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Accomplishments of Oversight Democrats in the 112th Congress
In the 112th Congress, despite being in the minority, Committee Democrats under Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings conducted vigorous oversight to address the housing and foreclosure crisis, protect the health, safety, and pocketbooks of Americans, and increase diversity while working to root out hazing in the military. Ranking Member Cummings launched a number of investigations that looked into important issues such as "drug speculation" by "gray market" drug companies, compensation packages of top executives at for-profit colleges, and alleged efforts to supress the vote. Ranking Member Cummings has had legislative successes including the passage of a new law to strengthen protections for whistleblowers and overwhelming passage by the House of Representatives of a law to help servicemembers avoid forelcosure. At the close of this session, Ranking Member Cummings published a selection of the Oversight Democrats Oversight Accomplishments. Follow the links below to learn more or click here for a downloadable PDF version.
Ranking Member Cummings is one of the foremost national leaders fighting for the rights of homeowners and taxpayers alike. In February 2011, he launched a wide-ranging investigation into allegations of mortgage servicer abuses and illegal foreclosures against homeowners, including U.S. servicemembers, and continues to press the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to implement principal reduction mortgage modification programs for homeowners facing foreclosure. In part as a result of Cummings’s work:
Ranking Member Cummings also succeeded in passing through the partisan House of Representatives a landmark amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act to expand foreclosure protections for U.S. servicemembers, their families, survivors, and veterans – which passed with a resounding bipartisan vote of 394 to 27.
Ranking Member Cummings recently held his 7th foreclosure prevention seminar in his district matching homeowners on the brink of foreclosure with their lenders to help hundreds stay in their homes. Last year, Ranking Member Cummings was honored as "Federal Champion of the Year" by the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition for his efforts to address the foreclosure crisis and promote the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. On April 13, 2011, Ranking Cummings and Senator Jack Reed introduced The Preserving Homes and Communities Act to increase transparency in the foreclosure process and to encourage loss mitigation efforts. Health, Safety and Pocketbooks of Americans
Last October, Ranking Member Cummings launched an investigation into “drug speculation” by “gray market” drug companies that charge exorbitant prices for life-saving drugs that are in critically short supply. The investigation uncovered “gray market” companies that are marking up the cost of drugs by as much as 80 times their normal value, as well as “fake pharmacies” set up to buy quantities of drugs on the FDA’s shortage list. In May, Ranking Member Cummings introduced the Gray Market Drug Reform and Transparency Act of 2012, to address weaknesses in the drug supply chain, deter price gouging, and improve drug safety and efficacy. President Obama referenced Ranking Member Cummings' investigation when he issued an Executive Order calling on the FDA to address drug shortages and examine potential price gouging. In July, Ranking Member Cummings, along with Senator Jay Rockefeller, issued a groundbreaking report, “Shining Light on the Gray Market,” which exposed a network of private “gray market” companies that take advantage of the national drug shortage crisis. Ranking Member Cummings presented about the report’s findings at a Senate Commerce Committee hearing. Defending Middle Class Workers On October 13, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings issued a report on behalf of Democratic Members of the Oversight Ccommittee with recommendations to the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction to avoid further cuts to pay or benefits of the federal workforce and to reform compensation reimbursement for federal contractors. Cummings supported H.R. 4363, the Federal Employee Phased Retirement Act, a bi-partisan bill sponsored by Reps. Darrell Issa, Dennis Ross, and Stephen Lynch, that allows retirement-eligible employees to opt for phased retirement. This provision was signed into law by President Obama on July 6, 2012, as part of a transportation and student loan funding bill. Stopping the Flow of Guns on the U.S. / Mexico Border Ranking Member Cummings issued a report, “OUTGUNNED: Law Enforcement Agents Warn Congress They Lack Adequate Tools to Counter Illegal Firearms Trafficking” that included three recommendations to give law enforcement more tools to stop the flow of guns, and he convened a forum on the flow of illegal funds on both sides of the U.S./ Mexico border. Two of the recommendations were adopted by the Administration:
Ranking Member Cummings and Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Carolyn McCarthy introduced the Stop Gun Trafficking and Strengthen Law Enforcement Act to prohibit firearms trafficking in the criminal code. Increasing Diversity and Rooting Out Hazing in the Military
In May 2012, Ranking Member Cummings, Rep. Judy Chu, and other Members introduced The Harry Lew Military Hazing Accountability and Prevention Act of 2012 to help prevent and provide transparency to hazing incidents in the Armed Forces. The legislation was included as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. Ranking Member Cummings also worked with Reps. Silvestre Reyes, Loretta Sanchez, and Hank Johnson to amend the National Defense Authorization Act to mandate that the Department of Defense enhance diversity in recruitment, promotion and retention of senior-level military leaders, including women and minorities. Ranking Member Cummings introduced similar legislation, the Military Leaders Enhancement Act (H.R. 2186). Ranking Member Cummings held two Congressional forums on military diversity. The most recent forum was held in March with Sen. Ben Cardin and the Chairs of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congressional Asian Pacific Caucus, and Congressional Hispanic Caucus.
