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Blog Post
July 20, 2007
President Bush, moments ago:
I'm joined by veterans and military families here to express support to our troops and their mission in Iraq. I want to thank you all for being here today. We've just finished a really good meeting. In our discussions, these folks had a message that all of us in Washington need to hear. It is time to rise above partisanship, stand behind our troops in the field, and give them everything they need to succeed. In February I submitted to Congress a Defense Department spending bill for the upcoming fiscal year that will provide funds to upgrade our equipment for our troops in Iraq and provides a pay raise for our military - a comprehensive spending request - that Congress has failed to act on.
Blog Post
July 20, 2007
On Wednesday, July 11th, the House passed the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, and the Senate has now followed suit. The bill will provide the single largest increase in college aid since the GI bill in 1944. The legislation invests about $18 billion dollars over the next five years in reducing college costs, helping millions of students and families. It comes at no new cost to taxpayers, and is funded by cutting excess subsidies paid by the federal government to lenders in the student loan industry.
For more information see our current legislation section >>
Chairman George Miller of the Education and Labor Committee commended the Senate passage:
Blog Post
July 19, 2007
As noted earlier, Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law Chairwoman Linda Sánchez ruled to reject the White House's privilege claims as a basis for refusing to comply with the Committee's subpoena for White House documents, and the ruling was upheld by the Subcommittee. Full Committee Chairman John Conyers has just written a letter to White House counsel Fred Fielding informing him of the ruling and warning of consequences to come should the White House not comply by 10 a.m. on Monday July 23, 2007.
The full letter:
July 19, 2007BY FAX AND U.S. MAIL
Mr. Fred F. Fielding
Counsel to the President
Office of the Counsel to the President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20530
Dear Mr. Fielding:
Press Release
July 19, 2007
"'Today's decision by the conferees on the 9/11 bill to adopt a requirement for 100 percent screening of maritime cargo containers before they reach the United States addresses a major security vulnerability and will make the American people safer from terrorist attacks."
Blog Post
July 19, 2007
Today the Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law met to consider the executive privilege claims asserted by White House Counsel in response to the subpoena for the production of documents issued to Joshua Bolten, White House Chief of Staff or appropriate custodian of records.
Chairwoman Linda Sánchez's ruling:
Blog Post
July 19, 2007
At 10:00 a.m. the Oversight Committee will hold a hearing, "FEMA's Response to Reports of Toxic Trailers." The Committee will hold a hearing investigating formaldehyde levels in FEMA trailers provided for victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes and FEMA's response to these reports. The Committee will hear from current residents occupying FEMA trailers, experts who are familiar with the health impact of formaldehyde, and from FEMA Administrator Paulison.
Blog Post
July 19, 2007
As noted on Friday, five Committee and Subcommittee Chairmen wrote to Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA, seeking answers surrounding reports of disarray at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Chairman Bart Stupak of the Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations said at the time, "The initial refusal by NOAA General Counsel to allow our staff to interview Mr. Proenza's immediate supervisors raises suspicions that someone in the Administration does not want us to find out the true reasons for this management debacle. Our preliminary work seems to indicate that Mr.
Press Release
July 18, 2007
"'Most Senate Republicans continue to obstruct Democratic efforts to force a new direction in Iraq, instead choosing to continue to stand squarely behind the failed policies of President Bush. By blocking an up-or-down vote on an amendment to responsibly end the war in Iraq, Senate Republicans have once again thwarted the will of a majority of the United States Senate, a majority of the House of Representatives, and a majority of the American people."
Blog Post
July 18, 2007
The Oversight Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement is currently holding a hearing, "Federal Contracting: Do Poor Performers Keep Winning?" This hearing will review flaws in federal contracting that allow contractors with poor performance records to either renew existing contracts or receive subsequent contracts with the same or different federal agencies. Although procurement rules require that past performance of contractors be weighed in the selection process, many companies that have experienced serious, documented cost overruns and quality control problems on federal contracts continue to receive new work.
Blog Post
July 18, 2007
The Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight are currently holding a joint hearing, "Reconstruction in Iraq's Oil Sector: Running on Empty?"
Watch the hearing live via committee webcast or on C Span 3.
Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee Chairman Gary Ackerman gives opening remarks: