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The Defense Contract Audit Agency found more than $10 billion in questionable or unsupported charges in Iraq reconstruction contracts. Additionally, a new audit by the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) underscores the level of waste, fraud and abuse that continues to cost American taxpayers billions:
- “Millions of dollars of lucrative Iraq reconstruction contracts were never finished because of excessive delays, poor performance or other factors, including failed projects that are being falsely described by the U.S. government as complete, federal investigators say.” [AP, 4/28/08]
- An estimated 855 reconstruction contracts were terminated before the projects were completed “primarily because of unforeseen factors such as violence and excessive costs.” [AP, 4/28/08]
- Of these, 112 contracts were ended because of “actual or anticipated failure to perform” the requirements of the project. [Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction Audit, 4/28/08]
NEW DIRECTION CONGRESS IS TAKING ACTION TO CRACK DOWN ON ABUSE IN IRAQ
The House has passed a series of key bills to crack down on waste, fraud and abuse by U.S. contractors – particularly in Iraq. House Democrats are fighting to ensure that these bills are quickly acted upon by the Senate and sent to the President’s desk.
ENACTED INTO LAW
Improving Accountability in Government Contracting Provisions (in DOD Authorization Bill)
The FY 2008 DOD Authorization bill, which the President signed on January 28, 2008, contains several key contracting reform provisions, including instituting new steps for managing and overseeing contracts in Iraq. It also contains provisions to improve the acquisition system and increase the accountability of contractors – both government-wide and at DOD.
Closing the Contractor Fraud Loophole – H.R. 5712
This bill closes a loophole in a proposed rule so that mandatory fraud reporting requirements would apply to U.S. contractors working overseas as well as to contractors working here at home. In addition to closing this loophole, the bill requires mandatory fraud reporting for all U.S. contractors who have $5 million or greater in federal contracts – no matter where the work is done. Under the mandatory fraud reporting, all U.S. contractors would be required to report known instances of employees breaking federal criminal laws or receiving significant overcharges in relation to a federal contract. Passed by the House on April 23, 2008. Incorporated into the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, H.R. 2642, which was signed into law on June 30, 2008.
Government Contractor Accountability Act - H.R. 3928 (or the “Blackwater” bill)
This bill requires all companies that receive more than 80 percent of their annual gross revenue from federal funds to disclose the salaries of their most highly-compensated officers. Currently, for example, the management practices, financial statements, and employment policies of Blackwater, a privately-held company, which receives nearly all of its revenue from U.S. taxpayers, are tightly held secrets. Since 2001, Blackwater has had a meteoric rise in profits due to hundreds of millions of dollars in government contracts, mostly in Iraq, often won through no-bid processes. Passed by the House on April 23, 2008. Incorporated into the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008, H.R. 2642, which was signed into law on June 30, 2008.
Ensuring Independence of Inspectors General - H.R. 928
The Improving Government Accountability Act contains a number of provisions to enhance the effectiveness and independence of Inspectors General. They are the principal watchdogs of the major federal agencies and are responsible for detecting waste, fraud and abuse. Passed by the House on September 27, 2008; signed into law on October 14, 2008.
PASSED BY THE HOUSE
Withholding Federal Contracts from Tax-Delinquent Companies - H.R. 4881
The Contracting and Tax Accountability Act would withhold most federal contracts from corporations that are delinquent on their federal taxes. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has just reported that 60,000 federal contractors owe $7.7 billion in back taxes. GAO also reports that, of those contractors, there are 27,000 defense contractors – many of which have contracts in Iraq – that owe $3 billion in back taxes. Passed by the House on April 14, 2008.
Closing Offshore Tax Loopholes for Federal Contractors - H.R. 5602 (or the “KBR” bill)
This bill would close a loophole that allows government contractors to set up sham companies in foreign jurisdictions to avoid paying Social Security and Medicare taxes. It has been recently reported that the defense contractor KBR which has received millions of U.S. taxpayer dollars through its Iraq contracts, has avoided paying its fair share of Social Security and Medicare taxes by creating shell companies in the Cayman Islands. KBR is taking advantage of a tax loophole and prevents its U.S. employees working in Iraq from being able to qualify for these vital programs. Passed by the House as part of H.R. 5719, the Taxpayer Assistance and Simplification Act, on April 15, 2008.
Stopping Fraudulent Federal Contractors from Fleecing Taxpayers - H.R. 3033
The United States is the largest purchaser of goods and services in the world, spending more than $419 billion on procurement awards in Fiscal Year 2006 alone. Yet, the federal government’s watchdogs lack the information they need to protect taxpayer dollars; there is no centralized government-wide method to account for the performance of U.S. contractors. This bill creates a database that lists civil and criminal proceedings concluded by federal and state governments against contractors. This is designed to prevent the situation in which a fraudulent contractor can bounce from federal agency to federal agency, fleecing taxpayers the whole way. Passed by the House on April 23, 2008.
Cracking Down on No-Bid Contracts - H.R. 1362
The Accountability in Contracting Act would crack down on the use of no-bid contracts by federal agencies. Agencies would be required to publicize the justifications for sole-source contracts. The bill also increases transparency and accountability in federal contracting. It was in response to the overuse of no-bid contracts by the Bush Administration in Iraq and the Gulf Coast. Passed by the House on March 15, 2007; the Senate passed their own version (S. 680) on November 7, 2007.
Protecting Federal Whistleblowers - H.R. 985
The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act would strengthen protections for federal whistleblowers who report waste, fraud and abuse. Specifically, the measure gives whistleblower protections to federal workers specializing in national security issues, and improves protection for employees of federal contractors who report on waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Passed by the House on March 14, 2007; the Senate passed their own version (S. 274) on December 17.
The War Profiteering Prevention Act - H.R. 400
The War Profiteering Prevention Act creates a new federal criminal fraud offense to prohibit fraudulent acts involving the provision of goods or services in connection with a mission of the U.S. government overseas. Following are highlights of some of the bill’s provisions.
Passed by the House on October 9, 2007.
Read the Gavel's coverage of Iraq oversight and accountability in the House>>
Watch video highlights from committee hearings and House floor speeches:
A List of 289 Hearings (198 House Hearings & 91 Senate Hearings) Held on Issues Related to the Iraq War in 2007.
JANUARY
Tuesday, January 9th
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – CLOSED. Full committee briefing on the situation in Iraq.
Wednesday, January 10th
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. Where We Are: The Current Situation in Iraq.”
Thursday, January 11th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the way forward in Iraq.
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on “Iraq, Part I.”
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. The Administration’s Plan for Iraq.”
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. Troop Surge, Partition, Withdrawal or Strengthen the Center?”
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – Full committee hearing on “Annual Threat Assessment.”
Friday, January 12th
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on Iraq.
Tuesday, January 16th
- House Armed Services Committee - Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee hearing on Marine Corps force protection equipment for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
- Senate Judiciary Committee – Full committee hearing on “The Plight of Iraqi Refugees.”
Wednesday, January 17th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on alternative perspectives on the President’s strategy for Iraq.
- House Appropriations Committee – CLOSED. Defense Subcommittee holds hearing on Army and Marine Corps Readiness.
- House Appropriations Committee – CLOSED. Defense Subcommittee holds closed hearing on Army and Marine Operations and Equipment Reconstruction
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on “Iraq, Part II.”
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. Regional Diplomatic Strategy.”
Thursday, January 18th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on approaches to audit of reconstruction and support activities in Iraq.
- House Armed Services Committee - Air and Land Forces Subcommittee hearing on Army force protection equipment for Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.
- House Appropriations Committee – CLOSED. Defense Subcommittee holds closed hearing on Guard and Reserve Readiness
- House Appropriations Committee – CLOSED. Defense Subcommittee holds closed hearing on Navy and Air Force Readiness.
- House Budget Committee – Full committee hearing on “Budgeting for War Costs.”
- House Select Intelligence Committee – Full committee hearing on Worldwide Threats.
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. Military and Security Strategy.”
Friday, January 19th
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on “Iraq: The Baker-Hamilton Commission Report. Part III.”
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee holds hearing on Military Medical Readiness.
Monday, January 22nd
- House Appropriations Committee – CLOSED. Defense Subcommittee holds closed hearing on Intelligence Readiness
Tuesday, January 23rd
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on Iraq’s Effect on Total Force Readiness.
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. Alternative Plans: Federalism, Side with the Majority, Strategic Redeployment, or Negotiate?”
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on “Nomination of Lieutenant General David H. Petraeus, USA, to be General and Commander, Multi-National Forces – Iraq.”
Wednesday, January 24th
- House Select Intelligence Committee – CLOSED full committee hearing on Iraq Intelligence Support to Policymakers.
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee meeting on S. Con. Res. 2, the Biden-Hagel-Levin-Snowe Bipartisan Iraq War Resolution.
Thursday, January 25th
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. Reconstruction Strategy.”
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. Political Strategy.”
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on “The Current Situation in Iraq and the Administration’s Recently Announced Strategy for Continued United States Assistance to the Iraqi Government and for an Increased United States Military Presence in Iraq.”
Friday, January 26th
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on Military Medical Readiness.
Tuesday, January 30th
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the Nomination of Admiral William J. Fallon, USN, for Reappointment to the Grade of Admiral and to be Commander, United States Central Command.
