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2004
October 22, 2004
9/11 Legislation May Be Vehicle to Relax Member Financial Disclosure Requirements
Rep. Waxman writes to Senate Majority Leader Frist and House Speaker Hastert to urge them to reject a last-minute effort to insert provisions undermining financial disclosure laws in the 9/11 legislation.
October 22, 2004
Administration Withholding Flu Vaccine Documents
Rep. Waxman criticizes FDA for failing to release key documents about whether the flu vaccine crisis could have been prevented and asks Chairman Davis to issue an immediate
subpoena.
October 19, 2004
Call for GAO Investigation into Overseas Voting Problems
Reps. Waxman and Maloney ask GAO to investigate whether the Defense Department is fulfilling its obligation to ensure that Americans living abroad, both military and civilian, can vote.
October 15, 2004
FTC Asked to Begin Inquiry into Flu Vaccine Price Gouging
Rep. Waxman and Chairman Davis ask the Federal Trade Commission to examine reports that some distributors are charging exorbitant prices for the flu vaccine.
October 14, 2004
EPA Report Politicizes Science on Drilling Technique
Rep. Waxman asks the EPA Inspector General to investigate the influence of political considerations on an EPA report that concludes that "hydraulic fracturing" of oil and gas wells, an extraction technique promoted by Halliburton, does not pose a risk to drinking water.
October 14, 2004
DOJ Unprepared to Handle Allegations of Voting Irregularities
A new GAO report released by Reps. Waxman and Conyers finds that the Justice Department is not prepared to respond to reports of voter intimidation and disenfranchisement in next month’s elections.
Report
October 13, 2004
Questions for FDA on Suspension of Flu Shot Manufacturer
Rep. Waxman and Chairman Davis ask for the release of documents detailing what FDA knew about problems at the manufacturing facility that was shut down last week by British regulators, triggering the flu vaccine shortage.
October 8, 2004
Waxman Asks Administration to Disclose Identities of U.S. Companies that Worked in Iraq
In a letter to CIA Director Goss, Rep. Waxman questions why the Administration is concealing the identities of U.S. corporations that did business in Saddam Hussein's Iraq under the U.N. Oil for Food program.
October 5, 2004
House Subpoenas Documents on Administration Mismanagement of Iraqi Funds
The Government Reform Committee has issued a subpoena sponsored by Rep. Waxman to obtain key documents from the Federal Reserve Bank relating to the Bush Administration's mismanagement of approximately $20 billion in Iraqi oil proceeds and other funds.
October 4, 2004
Rep. Waxman Requests Hearings on Manipulation of Nuclear Intelligence
Rep. Waxman calls for hearings on a New York Times report that the President, the Vice President, and their top advisors exaggerated Iraq’s nuclear threat.
September 30, 2004
Members Object to Trade Agreement Restrictions on Generic Drugs in Latin America, Other Developing Regions
Reps. Waxman, Solis, Rangel, Rodriguez, Sherrod Brown, Levin, Linda Sanchez, Allen, McDermott, Grijalva, Becerra, and Stark write the President to express strong opposition to the inclusion of provisions in pending free trade agreements that would restrict access to generic drugs.
September 28, 2004
New Medicare Rules May Increase Risk from Unregulated Compounded Drug Copies
Rep. Waxman asks HHS to revise the proposed Medicare rule that would allow the use of pharmacist-made copies of brand-name prescription drugs to ensure that seniors are not exposed to the serious health risks posed by these non-FDA approved drugs.
September 27, 2004
H.R. 3193, the Assault Weapons in DC Act
On Sept. 29, the House will consider H.R. 3193 -- legislation that would make it legal to carry fully loaded assault weapons and possess armor-piercing ammunition in the nation’s capital city. Members of Congress, the D.C. City Council, and others have spoken out against the measure.
September 24, 2004
CMS Urged to Reconsider Citizenship Records Requirement
Rep. Waxman, Sen. Kennedy, Sen. Bingaman, and Rep. Solis urge the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to reconsider a proposal that would require hospitals seeking reimbursement to maintain records on the citizenship of patients who are undocumented immigrants.
September 22, 2004
DOD Blocking Access to Overseas Voting Assistance Website
Reps. Waxman, Maloney, and Clay write DOD regarding recent reports that the Department is blocking access to the Federal Voting Assistance Program website for many Americans overseas.
