House Oversight & Govt Reform: Going Postal (CCP)

This is the weekly installment of a series highlighting the events and activities of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Make the jump for a special "going postal" edition.

Week in Review:  02/12/07-02/17/07

Hearings

February 14: Full Committee business meeting on the Executive Branch Reform Act of 2007 and the Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act of 2007 Summary: Two important bills sponsored by Waxman and other committee members were reported on for consideration on the House floor.     H.R.984 The Executive Branch Reform Act (full text - PDF) This bill aims to reduce the influence of lobbyists and special interests on the Executive Branch.   Senior officials in the White House and other federal agencies will be required to report contacts with lobbyists and private parties, including dates of meetings, parties involved and subject matter discussed.  The revolving door between Lobbyists, Contractors and Government will stop spinning with a federal ban to prevent favors or contracts being handed out to former employers.  Likewise, if a government official leaves to become a lobbyist they would be prevented from lobbying former colleagues for at least 2 years.  The bill also requires the federal government to disclose funding for covert propaganda, a la Armstrong Williams, to the American public.   H.R.985 The Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act (full text - PDF) This bill strengthens protections for Whistleblowers, particularly those specializing in National Security Issues, Government Contracting, and Science.  Whistleblowers should not fear that reporting waste, fraud, and abuse of taxpayer dollars will cost them their jobs.   Video: Executive Branch Ethics Hearings, Opening Statement by Waxman, and Whistle Blower Protection Act

February 15: Iraq Reconstruction: An Overview Witnesses: David Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, GAO Stuart Bowen Jr., Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction William Reed, Director, Defense Contract Audit Agency Summary: Another hearing to followup the previous week.  Remember the 363 tons of cash - $12 billion dollars that went unaccounted for in Iraq?   Well, the Defense Contract Audit Agency has discovered another $10 billion in questioned and unsupported costs, $2.7 billion of which went to Halliburton.  So now there's $22 billion in missing or questionable funding and BushCo is asking for more money???  The DCAA isn't even done yet.  Thus far, they have audited only $57 billion of the total $350 billion spent on the war in Iraq, so we still don't know the full magnitude of the wasteful spending.    As Waxman said in his Opening Statement, "The total amount of waste, fraud and abuse could be astronomical". Report (PDF): REBUILDING IRAQ: Reconstruction Progress Hindered by Contracting, Security, and Capacity Challenges

Legislation - NEW
Here are the bills & resolutions introduced last week - listed under the Subcommittee which has jurisdiction over the matter.  

Domestic Policy H.R.1012 : To reform laws and procedures affecting small business. Sponsor: Rep Buchanan, Vern [FL-13] H.R.1073 : To amend the definition of a law enforcement officer under subchapter III of chapter 83 and chapter 84 of title 5, United States Code, respectively, to ensure the inclusion of certain positions. Sponsor: Rep Filner, Bob [CA-51]

Government Management, Organization, and Procurement H.R.984 : To provide for reform in the operations of the executive branch. Sponsor: Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] H.R.985 : To amend title 5, United States Code, to clarify which disclosures of information are protected from prohibited personnel practices; to require a statement in nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements to the effect that such policies, forms, and agreements are consistent with certain disclosure protections, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30] H.R.1150 : To establish the Commission on Economic Indicators to conduct a study and submit a report containing recommendations concerning the appropriateness and accuracy of the methodology, calculations, and reporting used by the Government relating to certain economic indicators. Sponsor: Rep Emanuel, Rahm [IL-5]

Information Policy, Census, and National Archives H.R.1117 : To repeal title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005, to reinstitute section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which provides States additional regulatory flexibility and funding authorization to more rapidly produce tamper- and counterfeit-resistant driver's licenses and to protect privacy and civil liberties by providing interested stakeholders on a negotiated rulemaking with guidance to achieve improved 21st century licenses to improve national security. Sponsor: Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1]

Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia H.CON.RES.69 : Expressing the sense of Congress that a commemorative postage stamp should be issued in honor of Luis A. Ferre. Sponsor: Rep Fortuno, Luis G. [PR] (introduced 2/16/2007) H.CON.RES.71 : Commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading association for the Nation's 1.3 million American citizens of Greek ancestry, and Philhellenes. Sponsor: Rep Maloney, Carolyn B. [NY-14] H.RES.162 : Recognizing the contributions of the Negro Baseball Leagues and their players. Sponsor: Rep Cohen, Steve [TN-9] (introduced 2/14/2007) H.RES.179 : Expressing support for a National Foster Parents Day. Sponsor: Rep Boyda, Nancy E. [KS-2] H.RES.180 : Honoring the life and achievements of Leo T. McCarthy and expressing profound sorrow on his death. Sponsor: Rep Eshoo, Anna G. [CA-14] H.RES.183 : Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should issue a postage stamp commemorating the Fisk Jubilee Singers. Sponsor: Rep Hastings, Alcee L. [FL-23] H.RES.189 : Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a "Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day" should be established. Sponsor: Rep Sanchez, Linda T. [CA-39] H.R.988 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 5757 Tilton Avenue in Riverside, California, as the "Lieutenant Todd Jason Bryant Post Office". Sponsor: Rep Calvert, Ken [CA-44] H.R.996 : To provide for the issuance of a semipostal in order to afford a convenient means by which members of the public may contribute towards the acquisition of works of art to honor female pioneers in Government service. Sponsor: Rep Kaptur, Marcy [OH-9] H.R.1024 : To provide for the issuance of a postage stamp commemorating the 450th anniversary of the founding of the first European settlement in the continental United States, at Pensacola, Florida, by Tristan de Luna in 1559. Sponsor: Rep Miller, Jeff [FL-1] H.R.1048 : To establish a program to transfer surplus computers of Federal agencies to schools, nonprofit community-based educational organizations, and families of members of the Armed Forces who are deployed, and for other purposes. Sponsor: Rep Ferguson, Mike [NJ-7] H.R.1054 : To amend the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to eliminate Congressional review of newly-passed District laws. Sponsor: Rep Norton, Eleanor Holmes [DC]   H.R.1064 : To amend title 39, United States Code, to extend for 2 years the provisions under which the special postage stamp for breast cancer research is issued. Sponsor: Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43]   H.R.1070 : To allow postal patrons to contribute to funding for gang prevention programs through the voluntary purchase of certain specially issued postage stamps. Sponsor: Rep Baca, Joe [CA-43] H.R.1110 : To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to allow Federal civilian and military retirees to pay health insurance premiums on a pretax basis and to allow a deduction for TRICARE supplemental premiums. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Tom [VA-11] H.R.1124 : To extend the District of Columbia College Access Act of 1999. Sponsor: Rep Davis, Tom [VA-11]   H.R.1131 : To establish a commission to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War. Sponsor: Rep Baker, Richard H. [LA-6]

Going Postal

Post Office Naming Bills As I've been compiling the Bills and Resolutions going through Committee for the past few weeks, I have noticed a significant portion of the legislation has to do with the Postal Service  - either proposing a new postage stamp for historic events or popular figures, or the naming of a post office after a historic or popular figure.  Most of the time I've never heard of the people and I don't have enough hours in the day to Google the honorees.  But I was still a little curious how such a seemingly trivial process goes through the Congress.  How much time and effort are being spent on these?  How much does it cost?  Who can be nominated? First of all, a report  (PDF) from the 108th Congress showed that 18% of all laws passed were post office naming bills and the number of these bills is increasing with each session.  Seems to me this is just a way to make it look like they're working hard getting so many laws passed.     The House has an informal policy of not considering postal naming legislation until all reps from the state have signed on as cosponsors.  Is this another waste of time ... going through the process of getting umpteen names on a bill?    Passage by the House is then a matter of routine and often passes with a unanimous vote.  The Bill then goes to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. Like the House, both Senators from the state must agree upon the naming bill.  Typically groups of bills are passed in one bloc, unanimously, and without debate.  The end result of naming a post office is the installation of an 11x14-inch plaque dedicated to the individual at the expense of the US Postal Service ($250-$500).  The inscription on the plaque says, "This building is named in honor of (NAME) by act of Congress PL110-## (DATE)".  In addition, the USPS, in conjunction with the sponsoring legislator may hold a dedication ceremony.  This ceremony includes invitations to the honoree's family, an honor guard, a religious figure for the invocation and light refreshments such as cake and punch.  The USPS may cover these costs or share them with a local community interest.   In general, an individual can be proposed for post office naming only if they have been deceased for more than 10 years or were a President or Postmaster General.  However there are some exceptions (See Legislation - Updated section below). Postage stamps While Congress proposes some Resolutions and Bills for postage stamp subjects, the vast majority of all U.S. postage subjects are proposed by the public.   On behalf of the Postmaster General, the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) evaluates the merits of all stamp proposals.  The CSAC uses the following guidelines to evaluate subjects: Subjects must be interesting and/or educational Subjects must have national significance and appeal: Americans and America-related subjects are highly preferred A person cannot be featured sooner than 10 years after their death, and then only on the anniversary of their birth. An exception is made for deceased U.S. Presidents, who may be featured on the first birth anniversary after their death.  Historical events and Statehood anniversaries are considered only for anniversaries which are multiples of 50 years. Click the CSAC link above to find out how to submit your own proposal for a postage stamp.

