Week of 01/08/07
This is the second installment in a series highlighting the activities of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Here I will summarize any news, reports, Investigations, hearings or legislation that pertains to the committee. When possible, I will also point out any action schedluded for the week ahead (floor votes, hearings, etc.).
Last week: 01/01/07
Announcements
The Committee Members have been announced. There are 23 Democrats and 17 Republicans (freshmen Reps. in bold).
Majority Democrats: Henry Waxman (CA-30) "Chairman"
Danny Davis (IL-07) , Diane Watson (CA-33), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC), Tom Lantos (CA-12), Edolphus Towns (NY-10), Paul Kanjorski (PA-11), Carolyn Maloney (NY-14), Elijah Cummings (MD-7), Dennis Kucinich (OH-10), Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-01), Stephen Lynch (MA-09), Chris Van Hollen (MD-08), Brian Higgins (NY-27), Paul Hodes (NH-02), Chris Murphy (CT-05), Bruce Braley (IA-01), Peter Welch (VT-at large), John Yarmuth (KY-03), John Tierney (MA-06), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Jim Cooper (TN-05), John Sarbanes (MD-03)
Minority Republicans: Tom Davis (VA-11) "Ranking Member"
Mark Souder (IN), Patrick McHenry (NC), Dan Burton (IN-05), John Mica (FL), Chris Cannon (UT), Virgina Foxx (NC), Christopher Shays (CT-04), John McHugh (NY-23), Todd Russell Platts (PA-19), John Duncan, Jr. (TN-02), Mike Turner (OH-03), Darrell Issa (CA-49), Kenny Marchant (TX-24), Brian Bilbray (CA-50), Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03), Bill Sali (ID-01)
They write Letters
On the day of Bush's surge speech, Chairman Waxman sent a letter to his fellow Representatives questioning the President's new strategy for funding the Iraq reconstruction. Bush plans to request more money for Iraqi Ministries and contractors for rebuilding efforts. The problem is, that for all the money that has already been spent, the reconstruction has largely been a failure to this point. Much of that money has gone unaccounted for (recall the $8 billion that Paul Bremer 'lost'). The effectiveness of the construction is also in question because it is too dangerous for inspectors to go out and ensure that work is being done properly. Why should tax payer dollars be sent down the rabbit hole with no accountability and no sense of progress being made?
Minority Report
Tom Davis (Ranking Member) released a 61-page report this week, Sandy Berger's Theft of Classified Documents: Unanswered Questions, dealing with former National Security Adviser Sandy Berger's removal and destruction of docs from the National Archives. This happened during 4 occasions in 2002 and 2003 while Berger was preparing for his testimony before the Joint Intelligence Committee and the 9/11 Commission. He had access to highly classified documents such as confidential memos, e-mails, and handwritten notes, and materials from counter-terrorism adviser Richard Clarke's office. An eyewitness saw him stuffing papers in his socks and under his pants. Berger has admitted to taking a version of the Millenium Alert After Action Review and some of his own classified notes, but it is possible that he took other documents as well. In 2005, Berger pled guilty to a misdemeanor charge of unauthorized removal and retention of classified material and received the following punishments: a $50,000 fine, 100 hours of community service and a three-year revocation of his security clearance. The report concludes that Berger's misconduct has compromised our national security and may have hampered the investigation of the 9/11 Commission. You may be glad to hear that the National Archives has revised procedures for handling classified documents so that they are less likely to go missing in the future.
BTW, the Minority Office has it's website up and running, where you can read the press release and view the Report.
Legislation
For those keeping score at home, the previous week (01/01/07) there were 26 new pieces of legislation related to the Oversight & Reform Committee. Last week (01/08/07) there were 19 new, 1 resolved, and 2 updates. All listed below. My picks in bold.
UPDATED
- H.R.1: To provide for the implementation of the recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States.
Sponsor: Rep Thompson, Bennie G. [MS-2] (205 co-sponsors)
Status:
1/9/2007 Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by recorded vote: 299 - 128 (Roll no. 15).
1/9/2007 Referred to Senate committee: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.
This is an important bill in terms of securing air and ship cargo. It directs the Dept. of Homeland Security Secretary to establish a system to inspect 100% of cargo transported on passenger aircraft and permits containers to enter the United States only if scanned with equipment, and secured by seals, that meet prescribed standards. It also contains measures for preventing weapons of mass destruction (WMD) proliferation and terrorism.
- H.R.14 : To amend title 5, United States Code, to deny retirement benefits accrued by an individual as a Member of Congress if such individual is convicted of any of certain offenses.
Sponsor: Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10]
Status:
1/8/2007 Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
RESOLVED
- H.RES.15.EH - Whereas all American Presidents affect the history of the United States, but President Gerald Rudolph Ford leaves a legacy of leadership and service that will endure for years to come; (Engrossed as Agreed to or Passed by House)
1/11/2007 Passed/agreed to in House: 423 - 0 (Roll no. 21)
NEW
Government Management and accounting measures generally
- H.R.404 : To require the establishment of customer service standards for Federal agencies.