September 8, 2004
Members Demand Answers on Suppression of Medicare Cost Estimates
Following recent findings by HHS IG and GAO that information on the true cost of the Medicare prescription drug bill was suppressed in violation of federal law, Senate Democratic Leader Daschle, House Democratic Leader Pelosi, Rep. Waxman, and eleven other congressional leaders renew their request for a congressional investigation into the extent of the Administration's involvement in the matter.
September 8, 2004
President's Calls for Energy Independence Inconsistent with Administration's Energy Plan
Following statements by the President on the need to address our national dependence on foreign oil, Rep. Waxman writes the President to share a recent report that finds that U.S. dependence on foreign sources of oil will worsen under H.R. 6, the energy bill the President supports and is urging Congress to pass.
Report
August 30, 2004
Legal Analysis Finds No Impediments to Full White House Cooperation with Leak Investigation
Rep. Waxman and Chairman Davis write White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales to pass along a recent CRS analysis that indicates there are no legal impediments preventing the White House from taking strong action to ensure that White House officials cooperate with the Justice Department investigation of the leak of a former covert CIA operative’s identity.
August 24, 2004
Pentagon Auditors Urge Withholding of Halliburton Payments
In an August 16 memorandum released by Rep. Waxman, the Defense Contract Audit Agency “strongly encourages” the Defense Department to begin withholding 15% of Halliburton’s reimbursements, citing “significant unsupported costs” totaling over $1.8 billion and “numerous, systemic issues” with Halliburton’s cost estimates.
August 18, 2004
Rep. Waxman Expresses Concern about the High Rejection Rate of Holocaust Survivors Applying for Benefits
Rep. Waxman sent a letter to German Minister for Health and Social Security Ulla Schmidt expressing a number of concerns about the German Government's implementation of the ZRBG program and the high rate of rejection of Holocaust survivors who apply for the benefit. The letter, signed by 5 members of Congress from the Los Angeles area, raises specific examples about the rejection of applications filed by Los Angeles area Holocaust survivors.
August 17, 2004
Sex Offenders and Prisoners Being Housed in Nursing Homes
Rep. Waxman, Rep. Brad Carson, and Rep. McCollum request that GAO study the growing problem of sex offenders and prisoners being housed in nursing homes, in some cases resulting in physical and sexual abuse of senior citizens.
August 6, 2004
Justice Dept. Conduct in Berger Case Questioned
Rep. Waxman asks Attorney General Ashcroft to explain why senior officials in the Justice Department overruled the judgment of career prosecutors and authorized the release of detailed information about Sandy Berger requested by Republican congressional staff.
July 30, 2004
Rep. Waxman and U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Smith Commend United Nation Secretary-General Annan for Addressing Anti-Semitism
Rep. Waxman, as a co-chair of the Congressional Task Force Against Anti-Semitism, joined U.S. Helsinki Commission Chairman Christopher H. Smith in a letter commending United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan for his June 21, 2004 address before the U.N.’s first-ever conference devoted entirely to the problem of anti-Semitism. Seventy-four members of Congress signed the letter, which applauds the Secretary-General’s strong statement about the need for international community action against anti-Semitism and his recognition that Jews have been alienated by decades of anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist bias and rhetoric at the United Nations.
July 29, 2004
Investigation of Iraq Funds Mismanagement Needed
A new report from the Inspector General of the Coalition Provisional Authority finds multiple problems in how the United States managed the Iraqi oil proceeds deposited into the Development Fund for Iraq, leading Rep. Waxman to renew his call for a congressional investigation.
Report
July 27, 2004
Berger Investigation Questioned
In a letter to Chairman Davis, Rep Waxman writes that the Government Reform Committee is applying a different standard to former Clinton-appointee Sandy Berger than it has applied to Bush Administration officials.
Letter to Chairman Davis
Chairman Davis' Response
July 28 Letter to Chairman Davis
Attachment: Dec. 11 Letter
Attachment: Oct. 8 Memo
July 20, 2004
Development of EPA Shop Towel Proposal Raises Serious Concerns
Rep. Waxman, Rep. DeLauro, Sen. Boxer, and Sen. Clinton ask EPA about a recent report that, in developing proposed new regulations concerning "solvent-contaminated industrial wipes," EPA conducted public participation in an inappropriate and one-sided manner.
July 20, 2004
Drug Companies Withholding Results of Pediatric Studies
Rep. Waxman writes HHS to express concern about the pharmaceutical industry’s withholding of the results of clinical trials involving children, despite the extremely valuable six months of exclusive marketing that drug companies are granted in exchange for conducting such studies. In the letter, Rep. Waxman urges FDA to use its existing authority to release summaries of withheld data to help guide pediatricians and other clinicians on the use of drugs in children.
