chairman roy paxman -- chairman waxman is right. we need more than a cookie cutter contingency plan. but where i think i disagree with the chairman, is that the jump in before us have the wherewithal and the expertise and they certainly have the incentive to put that plan together. i do not know what the answers are. maybe we need a full-time safety inspector on these rigs. maybe we need a real time data center somewhere where all the information goes to a central data point, someone in charge of safety that looks at it. it does appear that if people had been looking for the problem that we now know has happened, the data was there to tell them what to do. but they were not looking for that. this rate was 40 days behind schedule and billions of dollars over schedule and there was a lot of pressure to finish the job. and there was nobody on that rig to make them safe decision. when you make a decision after decision after decision that did in of itself is not a bad decision, but cumulatively minimizes safety, eventually you reach a c

german waxman is right. we need more than a cookie -- chairman waxman is right.we need more than a cookie cutter contingency plan. but where i disagree is that the gentleman before us have the wherewithal, the expertise, and certainly the incentive to put that plan together. -pnow, i do not know what the answers are. maybe we need a full-time safety inspector on these rigs. maybe we need a real time data center somewhere where all the drilling information goes to a central data point where there is somebody in charge of safety that looks at it. it does appear that if people had been lloking for the problem that we now know happened, the data was theee to but they were not looking for that. this rig was 40 days behind schedule and millions of dollars over schedule, and there was a lot of pressure to finish the job.3 whose job it was to make sure that they made the save decision. when you start making a decision after decision after decision that is not in and of itself a bad decision, but cumulatively, minimizes the safety, eveetuaaly you reach a critical mass and

waxman. mr. waxman for questions please. >> thank you very much. mr. hayward when you became ceo three years ago you said safety of was going your top priority. you would focus on it like a laser. your website said safe and reliable operation are integral to bp's success. i want to ask you whether you think bp has met that commitment that you made when you became ceo? >> since i became ceo we have made a lot of progress. we have made it very clear to everyone in the company that -- >> have you met that commitment that you made? >> and, we've made major changes. we made major changes. >> we now see this disaster in the gulf. does that indicate that you didn't keep that kmipt? >> one of the reasons that i am so distraught -- >> can you answer yes or no? >> is that -- >> don't know whether you're distraught. i want to know whether you think you've kept your commitment >> we focused like a laser on safe and reliable operations. that's a fact. every day. >> let me follow up on that. we had an hearing earlier this week with ceos from other oil companies. the

waxman, with mr. tupac, there are answers that need to be -- questions that need to be asked that are legitimate because we don't want another oil spill of this magnitude or any magnitude in the gulf of mexico. if this subcommittee can do things that make it much more difficult for this type of an incident to occur in the future, then we will have done our work for the american people. with that, i yield back. >> i like to turn to the chairman of the subcommittee on climate. >> i want to begin by disagreeing in the strongest possible terms with what mr. barton said in his opening statement. not only is the compensation fund that was created yesterday at the white house in an agreement reached between the ndp and president obama and not a slush fund and not a shakedown, it was the government of the united states working to protect the most vulnerable citizens that we have in our country right now. the residents of the gulf. it is bp's spill. but it is america's ocean. it is american citizens who are be

waxman -- waxman: i'm pleased to yield to another representative from texas, representative sheila jackson lee for one minute. the speaker pro tempore: the gentlewoman is recognized for onee minute. ms. jackson lee: i ask unanimous consent to address the house. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. ms. jackson lee: i rise today to support the permanent fix for doctors. that's what we have been saying as democrats for more than a year. i want to thank the leadership that has take then calls of members who are representing their doctors and seniors and saying we have got to do this. let me tell the doctors of america, look at what your friends look like. democrats who have been fighting over and over again, i promise physicians in my area, doctors who work in inner city neighborhoods, we were not going to leave them without help. i hope the other body and my friends on the other side of the aisle, the republicans, will really understand the facts. we have to join together. doctors help save lives. they tend to our seniors. it is important that they have the reimbursement they need. we

waxman pointed out in his testimony. if it was not bp but one of you, one of your companies, if that was you in the blowout happened on april 20, if you had received a call that there was a subsea blowout -- below which are well, what you have been as prepared to stop the leak and stop oil from reaching the sensittve coastal areas? would your company be ready, mr. tillerson? >> we would've been ready to implement our oral response plan. that 500-plannyou referred to. >> non on oil removal. that would ave been enough to keep the oil from hitting the gulf shores? >> if t done what it says it was intended to, and to the maximum extent practical. >> how about you, mr. watson? >> our emphasis is on prevention of the spill. >> short, but let's say you get the call on april 20, it was your well. what would you have done?? >> we would of exercise proper work authority. we use stop work authority. >> you're well below what. what would you do? >> we would activate the spill response plan to remove the old. >> my concern is chevron

the bad news is that i agree with chairman waxman. judgment calls were made that, they were in the improperpened,- judgment. that is bad. but the good news is, and that is what our industry representatives are saying, i think, is that this is preventable. i do not know what the task force is going to recommend, but if the recommendation is that the best practices on these deep wells ught to have these double sleeves, i think we could put that into regulation if we need to. if the best practice is you ought to put the lockout ccller on the well before you do the final segment job. that can be done. if we ought to focus on de- gassing the mud before it is recirculated, we can go along with that. these are not huge, technically complex. we just do not know how to solve the particular problem. that is the good news. my first question is to the president of bp america. as the ffderal government asked you to do anything you have said no to? have they proposed any solutions that you have turned down and that in hindsight, if you had just don

