Hearings

Allegations of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at the New U.S. Embassy in Iraq

On Thursday, the Committee held a hearing to examine the performance of the State Department and its contractors in the construction of the new $600 million U.S. embassy in Baghdad. The Committee asked questions regarding the embassy compound construction as well as allegations of labor abuse through improper contracting practices.

Committee Holds Hearing on Inadvertent File Sharing over Peer-to-Peer Networks

On Tuesday, July 24, 2007, the Committee held a hearing on inadvertent file sharing over peer-to-peer (P2P) networks, the impact of such sharing on consumers, corporations, and government entities, and whether such sharing creates privacy or security risks for users.

Committee Probes FEMA's Response to Reports of Toxic Trailers

The Committee held a hearing investigating formaldehyde levels in FEMA trailers provided for victims of the Gulf Coast hurricanes and FEMA’s response to these reports. The Committee heard from current residents occupying FEMA trailers, experts who are familiar with the health impact of formaldehyde, and from FEMA Administrator Paulison.

Committee Holds Surgeon General Hearing

The Committee hearing examined evidence of politicization of the Office of the Surgeon General. Three former Surgeons General – [insert names] – testified.

Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at K-Town: How Mismanagement Has Derailed DOD’s Largest Single Facility Construction Project

On Thursday, June 28, the Committee held a hearing entitled “Waste, Fraud, and Abuse at K-Town: How Mismanagement Has Derailed DOD’s Largest Single Facility Construction Project.” The hearing reviewed the preliminary findings of a Government Accountability Office investigation into the construction of the Kaiserslautern Military Community Center, a hotel and retail facility being built on the grounds of the Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

The Government's Response to the Nation's Emergency Room Crisis

On Friday, June 22, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform held a hearing on the response of the Department of Health and Human Services to the nation’s emergency room crisis.

Hearing Examines Statements Made by GSA Administrator Doan

The Oversight Committee held a hearing on June 13, 2007, to examine statements made by GSA Administrator Lurita Doan that impugn the reputation of federal officials who cooperated with a Committee investigation into Ms. Doan’s conduct at the General Services Administration.

Hearing on FDA’s Role in Evaluating Safety of Avandia

On June 6, 2007, the Committee held an oversight hearing on the role of the Food and Drug Administration in evaluating the safety of Avandia, a diabetes drug taken by about one million Americans. At the hearing, the Committee examined the failure of FDA to obtain an adequate post-market clinical trial designed to assess whether patients taking Avandia are at increased risk of heart attack.

Hearing on Mental Health Problems Confronting Soldiers Returning from Iraq, Afghanistan

On Thursday, May 24, 2007, the Committee held an oversight hearing on mental health problems confronting soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. The Committee heard from afflicted soldiers and their families, examined the ability of the DOD and the VA to screen, treat, and track returning soldiers who are at risk, and assessed the impact that these illnesses are having on military readiness and military families.

Hearing Examines Achievements and Opportunities for Climate Protection Under the Montreal Protocol

On Wednesday, May 23, 2007, the Committee held an oversight hearing on achievements and opportunities for climate protection under the Montreal Protocol. This international environmental treaty established legally binding controls on the production and consumption of substances that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer.

Hearing Examines Federal Crop Insurance Program

This hearing examines allegations of waste, fraud, and abuse in two key areas of the federal crop insurance program. The first is that the program has failed at its primary purpose: preventing the need for annual disaster payments to farmers. The second are the large underwriting gains and commissions garnered by the private crop insurers, and the resulting inefficiency of the program.

Hearing Examines FDA's Vital Mission and Challenges for the Future

The FDA is one of our oldest and most critical public health agencies, overseeing $1.5 trillion in products, including over-the-counter drugs, pharmaceuticals, biological products such as insulin and vaccines, medical devices, cosmetics, animal drugs and feeds, and roughly 80% of the food supply. Tuesday’s hearing examined the role and scope of the FDA, along with the challenges it faces for the future.

