April 22, 2008
Chairman Waxman, Chairman Markey, and Rep. Inslee Release Principles for Global Warming Legislation
Today on Earth Day, three Congressional leaders on climate and energy issues laid out principles for any effective legislative solution to the challenge of global warming. Chairman Henry A. Waxman, Chairman Ed Markey and Rep. Jay Inslee released “Principles for Global Warming Legislation,” which are designed to provide a framework for Congress as it produces legislation to establish an economy-wide mandatory program to cut global warming emissions.
April 17, 2008
Oversight Committee Passes Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act
On Wednesday, April 16, the Committee passed H.R. 5781, the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act of 2008, which would provide four weeks of paid parental leave for all federal employees. Employees will also for the first time be allowed to use their accrued sick leave for an additional eight weeks of paid leave. By combining the four weeks of paid parental leave with earned sick leave, many federal employees will now be able to get paid for the full 12 weeks of parental leave that is their right under the existing Family and Medical Leave Act.
April 16, 2008
Legislation Introduced to Improve Federal Electronic Recordkeeping
Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay, and Rep. Paul W. Hodes introduced legislation to modernize the requirements of the Presidential Records Act and the Federal Records Act and ensure that crucial records are preserved for historians.
April 16, 2008
Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Preventable Epidemic
The Committee held a hearing titled, “Healthcare-Associated Infections: A Preventable Epidemic”.
April 14, 2008
House Passes Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2007
On April 14, 2008, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4881, the Contracting and Tax Accountability Act of 2007, which prohibits companies with seriously delinquent federal tax debts from receiving new contracts.
April 11, 2008
Joint Statement of Chairman Waxman and Ranking Member Davis
Chairman Henry A. Waxman and Ranking Minority Member Tom Davis released a joint statement in response to an announcement by Major League Baseball and the Major League Baseball Players Association that they have agreed on an enhanced drug policy.
April 9, 2008
Oversight Committee Holds Hearing on the 2010 Census, Progress on the Development of the Field Data Collection Automation (FDCA) Program, and the Decennial Response Integration System (DRIS)
The Committee held a joint hearing with the Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives to examine the Field Data Collection Automation Program and the Decennial Response Integration System.
April 2, 2008
Rep. Waxman's Statement on H.R. 5501, the Tom Lantos and Henry J. Hyde United States Global Leadership Against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Reauthorization Act of 2008
March 31, 2008
Chairman Waxman's Statement on EPA’s Final Rule on Lead Renovation, Repair, and Painting
Chairman Henry A. Waxman released a statement in response to EPA’s issuance of a final rule on lead renovation, repair, and painting.
March 27, 2008
Chairman Waxman's Statement on EPA’s Greenhouse Gas Decision
Chairman Henry A. Waxman released a statement in response to a letter from EPA Administrator Johnson.
March 14, 2008
Oversight Committee Releases GAO Report on CDC Budget
Chairman Waxman released a new GAO report, which examines how spending at CDC changed between 2003 and 2006, following the 2005 administrative restructuring of the agency. Among the report’s findings is that spending at the division level, where most funds go to pay for public health projects, declined faster than at the leadership and management levels.
March 13, 2008
GAO Report Finds EPA Library Closures Flawed
A new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) efforts to close regional and research libraries around the country have been plagued by managerial problems.
March 12, 2008
EPA Efforts to Regulate Carbon Dioxide Stymied
Senior EPA officials have told the Committee that after the agency concluded in December that CO2 emissions were a danger to the United States and proposed significant cuts in motor vehicle emissions, the agency’s regulatory efforts were halted.
March 12, 2008
Oversight Committee Releases Report “FDA and Fresh Spinach Safety”
The Committee released a report that found significant lapses in the FDA’s current inspection regime for packaged fresh spinach, which is the agency’s primary means of ensuring the safety of such products.
March 11, 2008
Chairman Waxman Introduces H.R. 5575, the "Moratorium on Uncontrolled Power Plants Act"
Today Chairman Henry A. Waxman and Chairman Edward J. Markey introduced H.R. 5575, the “Moratorium on Uncontrolled Power Plants Act of 2008.” The legislation addresses the largest new source of global warming pollution — new coal-fired power plants that are being built without any controls on their global warming emissions.
March 7, 2008
Committee Holds Hearing on CEO Pay and the Mortgage Crisis
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing titled, “Executive Compensation II: CEO Pay and the Mortgage Crisis.”
March 3, 2008
The Administration's Medicaid Regulations: State-By-State Impacts
Today Chairman Henry A. Waxman released a new report: The Administration’s Medicaid Regulations: State-by-State Impacts. The report details the state-by-state impacts of seven regulations issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) that would make major, wide-ranging changes in Medicaid, the nation’s largest low-income health care program.
February 29, 2008
New Inspection Reports Reveal Deficiencies in the Construction of the U.S. Embassy in Iraq
New documents released by Chairman Waxman identify “critical” and “major” deficiencies in the construction of the new U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, raising questions about the decision of the State Department to certify in December that the Embassy compound was “substantially complete.”
February 26, 2008
Committee Holds Hearing on Electronic Records Preservation at the White House
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing entitled “Electronic Records Preservation at the White House.”
February 13, 2008
Chairman Waxman Holds Second Day of Hearings on the Mitchell Report and Steroids in Baseball
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing entitled “The Mitchell Report: The Illegal Use of Steroids in Major League Baseball, Day 2.” This hearing examined allegations of steroid use by Roger Clemens and several other major league players that appeared in Senator George Mitchell’s Report to the Commissioner of Baseball of an Independent Investigation into the Illegal Use of Steroids and Other Performance Enhancing Substances by Players in Major League Baseball.
February 12, 2008
Oversight Committee Holds Hearing on Myths and Facts about Human Growth Hormone, B12, and Other Substances
The Oversight Committee held a hearing examining the myths and facts about performance-enhancing substances such as human growth hormone, B12 and other substances.
January 29, 2008
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing on CDC Program Providing Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing that examined the National Breast and Cervical Cancer program, which is administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and provides mammograms, pap smears, and other screening exams for breast and cervical cancer to low-income women without another source of coverage.
January 15, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing on Steroids in Major League Baseball and the Mitchell Report
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing entitled “The Mitchell Report: The Illegal Use of Steroids in Major League Baseball.” This hearing examined Senator George Mitchell’s investigation into the illegal use of steroids in Major League Baseball.
December 19, 2007
Chairman Waxman’s Statement on EPA Denial of California Waiver Request
Chairman Henry A. Waxman released a statement in response to EPA’s denial of California’s waiver request.
