Media

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.

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.

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.

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.

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: