Media

From the Democratic Caucus:

EMANUEL STATEMENT ON IRAN, WHITE HOUSE CRITICISM OF UN AMBASSADOR KHALILZAD

Washington, D.C. -- House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel issued the following statement after today's New York Times reported that the White House criticized United States ambassador to the United Nations, Zalmay Khalilzad, for sitting next to the Iranian foreign minister at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland:

Today Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman and Ranking Member Tom Davis requested information from Secretary Robert Gates on how the Department of Defense will comply with a recently enacted provision of law barring the government from purchasing alternative fuels for vehicles and planes, such as fuels from a coal-to-liquids process or tar sands, if those fuels have higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels.

Full text of the letter (pdf):

The House has voted to extend by 15 days the Protect America Act. In November the House passed the RESTORE Act, which provides the Intelligence Community with effective tools to conduct surveillance of foreign targets outside the United States but restores Constitutional checks and balances that were not contained in the Protect America Act, but the House passed this extension to grant the Senate the time necessary to pass a suitable companion bill. Speaker Nancy Pelosi on the extension:

Today, Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers and Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler sent a letter to former Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell, requesting his testimony at a hearing to address voter suppression efforts. The hearing will be held Friday, February 8, at 9:30 a.m.

Full text of the letter:

January 29, 2008

Mr. Kenneth Blackwell

Family Research Council

801 G Street, N.W.

Washington, DC 20001

Dear Mr. Blackwell:

From the Oversight Committee:

Waxman and Kennedy Request GAO Examination of FDA Resource Shortfalls

WASHINGTON, DC -- Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy wrote to Comptroller General of the United States David Walker requesting an examination of the staffing, information technology, and other resources necessary for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to successfully carry out its oversight of foods, drugs, biologics, and medical devices.

The House has just passed H.R. 5140, the Recovery Rebates and Economic Stimulus for the American People Act by a vote of 385-35-1, a bipartisan economic stimulus legislation to help hardworking Americans who are struggling with the high costs of gas, health care and groceries, and to jumpstart our slowing economy. The bill would put hundreds of dollars into the hands of 117 million American families -- who will spend it immediately to reinvigorate the economy. It will provide tax relief of up to $600 per individual and $1,200 per married couple, plus an additional $300 per child. Recovery rebate checks could be sent as early as mid-May, getting money to Americans who will spend it immediately to reinvigorate the economy.

"The House, seizing a rare moment of bipartisanship to respond to the economy's slump, overwhelmingly passed a $146 billion aid package Tuesday that would speed rebates of $600-$1,200 to most taxpayers."