December 13, 2007
Chairman Waxman and Rep. Davis Issue Joint Statement on Mitchell Report
Chairman Henry A. Waxman and Ranking Minority Member Tom Davis released a statement following the release of the Mitchell Report. Chairman Waxman has scheduled a hearing on January 15, 2008 to further examine steroid use and the Mitchell report.
December 13, 2007
Oversight Committee Hearing Assesses Veterans' Charities
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing to examine whether all the charitable groups raising money for the purpose of helping our nation’s veterans are genuinely serving that need. Concerns have been raised that some charities are conducting high volume mail and telemarketing campaigns that enrich the organizations and fundraisers but fail to provide meaningful assistance to veterans.
December 12, 2007
Committee Report: White House Engaged in Systematic Effort to Manipulate Climate Change Science
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee approved a report that concludes that the Bush Administration has censored climate change scientists, edited climate change reports, and misled policymakers and the public about the dangers of global warming.
December 6, 2007
Speech: “Intellectual Property and Access to Medicines: The importance of reaching a balance between innovation and access”
December 5, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing Examining 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.
November 15, 2007
One Year Later: Have TSA Airport Security Checkpoints Improved?
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee examined whether TSA’s airport security checkpoints have improved over the last year. The hearing reviewed the findings of an investigation conducted by GAO into the effectiveness of airport security checkpoints. A GAO report detailed an undercover investigation that found significant vulnerabilities in airport security.
November 14, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing Assessing the State Department Inspector General
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing to assess the performance of State Department Inspector General Howard J. Krongard following a series of allegations that the Inspector General halted investigations, censored reports, and refused to cooperate with law enforcement agencies.
November 8, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing Examining Implications of EPA's Failure to Address Global Warming Pollutants
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing that examined the implications of the Environmental Protection Agency’s refusal to consider the global warming effects of a coal-fired power plant’s greenhouse gas emissions in a recent permitting decision.
November 7, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing Examining the Public Health Consequences of Drug-Resistant Infections
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing to examine the public health consequences of infections of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) outside of hospitals and other healthcare settings.
November 7, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement in Support of the Employee Non-Discrimination Act
November 7, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement in Support of the U.S. - Peru Free Trade Agreement
November 6, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement Regarding H.R. 333, a Motion Recommending the Impeachment of Vice President Dick Cheney
November 6, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement in Opposition to Abstinence-Only Funding in the Labor-Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill
November 1, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing Examining Regulatory Actions on Medicaid
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing to examine a range of regulatory changes regarding the Medicaid program that have recently been made by the Department of Health and Human Services.
October 31, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing Examining Oil and Gas Exemptions from Federal Environmental Protections
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing examining the applicability of federal environmental and health requirements to onshore oil and gas development.
October 25, 2007
Representative Waxman's Floor Speech on H.Res. 759, Recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the Mass Movement for Soviet Jewish Freedom and the 20th Anniversary of the Freedom Sunday Rally for Soviet Jewry on the Mall in Washington, D.C.
October 25, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing on the State Department and the Iraq War
Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice testified at an Oversight Committee hearing focusing on the State Department’s performance on several significant issues relating to the Iraq war, including the impact of the activities of Blackwater USA and corruption within the Iraqi ministries on the prospects of political reconciliation in Iraq.
October 18, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing Examining Black Carbon and Global Warming
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing to examine the role of black carbon as a factor in climate change and receive testimony from experts regarding its global and regional impacts, its sources, and the risks it raises for public health.
October 16, 2007
House Passes Resolution on Iraq Corruption
Today the House with a vote of 395-21 passed the Iraq Corruption Resolution, introduced on Friday, October 12, 2007, by Chairmen Waxman and Tierney. In his statement on the House floor, Chairman Waxman called the State Department abuses of the classification system “outrageous” and demanded answers to questions about corruption in Iraq.
October 10, 2007
Fictitious American Spectator Story Creates Confusion
On October 8, 2007, the American Spectator printed a fictitious story alleging that Congressman Waxman and the House Oversight Committee were investigating conservative and Republican talk show radio programs. The American Spectator report is completely false and was written without any documentation or attribution. There is not now nor has there ever been any investigation of this subject. But even though there is no truth to the story, the hoax has been repeated on Fox News (transcript) and several blogs (Family Research Council, Instapundit, RenewAmerica).
The American Spectator should immediately retract its report and apologize for the confusion its fictitious report has caused. Moreover, anyone concerned about the false reporting should contact the American Spectator at (703)807-2011 to register your views.
October 4, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing on the State of Iraqi Corruption
Chairman Waxman held a hearing to evaluate the status of corruption in the Iraqi government and to assess whether U.S. government efforts to address this continuing problem have been adequate.
October 2, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing on Private Security Contracting in Iraq and Afghanistan
Chairman Waxman held a hearing to examine the mission and performance of private military contractor Blackwater USA in Iraq and Afghanistan. Erik Prince, the CEO of Blackwater USA, testified as well as three State Department officials.
September 19, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Floor Statement on the FDA Reauthorization Bill of 2007
September 17, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement on the Blackwater USA Controversy
Chairman Henry A. Waxman released a statement following press reports that Iraq revoked the license of U.S. contractor Blackwater.
September 10th, 2007
Speech: Professional Services Council
September 6th, 2007
Speech: Generic Pharmaceutical Association's 2007 Annual Policy Conference
August 28, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement Regarding Santa Monica Airport
Rep. Waxman's statement for the August 28, 2007 meeting of the Santa Monica City Council to consider the FAA's presentation on runway safety enhancements at Santa Monica Airport.
August 1, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing Regarding the Tillman Fratricide
Chairman Waxman and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a
hearing to examine what senior Defense Department officials knew about U.S. Army
Corporal Patrick Tillman’s death by fratricide.
July 26, 2007
Chairman Waxman Examines Allegations of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at the New U.S. Embassy in Iraq
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing to examine the performance of the State Department and its contractors in the construction of the new $600 million U.S. embassy in Baghdad.
July 24, 2007
Oversight Committee Holds Hearing on Inadvertent File Sharing over Peer-to-Peer Networks
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing to examine recent developments regarding inadvertent file sharing over peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, the impact of such sharing on consumers, corporations and government entities, and whether such sharing creates privacy or security risks for users.
July 19, 2007
Chairman Waxman Probes FEMA's Response to Reports of Toxic Trailers
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing investigating formaldehyde levels in FEMA trailers provided for victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes and FEMA’s response to these reports. The Committee heard from current residents occupying FEMA trailers, experts who are familiar with the health impact of formaldehyde, and FEMA Administrator Paulison.
