After coming under heavy criticism, the Administration has reversed the dangerous increase from $15,000 to $250,000 in the per-purchase limit on government-issued credit cards. Rep. Waxman's statement on the change appears below:

This is a significant but welcome retreat by the White House. The next step is for Congress to repeal the provision that authorized these extravagant credit card purchases in the first place.

On September 8, Rep Waxman wrote to House Appropriations Committee Chair Lewis pointing out the potential for extensive abuse posed by the credit card increase provision in the Katrina Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill.

On September 20, Rep. Waxman, Democratic Leader Pelosi, and other senior Democrats introduced H.R. 3838, The Hurricane Katrina Accountability and Contract Reform Act, which would repeal this provision and establish an anti-fraud commission to prevent abuse in Katrina-related contracting.