Chronology of Committee Work

GAO Reveals Iraq Reconstruction Is Failing

In a new report, GAO finds that despite the spending of billions of taxpayer dollars on reconstruction efforts, oil and electricity production in Iraq has fallen below pre-war levels.

New Study Should Influence Condom Labeling Debate

Rep. Waxman writes FDA about a new study that finds consistent condom use significantly reduces the risk of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in women. In recent months, FDA has been under pressure from Republican members of Congress to require warnings that condoms do not protect against HPV.

Waxman-Davis Statement on Palmeiro Document Request

Chairman Davis and Ranking Member Waxman request documents from Major League Baseball related to Rafael Palmeiro's positive drug test and suspension.

Tobacco Missing from HHS Priorities List

Rep. Waxman writes to HHS Secretary Michael O. Leavitt asking why the nation's leading cause of preventable death--tobacco--is missing from his "500-day plan," which "provides direction to the daily leadership and management of the Department.”

Waxman-Davis Statement on Receipt of Palmeiro Documents

Reps. Waxman and Davis release a statement on their receipt of documents related to Rafael Palmeiro's positive drug test and suspension.

Waxman-Davis Statement on Palmeiro Documents

Reps. Waxman and Davis release a statement on the ongoing review of documents related to Rafael Palmeiro's positive drug test and suspension from Major League Baseball.

Rep. Waxman Renews Request for Investigation of Anti-Semitic Comments at Guantanamo Bay

In a letter to the Defense Department Inspector General, Rep. Waxman again calls for an independent investigation into allegations that U.S. interrogators at Guantanamo Bay made anti-Semitic remarks to detainees about their attorneys.

Rep. Waxman Requests Investigation of Greenhouse Dismissal

Rep. Waxman and Sens. Dorgan and Lautenberg write to Secretary Rumsfeld to request an investigation into the demotion of high-ranking Army Corps of Engineer official Bunnatine Greenhouse who publicly criticized the Pentagon's awarding of a no-bid contract to Halliburton.

Roberts Should Be Questioned on AIDS Advice

Rep. Waxman asks Sens. Specter and Leahy to question Supreme Court Nominee John G. Roberts about his role advising President Reagan not to provide the best scientific information to the public during a time of fear and panic over whether children with AIDS should go to school.

Rep. Waxman's Statement on Human Papillomavirus

In a subcommittee hearing on women's gynecologic cancers, Rep. Waxman discusses the dangers of HPV.

Provision in Katrina Emergency Bill Leaves Government Open to Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Rep Waxman writes to Appropriations Committee Chair Lewis about a provision in the Katrina Emergency Supplemental Appropriations that would extend from $15,000 to $250,000 the purchasing limit for an individual transaction for federal employees with government-issued credit cards.

FEMA Predicted a “Catastrophic Hurricane” Could Strike New Orleans and Cause a “Mega-Disaster”

A letter to Secretary Chertoff from Ranking Member Waxman and Chairman Davis describes documents from the Department of Homeland Security that show that FEMA was aware in 2004 that a “catastrophic hurricane” could hit New Orleans and “trap hundreds of thousands of people in flooded areas and leave up to one million people homeless." FEMA officials wrote: “the gravity of the situation calls for an extraordinary level of advance planning."

Democratic Leaders Ask GAO to Oversee Gulf Coast Reconstruction

Rep. Waxman, Democratic Leader Pelosi, and other senior Democrats request that GAO Comptroller General David M. Walker immediately establish a team of experienced auditors and investigators to monitor in real time the contracts and spending for the recovery, relief , and reconstruction of the Gulf Coast.

Committee Holds Hearing on Katrina-Related Issues

| The Committee holds a hearing called by Chairman Davis to compare and contrast emergency plans in Washington DC, Miami, and Los Angeles. Rep. Waxman had earlier requested a hearing to examine the failed federal response to Hurricane Katrina.

Rep. Waxman Decries Partisan Approach to Hurricane Katrina Oversight

| On the floor of the House, Rep. Waxman assails legislation creating a Republican-dominated commission to examine the response to the hurricane disaster, arguing instead for an independent commission.

Rep. Waxman and Democratic Leader Pelosi Introduce Legislation to Oversee Gulf Coast Contracting

Democratic Leader Pelosi and Rep. Waxman announce their Hurricane Katrina Accountability and Clean Contracting Bill, H.R. 3838, which would ensure accountability in reconstruction of the Gulf Coast and establish an independent anti-fraud commission to prevente waste, fraud, and abuse in relief and recovery contracts.

EPA Is Using Katrina to Undermine the Clean Air Act

EPA has drafted legislation that would allow the agency to waive any provision of the Clean Air Act, nationwide – including limits on toxic emissions and the health-based air quality standards – without any notice or public comment whenever the Administrator chooses to declare an emergency.

Homeland Security Department Asked for Details of Katrina Cruise Ship

Rep. Waxman asks DHS Secretary Chertoff to provide information about contracts awarded to Carnival Cruise Lines which could be worth up to $236 million.

Rep. Waxman and Leader Pelosi Introduce Anti-Cronyism Bill (H.R. 3925)

Rep. Henry A. Waxman and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi introduce the Anti-Cronyism and Public Safety Act, H.R. 3925, which would prohibit the President from appointing unqualified individuals to critical public safety positions in the government.

Ample Precedent for White House Testimony

Rep. Waxman writes to Senators Collins and Lieberman to clarify that it is not unusual for White House officials to testify before Congress. He cites a Congressional Research Service report with a 14-page list of examples.

Months Before Katrina, DHS IG Warned Brown FEMA Responses Were Inadequate

In June 2005, the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General warned FEMA that its systems for managing the personnel and equipment dispatched to disaster sites were inadequate. Instead of remedying the problems the report identified, FEMA director Michael Brown disputed nearly all its findings.

Committee Democrats Push to Strengthen Whistleblower Protections

In a Committee markup of H.R. 1317, The Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act, Committee Democrats offered amendments that would strengthen protections for federal employees who come forward to report waste, fraud, abuse, and national security violations. Two of these important amendments were offered by Democrats, but were defeated on party line votes.

Administration Reverses Government Credit Card Limit Increase

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

Independent Counsel David M. Barrett Continues to Spend Millions Despite Court Order to Close Cisneros Investigation

Two years after the court ordered a halt to the decade-old investigation of former HUD Secretary Henry Cisneros, Independent Counsel David M. Barrett continues to spend two million taxpayer dollars annually.

Rep. Waxman Requests GAO Review of National Abstinence Clearinghouse Contract

In a letter to GAO, Rep. Waxman raises concerns about possible ideological bias and financial conflicts of interest in a HHS funded review of abstinence-only curricula.

Displaying Items 126 to 150 of 202:

Previous Page • Next Page

[1] • [2] • [3] • [4] • [5] • [6] • [7] • [8] • [9]