July 15, 2004
HHS IG Summary Fails to Answer Critical Questions
Following the release of an HHS IG summary that consists of only a superficial recitation of limited facts, Reps. Waxman, Dingell, Rangel, Stark and Sherrod Brown ask that the acting IG and staff investigators meet with them to discuss the scope, focus, and results of their investigation into the withholding of the Medicare cost estimates.
July 13, 2004
IG Audit Finds Multiple Flaws in Mad Cow Surveillance Plan
Rep. Waxman raises questions about the effectiveness and credibility of USDA's response to mad cow disease, citing an audit by the USDA Inspector General that finds systemic deficiencies in the Department's surveillance plan and new evidence that USDA misled the public in the wake of the detection of an infected cow in Washington State.
July 9, 2004
Audit Finds U.S. Administration of Iraqi Oil Funds 'Open to Fraudulent Acts'
Rep. Waxman releases a preliminary audit of the Development Fund for Iraq by KPMG that finds serious deficiencies in U.S. accounting practices and criticizes CPA officials for failing to cooperate with the U.N.-approved audit. Rep. Waxman asks Chairman Davis to subpoena documents relating to U.S. expenditures from the fund.
Audit
July 8, 2004
Administration Delaying Approval of Life-Saving HIV Drugs
A new analysis by Rep. Waxman reveals that despite its public promises of quick action, the Administration is unnecessarily delaying the rapid approval of combination HIV therapies for use in Africa and other developing regions.
July 6, 2004
Medicare Drug Card Website Rife with Errors
Reps. Waxman and Slaughter reveal that the pharmacy information on the Medicare.gov web contains multiple errors, incorrectly identifying the Medicare drug cards that can be used at many pharmacies.
June 30, 2004
GlaxoSmithKline Withdrawal Undermines HIV Research in Africa
Rep. Waxman urges the pharmaceutical manufacturer to reconsider its decision to withdraw from a major NIH-sponsored HIV clinical trial, an action that is undermining efforts to determine how to treat millions of people infected with HIV around the world.
June 28, 2004
Global Tobacco Accord Needed to Combat International Cigarette Smuggling
Citing a new GAO report, Rep. Waxman urges the President to address the growing threat of cigarette smuggling by making ratification of the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control an urgent priority.
June 25, 2004
HHS Admits “Serious Reservations” About Staffing Level Data
Rep. Waxman, Sen. Grassley, Sen. Edwards, and Sen. Bond write HHS about its recent admission that nursing home staffing level data is unreliable – data nonetheless posted to the HHS website that the department encourages families to use to make nursing home decisions.
June 24, 2004
HHS Restricts Communications between U.S. Scientists and WHO Officials
A new HHS policy requires the World Health Organization to submit all requests for expert scientific advice to political officials at HHS who pick which federal scientists will be permitted to respond. The new policy and two recent Administration decisions to withdraw federal scientists from major international health conferences are part of a disturbing pattern of political interference in global health issues.
June 23, 2004
Bipartisan House Group Calls on EPA to Issue Stronger Mercury Rule
Reps. Waxman, Cooper, Allen, Grijalva, E.B. Johnson, McCollum, Schakowsky, Solis, and 172 other members of Congress urge EPA to issue a rule on mercury emissions that meets the requirements of federal law and acts decisively to address the urgent threat that mercury poses to the nation’s public health.
June 22, 2004
Failure to Investigate Withholding of Medicare Cost Estimates is Dereliction of Constitutional Duties
In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Frist and Speaker Hastert, Senate Democratic Leader Daschle, House Democratic Leader Pelosi, Rep. Waxman, and ten other congressional leaders call the failure to investigate the Administration’s withholding of Medicare cost estimates from Congress a gross abdication of Congress’ constitutional oversight responsibility. In a letter to the President, the members ask the President to provide complete answers to straightforward questions on his role in the matter.
June 21, 2004
Questions on Estimate of Mortality from Obesity
Responding to concerns from the scientific community, Rep. Waxman asks GAO to review the recent CDC estimate of the number of deaths attributable to obesity.
June 17, 2004
HHS Experts: Funding Increase Urgently Needed for HIV/AIDS Drug Program
In a letter to HHS, Democratic Leader Pelosi, Democratic Whip Hoyer, Rep. Waxman, Rep. Frank, Rep. Sherrod Brown, Del. Christensen, Rep. Lee and Rep. Baldwin make Secretary Thompson aware of his own agency's conclusion that an HIV/AIDS drug program for Americans lacking adequate health insurance urgently needs significantly more funding.
