Blog Post

The Oversight Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement is currently holding a hearing, "Federal Contracting: Do Poor Performers Keep Winning?" This hearing will review flaws in federal contracting that allow contractors with poor performance records to either renew existing contracts or receive subsequent contracts with the same or different federal agencies.

The Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight are currently holding a joint hearing, "Reconstruction in Iraq's Oil Sector: Running on Empty?"

Watch the hearing live

Most Senate Republicans continue to obstruct Democratic efforts to force a new direction in Iraq, instead choosing to continue to stand squarely behind the failed policies of President Bush. By blocking an up-or-down vote on an amendment to responsibly end the war in Iraq, Senate Republicans have once again thwarted the will of a majority of the United States Senate, a majority of the House of Representatives, and a majority of the American people.

After four and a half years of a failed policy in Iraq, we must not just voice our opposition, we must vote to end the war.

Last week the House passed the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act with the largest vote in favor of redeployment to date. Moments before Republicans voted once again to block debate on the Reed-Levin Amendment to redeploy troops in the Senate, Reps. Paul Hodes (NH-02) and John Yarmuth (KY-03) denounced the Republican filibuster and applauded Senate Democrats for forcing the debate:

Rep. Hodes:

The Financial Services Committee is currently holding a hearing, "Monetary Policy and the State of the Economy." Ben S. Bernanke, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, will testify.

Speaker Pelosi and 57 House Democrats joined Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Senate Democrats, and Iraq war veterans at a "Candlelight Call to Action" tonight to honor our troops and call on Senate Republicans to stop blocking votes to responsibly end the war in Iraq.

Speaker Pelosi's remarks:

Last week the House passed the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act with the largest vote in favor of redeployment to date. As debate rages in the Senate, House Democrats are giving a series of one-minute speeches on Iraq. Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) decries attempts to shift the message on Iraq instead of shifting the policy:

Rep. Johnson:

Last week the House passed the Responsible Redeployment from Iraq Act with the largest vote in favor of redeployment to date. As debate rages in the Senate, House Democrats are giving a series of one-minute speeches on Iraq. Rep. John Hall (NY-19) implores Senators to back up their calls for a new direction with votes for a new direction:

Rep. Hall: