Chronology of Committee Work

Domestic Policy Subcommittee Hearing on Taxpayer Financed Stadiums, Convention Centers, and Hotels

The public justification for public financing, including construction financing with tax exempt bonds, is that this is an investment that brings jobs and consumers to a city’s downtown. Academic research on the value to economic development, however, has universally concluded that sports stadiums, convention centers and hotels do not increase economic activity in downtown areas.

Hearing Investigates Allegations of Misconduct at GSA

This hearing focused on allegations that GSA Administrator Lurita Doan failed to follow proper procedures for awarding federal contracts, attempted to intervene in contract negotiations, and engaged in partisan political activities on federal property.

Chairman Waxman Seeks Documents Related to a Recent Outbreak of Salmonella in Peanut Butter

As a response to a recent outbreak of Salmonella in peanut butter, Chairman Waxman wrote to FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach asking for documents and information relevant to the outbreak. The Committee is concerned because FDA’s recall extension to 2004 suggests that contaminated products may have been sold to consumers before, during, and after an FDA inspection. Also, the Con Agra plant involved in the outbreak has been inspected with no enforcement action after finding violations.

Committee Requests CIA Documents Related to Disclosure of CIA Agent

Citing concerns that a Senate Intelligence Committee report may be inaccurate, Chairman Waxman asks the CIA for Agency memos related to Ambassador Wilson's February 2002 trip to Niger and the subsequent disclosure of Ms.Wilson’s covert status. Ms. Wilson recently testified before the Oversight Committee that the Senate report incorrectly claims that she was responsible for her husband’s mission, and that the CIA official who authored related memos attempted to correct the Senate’s distortions was denied the opportunity to clarify the matter.

Committee Directs RNC to Preserve White House E-mails

Citing evidence that senior White House officials are using RNC and other political email accounts to avoid leaving a record of official communications, Chairman Waxman directs the Republican National Committee and the Bush-Cheney ’04 Campaign to preserve the emails of White House officials and to meet with Committee staff to explain how the accounts are managed and what steps are being taken to protect the emails from destruction and tampering.

Hearing Examines Safe and Affordable Generic Biotech Drugs

On Monday, March 26, the Oversight Committee held a hearing to examine the high cost of biotech medicines to our health care system, as well the prospects and need for a pathway that would allow the FDA to approve safe and affordable generic versions of biotech drugs. Witnesses included representatives of FDA, pharmaceutical manufacturers, scientists, and consumer groups.

Chairman Waxman Requests Documents Related to DynCorp Contracts

In a letter to Secretary Rice, Chairman Waxman requests documents related to the State Department's contracts with DynCorp.

Information Requested on Allegations of Political Interference in Tobacco Case

Following renewed allegations of political interference in the Justice Department's case against the tobacco industry, Rep. Waxman requests documents and communications between the Department and the White House relating to the litigation.

Longstanding Precedent Exists for Congressional Testimony from White House Officials

Chairman Waxman writes to Chairmen Leahy and Conyers regarding the extensive precedent for White House officials to testify under oath and on the record, and for the White House to provide Congress communications between White House aides.

153 Members of Congress Ask HHS to Withdraw Medicaid Payment Rule

Chairman Waxman leads a large bipartisan group in requesting that the Department of Health and Human Services withdraw a proposed rule that would fundamentally alter the financing and payment arrangements of many state Medicaid programs. HHS estimates show that safety net providers would lose at least $3.8 billion in federal Medicaid payments over the next five years, undercutting emergency and trauma care capacity in many of our nation's strategic cities.

Committee Examines Political Interference with Climate Science

This hearing examined evidence and allegations of political interference with the work of government climate change scientists under the current Administration.

Waxman Questions White House Security Practices

Rep. Waxman asks White House Chief of Staff Joshua Bolten to explain why the White House failed to conduct any investigation following the disclosure of Valerie Plame Wilson’s covert CIA employment. The letter follows the testimony of the Director of the Office of Security at the White House, James Knodell, that the White House Security Office did not follow the investigative steps prescribed by Executive Order 12958.