June 15, 2004
Rep. Waxman Requests Safety Evaluations for Santa Monica Airport
Rep. Waxman sent a letter to FAA Administrator Marion Blakey to request that the FAA conduct a Runway Safety Area (RSA) determination of the existing airport configuration.
June 13, 2004
Vice President's Chief of Staff Received Early Briefing on Halliburton Contracts
Rep. Waxman discloses that a senior Defense Department official briefed I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, the Vice President’s chief of staff, and other senior Administration officials in October 2002 about the Department’s proposal to award lucrative Iraq contracts to Halliburton. This new information appears to contradict the Vice President’s repeated assertions that he and his staff were not informed prior to the award of the Halliburton contracts.
June 7, 2004
Pharmaceutical Companies Fail to Register Clinical Trials on Government Website
Rep. Waxman writes the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America regarding the failure of many pharmaceutical companies to submit information on their cancer clinical trials to www.clinicaltrials.gov – despite a federal law requiring them to do so.
June 7, 2004
Democrats Determined to Investigate Prison Abuses
Calling the refusal by House Republicans to investigate prison abuses a “dereliction of Congress’ oversight responsibility,” Ranking Members Waxman (Government Reform), Conyers (Judiciary), Obey (Appropriations), Skelton (Armed Services), Lantos (International Relations), and Harman (Intelligence) inform the President of their determination to investigate the allegations of prison abuses in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay, and ask the President for assistance in obtaining key documents.
June 1, 2004
Rep. Waxman Raises Questions about Halliburton's Iraq Oil Contracts and VP Cheney's Involvement
In a letter to Secretary Rumsfeld, Rep. Waxman raises questions about the legality of the decision to award Halliburton a task order to develop contingency plans for Iraq’s oil infrastructure, citing new GAO findings that Secretary Rumsfeld’s office overruled Army officials who questioned the issuance of the task order. Rep. Waxman’s letter also asks for information about the recently disclosed communications between the Defense Department and Vice President Cheney’s office regarding Halliburton’s oil contracts.
May 19, 2004
NIH Asked to Review Syringe Exchange Program as HIV Reduction Measure
Rep. Waxman and Rep. Cummings ask NIH Director Zerhouni to review the evidence on syringe exchange programs and other harm reduction measures to reduce the spread of HIV and other bloodborne diseases. UPDATE -- On Oct. 7, 2004, Dr. Zerhouni sent a response indicating that these measures “can be an effective public health approach” to reduce infectious disease transmission.
May 19, 2004
U.S. Taekwondo Union Bars Head Contact for Young Athletes
Addressing safety concerns expressed by Rep. Waxman, Rep. Jackson, and Sen. Jeffords, the nation’s governing taekwondo body has moved to prohibit full head contact for athletes under 14 years of age.
May 18, 2004
Rep. Waxman Raises Questions about Halliburton's Iraq Oil Contracts and VP Cheney's Involvement
A joint report released by Rep. Waxman, Sen. Dorgan, Rep. Dingell, and Sen. Wyden reveals that the private contractors hired to oversee the reconstruction of Iraq have ongoing business relationships with the construction firms they are supposed to supervise.
Report
May 17, 2004
Data Manipulation Behind Reported Drop in Terrorism
Rep. Waxman criticizes the Patterns of Global Terrorism report for claiming that terrorism reached a record low in 2003 when the underlying data shows that significant terrorist activity was actually at a 20-year high.
More on this issue
May 14, 2004
Members Submit Bipartisan Request for GAO Investigation of Electronic Voting
Chairman Davis, Rep. Waxman, and eleven other Members of Congress ask GAO to study of the security and reliability of electronic voting systems.
May 13, 2004
Failure To Test Staggering Cow May Reflect Wider Problems
Rep. Waxman raises concerns that the recent failure of USDA to test an impaired cow for BSE may not be an isolated incident, citing the failure of USDA to monitor whether cows condemned for central nervous system symptoms are actually tested for mad cow disease.
May 11, 2004
Administration Urged To Drop Roadblocks to Low-Cost, Effective HIV Combination Therapies
In a letter to the President, Rep. Waxman details Administration actions that have unnecessarily delayed and complicated the delivery of highly recommended, life-saving HIV therapies to developing regions.
