Chronology of Committee Work

GAO Report Shows Criminals Easily Fake Gun Licenses and Buy Firearms

A GAO report reveals significant problems with the regulation of gun dealers and demonstrates the surprising ease with which criminals can use fake gun dealer licenses to bypass background checks and obtain large numbers of firearms. Rep. Waxman has written Treasury Secretary O'Neill to urge him to take action to prevent these abuses.

"Seven Member Rule" Request for EPA Power Plant Emissions Data

Pursuant to the ‘Seven Member Rule,’ eighteen Committee members requested that the Environmental Protection Agency release modeling data on power plant emissions. The ‘Seven Member Rule’ is a statute that states “an Executive agency, on request of the Committee on Government Operations of the House of Representatives, or of any seven members thereof . . . shall submit any information requested of it relating to any matter within the jurisdiction of the committee.”

Members Request Release of EPA Power Plant Emissions Data

Eighteen committee members request that the Environmental Protection Agency release modeling data on power plant emissions.

HHS Report Shows Nine of Ten U.S. Nursing Homes Understaffed

The Department of Health and Human Services recently released a comprehensive study that shows “strong and compelling” evidence that nine out of ten U.S. nursing homes are understaffed. Although officially released, Report has not been easily accessible to the public. On April 17, Rep. Waxman and Sen. Grassley sent a letter to CMS Administrator Tom Scully requesting that Report be posted on the HHS website.

HHS Posts Complete Information on Nursing Home Violations

A report released in February by Rep. Waxman and Sen. Charles E. Grassley found that the federal website 'Nursing Home Compare' was incomplete because it did not include tens of thousands of recent violations of federal health standards. Rep. Waxman and Sen. Grassley wrote to HHS Administrator Tom Scully to urge that the information be added to the site, and asked the minority staff to create a temporary searchable database of these complaint violations. In May 2002, HHS began posting the information on their website 'Nursing Home Compare'.

Letter to JPMorgan Chase on Enron Transactions

Rep. Waxman asks JPMorgan Chase to explain transactions it entered into with Enron involving special-purpose entities named Sequoia, Choctaw, Cherokee, Zephyrus, and Enron Finance Partners.

GAO Files Motion for Expedited Decision

GAO filed a motion seeking an expedited decision from the judge hearing its lawsuit against the Vice President. GAO's motion for summary judgment argued that, since there are no factual disagreements, the suit should be decided on its legal merits in favor of GAO.

GAO Asks for Expedited Ruling in Lawsuit Against Vice President

GAO files a motion in U.S. District Court for summary judgment in its energy task force records lawsuit against Vice President Cheney.

Historians on the Importance of Access to Presidential Records

In a full Committee oversight hearing on the Presidential Records Act, four prominent historians criticized efforts by the Bush Administration to restrict access to presidential records. According to Dr. Stanley Kutler, "If his action stands, Bush will substantially shut down historical research of recent presidents."

FDA Announcement: Nicotine Lollipops Unhealthy and Illegal

One week after Rep. Waxman called on the Department of Health and Human Services to halt the sale of nicotine lollipops, the FDA announced its finding that these products are illegal and directed sellers to move to discontinue sales within 15 days.

Members Ask for Ridge Hearing to Be Public

In an letter to Committee Chairman Burton, Rep. Waxman and all seven subcommittee ranking minority members ask that the Committee hold a public hearing with Director of Homeland Security Ridge, instead of the closed members-only briefing now scheduled for April 11.

Nicotine Lollipops Illegally Sold

Rep. Waxman sent a letter to HHS describing the health risks posed by nicotine lollipops and urging the agency to halt the sale of these unapproved products.

Letter to Enron CEO Cooper on Employee 401(k)s

Rep. Waxman asks Enron Chairman Stephen Cooper to explain documents suggesting that certain employees may have been misinformed about the timing of last fall's 401(k) lock-down.

Letter from PaineWebber on Financial Advice to Enron Employees

In response to a letter sent by Rep. Waxman, UBS PaineWebber provides information on the financial advice it gave to Enron employees.

Energy Plan Recommendations Benefit Campaign Contributors

A new report prepared for Rep. Waxman shows that 65 specific recommendations in the White House energy plan benefit top energy industry campaign contributors.

Letter to Enron Chairman Cooper on Enron's Political Activities

Rep. Waxman asks Enron Chairman Stephen Cooper for information on the company's political activities and lobbying efforts, including records of state, federal, and local campaign contributions.

Letter from Secretary of the Army on Enron Contacts

A letter from Secretary of the Army Thomas E. White provides further information on his contacts with Enron.

Administration Holding Weak Positions on Tobacco Treaty

Writing in the March 21 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine, Rep. Waxman outlines deficiencies in U.S. negotiating positions on the global tobacco treaty, including weak positions on on tobacco taxes, advertising and promotion, labeling, trade, and passive smoking restrictions. He concludes, "We know more about the harm of tobacco consumption and effective ways to reduce this harm than about perhaps any other major cause of human suffering. That knowledge -- not political influence or campaign contributions -- should guide U.S. actions in these crucial public health negotiations." (Article not available online.)

New Mexico Youth Incarcerated Due to Lack of Treatment Services

Senator Jeff Bingaman, Rep. Tom Udall, and Rep. Waxman released a report revealing that hundreds of New Mexico youth suffering from mental health problems were incarcerated in juvenile detention centers because treatment spots were not available. The report finds that from January to December 2001, an estimated 718 youth were collectively incarcerated for 31.3 years even after being cleared to leave to obtain mental health services. Inadequate federal oversight of the state's Medicaid program is a key cause of this problem.

Minority Members Submit Views on Clinton Pardon Report

Minority members of the Government Reform Committee respond to the majority's report, "Justice Undone: Clemency Decisions in the Clinton White House." The minority's response concludes that the pardons were the result of a clemency process in disarray and poor judgment. The majority's report, however, does not recite facts and draw reasonable conclusions. Rather, it mixes facts with suppositions, unfairly questions the motives and integrity of the individuals involved, and makes numerous unsupported allegations of wrongdoing.

Letter to Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel

Rep. Waxman urges Assistant to the President for Presidential Personnel Clay Johnson to reconsider his refusal to provide a complete list of all administration officials who previously worked for Enron.

Letter to PaineWebber Chairman on Enron Advice

Rep. Waxman questions the financial advice provided by PaineWebber to Enron employees on exercising their stock options.

Letter to UBS PaineWebber

Rep. Waxman inquires about allegations that PaineWebber financial advisors did not give unbiased advice to Enron employees who wanted to exercise their stock options.

FDA To Suspend Child Safety Rule

Rep. Waxman, Rep. Sherrod Brown and Rep. John Dingell wrote President Bush to urge him to intervene to stop the FDA from suspending the 'pediatric rule' that protects children from unsafe and improperly dosed medications.

U.S. Positions at Third Treaty Session Detailed

Rep. Waxman released a description of selected positions taken by the United States at the third negotiating session on the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control in November 2001.

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