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. Alternative Plans: The Iraq Study Group.”
- Senate Judiciary Committee – Full committee hearing on “Exercising Congress’ Constitutional Power to End a War.”
Wednesday, January 31st
- House Armed Services Committee – Readiness and Air Subcommittee and Land Forces Subcommittee hearing on Army Equipment Reset/Maintaining Military Equipment in Iraq.
- Senate Judiciary Committee – Full committee hearing on “Examining Recommendations for Improvements to Iraq’s Justice System”
- Senate Armed Services Committee - CLOSED full committee briefing on the Iraq “surge” plan.
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. Iraq in the Strategic Context, Part I.”
FEBRUARY
Thursday, February 1st
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing “The Nomination of General George W. Casey, Jr., USA, for Reappointment to the Grade of General and to be Chief of Staff, United States Army.”
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on “Securing America’s Interests in Iraq: The Remaining Options. Iraq in the Strategic Context, Part II.”
Monday, February 5th
- House Select Intelligence Committee – CLOSED. Full committee briefing on the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq.
Tuesday, February 6th
- House Oversight & Government Reform Committee – Full committee hearing on Waste, Fraud & Abuse: Part I – Iraq Reconstruction.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the President’s FY 2007 and FY 2008 war supplemental requests for Iraq and Afghanistan and the Defense Authorization Request for FY 2008.
- Senate Budget Committee – Full committee hearing on “War Costs.”
Wednesday, February 7th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the FY 2008 Department of Defense Budget.
- House Oversight & Government Reform Committee – Full committee hearing on Waste, Fraud & Abuse: Part II – Iraq Private Contractor Oversight.
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – CLOSED. Full committee hearing on Iraq.
Thursday, February 8th
- House Appropriations Committee – CLOSED. Select Intelligence Oversight Panel holds closed hearing on the proposed FY 2007 war supplemental appropriations bill.
- House Appropriations Committee – State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee holds oversight hearing on assistance programs in Iraq.
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee hearing on the President’s Foreign Relations Budget, including staffing diplomatic posts in Iraq.
Friday, February 9th
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee holds hearing on the U.S. Army portion of the President’s FY 2007 war supplemental request.
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction/VA Subcommittee holds hearing on military quality of life, including the impact of the Iraq war.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – OPEN & CLOSED. Full committee hearing on the Department of Defense Inspector General’s report on the activities of the Office of Special Plans prior to the war in Iraq. Closed session followed open session.
Monday, February 12th
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on the President’s FY 2007 War Supplemental Request & the U.S. Air Force.
Tuesday, February 13th
- House Armed Services Committee - The Readiness and Joint Seapower/Expeditionary Forces Subcommittees hold a hearing on U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Navy reset requirements.
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on the President’s FY 2007 War Supplemental Request & the U.S. Navy and Marines Corps.
Wednesday, February 14th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the President’s FY 2008 budget request for the Department of the Army.
- House Armed Services Committee - Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee holds hearing on the challenges for the Special Operations Command (SOCOM) posed by the global terrorist threat.
Thursday, February 15th
- House Armed Services Committee - Military Personnel Subcommittee holds a hearing on recruiting and retention issues.
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee holds a hearing on the President’s FY 2007 War Supplemental Request.
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction/VA Subcommittee holds a hearing on long-term health care challenges facing the military and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
- House Appropriations Committee – Homeland Security Subcommittee holds a hearing on Coast Guard issues, including Coast Guard Operations in Iraq.
- House Select Intelligence Committee – CLOSED. Full committee hearing on Iran’s Involvement in Iraq.
- House Oversight & Government Reform Committee – Full committee hearing on Iraq Reconstruction.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on current and future readiness of the Army and Marine Corps.
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Full committee confirmation hearing on Iraq and Afghanistan Ambassadorial Nominations.
Friday, February 16th
- House Appropriations Committee – State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee holds a hearing on President’s FY 2007 War Supplemental Request.
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee holds a closed hearing on the Joint Improvised Explosive Device Defeat Organization.
Tuesday, February 27th
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Full committee hearing on the President’s FY 2007 War Supplemental Request.
- Senate Armed Services Committee -- Full committee hearing on current and future worldwide threats to the national security of the U.S.
Wednesday, February 28th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the President’s FY 2008 Department of Defense budget & the Air Force.
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction/VA Subcommittee holds a hearing on the President’s FY 2007 War Supplemental Request.
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on Iraq and U.S. Foreign Policy.
- House Intelligence Committee – CLOSED. Full committee hearing on the President’s FY 2007 War Supplemental Request.
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee holds a hearing on the President’s FY 2008 Department of Defense budget.
MARCH
Thursday, March 1st
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the President’s FY 2008 Department of Defense budget & the Navy and Marine Corps.
- Senate Budget Committee – Full committee hearing on war costs and the President’s FY 2008 Department of Defense budget.
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – CLOSED. Full committee hearing on the President’s FY 2007 War Supplemental Request.
Monday, March 5th
- House Oversight and Government Affairs Subcommittee – National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee holds field hearing on the treatment of wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
Tuesday, March 6th
- House Appropriations Committee – State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee holds hearing on “Iraq Political and Reconstruction Strategy: Alternative Perspectives.”
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction/VA Subcommittee holds hearing on Veterans’ medical care and FY 2008 Military Construction/VA appropriations.
- House Budget Committee – Full committee hearing on FY 2008 Defense Department budget.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on care, living conditions, and administration of outpatients at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
- Senate Select Intelligence Committee – CLOSED. Full committee hearing assessing intelligence issues in Iraq.
Wednesday, March 7th
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee holds hearing on Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee holds hearing on Defense Department medical programs, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center.
- Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on the adjudication process at the Department of Veterans Affairs, including the experiences of veterans who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan.
Thursday, March 8th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the challenges facing wounded military personnel during recovery.
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction/VA Subcommittee holds hearing on VA Mental Health Programs and Initiatives and FY 2008 Military Construction/VA appropriations.
- House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs – Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations holds hearing on the condition of outpatient facilities at Walter Reed Army Medical Center and how dilapidated conditions and bureaucratic delays affect soldiers as they transition to their status as veterans.
- House Select Intelligence Committee – Full committee hearing on the proposed FY08 budget for military intelligence programs and activities.
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – CLOSED. Full committee hearing on the Gulf Security Dialogue.
- Senate Select Intelligence Committee – CLOSED. Full committee hearing on Defense Department programs.
Friday, March 9th
- House Armed Services Committee – CLOSED. Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee holds hearing on current U.S. plans for and progress to date in training, equipping and sustaining the Iraqi Security Forces.
Tuesday, March 13th
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction/VA Subcommittee holds hearing on the Veterans’ Affairs claims process.
- House Armed Services Committee – Readiness Subcommittee holds hearing on whether the FY 2008 National Defense Budget request is adequate to meet readiness needs.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs holds hearing on the impact of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars on the Veterans’ Affairs claims process.
Wednesday, March 14th
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction/VA Subcommittee holds hearing on Long-Term Challenges for Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs programs.
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee holds hearing on FY 2008 Army Budget.
Thursday, March 15th
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Health Subcommittee holds hearing on Traumatic Brain Injury and Poly-Trauma Centers.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the President’s FY 2008 National Defense budget request and a review of current Army posture.
Friday, March 16th
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – Full committee hearing on the disclosure of CIA Agent Valerie Plame Wilson’s identity and White House procedures for safeguarding classified information.
Tuesday, March 20th
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee hearing on VA Long-Term Health / Nursing Home Care.
- House Armed Services Committee – Readiness Subcommittee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Budget Requests for military construction, family housing, base closures and facilities’ operations and maintenance.
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on proposed legislation on Iraq.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the President’s FY 2008 budget for the Air Force and the future defense program.
- Senate Judiciary Committee – Full committee hearing on War Profiteering.
Wednesday, March 21st
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee hearing on the President’s FY 2008 budget.
- House Appropriations Committee – State, Foreign Operations Subcommittee hearing on the President’s International Affairs Budget.
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the Fiscal Year 2008 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the U.S. Strategic Command, Northern Command, Transportation Command, and Southern Command.
- House Armed Services Committee – The Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee hearing on Department of Defense counterproliferation and counterterrorism priorities.
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on the Air Force and the Defense Authorization Request for FY 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program.
Thursday, March 22nd
- House Oversight & Government Reform Committee – Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs hearing on “Iraq: IEDs and Munitions, Are They Secured?”
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity hearing on education benefits for National Guard and Reserve Members.
- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs – Full committee hearing entitled “Deconstructing Reconstruction: Problems, Challenges and the Way Forward in Iraq and Afghanistan.”
Friday, March 23rd
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the Second Report to Congress by the Commission on the National Guard and Reserves.
Monday, March 26th
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia oversight hearing entitled “Iraqi Volunteers, Iraqi Refugees: What is America’s Obligation?”
Tuesday, March 27th
- House Armed Services Committee – The Military Personnel Subcommittee hearing on the state of the military health care system.
- House Armed Services Committee – The Air and Land Forces Subcommittee hearing on Army ground force acquisition programs.
- House Armed Services Committee – The Readiness Subcommittee hearing on the readiness of the Army and Air National Guard.
- House Armed Services Committee – The Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight hearing on whether Iraq can pay for its own reconstruction.
Wednesday, March 28th
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee hearing on the Army Budget.
- House Armed Services Committee – The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on outside perspectives on transitioning security to the Iraqi security forces.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on strategic forces programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on Active Duty, Reserve forces and civilian personnel programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY 2008 and Future Years Defense Program.
- Senate Appropriations Committee – State and Foreign Operations Subcommittee hearing on FY 2008 USAID and Foreign Assistance Budget.
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on FY 2008 Navy Budget.
Thursday, March 29th
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing with the Secretary of Defense.
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the Military Commissions Act and the continued use of Guantanamo Bay as a detention facility.
- House Armed Services Committee – The Military Personnel Subcommittee hearing on morale, welfare and recreation (MWR) programs for our troops.
APRIL
Tuesday, April 10th
- Senate Armed Services Committee – CLOSED/OPEN. Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee session on the overseas basing plans in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program.
Wednesday, April 11th
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on FY 2008 National Guard and Reserves Budget.
Thursday, April 12th
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee hearing on FY 2008 Veterans Affairs budget.
- Senate Armed Services and Veterans’ Affairs Committees – Joint hearing on the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration disability rating systems and the transition of service members from the DOD to the VA system.
Tuesday, April 17th
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on Army Force Posture and Acquisition Overview.
- House Appropriations Committee – CLOSED. Defense Subcommittee hearing on U.S. Central Command.
- House Appropriations Committee – Military Construction, Veterans Affairs Subcommittee hearing on U.S. Central Command.
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee hearing to follow up on corrective measures taken about Walter Reed Army Medical Center and to explore broader systemic problems with the Defense Department’s medical care system.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Hearing on whether the Army and Marine Corps are properly sized, organized, and equipped to respond to the most likely missions over the next two decades while retaining adequate capability to respond to all contingencies along the spectrum of combat.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee briefing on the current readiness of U.S. ground forces in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program.
Wednesday, April 18th
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on Army Reset.
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on Army and Marine Corps personnel issues.
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Request from U.S. Central Command.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Health Subcommittee hearing on access to VA health care.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Joint hearing before the Subcommittee on Personnel and the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support on the readiness impact of quality of life and family support programs to assist families of Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve military personnel in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2008 and the Future Years Defense Program.
Thursday, April 19th
- House Appropriations Committee – CLOSED. Defense Subcommittee hearing on U.S. Special Operations Command.
- House Armed Services Committee – The Air and Land Forces Subcommittee hearing on the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Budget Request – specifically the Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) and Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on surgical services at the W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center in Salisbury, North Carolina.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on military programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY08 and the Future Years Defense Program.
Friday, April 20th
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on the U.S. Guard and Reserve.
Tuesday, April 24th
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on the Navy and Marine Corps Force Posture and Acquisition Overview.
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – Full committee hearing on misleading information from the battlefield, specifically following the death of Army Ranger Specialist Patrick Tillman and the capture and rescue of Army Private Jessica Lynch.
- House Veterans’ Affairs Committee – Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee hearing entitled “Helping Those Left Behind: Are We Doing Enough for the Parents, Spouses and Children of Veterans?”
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee hearing on the U.S. ground forces readiness in review of the FY08 Defense Authorization Request and the Future Years Defense Plan.
Wednesday, April 25th
- House Armed Services Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on Contracting for the Iraqi Security Forces.
- House Homeland Security Committee – Full committee hearing to examine the military’s support of civil authorities during disasters, specifically the Iraq war’s impact on National Guard readiness for efforts here at home.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Air-Land Subcommittee hearing on whether the Army is properly sized, organized and equipped to respond to the most likely missions over the next two decades.
- Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on how the Veterans Administration is addressing mental health issues.
Thursday, April 26th
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight Subcommittee hearing on whether or not efforts to deal with America’s image abroad are working.
- House Veterans’ Affairs Committee – Health Subcommittee hearing on rural health and Traumatic Brain Injury.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on legal issues regarding the Defense Department’s detention of individuals as unlawful enemy combatants.
MAY
Wednesday, May 2nd
- House Appropriation Committee –Defense Subcommittee hearing on the Defense Health Program overview.
- Senate Appropriations Committee – CLOSED. Defense Subcommittee hearing on defense intelligence.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the U.S. Central Command in review of the FY08 Defense Authorization request and the Future Years Defense Program.
Thursday, May 3rd
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Joint International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight Subcommittee and the Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee hearing on Arab opinion on American policies, values and people.
- Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing entitled “The Internet: A Portal to Violent Islamist Extremism.”
Tuesday, May 8th
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight Subcommittee hearing on “Economic and Military Support for the U.S. Efforts in Iraq: The Coalition of the Willing, Then and Now.”
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on the sharing of electronic medical records between the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Wednesday, May 9th
- House Appropriations Committee – CLOSED. Defense Subcommittee hearing on the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on the results of the President’s Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Health Subcommittee hearing on the “State of VA’s Long-Term Care Program Present and Future.”
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on the FY 2008 Department of Defense Budget request.
- Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on veterans’ health care benefits.
Thursday, May 10th
- House Appropriations Committee – Defense Subcommittee hearing on private, outside contracting in Iraq and the failure of many of these companies to fulfill their responsibilities.
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Senate and Foreign Operations Subcommittee hearing on the FY 2008 Department of State and Foreign Operations Budget.
- Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on violent Islamist extremism and the government’s efforts to defeat it.
Thursday, May 17th
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight Subcommittee hearing entitled “Declining Approval for American Foreign Policy in Muslim Countries: Does it Make it More Difficult to Fight al Qaeda?”
Tuesday, May 22nd
- House Armed Services Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on the training of Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and the employment of transition teams.
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on Iraq.
- House Veterans’ Affairs – Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee hearing on the challenges facing the U.S. court of appeals for veterans’ claims.
- Senate Select Committee on Intelligence – CLOSED. Full committee hearing on Iraq.
Wednesday, May 23rd
- Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on pending veterans’ health care legislation.
Thursday, May 24th
- House Armed Services Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on the training and development of the Iraqi police service.
- House Homeland Security Committee – Management, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee hearing on the impact of equipment shortages on the National Guard’s readiness for domestic missions.
- House Oversight and Reform Committee – Full committee hearing on mental health problems confronting soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan.
JUNE
Wednesday, June 6th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the Department of Defense body armor.
Thursday, June 7th
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing on specially-adaptive housing for wounded and disabled veterans.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – The full committee met to hear testimony from Lieutenant General Douglas Lute, nominee to Assistant to the President and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tuesday, June 12th
- House Armed Services Committee – The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on the development of the Iraqi Security Forces.
Wednesday, June 13th
- Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Oversight hearing on cooperation and collaboration between Veterans Affairs Department and the Department of Defense – education and training.
Tuesday, June 19th
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Middle East and South Asia Subcommittee hearing entitled “Working in a War Zone: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in Civilians Returning from Iraq.”
- House Judiciary Committee – Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on War Profiteering and Other Contractor Crimes Overseas.
Wednesday, June 20th
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – Government Management, Organization and Procurement Subcommittee hearing on the government’s Inspectors General, focusing on ways to insulate the watchdogs from political pressure.
Tuesday, June 26th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the structure, process and tools for improving Department of Defense management.
- House Armed Services Committee – Military Personnel Subcommittee hearing on the findings of the Independent Review Group and an in-progress review of actions at Walter Reed.
Wednesday, June 27th
- House Armed Services Committee – Military Personnel Subcommittee hearing on review of the policies and procedures regarding the notification of next-of-kin of wounded and deceased service members.
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on whether the escalation in Iraq is working.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on the Veterans Administration’s internal contracting oversight deficiencies.
JULY
Wednesday, July 11th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the global security assessment.
- House Armed Services Committee – Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee hearing on “Strategic Communications and Comparative Ideas: Winning the Hearts and Minds in the Global War against Terrorists.”
Thursday, July 12th
- House Armed Services Committee – Military Personnel Subcommittee hearing on the mental health needs of our troops.
- House Armed Services Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing titled: “A Third Way: Alternatives for Iraq’s Future” – part one of a four-part hearing series.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Joint subcommittee hearing with the Health Subcommittee and Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee on issues facing women and minority veterans.
- House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence – Terrorism/HUMINT, Analysis and Counterintelligence hearing on nuclear terrorism and overseas threats.
Friday, July 13th
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Symposium to discuss ways to provide treatment for traumatic brain injury (TBI), which is considered by many to be the signature injury of the war in Iraq.
Tuesday, July 17th
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Full committee oversight hearing on U.S. policy options in the Iraq crisis.
Wednesday, July 18th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on “Iraq: Trends and Recent Security Developments.”
- House Armed Service Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on “A Third Way: Alternatives for Iraq’s Future” – part two of a four-part hearing series.
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Joint Middle East and South Asia and International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight Subcommittees oversight hearing on reconstruction in Iraq’s oil sector.
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – Government Management, Organization and Procurement Subcommittee hearing on why companies with poor performance continue to receive federal contracts.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Committee held a symposium on Traumatic Brain Injury with a number of leading medical experts.
