Chronology of Committee Work

Committee Requests Specific Tillman Documents from the White House

Today Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis sent a letter to the White House requesting specific documents related to the death of U.S. Army Corporal Patrick Tillman, who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004.

Committee Holds Hearing on Inadvertent File Sharing over Peer-to-Peer Networks

On Tuesday, July 24, 2007, the Committee held a hearing on inadvertent file sharing over peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, the impact of such sharing on consumers, corporations, and government entities, and whether such sharing creates privacy or security risks for users.

Reps. Waxman, Lantos, Payne, and Lee Ask for Fair Guidelines for AIDS Funding Recipients

The Administration is expected to issue new guidance regarding an anti-prostitution pledge requirement for recipients of U.S. global AIDS funding in the near future. Reps. Waxman, Lantos, Payne, and Lee write to Secretary Leavitt and USAID Acting Administrator Fore urging both agencies to issue guidelines that respect the constitutional rights and the public health responsibilities of all recipient organizations.

Committee Probes FEMA's Response to Reports of Toxic Trailers

The Committee held a hearing investigating formaldehyde levels in FEMA trailers provided for victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes and FEMA’s response to these reports. The Committee heard from current residents occupying FEMA trailers, experts who are familiar with the health impact of formaldehyde, and from FEMA Administrator Paulison.

Politicization of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy

At the request of Sara Taylor, the former White House Director of Political Affairs, John Walters, the nation’s drug czar, and his deputies traveled to 20 events with vulnerable Republican members of Congress in the months prior to the 2006 elections. The trips were paid for by federal taxpayers and several were combined with the announcement of federal grants or actions that benefited the districts of the Republican members.

Chairmen Waxman and Lantos and Rep. Lee Request Response to Evaluation of Youth Abstinence Programs

A recently completed evaluation of U.S.-funded "abstinence and be faithful" HIV prevention programs for youth, commissioned by the Bush Administration, finds that many fail to serve the needs of young people who are or may become sexually active. Oversight Committee Chairman Henry A. Waxman, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee write to U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Mark Dybul to ask how his office will respond to the evaluation's findings and recommendations.

Chairman Waxman Requests GAO Review of Regulatory Process

In a letter to the Government Accountability Office, Chairman Waxman requests that GAO examine how the layers of analysis and review agencies must perform when issuing rules are affecting the agencies’ ability to issue timely and effective rules.

Committee Objects to Withholding of Tillman Documents

Today Chairman Waxman and Ranking Minority Member Davis sent a letter to the White House objecting to the withholding of documents related to the death of U.S. Army Corporal Patrick Tillman, who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004. As a result of deficient responses from both the White House and Defense Department, the Committee also announced an August 1 hearing to examine what senior Defense Department officials knew about Corporal Tillman’s death.

Rep. Waxman to Introduce the Surgeon General Independence Act

Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman announced his plans to introduce legislation to protect the Surgeon General from political interference. On Tuesday, the Oversight Committee held a hearing at which three former Surgeons General testified regarding the damage the political interference has done to the ability of the Surgeon General to speak openly and honestly with the American public about threats to public health.

Chairman Waxman Requests Documents Related to Political Interference with the Surgeon General’s Office

Chairman Waxman writes to Secretary Leavitt requesting documents related to political interference with the work of the Office of the Surgeon General. Former Surgeon General Carmona testified before the Oversight Committee on July 10 that political appointees edited his public remarks, blocked him from developing or issuing several reports or calls to action, and denied travel requests on political grounds.

The Surgeon General's Vital Mission: Challenges for the Future

Sometimes called “the nation’s doctor,” the Surgeon General is widely viewed by the public as an objective authority on matters of health. Past Surgeon General Reports have addressed the health consequences of smoking and second-hand smoke, as well as other important public health topics such as AIDS prevention, mental health, and the health and wellness of people with disabilities. The position of Surgeon General provides a “bully pulpit” for public health in the United States and increasingly worldwide.

DOT Attempts to Withhold Documents Related to Lobbying Congress

In response to Rep. Waxman’s request, the Department of Transportation provided limited documents and e-mails related to its lobbying of Members of Congress to oppose efforts by California and other states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles. In the correspondence providing the documents, DOT states that it intends to withhold 53 responsive documents from the Committee.

Committee Subpoenas Documents from Towers Perrin

The Oversight Committee issued a subpoena today to Towers Perrin in connection with a Committee inquiry into potential conflicts of interest relating to the advice consultants provide to corporate boards on executive pay.

