The Gavel

Yesterday the Veterans’ Affairs Committee held a PTSD Health Care Symposium to discuss improved ways to provide mental health care services to veterans. Mental health care providers, medical doctors and researchers discussed how families, school systems, business owners, law enforcement and the… Continue

An amendment to the Defense Authorization Bill sponsored by Reps. Jason Altmire (PA-04) and Tom Udall (NM-03), which would ease the burden on military families struggling to balance new responsibilities brought on by deployments, has been agreed to. The amendment allows spouses,… Continue

Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel: “We ask our troops to risk their lives for our nation. We ask their spouses to raise families and make ends meet without them as they serve. The President is a lot of talk when it comes… Continue

The Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health held a briefing and hearing this afternoon: “Africa's Water Crisis and the U.S. Response.” It focused in part on the Human Development Report of 2006, “Beyond Scarcity: Power, poverty and the global water… Continue

The House is considering an amendment offered by Rep. Rob Andrews (NJ-01), which would prevent funds authorized for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan from being obligated or expended to plan a contingency operation in Iran. Read the amendment (pdf) >> Rep…. Continue

From the Judiciary Committee: JUDICIARY COMMITTEE MEMBERS NOTICE OF HEARING TIME: 10:15 a.m. DATE: Wednesday, May 23, 2007 PLACE: 2141 Rayburn House Office Building Hearing on: The Continuing Investigation into the U.S. Attorneys Controversy and Related Matters. Witness: Monica Goodling, former Justice… Continue

The Judiciary Committee Task Force on Antitrust has concluded its hearing, “Prices at the Pump: Market Failure and the Oil Industry.” Richard Blumenthal, Attorney General for the State of Connecticut, describes a meeting he had with US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales requesting… Continue

The Judiciary Committee Task Force on Antitrust is currently holding a hearing: “Prices at the Pump: Market Failure and the Oil Industry.” Watch the hearing live >> Chairman John Conyers gives opening remarks: Chairman Conyers: “As summer approaches, consumers are panicking over… Continue

From the Budget Committee: SENATE-HOUSE REACH BUDGET CONFERENCE AGREEMENT Fiscal Plan Funds Priorities and Returns Budget to Surplus Without Raising Taxes Washington, DC — Senate and House negotiators have reached an agreement on a budget plan for fiscal year 2008. The five-year… Continue

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today issued the following statement: “Democrats are committed to fully funding our troops and changing course in Iraq. In the coming days, we will work to send the President a bill that does… Continue