Oversight

• HOUSE ENERGY AND COMMERCE COMMITTEE: (05/06/08) — Chairman John Dingell (D-Mich.) and House Appropriations Agriculture, FDA and Related Agencies Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) wrote to the head of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to express “deep concern” that Defense Department officials were reportedly recruiting ex-military officers to support the administration’s position on the Iraq war as military analysts on cable news networks.

“Many of these military analysts were simultaneously representing more than 150 companies competing for billions of dollars in Pentagon contracts,” the letter noted.

Dingell and DeLauro say the ex-military officers may have “run afoul of certain laws or regulations, among them the sponsorship identification requirements in … the FCC’s rules.” They asked FCC Chairman Kevin Martin to conduct an investigation into the Defense Department’s program, which was reported by The New York Times.

• SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE: (05/02/08) — Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and ranking member Susan Collins (R-Maine) wrote Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff asking for information about a new effort to secure federal information technology systems.

The senators note the administration’s request to triple the department’s cyber security budget over the past year.

Although Lieberman and Collins said they supported the department’s efforts, their letter raised several questions.

“We believe that increased openness and information sharing with the Congress, the private sector, and the American public will aid in the eventual success of the initiative.”

• HOUSE EDUCATION AND LABOR COMMITTEE: (05/06/08) — Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) criticized the administration for failing to keep track of foreign guest workers who come to the United States to work on a temporary basis.

“At the same time that unemployment is rising, many employers say that they cannot find available and willing U.S. workers to fill their labor needs,” Miller said. “When employers misuse the guest worker system, not only do U.S. workers miss out on jobs, but other employers with legitimate temporary labor needs miss out on visas.”