Conyers, Slaughter, Thompson, Rangel & Waxman's Resolution of Inquiry

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http://www.slaughter.house.gov/HoR/Louise/News/Press+Releases+By+Date/2005+Press+Releases/Ranking+Members+Author+Resolution+of+Inquiry+on+GannonGate.htm

For Immediate Release
March 7, 2005
Contact: Eric Burns
202-225-3615

Reps. Conyers, Slaughter, Thompson, Rangel and Waxman Author Resolution of Inquiry on GannonGate

Ranking Members Determined to Get Answers Resolution Will Force Cooperation, Unless Blocked by House Republicans

Washington, DC - The Ranking Members for House Committees on Rules, Judiciary, Government Reform, Homeland Security and Ways and Means have authored a Resolution of Inquiry, which would require the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to turn over all documentation regarding James Guckert's (AKA Jeff Gannon) regular access to the White House. The resolution comes on the heels of repeated requests by Rep. Louise Slaughter and Rep. John Conyers that the White House and the Department of Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over the Secret Service, turn over any and all materials related to the GannonGate issue. To date, the White House, the Secret Service, The Department of Homeland Security, and the Justice Department have all failed to respond to such requests.

"We cannot allow the White House to stonewall the United States Congress and the American people on an issue of such importance. This is a matter of national security and unethical White House media manipulation. Everyday more questions are raised and so far, the White House is not providing any answers. We intend to find out what the White House is hiding." stated Congresswoman Slaughter.

"We had hoped that the half dozen congressional and senate requests for information would have been sufficient. However, to date, they have not even merited a response from the White House or its agencies. We hope that this resolution gets to the bottom of whether any processes were abused in favoring Mr. Guckert, a fake reporter from a fake news organization," Rep. Conyers said.

The Resolution of Inquiry would force the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to cooperate with Congressional leaders in determining the nature of Gannon/Guckert's regular access to the White House and whether or not Secret Service security protocols were violated and if so, by whom. The resolution must be considered by the Judiciary Committee within 14 legislative days and, unless blocked by the Republicans on the Committee, will be put before the full House for consideration.

The included Dear Colleague letter was distributed to Members this morning and the following Members of Congress have already signed on as Original Co-Sponsors. A copy of the Resolution is also included below. ORIGINAL SPONSORS Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-14), Judiciary Committee, Ranking Member Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28), Rules Committee, Ranking Member Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Homeland Security Committee, Ranking Member Rep. Charles Rangel (NY-15), Ways and Means, Ranking MemberRep. Henry Waxman (CA-30), Government Reform Committee, Ranking Member ORIGINAL COSPONSORS Rep. Howard Berman (California, 28th)Rep. Rick Boucher (Virginia, 9th)Rep. Michael Capuano (Massachusetts, 8th)Rep. Peter DeFazio (Oregon, 4th)Rep. Alcee Hastings (Florida, 23rd)Rep. Maurice Hinchey (New York, 22nd) Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas, 18th)Rep. Barbara Lee (California, 9th)Rep. Zoe Lofgren (California, 16th)Rep. Jim McDermott (Washington, 7th)Rep. James McGovern (Massachusetts, 3rd) Rep. Jerrold Nadler (New York, 8th) Rep. Linda Sánchez (California, 39th) Rep. Adam Schiff (California, 29th) Rep. Bobby Scott (Virginia, 3rd) Rep. Adam Smith (Washington, 9th) Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Maryland, 8th) Rep. Maxine Waters (California, 35th) Rep. Dianne Watson (California, 33rd) Rep. Anthony Weiner (New York, 9th) Rep. Robert Wexler (Florida, 19th)

Dear Colleague:

Please join us in introducing the attached resolution, which requires the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to turn over all documentation in their possession about how James Guckert (also known as Jeff Gannon) gained access to White House press events. For nearly three years, the White House has been granting Mr. Guckert, a right-wing activist with no press credentials, access to the White House briefing room and presidential press conferences. This appears to violate long standing practices of carefully screening contacts with the president. This special access not only raises security concerns, but calls into question the fundamental fairness of the White House press corps.

Mr. Guckert's efforts as a propaganda machine for the White House may have even violated laws banning the Administration from using appropriated money for propaganda purposes. It further appears that Mr. Guckert had access to classified information, in violation of laws that protect the identity of undercover agents. Because of these concerns, we will be introducing this resolution to inquire how the Justice and Homeland Security Departments were used to forward this agenda and whether any processes were abused in favoring Mr. Guckert and his ultra-conservative organization. We had hoped that the half dozen congressional and senate requests for information would have been sufficient. However, to date, they have not even merited a response from the White House or its agencies. To cosponsor, or if you have questions, please contact Michelle Richardson (x56906).

Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr. Ranking Member Judiciary Committee
Louise M. Slaughter Ranking Member Rules Committee
Bennie Thompson Ranking Member Homeland Security Committee
Henry Waxman Ranking Member Government Reform Committee
Charles Rangel Ranking Member Committee Ways and Means Committee

RESOLUTION Directing the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents in the possession of those officials relating to the security investigations and background checks relating to granting access to the White House of James D. Guckert (also known as Jeff Gannon).

Resolved, That the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are each directed to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution all documents in their possession relating to the security investigations and background checks relating to granting access to the White House of James D. Guckert (also known as Jeff Gannon) and any requisite instructions for handling such documents, including
(1) all records setting forth or discussing whether an individual granted access to the President or to the White House briefing room may use a false name;
(2) all records setting forth or discussing policies, procedures, or guidelines discussing security clearances and background checks relating to granting access into the White House briefing room;
(3) all records indicating how the policies, procedures, or guidelines referred to above were communicated to Mr. Guckert;
(4) all records indicating the officer or office responsible for requesting that the Secret Service carry out a security investigation or background check with respect to an individual seeking access to the President or to the White House briefing room;
(5) all records setting forth the standards for security investigations or background checks with respect to ''day pass'' credentials;
(6) all records indicating or discussing whether and to what extent an individual who is cleared for a day pass for a given date is required to receive further security clearance for a day pass for a later date;
(7) all records setting forth or discussing which officer or officers, if any, has the authority to exempt an individual seeking access to the President or to the White House briefing room from the standards for security investigations or background checks that otherwise apply; and
(8) all records of communication between the Secret Service and Mr. Guckert, including not only postal correspondence but also electronic mail correspondence, facsimile correspondence, records of telephone conversations, and any other records of communication.

[paineinthearse]

1. Same document, better formatting

For Immediate Release
Contact: Eric Burns
202-225-3615

Reps. Conyers, Slaughter, Thompson, Rangel and Waxman Author Resolution of Inquiry on GannonGate

Ranking Members Determined to Get Answers

Resolution Will Force Cooperation, Unless Blocked by House Republicans

Washington, DC - The Ranking Members for House Committees on Rules, Judiciary, Government Reform, Homeland Security and Ways and Means have authored a Resolution of Inquiry, which would require the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to turn over all documentation regarding James Guckert's (AKA Jeff Gannon) regular access to the White House.

The resolution comes on the heels of repeated requests by Rep. Louise Slaughter and Rep. John Conyers that the White House and the Department of Homeland Security, which has jurisdiction over the Secret Service, turn over any and all materials related to the GannonGate issue. To date, the White House, the Secret Service, The Department of Homeland Security, and the Justice Department have all failed to respond to such requests.

"We cannot allow the White House to stonewall the United States Congress and the American people on an issue of such importance. This is a matter of national security and unethical White House media manipulation. Everyday more questions are raised and so far, the White House is not providing any answers. We intend to find out what the White House is hiding." stated Congresswoman Slaughter.

"We had hoped that the half dozen congressional and senate requests for information would have been sufficient. However, to date, they have not even merited a response from the White House or its agencies. We hope that this resolution gets to the bottom of whether any processes were abused in favoring Mr. Guckert, a fake reporter from a fake news organization," Rep. Conyers said.

The Resolution of Inquiry would force the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to cooperate with Congressional leaders in determining the nature of Gannon/Guckert's regular access to the White House and whether or not Secret Service security protocols were violated and if so, by whom.

The resolution must be considered by the Judiciary Committee within 14 legislative days and, unless blocked by the Republicans on the Committee, will be put before the full House for consideration.

The included Dear Colleague letter was distributed to Members this morning and the following Members of Congress have already signed on as Original Co-Sponsors. A copy of the Resolution is also included below.

ORIGINAL SPONSORS

Rep. John Conyers, Jr. (MI-14), Judiciary Committee, Ranking Member
Rep. Louise M. Slaughter (NY-28), Rules Committee, Ranking Member
Rep. Bennie Thompson (MS-02), Homeland Security Committee, Ranking Member
Rep. Charles Rangel (NY-15), Ways and Means, Ranking Member
Rep. Henry Waxman (CA-30), Government Reform Committee, Ranking Member

ORIGINAL COSPONSORS

Rep. Howard Berman (California, 28th)
Rep. Rick Boucher (Virginia, 9th)
Rep. Michael Capuano (Massachusetts, 8th)
Rep. Peter DeFazio (Oregon, 4th)
Rep. Alcee Hastings (Florida, 23rd)
Rep. Maurice Hinchey (New York, 22nd)
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (Texas, 18th)
Rep. Barbara Lee (California, 9th)
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (California, 16th)
Rep. Jim McDermott (Washington, 7th)
Rep. James McGovern (Massachusetts, 3rd)
Rep. Jerrold Nadler (New York, 8th)
Rep. Linda Sánchez (California, 39th)
Rep. Adam Schiff (California, 29th)
Rep. Bobby Scott (Virginia, 3rd)
Rep. Adam Smith (Washington, 9th)
Rep. Chris Van Hollen (Maryland, 8th)
Rep. Maxine Waters (California, 35th)
Rep. Dianne Watson (California, 33rd)
Rep. Anthony Weiner (New York, 9th)
Rep. Robert Wexler (Florida, 19th)

Dear Colleague:

Please join us in introducing the attached resolution, which requires the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security to turn over all documentation in their possession about how James Guckert (also known as Jeff Gannon) gained access to White House press events.

For nearly three years, the White House has been granting Mr. Guckert, a right-wing activist with no press credentials, access to the White House briefing room and presidential press conferences. This appears to violate long standing practices of carefully screening contacts with the president.

This special access not only raises security concerns, but calls into question the fundamental fairness of the White House press corps. Mr. Guckert's efforts as a propaganda machine for the White House may have even violated laws banning the Administration from using appropriated money for propaganda purposes. It further appears that Mr. Guckert had access to classified information, in violation of laws that protect the identity of undercover agents.

Because of these concerns, we will be introducing this resolution to inquire how the Justice and Homeland Security Departments were used to forward this agenda and whether any processes were abused in favoring Mr. Guckert and his ultra-conservative organization. We had hoped that the half dozen congressional and senate requests for information would have been sufficient. However, to date, they have not even merited a response from the White House or its agencies.

To cosponsor, or if you have questions, please contact Michelle Richardson (x56906).

Sincerely,

John Conyers, Jr. Louise M. Slaughter Bennie Thompson
Ranking Member Ranking Member Ranking Member
Judiciary Committee Rules Committee Homeland Security

Henry Waxman Charles Rangel
Ranking Member Ranking Member
CommitteeGovernment Reform CommitteeWays and Means Committee



RESOLUTION
Directing the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents in the possession of those officials relating to the security investigations and background checks relating to granting access to the White House of James D. Guckert (also known as Jeff Gannon).

Resolved, That the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security are each directed to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution all documents in their possession relating to the security investigations and background checks relating to granting access to the White House of James D. Guckert (also known as Jeff Gannon) and any requisite instructions for handling such documents, including

(1) all records setting forth or discussing whether an individual granted access to the President or to the White House briefing room may use a false name;

(2) all records setting forth or discussing policies, procedures, or guidelines discussing security clearances and background checks relating to granting access into the White House briefing room;

(3) all records indicating how the policies, procedures, or guidelines referred to above were communicated to Mr. Guckert;

(4) all records indicating the officer or office responsible for requesting that the Secret Service carry out a security investigation or background check with respect to an individual seeking access to the President or to the White House briefing room;

(5) all records setting forth the standards for security investigations or background checks with respect to ''day pass'' credentials;

(6) all records indicating or discussing whether and to what extent an individual who is cleared for a day pass for a given date is required to receive further security clearance for a day pass for a later date;

(7) all records setting forth or discussing which officer or officers, if any, has the authority to exempt an individual seeking access to the President or to the White House briefing room from the standards for security investigations or background checks that otherwise apply; and

(8) all records of communication between the Secret Service and Mr. Guckert, including not only postal correspondence but also electronic mail correspondence, facsimile correspondence, records of telephone conversations, and any other records of communication.

Washington Office
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[phone]
[phone] Buffalo Office

465 Main Street
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Buffalo, NY 14203
[phone]
[phone] Niagara Falls Office

1910 Pine Avenue
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[phone]
[phone] Rochester Office

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[phone]
[phone]

[Melodybe]

2. Ball now officially rolling...

Yay dems, now start bringing out the big guns.

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9. .

Ya, maybe somebody in DU might even notice, ya think????

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4. John Conyers

http://democrats.house.gov/about/representative_detail.cfm?rep_id=58

John Conyers
Michigan, 14th

Rep. John Conyers's Official Website

Representative John Conyers, Jr., a Detroit Democrat, was re-elected in November 2002 to his 19 term in the U.S. House of Representatives, winning 83 percent of the vote in Michigan's 14th Congressional District.

The district covers all of Highland Park and Hamtramck, as well as large portions of Detroit and Dearborn. Due to the Congressional redistricting of resents the Down River communities of Melvindale, Allen Park, Southgate, Riverview, Trenton, Gibraltar, and Grosse Ile Township.