July 12, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement Expressing Support for the Freeing of Israeli Soldiers
Rep. Waxman's statement marking the 1-year anniversary of the killing of three Israeli soldiers and the kidnapping of two others, Eldad Regev and Udi Goldwasser.
July 11, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement Condemning Decision
Rep. Waxman's statement condemning the decision by the University and College Union of the United Kingdom to support a boycott of Israeli academia.
July 11, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement Expressing Support for H.R. 2900
Rep. Waxman's statement regarding H.R. 2900, the Food and Drug Administration Amendments Act of 2007.
July 10, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing on Surgeon General's Vital Mission
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing focusing on the importance of the Surgeon General’s Office, the need to preserve the Surgeon General’s independence, and recent limitations on the Surgeon General’s ability to carry out his public health education mission.
June 28, 2007
Chairman Waxman Holds Hearing Investigating DoD Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at Ramstein AFB
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing entitled “Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at K-Town: How Mismanagement Has Derailed DOD’s Largest Single Facility Construction Project.” The hearing reviewed the preliminary findings of a Government Accountability Office investigation into the construction of the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center, a hotel and retail facility being built on the grounds of the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.
June 22, 2007
Oversight Committee Holds Hearing on Nation's Emergency Room Crisis
Chairman Waxman and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing on the response of the Department of Health and Human Services to the nation’s emergency room crisis.
June 14, 2007
Rep. Waxman Delivers Speech Discussing Congressional Medicaid Agenda
Rep. Waxman spoke to the Second Annual Medicaid Congress about the Congressional Medicaid agenda for 2007.
May 21, 2007
Rep. Waxman Meets with Thailand's Health Minister to Discuss Making HIV/AIDS Drugs More Affordable
In conjunction with his meeting with Thailand’s Health Minister Mr. Mongkol Na Songkhla, Congressman Henry A. Waxman reiterated that the U.S. should respect the decision of the Thai government to issue compulsory licenses on essential medicines.
May 21, 2007
Chairman Waxman Announces Hearing on FDA’s Role in Evaluating Safety of Diabetes Drug
Chairman Waxman announced a hearing for June 6, 2007, on FDA’s role in the safety evaluation of Avandia, a diabetes drug, following an article reporting that the drug may be associated with an increase in heart attacks and death.
May 14, 2007
Rep. Waxman Delivers a Speech on Federal Contracting
Rep. Waxman highlighted the government’s increasing reliance on private contractors and the need for more oversight and accountability to protect against waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer money in a speech to the Center for American Progress.
May 2, 2007
Committee Examines Oversight Adequacy of the Pediatric Dental Program for Medicaid Eligible Children
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing examining the adequacy of CMS oversight mechanisms used to evaluate the ability of Medicaid programs to ensure children’s access to dental health.
May 1, 2007
Oversight Committee Examines FDA's Vital Mission and Challenges for the Future
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing that examined several key facets of FDA’s responsibilities as well as major concerns and challenges facing FDA’s ability to fulfill its important role and restore public confidence.
April 25, 2007
Oversight Committee Issues Three Subpoenas To Further Investigations
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee approved the issuance of three subpoenas related to ongoing investigations.
April 24, 2007
Oversight Committee Holds Hearing on Tillman, Lynch Incidents
Chairman Waxman and the Oversight Committee held a hearing on Tuesday, April 24, 2007 focusing on misleading information following the death of Army Ranger Specialist Patrick Tillman in Afghanistan and the capture and rescue of Army Private Jessica Lynch in Iraq.
April 24, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement Commemorating the 92nd Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
Rep. Waxman's statement delivered on the floor of the House of Representatives commemorating the 92nd anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.
April 19, 2007
Joint Statement of Rep. Henry A. Waxman and Rep. Gary L. Ackerman
Reps. Waxman and Ackerman respond to Nathan Guttman's article in the Forward.
March 23, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement on the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill
Representative Waxman's statement on H.R. 1591, the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act.
March 22, 2007
Statement of Rep. Waxman on FDA Efforts to Ensure a Safe Drug Supply
Rep. Waxman's statement at the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations hearing regarding the adequacy of FDA efforts to ensure a safe drug supply.
March 16, 2007
Hearing Examines Exposure of Covert CIA Agent Valerie Plame Wilson's Identity
Oversight Committee Chairman Waxman held a hearing on whether White House officials followed appropriate procedures for safeguarding the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson. At the hearing, the Committee received testimony from Ms. Wilson and other experts regarding the disclosure and internal White House security procedures for protecting her identity from disclosure and responding to the leak after it occurred.
March 14, 2007
Chairman Waxman Applauds Passage of Four Good Government Bills
The House of Representatives passed four good government bills. H.R. 985 enhances protections offered to federal whistleblowers; H.R. 1255 strengthens the Freedom of Information Act; H.R. 1255 makes clear that presidential records belong to the public; and H.R. 1254 requires organizations that raise money for presidential libraries to disclose information about their donors.
February 16, 2007
Rep. Waxman's Statement on Iraq Troop Increase
Rep. Waxman spoke in support of H.Con.Res. 63, The Iraq War Policy Resolution.
January 30, 2007
Committee Holds Hearing on Political Influence on Government Climate Change Scientists
The Oversight Committee held 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 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 23, 2007
Statement of Rep. Waxman on the State of the Union Address
Chairman Waxman's response to the State of the Union address.
January 18, 2007
Oversight Committee Adopts Rules and Determines Subcommittee Jurisdictions
The Oversight and Government Reform Committee held an organizational meeting adopting the rules of the committee for the 110th Congress, as well as establishing subcommittee jurisdictions and approving member assignments.
January 12, 2007
Rep. Waxman Announces Democratic Membership of Oversight Committee
Rep. Waxman, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, announced the appointment of the Democratic members of the committee for the 110th Congress.
December 19, 2006
GAO Analysis Refutes Industry Myths About Drug Development
Rep. Waxman, along with Sens. Durbin and Kennedy, today released a new GAO analysis revealing a decline in new drug development by the pharmaceutical industry. The report contradicts the myth that higher research expenditures have resulted in more treatment options for patients.
December 11, 2006
Dangerous Lead Levels in Capitol Gift Shop Products
Rep. Waxman and Sen. Obama today released a report finding that products from the Capitol gift shop contain dangerous amounts of lead. Jewelry and other inexpensive children's gifts sold in the four Capitol gift shops contain enough lead to cause permanent medical harm and may be fatal to small children if ingested. Rep. Waxman and Sen. Obama call on the Bush Administration to ban lead in children's products.
