The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia held a hearing on consolidating U.S. foreign assistance bureaucracy.
Senator Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) said U.S. foreign assistance includes economic development, security, health, governmental, and disaster response efforts. He said there is a great need to design a comprehensive national assistance strategy with a clear mission and the full means to accomplish it. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) said now the aid system is fractured and cumbersome. He said the current, ineffective structure must be compounded to become well-managed, well-funded, and well-staffed.
Richard Greene, deputy director of U.S. foreign assistance at the State Department, said the aid system needs more funding flexibility, driven by demand rather than availability. He said foreign assistance is the most complicated effort in the public policy arena, adding that little has been done to simplify the accounts structure. Akaka said there are 20 government agencies and 50 programs providing international assistance. Greene admitted that it would be smart to consolidate all of the government entities.
Voinovich said $36 billion dollars are disposed for aid, while the defense budget is $683 billion. He said even the funds should be better distributed because foreign aid provides great returns in improving the image of the U.S.

The National Security Subcommittee held an oversight hearing on sexual assault in the military. The hearing sought to ensure that that the Department of Defense has adequate policies and oversight mechanisms in place to prevent, treat and punish sexual assaults.
The DoD established the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Office (SAPRO) after a similar Congressional hearing in 2004, and the director of the organization was subpoenaed to speak today. Michael Dominguez, principal deputy undersecretary for defense from the DoD was present at the hearing, however the director of the SAPRO did not show up. Chairman Waxman and other members of the subcommittee chastised Dominguez and the DoD for disregarding Congressional subpoena and asked Dominguez what the DoD is trying to hide by not allowing the Director of the office in question testify. Waxman then dismissed the DoD officials from the hearing, without allowing them to testify, in light of their inappropriate actions.
41 percent of female veterans seen by military doctors say they were victims of sexual assault while in the military and 29 percent reported being raped during their military service, said Rep. Jane Harman (D-Cali.). According to Department of Defense reports, in 2006 2,947 sexual assaults were reported, 73 percent more than in 2004. Since the creation of the SAPRO, the DoD has initiated training and improved reporting of rapes and sexual assaults but has inexplicably failed to track prosecution rates or how victims are faring within the military service, Harman said.
“Women serving in the U.S. military are more likely to be raped by a fellow soldier than killed by enemy fire in Iraq,” Harman said.
Harman is introducing legislation calling on the Secretary of Defense to develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to end assault and rape in the military, to encourage and increase investigations and prosecutions.
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) reintroduced the Military Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Act, which acts to bring military laws up to par with civilian laws in the cases of sexual assault. The DoD must do more to ensure that American civilians serving in Iraq and Afghanistan receive the same protections as service members, she said.

In response to the fact that Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.) said she was doing a good job, Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) says she looks forward to working with McCain in the Senate. (0:16)

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Steven Shapiro of the American Civil Liberties Union says the state secrets privilege has mutated from a rule protecting genuine security interests to an alternative form of immunity in which violators of the Constitution receive dismissed cases, preventing prosecution against acts of torture and unlawful surveillance. (0:58)

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Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) says it is Christmas in July for big oil companies thanks to their record profits. Schumer says he is not shocked by the profits but is shocked about how they are spending it. Schumer says that big oil companies are using their profits to buy back their stocks to increase share prices. (0:44)

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Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) held a pen-and-pad briefing on the news of oil companies making record profits. Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said the oil companies are using their record profits to buy back their stock and make it more expensive, rather than make gas more affordable for American consumers. Schumer said the oil companies’ record profits could do so much to lower gas prices, such as give $2000 to every American family. Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said oil companies are trying to increase their profits while consumers suffer.
Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) said the Republicans’ agenda is the oil companies’ agenda. Their push for drilling in Alaska will give the companies more acres to siphon profit from. Reid said the Republicans’ persistent obstruction of all Democratic efforts to support renewable energy is “mind-boggling.”