May 11, 2004
Chairman Davis Urged To Open Abu Ghraib Abuse Investigation
Calling the decision by the Republican leadership to defer to the Administration’s internal investigations “an abdication of Congress’ constitutional oversight responsibility,” all 19 members of the Government Reform Committee minority urge Chairman Davis to reconsider his position on investigating the role of private contractors in the Abu Ghraib abuses.
May 7, 2004
Energy Dept. Responses on Industry Contacts Suspect, Contradicted by Other Evidence
Rep. Waxman asks the Department of Energy Inspector General to investigate the veracity and completeness of the Department's responses regarding communications with energy industry groups related to the Energy Policy Act of 2003.
May 4, 2004
Additional Federal Funding for HIV/AIDS Drug Program Urgently Needed
In a letter to HHS, Democratic Leader Pelosi, Democratic Whip Hoyer, Rep. Waxman, Rep. Frank, Rep. Sherrod Brown, Del. Christensen, Rep. Lee and Rep. Baldwin again write Secretary Thompson to emphasize the urgent need for additional federal funding for an HIV/AIDS drug program for Americans lacking adequate health insurance.
May 4, 2004
Committee Should Investigate Involvement of Contractors in Abu Ghraib Abuse
Rep. Waxman writes Chairman Davis to request that the Committee immediately investigate allegations that private contractors participated in the abuse of Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib Army prison outside Baghdad.
April 29, 2004
Current Mercury Rulemaking Plan Compromised in Process and Substance
Reps. Waxman, Allen, and Schakowsky and Sen. Leahy urge the EPA to rescue the rulemaking process on power plant emissions by analyzing legally viable options and issuing a new or supplemental proposal.
April 26, 2004
HHS Refuses to Release Medicare Cost Estimates
All 19 minority members of the Government Reform Committee write to Secretary Thompson to protest HHS's obstruction of their investigation into the withholding of the cost data. The members officially expand their Seven Member request to include the communications between HHS and congressional leadership.
Response from Secretary Thompson
April 24, 2004
Taekwondo Rule Change Raises Safety Concerns for Young Athletes
Rep. Waxman, Rep. Jackson, and Sen. Jeffords write the U.S. Olympic Committee to express concerns about a taekwondo rule change that encourages young black belts to disable opponents with kicks to the head – a rule change that medical experts say puts children at risk of serious injury.
April 19, 2004
President Asked to Explain Reported Saudi Oil Agreement
Reps. Waxman and Markey ask the President to respond to an assertion by Bob Woodward that the Administration reached an understanding with the Saudi ambassador that oil prices would remain high until the months before the presidential election.
April 12, 2004
Justice Department Asked to Release Information on Post-Sept. 11 Departure of Saudi Citizens
Rep. Waxman urges the Justice Department to disclose publicly information provided to the Committee in a classified FBI briefing on the departure of members of Osama bin Laden’s family and the Saudi royal family following the September 11, 2001, attacks.
April 7, 2004
HHS Asked to Provide Data on Use of Feeding Assistants
Rep. Waxman and Sen. Grassley request that HHS collect and publicly disseminate information on the number of hours worked by nursing home feeding assistants.
April 6, 2004
Report Assesses Al Qaeda Attacks Before and After September 11, 2001
Rep. Waxman provides the September 11 Commission with a Congressional Research Service report that finds that al Qaeda attacks have increased since the President declared war on terrorism.
April 2, 2004
Gasoline Prices Tumble at Mention of California Oxygenate Waiver Consideration
Reps. Waxman, Eshoo, Capps, Solis, George Miller, and Lofgren call the market response to Energy Secretary Abraham’s testimony strong evidence that the granting of the waiver could immediately reduce prices in the state and throughout the nation.
April 1, 2004
President Urged to Waive Oxygenate Requirements, Reduce Price at Pump for Californians
In light of reports that the Administration is looking at short-term measures to address record-high gasoline prices, Reps. Waxman, Eshoo, Capps, Solis, and Lofgren write to the President to call attention to California Governor Schwarzenegger's request for waiver of federal oxygenate requirements -- a step that could be taken immediately to reduce gasoline prices in the state.
March 31, 2004
White House Counsel Called Sept. 11 Panel During Clarke Testimony
Rep. Waxman questions White House Counsel Alberto Gonzalez on reports that he placed calls to members of the September 11 Commission during the testimony of former National Coordinator for Security and Counterterrorism Richard Clarke.
March 26, 2004
Administration Impeding Access to Life-Saving HIV Therapies in Africa, Other Developing Regions
Rep. Waxman objects to proposed drug approval standards, being circulated by the Administration for consideration at a conference next week in Botswana, that could block the use of the low-cost drugs needed to save the lives of millions of people living with HIV in Africa and other developing regions.
March 24, 2004
DOD Questioned on Retroactive Classification of Testing Program Assessments
Reps. Waxman and Tierney ask the Defense Department to explain the decision to retroactively classify 50 specific recommendations, set forth by independent Pentagon evaluators, that are highly critical of the national missile defense system testing program.
March 24, 2004
Rep. Waxman Questions the Federal Election Commission on changes to Political Committee Status and Soft Money
Rep. Waxman joined his colleagues in a letter to the Federal Election Commission expressing concerns about the pending Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on "political committee status."
March 23, 2004
More Questions on Preventing District Drinking Water Contamination
Following a Government Reform Committee hearing, Rep. Waxman, Chairman Davis, Congresswoman Norton, and Rep. Van Hollen detail further questions on the roles and responsibilities of EPA, the District of Columbia Water and Sewer Authority, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Washington Aqueduct in preventing lead contamination in the District's drinking water supply.
March 22, 2004
Members Urge DHS to Revise Personnel Plan
Rep. Waxman and the five minority members of the Civil Service Subcommittee express concerns about a new Department of Homeland Security personnel system that would infringe on employee collective bargaining and appeal rights without furthering the Department’s ability to perform its mission.
March 18, 2004
California Members Support Waiver of Ethanol/MTBE Requirements
Fifty-two members of the California House delegation write to the EPA to express support for a waiver that would allow the state to sell cleaner blends of gasoline without the oxygenates mandated by the Clean Air Act.
March 17, 2004
Rep. Waxman Asks for Hearings on Medicare Cost Estimates, Threatens Suit over Documents
In a letter to Chairman Davis, Rep. Waxman requests a hearing on the allegations that the HHS Actuary was told he would be fired if he shared with Congress estimates on the true costs of the Medicare prescription drug proposal. In a letter to HHS Secretary Thompson, Rep. Waxman threatens legal action under the "Seven Member Rule" if the Secretary continues to refuse to release the cost estimates.
March 17, 2004
In Light of District Drinking Water Contamination, Members Urge Changes to EPA Lead Rule
Rep. Waxman, Chairman Davis, and Congresswoman Norton urge EPA to address weaknesses in the drinking water lead rule, including the lack of enforceable standards and shortcomings in public notification requirements.
March 4, 2004
Rep. Waxman asks the Department of Housing and Urban Development
Rep. Waxman joined his colleagues in requesting that the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) send the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) regulatory reform proposal back to HUD for additional review and comment.
March 2, 2004
NIH Stem Cell Director: Fewer Viable Lines Than Claimed by Administration
Reps. Waxman and Slaughter reveal that the Administration may have misinformed the public about both the number of viable human embryonic stem cell lines available for research and the motivation behind the recent dismissal of a distinguished cell biologist from the President’s Council on Bioethics.
March 2, 2004
Members Demand Information on Medicare Cost Estimates
In response to reports that the true cost of the Medicare prescription drug legislation was concealed, 19 committee members demand the release of the cost estimates prepared by the Administration during congressional consideration of the legislation.
March 1, 2004
EPA Questioned on Obligation to Ensure Safe Drinking Water in DC
Rep. Waxman, Chairman Davis, and Congresswoman Norton seek information on whether EPA adequately carried out its responsibility to prevent lead contamination in tap water in the District of Columbia.
February 27, 2004
Halliburton Unit Reportedly Finds Company Cost Controls "Weak"
Reps. Waxman and Dingell request a copy of Halliburton's internal "Tiger Team" memo which reportedly describes major deficiencies in the company's accounting and control systems.
February 26, 2004
Drug Manufacturers Asked to Detail Relationships with NIH Scientists
In light of recent reports that top NIH scientists received consulting payments worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars from drug manufacturers with an interest in their work, Reps. Waxman and Sherrod Brown write ten large pharmaceutical manufacturers – Merck, Johnson & Johnson, Wyeth, Schering-Plough, Pfizer, Bristol-MyersSquibb, Eli Lilly, Abbott, Amgen, and Allergan – to request information on their financial arrangements with NIH scientists.
February 26, 2004
FDA Delays Consideration of Emergency Contraception Drug
Forty eight members of Congress write FDA about the delay in the consideration of the application for over-the-counter status for the emergency contraception drug Plan B.