Legislation UPDATES
These are all post office naming bills.  Six have passed both House and Senate and are cleared for the White House to sign.

QUIZ:  Just for fun, see how many of these names you recognize.  Answers will be posted in a comment below.  

Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia H.R.49 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1300 North Frontage Road West in Vail, Colorado, as the "Gerald R. Ford, Jr. Post Office Building". Sponsor: Rep Udall, Mark [CO-2] (introduced 1/4/2007)      Cosponsors (6) Latest Major Action: 2/17/2007 Cleared for White House. H.R.335 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 152 North 5th Street in Laramie, Wyoming, as the "Gale W. McGee Post Office". Sponsor: Rep Cubin, Barbara [WY] (introduced 1/9/2007)      Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 2/17/2007 Cleared for White House. H.R.414 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 60 Calle McKinley, West in Mayaguez, Puerto Rico, as the "Miguel Angel Garcia Mendez Post Office Building". Sponsor: Rep Fortuno, Luis G. [PR] (introduced 1/11/2007)      Cosponsors (None) Latest Major Action: 2/13/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R.433 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1700 Main Street in Little Rock, Arkansas, as the "Scipio A. Jones Post Office Building". Sponsor: Rep Snyder, Vic [AR-2] (introduced 1/12/2007)      Cosponsors (16) Latest Major Action: 2/17/2007 Cleared for White House. H.R.437 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 500 West Eisenhower Street in Rio Grande City, Texas, as the "Lino Perez, Jr. Post Office". Sponsor: Rep Cuellar, Henry [TX-28] (introduced 1/12/2007)      Cosponsors (31) Latest Major Action: 2/14/2007 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs. H.R.514 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16150 Aviation Loop Drive in Brooksville, Florida, as the "Sergeant Lea Robert Mills Brooksville Aviation Branch Post Office". Sponsor: Rep Brown-Waite, Ginny [FL-5] (introduced 1/17/2007)      Cosponsors (24) Latest Major Action: 2/17/2007 Cleared for White House. H.R.521 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2633 11th Street in Rock Island, Illinois, as the "Lane Evans Post Office Building". Sponsor: Rep Hare, Phil [IL-17] (introduced 1/17/2007)      Cosponsors (84) Latest Major Action: 2/17/2007 Cleared for White House. H.R.577 : To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3903 South Congress Avenue in Austin, Texas, as the "Sergeant Henry Ybarra III Post Office Building". Sponsor: Rep Doggett, Lloyd [TX-25] (introduced 1/19/2007)      Cosponsors (31) Latest Major Action: 2/17/2007 Cleared for White House.

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NOTE:  This diary is posted under the auspices of the daily kos community Congressional Committees Project.   Volunteers from the community are always welcome! Click the link above for more info.

•  Cheers!

  Thanks for playing...
  

  Answers to postal naming quiz:

  Gerald Ford (1912-2006) - ha easy one.  38th President of the United States.  