Sponsor: Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28]
- H.R.456 : To amend title 44 of the United States Code, to provide for the suspension of fines under certain circumstances for first-time paperwork violations by small business concerns.
Sponsor: Rep Neugebauer, Randy [TX-19]
- H.CON.RES.19 : Affirming the sense of Congress regarding the obligation of the United States to improve the lives of the 36,950,000 Americans living in poverty and the 15,928,000 of those who live in extreme poverty.
Sponsor: Rep Lee, Barbara [CA-9] (19 co-sponsors)
This is actually quite a poignant resolution, documenting the astounding level of poverty, homelessness, and hunger in America. It starts with disheartening statistics and ends with another lie and broken promise from President Bush.
Whereas 8.7 percent of whites, 9.8 percent of Asian-Americans, 21.9 percent of Latinos, and 24.7 percent of African-Americans in lived in poverty in the United States in 2004;
Whereas the poverty rate is highest in rural counties, with 14.5 percent of the population poor;
Whereas 12,896,000 children in the United States under the age of 18 lived in poverty in 2005, and the number of children living in extreme poverty rose by 87,000 from 2004-2005;
Whereas, in 2005, an estimated 33 percent of the homeless population are children and an estimated 1,350,000 children will experience homelessness in a year;
[snip]
Whereas on January 20, 2001, President Bush stated `In the quiet of American conscience, we know that deep, persistent poverty is unworthy of our nation's promise. Where there is suffering, there is duty. Americans in need are not strangers, they are citizens, not problems, but priorities. And all of us are diminished when any are hopeless. And I can pledge our nation to a goal: When we see that wounded traveler on the road to Jericho, we will not pass to the other side.': Now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), That it is the sense of Congress that--
(1) the United States has an obligation to improve the lives of the 36,950,000 Americans living in poverty and the 15,928,000 of those who live in extreme poverty; and
(2) the President should immediately present to Congress a comprehensive plan to eradicate poverty by 2015.
Federal civil service
- H.R.348 : To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that a Member of Congress convicted of any of certain felony offenses shall not be eligible for retirement benefits based on that individual's Member service, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Jones, Walter B., Jr. [NC-3]
- H.R.466 : To amend title 5, United States Code, to deny Federal retirement benefits to individuals convicted of certain offenses, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Shadegg, John B. [AZ-3]
Holidays and celebrations
- H.RES.42 : Recognizing Ann Richards' extraordinary contributions to Texas and American public life.
Sponsor: Rep Ortiz, Solomon P. [TX-27]
- H.RES.53: Recognizing the life of Lamar Hunt and his outstanding contributions to the Kansas City Chiefs, the National Football League, and the United States.
Sponsor: Rep Cleaver, Emanuel [MO-5]
- H.RES.49 : Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that there should be established a National Letter Carriers Appreciation Day.
Sponsor: Rep Camp, Dave [MI-4]
- H.RES.54 : Honoring Alexander Hamilton on the 250th anniversary of his birth.
Sponsor: Rep Fossella, Vito [NY-13]
- H.RES.58 : To honor Muhammad Ali, global humanitarian, on the occasion of his 65th birthday and to extend best wishes to him and his family.
Sponsor: Rep Carson, Julia [IN-7]
Postal service
- H.CON.RES.26 : Expressing the sense of the Congress that the United States Postal Service should issue a postage stamp commemorating Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.
Sponsor: Rep Rangel, Charles B. [NY-15]
- H.CON.RES.28 : Expressing the sense of the Congress that a commemorative postage stamp should be issued to promote public awareness of Down syndrome.
Sponsor: Rep Sessions, Pete [TX-32]
- H.R.335 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 152 North 5th Street in Laramie, Wyoming, as the "Gale W. McGee Post Office".
Sponsor: Rep Cubin, Barbara [WY] ]
- H.R.414 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 60 Calle McKinley, West in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, as the "Miguel Angel Garcia Mendez Post Office Building".
Sponsor: Rep Fortuno, Luis G. [PR] ]
- H.R.433 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1700 Main Street in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the "Scipio A. Jones Post Office Building".
Sponsor: Rep Snyder, Vic [AR-2] ]
- H.R.437 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 500 West Eisenhower Street in Rio Grande City, Texas, as the "Lino Perez, Jr. Post Office".
Sponsor: Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] ]
Public information and records
- H.R.448 : To prohibit a Federal agency from accepting a form of individual identification issued by a foreign government, except a passport that is accepted on the date of enactment.
Sponsor: Rep Gallegly, Elton [CA-24]
Municipal affairs of the District of Columbia
- H.R.401 : To amend the National Capital Transportation Act of 1969 to authorize additional Federal contributions for maintaining and improving the transit system of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Tom [VA-11]
National Archives
- H.R.439 : To establish a servitude and emancipation archival research clearinghouse in the National Archives.
Sponsor: Rep Cummings, Elijah E. [MD-7]
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