February 25, 2004
USDA Urged to Support WIC Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program
Rep. Waxman, along with Sens. Lieberman, Levin, Akaka, Durbin, and Reps. Skelton and Danny Davis, express serious concerns about an initial proposal for a new Defense Department labor relations system that effectively eliminates collective bargaining and makes changes to internal union procedures which have no relation to the Department’s national security mission.
February 25, 2004
Members Urge DOD to Submit Labor Plan Consistent with Intent of Congress
Reps. Waxman and Sherrod Brown write HHS Secretary Thompson, OMB Director Bolten, and White House Counsel Alberto Gonzales about reports that a pharmaceutical benefits management company CEO may have helped write provisions of the recent Medicare law that govern the prescription drug card program.
February 24, 2004
Halliburton Fuel Waiver Granted Under Suspect Circumstances
Reps. Waxman and Dingell ask the DOD IG to investigate the December 19 waiver given by the Corps of Engineers to Halliburton, citing new evidence that this unusual waiver -- which relieved Halliburton of its obligation to provide data to justify its high gasoline prices -- may have been awarded on false premises.
February 19, 2004
Support for California Oyster Ban
Rep. Waxman urges Governor Schwarzenegger to maintain a life-saving ban on the summer sale of raw Gulf Coast Oysters.
February 18, 2004
Secret Service Questioned on White House Ricin Letter
Rep. Waxman asks about recent reports that the Secret Service waited six days to inform the U.S. Postal Service about the discovery of a ricin-contaminated letter addressed to the White House.
February 17, 2004
Washington State "Mad Cow" Walked on Day of Slaughter
Reps. Waxman and Tom Davis release eyewitness statements that the cow infected with BSE was not a “downer” cow, as has been claimed – calling into question USDA’s surveillance program for mad cow disease and the agency's credibility.
February 12, 2004
Whistleblowers: Halliburton Routinely Overcharged
Two Kuwait-based former employees report that Halliburton systematically overpaid for goods and services and then passed these overcharges on to the U.S. taxpayer.
February 12, 2004
EPA Questioned on Lobbyist Role in Mercury Rulemaking
Reps. Waxman and Allen ask for information on reports that portions of the latest air pollution control proposal may have been copied directly from industry lobbyist memos.
February 10, 2004
U.S. Role in Evacuating Saudi Citizens Questioned
Rep. Waxman asks about the Justice Department's role in evacuating members of the bin Laden family and other Saudi citizens in the aftermath of September 11, 2001.
February 10, 2004
President Urged to Ensure Cooperation with Leak Probe
Reps. Waxman and Conyers ask the President about reports that many White House officials are refusing to cooperate with the Justice Department's criminal investigation into the leak of the identity of a covert CIA operative.
February 9, 2004
Rep. Waxman Works to End Grocery Store Strike
Rep. Waxman and his Los Angeles colleagues urge supermarket executives to work to end the strike and lockout of 70,000 Southern California grocery workers.
February 6, 2004
Ephedra Substitutes May Pose Dangers
Stimulants sold as ephedra substitutes, not addressed by the pending FDA ban, may have adverse effects comparable to those of ephedra.
February 5, 2004
Budget Asks for Fraction of Needed AIDS Funding Increase
Eight members call on the Administration to ensure that a new CDC initiative will not leave thousands of Americans with an HIV diagnosis but without access to life saving drugs.
February 4, 2004
H.R. 2138 Fails to Further Goal of Environmental Protection
Reps. Waxman and Tierney write Subcommittee on Energy Policy Chairman Ose on proposed legislation that would elevate the Environmental Protection Agency to cabinet-level status and makes significant changes to EPA's mission, structure, and authorities.
February 3, 2004
Administration Asked to Release Medicare Cost Estimates
Ranking Members Waxman, Rangel, and Dingell ask HHS to release cost estimates prepared by the Administration during congressional consideration of the Medicare prescription drug legislation.
February 2, 2004
Proposed Commission Lacks Adequate Independence
Rep. Pelosi, Sen. Daschle, Sen. Rockefeller, Rep. Waxman, and Sen. Lieberman urge the President to support a congressionally appointed commission to examine the intelligence used to justify the war in Iraq.
January 30, 2004
Supreme Court Urged to Consider Formal Recusal Process
Justice Scalia's refusal to recuse himself in the upcoming case involving Vice President Cheney's energy task force appears to conflict with the standard set in a 1996 case in which a federal judge was removed because of a friendship with former President Clinton.
