Chronology of Committee Work

National Voting Study: Poor and Minority Voters Are More Likely to Have Their Votes Discarded

Millions of ballots were not counted during the 2000 presidential election. While some voters choose not to vote for any candidate or intentionally voted for two candidates, the more common reason for votes not being counted was faulty voting machines. Rep. Waxman was concerned that votes of poor and minority voters might be disproportionately discarded. Along with 20 other members of Congress, he asked the Special Investigations Division to investigate whether voters in low-income, high-minority districts were more likely to have their votes discarded than voters in affluent, low-minority districts. He also asked the Special Investigations Division to investigate the impact of technology on the undercount. The report examined 40 congressional districts in 20 states. Twenty of these districts had high poverty rates and a high minority population. Twenty of the districts were relatively affluent and had a low minority population. The report found that voters in low-income, high-minority districts were over three times more likely to have their votes discarded as voters in affluent, low-minority districts. But the report also found that improved voting technology can reduce the number of uncounted ballots cast by voters in districts with high poverty rates and high minority population by up to 85%, significantly reducing the disparity between the two groups.

Nursing Home Quality Protection Act of 2001

Rep. Waxman and other members introduced the Nursing Home Quality Protection Act to improve nursing home conditions. This bill provides more funding for nursing homes to recruit and retain staff, institutes minimum nurse staffing levels, imposes tougher sanctions on nursing homes that violate federal health and safety standards, and increases public information about the quality of care provided by nursing homes.

Children's Access to Health Screening Services

At the request of Reps. Waxman and Dingell, the General Accounting Office (GAO) investigated the extent to which children in Medicaid are receiving important health screening and other preventive services. In July 2001, GAO reported that many children are not receiving the services required by law and that managed care plans participating in Medicaid do a poor job of providing data to states and the federal government about the provision of these required services.

Special Investigation Division Analyzes Coyle Report

At the request of Rep. John Tierney, the Special Investigations Division analyzed the Coyle Report.

GAO Details Legal Basis for Investigation

GAO's General Counsel responded to Mr. Addington by explaining in painstaking detail the legal basis for the investigation. The ten-page letter observed that "GAO has broad authority . . . to conduct the subject review and obtain [the] information requested." The letter pointed out that GAO has conducted numerous reviews of White House programs and activities in the past, such as President Clinton's Task Force on Health Care Reform and the White House China Trade Relations Group. The letter pointed to two statutes which "provide clear authority for the subject inquiry" and which give GAO tremendous discretion in performing its investigations. According to GAO, "[i]t would be difficult to conceive of language giving any official greater discretion than does the language in the statutory provisions at issue."

Pentagon Refuses Repeated Requests for Coyle Report

The Pentagon refused to deliver the Coyle Report to Congress for over eight months. Rep. John F. Tierney and other members made numerous requests to make public the findings of the report.

Bush Administration's Denial of Waiver from Gasoline Oxygenate Requirements

Rep. Waxman has written to both President Bush and EPA Administrator Whitman to oppose the Bush Administration's refusal to waive gasoline oxygenate requirements in California. Every member of the California House delegation -- Republicans and Democrats alike -- supported the waiver, which would provide significant environmental and economic benefits to the state. The Administration's decision to deny the waiver could lead to higher gasoline prices in California, yet do nothing to improve air pollution. The Bush Administration's denial of the California waiver reversed the January 2001 recommendations of EPA's technical experts.

Counsel to Vice President Asserts No Legal Basis for GAO Investigation

Mr. Addington informed GAO that he did not believe that its investigation had a legal basis. Mr. Addington conceded that GAO was empowered to evaluate programs or activities which "the Government carries out under existing law," but he made the far-fetched argument that this provision did not extend to the activities of the energy task force because the task force carried out its operations under the authority of the Constitution. Mr. Addington further asserted that GAO's authority to investigate matters related to the use of public money was extremely limited.

Letter to Chairman Burton on Enron and the White House Energy Task Force

Rep. Waxman writes Chairman Burton to ask that the Committee hold a hearing to answer questions about the White House Energy Task Force, particulary regarding the participation of "big donors" such as Enron Corporation.

GAO Explains Investigation is Lawful and Appropriate

GAO formally responded to Mr. Addington by explaining that its investigation was lawful and appropriate.

Counsel to Vice President Again Questions GAO Investigation

Mr. Addington reiterated his previously stated positions.