Elected in 1964, Mr. Conyers is the second most senior member in the House of Representatives and was elected by his congressional colleagues to lead the Democratic side of the pivotal House Committee on the Judiciary. In addition to its oversight of the Department of Justice (including the FBI) and the Federal Courts, the Judiciary Committee has jurisdiction over copyright, constitutional, consumer protection, and civil rights issues. Congressman Conyers was also a member of the Judiciary Committee in its 1974 hearings on the Watergate impeachment scandal and played a prominent role in the recent impeachment process, giving him the distinction as the only Judiciary Committee Member to have served on both panels.

Congressman Conyers is also one of the 13 founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) and is considered the Dean of that group. Formed in 1969, the CBC was founded to strengthen African-American law makers ability to address the legislative concerns of Black and minority citizens.

In Mr. Conyers' 35 years in Congress, some of his major accomplishments include: the Violence Against Women Act of 1994, the Motor Voter Bill of 1993, the Martin Luther King Holiday Act of 1983, the Alcohol Warning Label Act of 1988, the Jazz Preservation Act of 1987, and was the driving force behind the Help America Vote Act of 2002.

Working for the People of Detroit and Down River Communities

Congressman Conyers is dedicated to improving the lives of the people of the 14th Congressional District. During 107th Congress, he secured an appropriation totaling over one million dollars for the Detroit Medical Center. Hutzel Hospital received $800,000 for general renovation; and the Rehabilitation Institute of Michigan received an appropriation of $450,000. In addition, Rep. Conyers intervened to prevent abuse of women in Michigan prisons. He held a series of public meetings to hear testimony by both former inmates and staff on the sexual misconduct of male guards in Michigan's prisons. The public meetings and contact with the U.S. Department of Justice led to the creation of a policy in Michigan prisons that restricts male correctional officers from guarding women who reside in private quarters. Conyers also convened a job fair for ex-offenders in conjunction with the City of Detroit Employment Connection. This innovative partnership was established to reduce the recidivism rate among ex-offnders and to ensure that they have access to adequate employment once released from prison.

Providing Leadership on Judiciary Issues

In his role on Judiciary Committee, Representative Conyers has introduced and endorsed legislation to advance civil liberties, ensure equal protection and access to the voting booth and combat violence against women. Since September 11th, he has worked to strike a balance between keeping our country safe from terrorism and protecting the civil liberties of our citizens. Conyers has supported the Administration and proper law enforcement and intelligence authorities' efforts to prevent terrorism. At the same time, he has worked to make sure that civil liberties and civil rights are preserved in the process. During the 107th Congress, Conyers introduced the "Military Tribunal Authorization Act of 2002," which provides lawmakers with an opportunity to exercise their constitutional authority to define and regulate the use of military tribunals. To address organizational problems in the FBI, which recently came to light, he introduced the "Federal Bureau of Investigation Reform Act of 2002". This legislation would improve the agency's management and structure as well as protect whistleblowers who report FBI wrongdoing.

In response to problems experienced by voters during the 2000 Presidential Election, Representative Conyers co-authored comprehensive election reform legislation to end discriminatory election practices, which was enacted in October 2002. This bill advances civil rights and protects voting rights, among other provisions, by establishing federal minimum voting rights standards for election machines and requiring voting sites to be made accessible to those with disabilities.

As an outspoken critic of violence against women, Congressman Conyers was also a lead sponsor of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), which was enacted in 1994 and re- authorized in 2001. It provides funding for federal, state, and local programs to combat domestic violence and sexual assault. In addition, Mr. Conyers is the principal author of the "End Racial Profiling Act," legislation that would ensure that the rights of all Americans are protected by banning racial profiling nationwide and by requiring all federal, state and local law enforcement agencies to take administrative steps to eliminate the practice. He also introduced the "Hate Crimes Prevention Act," legislation would place a wide range of hate crimes under federal jurisdiction and allow for enhanced support by the Federal government of local investigation and prosecution.

Fighting for Michigan's Working Families

Representative Conyers has spent his entire career fighting for Michigan's working families. As a supporter of the UAW, Congressman Conyers is well aware of the struggles that affect working families. With families facing skyrocketing health care costs, rising unemployment and an outdated minimum wage, Conyers continues to fight for equal pay for women and minorities, a raise in the minimum wage, and full employment for all Americans. He opposes the Bush Administration's attempts to roll back worker safety standards, the elimination of overtime in favor of flex-time, and efforts to undermine workers' collective bargaining rights in both the public and private sectors. Currently, Mr. Conyers is working on legislation that would protect workers' pensions and health care in cases of bankruptcy such as those involving Enron, Worldcom, and National Steel.

