Chronology of Committee Work

Assessing the State Department Inspector General

The Committee held a hearing to assess the performance of State Department Inspector General Howard J. Krongard following a series of allegations that the Inspector General halted investigations, censored reports, and refused to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.

Undercover GAO Investigation Exposes Vulnerabilities in Airport Security

An undercover GAO investigation of airport security checkpoints succeeded in passing through TSA screening checkpoints undetected with liquids and other materials that could be combined to make a dangerous improvised explosive device.

One Year Later: Have TSA Airport Security Checkpoints Improved?

The Committee examined whether TSA’s airport security checkpoints have improved over the last year. The hearing reviewed the findings of an investigation conducted by GAO into the effectiveness of airport security checkpoints. A GAO report detailed an undercover investigation that found significant vulnerabilities in airport security.

Waxman Requests Information from Alvin “Buzzy” Krongard

Chairman Waxman wrote to Buzzy Krongard, the brother of State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard, requesting an interview and documents relating to Blackwater USA.

Brother Contradicts Testimony of the State Department Inspector General

The Oversight Committee will hold a hearing after the Thanksgiving recess to examine whether Howard Krongard, the Inspector General of the State Department, provided truthful testimony at the Committee’s November 14, 2007, hearing.

Chairman Waxman Requests Documents on DOT Lobbying Efforts

Chairman Waxman requests documents from EPA relating to the Department of Transportation’s lobbying efforts against California’s efforts to address global warming.

Chairman Waxman Urges FDA Not to Open Loophole

Chairman Waxman released a draft of an internal FDA guidance that would allow drug companies to use journal articles to promote potentially dangerous uses of drugs and medical devices without prior FDA review and approval.

Chairman Waxman Requests Information Related to 700 MHz Spectrum

Chairman Waxman wrote FCC Chairman Martin requesting details about the relationship between the Public Safety Spectrum Trust Corporation (PSST) and any for-profit entities that are serving as advisors.

White House Blocking Fitzgerald Cooperation in Plame Probe

White House objections are preventing Special Counsel Patrick Fitzgerald from providing the Oversight Committee with records from interviews of White House officials taken during his investigation into the leak of covert CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson’s identity.

Chairman Waxman Urges Strong Response to Report on FDA Resource Shortfalls

Chairman Waxman wrote to FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach, Secretary Leavitt, and OMB Director Nussle regarding the FDA Science Board’s Subcommittee on Science and Technology report that found that funding shortages at FDA have undermined science and endangered public health. Chairman Waxman urges these agencies to request adequate funding and resources for FDA.

Hearing Examines Executive Pay and Compensation Consultants

On Wednesday December 5th, the Committee held a hearing to examine the role played by compensation consultants in determining the pay packages of senior executives at the largest publicly traded corporations. Corporate governance experts, institutional investors, and compensation consulting firms testified regarding the role of consultants in setting executive pay, efforts to prevent and manage conflicts of interest, and the adequacy of the information available to shareholders and the public.

Waxman and Davis Request Interview on Deleted Files

Chairman Waxman and Ranking Minority Member Davis ask Special Counsel Bloch for an interview regarding reports that he directed the deletion of files on office computers.

Waxman Requests Information About Afghan Maternity Hospital

In a letter to HHS Secretary Leavitt, Chairman Waxman expressed concern over reports of serious problems in the HHS-supported maternity hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.

State Department Inspector General Resigns

State Department Inspector General Howard J. Krongard announced his resignation today. In response to the announcement, Chairman Waxman released the following statement:

“Mr. Krongard’s decision removes an enormous distraction from the Inspector General’s office and will allow the office to focus on its important oversight responsibilities. The Committee will certainly take this new development into account.”

Chairman Waxman Requests Inspectors General Provide Information on Unimplemented Recommendations

As part of the Committee’s ongoing investigations into waste, fraud, and abuse in federal spending, Chairman Waxman requested information regarding unimplemented recommendations from Inspectors General at 63 federal agencies.

Committee Report: White House Engaged in Systematic Effort to Manipulate Climate Change Science

The Oversight Committee approved a report that concludes that the Bush Administration has censored climate change scientists, edited climate change reports, and misled policymakers and the public about the dangers of global warming.

Hearing to Assess Veterans' Charities

On Thursday, the Committee held a hearing to examine whether all the charitable groups raising money for the purpose of helping our nation’s veterans are genuinely serving that need. Concerns have been raised that some charities are conducting high volume mail and telemarketing campaigns that enrich the organizations and fundraisers but fail to provide meaningful assistance to veterans.

Legislation Introduced to Increase Adult Access to Life-Saving Vaccines

Rep. Waxman, Sen. Kennedy, and Rep. Roybal-Allard introduced a package of bills that will help ensure that adults have access to life-saving vaccines. These vaccines include a new vaccine against the virus that causes cervical cancer as well as vaccines again seasonal influenza, certain pneumonias, Hepatitis B, and shingles, among others.

Waxman and Davis Joint Statement on Mitchell Report

Following the release of the Mitchell report, Chairman Henry A. Waxman and Ranking Minority Member Tom Davis released a statement. Chairman Waxman has scheduled a hearing on January 15, 2008 to further examine steroid use and the Mitchell report.

Charity Alert

The Oversight and Government Reform Committee held a hearing to examine whether all the charitable groups raising money for the purpose of helping our nation’s veterans are genuinely serving that need. Although a large number of charities are fulfilling their mission, serious questions have been raised about some groups.

Chairman Waxman Urges Attorney General to Provide Plame Documents

In a letter to the Attorney General, Chairman Waxman reiterated his request for documents from Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald’s investigation into the leak of the covert identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson, noting the absence of any pending Justice Department investigation or litigation.

Chairman Waxman’s Statement on EPA Denial of California Waiver Request

Chairman Henry A. Waxman released the following statement today in response to EPA’s denial of California’s waiver request:

“EPA’s decision ignores the law, science, and commonsense. This is a policy dictated by politics and ideology, not facts. The Committee will be investigating how and why this decision was made.”

Chairman Waxman Requests Information on Expanded HIV Testing

Chairman Waxman asks CDC Director Gerberding and HRSA Director Duke to conduct additional analysis to answer questions about the impact of the expanded testing program on the demand for care and treatment of HIV. Chairman Waxman also asks Dr. Gerberding to explain CDC’s position on the role of prevention counseling provided in conjunction with testing.

New Questions Raised About White House Records Preservation

In letters to the White House and the National Archives, Chairman Waxman asks whether the White House has preserved its records according to the obligations of the Presidential Records Act, and what the White House has done to prepare for the transition of presidential records to the Archives in January 2009.

Chairman Waxman Initiates Investigation into EPA Decision

In a letter to EPA, Chairman Waxman requests that the agency preserve and produce all documents relating to Administrator Johnson’s decision to block California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.

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