December 9, 2006
House, Senate Pass Historic Postal Reform Legislation
In the final hours of the 109th Congress, key legislators from the House and Senate brokered a compromise that allows the Postal Service to modernize its operations to remain viable in the 21st Century. Rep. Waxman called the passage of the bill a "historic accomplishment."
December 7, 2006
Rep. Waxman Speaks Out Against Former President Carter’s New Book
December 6, 2006
Rep. Waxman Opposed the “Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2006”
Rep. Waxman opposed the “Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act of 2006” because there is no scientific information to support the statement that a fetus experiences pain. Rep. Waxman believes strongly that medical information provided by a doctor to a patient should be accurate and scientifically sound. This bill failed in the House of Representatives by a roll call vote on December 6, 2006.
December 4, 2006
Senior Democrats Urge USDA to Protect Americans from Contaminated Chicken
Reps. Waxman and DeLauro today called on the U.S. Department of Agriculture to set a federal standard for detecting campylobacter, a bacteria found in raw chicken that causes foodborne disease. Although USDA currently has a standard to protect against the salmonella bacteria in raw chicken, there is no such standard for campylobacter. A recent report found that 8 out of 10 chickens in supermarkets are contaminated with campylobacter.
October 13, 2006
US Trade Policies Threaten Access to Medicines
Rep. Waxman and Sen. Kennedy have requested that GAO investigate the impact of US trade policy on access to medicines in the developing world. The request stemmed from a concern that despite the US obligation to respect public health in its trade negotiations, the Administration has prioritized intellectual property rights above access to medicines.
October 6, 2006
Rep. Waxman Statement on Resignation of Susan Ralston
Rep. Waxman responds to the White House announcement that Susan Ralston, aide to Karl Rove, has resigned because of findings in the Committee's report on lobbyist Jack Abramoff's ties to the White House.
September 29, 2006
Abramoff Ties to White House More Extensive Than Previously Known
Following Mr. Abramoff's guilty plea in January, President Bush and other top White House officials issued repeated statements that Mr. Abramoff was a virtual stranger to the White House. The documents reviewed by the Committee tell a different story. They show that between January 2001 and March 2004, there were 485 lobbying contacts between Mr. Abramoff and his associates and White House officials.
September 28, 2006
Rep. Waxman Statement on Iraq Reconstruction Efforts
At a hearing today, Rep. Waxman highlighted a new report from the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction regarding the dilapidated facilities at the Baghdad Police College, which the Army and the Parsons Company spent $75 million to build, as well as a new report by the Government Accountability Office identifying a record $3.5 billion in questioned and unsupported contractor charges in Iraq. Rep. Waxman called for a fundamentally new direction in Iraq.
September 28, 2006
Rep. Waxman Reluctantly Opposes the Ryan White Reauthorization Act to Protect Funding Vital to California
On the House floor, Rep. Waxman reluctantly opposes H.R. 6143, “Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Modernization Act of 2006” which jeopardizes funding for critical HIV/AIDS care and treatment programs in California.
September 28, 2006
Speech: Institute for International Research 7th Annual Generic Drugs Summit
September 21, 2006
Rep. Waxman's Remarks on Climate Change
At a hearing today, Rep. Waxman spoke about the Bush Administration's poor record on climate change and the need for a new direction in overcoming the challenges presented by global warming.
September 20, 2006
House Passes Bill to Allow Subway Tunneling Along Wilshire Boulevard
The House of Representatives passed Rep. Waxman’s legislation (H.R. 4653) that would allow subway tunneling along Wilshire Boulevard. A tunneling prohibition was enacted after a 1985 methane gas explosion demolished a Ross Dress for Less store. Last year, Congressman Waxman worked with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to appoint a panel of scientific experts to conduct an independent safety review of the methane gas area. These experts made a unanimous determination in a November 2005 report that tunneling in this area can be done safely if proper procedures and appropriate technologies are used. The legislation passed the House of Representatives without objection.
September 19, 2006
Speech: Generic Pharmaceutical Association’s Annual Policy Conference 2006
September 19, 2006
Drug Company Profits Soar Under Medicare Drug Plan
Today the Democratic Truth Squad released a new analysis that reveals pharmaceutical industry profits increased by over $8 billion in the first six months after the Medicare drug plan went into effect.
September 18, 2006
Rep. Waxman's Remarks at Congressional Oversight Symposium
Rep. Waxman's remarks focus on the need for effective congressional oversight to rein in the excesses of the executive branch.
September 13, 2006
Rep. Waxman's Statement on Iraq Reconstruction Efforts
In a statement at a subcommittee hearing on Iraq reconstruction, Rep. Waxman says that the U.S.'s effort has been largely a failure and asks the Bush Administration and Congress to have an honest discussion on how to move forward.
September 13, 2006
Democratic Truth Squad Introduces "Clean Contracting Act"
Today the House Democratic Waste, Fraud, and Abuse Truth Squad introduced the "Clean Contracting Act of 2006." The bill would end the abusive contracting practices that have been rampant under the Bush Administration and promote greater transparency and accountability in federal contracting.
September 13, 2006
Rep. Waxman Supports the Creation of a Searchable Database of Federal Grants and Contracts
Rep. Waxman supports S.2590, which requires the Office of Management and Budget to create a searchable database of federal grants and contracts accessible to the public via the internet. The bill is more exhaustive than the bill passed by the House in June because the database created under this new legislation will include all federal grants and contracts. If this bill is implemented properly, any citizen with web access will be able to examine a comprehensive set of records for information about federal spending.
July 27, 2006
Rep. Waxman Welcomes Testimony of Global Warming Experts
The House Energy & Commerce Committee held a second day of hearings on the science of global warming. Rep. Waxman expresses concern that despite a scientific consensus that human activities are warming the planet, the Committee is using its resources to attack an eight year old study which has withstood scrutiny from the National Academy of Sciences and doesn’t even form the primary evidence supporting global warming.
July 27, 2006
Homeland Security Contracts Waste Hundreds of Millions of Taxpayer Dollars
Ranking Member Waxman and Chairman Davis release a comprehensive report on homeland security contracting that finds pervasive mismanagement and waste. According to the report, noncompetitive contracts have soared over 700% in just three years, and the total value of the Department’s wasteful contracts exceeds $34 billion.
July 26, 2006
GAO finds EPA Failing to Protect Public Health from Toxic Air Pollution
In a new report, GAO finds that sixteen years after Congress passed the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments, EPA has failed to carry out many of the Act’s requirements to protect Americans from cancer-causing toxic air pollution.
July 25, 2006
Rep. Waxman’s Statement Opposing the Marriage Protection Amendment
Rep. Waxman speaks out against the “Marriage Protection Amendment,” a bill that would have amended our Constitution to permanently deny same-sex couples the right to marry. He exposes the reality of the bill as a partisan, political ploy, accusing Republicans of exploiting the lives of gays and lesbians for their own political gain.
July 20, 2006
Rep. Waxman Urges Committee to Address the Threat of Global Warming
The House Government Reform Committee held its first hearing on global warming since 1999. Rep. Waxman described the urgency of addressing global warming and explained how the Bush Administration has failed to lead on the important issue.
July 20, 2006
Rep. Waxman Supports Israel’s Right to Defend Itself
The House overwhelmingly passed H.Res. 921, which condemns the recent attacks against Israel, holds terrorists and their state-sponsors responsible for the attacks and supports Israel’s right to defend itself.
Read the text of the resolution
July 19, 2006
Rep. Waxman Urges Committee to Show Leadership on Global Warming
The House Energy & Commerce Committee held only its second hearing on global warming in twelve years. Rep. Waxman believes the Committee’s time would have been better spent focusing on the scientific consensus about global warming and practical solutions to this enormous threat, instead of attacking a well-respected climate researcher and two studies he conducted eight years ago.
July 19, 2006
Rep. Waxman Condemns Bills that May Eliminate Important Federal Agencies
At a hearing before the House Government Reform Committee, Rep. Waxman opposes two Republican bills that would abolish federal agencies in an attempt to streamline government and reduce waste. With no specifications offered, on the chopping block could be the EPA, the Social Security Administration, and the Departments of Veterans Affairs and Education. These legislative proposals are backdoor assaults on the laws that protect the health, safety, and security of American families.
July 18, 2006
Rep. Waxman Condemns Bills that May Eliminate Important Federal Agencies
At a House Government Reform Committee hearing on the Bush Administration’s global war on terror, Rep. Waxman states that the waste, fraud, and abuse in Iraq contracting must stop now. The cost of the war is spiraling out of control with inadequate accountability, and the Administration’s actions have actually incited terrorism.
July 11, 2006
Rep. Waxman Statement on Administration's Strategy in Iraq
At a hearing today, GAO issued a new report that challenges key assumptions of US strategy in Iraq. In Rep. Waxman's statement at the hearing, he called for "specific, substantive, and straightforward" answers from the Administration on how the Administration plans to lead Iraq and the United States out of war.
July 10, 2006
GAO Finds Medicare Drug Plans Fail to Accurately Answer Consumer Questions
A new GAO report released today by Reps. Waxman, Dingell, Rangel, Stark, and Brown finds that the call centers run by private Medicare drug plans provide inaccurate and incomplete information most of the time. According to GAO, the private plans that are responsible for running the new Medicare drug benefit “did not consistently provide callers with accurate and complete information.”
July 4, 2006
Committee Agrees to Waxman Request for Subpoena of Rumsfeld
Since last fall, Rep. Waxman has been investigating specific allegations of detainee abuse at Abu Ghraib prison made by military whistleblower, Sgt. Samuel Provance. After the Pentagon refused to respond to multiple written requests, the Committee agreed on Friday to Rep Waxman's request to subpoena Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, compelling him to provide documents about the abuse allegations and reports of retaliation against Sgt. Provance.
June 28, 2006
Speech: International Strategy & Investment and Cowen 8th Annual Health Care Policy Conference
June 26, 2006
Prescription for Harm: The Decline in FDA Enforcement Activity
A new report by Rep. Waxman examines how the Bush Administration has carried out FDA's historic enforcement responsibilities. The report is the result of a 15-month investigation that included a review of thousands of pages of internal agency enforcement records. It finds that there has been a precipitous drop in FDA enforcement actions over the last five years.
June 21, 2006
New Documents Reveal Problems with Alaska Native Contracts
Rep. Waxman today released new federal agency documents that highlight significant problems with no-bid contracts with Alaska Native companies, including political interference with the contracting process and serious performance deficiencies.
June 15, 2006
Waste, Fraud and Abuse Mar Iraq Reconstruction
Rep. Waxman today addressed the floor of the House of Representatives to highlight waste, fraud and abuse in the reconstruction of Iraq. Despite $50 billion in expenditures, oil and electricity production remains well below pre-war levels. The Bush Administration's gross mismanagement of the war has wasted taxpayer dollars and produced lackluster results.
June 8, 2006
Recent
Data Theft from VA Represents Ongoing Lack of Data Security at Federal Agencies
At a hearing of the House Government Reform
Committee regarding the security of personal information at federal agencies,
Rep. Waxman expresses deep concern over the recent theft of sensitive data on
26.5 million veterans from the Department of Veterans Affairs. This breach
represents a violation of trust of a remarkable magnitude. Rep. Waxman urges the
Administration to provide a thorough accounting of this incident and to swiftly
prepare plans to prevent these lapses in security from happening in the future at
the VA and across all government agencies.
May 24, 2006
Lessons from Hurricane Katrina Require Attention as 2006 Hurricane Season Arrives
At a hearing before the House Government Reform Committee entitled, “Getting Ready for the '06 Hurricane Season," Rep. Waxman warns that this week's forecast of another active hurricane season underscores the importance of addressing the problems exposed by the failed response to Hurricane Katrina. The government's plans, organizational structure, and personnel were inadequate to provide the rapid and massive response that was needed for Katrina. Additionally, weak leadership from top officials at the White House and the Department of Homeland Security spelled disaster for our vulnerable residents at a critical time.
May 23, 2006
Jewish American Heritage Month
May 22, 2006
H.R. 4861: The Palestinian Anti-Terrorism Act
May 11, 2006
Pandemic Flu Plan Must Be Streamlined and Implemented Quickly
At a hearing before the House Government Reform Committee entitled, “Working Through an Outbreak: Pandemic Flu Planning and Continuity of Operations,” Rep. Waxman states that pandemic preparedness requires a clear and coherent leadership structure that is capable of responding in an emergency. Unfortunately, the President’s Implementation Plan, which was released last week, creates divided authority. It would establish the same type of structure that led to tragic confusion and delay in the response to Hurricane Katrina.
May 9, 2006
Speech: Physicians for Reproductive Choice and Health
May 4, 2006
Katrina Contracts Rife with Waste, Fraud, and Abuse
At a hearing before the House Government Reform Committee entitled, "Sifting Through Katrina's Legal Debris: Contracting in the Eye of the Storm," Rep. Waxman states that the Katrina contracts have been a lose-lose-lose proposition. Private contractors exploited the system to make a bundle, taxpayers were gouged and the residents devastated by the hurricane in Louisiana and Mississippi did not get the help they deserved.
