Press Releases
Jan 23, 2014
Ranking Members Waxman and Tonko Request Information from Freedom Industries Regarding Chemicals Stored at the Elk River Facility
Issues: Health, Energy & Environment
Today Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman and Environment and the Economy Subcommittee Ranking Member Paul Tonko sent a letter to Freedom Industries President Gary Southern seeking information and documents related to the potential health and environmental risks posed by the chemicals stored at the company's facility on the Elk River. The letter also requests information on steps Freedom Industries took before commencing operations to ensure the company’s ability to pay for any future cleanup of contamination at the site.
Jan 17, 2014
HIAS Celebrates Government Spending Bill and Extension of the Lautenberg Amendment
HIAS, the global Jewish nonprofit that protects refugees, celebrates the recent passage of legislation that will fund the government through September 2014. Critically important to the Jewish community is the inclusion of a one-year extension of the Lautenberg Amendment, which previously expired on September 30, 2013. This legislation, which facilitates the resettlement of religious minority groups—including Jews seeking to flee Iran and the former Soviet Union (FSU)—will now be extended through September 30, 2014 and, as in previous years, is retroactive to the beginning of the current fiscal year.
Jan 15, 2014
Rep. Waxman Statement on Meeting with the Tribune Company
Issues: District Concerns
Today Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman released the following statement on the meeting between Energy and Commerce Committee staff and representatives of the Tribune Company on the future of the Los Angeles Times:
Jan 14, 2014
Ranking Member Waxman Calls on FCC to Act Quickly to Protect the Open Internet
Today Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman released the following statement on the decision issued by the D.C. Circuit in the Verizon v. FCC case regarding the Federal Communications Commission’s 2010 Open Internet Order:
Jan 9, 2014
Ranking Members Waxman and Cummings Release Memo with New Information on Security of Healthcare.gov
Issues: Health
Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, released a memo with information from both Committees’ investigations of the security of Healthcare.gov. The memo reports that there have been no successful breaches of the Healthcare.gov website to date, and no individual or group has succeeded in hacking or maliciously accessing the personally identifiable information of users. The memo also explains that, contrary to claims by Republican leaders, the website does not collect or store any detailed personal medical or health information, and that, in the event of a security breach, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) already has in place protocols for informing affected citizens as rapidly as possible.
Dec 31, 2013
New Report: Republican Claims that Millions Will Lose Coverage Due to the Affordable Care Act Are Wrong
Issues: Health
Today Ranking Member Henry A. Waxman released a new report on the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The new report finds that contrary to claims by Republican critics, five million Americans will not lose coverage in 2014 due to the ACA. Even if one assumes the reported number of initial cancellations is accurate, the number of individuals who are unable to renew pre-ACA coverage, enroll in subsidized coverage, or access a catastrophic plan is likely under 10,000 people, which is just 0.2% of the estimate made by opponents of the Affordable Care Act.
Dec 19, 2013
Rep. Waxman Questions Tribune Company on Future Plans for the Los Angeles Times
Issues: District Concerns
Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman sent a letter to Tribune Company President and CEO Peter Liguori expressing concerns about the Tribune Company’s future plans for the Los Angeles Times. The Los Angeles Times is the largest metropolitan newspaper in the country, serving as the primary source of news for millions of people in Southern California.
Dec 18, 2013
Rep. Waxman Calls for Investigation into Pollution at Santa Monica Airport
Issues: Santa Monica Airport
Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman sent a letter to South Coast Air Quality Management District Executive Officer Barry Wallerstein to request that the agency investigate reports of high levels of ultrafine particle pollution around Santa Monica Airport (SMO). A study released last week from scientists at UCLA and the California Air Resources Board (CARB) suggested that ultrafine particle levels were between four and thirty-seven times higher in the area downwind of SMO than in neighboring areas. Research on particulate matter pollution indicates it can cause a range of health impacts, including premature death, heart attack, irregular heartbeat, aggravated asthma, and decreased lung function.
Dec 11, 2013
Rep. Waxman Calls on the Postal Service to Provide Onsite Customer Parking at the Santa Monica Carrier Annex
Issues: District Concerns
Today Rep. Henry A. Waxman wrote to Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe about the lack of on-site customer parking at the Santa Monica Carrier Annex.
Dec 3, 2013
Safe Climate Caucus Members Celebrate 100-Day Milestone
Issues: Safe Climate Caucus
Today Members of the Safe Climate Caucus spoke on the House floor regarding the urgent need to address climate change. Today marks the 100th legislative day of speeches by Safe Climate Caucus members.
