Blog Post

The news of Senator Kennedy's health has been met with great concern.

Senator Kennedy is a champion for health care for all Americans and a great fighter for America's children, workers and seniors.

This same strength and fighting spirit will serve him well in this challenge.

Our thoughts and prayers are with him, with his wife Vicki, and with our colleague Patrick, and the entire Kennedy family.

The Oversight Committee is currently holding a hearing, "EPA's New Ozone Standards," to examine the new ozone national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS) and the process the Environmental Protection Agency used in setting them.

From the Judiciary Committee:

In response to bipartisan action by the New Direction Congress, President Bush has signed our legislation -- which he previously opposed -- to temporarily suspend filling the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. Last week, in response to passage of our legislation, the Bush Administration agreed to stop wasting taxpayer money by putting 70,000 barrels of oil each day into the Strategic Petroleum Reserve.

From the Oversight Committee:

White House Involved in California Waiver Denial

New documents and testimony obtained by the Committee show that EPA career staff unanimously supported granting California's request for a waiver to enforce its greenhouse gas emissions standards for cars and trucks. EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson also supported granting the petition, at least in part, until he communicated with the White House.

The House has just passed two of three amendments constituting the emergency supplemental bill. Amendment #1, which contained the funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, failed after 132 Republicans voted present, refusing to take a position for or against. Amendment #2 placing restrictions on the Iraq policy, and Amendment #3 funding domestic priorities including an expanded GI Bill and unemployment insurance, both passed.

I welcome the California Supreme Court's historic decision. I have long fought against discrimination and believe that the State Constitution provides for equal treatment for all of California's citizens and families, which today's decision recognizes.

I commend the plaintiffs from San Francisco for their courage and commitment. I encourage California citizens to respect the Court's decision, and I continue to strongly oppose any ballot measure that would write discrimination into the State Constitution.

From the Judiciary Committee:

Conyers, Lofgren Demand Answers on Immigration Detainee Medical Abuses

(Washington, DC)- Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, Jr., and Subcommittee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA, Immigration Subcommittee) sent a letter to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff demanding that he provide answers to disturbing revelations about widespread denial of medical treatment in the immigration detention system.