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Blog Post
June 14, 2007
Frank Critical Of Bush On Suits

Carrie Johnson, Washington Post - June 14, 2007

The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee yesterday said he was "troubled" by disclosures that President Bush had expressed policy views that prompted administration lawyers not to file court briefs supporting investors.

Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.) said the Bush administration was wrong to allow concerns about class-action lawsuits to override efforts this week by the Securities and Exchange Commission to file a brief in an upcoming Supreme Court case.

"You've got the president making economic arguments," Frank said in an interview yesterday. "Those aren't legal arguments. . . . I think they're setting a bad precedent."

Press Release
June 13, 2007
"'Our American veterans are our heroes. They deserve a hero in Congress and they have one in the person of Chairman Chet Edwards. Veterans, service members, and their families have no greater champion in the Congress of the United States than Chet. We have long relied on his thoughtful leadership, now as Chairman of the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, he has delivered a bill that honors the service of America's veterans."
Press Release
June 13, 2007
"'Nearly two months ago, a great tragedy befell the community of Virginia Tech, and our nation. Thirty-two people lost their lives at the hands of a cold-blooded killer. The victims - of different backgrounds, and different ages - represented the best of our country. And our country was unified in its grief and prayers for all those who lost so much that day. The magnitude of their loss is beyond comprehension. This much is clear: when gun violence takes away lives, we all suffer as a nation."
Press Release
June 13, 2007
"Last November, the American people overwhelming made clear their desire to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end. Yet, at the start of this year, you announced a substantial escalation of our military presence in Iraq. This so-called 'surge' was clearly at odds with past experiences in Iraq, the wishes of the American people, and the advice of many senior military leaders, including General Douglas Lute, your 'war czar' nominee. Nevertheless, you proceeded to call up thousands of additional National Guardsmen and Reservists, extend the tours of tens of thousands of brave troops already in Iraq, and plunge our forces even deeper into Iraq's civil war."
Blog Post
June 13, 2007
Senate Committee Approves D.C. Voting Rights Bill

Mary Beth Sheridan, Washington Post - June 13, 2007

The D.C. voting rights bill has won another victory. The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee approved the legislation this morning by a vote of 9 to 1.

Virginia's Sen. John W. Warner (R), cast the dissenting vote, but in an encouraging sign for advocates, three Republicans voted in favor of giving the District a full voting member in the House: Susan Collins of Maine, George V. Voinovich of Ohio and Norm Coleman of Minnesota.

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton:

Blog Post
June 13, 2007
This afternoon the House passed HR 2640, the National Instant Criminal Background System (NICS) Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 by voice vote. It marks the first gun violence prevention legislation passed in the House in over a decade. Specifically, the bill:

Enforces the provisions of the 1968 Gun Control Act, which has been law for nearly 40 years

Improves the accuracy of the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), which was created in 1994 -- with many records currently not in the system

Authorizes $375 million a year for three years in grants to states and their courts to import the records of those barred from purchasing a firearm under the 1968 Gun Control Act into the federal NICS system

Protects the privacy of all records, including mental health records, by prohibiting their use for any purpose outside of NICS

Blog Post
June 13, 2007
UPDATE: The bill has passed out of committee, 30-16.

The Education and Labor Committee is currently holding a markup of the "College Cost Reduction Act of 2007." The bill would be the single largest investment in college financial aid since the GI Bill, helping millions of students and families pay for college -- and doing so at no new cost to U.S. taxpayers. The legislation would boost college financial aid by nearly $20 billion over the next five years, paying for itself by reducing excessive federal subsidies paid to lenders in the college loan industry. It also includes $750 million in federal budget deficit reduction.

Blog Post
June 13, 2007
Speaker Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today sent the following letter to President Bush calling on him to reconsider his opposition to Congressional proposals that would limit the U.S. mission in Iraq, begin the phased redeployment of U.S. forces, and bring the war to a responsible end.

June 13, 2007

The President

The White House

Washington, D.C. 20500

Dear Mr. President:

Blog Post
June 13, 2007
From the Judiciary Committee:

Judiciary Chairmen Conyers, Leahy Issues Subpoenas For White House Officials, Documents

...Senate, House Judiciary Panels Compel Former White House Officials To Provide Testimony, Information In Connection With Investigations Of U.S. Attorney Firings And Politicization Within Dept. Of Justice

WASHINGTON (Wednesday, June 13) -- Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, D-Mich., today issued subpoenas to two former White House officials compelling them to provide testimony and related information as part of ongoing congressional investigations into the mass firings of well-performing federal prosecutors and the politicization of hiring and firing within the Department of Justice.

Blog Post
June 13, 2007
The Oversight and Government Reform Committee is currently holding a hearing, "Continuing Allegations of Misconduct at General Services Administration." The hearing will examine statements made by GSA Administrator Lurita Doan that impugn the reputation of federal officials who cooperated with a Committee investigation into Ms. Doan's conduct at the General Services Administration.

Watch the hearing live >>

Chairman Henry Waxman gives opening remarks: