May 2, 2008
Chairman Waxman Clarifies Energy Bill Provision
Chairman Waxman wrote to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Levin and Ranking Member McCain to correct misinformation about section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which ensures that federal agencies are not spending taxpayer dollars on new fuel sources that will exacerbate global warming.
April 30, 2008
Chairman Waxman Releases Internal Administration Documents, Calls for Right Whale Protections
In a letter to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Administrator Dudley, Chairman Waxman urged the release of a pending rule to protect endangered right whales from being killed by ships, and released documents indicating that the rule’s delay may be due to baseless objections raised by White House officials.
April 23, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests Testimony on Political Interference at EPA
In a letter to EPA Administrator Johnson, Chairman Waxman requested that he be prepared to testify regarding the recently released Union of Concerned Scientists Report documenting extensive and widespread political interference with the work of scientists at EPA.
April 22, 2008
Committee Investigates Government Contractors’ Use of Tax Shelters
In letters to KBR and fourteen other federal contractors that perform work in Iraq and Afghanistan, Chairman Waxman requested information about the use of off-shore subsidiaries to reduce federal tax liability.
April 21, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests Information on Increase in Military Personnel Waivers
In a letter to Under Secretary of Defense Chu, Chairman Waxman requested documents related to the recent sharp increase in the number of personnel conduct waivers, which allow the enlistment of U.S. service members who would otherwise be precluded by recruitment standards, and released the number of waivers granted for specific criminal felonies in FY 2006 and FY 2007.
April 18, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests Information on New GSA Advisory Panel
In a letter to GSA Administrator Doan, Chairman Waxman requested documents related to a newly announced advisory panel tasked with examining existing tools for ensuring the government pays the lowest prices for goods and services.
April 18, 2008
Chairman Waxman Responds to Ranking Member Davis’ Request
In a letter to Ranking Member Davis, Chairman Waxman responded to his request that the Committee investigate the role of President Clinton in the establishment of ozone standards set by the EPA in 1997 by detailing the Congress’ exhaustive examination of the issue that occurred at the time of the decision.
April 16, 2008
Chairman Waxman Issues a Subpoena for White House Documents
Chairman Waxman issued a subpoena to compel the White House Office of Management and Budget to provide documents relating to EPA’s recent decision to establish ozone air quality standards that disregarded the recommendations of EPA staff and EPA’s independent scientific review committee.
April 10, 2008
Chairman Waxman Urges Protection of Los Angeles River Basin
In a letter to EPA Administrator Johnson, Chairman Waxman urged Johnson to exercise EPA’s authority to block a proposed determination by the Army Corps of Engineers that could result in significant water quality degradation in the Los Angeles River Basin.
April 9, 2008
Democrats Urge Trade Ambassador to Focus on Access to Medicines
In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Schwab, Chairman Waxman and twenty-six other Members of Congress asked that in reviewing the global state of intellectual property rights the Ambassador act upon the United States’ commitment to respecting measures that improve access to live-saving medicines in developing countries.
April 9, 2008
Chairman Waxman Criticizes EPA Proposal That Would Allow Contaminated Drinking Water
In a letter to EPA Administrator Johnson, Chairman Waxman expressed his concerns that an EPA proposal could expose significant populations in the United States to contamination levels in drinking water up to three times what the law now allows.
April 9, 2008
Chairman Waxman Issues Subpoena for EPA Documents
Chairman Henry A. Waxman today issued a subpoena to compel EPA to provide unredacted copies of documents involving the White House that have been improperly withheld from the Committee regarding EPA’s decision to reject California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.
April 9, 2008
Rep. Waxman Writes Letter to US Trade Representative Susan Schwab Urging Focus on Access to Medicines
In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Schwab, Rep. Waxman and twenty-six other Members of Congress asked that in reviewing the global state of intellectual property rights the USTR act upon the United States' commitment to respecting measures that improve access to live-saving medicines in developing countries.
April 7, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests Details of Federal Reserve's No-Bid Arrangement with BlackRock
Chairman Waxman requested details of a potentially long-term arrangement between the Federal Reserve and BlackRock, an investment advisory firm selected to manage $30 billion in assets backed by federal taxpayers.
April 4, 2008
Chairman Waxman Questions EPA’s Losses in Federal Court
In a letter to EPA Administrator Johnson, Chairman Waxman requested information regarding the extent and effects of EPA’s numerous losses in federal court on EPA rules that the courts found were contrary to law.
April 4, 2008
Oversight Committee Requests Documents on Troubled Census Program
In response to notification that Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez will be unable to testify at the April 9 Committee hearing on the Field Data Collection Automation program, Chairman Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Clay requested documents related to the program.
April 4, 2008
Chairman Waxman Presses EPA for Answers on Proposal to Increase Air Pollution in National Parks
Following an unsatisfactory response to an earlier letter sent to EPA Administrator Johnson, Chairman Waxman requests clarification of a proposed regulation that threatens to allow increased air pollution in the National Parks and other clean air areas.
April 1, 2008
Chairman Waxman Reiterates Request for OMB Documents Related to Ozone Regulation
In a letter to Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Administrator Susan Dudley, Chairman Waxman reiterated the Committee’s request for documents related to the rejection of expert recommendations for ozone air quality standards.
March 21, 2008
State Department Should Release Identity of Companies that Accessed Obama Passport File
Chairman Waxman wrote the State Department to request the name of the companies that hired the contractors who gained unauthorized access to Senator Obama’s passport files and to urge the State Department to release this information to the public.
March 20, 2008
Oversight Committee Questions Fraud Reporting Exemptions for Overseas Contractors
Chairman Waxman requested documents related to an exemption for overseas contractors that was inserted into a proposed rule requiring government contractors to detect, prevent, and report fraud.
March 19, 2008
Oversight Committee Investigates Accidental Electrocutions of Soldiers in Iraq
Chairman Waxman requested documents from the Defense Department related to reports that at least 12 service members in Iraq have died as the result of accidental electrocutions attributable to faulty wiring.
March 17, 2008
Chairman Waxman Clarifies Intent of Energy Bill Provision
Chairman Waxman wrote to Senate Energy Committee Chairman Bingaman to clarify that the intent of section 526 of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 is to ensure that federal agencies are not spending taxpayer dollars on new fuel sources that will exacerbate global warming.
March 13, 2008
Chairman Waxman Issues a Subpoena for EPA Documents
Chairman Waxman issued a subpoena to compel EPA to provide unredacted copies of documents that have been improperly withheld from the Committee regarding EPA’s decision to reject California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.
March 13, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests DOJ Grant Documents
Responding to concerns raised by Rep. Timothy Walz about questionable practices by the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in awarding grants, Chairman Waxman wrote to Attorney General Mukasey to request documents detailing the grantmaking process at OJJDP.
March 12, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests Explanation for EPA’s Decision to Ignore Scientific Experts
In a letter to EPA Administrator Johnson, Chairman Waxman requested an explanation for EPA’s decision to adopt national ambient air quality standards for particulate matter and ozone contrary to the recommendations of the Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee.
March 12, 2008
Chairman Waxman Responds to Ranking Member Davis's Request for Census Hearing
Chairman Waxman wrote to Ranking Member Davis to confirm that a hearing on the Census Bureau’s Field Data Collection Automation program has been tentatively scheduled for April 9, 2008.
March 12, 2008
Rural Utilities Service Agrees to Moratorium on New Coal-Fired Power Plants
In a response to a letter from Chairman Waxman, RUS stated that it would not fund any new coal-fired power plants until it can calculate and apply a factor to reflect financial risks.
March 11, 2008
Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis Respond to CIA Inspector General on Committee Jurisdiction
In a letter to CIA Inspector General Helgerson, Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis respond to the CIA’s IG’s refusal to provide information concerning unimplemented recommendations, and reiterate the Committee request for the information.
March 10, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests Improperly Withheld EPA Documents
In a letter to EPA Administrator Johnson, Chairman Waxman requested documents that have been improperly withheld from the Committee regarding EPA’s decision to reject California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
March 10, 2008
Chairman Waxman Calls for Blackwater Investigations
Chairman Waxman sent letters to the Internal Revenue Service, the Small Business Administration, and the Department of Labor to request investigations into whether Blackwater has violated federal tax, small business, and labor laws.
March 4, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests Copies of RAND Report Entitled "Rebuilding Iraq"
In a letter to Secretary of the Army Pete Geren, Chairman Waxman requested classified and unclassified versions of a report produced by the RAND Arroyo Center that analyzed how the Army, the Department of Defense, the Department of State, and the White House planned for the reconstruction of Iraq before Operation Iraqi Freedom.
March 3, 2008
Chairman Waxman Presses Secretary Rice for Iraqi Corruption Documents
In a letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Chairman Waxman requested documents relating to an order issued in April 2007 by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al Maliki’s office that effectively immunizes the Iraqi president, the Council of Ministers, and any current or former ministers from being prosecuted for corruption without the Prime Minister’s consent.
February 27, 2008
Committee Submits Views and Estimates for FY 2009 Budget
Chairman Waxman wrote to the House Budget Committee to submit the views and estimates of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for the fiscal year 2009 budget. The submittal highlighted many of the Committee’s concerns about President Bush’s proposed budget, especially attempts to overturn good government legislation supported by the Committee and a failure to sufficiently address waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending.
February 27, 2008
Chairman Waxman Responds to Kansas Legislators' Invitation
In a letter to Kansas State Senate President Morris and Speaker Neufeld, Chairman Waxman thanked them for their invitation to visit and hear about a new coal-fired power plant proposed by Sunflower Electric, and reiterated his commitment to safeguarding taxpayer dollars from waste through oversight of the Rural Utility Service.
February 27, 2008
Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis Request Justice Department Investigation
Chairman Henry Waxman and Ranking Member Tom Davis sent a letter to Attorney General Mukasey today requesting an investigation into the truthfulness of Roger Clemens’s testimony.
February 15, 2008
Members Urge Office of National Drug Control Policy to Support Needle Exchange Programs
In a letter to the Office of National Drug Control Policy, Chairman Waxman and Rep. Barbara Lee responded to Director John Walter’s unsupported assertion that needle exchange programs “support” injection drug use.
February 14, 2008
Members Ask Rural Utility Service How it is Protecting Taxpayer Subsidized Loans from the Financial Risks of Climate Change
In a letter to the Rural Utilities Service, Chairman Waxman and Rep. Jim Cooper asked how RUS is addressing the financial risks of building new coal-fired power plants without emissions controls for greenhouse gases, when RUS provides taxpayer-subsidized loans for such plants.
February 14, 2008
Chairman Waxman Expands Toxic Trailers Investigation
In letters sent to FEMA Administrator R. David Paulison and three manufacturers of FEMA travel trailers, Chairman Waxman requested explanations for the high levels of formaldehyde in FEMA trailers and additional information about FEMA’s handling of the toxic trailers.
February 14, 2008
Chairman Waxman Asks Rural Utility Service How it is Protecting Taxpayer Subsidized Loans from the Financial Risks of Climate Change
In a letter to the Rural Utilities Service, Rep. Waxman and Rep. Jim Cooper asked how RUS is addressing the financial risks of building new coal-fired power plants without emissions controls for greenhouse gases, when RUS provides taxpayer-subsidized loans for such plants.
February 12, 2008
Chairman Waxman Releases Letter to Rusty Hardin
Chairman Waxman wrote a letter to Rusty Hardin about his recent comments.
February 8, 2008
Oversight Committee Subpoenas Iraq Embassy Documents
The Oversight Committee issued a subpoena seeking documents related to construction and safety problems at the new U.S. Embassy in Iraq after the State Department repeatedly failed to provide documents.
February 8, 2008
Chairman Waxman Issues a Subpoena for EPA Presentations
Chairman Waxman issued a subpoena to compel the EPA to provide unredacted copies of a key presentation EPA staff made to Administrator Johnson in October 2007 about California’s regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.
February 6, 2008
Chairman Waxman Urges EPA to Protect Air Quality Near National Parks
In a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, Chairman Waxman urged the agency to reject a proposed rule that would make it easier to build large, new polluting facilities near national parks and wilderness areas without installing adequate pollution controls. Chairman Waxman also requested an explanation of how the flawed proposal was approved and why the concerns identified by EPA’s key technical staff were ignored.
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Members Call on the Science Board to Assess Resources Needed to Remedy FDA's Funding Crisis
Reps. Henry A. Waxman, John D. Dingell, Bart Stupak, and Frank Pallone, Jr., called on members of one of FDA’s own advisory committees to provide Congress with its assessment of the resources needed to remedy the crisis at the agency stemming from years of chronic underfunding.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests GAO Examination of Regional Fishery Management Council Expenditures
Chairman Waxman wrote to Comptroller General David Walker to request that GAO examine the expenditures of the Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council (WESPAC) in response to concerns about WESPAC’s questionable usage of federal funds.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests Unredacted EPA Documents
In a letter to EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson, Chairman Waxman requested complete, unredacted copies of Administrator Johnson’s briefing slides regarding California’s petition for a Clean Air Act waiver to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests Briefing on Inspections of Chinese Drug Manufacturer
In a letter to FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach, Chairman Waxman requested a briefing on FDA inspections of all facilities owned by the Shanghai Pharmaceutical Group that produce drugs for the United States. The Chinese company is currently under criminal investigation in China for the production of tainted leukemia drugs and manufactures at least one drug for export to the United States.
January 31, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests Executive Compensation Information from Fortune 250 Companies
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight and Government Reform Committee asked the compensation committee chairs of each of the Fortune 250 companies to provide information about how executive compensation consultants are utilized by these corporations in setting executive pay.
January 29, 2008
Rep. Waxman Asks GAO to Examine FDA Resource Shortfalls
Rep. Henry A. Waxman and Sen. Edward M. Kennedy wrote to Comptroller General of the United States David Walker requesting an examination of the staffing, information technology, and other resources necessary for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to successfully carry out its oversight of foods, drugs, biologics, and medical devices.
January 23, 2008
Members of Congress Question FDA Proposal Designed to Create Liability Shield for Drug and Device Companies
Representatives Henry A. Waxman, John D. Dingell, Frank Pallone, Jr., Rosa L. DeLauro, and Edward Markey, and Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Patrick J. Leahy, and Christopher J. Dodd, questioned the basis for a new Food and Drug Administration (FDA) proposal that was apparently designed to shield pharmaceutical and device companies from liability for injuries sustained by American consumers as a result of unsafe products.
January 22, 2008
Chairman Waxman Requests FDA Provide Documents Regarding Drug Company Marketing Loophole
Chairman Waxman wrote to FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach requesting documents related to the FDA’s draft guidance allowing drug companies to use journal articles to promote potentially dangerous off-label uses of drugs and medical devices without prior FDA review and approval. According to FDA minutes of a meeting, Dan Troy and other drug company representatives urged FDA to issue guidance to protect the companies from “Federal prosecutors pursuing distributors of this information for criminal conduct.”