Working for Quality, Affordable Healthcare

For more than three decades, Congressman Conyers has led efforts in Congress to reform the health care system. He is the founder and chairman of the Congressional Universal Health Care Task Force, a 45 member caucus whose mission is to pass universal health care legislation by 2005. This legislation would guarantee every American access to affordable, comprehensive, quality health care. The caucus introduced House Concurrent Resolution 99, which has the support of over 450 grassroots organizations across the country, and dozens of Members of Congress. He recently introduced the United States National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676, a Medicare For All Single Payer bill which has the endorsement of over 4000 physicians nationally. Further, Representative Conyers introduced the Resident Physician Safety Protection Act in order to reduce the hours that resident physicians work, so they can perform at optimal levels. The American Medical Association and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education have adopted major provisions of the bill.

International Engagement

In a world currently dominated by globalization, ethnic conflicts and terrorism, Mr. Conyers is committed to promoting peace and understanding. He has worked diligently to turn back the war effort against Iraq. Last Congress, he voted against Joint House Resolution 114 which gave the President the authority to invade Iraq. Additionally, he signed on as a plaintiff to a lawsuit which asserted that the resolution was unconstitutional and therefore not valid, since the Constitution specifically designates that only Congress can declare war. Additionally, Mr. Conyers has spoken at anti-war demonstrations and written letters to the Administration asking that it meet with the Members of Congress who oppose the war. Further, Mr. Conyers also met with Secretary General Kofi Annan to reinforce to the Secretary that many members of Congress fully support the United Nations and encouraged him to remain focused in asserting the UN role as an arbiter of peace.

Another country which Mr. Conyers has worked diligently to help is the country of Haiti. In the 108th Congress, Mr. Conyers is an original co-sponsor of a Haiti Trade bill, which will provide duty-free status to Haitian garments that are either assembled or knit to shape in Haiti, as long as the yarns and fabrics are from the US or from countries with which the US has an agreement. Mr. Conyers is committed to directing multi-lateral funding to Haiti, specifically, one hundred fifty four million dollars in loans that have been approved by the Inter-Development World Bank (IDB) but have yet to be released. In this regard, Mr. Conyers met with the Board of Directors at the IDB and the Undersecretary of Treasury . In addition, he has written numerous letters to the State Department, the President and to Members of Congress in an attempt to get the much needed funds to Haiti.

Personal and Professional

Rep. Conyers was educated in Detroit's public school system and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and a Doctor of Law degree at Wayne State University. He is the recipient of many awards for leadership, including a Southern Christian Leadership Conference Award, which was presented to him by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. He has also been awarded a number of honorary degrees from colleges and universities throughout the nation. He is married to the former Monica Esters. Mr. and Mrs. Conyers have two sons, John III and Carl Edward.

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5. Louise Slaughter

http://democrats.house.gov/about/representative_detail.cfm?rep_id=202

Louise Slaughter
New York, 28th


Rep. Louise Slaughter's Official Website

As one of the most powerful women in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congresswoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter has achieved a significant level of leadership as the second ranking Democrat on the influential House Rules Committee, as well as the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Legislative and Budget Process.

Recently, she was tapped to serve on the newly created Select Committee on Homeland Security, serving as the Ranking Member on the Subcommittee on Rules and sitting on the Subcommittee on Infrastructure and Border Security. she is the Democratic Chair of three very prominent Congressional Caucuses: the Arts, Women's, and Pro-Choice Caucuses.

Rep. Slaughter is currently serving her ninth term in Congress as Representative of the 28th Congressional District of New York State. Her diverse district includes the cities of Rochester, Buffalo, and Niagara Falls. Known as a strong proponent of progressive causes, as well as a fighter for the employment concerns and the economic development of Western New York, Rep. Slaughter has earned a reputation for her dedication to constituent service.

A tireless promoter of small businesses, Rep. Slaughter regularly holds conferences to help remove the barriers to capital and federal contracts. She was responsible for the enactment of permanent tax initiatives for the creation of new jobs in small and mid-size manufacturing firms.

Her fight to secure funding for local projects earned her the distinction of having the Rochester Institute of Technology name its Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies facility, "The Louise M. Slaughter Building." In addition, she has secured federal funding for High Technology of Rochester's business incubator, the Rochester Harbor Redevelopment Project (including the Fast Ferry), the Center for Optics Manufacturing, Rochester Institute of Technology's Remanufacturing and Resource Recovery Center, and the University of Rochester, which is expected to become Rochester's largest employer later this year.