January 29, 2004
Members Asks for Investigation of DOD Handling of National Guard Case
Reps. Waxman, Clay, and Gephardt ask the Defense Department Inspector General to investigate whether a Republican state senator in Missouri who is also a member of the Missouri National Guard received special treatment from the Department of Defense.
January 29, 2004
FDA Prescription Drug Ad Enforcement Declines Again
The new report prepared at the request of Rep. Waxman finds that FDA enforcement of provisions barring false and misleading advertisements has continued to decline.
January 29, 2004
Rep. Waxman Urges President Bush to Defend Israel's Security Fence
Press Release
Reps. Waxman and Robert Matsui, co-chairs of the Democratic Israel Working Group, have sent a letter to President Bush urging him to intervene on behalf of Israel in the United Nations International Court of Justice deliberations regarding the security fence being constructed between Israeli and Palestinian areas. The letter expressed concern that the Administration has sent mixed messages with so many negative comments about the fence’s construction and called upon the Bush Administration to emphasize the necessity of the security fence and Israel’s right to defend itself from the ongoing threat of terrorism.
January 26, 2004
Rep. Waxman Commends the Greek Government for Establishing a National Remembrance Day for the Liberation of the Auschwitz Death Camp
Rep. Waxman sent a letter commending the Greek government for enacting a law to establish January 27, the day of the liberation of the Auschwitz death camp, as a national remembrance day for Greek Jews killed in the Holocaust.
January 26, 2004
GAO Asked to Investigate White House Leak
House Democratic Leader Pelosi, Senate Democratic Leader Daschle, and Ranking Members Waxman, Lieberman, Rockefeller, and Conyers today request a GAO investigation into whether the White House complied with internal security procedures for protecting covert CIA operative Valerie Plame's identity from disclosure and responding to the leak after it occurred.
January 26, 2004
Concerns About Commissioned Corps Reorganization Plan
Rep. Waxman and Chairman Davis write HHS to express concerns about the reorganization plan for the Commissioned Corps of the U.S. Public Health Service that appears to ignore valuable input from public health leaders and threaten the effectiveness of our nation's science-based agencies.
January 24, 2004
Waxman Calls for Congressional Investigation of Halliburton Kickbacks
Rep. Waxman reveals that the Administration may have been informed of the kickbacks to Halliburton officials before awarding the company a new billion-dollar contract last week and calls for a congressional investigation of this and other issues related to Iraq reconstruction
January 16, 2004
GAO Asked to Investigate Allegations on Consulting Payments to NIH Scientists
Reps. Waxman, Dingell, and Sherrod Brown ask GAO for an investigation into recent allegations that top NIH scientists received consulting payments, worth hundreds of thousands or even millions of dollars, from pharmaceutical manufacturers with an interest in their work.
January 16, 2004
Halliburton Contract Referred for Criminal Investigation
The Defense Department Inspector General has referred the Halliburton fuel contract to the Defense Criminal Investigative Service for investigation of possible criminal violations.
January 15, 2004
Members Demand Information on Energy Department Contacts with Industry Groups
More than a dozen members demand the release of information regarding reports that the Department of Energy worked with industry groups to plan a "lobbying blitz" in support of the energy bill.
January 15, 2004
New Details on Use of Obscure Kuwaiti Company to Import Gasoline into Iraq
One day after the Defense Contract Audit Agency announced it has referred Halliburton’s gasoline contract to the Inspector General for investigation into potential wrongdoing, Rep. Waxman reveals new details about the unusual facts surrounding the decision to use Altanmia, an obscure Kuwaiti company, to import hundreds of millions of dollars worth of gasoline into Iraq at grossly inflated prices.
January 14, 2004
Rep. Waxman Investigates Inconsistencies in White House Leak Responses
Rep. Waxman writes National Security Advisor Rice to investigate the apparent double standard in how the White House responds to allegations regarding the release of classified information.
January 7, 2004
Federal Agency Cites HUD Nominee for Labor Violation
Rep. Waxman reveals that in December the Federal Labor Relations Authority found that Alphonso Jackson, President Bush's nominee for HUD Secretary, "interfered with the statutory rights" of HUD employees to participate in union activities.
January 6, 2004
Halliburton Waiver Ties Hands of Federal Authorities
Reps. Waxman and Dingell urge the Army Corps of Engineers to reverse its decision to excuse Halliburton from justifying the pricing of gasoline imported into Iraq.
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