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This Week in Committee
April 30, 2007
A sampling of House committee hearings and markups this week:

Fiscal 2008 Appropriations: Defense

House Appropriations - Subcommittee on Defense

Subcommittee Hearing

April 30, 1:30 p.m

Spyware Prevention and Securing Aircraft Cockpits

House Judiciary - Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security

Subcommittee Markup

May 1, Time TBA

Fiscal 2008 Budget: Intelligence

House Select Intelligence Committee

Full Committee Markup

May 1, Time TBA

FDA Mission

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General William Odom Delivers Democratic Radio Address on Iraq
April 28, 2007

"To put this in a simple army metaphor, the Commander-in-Chief seems to have gone AWOL, that is 'absent without leave.' He neither acts nor talks as though he is in charge. Rather, he engages in tit-for-tat games...I hope the President seizes this moment for a basic change in course and signs the bill the Congress has sent him. I will respect him greatly for such a rare act of courage, and so too, I suspect, will most Americans."
- Lieutenant General William E. Odom

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This Week In Videos
April 27, 2007
MONDAY

Speaker Pelosi spoke on the floor in memory of Chairwoman Juanita Millender-McDonald, who passed away last weekend:

TUESDAY

Rep. Rosa DeLauro testified before the Education and Labor Committee on the need for legislation to close the pay gap between men and women:

WEDNESDAY

Rep. John Murtha closed debate on the Iraq Accountability Act, which passed 218-208:

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Oversight Committee Continues Investigation Into Tillman Case
April 27, 2007
Following up on Tuesday's hearing, today Chairman Henry Waxman asked the White House and Defense Department officials up the chain of command to provide the Oversight Committee with any communications relating to the death of Corporal Pat Tillman.

    * Letter to Secretary Gates (pdf) >>

    * Letter to White House Counsel Fred Fielding (pdf) >>

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Oversight Committee Invites Former CIA Director to Testify
April 27, 2007
A letter (pdf):

April 27, 2007

The Honorable George Tenet

c/o Robert B. Barnett, Esq.

Williams & Connolly LLP

725 Twelfth Street, NW

Washington, DC 20005

Dear Mr. Tenet:

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New Justice Department Documents
April 27, 2007
The Judiciary Committee has posted files from the latest document release from the Department of Justice which includes a log of files sought by the Committee and a few additional emails. The log contains descriptions of files requested by, but so far withheld from, the Judiciary Committee. See the documents >>

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Oversight Committee Asks Agencies for Information on Political Presentations
April 27, 2007
Following media reports that at least 20 political briefings were given to officials of at least 15 federal agencies, Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman writes to government agencies requesting further information and documents about any briefings mentioning elections or candidates provided to agency employees by officials in the White House.
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The Cornerstones To A More Peaceful World
April 27, 2007
Image removed.The Gavel welcomes Rep. Keith Ellison, posting on the Congressional delegation to the Middle East earlier this month. Yesterday, the delegation including Speaker Pelosi, Reps.
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"Why Would They Burn It?"
April 26, 2007
One of the strangest aspects of the tragedy surrounding Army Ranger Specialist Patrick Tillman's death was the destruction of his property, as reported by the Associated Press last Friday:

Army ordered Tillman's uniform burned within hours of death

Associated Press - April 20, 2007

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Pelosi: House and Senate Passage of Iraq BillTakes Us in a New Direction in Iraq
April 26, 2007
Speaker Nancy Pelosi spoke at a press conference in the Capitol this afternoon with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, senior House and Senate Democrats, and Iraq war veterans after the Senate passed the Iraq Accountability Act by a vote count of 51 to 46. Below are Pelosi's opening remarks:

"Thank you very much, Mr. Leader.

"It is with great pride that I stand with you after the passage in the Senate today, and yesterday in the House, of this legislation that takes us in a new direction in Iraq.