A microbiologist with a master's degree in public health, she is intensely involved in health issues. She has authored cutting-edge legislation aimed at protecting consumers from discrimination by health insurance providers or employers based on genetic makeup. This widely supported bill would also protect the privacy of consumers' genetic information. Last year she was honored by the National Tay-Sachs and Allied Disorders Association with the "Public Conscience Award" for leadership on health care issues, including genetic discrimination.

Concerned about the high incidence of colorectal cancer among Americans, especially minorities, and the mistaken notion that colorectal cancer is primarily a "man's disease," Congresswoman Slaughter spearheaded a nationwide education and prevention campaign to wage war on this number two cancer killer. She introduced legislation that would require health insurance companies to cover preventive screening for colorectal cancer for all men and women over the age of 50, and for individuals under the age of 50 at high risk for the disease.

As one of the Congressional leaders on women's issues, Rep. Slaughter has won historic increases in funding for women's health. She is responsible for passage of legislation that established the first federal research and education programs on DES, a drug mistakenly prescribed to pregnant women from 1938 to 1971 to prevent miscarriage. DES often caused deformities and other health problems in the reproductive systems of their children.

She fought for legislation guaranteeing that women and minorities are included in all federal health trials and establishing an Office of Research on Women's Health at the National Institutes of Health. She has introduced a bill to direct the National Institutes of Health to fund up to six centers nationwide that would focus on women's health and the environment. In 1997, she was awarded the American Public Health Association Distinguished Public Health Legislator Award.

A leading advocate of women's rights, Rep. Slaughter succeeded in having her legislation to establish a Women's Rights National Historic Trail enacted into law. In 1998, she was presented with the International Health Awareness Network Recognition Award for her lifelong commitment to women's equality at an International Women's Day Celebration at the United Nations.

Known by her colleagues as a staunch supporter of the arts, Rep. Slaughter led the successful fight last year in Congress to increase the budgets of the National Endowment of the Arts by $10 millions and the National Endowment for the Humanities by $5 million. Her efforts to generate Congressional support for the arts was recognized in January 1998 when Rep. Slaughter received the Award for Outstanding Arts Leadership in the U.S. House of Representatives from the U.S. Conference of Mayors and Americans for the Arts.

During her sixteen years in Congress, Rep. Slaughter has won numerous awards for her leadership and dedication to public service. She was the first Member of Congress to receive the Sidney R. Yates National Arts Advocacy Award, presented by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. Last year she was awarded the "Humane Legislator of the Year" by the American Humane Association. In January 1999, she was named, "Lay Educator of the Year" by the Rochester Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International, the professional fraternity for men and women in education.

Elected in 1986, Congresswoman Slaughter has a Bachelor of Science degree (1951) in microbiology and a Master of Science degree (1953) in public health from the University of Kentucky. Prior to entering Congress, she served in the Monroe County (N.Y.) Legislature (1976-79); as regional coordinator to then-Secretary of State Mario Cuomo (1976-78) and to then-Lt. Gov. Mario Cuomo (1979-82); and in the New York Assembly (1982-86).

A native of Harlan County, Kentucky, Congresswoman Slaughter has lived most of her life in Rochester's suburb of Fairport. She is married to Robert Slaughter and has three daughters and seven grandchildren.

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6. Bernie Thompson

http://democrats.house.gov/about/representative_detail.cfm?rep_id=214

Bennie Thompson
Mississippi, 2nd


Rep. Bennie Thompson's Official Website

A native of Bolton, Mississippi, Congressman Thompson began his political career over 34 years ago when he won his first elected office as Alderman in his hometown of Bolton.

After four years as Alderman, he served six years as Mayor of Bolton and then was elected Supervisor of Hinds County District Two. He served as County Supervisor for 13 years. He was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in a special election in April, 1993, and represents Mississippi's Second Congressional District. He currently serves on the House Committee on Agriculture and the House Select Committee on Homeland Security.

Bennie Thompson was educated in the public schools of Hinds County, Mississippi. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Tougaloo College, and a Masters of Science degree from Jackson State University and completed extensive coursework at the University of Southern Mississippi toward a doctorate degree in Public Administration. For a brief time in his professional career he taught in the public school system of Mississippi and also served as an adjunct professor at Jackson State University.

A lifelong activist in the civil rights struggle, Congressman Thompson has been a participant in the complete spectrum of the fight for equality and in making the political system work for every citizen. As a grassroots volunteer, labor organizer, student activist, community leader and politician, Congressman Thompson remained focused in combating and working to address issues of race, gender, and class in both the private and public sectors.