May 4, 2006
Committee Refuses to Investigate White House's Knowledge of Deficit Reduction Act's Infirmities
Despite Democrats' efforts, the Committee votes down a resolution to investigate whether the President knew in advance that the version he signed of S.1932, the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005, had not passed both
May 4, 2006
2006 USTR Special 301 Report
May 3, 2006
New GAO Report Finds Widespread Problems with Information Provided by Bush Administration about New Medicare Drug Benefit
Rep. Waxman, along with Reps. Dingell, Rangel, Stark, and Sherrod Brown, release a GAO report that finds that the information provided by the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services about the complicated new drug benefit is rife with problems. According to GAO, the federal handbooks, website, and 1-800 Medicare hotline failed to provide information that was "consistently clear, complete, accurate, and usable."
May 2, 2006
Bush Administration Increases Number of Political Appointees; Minority and Female Appointees Plunge
Rep. Waxman, along with Committee Democrats Danny K. Davis, Major R. Owens, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Elijah E. Cummings, and Chris Van Hollen, releases a report finding that in the Bush Administration's first five years, the number of political appointees on the federal payroll has soared while the number of minority and female political appointees has declined dramatically.
April 27, 2006
Rep. Waxman Urges Resolution to Military Pay Problems Plaguing Our Soldiers
At a hearing before the House Government Reform Committee regarding military pay problems. Rep. Waxman expresses his concern that newly discovered accounting errors have incorrectly assigned millions of dollars in debt to hundreds of Guard and Reserve soldiers. The errors have caused hardships that are both burdensome and stigmatizing. Whether it is struggling to pay household bills, car payments, mortgages, or being hounded by debt collectors for bad credit, our veterans continue to suffer after they return from the battlefield.
April 27, 2006
Reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act is Crucial for Vulnerable Citizens
At a hearing of the House Energy and Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health, Rep. Waxman urges reauthorization of the Ryan White CARE Act. The programs funded by this Act have literally been lifesavers for people who live with the HIV virus. It has provided critical support to cities that have been the center of the epidemic and to States funding critical drug programs to treat the disease.
April 27, 2006
Holocaust Remembrance Day 2006
April 26, 2006
Commemorating the 91st Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide
April 26, 2006
Gas Prices Have Doubled Since 2005
Rep. Waxman releases a chart that shows that gasoline prices have doubled since 2000, despite the Administration's aggressive implementation of it energy plan. He explains that Washington is mired in scandal and in order to address the Administration's failed energy policy, Congress must clean up corrupt lobbying practices.
April 26, 2006
H.R. 282, The Iran Freedom Support Act
April 26, 2006
Rep. Waxman's Statement on Reclassification Audit
Rep. Waxman describes the results of an audit conducted by the Information Security Oversight Office at the National Archives, which shows retroactive classification of documents at the Archives has been more extensive than first believed.
April 25, 2006
Government Reform Committee Hearing Examines Iraq Reconstruction, Governance and Security
At a hearing of the House Government Reform Committee Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations, Rep. Waxman states that the Administration's management of the Iraq reconstruction has been fundamentally incompetent. Billion-dollar contracts have been awarded with little or no competition to favored contractors, and competition for discrete projects was suppressed by dividing the country into a handful of fiefdoms.
April 6, 2006
Bureaucracy and Mismanagement of Donated Funds Frustrate Efforts to Rebuild Gulf Coast
At a hearing of the House Government Reform Committee entitled, "Looking a Gift Horse in the Mouth: a Post-Katrina Review of International Disaster Assistance," Rep. Waxman shares his hope that reform will come following the release of a new GAO report revealing serious waste and mismanagement of international donations.
April 6, 2006
Committee Approves Bill to End Secret Contracts between Lobbyists and Executive Branch Officials
The best and worst of Congress were on display today in the Government Reform Committee, as the Committee unanimously approved a bipartisan bill containing landmark reforms of the executive branch on the same day that it also approved legislation containing sham reforms of Congress written by the Republican leadership.
April 5, 2006
H.R. 3127, Darfur Peace and Accountability Act
April 5, 2006
H.Con.Res.
370, Expressing the sense of the Congress that Saudi Arabia should fully live
up to its World Trade Organization commitments and end all aspects of any boycott
on Israel
April 4, 2006
Current
Government Policy on Visas May Threaten Culture, Economy and Innovation
At a hearing of the House Government Reform Committee entitled, "A Symphony
in F Minor: the Impact of
Visa Processing Delays on the Arts, Education, and American innovation," Rep. Waxman suggests
that the government must strike the right balance between security and openness
to culture and innovation in their policy on issuing visas to visitors wishing to enter the United States. Visa processing delays have created a six-month backlog in India between the time that an application is first submitted and an interview occurs at a U.S. consulate office.
March 30, 2006
In
the Wake of Hurricane Katrina, Rep. Waxman Renews Call for Disaster Preparedness
and Response
Rep. Waxman delivered
a statement at a House Government Reform Committee hearing entitled, “The
Need to Know: Information Sharing for Disaster Response”. Last year’s
hurricanes showed that communication channels across all levels of government
must be reliable in order to report accurate real-time information.
March 30, 2006
Rep. Waxman Announces Resolution Seeking Investigation of Signing of the Reconciliation Act
Rep.
Waxman and other committee members announce they will introduce
a Resolution of Inquiry directing the President to submit
to Congress all documents relating to the Deficit Reduction
Act of 2005, which the President signed on February 8. The
version that the President signed was different in substance
from the version the House passed on February 1, 2006.
March 29,
2006
Waxman Criticizes
Bush Administration's New Fuel Standards
Rep.
Waxman makes a statement about the Bush
Administration's new fuel standards for SUVs and light trucks. These
new fuel standards
favor the oil and auto industries over the security and safety of our nation.
March 20, 2006
Speech: Annual Meeting of the National Association of Psychiatric Health Systems
March 16, 2006
Electronic
Medical Records Must Protect Privacy
In his opening statement at a hearing
in the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, Rep.
Waxman cautions that while advances in health information transfer systems may
improve efficiency, safeguarding patients’ privacy and preventing discrimination
must be primary concerns.
March 15, 2006
Transparent
Drug Pricing Must be Part of Real Healthcare Reform
At a hearing in the House Energy
and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health,
Rep. Waxman urges his colleagues to remember that
while transparent pricing is a positive step for
consumers, it does not solve the major affordability
and coverage problems facing our healthcare system.