Oversight Committee Holds Hearing on Tillman, Lynch Incidents

On April 24, 2007 the Oversight Committee held a hearing focusing on misleading information following the death of Army Ranger Specialist Patrick Tillman in Afghanistan and the capture and rescue of Army Private Jessica Lynch in Iraq.

Domestic Policy Subcommittee Hearing on Taxpayer Financed Stadiums, Convention Centers, and Hotels

The public justification for public financing, including construction financing with tax exempt bonds, is that this is an investment that brings jobs and consumers to a city’s downtown. Academic research on the value to economic development, however, has universally concluded that sports stadiums, convention centers and hotels do not increase economic activity in downtown areas.

Hearing Investigates Allegations of Misconduct at GSA

This hearing focused on allegations that GSA Administrator Lurita Doan failed to follow proper procedures for awarding federal contracts, attempted to intervene in contract negotiations, and engaged in partisan political activities on federal property.

Hearing Examines Safe and Affordable Generic Biotech Drugs

On Monday, March 26, the Oversight Committee held a hearing to examine the high cost of biotech medicines to our health care system, as well the prospects and need for a pathway that would allow the FDA to approve safe and affordable generic versions of biotech drugs. Witnesses included representatives of FDA, pharmaceutical manufacturers, scientists, and consumer groups.

Committee Examines Political Interference with Climate Science

This hearing examined evidence and allegations of political interference with the work of government climate change scientists under the current Administration.

Hearing Examines Exposure of Covert CIA Agent Valerie Plame Wilson's Identity

The Oversight Committee held a hearing on whether White House officials followed appropriate procedures for safeguarding the identity of CIA agent Valerie Plame Wilson. At the hearing, the Committee received testimony from Ms. Wilson and other experts regarding the disclosure and internal White House security procedures for protecting her identity from disclosure and responding to the leak after it occurred.

Former Head of Walter Reed Hospital Testifies Before National Security Subcommittee

On March 5, 2007, the Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs held a hearing today on the conditions at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The Subcommittee heard testimony from affected soldiers, family members, and military officials.

Reforming the Presidential Library Donation Disclosure Process

On Wednesday, February 28, 2007, the Committee held an oversight hearing on the need for public disclosure of donations to presidential libraries. Under current law, private organizations established for the purpose of building a presidential library can raise unlimited amounts of money from undisclosed donors while the president remains in office.

Committee Holds Hearing on Iraq Reconstruction Overview

On Thursday, February 15, the three top auditors overseeing work in Iraq provided new information about the status of Iraq reconstruction projects and troop support contracts. The hearing examined whether the findings of these auditors should affect Congress’ assessment of the President’s new request for additional taxpayer dollars.

Financial Impacts of Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Pharmaceutical Pricing

The goal of the hearing is to examine whether there are fraudulent, abusive, or wasteful pharmaceutical pricing practices that affect federal health programs such as Medicaid, Medicare, and the Public Health Service “340B” program that should be the subject of additional congressional oversight.

Hearing Questions Management of Homeland Security Contracts

The hearing focused on the Department of Homeland Security’s management of large contracts that rely on private contractors as “system integrators.” The Committee focused on two examples of multi-billion dollar contracts: the Deepwater program to develop new ships for the Coast Guard and the Secure Border Initiative to integrate technology and personnel to defend the nation’s borders.

Iraqi Reconstruction: Reliance on Private Military Contractors

Family members of four Blackwater employees killed in Fallujah testified about what they view as profiteering by Blackwater USA, including the company’s alleged failure to provide armored vehicles and other critical safety equipment. The Committee examined the costs of Blackwater’s security operations to the taxpayer and the adequacy of federal oversight of Blackwater and other security contractors.

Hearing Questions Waste, Fraud, and Abuse In Iraq Reconstruction

Ambassador L. Paul Bremer and Stuart Bowen, the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, testified on management of U.S. funds in Iraq. Questions were raised about an audit report issued in 2005 by Mr. Bowen that concluded that more than $8.8 billion in cash was disbursed without adequate financial controls.

Displaying Items 51 to 75 of 78:

Previous Page • Next Page

[1] • [2] • [3] • [4]