Media

"A broad House majority gave final approval last night to a $35 billion expansion of the popular children's health insurance program, with members from both parties brushing aside a stern veto threat from President Bush to vote their support, 265 to 159."

The Oversight Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs is currently holding a hearing, "Third Walter Reed Oversight Hearing: Keeping the Nation's Promise to Our Wounded Soldiers." Representatives of the GAO will be testifying on a new GAO report stating that "Delayed decisions, confusing policies, and the perception that DOD and VA disability ratings result in inequitable outcomes have eroded the credibility of the system...

With an overwheming bipartisan vote of 265-159, the House has just passed the final House-Senate agreement to reauthorize the successful Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), H.R. 976, for an additional five years. CHIP provides health coverage to American children whose parents do not qualify for Medicaid, but can not afford private insurance. This bill will bring health coverage to approximately ten million children in need -- preserving coverage for all 6.6 million children currently covered by CHIP, and reaching millions more low-income, uninsured American children in the next five years.

Chairman Charlie Rangel:

The House is now considering the final House-Senate agreement to reauthorize the successful Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), H.R. 976, for an additional five years. CHIP provides health coverage to American children whose parents do not qualify for Medicaid, but can not afford private insurance. This bill will bring health coverage to approximately ten million children in need -- preserving coverage for all 6.6 million children currently covered by CHIP, and reaching millions more low-income, uninsured American children in the next five years.

Rep. Lois Capps (CA-23):

Today Chairman Henry Waxman of the Oversight Committee wrote to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice about three extraordinary communications the Committee has received from the State Department regarding corruption within the Iraqi government, the operations of Blackwater USA, and the status of political reconciliation in Iraq. The State Department has instructed its officials that they cannot communicate with the Committee about corruption in the Maliki government unless the Committee agrees to treat all information, including "broad statements/assessments," as national security secrets. Other points of growing contention between the Committee and the State Department include Blackwater's assertion that the State Department has instructed the company to withhold information from the Committee and the refusal of Secretary Rice to testify.