January 17, 2008
Investigation into Mortgage CEO Compensation Expands
As part of its ongoing investigation into executive pay, the Oversight Committee asked Countrywide Financial, Citigroup, and Merrill Lynch to provide documents relevant to the compensation of Angelo R. Mozilo, Charles Prince and E. Stanley O’Neal. In addition, the Committee invited the chairs of the compensation committees at these companies to testify on February 28 about how the compensation and severance packages for these executives were determined and on what basis they were approved
January 16, 2008
Committee Requests Action Plans for Uranium Contamination in the Navajo Nation
In letters to five federal agencies, Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis requested that the agencies prepare and submit five-year action plans for cleaning up the widespread uranium contamination in the Navajo Nation.
January 14, 2008
Investigation into EPA's Denial of State Greenhouse Gas Regulations Advances
Chairman Waxman requested that the EPA agree to production deadlines and provide relevant agency officials for interviews following the EPA's failure to meet the Committee's deadline for producing documents.
December 20, 2007
Chairman Waxman Initiates Investigation into EPA Decision
Chairman Waxman requested in a letter to the EPA that the agency preserve and produce all documents relating to Administrator Johnson’s decision to block California’s efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles.
December 20, 2007
New Questions Raised About White House Records Preservation
Chairman Waxman wrote to the National Archives and the White House regarding whether the White House has preserved its records according to the obligations of the Presidential Records Act, and what the White House has done to prepare for the transition of presidential records to the Archives in January 2009.
December 20, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Information on Expanded HIV Testing
Chairman Waxman asked CDC Director Gerberding and HRSA Director Duke to conduct additional analysis to answer questions about the impact of the expanded testing program on the demand for care and treatment of HIV. Chairman Waxman also asked Dr. Gerberding to explain CDC’s position on the role of prevention counseling provided in conjunction with testing.
December 18, 2007
Chairman Waxman Urges Attorney General to Provide Plame Documents
Chairman Waxman reiterated his request to the Attorney General for documents from Special Counsel Patrick J. Fitzgerald’s investigation into the leak of the covert identity of CIA officer Valerie Plame Wilson, noting the absence of any pending Justice Department investigation or litigation.
December 6, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Interview on Deleted Files
Chairman Waxman and Ranking Minority Member Davis asked Special Counsel Bloch for an interview regarding reports that he directed the deletion of files on office computers.
December 6, 2007
Oversight Committee Hearing Examines Executive Pay and Compensation Consultants
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing to examine the role played by compensation consultants in determining the pay packages of senior executives at the largest publicly traded corporations. Corporate governance experts, institutional investors, and compensation consulting firms testified regarding the role of consultants in setting executive pay, efforts to prevent and manage conflicts of interest, and the adequacy of the information available to shareholders and the public.
December 3, 2007
Chairman Waxman Urges Strong Response to Report on FDA Resource Shortfalls
Chairman Waxman wrote to FDA Commissioner von Eschenbach, Secretary Leavitt, and OMB Director Nussle regarding the FDA Science Board’s Subcommittee on Science and Technology report that found that funding shortages at FDA have undermined science and endangered public health.
November 30, 2007
Chairman Waxman Urges FDA Not to Open Loophole
Chairman Waxman released a draft of an internal FDA guidance that would allow drug companies to use journal articles to promote potentially dangerous uses of drugs and medical devices without prior FDA review and approval.
November 16, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Documents on DOT Lobbying Efforts
Chairman Waxman requests documents from EPA relating to the Department of Transportation’s lobbying efforts against California’s efforts to address global warming.
November 15, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Information from Alvin “Buzzy” Krongard
Chairman Waxman wrote to Buzzy Krongard, the brother of State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard, requesting an interview and documents relating to Blackwater USA.
November 6, 2007
Chairman Waxman Seeks Baghdad Police Academy Records
Chairman Waxman asked the government contractor Parsons to provide documents explaining why it has not repaired the dismal conditions at the police academy, which it promised to fix in testimony before the Committee last year.
November 5, 2007
Rep. Waxman Expresses Support for Peru Free Trade Agreement in a Letter to Colleagues
November 2, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests that GAO Continue K-Town Investigation
Chairman Waxman wrote to Comptroller General David Walker to request that GAO continue it’s investigation into the management of the construction of the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center, known as K-Town Mall, at Ramstein Air Force Base in Germany.
October 31, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Withheld White House Documents
Chairman Waxman asked White House Counsel Fred Fielding to turn over more than 600 pages of documents relating to the activities of convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff that are being withheld because they involve internal White House deliberations.
October 30, 2007
Chairman Waxman Seeks Information About Blackwater Immunity
Chairman Henry A. Waxman wrote Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice asking who conferred immunity on the Blackwater security guards involved in the September 16 shooting, who authorized the grant of immunity, and when Secretary Rice and other senior State Department officials learned about the immunity.
October 24, 2007
Rep. Waxman Requests DoE Explain Process for Finalizing Draft National Interest Electric Transmission Corridors
Chairman Waxman wrote to Energy Secretary Bodman requesting answers to questions regarding the Department of Energy’s process for finalizing two draft transmission corridors pursuant to the Energy Policy Act of 2005.
October 23, 2007
Rep. Waxman Calls on CHPA Members to Remove Pediatric Cold Products from Market
Chairman Waxman called on the member companies of the Consumer Healthcare Products Association to voluntarily withdraw these products from store shelves following an FDA Advisory Committee recommendation that over-the-counter cough and cold medications for children under six be removed from the market.
October 22, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Information about Medtronic's Sprint Fidelis Leads
Chairman Waxman wrote to FDA requesting information about the Agency’s approval of Medtronic’s Sprint Fidelis leads, which are components used in implantable cardiac defibrillators.
October 22, 2007
Committee Investigates State Department Contract to Train Iraqi Police
Chairman Waxman wrote Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to renew the Committee’s request for documents about the State Department’s $1 billion contract with DynCorp to train Iraqi police forces.
October 19, 2007
Chairman Waxman Seeks Further Information on Blackwater Contracts
Chairman Waxman wrote to Erik Prince, Secretary Rice, and Secretary Gates, requesting further information on Blackwater’s no-bid contracts, additional incidents involving their personnel in Iraq, and payments made to the families of Iraqis killed by Blackwater.
October 17, 2007
Chairman Waxman Urges FTC to Investigate Peer-to-Peer Networks
Chairman Waxman, along with a bipartisan group of 18 other representatives, urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate recent disclosures regarding inadvertent file sharing over peer-to-peer (P2P) networks and to take steps to ensure that potential risks posed by P2P networks are incorporated into the Commission’s ongoing efforts to combat identity theft.
October 15, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Information on Oil Exploration Contract in Iraq
Chairman Waxman and Subcommittee Chairman Kucinich wrote to Hunt Oil CEO Ray Hunt and Ambassador Ryan Crocker requesting information about a recent oil exploration contract Hunt Oil signed with Iraq’s Kurdistan Regional Government.
October 12, 2007
Chairmen Call for “Honest Answers” about Corruption in Iraq
House Chairmen Waxman, Lantos, Skelton, and Obey wrote the Secretary of State to express their concern about endemic corruption in Iraq and the refusal of State Department officials to answer basic questions about the impact of corruption within the Maliki government on the chances of success in Iraq.
October 11, 2007
Chairman Asks FERC About Role in Combating Global Climate Change
Chairman Waxman asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC)
about its role in combating the threat of global climate change in light of the
Commission’s broad authority over many elements of the U.S. energy sector. In a letter to FERC Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher, Chairman Waxman requested details about FERC’s climate change policy and its efforts to support state and federal actions to promote renewable energy, enhance energy efficiency and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases.
October 5, 2007
Committee Requests EPA Study on Air Emissions of Microwave Popcorn
Following a briefing by EPA, the Oversight Committee and the Science and Technology Committee requested a copy of EPA’s study of the research into the air emissions of microwave popcorn.
October 5, 2007
Chairman Waxman Expresses Concern Over State Department’s Handling of Blackwater Shooting
Chairman Waxman wrote to Secretary Rice following reports that a Blackwater contractor, who was fired after he shot and killed an Iraq security guard, was hired by Combat Support Associates, another private contractor, to work in the region two months later. A letter was also sent to the President of Combat Support Associates requesting information about the former Blackwater contractor.
October 5, 2007
Rep. Waxman Questions Effectiveness of Youth Abstinence Program
Chairman Waxman, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee reiterated their concern about the implementation of youth abstinence programs in the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
October 5, 2007
Rep. Waxman Expresses Concern Over State Department's Handling of Blackwater Shooting
Chairman Waxman wrote to Secretary Rice following reports that a Blackwater contractor, who was fired after he shot and killed an Iraq security guard, was hired by another private contractor to work in the region two months later.
October 3, 2007
Rep. Waxman Questions Why Drug Companies Continue to Market Cold Medicines to Infants
Chairman Waxman wrote to the CHPA asking why its member companies continue to market over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for use in infants even after the CHPA has said to FDA that these products should not be sold for use in children under two.
September 25, 2007
Chairman Waxman Objects to State Department's Prohibition of Discussion of Iraqi Corruption
Chairman Waxman objected in a letter to Secretary Rice to the State Department’s instruction to its officials that they cannot communicate with the Committee about corruption in the Maliki government unless the Committee agrees to treat all information, including “broad statements/assessments,” as national security secrets.
September 19, 2007
Rep. Waxman Sends Letter to Rep. Moran
Rep. Waxman sends letter to Rep. Jim Moran expressing concern about his recent statements regarding AIPAC, the war in Iraq and the Jewish community.
September 18, 2007
Chairman Waxman Raises Questions about the Conduct of the State Department Inspector General
Chairman Waxman wrote a letter to State Department Inspector General Howard Krongard describing allegations that he has repeatedly interfered with on-going investigations to protect the State Department and the White House from political embarrassment and asked for his cooperation in the Committee’s investigation.
September 10, 2007
Chairman Waxman Responds to Rep. Davis's Request
Chairman Waxman sent a letter to Ranking Minority Member Tom Davis responding to his request that the Committee ask the National Archives for records of the Clinton Administration.
September 6, 2007
Chairman Waxman Questions Interior Department’s Failure to Comply with Energy Policy Act
Chairman Waxman wrote to Secretary Kempthorne to question the Department of Interior’s refusal to comply with the Energy Policy Act of 2005 requirement to study the effects of coal bed natural gas production on surface and ground water resources in six western states, and insisted that the Department comply with the law.