On February 21, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings launched his first investigation as Ranking Member into increasingly large-scale allegations of foreclosure fraud and abuses by mortgage servicers. Ranking Member Cummings and Senator Jay Rockefeller broadened the investigation to examine illegal foreclosures and other abuses against U.S. servicemembers and their families. On October 5, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings launched an investigation into “drug speculation” by “gray market” drug companies that trade in life-saving drugs in critically short supply. On December 15, 2011, Senate Chairmen Rockefeller and Harkin joined Ranking Member Cummings’ investigation. On December 12, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings announced an investigation into compensation packages of top executives at for-profit colleges, and issued the preliminary findings on July 27. Over the past three Congresses, Ranking Member Cummings has been a nationally recognized leader investigating excessive corporate salaries, bonuses, stock options, and other compensation, including unwarranted bonuses for AIG executives, conflicts of interest with compensation consultants, the disconnect between corporate pay and company performance, and the widening gap between the ultra-rich and middle-class American workers. On December 12, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings delivered the keynote address on executive compensation at the Americans for Financial Reform Conference hosted by Public Citizen. On April 25, 2012, Ranking Member Cummings and Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry Waxman launched an investigation into allegations that Wal-Mart executives covered-up the actions of company officials in Mexico accused of bribery. They expanded their investigation to examine Wal-Mart’s alleged efforts to weaken the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. In October of 2012 as part of a broad effort to promote the integrity of our nation's elections, Ranking Member Cummings launched an investigation into alleged efforts to suppress the vote through voter registration fraud and voter challenges.
On May 23, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings issued a staff report, “Real Help for American Consumers: Who’s Profiting at the Pump?” which found that “Addressing excessive speculation offers the single most significant opportunity to reduce the price of gas for American consumers.” On June 30, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings issued a staff report, “OUTGUNNED: Law Enforcement Agents Warn Congress They Lack Adequate Tools to Counter Illegal Firearms Trafficking” that included three recommendations to give law enforcement more tools to stop the flow of guns. On July 12, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings and Senator Jay Rockefeller released a staff report, “Fighting on the Home Front” that chronicled the growing problem of illegal foreclosures against U.S. servicemembers. On July 13, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings issued a forty-page investigative report, “An Examination of Attacks Against the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission” that found Chairman Issa’s allegations of improprieties by the Democratic Commissioners and staff, including “conflicts of interest,” and “extensive ties” to “partisan Democratic politics,” were largely unsubstantiated. On January 31, 2012, Ranking Member Cummings issued a 95-page report entitled “Fatally Flawed: Five Years of Gunwalking in Arizona,” which found that gunwalking operations originated and were executed in the Phoenix Field Division of ATF as early as 2006, and no evidence that senior officials at the Department of Justice approved gunwalking. On July 25, 2012, Ranking Member Cummings and Senator Jay Rockefeller released a report, “Shining Light on the Gray Market: An Examination of Why Hospitals Are Forced to Pay Exorbitant Prices for Prescription Drugs Facing Critical Shortages” which exposed a network of private “gray market” companies that take advantage of the national drug shortage crisis to charge exorbitant prices for drugs used to treat cancer and other life-threatening conditions. Signed into Law On November 27, 2012, President Barack Obama signed into law The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2012. The legislation protects lawful disclosures of waste, fraud, and abuse, correcting court decisions that narrowed the scope of protected disclosures and impeded efforts to protect all whistleblowers. Similar legislation, The Platts-Van Hollen Whistleblower Protection Act of 2011, was passed unanimously by the Oversight and Government Reform Committee on November 3, 2011. Ranking Member Cummings, who has been a proponent of expanding protections for federal