Chronology of Committee Work

Chairman Waxman Questions Interior Department’s Failure to Comply with Energy Policy Act

Chairman Waxman writes to Secretary Kempthorne to question the Department of Interior’s refusal to comply with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requirement to study the effects of coal bed natural gas production on surface and ground water resources in six western states, and to insist that the Department comply with the law.

Committee Requests Information on Reports of Lost White House E-mails

Chairman Waxman wrote to request information from the White House Office of Administration about reports that millions of e-mails that may have been lost from the White House e-mail system.

Chairman Waxman Raises Concerns About NTP Contracting Report

In a letter to Dr. John Bucher, Associate Director of the National Toxicology Program (NTP), Chairman Waxman raises concerns over an agency analysis of potential conflicts of interest in current NTP contracts.  Noting that analysis relied on self-certifications by contractors, Chairman Waxman requests copies of the contractors’ full responses and the agency's plan for conducting an objective assessment of conflicts of interest that does not rely on self-certification.

Chairman Waxman Requests Documents Regarding ATSDR’s “Health Consultation” on Formaldehyde Levels in FEMA Trailers

Chairman Waxman requested documents from the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) regarding the “health consultation” it provided to FEMA on formaldehyde levels in tested trailers. The ATSDR consultation ignored established safety recommendations for formaldehyde exposure and downplayed the health risks posed by the formaldehyde levels in the tested trailers. ATSDR recently changed course by acknowledging that the tested FEMA trailers had formaldehyde levels that can adversely affect human health.

Committee Asks Agencies about White House “Asset Deployment” Meetings

Chairman Waxman writes to federal agencies requesting documents about their involvement in White House “asset deployment” meetings held to discuss the use of federal resources to promote the reelection of President Bush and Republicans in Congress.

Committee Requests Information on Drug Testing Policies at TNA Entertainment

Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis request information regarding the drug testing policies of TNA Entertainment.

GAO Finds Problems with Defense Department Contract in Iraq

Chairman Waxman releases a GAO report analyzing the Defense Department’s decision to pay KBR nearly all of the $221 million in costs that the Defense Contract Audit Agency questioned during its audits of the Restore Iraqi Oil contract for reconstruction work on Iraq’s oil infrastructure. The report finds multiple violations of federal acquisition regulations and procedures, placing millions of taxpayer dollars at risk and leaving questions unanswered.

Department of Justice Responds to Chairman Waxman Regarding Political Briefings

The Department of Justice responds to Chairman Waxman’s inquiry about political briefings the White House gave to executive agency officials. DOJ has identified 11 White House briefings provided to Department of Justice officials by the Office of Political Affairs, most of which included political updates.

House Passes Carbon-Neutral Government Legislation

On August 4, 2007, the House passed H.R.3221, the “New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security, and Consumer Protection Act,” by a vote of 241-172. The legislation incorporates various legislative initiatives for energy independence and reducing global warming, including the Carbon-Neutral Government Act of 2007 (H.R. 2635).

Rep. Waxman Introduces H.R. 3448, The Global Climate and Ozone Layer Protection Act of 2007

Rep. Waxman introduced H.R. 3448, the “Global Climate and Ozone Layer Protection Act of 2007.” This consensus legislation, which is supported by both industry and environmentalists, will significantly reduce emissions of substances that deplete the ozone layer and contribute to global warming.

Reps. Waxman and Capps Introduce H.R.3447, the Surgeon General Independence Act

Today Reps. Waxman and Capps introduced legislation to protect the Surgeon General from political interference. The Surgeon General Independence Act (H.R.3447) clarifies that the Surgeon General’s work must be guided by the best available public health science, provides budget autonomy for the Surgeon General's Office, stipulates that a Surgeon General can only be removed from office with good reason, and protects future Surgeon General Reports and Calls to Action from interference by only allowing the Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to block publication.

Chairman Waxman Requests Documents Regarding Controversial Clean Air Act Rulemaking

Chairman Waxman wrote to EPA Administrator Johnson to request documents concerning a proposed controversial change to regulations under the Clean Air Act which would weaken existing protections for many national parks and other areas with pristine air quality.   Chairman Waxman also requested a 60 day extension of the public comment period, which is scheduled to end August 6, 2007. 