March 14,
2006
Waxman
Dingell Amendment Would Protect Iraq Reconstruction Contracts from Companies
Who Overcharge
Reps. Waxman and Dingell offer an amendment to the Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Bill prohibiting the Administration from using funds to award new contracts to any company that has overcharged the government by $100 million or more in Iraq. The war has cost hundreds of billions of dollars and resulted in rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in the awarding of federal contracts under the Bush Administration.
March 14, 2006
Rep.
Waxman Condemns Secrecy in the Bush
Administration
Rep. Waxman discusses policies on handling of classified and sensitive information at a hearing of the Government Reform Committee's Subcommittee on National Security, Emerging Threats, and International Relations. He urges House oversight over the Bush Administration’s abuse of designations such as “sensitive but unclassified” to block the public release of government information and the Administration's legendary penchant for secrecy.
March 9, 2006
Rep. Waxman Promotes Consumer Safeguards for Dietary Supplements
Rep. Waxman made a statement at the Government Reform Committee hearing on “The Regulation of Dietary Supplements: A Review of Consumer Safeguards.” Most supplements are safe, but there are some on the market that pose risks. Rep. Waxman discusses ways to protect the public against potentially dangerous dietary supplements.
March 8, 2006
Statement
on H.R. 1053, Extending Normal Trade
Relations Treatment to Ukraine
Rep.
Waxman made a statement concerning
H.R. 1053, legislation to extend permanent
normal trade relations and graduate
Ukraine from the conditions of the
Jackson-Vanik amendment. The
statement recognizes the strides Ukraine
has taken on human rights issues and
expresses concern about the need for
stronger action against rampant
anti-Semitic activities at a private
university known in Ukraine as MAUP.
March 7, 2006
Speech: America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) 2006 National Policy Forum
March 7, 2006
Rep. Waxman Supports Stem Cell Research
Rep. Waxman delivered a statement at a hearing of the House Government Reform Committee’s Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy, and Human Resources entitled, “Human Cloning and Embryonic Stem Cell Research after Seoul: Examining Exploitation, Fraud and Ethical Problems in Research.” Many opponents of stem cell research would like use to use the South Korea experience as a basis for banning embryonic stem cell research, but this research may help cure diseases that cause untold suffering to millions of Americans and hundreds of millions more around the world.
March 2, 2006
Rep. Waxman Fights Bill that Would Preempt Strong State Food Safety Laws
As H.R. 4167, "The National Uniformity for Food Act of 2005", comes to the floor, Rep. Waxman leads opposition to the bill, which would hamper California's - and all states' - ability to implement laws regulating food safety. Rep. Waxman spoke on the House floor in opposition to the bill.
March
1, 2006
Medicare
Part D: Implementation of the New Drug Benefit
Rep. Waxman made a statement at the hearing of the Subcommittee on Health, concerning his disappointment with the Medicare prescription drug program. January 1 should have been the day when America’s seniors and persons with disabilities finally got simple and dependable coverage of their prescription drugs as a regular part of Medicare instead of the confusion and disruption they experienced.
February 23, 2006
Rep. Waxman Commends Groups For Suing To Stop Administration's Promotion of Unethical Human Pesticide Experiments
Rep. Waxman releases a statement in reaction to the announcement that several public interest environmental and labor groups were suing the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency over the new rule to promote the testing of pesticides on humans.
February 21, 2006
New
Reports Show Medicare Drug Prices Are High and Rising Rapidly
Rep. Waxman releases three new reports that show (1) Medicare drug plans have raised prices for popular brand-name drugs by more than 4% since January 1; (2) Medicare drug plans now charge 14% more for these drugs than the discredited Medicare drug cards previously charged; and (3) Medicare drug card providers negotiated negligible discounts of at most 3% to 5% from drug manufacturers. One of the three reports was prepared by GAO; it also finds that the Administration had advance warning that its systems would not be able to reconcile enrollment and eligibility data satisfactorily.
February 17, 2006
Speech: Generic Pharmaceutical Association’s Annual Meeting - Challenges and Opportunities for Generic Drugs in an Ever-Changing Healthcare System
February 15, 2006
S.Con.Res. 79
Calling
for no direct United States assistance to be provided
to the Palestinian Authority if any political party holding
a majority of parliamentary seats maintains a position
calling for the destruction of Israel.
February 13, 2006
GAO
Finds Federal Departments Spent More than $1.6 Billion in
Media Contracts
Rep. Waxman and other senior Democratic leaders release a new Government Accountability Office study that identifies more than $1.6 billion in public relations and media spending by the Bush Administration over the last two and a half years.
February 2, 2006
New
GAO Report Raises Questions About President's Health Proposals
Rep. Waxman and Rep. Stark release a new GAO study of enrollees in Health Savings Accounts, a centerpiece of his domestic agenda. The report validates a number of concerns about the President's proposals.
January 30, 2006
Democrats Announce Bill to Get Needed Medicines for Seniors
Leader Pelosi and Reps. Waxman, Dingell, Stark, Sherrod Brown, and Marion Berry unveiled their legislation to provide emergency relief to senior citizens and people with disabilities who are having trouble navigating the new Medicare prescription drug program.
January 28, 2006
Rep. Waxman Gives Radio Address on Medicare Drug Plan Flaws
Rep. Waxman delivers the Saturday Democratic Radio Address, discussing the crisis surrounding the Medicare Prescription Drug benefit that went into effect January 1 and how the crisis could have been prevented through honest, open government.
January 23, 2006
Rep. Waxman, Sen. Boxer, and Rep. Solis Denounce Leaked Bush Administration Plan to Promote Human Pesticide Experiments
The Democrats criticize a Bush Administration plan to promote pesticide experimentation upon humans. The plan, contained in a final draft rule, was leaked to the legislators by a concerned Administration official who requested that the original copy of the plan not be duplicated in its entirety and widely distributed out of concern for anonymity. According to the EPA’s communications plan, the Administration will officially announce the pesticide experimentation plan later this week as a final regulation.
January 20, 2006
Rep. Waxman Holds Briefing on Medicare Drug Benefit
Rep. Waxman hosted a briefing to examine how the new Medicare drug benefit is working. Medicare beneficiaries, doctors, and pharmacists, as well as state health officials, testified about their experiences with the benefit's implementation.
December 7, 2005
Rep. Waxman Statement on the President's Speech on Iraq Reconstruction
Rep. Waxman explains that the President's description of "quiet, steady progress" in Iraq’s reconstruction is misleading and ignores the facts. Independent auditors confirm that billions of dollars have been squandered without increasing Iraq’s oil or electricity production. Yet the Administration has done nothing to halt rampant waste, fraud, and abuse in Iraq.
