This is the weekly review of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Anybody getting tired of hearing about Valerie Plame yet? Well, there's a little more going on than that, so even if you are, come on down!
Week Ahead - Hearings
- Monday, March 19: Full Committee hearing to Examine Allegations of Political Interference with Government Climate Change Science (Part II)
10:00 am, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
This is a continuation of the previous hearing. Witnesses have not been posted on the Committee website yet, but I expect they are going to continue investigating the role of senior White House officials in editing scientific reports and other actions taken to minimize the significance of global warming.
- Tuesday, March 20: Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement hearing on "Federal Financial Statements for FY 2006: Fiscal Outlook, Management Weaknesses and Consequences"
2:00 pm, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
- Wednesday, March 21: Subcommittee on Domestic Policy hearing on "Foreclosure, Predatory Mortgage and Payday Lending in America’s Cities"
2:00 pm, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
- Thursday, March 22: Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs hearing on "Iraq: IEDs and Munitions, Are They Secured?"
10:00 am, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
- Thursday, March 22: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia hearing on H.R. 1124, "To Extend the District of Columbia Access Act of 1999"
2:00 pm, in 2154 Rayburn House Office Building
|
Week in Review: 03/12/07 - 03/16/07
Hearings
- March 13: Full Committee business meeting on the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act of 2007
Over 500,000 people living in the District of Columbia lack direct voting representation in the Senate and House. This has been the case for over 200 years now. This Act will designate DC as a Congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives. As somewhat of a concession to the Republicans, an additional House seat will be awarded to the state of Utah as an at-large seat. So if the bill passes, the total number of Representatives would be 437. An important safeguard was written into the Act - a nonseverability clause - such that "a court can not enjoin or strike down the bill's provision creating a new seat in the District of Columbia without also enjoining or striking down the new at-large seat for Utah. So it's all or nothing - if DC doesn't get the seat, then Utah won't either.
- March 16: Full Committee hearing on the Disclosure of CIA Agent Valerie Plame Wilson's Identity and White House Procedures for Safeguarding Classified Information
Witnesses:
- Ms. Valerie Plame Wilson, former employee, Central Intelligence Agency
- Dr. James Knodell, Director, Office of Security, The White House
- Mr. Bill Leonard, Director, Information Security Oversight Office, National Archives and Records Administration
- Mr. Mark Zaid, Attorney
- Ms. Victoria Toensing, diGenova & Toensing, LLP
I thoroughly enjoyed watching this one, as did many Kossacks. During the 4-hour hearing we filled 8 live blog diaries, with 3440 comments. Afterwards, there was much more discussion and analysis. Recommend diaries:
The Hearing's Revelations -- Why They Matter by SusanHu
Victoria Toensing is a very very bad lawyer by litigatormom
No WH Investigation Into Plame Leak: Waxman Demands Answers by MediaFreeze
I don't have much to add that hasn't already been said. But just to keep score...
Since the Republics could only muster up 2 out of their 17 committee members to attend the hearing we are out of goats...
All images are screen captures from the webcast on the Committee's website
(still available at link).
|
Passage of Sunshine Bills
Shining on the dark recesses of the Bush Administration. You can run but you can't hide!
Legislation - NEW
Here are the bills & resolutions introduced last week - listed under the Subcommittee which has jurisdiction over the matter.
Domestic Policy
- H.R.1475 : To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to increase and equalize the exclusion from gross income for parking and transportation fringe benefits and to provide for a common cost-of-living adjustment, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep McGovern, James P. [MA-3]
- H.R.1479 : To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for coverage of qualified acupuncturist services under part B of the Medicare Program, and to amend title 5, United States Code, to provide for coverage of such services under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program.
Sponsor: Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22]
- H.R.1500 : To provide for the stabilization of prices for gasoline, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep DeFazio, Peter A. [OR-4]
- H.R.1542 : To provide for paid sick leave to ensure that Americans can address their own health needs and the health needs of their families.
Sponsor: Rep DeLauro, Rosa L. [CT-3]
|
Government Management, Organization, and Procurement
- H.AMDT.49 to H.R.1362 An amendment to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment inserting prohibition on contracts to educational institutions not supporting U.S. defense efforts.
Sponsor: House Oversight and Government
Latest Major Action: 3/15/2007 House amendment agreed to. Status: On agreeing to the Oversight and Government Reform amendment Agreed to by voice vote.
|
Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia
- H.R.1518 : To allow employees of Federally-qualified health centers to obtain health coverage under chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code.
Sponsor: Rep Davis, Danny K. [IL-7]
- H.R.1520 : To establish the Champlain Quadricentennial Commemoration Commission, the Hudson-Fulton 400th Commemoration Commission, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Hinchey, Maurice D. [NY-22]
- H.RES.245 : Recognizing the religious and historical significance of the festival of Diwali.
Sponsor: Rep Wilson, Joe [SC-2]
- H.RES.250 : Honoring Dr. Edwin J. Feulner on the occasion of his 30th anniversary as President of the Heritage Foundation.
Sponsor: Rep Hensarling, Jeb [TX-5]
|
Legislation - UPDATES
- H.R.1433 : To provide for the treatment of the District of Columbia as a Congressional district for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC] (introduced 3/9/2007) Cosponsors (13)
Latest Major Action: 3/15/2007 House committee/subcommittee actions.
Status: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 21 - 13.
- H.RES.89: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a day should be established as Dutch-American Friendship Day to celebrate the historic ties of the United States and the Netherlands.
Sponsor: Rep Hoekstra, Peter [MI-2] (introduced 1/23/2007) Cosponsors (59)
Latest Major Action: 3/12/2007 Passed/agreed to in House.
Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 391 - 0 (Roll no. 138).
- H.RES.136: Commending the Girl Scouts of the United States of America on the occasion of their 95th anniversary, for providing quality age-appropriate experiences that prepare girls to become the leaders of tomorrow and for raising issues important to girls.
Sponsor: Rep McCarthy, Carolyn [NY-4] (introduced 2/7/2007) Cosponsors (68)
Latest Major Action: 3/12/2007 Passed/agreed to in House.
Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 395 - 0 (Roll no. 137).
- H.RES.198: Recognizing the significance of Black History Month.
Sponsor: Rep Green, Al [TX-9] (introduced 2/27/2007) Cosponsors (80)
Latest Major Action: 3/12/2007 Passed/agreed to in House.
Status: On motion to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution Agreed to by voice vote. |