August 30, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Information on Reports of Lost White House E-mails
Chairman Waxman wrote to request information from the White House Office of Administration about reports that millions of e-mails that may have been lost from the White House e-mail system.
August 29, 2007
Chairman Waxman Raises Concerns About NTP Contracting Report
Chairman Waxman raised concerns over an agency analysis of potential conflicts of interest in current National Toxicology Program (NTP) contracts in a letter to Dr. John Bucher, Associate Director of the NTP.
August 21, 2007
Chairman Waxman Asks Agencies about White House “Asset Deployment” Meetings
Chairman Waxman wrote to federal agencies requesting documents about their involvement in White House “asset deployment” meetings held to discuss the use of federal resources to promote the reelection of President Bush and Republicans in Congress.
August 10, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Information on Drug Testing Policies at TNA Entertainment
Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis requested information regarding the drug testing policies of TNA Entertainment.
August 3, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Documents Regarding Controversial Clean Air Act Rulemaking
Chairman Waxman wrote to EPA Administrator Johnson to request documents concerning a proposed controversial change to regulations under the Clean Air Act which would weaken existing protections for many national parks and other areas with pristine air quality.
July 27, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Information on Drug Testing Policies in Professional Wrestling
Chairman Waxman and Ranking Minority Member Davis request information regarding the drug testing policies of World Wrestling Entertainment.
July 27, 2007
Reps. Waxman and Davis Renew Request for White House Documents
Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis request that 56 White House documents be provided to the Committee to further its investigation into allegations of political interference with climate change science following a staff review of a number of previously-withheld climate change documents.
July 25, 2007
Chairman Waxman Asks About the White House Counsel's Knowledge of potential Presidential Records Act Violations
Chairman Waxman wrote a letter to Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and White House Counsel Fred F. Fielding inquiring as to when the White House Counsel's office learned about White House officials' use of nongovernmental e-mail accounts for official purposes, and what steps, if any, it took to preserve these records and prevent violations of the Presidential Records Act.
July 24, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Specific Tillman Documents from White House
Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis sent a letter to the White House requesting specific documents related to the death of U.S. Army Corporal Patrick Tillman, who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004.
July 20, 2007
Rep. Waxman Asks for Fair Guidelines for AIDS Funding Recipients
Reps. Waxman, Lantos, Payne, and Lee wrote to Secretary Leavitt and USAID Acting Administrator Fore urging both agencies to issue guidelines that respect the constitutional rights and the public health responsibilities of all recipient organizations.
July 17, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Deposition Regarding Politicization of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy
Chairman Waxman wrote to Sara Taylor, formerly the White House Director of Political Affairs, requesting her attendance at a Committee deposition on or before July 24 and her possible appearance at a Committee hearing on July 30 regarding politicization of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy.
July 16, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Response to Evaluation of Youth-Abstinence Programs
Chairman Henry A. Waxman, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Lantos, and Congresswoman Barbara Lee wrote to U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Mark Dybul asking how his office will respond to a recently completed negative evaluation of U.S.-funded "abstinence and be faithful" HIV prevention programs for youth.
July 13, 2007
Chairman Waxman Objects to Withholding of Tillman Documents
Chairman Waxman and Ranking Minority Member Davis sent a letter to the White House objecting to the withholding of documents related to the death of U.S. Army Corporal Patrick Tillman, who was killed by friendly fire in Afghanistan in 2004.
July 11, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Documents Related to Political Interference with the Surgeon General's Office
Chairman Waxman wrote to Secretary Leavitt requesting documents related to political interference with the work of the Office of the Surgeon General.
June 29, 2007
Chairman Waxman Subpoenas Documents from Towers Perrin
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee issued a subpoena today to Towers Perrin in connection with a Committee inquiry into potential conflicts of interest relating to the advice consultants provide to corporate boards on executive pay.
June 29, 2007
Chairman Waxman Questions DOJ’s Reversal on Anti-Prostitution Pledges
Chairman Waxman reiterated his concerns about the constitutionality and public health effects of the Justice Department's 2003 advice concerning an anti-prostitution pledge requirement, and asked for a full explanation of DOJ's reversal in opinion.
June 27, 2007
Chairman Waxman Seeks Gonzales' View on Cheney's Executive Status
Chairman Waxman, Judiciary Chairman Conyers, and Oversight Subcommittee Chairman Clay asked Attorney General Gonzales for the Justice Department’s view on whether the Office of the Vice President is part of the executive branch and thus bound by the President's executive order to protect classified information
June 26, 2007
Rep. Waxman States White House Security Violations May Be Widespread
Chairman Waxman wrote a letter to White House Counsel Fred Fielding describing evidence that contrary to the recent claims of White House spokesperson Dana Perino, there is evidence that the White House has repeatedly failed to investigate security violations, take corrective action following breaches, and appropriately protect classified information.
June 22, 2007
Rep. Waxman Reiterates Committee Request for Shell, Exxon Testimony on Gas Temperature Changes and Pricing
Chairman Waxman asked Shell and ExxonMobil to voluntarily provide witnesses for a Domestic Policy Subcommittee hearing on temperature-based expansion and contraction of gasoline and the resulting effect on gas prices.
