full analysis of the environmental and public health impacts of a controversial proposal that threatens to degrade air quality in national parks and other areas with clean air. Citing concerns raised by EPA’s own staff, Chairman Waxman requested that that no proposals be finalized that would increase pollution in parks, wildlife refuges, wilderness areas or other clean air areas.

President Asserts Executive Privilege over Vice President’s FBI Interview

The President today asserted executive privilege over the report of the FBI interview with Vice President Cheney conducted as part of Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald’s investigation of the White House leak of Valerie Plame Wilson’s identity.

Committee Exchanges Correspondence with U.S. Ambassador to Albania Regarding AEY Investigation

Chairman Waxman responds to a letter received from U.S. Ambassador John Withers regarding the Committee’s inquiry into the conduct of the Ambassador and Embassy officials.

Questions Raised about Solicitation of Funds for Bush Library

The Committee has opened an investigation into allegations that an individual solicited funds for the George W. Bush Presidential Library in return for access to senior U.S. foreign policy officials.

House Passes Bill to Preserve Electronic Records

By a vote of 286-137, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5811, the Electronic Communications Preservation Act, which would modernize the requirements of the Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act to ensure that vital electronic records are preserved.

Committee Holds Hearing on Manufacturers of FEMA’s Toxic Trailers

As part of its continuing investigation into the FEMA’s toxic trailers, the Committee held a hearing on July 9, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building. The hearing examined the role of four manufacturers who provided trailers with dangerous levels of formaldehyde to victims of the Gulf Cost hurricanes in 2005.

Chairman Waxman Requests Additional Information on Questionable Electric Co-op Spending

In a letter to Glenn English, the CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Chairman Waxman requested information on the trade association’s apparent involvement in at least one instance of questionable spending by the Pedernales Electric Cooperative.

New GAO Report Reveals Agencies are Not Complying with Requirements to Preserve E-mails

Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, and Rep. Paul W. Hodes released a new GAO report that finds that senior federal officials are failing to comply with requirements to preserve e-mail records. On Wednesday, the House is expected to consider legislation (H.R. 5811) to modernize the Federal Records Act and the Presidential Records Act to ensure the preservation of these important federal records.

Chairman Waxman Warns Attorney General of Scheduled Contempt Vote

Chairman Waxman writes Attorney General Mukasey that the Oversight Committee will vote to hold him in contempt unless the Attorney General produces a copy of the report of the FBI interview of Vice President Cheney in the investigation of the leak of the identity of Valerie Plame Wilson, a covert CIA agent.

Internal EPA Document Shows 500 Enforcement Cases Adversely Affected

Today, Chairman Waxman and Chairman Oberstar requested documents and information relating to EPA’s enforcement of the Clean Water Act. An internal EPA document obtained by the Chairmen show that EPA’s enforcement actions across the country have severely suffered as a result of a Supreme Court case and guidance issued by EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Major League Baseball Responds to Committee Questions

The Commissioner of Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association responded to the Committee’s request for information regarding the League’s steroid testing program.

New Information about Administration Knowledge of Hunt Oil’s Kurdish Contract

Documents provided to the Oversight Committee show that Administration officials knew about Hunt Oil’s interest in the Kurdish region months in advance, contradicting claims that Administration officials were caught off-guard and opposed Hunt Oil’s actions.

Committee Chairs Introduce Bill to Strengthen GAO

Chairman Henry A. Waxman and 18 other committee chairs introduced legislation to strengthen the Government Accountability Office (GAO) and restore GAO’s authority to pursue litigation if documents are improperly withheld from the agency.

Chairman Waxman Questions Proposed Rule Regarding Automobile Roof Safety

In a letter to Department of Transportation Secretary Peters, Chairman Waxman questioned a proposed rule by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that fails to ensure that automobile roofs are strong enough to protect passengers in rollover crashes. Chairman Waxman urged the Secretary to issue a strong rule that will significantly reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by the crushing of vehicle roofs during rollovers.

Committee to Hold Hearing on Air Force Refueling Tanker Contract

Today Chairman Waxman announced that the Oversight Committee would hold a hearing July 15 to examine the actions of the Air Force in awarding the contract to manufacture aerial refueling tanker aircraft.

UPDATE: This hearing has been canceled.

Investigation Continues into Whether FDA Regulation Should Bar Liability Claims

Following a May 14, 2008, hearing, Chairman Waxman wrote to the FDA to request documents related to the agency’s recent reversal of its long-standing position on preemption of state product liability lawsuits relating to FDA-approved drugs and medical devices.

Committee Holds Hearing on Governance and Financial Accountability of Rural Cooperatives: The Pedernales Experience

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing titled, “Governance and Financial Accountability of Rural Cooperatives: The Pedernales Experience” on Thursday, June 26, 2008, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building.

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