whistleblowers for years, also praised the work of numerous open government organizations that fought for this legislation, including the Government Accountability Project, the Project on Government Oversight, the American Federation of Government Employees, the National Treasury Employees Union, the Liberty Coalition, the National Taxpayers Union, Public Citizen, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance, and the Union of Concerned Scientists. Passed by the House On October 14, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings and Rep. Jeff Landry introduced The American Mariners Job Protection Act, H.R. 3202, which would increase transparency surrounding the issuance of Jones Act waivers to allow foreign vessels to carry cargo between U.S. ports. They offered the legislation as an amendment to The Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Act of 2011, which passed the House. On April 26, 2012, the House passed The Federal Information Security Amendments Act of 2012, legislation Ranking Member Cummings joined Chairman Issa in introducing to protect federal information systems from cyber-attacks. On May 7, 2012, Ranking Member Cummings joined Reps. Judy Chu, Mike Honda, and other House Members in introducing The Harry Lew Military Hazing Accountability and Prevention Act of 2012, which would help prevent and provide transparency to hazing incidents in the armed forces. The legislation was included as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. On May 10, 2012, Ranking Member Cummings, working with Reps. Silvestre Reyes, Loretta Sanchez, and Hank Johnson, amended the National Defense Authorization Act to mandate that the Department of Defense enhance diversity in recruitment, promotion and retention of senior-level military leaders, including women and minorities. Last year, Cummings introduced similar legislation as the Military Leaders Enhancement Act (H.R. 2186). On May 15, 2012, the House passed legislation introduced by Ranking Members Cummings, Bob Filner, Adam Smith and several other Members, The Military Family Home Protection Act (H.R. 5747) to expand foreclosure protections for U.S. servicemembers, their families, survivors, and veterans. The Members offered the legislation as an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment passed with an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 394 to 27. Senator Jay Rockefeller introduced the companion bill in the United States Senate. Introduced Legislation On March 17, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings, joined by all Democratic Members of the Committee, introduced The Transparency and Openness in Government Act to strengthen the nation’s core open government laws. On April 13, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings and Senator Jack Reed introduced The Preserving Homes and Communities Act, to increase transparency in the foreclosure process and hold mortgage servicers accountable for engaging in loss mitigation efforts with qualified homeowners. On July 15, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings and Reps. Carolyn Maloney and Carolyn McCarthy introduced The Stop Gun Trafficking and Strengthen Law Enforcement Act, which would establish a dedicated firearms trafficking statute to empower law enforcement to keep high-powered firearms out of the hands of dangerous criminals. On September 21, 2011, Ranking Member Cummings and Rep. Stephen Lynch introduced The Innovate to Deliver Act, to address the Postal Service’s financial challenges and make innovative structural changes. On September 12, 2012, Ranking Member Cummings and other Members introduced a short-term measure to give the Postal Service a 90-day extension on its pre-payment to the retired employee health benefit fund. On March 7, 2012, Ranking Cummings and Senator Daniel Akaka introduced legislation to modernize the Hatch Act. Rep. Jason Chaffetz and a number of other Members co-sponsored the House bill, and Senators Lieberman, Levin, and Lee co-sponsored the Senate bill. The Office of Special Counsel applauded the bill. The Senate version of the passed and is pending in the House. On May 22, 2012, Ranking Member Cummings introduced The Gray Market Drug Reform and Transparency Act of 2012 to reform the process by which so-called “gray market” drug companies buy and sell drugs facing national shortages. On June 6, 2012, Ranking Member Cummings introduced The Defense Base Act Insurance Improvement Act of 2012, which would save taxpayers huge sums of money by transitioning the existing workers’ compensation insurance system for overseas government contractors away from private sector insurance companies to a federal self-insurance program.
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Committee On Oversight and Government Reform
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