  Gale W. McGee (1915-1992) - Senator (D) in Wyoming from 1959-1977

  Miguel Angel Garcia Mendez (1902-1998) - a former Speaker of the Puerto Rican House of Representatives

  Scipio A. Jones (1863-1943) - African American politician, businessman, attorney, judge and philanthropist from Arkansas

  Lino Perez Jr. - former Postmaster for Rio Grande City, TX

  Sgt. Lea Robert Mills (1985-2006) - Soldier (Marine), killed while conducting combat operations against enemy forces in Al Anbar province, Iraq

  Lane Evans - US Representative (IL-17) from 1983-2007

  Sgt. Henry Ybarra III (1971-2003) - Soldier (Army), killed while changing the tire on a Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck in Balad, Iraq

  by On The Bus on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 05:13:46 PM PDT

•  Thanks For Your Reporting

  It's good to see how Congress spends so much time dealing with the major issues of the day...

  by kurious on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 05:19:17 PM PDT

  •  They need to take a break from the pork

    and get down to the bacon bits.

    by Friend of the court on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 05:43:21 PM PDT

•  Oversight seems Underwhelming

  Does it really take members of congress to propose names for PO facilities? Is this considered a perk?
  I'm hoping Mr Waxman stays on the investigations of fraud and waste, and maybe adds duplicity since the Replugs want their own whistleblower website.
  Good work On the Bus. Now move to the back.

  by JohnB47 on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 05:37:16 PM PDT

  •  I'm underwhelmed too....seems like a lot of hype

    around the Christmas holidays, about hundreds of boxes of investigations from the GOP years, and minority hearings.

    Where's the beef?  

    The lineup at the netroots guillotine seems awfully short.  Libby, a few leftover Duke Cunningboys.  

    So "old news", and we need new blood.

    by Theghostofkarlafayetucker on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 06:00:03 PM PDT

•  If only we had a Congress that worked

  as hard to protect the interest of the electorate as they apparently do to name post offices, we would have a better country today.  This is really sad.  Really, really sad.  Thanks, OTB, for all your hard work.

  by possum on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 05:37:30 PM PDT

  •  postal overload

    I don't see why the USPS can't do this to begin with.  Either that or the same committee that reviews the stamps should be deciding the post office names.  

    Thanks for coming by possum!  I really appreciate your support.  

    by On The Bus on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 06:03:53 PM PDT

  •  18% of all laws passed !

    It's low-budget consituent service.  Better than building far more expensive bridges to nowhere.

    Our local city council has names so many street corners in honor of mostly deceased constituents that the clutter of the signposts is starting to be a nuisance.

    You're Congress should have higher priorities right now, as you say, like protecting constituents' interests and investigating corruption.  The fact that the "postal" work load is rising rather than falling, if indeed this is true, is worrisome.  

    Or are these bills being filed by freshly powerless Repubs?

    by Neighbor2 on Sat Feb 24, 2007 at 03:32:50 AM PDT

•  yayyyyyyyyyy otb!!!!!!!

  you took my favorite part of your weekly reports and expanded it!! you know how i &hearts the p.o. stuff!
  however, this week, i have another concern. namely:

  Commemorating the 85th Anniversary of the founding of the American Hellenic Educational Progressive Association (AHEPA), a leading association for the Nation's 1.3 million American citizens of Greek ancestry, and Philhellenes.

  couldn't they think of a name that would result in a better acronym? ahepa? i am already asking, a heap o' what?
  mmmmwwwwaaahhhhhh!!! otb!!

  by nonnie9999 on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 06:15:08 PM PDT

  •  I thought you might like it!

    Hah - and I thought AHEPA had something to do with sororities and frats....duh, I guess that would be Panhellenic.

    by On The Bus on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 09:06:54 PM PDT

    •  you're so good to me, otb!....n/t

      by nonnie9999 on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 11:05:39 PM PDT

•  These look like they're worth watching

  H.R.984 : To provide for reform in the operations of the executive branch. This bill aims to reduce the influence of lobbyists and special interests on the Executive Branch.   Senior officials in the White House and other federal agencies will be required to report contacts with lobbyists and private parties, including dates of meetings, parties involved and subject matter discussed.  The revolving door between Lobbyists, Contractors and Government will stop spinning with a federal ban to prevent favors or contracts being handed out to former employers.  Likewise, if a government official leaves to become a lobbyist they would be prevented from lobbying former colleagues for at least 2 years.  The bill also requires the federal government to disclose funding for covert propaganda, a la Armstrong Williams, to the American public.
  Sponsor: Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30]

  Wonder if this has a chance to pass?  Ought to be good....