H.R. 928, the Improving Government Accountability Act

On August 2, 2007, the full committee reported H.R. 928, the Improving Government Accountability Act. Introduced by Rep. Cooper on February 8, 2007, H.R. 928 updates the Inspector General Act of 1978 to promote independence and accountability for Inspectors General in executive branch departments and agencies.

White House Offers Accommodation on Tillman Investigation

In a letter to White House Counsel Fred Fielding, Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis respond favorably to his offer to make senior officials available for interviews, with no preconditions for future actions.

Full Committee Business Meeting

The Oversight Committee will hold a business meeting on Thursday, August 2nd, to consider several bills, resolutions, and postal naming measures.

The Tillman Fratricide: What the Leadership of the Defense Department Knew

On Wednesday, August 1, 2007, at 10:00 a.m. in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing to examine what senior Defense Department officials knew about U.S. Army Corporal Patrick Tillman’s death by fratricide.

Hearing on FEMA Preparedness in 2007 and Beyond

The Committee will hold a hearing entitled “FEMA Preparedness in 2007 and Beyond” on Tuesday, July 31 focusing on the changes FEMA has undergone and not undergone in order to ensure that the federal government is prepared for and ready to respond to the next catastrophic disaster. The hearing will also examine the disaster preparedness roles for other relevant agencies within federal, state, and local government.

Chairman Waxman Requests Audit Documentation for GAO Report on DOD Contract Management

In a letter to the Government Accountability Office, Chairman Waxman requests audit documentation pertaining to GAO’s report entitled:  Defense Contract Management:  DOD’s Lack of Adherence to Key Contracting Principles on Iraq Oil Contract Put Government Interests at Risk.

Waxman and Obama Introduce Bill to Improve Emergency Medical Care and Response

On Wednesday, July 25, 2007, Rep. Waxman and Sen. Obama introduced legislation to help struggling emergency departments across the United States.

Bush Appointee Wrote Alternative Draft of Global Health Report

William Steiger, the Director of the Office of Global Health Affairs at the Department of Health and Human Services, wrote a 2005 draft of the Surgeon General's Call to Action on Global Health that omitted or minimized discussion of the impacts of women's rights, poverty, climate change, tobacco, and obesity on global health.

Committee Requests Information on Drug Testing Policies in Professional Wrestling

Chairman Waxman and Ranking Minority Member Davis request information regarding the drug testing policies of World Wrestling Entertainment.

Reps. Waxman and Davis Renew Request for White House Documents

Following a staff review of a number of previously-withheld climate change documents, Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis now request that 56 of those White House documents be provided to the Committee to further its investigation into allegations of political interference with climate change science.

Allegations of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at the New U.S. Embassy in Iraq

On Thursday, the Committee held a hearing to examine the performance of the State Department and its contractors in the construction of the new $600 million U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The Committee asked questions regarding the embassy compound construction as well as allegations of labor abuse through improper contracting practices.

Chairman Waxman Asks About the White House Counsel's Knowledge of Potential Presidential Records Act Violations

In two separate letters, Chairman Waxman asks when the White House Counsel's office learned about White House officials' use of nongovernmental e-mail accounts for official purposes, and what steps, if any, it took to preserve these records and prevent violations of the Presidential Records Act. A staff report issued by the committee's majority staff in June found that the White House Counsel's office under Alberto Gonzales may have known about officials' use of these accounts as early as 2001 and done nothing to prevent continued use of the accounts for official business. Chairman Waxman asks Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and Fred F. Fielding, the current White House Counsel, for information and documents.

Medicaid Citizenship Documentation Requirements Deny Coverage to Citizens and Cost Taxpayers Millions

Today Chairman Waxman released two new analyses -- one by GAO and one by the majority staff -- that examine the impact of the Medicaid citizenship documentation requirements that went into effect in 2006. The analyses show that the requirements have caused eligible U.S. citizens to lose Medicaid coverage and have not achieved the goal of saving taxpayers money.

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