Thursday, July 19th
- House Armed Service Committee – Joint Seapower and Expeditionary Forces and Air and Land Forces Subcommittees hearing on the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Program.
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Full committee oversight hearing on envisioning a new U.S. policy in the Middle East.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Health Subcommittee hearing on Veterans’ Health Centers.
- Senate Foreign Affairs Committee – Full committee briefing from U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker on an update from Iraq.
Wednesday, July 25th
- House Armed Services Committee – The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on “A Third Way: Alternatives for Iraq’s Future” – part three of a four-part series.
- House Armed Services Committee & Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence – Joint hearing on the implications of the most recent National Intelligence Estimate regarding Al-Qaeda.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and personality disorders and the challenges faced by the V.A.
Thursday, July 26th
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – Full committee hearing on allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse at the new U.S. embassy in Iraq.
- Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on V.A. health care issues.
Friday, July 27th
- House Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on requiring the President and other members of his administration to develop and transmit to Congress a comprehensive strategy for the redeployment of U.S. troops from Iraq.
Tuesday, July 31st
- House Armed Services Committee – The Readiness Subcommittee held a hearing on the Use of In Lieu Of, Ad Hoc and Augmentee Forces in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom.
- House Armed Services Committee – The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on “A Third Way: Alternatives for Iraq’s Future” – final part of a four-part series.
- House Budget Committee – Full committee hearing on the costs of military operations and reconstruction in Iraq and Afghanistan.
AUGUST
Wednesday, August 1st
- House Armed Services Committee – The Military Personnel Subcommittee held a hearing on active Army, Army National Guard, and Army Reserve recruiting and retention.
- House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – Hearing entitled “The Tillman Fratricide: What the Leadership of the Defense Department Knew.”
Thursday, August 2nd
- House Armed Services Committee – The Military Personnel Subcommittee held a hearing on the process used to notify family members and next of kin of killed and wounded members of the Marine Corps.
- House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence – Full committee briefing on Iraq.
SEPTEMBER
Tuesday, September 4th
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Hearing to receive an assessment of the performance of the Iraqi government from Government Accountability Office Comptroller General David Walker.
Wednesday, September 5th
- House Armed Services Committee – Hearing to receive testimony from Government Accountability Office Comptroller General David Walker about the GAO report assessing the Iraqi government’s performance record.
- House Armed Services Committee – Oversight & Investigations Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Defense role in provincial reconstruction teams.
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Hearing to receive testimony from Government Accountability Office Comptroller General David Walker about the GAO report assessing the Iraqi government’s progress meeting political, economic and security benchmarks.
Thursday, September 6th
- House Armed Services Committee – Hearing to receive testimony from retired General James Jones and others on the Independent commission to assess Iraqi Security Forces.
- Joint House Armed Services Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee – Joint hearing entitled “Beyond the September Report: What’s Next for Iraq?”
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Economic Opportunity Subcommittee hearing on a program that gives preference to veterans applying for federal jobs.
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Hearing to receive testimony from retired General James Jones and others on the Independent commission to assess Iraqi Security Forces.
Friday, September 7th
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Hearing to receive testimony from Government Accountability Office Comptroller General David Walker about the GAO report assessing the Iraqi government’s progress meeting political, economic and security benchmarks.
Monday, September 10th
- Joint House Armed Services Committee and Foreign Affairs Committee – Hearing to receive testimony from General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker.
- House Education and Labor Committee – Workforce Protections Subcommittee hearing entitled “The Family Medical Leave Act: Extending Coverage to Military Families Left at Home.”
Tuesday, September 11th
- Senate Armed Services Committee – Hearing to receive testimony by General David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker on conditions in Iraq.
- Senate Foreign Relations Committee – Hearing on a report by the commanding general and the U.S. ambassador on conditions in Iraq.
Tuesday, September 18th
- House Armed Services Committee – Hearing on the benefits and medical care for federal and private contractors working in Iraq and Afghanistan.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Hearing on the Veterans Affairs Department.
Wednesday, September 19th
- House Foreign Affairs Committee – Hearing to receive an assessment of the Bush Administration’s September report on the political, economic and security situation in Iraq.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Hearing on the findings of the president's Dole-Shalala Commission on Care for America's Returning Wounded Warriors.
Thursday, September 20th
- House Armed Services Committee – Hearing on accountability during contingency operations, focusing on preventing and fighting corruption in contracting and on efforts to establish and maintain appropriate controls on materiel.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on programs that help veterans transitioning into civilian life and looking for employment obtain needed professional licenses and certification in various fields, based on their experience and specialized training while in the military.
Tuesday, September 25th
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Oversight and Investigations hearing on performance issues regarding the Veterans Administration’s polytrauma rehabilitation centers.