  H.R.1117 : To repeal title II of the REAL ID Act of 2005, to reinstitute section 7212 of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which provides States additional regulatory flexibility and funding authorization to more rapidly produce tamper- and counterfeit-resistant driver's licenses and to protect privacy and civil liberties by providing interested stakeholders on a negotiated rulemaking with guidance to achieve improved 21st century licenses to improve national security.
  Sponsor: Rep Allen, Thomas H. [ME-1]

  Hope Tom Allen is trying to clean up some of the police-state excesses of Republican governance.

  H.R.1150 : To establish the Commission on Economic Indicators to conduct a study and submit a report containing recommendations concerning the appropriateness and accuracy of the methodology, calculations, and reporting used by the Government relating to certain economic indicators.
       Sponsor: Rep Emanuel, Rahm [IL-5]

  Hope Rahm's intentions are good.  Redefining some of the economic indicators polluted by Bush administration lies might reveal the true nature of the economy.

  Thanks, OTB, for the usual thorough job.  Post office names notwithstanding, this is vital work and I appreciate your keeping an eye on it for us.

  by Dallasdoc on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 07:39:30 PM PDT

  •  HR 984

    Interesting, but not surprising, that this Executive Reform bill was introduced by Davis and Waxman in the last session and never went anywhere.
    H.R.5112
    Title: To provide for reform in the operations of the executive branch.
    Sponsor: Rep Davis, Tom [VA-11] (introduced 4/6/2006)      Cosponsors (22)
    Latest Major Action: 4/27/2006 Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 249.

    Good thing Waxman's calling the shots this time.  It's not going to die on the calender.  

    & Thanks Dallasdoc!

    by On The Bus on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 09:24:21 PM PDT

•  Great Series OTB n/t

  by navajo on Thu Feb 22, 2007 at 09:04:51 PM PDT

•  Sorry I missed this.

  Great job!

  Never, never brave me, nor my fury tempt:
    Downy wings, but wroth they beat;
  Tempest even in reason's seat.

  by GreyHawk on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 10:28:04 PM PDT

•  Nice job, but...

  Your information regarding eligibility for consideration for a postage stamp is no longer accurate.

  Effective Janaury 1, the 10-year waiting period after a person passes away before they can appear on a postage stamp (excluding deceased Presidents) has been reduced to five years after one dies.  In announcing the change in policy late last year, the Postal Service said that no stamps were going to be issued for someone in that 5 to 10-year window during 2007.  It is widely assumed that among the first persons to be honored with a commemorative stamp just five years after their deaths will be Bob Hope (who died in July 2003 at the age of 100) and Rosa Parks (who passed away in October 2005).

  An excellent internet site for the latest in philatelic (stamp collecting) news from the USPS and from around the world is the Virtual Stamp Club (www.virtualstampclub.com).  Once there, you can click on to the Message board and get the latest news.  

  After all, philately is a wonderful hobby that everyone can enjoy, and I mean everyone.  Can you come with another activity that inclyudes the likes of Senator Carl Levin and his brother, Congressman Sander Levin on one end of the political spectrum, and the likes of Karl Rove and Congressman James Sensenbrenner on the other end of the political spectrum?  Yes, they are all philatelists, as am I, an officer of the oldest stamp club (in terms of continuous operation) in the United States (the Chicago Philatelic Society, a club that can trace its origins to the waning days of the Chester A. Arthur administration!).

  Keep up the good work!
  
  RANDALL SHERMAN
  Secretary, Chicago Philatelic Society

  by Randall Sherman on Fri Feb 23, 2007 at 10:56:00 PM PDT

•  The PO stuff is to bore everyone into ignoring

  the real stuff, like:

  H.R.984 : To provide for reform in the operations of the executive branch.
  Sponsor: Rep Waxman, Henry A. [CA-30]

  would love to know more...

  by dotcommodity on Sat Feb 24, 2007 at 10:15:08 AM PDT