Reports on Nursing Home Staffing

One reason for the poor care received by many nursing home residents is insufficient staffing. In a series of reports for members, the Special Invesigations Division has found that many nursing homes do not have enough staff to meet staffing levels recommended by federal officials and nursing home experts. These reports also indicate that there is a connection between insufficient staffing and poor conditions in nursing homes.

Dismay at Vice President's Unwillingness to Cooperate with GAO Investigation

Reps. Waxman and Dingell wrote to Mr. Addington to express their dismay at his unwillingness to cooperate with GAO and his questioning of GAO's authority to conduct an investigation. The letter dismissed Mr. Addington's ill-defined attempt to protect executive deliberations and explained that by precedent, executive privilege could only be invoked by the President himself.

California Needs Short-Term Price Relief

Rep. Waxman has written to Rep. Billy Tauzin, Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, laying out in detail his understanding of the causes of and solutions to California’s electricity crisis. In the letter, Rep. Waxman explains why California urgently needs short-term price relief.

Members File Suit to Compel Release of Adjusted 2000 Census Data

Sixteen committee members file suit in federal court in Los Angeles against the Secretary of Commerce to compel the Administration to release adjusted 2000 census data.

Counsel to Vice President Questions GAO Investigation

Counsel to the Vice President Addington wrote to GAO asking whether GAO's investigation was appropriate, legal and productive. Mr. Addington suggested that the investigation might intrude into "Executive deliberations."

Concern Over White House's Refusal to Provide Basic Information on Energy Task Force

Reps. Waxman and Dingell again wrote to Mr. Lundquist expressing their concern over the White House's refusal to provide basic information about the task force and reiterating their desire to obtain this information.

Counsel to Vice President Refuses to Turn Over Task Force Records

David Addington, counsel to Vice President Cheney, responded with a letter to Reps. Tauzin and Burton in which he refused to identify whom the task force had met with or who served on the task force staff. Mr. Addington also declined to turn over records produced or received by the task force in connection with its meetings with outside groups.

Flaws of the “Electricity Emergency Relief Act”

The "Electricity Emergency Relief Act" being drafted by Rep. Joe Barton is intended to help California address the current electricity crisis. Unfortunately, the legislation, if enacted, would exacerbate California's problems by increasing energy costs, undermining state efforts to respond to the electricity crisis, and weakening important environmental protections.

Rep. Waxman Compiles California Electricity Crisis Myths

There is a great deal of confusion and misunderstanding about California’s electricity crisis. Rep. Waxman has compiled a number of myths about the crisis, and he explains here why they are erroneous. Rep. Waxman further explains why H.R. 1647, the "Electricity Emergency Relief Act," a bill being considered by the House Energy and Commerce Committee which purports to address California’s needs, is inadequate, and why his “Price Gouging and Blackout Prevention Amendment” is needed.

The Textual Proposals

The Provisional Summary Records (Minutes)

Companies Profit from California’s Energy Crisis

At the request of Rep. Waxman, the Special Investigations Division prepared a report which documents the extraordinary revenues and profits that out-of-state energy generators doing business in California recorded last year. On average, their company-wide profits more than doubled from 1999 to 2000. In some cases, operating income from their California subsidiaries or operating units increased tenfold or more.

White House Asked for Information on Energy Task Force Operations

Rep. Waxman and Rep. Dingell wrote to Andrew Lundquist, the executive director of the White House's energy task force, asking for information on the task force's operations. President Bush established the task force in January under the Vice President's leadership, and entrusted it with the task of developing a national energy policy. Also on April 19, Reps. Waxman and Dingell wrote to the General Accounting Office (GAO), the investigative arm of Congress, asking it to investigate the conduct, operations, and funding of the task force. The congressional investigation of the task force was prompted by news reports that the task force had met privately with major campaign contributors, such as Kenneth Lay, the CEO of Enron, to discuss energy policy. According to these reports, major Republican contributors attended private sessions with Vice President Cheney and the task force met secretly with other contributors in formulating the President's National Energy Policy.

Protesting FERC Decision to Order Release of Confidential Contracts

Rep. Waxman wrote a letter protesting FERC’s decision to order power suppliers to produce copies of confidential contracts with California for disclosure to the Government Reform Committee. Rep. Waxman warned that revealing the terms of the contracts “would severely undermine [California’s] position in negotiating additional contracts."

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