Media

The Committee on Homeland Security is currently holding a hearing, "The XDR Tuberculosis Incident: A Poorly Coordinated Federal Response to an Incident with Homeland Security Implications."

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

Witnesses

Dr. Julie L. Gerberding, Director, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human Services

Dr. Jeffrey Runge, Chief Medical Officer, Department of Homeland Security

Mr. W. Ralph Basham, Commissioner, Customs and Border Protection, Department of Homeland Security

Tonight, the House passed a resolution introduced by Rep. Barbara Lee calling on the government of the People's Republic of China to use its unique influence and economic leverage to stop genocide and violence in Darfur.

The government of China has long-standing economic and military ties with Sudan, which it continues to strengthen despite the genocide in Darfur:

(1) China reportedly purchases as much as 70 percent of Sudan's oil;

(2) China currently has at least $3,000,000,000 invested in the Sudanese energy sector, for a total of $10,000,000,000 since the 1990s;

The House has passed HR 451, introduced by Democrats, which calls on the ethics committee to either empanel an investigative subcommittee or report to the House describing its reasons for not doing so within 30 days any time a Member of the House is indicted or otherwise formally charged with criminal conduct. The resolution passed, 387-10.

Read the full text of the resolution >>

Majority Leader Steny Hoyer spoke in favor of the resolution on the floor, and addressed Republican objections that the bill would create problems for Representatives whom had simply garnered a traffic ticket or had been arrested in protest for a worthy cause:

Any legislation that comes to the House floor must increase our energy independence, reduce global warming, invest in new technologies to achieve these goals and create good jobs in America.

Any proposal that affects California's landmark efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions or eliminate the EPA's authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions will not have my support.

Yesterday, Fox News Channel broke the story of Rep. William Jefferson's indictment with video of Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers greeting Attorney General Alberto Gonzales at a recent Judiciary Committee hearing. The network apologized on-air for airing the wrong video; however, they did not personally apologize to Mr. Conyers or describe the video they aired the previous day. Chairman Conyers responded today:

"Fox News has a history of inappropriate on-air mistakes that are neither fair, nor balanced. This type of disrespect for people of color should no longer be tolerated. I am personally offended by the network's complete disregard for accuracy in reporting and lackluster on-air apology."

From the Education and Labor Committee:

Advisory: Education & Labor Committee to Hear Testimony from Plaintiff in Workplace Discrimination Lawsuit Decided by Supreme Court

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Lilly Ledbetter, the plaintiff in a workplace discrimination lawsuit decided by the U.S. Supreme Court on May 29, will testify about her case before the House Education and Labor Committee next week.

Ledbetter worked for nearly 20 years at a Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company facility in Alabama. She sued the company after learning that she was the lowest-paid supervisor out of a group of 16 supervisors at the facility, despite having more experience than several of her male counterparts. Ledbetter was the only woman supervisor.