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Blog Post
What President Bush Vetoed
May 7, 2007
Extra armor causing Humvee doors to trap troops

Tom Vanden Brook, USA Today (Army Times republication) - May 7, 2007

Kits to fix the problem were included in vetoed bill

The Army is fixing the doors of every armored Humvee in combat in Iraq because the doors can jam shut during an attack and trap soldiers inside, Pentagon records and interviews show.

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Chairman Waxman Writes to Secretary Rice Regarding Mr. Dodge
May 4, 2007
Today Chairman Waxman sent a letter to Secretary of State Rice (1) informing the Secretary that the legislative affairs officials in the Department should not hinder the Committee's inquiry into why Secretary Rice and President Bush cited forged evidence to build a case for war against Iraq; (2) advising the Secretary that the Committee will depose a nuclear weapons analyst at the State Department; and (3) requesting relevant documents.

The full letter to Secretary Rice (pdf):

Blog Post
Student Loan Investigation Launched
May 4, 2007
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Education and Labor Hearing on Retirement Security
May 3, 2007
Today the Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions held a hearing, "Retirement Security: Strengthening Pension Protections."

Subcommittee Chairman Rob Andrews gave opening remarks:

Rep. Andrews:

"Today, less than one in five workers in the private sector - 20 million workers - have a traditional defined benefit plan."

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"S&T Directorate Has Severely Crippled a National Asset"
May 3, 2007
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Bonuses at the VA
May 3, 2007
Lawmakers want VA to explain bonuses

Hope Yen, Associated Press - May 3, 2007

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Hate Crimes Prevention Act Passes
May 3, 2007
H.R. 1592, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act, has passed by a vote of 237-180:

Speaker Pelosi:

"Every day we that we come to this floor we pledge allegiance to the flag and at the end of that pledge we say, 'liberty and justice for all.' And that is what today is about...Hate crimes have no place in America - no place where we pledge every morning 'with liberty and justice for all.' We must act to end hate crimes and save lives.

Blog Post
Hate Crimes Prevention Act
May 3, 2007
Today, the House is considering H.R. 1592, the Hate Crimes Prevention Act. This bipartisan bill focuses on providing new resources to help state and local law enforcement agencies prevent and prosecute hate crimes. It also closes gaps in current federal hate crimes law.

Hate crimes have no place in America and all Americans have a right to feel safe in their community.

Blog Post
James Comey Explains the Stakes
May 3, 2007
The Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law has concluded its hearing: "The Continuing Investigation into the U.S. Attorneys Controversy." Former deputy attorney general James Comey testified, and in an exchange with Rep. Hank Johnson (GA-04) explained what would be at stake if hirings inside the Department of Justice were revealed as political:
Comey:
Blog Post
Judiciary Committee Hearing on Fired US Attorneys
May 3, 2007
The Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law is currently holding a hearing: "The Continuing Investigation into the U.S. Attorneys Controversy." The hearing is being aired on C-Span 3.
Chairwoman Sánchez: