Media

Latest News

Blog Post
Fixing the US Attorney Appointment Process
May 22, 2007
The House has just debated the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act of 2007, which has already passed the Senate and would revoke the power of the President to appoint interim US Attorneys for extended periods, effectively bypassing Senate confirmation. On March 23, the House had passed a somewhat stronger bill (H.R. 580), which included the same repeal of the 2006 provision as the Senate bill, but also included a provision preventing the Administration from using the Vacancies Act to allow the Attorney General to make continuous interim appointments of U.S. Attorneys. The House passed H.R. 580 by a strong bipartisan vote of 329 to 78, but Republicans have blocked H.R. 580 in the Senate.
Blog Post
House Debates Internet Spyware (I-SPY) Prevention Act of 2007
May 22, 2007
MarketWatch covered the bill earlier this month when it was approved by the Judiciary Committee:

Spyware bill gains momentum

Ruth Mantell, MarketWatch - May 2, 2007

Consumers may get federal protection from computer criminals who steal their personal information as Congress seeks to safeguard the growing Internet commerce market.

On Wednesday, members of the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary approved by voice vote to favorably report the "Internet Spyware Prevention Act of 2007" -- without any amendments -- to the House floor, pushing it one step closer to becoming law. A day before, the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security approved the bill.

Blog Post
On the Emergency Rule on Mine Seals
May 22, 2007
MSHA revises its rules on seals

James R. Carroll, Courier-Journal - May 19, 2007

Partly in response to last year's Darby mine accident in Harlan County, federal regulators yesterday issued strengthened rules governing the walls that seal off abandoned areas of underground mines where explosive and toxic gases can build up.

The federal Mine Safety and Health Administration said it will require such walls to withstand greater pressure from an explosion under certain circumstances and will prohibit welding, cutting and soldering with a flame or arc within 150 feet of them.

From the Education and Labor Committee:

Blog Post
National Summit on America's Children
May 22, 2007
The National Summit on America's Children is taking place today on Capitol Hill. The day-long session convenes national experts and academics on recent scientific findings and how they relate to early childhood development - a first step in making certain that federal policies on children reflect the latest scientific developments. You can watch the live webcast and submit questions for panelists here on Speaker.gov.

Speaker Pelosi delivered the opening remarks this morning (as prepared):

Blog Post
Foreign Affairs Hearing: "Iraq: Is Reconstruction Failing?"
May 22, 2007
At 10:00 the Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing: "Iraq: Is Reconstruction Failing?" Stuart W. Bowen, Jr., Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, will testify.

Watch the hearing live >>

Blog Post
The Food Stamp Challenge
May 21, 2007
Today marks the last day of the "The Food Stamp Challenge" by four Members of Congress - Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH) and Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO). The Food Stamp Challenge is a public awareness initiative where public officials only eat food totaling $21 dollars for a week, the national average food stamp budget, to raise awareness of the Food Stamp program. These House Members have been blogging about their experiences at http://foodstampchallenge.typepad.com/.

Rep. Jan Schakowsky:

Blog Post
11 More Sets of DOJ Documents
May 21, 2007
Blog Post
House Passes Competitiveness Package
May 21, 2007
From the Science Committee:

House Advances Major U.S. Competitiveness, Science/Math Education Package

(Washington, DC) Today, the U.S. House of Representatives followed through on a commitment to insure U.S. students, teachers, businesses and workers are prepared to continue leading the world in innovation, research and technology -- well into the future.

"I can't repeat it often enough - providing high quality jobs for hard working Americans must be our first priority. And in order to accomplish that, we must be proactive," said House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). "This package of legislation is proactive and far-reaching. It puts in place measures designed to advance U.S. innovation, which in turns advances our economy."

Blog Post
"We Will Have No Alternative..."
May 21, 2007
Today, Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers and Subcommittee Chairwoman Linda Sánchez sent a letter to White House Counsel Fred Fielding, offering the White House one last chance at cooperation with the Committee's ongoing investigation into the US Attorney firings and noted that the evidence to date indicated that the White House played a central role in the matter. Conyers and Sánchez warned that absent voluntary cooperation, the Committee would be left with no alternative but to resort to compulsory process to obtain the needed information:

May 21, 2007

Mr. Fred F. Fielding, Esq.

Counsel to the President

Office of Counsel to the President

The White House

1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW

Washington, D.C. 20530

Dear Mr. Fielding:

Blog Post
Oversight Hearings Tomorrow
May 21, 2007
A sample of hearings scheduled for Tuesday, May 22, 2007:

Armed Services -- Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations

9:00 am: Training of Iraqi Security Forces and the Use of Transition Teams

Foreign Affairs Committee

10:00 am: Iraq: Is Reconstruction Failing?

Homeland Security Committee

10:00 am: Homeland Security Department Role in Gulf Coast Recovery

Oversight and Government Reform

10:00 am: Government Accountability Office New Personnel System

Veterans' Affairs -- Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs

View more