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The House has passed the Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act, H.R. 1281, which would prohibit and punish deceptive practices that aim to keep voters away from the polls on Election Day. This bill protects every American citizen's right to vote by making voter deception, for the first time, a crime, by increasing the penalty for voter intimidation, and by calling upon the Justice Department to correct and prevent misinformation campaigns.

More information from our current legislation section >>

Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement upon passage:

The Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties is currently holding a hearing, "The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Response to Air Quality Issues Arising from the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001: Were There Substantive Due Process Violations?" Former EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman will testify, amongst others.

Watch the hearing live via committee webcast or on C Span 3.

Subcommittee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, who represents a district in New York City, gives opening remarks:

From the Education and Labor Committee:

Rep. Miller and Top Democrats Introduce Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act

Legislation would remedy recent Supreme Court decision to severely limit workers' ability to bring pay discrimination claims

WASHINGTON--Legislation to ensure that victims of pay discrimination have their day in court was introduced by Rep. George Miller (D-CA) and other top House Democrats today.

The Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act would allow pay discrimination claims to be filed within 180 days of the issuance of a discriminatory paycheck. Most workers are unaware of what their co-workers earn, and many employers even prohibit employees from discussing their pay with each other. That makes it nearly impossible for workers to uncover pay discrimination.

From the Judiciary and Armed Services Committees:

SKELTON/CONYERS Introduce Habeas Reform Legislation

Washington, DC -- House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) introduced legislation today which would uphold the principle of habeas corpus by amending existing law to allow individuals detained, often for many years without formal charges, to have their day in court.

"Last year when Congress passed the Military Commissions Act, I argued that the bill was seriously flawed by provisions which unconstitutionally stripped the federal courts of jurisdiction over habeas cases," Skelton said. "Today, Chairman Conyers and I have introduced legislation to undo this mistake, and I am pleased to be joined by so many other members in advancing this important change."

The Oversight Committee is currently holding a hearing, "The Government's Response to the Nation's Emergency Room Crisis." Rep. Elijah Cummings (MD-07) is chairing the proceedings.

Watch the hearing live via committee webcast or on C Span 3.

As noted here yesterday, Chairman Henry Waxman of the Oversight Committee has written to Vice President Cheney regarding the fact that he exempted his office from the presidential order that establishes government-wide procedures for safeguarding classified national security information. The Vice President asserts that his office is not an "entity within the executive branch."

Today the Washington Post follows up on its front page:

Cheney Defiant on Classified Material

Peter Baker, Washington Post - June 22, 2007