Blog Post
Blog Post
February 27, 2008
The war in Iraq has lasted for nearly five years -- making it the third longest war in American history, after the Revolutionary War and the Vietnam War. Our generals and military leaders are warning that our military is stretched and strained and our country is facing a military readiness crisis the U.S. has not experienced since the end of the Vietnam War more than 30 years ago.
The Impact on Our Nation's Military Readiness
Blog Post
February 27, 2008
The House has passed the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008 by a vote of 236-182. The bill will end unnecessary subsidies to Big Oil companies and invest in clean, renewable energy and energy efficiency. It will extend and expand tax incentives for renewable electricity, energy and fuel, as well as for plug-in hybrid cars, and energy efficient homes, buildings, and appliances.
Watch video highlights from the debate:
Blog Post
February 27, 2008
With oil prices reaching another new record high of $102 a barrel today and American families paying $3.13 a gallon at the pump, Congress is taking further action to put us on a path toward energy independence--to lower energy costs, grow our economy and create new jobs, strengthen national security, and reduce global warming.
Today, the House of Representatives will consider the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act of 2008 (H.R.
Blog Post
February 27, 2008
Speaker Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and House Committee on Administration Chairman Robert A. Brady announced today the appointment of Retired Master Gunnery Sergeant Patricia Orsini as the Director of the U.S. House of Representatives' new Wounded Warrior Program.
Blog Post
February 26, 2008
The Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties held an oversight hearing on voter suppression this morning. The Subcommittee voted 6-4 to authorize the Chairman of the Committee to issue a subpoena to J. Kenneth Blackwell, former Ohio Secretary of State, for testimony and related documents at a hearing before the Subcommittee regarding voter suppression.
Blog Post
February 26, 2008
Yesterday, Rand Beers, former Senior Director for Combating Terrorism at the National Security Council, Richard A. Clarke, former head of counterterrorism at the National Security Council, Lt. Gen. Don Kerrick, former Deputy National Security Advisor, and Suzanne Spaulding, former assistant general counsel at the CIA, wrote to Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell regarding distortions he and President Bush have made on FISA and the issue of telecom immunity.
Blog Post
February 25, 2008
Today, the Pentagon acknowledged that it will maintain a force of 140,000 troops in Iraq through July 2008--8,000 more than the pre-surge troop level in January of last year. The AP reports:
Blog Post
February 25, 2008
In a letter last week to Intelligence Committee Chairman Silvestre Reyes (D-TX), Attorney General Michael Mukasey and Director of National Intelligence Mike McConnell warned that some telecommunications companies have refused to cooperate with surveillance orders. But less than 24 hours later, the Department of Justice and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence issued a statement confirming that telecommunications companies are in fact continuing to cooperate with the government.
Blog Post
February 25, 2008
Chairmen John Conyers, Silvestre Reyes, Jay Rockefeller, and Patrick Leahy wrote a column published in the Washington Post this morning on the President's "scare tactics and political games" over surveillance legislation.
Scare Tactics and Our Surveillance Bill
The Washington Post - February 25, 2008
Blog Post
February 23, 2008
Congressman John Conyers (MI-14), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, delivered the Democratic Radio Address this morning. In his address, Chairman Conyers discussed Democratic efforts to work in bipartisan manner to pass legislation that will ensure our nation's security while protecting civil liberties.