Being a product of Mississippi colleges he had first hand knowledge of the disparity between funding, equipment, and supplies provided to the historically black colleges and those provided to white colleges. In reaction to that situation in 1975, Bennie Thompson became one of the original plaintiffs in the Ayers Case, which was decided in favor of the plaintiffs by the United States Supreme Court in 1992.

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7. Henry Waxman

http://democrats.house.gov/about/representative_detail.cfm?rep_id=227

Henry Waxman
California, 30th

Henry A. Waxman represents California's 30th Congressional District, which includes the complete cities of Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, Malibu, Westlake Village and West Hollywood, as well as such areas of Los Angeles as Beverly-Fairfax, Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Beverlywood, Topanga, Agoura, Chatsworth and Westwood.

Rep. Waxman chaired the Commerce Committee's Subcommittee on Health and the Environment from 1979 to 1994 and was the Subcommittee's Ranking Member in 1995 and 1996. Rep. Waxman continues to serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee. He currently sits on the Subcommittee on Health, the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, and the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

Since 1997, Rep. Waxman has served as ranking member of the Government Reform Committee, the principal investigative committee in the House. From this position, he has conducted investigations into a wide range of topics, including the high costs of prescription drugs, conditions in nursing homes, overcrowded schools, and voting irregularities. He formed a "Special Investigations Division" of the minority staff that has prepared hundreds of investigative reports on local and national topics for Members of Congress. And he led the Democratic response during the Committee's partisan investigation of the Clinton Administration.

Since 2001, Rep. Waxman has used his Government Reform position to oppose efforts by the Bush Administration to block congressional oversight and roll back health and environmental laws. He has launched investigations of White House ties to Enron, contract abuses in Iraq, and the politicization of science. He has also fought for disclosure of the names of the energy industry lobbyists who shaped the White House energy plan and filed suit to force the Administration to released "adjusted" data from the 2000 Census that corrects for the undercount of minorities. In addition, Rep. Waxman has repeatedly fought efforts by EPA to relax important air pollution and drinking water protections and by FDA to weaken enforcement of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act.

Rep. Waxman has been a leader on health and environmental issues, including universal health insurance, Medicare and Medicaid coverage, tobacco, AIDS, air and water quality standards, pesticides, nursing home quality standards, women's health research and reproductive rights, the availability and cost of prescription drugs, and the right of communities to know about pollution levels.

Rep. Waxman has been involved in health issues since 1969, when he was appointed to the California State Assembly Health Committee. In Congress, Rep. Waxman has sponsored a long list of health bills that have been enacted into law. These measures include the Ryan White CARE Act, the Nutrition Labeling and Education Act, the Breast and Cervical Cancer Mortality Prevention Act, the Safe Medical Devices Act, the Patent Term Restoration and Drug Competition Act, and the Orphan Drug Act.

Rep. Waxman has also passed legislation that improves the quality of nursing homes and home health services and that sets policy for childhood immunization programs, vaccine compensation, tobacco education programs, communicable disease research, community and migrant health centers, maternal and child health care, family planning centers, health maintenance organizations, and drug regulation and reform.

Throughout the 1980s, Rep. Waxman championed national health care reform and improvements in the Medicare and Medicaid programs. He successfully led the fight for improved prenatal and infant care for low-income families, for protection against impoverishment for the spouses of persons in nursing homes, and for more services in the community for people needing long-term care. He has also been an advocate for prescription drug coverage in Medicare for people with high drug expenses.

In the environmental area, Rep. Waxman was one of the primary authors of the 1990 Clean Air Act, which sets out a comprehensive program to combat smog, acid rain, toxic air emissions, and ozone depletions. He also sponsored the 1986 and 1996 Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments, the 1996 Food Quality Act (which regulates pesticides), the Radon Abatement Act, and the Lead Contamination Control Act. Rep. Waxman is continuing to pursue legislation to control indoor air pollution, and global warming.

Rep. Waxman is a leader in efforts to assist the elderly by providing them with opportunities for better health care through such programs as improved long-term nursing care and better housing and nutrition. A strong defender of the Social Security System, he fought moves to reduce benefits and to increase the retirement age. He was a co-author of legislation that abolished mandatory retirement for Federal employees and raised the retirement age in the private sector from 65 to 70.

Rep. Waxman has been a leading supporter of the right of women to have freedom of choice with respect to safe and legal abortions, including the full extension of this right to lower-income women who depend on the Medicaid program for health care. He has been at the forefront of efforts to stop any limitations on this right. He strongly opposes the prohibition of federally funded clinics from offering abortion information and counseling.

Since coming to Congress, Rep. Waxman has earned the reputation of being an expert on Middle East policy and an effective proponent of American aid to guarantee Israel's security and survival.