November 18, 2005
Rep. Waxman Speaks Out Against Duncan Hunter Resolution
On the House floor, Rep. Waxman speaks against the Republican resolution and calls for answers to long-standing questions about the Administration's use of forged evidence as the cornerstone of the case for war in Iraq. These concerns were raised by Rep. Waxman before the war started in a letter to President Bush on March 17, 2003.
November 17, 2005
Speech: Center for Business Intelligence 5th Annual Forum
November 16, 2005
FDA’s “Unusual” Review of Plan B's Application for Over-the-Counter Sales
In its review of whether emergency contraception should be approved for over-the-counter sales, FDA diverged sharply from usual agency procedures and overrode the recommendations of agency scientists.
November 16, 2005
Rep. Waxman's Statement on the Investigation into Rafael Palmeiro’s March 17, 2005 Testimony
Rep. Waxman makes a statement as the report on its investigation of Rafael Palmeiro’s March 17, 2005 testimony is submitted to the Committee.
November 10, 2005
Rep.
Waxman Introduces H.R. 4308,
"The Kids Safe Chemicals Act of 2005"
Rep. Waxman introduced H.R. 4308, “The
Kid Safe Chemicals Act” to respond to the growing body of scientific
literature which identifies chemical exposures as a factor in the rise of
disorders and diseases such as birth defects, asthma, neurological and developmental
disorders, infertility and certain types of cancer. H.R. 4308 will reform
the nation’s failed approach to chemical regulation and protect kids
by recognizing their special vulnerabilities and requiring manufacturers
to provide health and safety information prior to distributing a chemical
in consumer products.
November 4, 2005
Problems Remain With Administration Flu Plan
At a Committee hearing on flu preparedness, Rep. Waxman identifies significant problems in the Administration's flu preparedness plan, including FEMA's protection role, liability shields for manufacturers, and inadequate funding.
November 3, 2005
Former CPB Chair Resigns in Face of Inspector General’s Report
CPB Chair Ken Tomlinson resigns six months after Democrats ask for an investigation into whether the Corporation for Public Broadcasting had violated a law prohibiting interference by Federal officials into content or distribution of programming. In recent days, the CPB board has met to consider the Inspector General's initial investigative findings.
November 3, 2005
GAO Finds Illegal Steroids Easily Purchased, Difficult to Police
Rep. Waxman and Rep. Davis release a new GAO report that finds that illegal steroids are easily obtained over the Internet and that law enforcement authorities face significant challenges in efforts to investigate, prosecute, and deter steroid trafficking.
November 3, 2005
Rep. Waxman Decries Dangerous Secrecy
Rep. Waxman speaks on the House floor about how Congress is failing to meet its constitutional responsibility to act as a check on executive branch misconduct.
October 26, 2005
Contact Lens Safety Bill Passes
Rep. Waxman and Rep. Boozman's bill to apply the highest safety standards and consumer protections to all contact lenses passes both the House and Senate. The legislation will stop needless eye injuries caused by unsafe lenses.
October 21, 2005
GAO: Continued Federal Efforts Needed to Improve Electronic Voting
A new GAO report released by Rep. Waxman, Chairman Davis, and eleven other members of Congress finds security and reliability flaws in the electronic voting process.
October 18, 2005
Iraq Reconstruction Efforts Are Failing
A new report released by Rep. Waxman assesses the progress of reconstruction in Iraq. The report finds that despite the expenditure of billions of dollars, Administration objectives set two years ago have not been met and measurable improvements in the critical oil, electricity, and water sectors are small or nonexistent.
October 7, 2005
Rep. Waxman Supports Stupak Substitute for H.R. 3893
In a House floor speech, Rep. Waxman supports the Stupak amendment for H.R. 3893, which would address the problem of gas price gouging.
October 7, 2005
Republican Energy Bill (H.R. 3893) is 'Crass Opportunism'
Rep. Waxman speaks on the House floor about the Republican bill H.R. 3893, which benefits oil companies and relaxes necessary environmental regulations but does nothing to alleviate gas price spikes.
September 29, 2005
Committee Democrats Push to Strengthen Whistleblower Protections
In a Committee markup of H.R. 1317, The Federal Employee Protection of Disclosures Act, Committee Democrats offered amendments that would strengthen protections for federal employees who come forward to report waste, fraud, abuse, and national security violations. Two of these important amendments were offered by Democrats, but were defeated on party line votes.
September 28, 2005
"Gasoline for America's Security Act of 2005" is the Legislative Equivalent of Price Gouging
During a markup in the Energy and Commerce Committee, Rep. Waxman stated that, "This Committee is trying to use this tragedy and misery to undermine our environmental laws and pass more special-interest giveaways to the oil industry. It wants to exploit Katrina for a special interest bonanza."
September 20, 2005
Speech: Generic
Pharmaceutical Association's First Annual Policy Conference
September 20, 2005
Rep. Waxman and Democratic Leader Pelosi Introduce Legislation to Oversee Gulf Coast Contracting
Democratic Leader Pelosi and Rep. Waxman announce their Hurricane Katrina Accountability and Clean Contracting Bill, H.R. 3838, which would ensure accountability in reconstruction of the Gulf Coast and establish an independent anti-fraud commission to prevent waste, fraud, and abuse in relief and recovery contracts.
September 15, 2005
Rep. Waxman Decries Partisan Approach to Hurricane Katrina Oversight
On the floor of the House, Rep. Waxman assails legislation creating a Republican-dominated commission to examine the response to the hurricane disaster, arguing instead for an independent commission.
September 15, 2005
Committee Holds Hearing on Katrina-Related Issues
The Committee holds a hearing called by Chairman Davis to compare and contrast emergency plans in Washington DC, Miami, and Los Angeles. Rep. Waxman had earlier requested a hearing to examine the failed federal response to Hurricane Katrina
September 7, 2005
Rep. Waxman's Statement on Human Papillomavirus
In a subcommittee hearing on women's gynecologic cancers, Rep. Waxman discusses the dangers of HPV.
August 16, 2005
Waxman-Davis Statement on Palmeiro Documents
Reps. Waxman and Davis release a statement on the ongoing review of documents related to Rafael Palmeiro's positive drug test and suspension from Major League Baseball.
August 3, 2005
Waxman-Davis Statement on Palmeiro Document Request
Chairman Davis and Ranking Member Waxman request documents from Major League Baseball related to Rafael Palmeiro's positive drug test and suspension.
August 1, 2005
Rep. Waxman's Statement on the Suspension of Rafael Palmeiro
Statement of Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Ranking Member, Committee on Government Reform, on the Suspension of Rafael Palmeiro from Major League Baseball.
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