Almost three years after Hurricane Katrina, the government is still discovering critical governmental flaws, according to Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) at a hearing before the Joint Homeland Security Committee to discuss the delivery of donated goods to catastrophe survivors. Thompson said that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) did not properly manage and distribute the donated supplies after Hurricane Katrina.
Senator Mary Landrieu (D-La.) said that it was important to ascertain why some goods purchased for Hurricane Katrina disaster relief were supposedly never delivered and failed to be used for their intended purposes. Landrieu conceded that FEMA has made some progress but said that FEMA must learn to be proactive and more collaborative. Landrieu said that Americans “deserve a better FEMA.”
Eric Smith, Assistant Administrator of Logistics Management at FEMA, said that there have been inaccurate reports of the lack of distribution of relief goods. According to Smith, the materials and supplies held in storage and deemed to be in excess of FEMA’s needs are valued at $18.5 million and not $85 million as reported. He attributed the error in value to a manual miscalculation. Smith said that FEMA continues to provide livings kits to help those in transition out of FEMA housing.
Carlos Castillo, Assistant Administrator of Disaster Assistance of FEMA, agreed that FEMA has encountered uncoordinated shipments and volunteers. Castillo attributed this to the volunteers being overwhelmed and the fact that many states may not have the proper infrastructure to support large donations. Castillo said that even with FEMA’s shortcomings, it has distributed more than $50 billion since Hurricane Katrina and has provided more than 90,000 units of temporary housing. Castillo added that FEMA remains committed to those affected by the disaster.

At the 11th Annual Congressional Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Expo and Forum, several representatives delivered remarks on the potential of private sector businesses in the support of renewable energy. Private companies lobbying for federal assistance presented such products as private home and community wind generators.
Senator Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) said the private sector is the most appropriate and efficient means to expand renewable energy sources. Congressman Zachary Wamp (R-Tenn.) said the transition from natural gas to renewable fuels is “the most important challenge of our generation.” Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) said the U.S. has a lot of work to do to catch up with countries like Germany and the United Arab Emirates in terms of renewables. Congressman Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) said the U.S. needs to find freedom from its slavery and addiction to oil. He added that renewable energy is a huge economic growth opportunity and also “saves the planet.”

At a press conference on oil companies’ profits, Senator Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) says that big oil companies have not delivered anything to anyone despite their record profits. Schumer says that big oil companies form the most selfish and more hypocritical group of companies. Schumer addes that Exxon spends more money on its chief executive officer than it does on research. (0:42)

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The House Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties Subcommittee met to discuss the State Secrets Protection Act of 2008. Rep. Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) who introduced the legislation, said members of the Executive Branch are misusing the state secrets privilege to avoid Congressional oversight and thus, shielding itself from questions concerning spying against Americans and acts of torture committed at Guantanamo Bay. He said the act protects justice and, noting checks and balances, the Constitution. Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.) referenced a Los Angeles Times article from 2006 that suggests over half of government information is over-classified.
Rep. Trent Franks (R-Ariz.) said disclosing classified information threatens the national security of the United States and that though a denial of access to judicial review may be disadvantageous for some, it is necessary for the safety of all Americans. Franks said that the post-September 11 era has shown the significant role of the state secrets privilege in the Department of Justice. He also said the Supreme Court has defended the privilege, adding that he finds it “shocking” that Democrats want courts to deviate from precedent as 200 detainees at Guantanamo Bay qualify for trial in American courts.
Meredith Fuchs of the National Security Archives supported the State Secrets Protection Act, saying that federal agencies often do not feel the need to disclose information without independent pressure. She said courts should have the right to consider evidence in claims of state secrets privilege, adding that courts should not refuse evidence provided by non-governmental experts. Steven Shapiro of the American Civil Liberties Union said Nadler’s legislation restores the state secrets privilege to its proper role and bring legal clarity. Shapiro said the ACLU supports the passing of the State Secrets Protection Act. Michael Vatis, a partner at Steptoe & Johnson, LLP expressed concern with a section of the act he said could be interpreted to mean that courts would analyze governmental and independent evidence equally. He said courts should exercise judgement but give substantial weight to the, potentially better-informed, government.