The Gavel

Endangered species decisions re-examined John Heilprin, Associated Press – July 19, 2007 The director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may keep a rare jumping mouse in the Rocky Mountains on the endangered species list after all. The Preble’s meadow jumping… Continue

While Democrats have fought for a pay raise for our troops all along, the President was against the pay raise before he was for it. Two months ago, his Administration explicitly opposed Democratic efforts to give our troops a 3.5 percent raise… Continue

President Bush, moments ago: I’m joined by veterans and military families here to express support to our troops and their mission in Iraq. I want to thank you all for being here today. We’ve just finished a really good meeting. In our… Continue

On Wednesday, July 11th, the House passed the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007, and the Senate has now followed suit. The bill will provide the single largest increase in college aid since the GI bill in 1944. The legislation invests about… Continue

As noted earlier, Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law Chairwoman Linda Sánchez ruled to reject the White House’s privilege claims as a basis for refusing to comply with the Committee’s subpoena for White House documents, and the ruling was upheld by… Continue

Today the Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law met to consider the executive privilege claims asserted by White House Counsel in response to the subpoena for the production of documents issued to Joshua Bolten, White House Chief of Staff or appropriate… Continue

At 10:00 a.m. the Oversight Committee will hold a hearing, “FEMA’s Response to Reports of Toxic Trailers.” The Committee will hold a hearing investigating formaldehyde levels in FEMA trailers provided for victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes and FEMA's response to these… Continue

As noted on Friday, five Committee and Subcommittee Chairmen wrote to Conrad C. Lautenbacher, Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere and NOAA, seeking answers surrounding reports of disarray at the National Hurricane Center (NHC) of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric… Continue

The Oversight Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement is currently holding a hearing, “Federal Contracting: Do Poor Performers Keep Winning?” This hearing will review flaws in federal contracting that allow contractors with poor performance records to either renew existing contracts or… Continue

The Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight are currently holding a joint hearing, “Reconstruction in Iraq's Oil Sector: Running on Empty?” Watch the hearing live via committee webcast or on C Span… Continue