June 22, 2007
Rep. Waxman Questions Energy Department’s Inconsistent Statements about the Santa Susana Field Lab Cleanup
Chairman Waxman wrote asking for clarification of inconsistent statements the Department has made about the cleanup of the Santa Susana Field Laboratory and the Energy Technology and Engineering Center.
June 20, 2007
Rep. Waxman Sends Letter to USTR Urging Reexamination of Thailand Decision
Rep. Waxman and 34 colleagues urged the U.S. Trade Representative to reexamine the Administration's decision to put Thailand on a “Priority Watch List” because of steps taken by the Thai government to secure generic versions of three drugs for citizens in its public health program.
June 19, 2007
Inadvertent File-Sharing May Continue to Pose A Significant Risk to Personal Privacy and National Security
Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis sent letters to LimeWire and Streamcast requesting information about potential privacy and security risks.
June 14, 2007
Rep. Waxman Questions GSA Plans to Contract Out Oversight
Rep. Waxman sent a letter to GSA Administrator Doan asking a briefing on GSA’s plans to expand the role of contractors into contract oversight and management.
June 13, 2007
Chairman Waxman Reiterates Request for DOT Documents Related to Lobbying
Rep. Waxman responded to Secretary Peters and reiterated his request for documents and an interview relating to the Department lobbying Members of Congress to oppose efforts by California and other states to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles.
May 18, 2007
Chairman Waxman Urges the President to Stop Efforts to Weaken the G-8 Declaration Regarding Global Climate Change
Chairman Waxman and fourteen other House Committee Chairmen sent a letter to the President urging him not to weaken a proposed G-8 declaration regarding global climate changing.
May 17, 2007
Committee Inquires on Disciplinary Action
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee wrote to General Ham inquiring as to whether disciplinary action was taken following Lt. Col. Kauzlarich's denigrating remarks questioning the Tillman family's faith.
May 15, 2007
Chairman Waxman Reiterates his Request to FEMA
Chairman Waxman sent a letter to Administrator Paulison reiterating his two previous requests for documents relating to high levels of formaldehyde in trailers provided to Gulf Coast hurricane victims.
May 11, 2007
Committee Requests Deposition of National Security Advisor Stephen Hadley
Chairman Waxman sent a formal request to Stephen Hadley, the National Security Advisor, to appear for a deposition. The deposition is part of the Committee investigation into why President Bush and other senior Administration officials cited forged evidence in building a case for war against Iraq.
May 11, 2007
Committee Reiterates Request for Documents Related to Plame-Wilson Disclosure
Chairman Waxman and Rep. Davis send a letter to CIA Director General Hayden reiterating their request for documents relevant to the Committee's investigation of the unauthorized disclosure of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson
May 4, 2007
Committee Seeks Niger Documents and Testimony and Instructs State Department Not to Impede Probe
Chairman Waxman sent a letter to Secretary of State Rice informing the Secretary that the legislative affairs officials in the Department should not hinder the Committee’s inquiry into why Secretary Rice and President Bush cited forged evidence to build a case for war against Iraq, advising the Secretary that the Committee will depose a nuclear weapons analyst at the State Department, and requesting relevant documents.
May 4, 2007
Chairman Waxman Questions HHS About Barriers to Global Staffing
Chairman Waxman wrote to HHS Secretary Michael Leavitt requesting detailed information following media reports of serious gaps in global staffing at CDC.
May 2, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Documents Related to the Development of the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle
Chairman Waxman wrote to the Department of Defense and General Dynamics asking for documents related to the Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle (EFV), an amphibious assault vehicle currently being developed by the Marine Corps
May 2, 2007
Chairman Waxman Asks the Bush Cheney Campaign for Information about White House E-mails
Chairman Waxman writes to the Bush-Cheney '04 campaign’s attorneys requesting basic information about the use of these accounts following new information that between 8 and 12 White House officials had e-mail accounts provided by the campaign.
May 1, 2007
Chairman Waxman Writes RNC Chairman Mike Duncan
Chairman Waxman sends a letter to Mr. Duncan describing the subjects the Committee expects him to address during the hearing regarding the scope of the potential violations of the Presidential Records Act caused by the use of RNC e-mail accounts by White House officials for official communications.
April 27, 2007
Committee Seeks White House and Defense Secretary Communications about Tillman Death
Chairman Waxman asked the White House and Defense Department officials up the chain of command to provide the Oversight Committee with any communications relating to the death of Corporal Pat Tillman.
April 27, 2007
Chairman Waxman Invites Former CIA Director to Testify on Iraq War Intelligence
Chairman Waxman has invited former CIA Director George Tenet to testify before the Committee on May 10th regarding one of the claims used to justify the war in Iraq - the assertion that Iraq sought to import uranium from Niger - and related issues.
April 26, 2007
Chairman Waxman Asks Agencies for Information on Political Presentations
Chairman Waxman wrote to government agencies requesting further information and documents about any briefings mentioning elections or candidates provided to agency employees by officials in the White House.
April 18, 2007
Rep. Waxman Renews Request After RNC Fails to Provide Information on White House Officials’ E-mails
Chairman Waxman stated that it is unacceptable that - after three letters from the Committee - the RNC has provided only minimal information regarding White House officials' use of RNC e-mail accounts.