Prior to his election to Congress, Rep. Waxman served three terms in the California State Assembly, where he was chairman of the Health Committee, the Committee on Elections and Reapportionment, and the Select Committee on Medical Malpractice. He was the author of such major legislation as the Fair Campaign Practices Act, the Fair credit for Women Law, and the legislation establishing standards for Health Maintenance Organizations in California.

Henry Waxman was born September 12, 1939, in Los Angeles, and holds a bachelor's degree in political science from UCLA and a J.D. from the UCLA Law School. He and his wife, the former Janet Kessler, have a daughter and son-in-law, a son and daughter-in-law, and three grandchildren.

[paineinthearse]

8. Charles Rangel

http://democrats.house.gov/about/representative_detail.cfm?rep_id=182

Charles Rangel
New York, 15th

Congressman Charles B. Rangel is serving his seventeenth term as the Representative from the 15th Congressional District, comprising East and Central Harlem, the Upper West Side, and Washington Heights/Inwood.

Congressman Rangel is the Ranking Member of the Committee on Ways and Means, Chairman of the Board of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Dean of the New York State Congressional Delegation.

Congressman Rangel is the principal author of the five billion dollar Federal Empowerment Zone demonstration project to revitalize urban neighborhoods throughout America. He is also the author of the Low Income Housing Tax Credit, which is responsible for financing ninety percent of the affordable housing built in the U.S. in the last ten years. The Work Opportunity Tax Credit, which Congressman Rangel also championed, has provided thousands of jobs for underprivileged young people, veterans, and ex-offenders.

As the former chairman of the Select Committee on Narcotics Abuse and Control, Congressman Rangel continues to lead the nation's fight against drug abuse and trafficking. In his efforts to reduce the flow of drugs into the United States and to solve the nation's continuing drug abuse crisis, Congressman Rangel serves as chairman of the Congressional Narcotics Abuse and Control Caucus.

Congressman Rangel is a founding member and former chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus; he was also chairman of the New York State Council of Black Elected Democrats and was a member of the House Judiciary Committee during the hearings on the articles of impeachment of President Richard Nixon.

Congressman Rangel served in the U.S. Army from 1948-52, during which time he fought in Korea and was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. Congressman Rangel has authored several pieces of legislation to benefit minority and women veterans, including a successful bill that established the Office of Minority Affairs Within the Department of Veterans Affairs.

In 1987, at the height of the battle against apartheid, Congressman Rangel led the effort to include in the Internal revenue Code one of the most effective anti-apartheid measures, denial of tax credits for taxes paid to South Africa. This measure resulted in several Fortune 500 companies leaving South Africa. In addition, Congressman Rangel played a vital role in restoring the democratic government in Haiti.

Congressman Rangel is a graduate of New York University and St. John's University School of Law. He has spent his entire career in public service, first as an Assistant U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, and later in the New York State Assembly. He was elected to the 92nd Congress on November 3, 1970, and has been re-elected to each succeeding congress.

Congressman Rangel lives in Harlem with his wife Alma, who is a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus Spouses and participates in many civic and community organizations. Congressman and Mrs. Rangel have two children.

[paineinthearse]

3. DU loves Conyers, Slaughter, Thompson, Rangel & Waxman!!!!

+ + + + =

:grouphug: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :yourock: :grouphug:

[liberalla]

10. I concur!

Love this tribute to the Fab 5! Thank you!

:kick: :yourock: :kick: :yourock: :kick:

[Vinca]

11. It boggles my mind these people have been ignored

by the White House so far. That's true chutzpah. KKKarl must've come up with a cover story by now.

[paineinthearse]

12. Look at the other side of the coin.......

On here 3 days and 11 replies. Not much interest by DU, either.

[bush_is_wacko]

13. Oh, I'm interested and I'm sure a whole lot of other people are too

I was really just waiting to hear how this goes over. Many of us see these posts, write our letters or emails o encouragement or thanks and go to the next issue. I had heard about this pending document a while ago actually through Conyers site. I wasn't really surprised by this, he said he was drafting something like this, like I said several weeks ago. Conyers is one of those guys you KNOW will do what he says he's going to do. Others need to be encouraged on a daily basis.

I'm glad he did this. I wonder how many of these things are sitting in bushitler's desk drawer rotting away though. I hope this one gets somewhere

[paineinthearse]

14. My point is......

If DU focuses on the negative at the expense of these positive events, we will grow bitter. And the "good news" posts sink.

We need to keep them alive so more will read them, take positive action, etc etc etc.

Let it GROW!

[bush_is_wacko]

15. I do agree with that. It is always good to give some good news

a :kick:

[paineinthearse]

16. Thanks!

:thumbsup: