Blog Post

As Speaker Pelosi has said, we all should take time to reflect on those who have made the greatest sacrifices - our troops and their families here at home. We salute them because of their courage and patriotism. American soldiers have done everything asked of them and we are forever in their debt. Today, The Gavel honors those who have fallen.

2004

SGT Dennis Anthony Corral

SPC Solomon Carias Bangayan

CPT Kimberly Nicole Hampton

CPT Eric Thomas Paliwoda

SPC Marc Scott Seiden

SPC Luke Peirce Frist

PFC Jesse Douglas Mizener

SSG Craig Davis

SGT Michael Anthony Diraimondo

SGT Christopher Allen Golby

SFC Gregory Brian Hicks

SPC Nathaniel Henry Johnson

CW2 Philip Andrew Johnson Jr.

CW2 Ian Desmond Manuel

SSG Jeffery Calvin Walker

CW2 Aaron Andrew Weaver

As Speaker Pelosi has said, we all should take time to reflect on those who have made the greatest sacrifices - our troops and their families here at home. We salute them because of their courage and patriotism. American soldiers have done everything asked of them and we are forever in their debt. Today, The Gavel honors those who have fallen.

2003

MAJ Jay Thomas Aubin

CAPT Ryan Anthony Beaupre

2NDLT Therrel Shane Childers

LCPL Jose Gutierrez

CPL Brian Matthew Kennedy

SSGT Kendall Damon Waters-Bey

LT Thomas Mullen Adams

SGT Nicolas Michael Hodson

LCPL Eric James Orlowski

SPC Brandon Scott Tobler

SPC Jamaal Rashard Addison

SPC Edward John Anguiano

SGT Michael Edward Bitz

LCPL Brian Rory Buesing

SSG George Edward Buggs

LCPL Tamario Demetrice Burkett

Four years ago today, our nation launched an ill-conceived war of choice in Iraq. The war has claimed the lives of nearly 3,200 American troops; wounded tens of thousands more, thousands of them grievously. It has brought our military's readiness to the lowest levels since the Vietnam war, cost billions of dollars; and significantly damaged the standing of the United States in the eyes of the world.

The American people made clear in last fall's election, however, that they have lost confidence in the President's ability to bring the war to an end. They want a new direction on Iraq. This week, the full House will debate legislation that presents a clear choice: either we continue with an open-ended war or we have tough accountability leading to the responsible redeployment of our troops.

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is holding a hearing on whether White House officials followed appropriate procedures for safeguarding the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson. Here Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-07) and Chairman Henry Waxman question Dr. James Knodell, Director of the Office of Security in the White House, on whether there was ever a White House investigation into the leak:

"Right after the Novak column appeared, there was an outrage that this was disclosing a covert agent... the White House still has not initiated an investigation, am I correct in that statement?"

Dr. James Knodell
"That's correct."

Chairman Henry Waxman:

The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has just completed a hearing on whether White House officials followed appropriate procedures for safeguarding the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson. The opening statements of Chairman Henry Waxman and former covert CIA Agent Valerie Plame, as well as questioning from Rep. Paul Hodes (NH-02) and Rep. John Sarbanes (MD-03) provide valuable context to the entire affair.

"This was an extraordinarily serious breach of our national security. President George W. Bush's father, the former President Bush, said - and I quote - "I have nothing but contempt and anger for those who expose the names of our sources. They are, in my view, the most insidious of traitors."

Chairman Henry Waxman:

Six senior retired military officers sent a letter today to Speaker Pelosi, and all Members of Congress, urging immediate action to protect our troops, address our military readiness, and hold the Iraqi government accountable.

Dear Members of the 110th Congress,

We are writing to urge you to take immediate action to protect our troops.

We are concerned that the plan to deploy additional troops to Iraq, coupled with the serious readiness deficiencies, have left our armed forces in a state of emergency.

At 10:00 this morning the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform will webcast a hearing on whether White House officials followed appropriate procedures for safeguarding the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson. At the hearing, the Committee will receive testimony from Ms. Wilson and other experts regarding the disclosure and internal White House security procedures for protecting her identity from disclosure and responding to the leak after it occurred.

Watch live and get further information >>

By a vote of 347-73, the House passed the Accountability in Contracting Act this afternoon. This legislation requires federal agencies to limit the use of abuse-prone contracts and increases transparency and accountability in federal contracts. The Oversight Committee has proven that "under the Bush Administration, the "shadow government" of private companies working under federal contract has exploded in size.