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee hearing on the adjudication process of the Board of Veterans’ Appeals and the appeals management center.
Wednesday, September 26th
- House Armed Services Committee – Hearing on Army strategic initiatives.
- Senate Appropriations Committee – Hearing on the proposed $150 billion emergency supplemental appropriations for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and for rebuilding Baghdad. The committee also heard testimony about the president's Sept. 15 report on the war.
Thursday, September 27th
- House Veterans Affairs Committee – Health Subcommittee hearing on grant and per diem programs of the Department of Veterans Affairs.
OCTOBER
Tuesday, October 2nd
• House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – Full committee hearing on the mission and performance of Blackwater USA and its affiliated companies in Iraq and Afghanistan and to review the whether reliance of the U.S. government on private security contractors is serving U.S. interests in Iraq.
Wednesday, October 3rd
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing titled “Funding the VA [Department of Veterans Affairs] of the Future.”
Thursday, October 4th
• House Armed Services Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – Full committee hearing on the state of Iraqi corruption.
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Health Subcommittee hearing on research into veterans' prosthetics and other health research.
Tuesday, October 9th
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee held a field hearing on the personal costs to individuals of large backlog of unresolved claims for veterans benefits waiting to be processed.
Wednesday, October 10th
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on the findings of the Veterans' Disability Benefits Commission.
Tuesday, October 16th
• House Armed Services Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on incentives, benefits and medical care for federal civilian employees deployed to combat zones.
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing on disability claims ratings and benefits disparities within the Veterans' Benefits Administration.
Wednesday, October 17th
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on the long-term costs of current military conflicts.
• House Ways and Means Committee -- Income Security and Family Support Subcommittee and Select Revenue Measures Subcommittee held a joint hearing on tax relief for members of the military and their families.
• Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee held an oversight hearing on collaboration between the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.
Thursday, October 18th
• House Armed Services Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on measuring and increasing the effectiveness of provincial reconstruction teams in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Health Subcommittee held a hearing on Veterans Affairs health care recruitment and retention.
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Economic Opportunity Subcommittee held a hearing on updating the G.I. Bill.
Wednesday, October 24th
• House Budget Committee – Full committee hearing on the growing costs of the Iraq war.
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on the sharing of electronic medical records between the Defense Department and the VA.
• Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee hearing on veterans’ health care issues.
Thursday, October 25th
• House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – Full committee oversight hearing on Iraq.
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Economic Opportunity Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on veterans' employment programs operated by the Labor Department.
Tuesday, October 30th
• House Appropriations Committee – State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Subcommittee held a hearing titled “Assessing an Effective Diplomatic and Development Program in Iraq: An Examination of the ‘Diplomatic Surge.’”
• House Armed Services Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on stabilization and reconstruction operations with a special focus on looking at the Provincial Reconstruction Team experience.
Wednesday, October 31st
• House Foreign Affairs Committee – International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight Subcommittee held a hearing on the activities of the State Department Office of the Inspector General – specifically on charges the IG’s office blocked investigations into State Department activities in Iraq and Afghanistan.
• Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee held an oversight hearing on efforts by the Department of Veterans Affairs to rehabilitate disabled veterans and transition them back into the workplace.
• Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee oversight hearing on the effectiveness of the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act.
NOVEMBER
Tuesday, November 6th
• Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee held a hearing on hiring practices and quality control in Veterans Affairs medical facilities.
Wednesday, November 7th
• Senate Veterans Affairs Committee – Full committee held a hearing on the performance and structure of the U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims.
Thursday, November 8th
• House Armed Services Committee – Seapower and Expeditionary Forces Subcommittee held a hearing on the Joint Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Program.
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee held a hearing on veterans benefits bills.
• Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee – Full committee hearing on ways to protect the employment rights of those who protect the United States.
Wednesday, November 14th
• House Oversight and Government Reform Committee – Full committee 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. At this hearing, Waxman brought to the public’s attention that State Dept. IG Krongard’s brother sits on Blackwater’s advisory board.
Thursday, November 15th
• House Armed Services Committee – Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee held a hearing on strategic communications and countering ideological support for terrorism.
• Senate Armed Services Committee – Full committee hearing on the state of the Army.
DECEMBER
Wednesday, December 5th
• House Armed Services Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing to look review the strategy for the Provincial Reconstruction Teams.
Thursday, December 6th
• Senate Armed Services Committee – Readiness and Management Support Subcommittee held a hearing on Army Expeditionary Contracting and the report of the Commission on Army Acquisition and Program Management in Expeditionary Operations.
Wednesday, December 12th
• House Veterans Affairs Committee – Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing on Veterans Affairs health care outpatient wait times.