Rep. Waxman Questions DOJ’s Reversal on Anti-Prostitution Pledges

A letter recently obtained by Chairman Waxman reveals that in 2003, the Justice Department advised Congress that an anti-prostitution pledge requirement in the anti-trafficking bill then under consideration raised "serious First Amendment concerns" and should be struck from the bill. Chairman Waxman reiterates his concerns about the constitutionality and public health effects of this provision in the global AIDS and anti-trafficking LAWS, and asks for a full explanation of DOJ's reversal in opinion.

Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at K-Town: How Mismanagement Has Derailed DOD’s Largest Single Facility Construction Project

On Thursday, June 28, the Committee held a hearing entitled “Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at K-Town: How Mismanagement Has Derailed DOD’s Largest Single Facility Construction Project.” The hearing reviewed the preliminary findings of a Government Accountability Office investigation into the construction of the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center, a hotel and retail facility being built on the grounds of the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

Department of Energy Agrees to Rep. Waxman's Laboratory Cleanup Requests

Today, Rep. Henry A. Waxman released a letter he received yesterday afternoon from the Department of Energy regarding the cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory (SSFL) and the Energy Technology Engineering Center (ETEC). In the letter, the Department agreed to Rep. Waxman’s request to commit to complying with the court order and honor its commitment that a radiological survey be undertaken at the site.

Oversight, Judiciary Committees Seek Gonzales's View on Cheney's Executive Status

In a letter to Attorney General Gonzales, Oversight Chairman Waxman, Judiciary Chairman Conyers, and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Clay ask for the Justice Department’s view on whether the Office of the Vice President is part of the executive branch and thus bound by the President’s executive order to protect classified information like other White House offices, such as the National Security Council.

White House Security Violations May Be Widespread

Contrary to the recent claims of White House spokesperson Dana Perino, there is evidence that the White House has repeatedly failed to investigate security violations, take corrective action following breaches, and appropriately protect classified information.

Chairman Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Kucinich Respond to Letter from NIEHS Regarding the Publication of Environmental Health Perspectives

Chairman Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Kucinich have responded to a letter from Samuel Wilson, Deputy Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), regarding the new Request for Proposals for the publication of Environmental Health Perspectives.

Rep. Waxman Reiterates Committee Request for Shell, Exxon Testimony on Gas Temperature Changes and Pricing

In letters to Exxon Mobil and Shell Oil, Chairman Waxman asks the companies to voluntarily provide witnesses for a Domestic Policy Subcommittee hearing on temperature-based expansion and contraction of gasoline and the resulting effect on gas prices. Neither company provided a witness for the subcommittee’s first hearing on the issue, and Chairman Waxman writes that he would “like to avoid the necessity to issue a subpoena.”

Rep. Waxman Questions Energy Department’s Inconsistent Statements about the Santa Susana Field Lab Cleanup

In a letter to DOE Secretary Bodman, Chairman Waxman asks for clarification of inconsistent statements the Department has made about the cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and the Energy Technology and Engineering Center. DOE’s actions and track record suggest the Department may not intend to conduct a court-ordered Environmental Impact Statement before continuing its cleanup activities at the site. Chairman Waxman asks DOE to detail its plan, commit to complying with the court order, and honor its commitment to fund an EPA radiological survey of the site.

The Government's Response to the Nation's Emergency Room Crisis

On Friday, June 22, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing on the response of the Department of Health and Human Services to the nation’s emergency room crisis.

Vice President Exempts His Office from the Requirements for Protecting Classified Information

The Oversight Committee has learned that over the objections of the National Archives, Vice President Cheney exempted his office from the presidential order that establishes government-wide procedures for safeguarding classified national security information. The Vice President asserts that his office is not an “entity within the executive branch.”

Reps. Waxman and Davis Set Deadline for CEQ Documents

In a letter to Council on Environmental Quality Chairman Connaughton, Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis set a firm deadline for the White House to provide climate change documents that were requested eleven months ago. Despite numerous discussions and requests, CEQ has withheld over 500 responsive documents from the Committee.

Inadvertent File-Sharing May Continue to Pose A Significant Risk to Personal Privacy and National Security

In letters to LimeWire and Streamcast, developers of popular “peer-to-peer” file sharing programs, Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis requested information about potential privacy and security risks. Despite a voluntary pledge by several peer-to-peer companies to prevent the use of features that cause inadvertent file sharing, recent developments suggest that inadvertent file-sharing may still be a significant problem.

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