April 17, 2007
Chairman Waxman Postpones Vote and Renews Request for Rice Testimony
Chairman Waxman wrote to Secretary Rice announcing a one-week postponement of the Committee’s consideration of a subpoena and asking her to schedule a voluntary appearance before the Committee prior to the Memorial Day recess.
April 10, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Information on White House Contract with MZM
Chairman Waxman requested information on a $140,000 contract awarded by the Executive Office of the President to MZM, Inc. in July 2002 as part of the Oversight Committee’s ongoing investigation into waste, fraud, and abuse in federal contracting.
March 30, 2007
Committee Requests Deposition of Former White House Aide Susan Ralston
Rep. Waxman sends a formal request to former White House aide Susan Ralston to appear for a
deposition on April 5th. The deposition is part of the Committee’s investigation, begun last spring, into lobbying contacts between lobbyist Jack Abramoff and the White House.
March 26, 2007
Chairman Waxman Directs RNC to Preserve White House Emails
Chairman Waxman directs the Republican National Committee and the Bush-Cheney ’04 Campaign to preserve the emails of White House officials, citing evidence that senior White House officials are using RNC and other political email accounts to avoid leaving a record of official communications
March 22, 2007
Information Requested on Allegations of Political Interference in Tobacco Case
Rep. Waxman requests documents and communications between the Department of Justice and the White House following renewed allegations of political interference in the Justice Department's case against the tobacco industry.
March 12, 2007
Rep. Waxman Renews Niger Queries
Chairman Waxman asked Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to respond to a series of unanswered letters, including two letters raising questions about the President’s claim that Iraq sought uranium from Niger.
March 11, 2007
Rep. Waxman Expresses Concern That US Trade Policies May Restrict Access to Life Saving Medicines
Rep. Waxman and other members wrote to US Trade Representative Susan Schwab to express their concern that the US is elevating intellectual property protection at the expense of public health in recent Free Trade Agreements with Peru, Colombia and other developing countries.
March 8, 2007
Rep. Waxman Requests Meeting with Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald Regarding Disclosure of CIA Agent's Identity
Chairman Waxman and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today sent a letter to Special Prosecutor Patrick Fitzgerald commending him for his investigation and requesting a meeting to discuss testimony by Mr. Fitzgerald before the Committee.
March 5 , 2007
Rep. Waxman Raises Concerns About EPA's Handling of LNG Project Off California Coast
In a letter to the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Chairman Waxman discloses that documents the Committee has received raise new questions about how the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is handling the air permit application for the BHP Billiton liquefied natural gas (LNG) floating storage and re-gasification project off the coast of Ventura County, California.
February 28, 2007
Rep. Waxman Requests Information on Contractor Conflicts of Interest
In a letter to the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Chairmen Waxman and Boxer request a briefing regarding allegations that the private contractor managing a government center on chemicals and reproductive risk has conflicts of interest.
February 23, 2007
Oversight Committee Requests Information on TSA Traveler Identity Verification Website
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee request documents that would explain why a TSA website that collected Social Security numbers and personal information from the public operated for several days without basic security measures.
February 22, 2007
Rep. Waxman Advocates for Stricter Emissions Standards
Reps. Waxman, Solis, Eshoo, and Capps call on the U.S. EPA to establish strong pollution control standards for locomotives and marine vessels to help Southern California attain healthful air quality.
February 20, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests National Academy of Sciences Report
As Congress considers policies to address two of the most pressing issues facing the nation -- human-caused global warming and U.S. dependence on oil – Chairman Waxman requests that the National Academy of Sciences convene an expert panel to examine the key environmental and economic issues related to biofuels and liquid fuels derived from coal.
January 23, 2007
Hearing Will Question Political Influence on Government Climate Change Scientists
The Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on January 30 regarding political interference in the work of government climate change scientists. In preparation for the hearing, Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis have requested documents from the Council on Environmental Quality related to allegations that officials edited scientific reports and took other actions to minimize the significance of climate change.
January 19, 2007
Chairman Waxman Requests Additional Information on GSA Procurement
Chairman Waxman writes to GSA Administrator Lurita A. Doan and others inquiring about GSA procurement issues.
January 18, 2007
Chairman Waxman Invites Witnesses for First Oversight Committee Hearing
Rep. Waxman has requested the testimony of L. Paul Bremer, Stuart Bowen, and Timothy Carney at the first Oversight Committee hearing on waste, fraud, and abuse, which will focus on Iraq reconstruction.
January 16, 2007
Rep. Waxman Requests EPA Analysis
For two years, EPA repeatedly stated that an energy facility off of the California coast needed to meet Ventura County’s clean air rules. Chairman Waxman requests the EPA analysis that formed the basis for the reversal of that position in June 2005.
January 10, 2007
Rep. Waxman Questions the President's New Iraq Contracting Strategy
As part of President Bush's revised strategy for Iraq, he appears likely to propose giving large sums of U.S. taxpayer dollars to decrepit and possibly corrupt state-owned Iraqi companies. In a letter to his colleagues, Rep. Waxman proposes that Congress answer several key questions regarding the President's new spending proposal.
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