Hearing Examines Exposure of Covert CIA Agent Valerie Plame Wilson's Identity

The Oversight Committee held a hearing on whether White House officials followed appropriate procedures for safeguarding the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson. At the hearing, the Committee received testimony from Ms. Wilson and other experts regarding the disclosure and internal White House security procedures for protecting her identity from disclosure and responding to the leak after it occurred.

House Passes the Accountability in Contracting Act

On March 15, 2007, the House passed H.R. 1362, the “Accountability in Contracting Act," by a vote of 347-73. The legislation, reported by the Oversight and Armed Services Committees, would change federal acquisition law to require agencies to limit the use of abuse-prone contracts, to increase transparency and accountability in federal contracting, and to protect the integrity of the acquisition workforce.

Chairman Waxman Applauds Passage of Open Government Bills

Today the House of Representatives passed four good government bills. H.R. 985 enhances protections offered to federal whistleblowers, H.R. 1255 strengthens the Freedom of Information Act, H.R. 1255 makes clear that presidential records belong to the public, and H.R. 1254 requires organizations that raise money for presidential libraries to disclose information about their donors.

Committee Reports Favorably on DC Voting Rights

The District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007 will provide District of Columbia residents a vote in the House of Representatives. The bill permanently increases the size of the House by two members. One seat will go to the District of Columbia and the other seat will go to the next state in line to get a congressional seat.

Department of Justice Responds to Committee Inquiry on Oil Leases

The Department of Justice responded to a letter sent by Reps. Waxman, Davis, Issa, and Watson that asked Attorney General Gonzalez to review a legal analysis concluding that the Administration has legal recourse to recover billions of dollars in lost revenue on defective oil and gas leases issued in 1998 and 1999. In the letter, the Justice Department explains their inability to offer their views since the Department of the Interior's (DOI) authority to impose these provisions in leases is currently in litigation. The Justice Department also states that the facts are still under review.

Documents Requested in Alleged Scheme to Misappropriate Taxpayer Dollars

Chairman Waxman requests documents related to an alleged scheme to misappropriate millions of dollars from the U.S. Treasury.

Waxman Renews Niger Queries

Chairman Waxman asks Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to respond to a series of unanswered letters, including two letters raising questions about the President’s claim that Iraq sought uranium from Niger.

US Trade Policies Restrict Access to Life Saving Medicines

Rep. Waxman and other members write to US Trade Representative Susan Schwab to express their concern that the US is elevating intellectual property protection at the expense of public health in recent Free Trade Agreements with Peru, Colombia and other developing countries.

Chairman Waxman Responds to FDA Commissioner's Statement on Tobacco Regulation

Chairman Waxman sent a letter to FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach urging him to reconsider his position on proposed tobacco legislation. The bill would empower FDA to regulate tobacco products in order to protect the public health.

Committee Reports Favorably on Four Good Government Bills

The Oversight Committee reported out four bills: The Presidential Donation Reform Act, the Presidential Records Act Amendments, the Freedom of Information Act Amendments, and the Accountability in Contracting Act.

Democrats Request Clarification of Administration Stance on Mail Searches

Oversight Committee Chairman Waxman, Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes, and Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr., ask Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez about the Administration’s interpretation of its authority to search mail without a warrant.

Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007

On March 5, 2007, Reps. Wm. Lacy Clay, Todd Russell Platts, and Henry A. Waxman introduced H.R. 1309, the Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 2007. This legislation contains a dozen substantive provisions that will increase public access to government information by strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

Documents Reveal New Allegations Against GSA Administrator

Chairman Waxman calls a hearing on new allegations regarding efforts by GSA Administrator Lurita Doan to award contracts to her longtime friend, Edie Fraser, as well as new claims that the Administrator personally intervened on behalf of other contractors and asked GSA officials to assist Republicans in the next elections.

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