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Interim Appointment of U.S. Attorneys
March 26, 2007
Right now the House is considering H.R. 580, Interim Appointment of U.S. Attorneys. This bill, introduced by Rep. Howard Berman (CA-28), is designed to help better ensure the independence of U.S. Attorneys -- by repealing a provision in a 2006 statute that grants the Attorney General the authority to make indefinite interim appointments of U.S. Attorneys, who can then serve indefinitely without Senate confirmation. Upon introducing the bill, Rep. Berman referred to the eight US Attorneys who were asked to resign by the Bush Administration: "My bill will reset the system of checks and balances in the U.S. Attorney confirmation process. It will require Senate confirmation of any interim U.S. attorneys, including any chosen to replace these eight." A similar bill, S. 214, introduced by Sen.
Blog Post
Oversight Committee Inquires on Plame, MZM
March 26, 2007
On the disclosure of CIA Agent Valerie Plame's identity:

Committee Requests CIA Documents Related to Disclosure of CIA Agent

Citing concerns that a Senate Intelligence Committee report may be inaccurate, Chairman Waxman asks the CIA for Agency memos related to Ambassador Wilson's February 2002 trip to Niger and the subsequent disclosure of Ms.Wilson's covert status. Ms. Wilson recently testified before the Oversight Committee that the Senate report incorrectly claims that she was responsible for her husband's mission, and that the CIA official who authored related memos attempted to correct the Senate's distortions was denied the opportunity to clarify the matter.

Documents and Links

Blog Post
Chairman Waxman on Preservation of Campaign Emails
March 26, 2007
Citing evidence that senior White House officials are using RNC and other political email accounts to avoid leaving a record of official communications, Oversight Committee Chairman Henry Waxman sent letters today to the Republican National Committee and the Bush-Cheney '04 Campaign directing them to preserve the emails of White House officials and to meet with Committee staff to explain how the accounts are managed and what steps are being taken to protect the emails from destruction and tampering. As noted this morning, such emails were sent in connection to the resignations of US Attorneys, but as Chairman Waxman's letters note, they were used in other circumstances as well.
Blog Post
Hearing on Biotech Medicine Prices
March 26, 2007
The Oversight Committee is currently holding a hearing to examine the high cost of biotech medicines to our health care system, as well the prospects and need for a pathway that would allow the FDA to approve safe and affordable generic versions of biotech drugs.

Watch live and see the witness list >>

Watch Chairman Henry Waxman's opening remarks:

Chairman Waxman:

"Some of these drugs cost each patient tens of thousands of dollars a year, some can cost hundreds of thousands per year. Many people cannot get access to these near-miracles, and even when people can get them, the prices drive up the costs of Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance overall. Why isn't the market helping?"

Blog Post
More Problems at GSA
March 26, 2007
Three weeks ago we covered the efforts of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee to examine a no-bid contract awarded by the General Services Administration to Edie Fraser, with whom GSA Administrator Doan had a longstanding personal and business relationship. The Committee highlighted the following email from Fraser to Doan written prior to the awarding of the contract:

"Lurita, I will do anything for you and will do for the rest of my life... But I have spent so much time at GSA from the report planning to these sessions with ZERO $$. How do we solve"

A larger story in the Washington Post today discusses some of what this ongoing investigation has found in this matter. From late in the piece:

Articles
Pelosi war-bill gamble pays off; The House speaker's triumph was anything but assured when she announced the measure -- without votes
March 24, 2007
"In the most difficult trial of her speakership, Pelosi pushed through the first legislation mandating an end to U.S. involvement in the Iraq war."
Press Release
Pelosi on Iraq Bill: 'Benchmarks Without Deadlines Are Just Words; After Four Years, Words Are Not Enough'
March 23, 2007
"'Any discussion of the war in Iraq must begin with a tribute to our troops. This day, and every day, we thank our troops for their courage, their patriotism, and the sacrifices they are willing to make. For four years, under the most dangerous and demanding conditions imaginable, they have done everything asked of them."
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Blog Post
House Passes the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act
March 23, 2007
The House has passed the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act, 218-212. Speaker Pelosi gavels down the vote:

Speaker Pelosi, Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chairman John Murtha, and Rep. Patrick Murphy, an Iraq War veteran, closed debate for House Democrats:

Speaker Nancy Pelosi:

"Rather than sending more troops into the chaos that is the Iraqi civil war, we must be focused on bringing the war to an end. We can do that by passing this bill that transforms the performance benchmarks that have already been endorsed by President Bush and the Iraqi government, into requirements...Benchmarks without deadlines are just words. Four years of this war, words are not enough."

Blog Post
Debate on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act Part IV
March 23, 2007
Debate on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act continues this morning. The House of Representatives has a choice: either endorse the President's open-ended commitment to the war in Iraq or demand accountability, support our troops and set a timeline for the phased redeployment of our troops.

Rep. George Miller (CA-07):

"Hundreds of billions of taxpayers' dollars have been squandered in this war that's left our military readiness in jeopardy. The all-volunteer army is at a breaking point. And the world's faith in the American people is shaken."

Blog Post
Debate on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act Part III
March 23, 2007
Debate on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act continues this morning. The House of Representatives has a choice: either endorse the President's open-ended commitment to the war in Iraq or demand accountability, support our troops and set a timeline for the phased redeployment of our troops.

"The American people know well that when you ignore failure and bad decisions you simply get more of them. Today we are demanding accountability for a change - accountability for a change, accountability to be sure that our troops get the equipment and training they need. Accountability to be sure that the wounded soldiers returning home are treated with the dignity they deserve."

Rep. Van Hollen (MD-08):
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