i'd also like to ank chairman waxman for his attention to this issue. and let me also mention, i'd like to recognize and thank my good friend, mr. thompson, chairman of the full meland security committee who worked with me in 2008 to hold hearings and to close examine actions our country must take to prevent attacks on our national electric grid. two years ago i testified before chairman markey's subcommittee about the threats to our power system from cyberattack. in the 110th congress as chairman of the homeland security subcommittee on emerging threat, cybersecurity, science and technology, i conducted a detailed and thorough examination of our critical infrastructure. let me reiterate what i made clear in my testimony. i believe america is still vulnerable to a cyberattack against the electric grid that would cause severe damage, not only to our critical infrastructure, but also our economy and the welfare of our citizens. now, the vast majority of our critical assets are in private hands. now, many private entities are largely self-regulated and res

there's kind of good news, bad the bad news is i agree with chairman waxman. judgment calls were made that now that we're -- now we know what happened those were the improper judgment. that's bad. but the good news is, and this is what our industry c.e.o.'s are saying, i think, is it is preventable. i don't know what this task force is going to recommend that mr. tillerson has alluded to, but if the recommendation is that best practices on these deep wells ought to have these double sleeves, i think we could butt that in regulation if we need to. if the best practices is you ought to put the lockout collar on the well before you do the final cementing job is something you can be done. if the best practice is that we ought to really focus on degassing the mud before you recirculate and do that final stage when that accident occurred, i think we'll go along with that. these are not huge technically complex, we just don't know how to solve that particular problem. so that's the good news. my first question is to the c.e.o. of british petroleum, or the president o

>> i doubt it because of course you have chairman waxman, ed markey, and those who want to push the net neutrality debate and do not want to intervene. even the president has really had the position of net neutrality as he ran. taking that altogether, i think who ought to be angry and frustrated are the bipartisan group with their letters. there were 60 democrats and 170 republicans, the vast majority of the house and senate, saying not to do this. they are subverting the will of the legislative branch. they are usurping power authhrity. >> congressman john shimkus is a republican from illinois. we are joined also by the reporter from congress daily. >> just as a quick follow-up on the third wave proposal, since you find that so objectionable is there an alternative you support that would give the s.e.c. the regulatory certainty it needs to move forward with broadband regulation? -- that would give the fcc the regulatory certainty it needs to move forward with broadband regulation? >> i would ask where the problem is. where issthe outcry? even the three cases of individuals who claimed

waxman, with mr. stupak, there are questions that need to be asked that are legitimate because we don't want another oil spill of this magnitude or of any magnitude in the gulf of mexico and if this subcommittee can do things that make it much more difficult for this type of an incident to occur in the future, then we will have done our work for the american people. with that, mr. chairman, i yield back. >> today is the 59th day of the bp oil spill that has devastated much of the gulf of mexico. 11 men lost their lives the day the deep water horizon drilling rig exploded and in the 59 days that have followed, countless people have lost their livelihood as the oil pollutes fishing grounds and damages the beaches of the united states. our first hearing exposed problems discovered with the blowout preventser and several other factors that contributed to the disaster. our second hearing was a field hearing in new orleans where we heard from the widows of two women whose husbands died in the deep water hor

waxman. coach wooden will be remembered as an exceptional basketball player, an inspiring coach and mentor to many, many people. according to bill walton, ucla's three-time all american center, quote, he taught us how to focus on one primary objective, be the best in whatever endeavor you undertake, don't worry about the score, don't worry about the image, don't worry about the opponent. it sounds easy but it's actually very difficult. will the gentleman yield me an additional minute? the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from indiana has an adecisional minute. mr. buyer: it sounds easy but it's very difficult. coach wooden showed us how to accomplish that,nd quote. today the highest award in basketball is the wooden award, which honors the best player in men and women's basketball. coach wooden coached, taught, and lived with honor. he was a special human being and this is a hoodser many of us are proud of. i know california also loves to claim him. i think all of america can claim him. he'

waxman, with mr. stupak, there are questions that need to be asked that are legitimate because we don't want another oil spill of this magnitude or of any magnitude in the gulf of mexico and if this subcommittee can do things that make it much more difficult for this type of an incident to occur in the future, then we will have done our work for the american people. with that, mr. chairman, i yield back. >> today is the 59th day of the bp oil spill that has devastated much of the gulf of mexico. 11 men lost their lives the day the deep water horizon drilling rig exploded and in the 59 days that have followed, countless people have los their livelihood as the oil pollutes fishing grounds and damages the beaches of the united states. our first hearing exposed problems discovered with the blowout preventser and several other factors that contributed to the dister. our second hearing was a field hearing in new orleans where we heard from the widows of two women whose husbands died in the deep water horizo

henry waxman. >> thank you for joint -- for holding this hearing and for your to natioenacious work. your efforts have kept congress and the american people informed about the environmental disaster unfolding in theegulf of mexico. yesterday, chairman steve back and i released a letter describing a series of questionable decisions made by bp in the days before the blowout. time after time, bp appears to have taken shortcuts that increased the risk of catastrophic blow outs. one of the central questions for today's hearing is whether the other oil companies are any petter prepared than bp.+ last week, after receiving a request, the committee asked each of the five major oil companies for their oil spill response plans. on paper, they are very impressive. each document has more than 500 pages long. i will hold up the documents that is the contingency plan. but what the show is that exxon mobil, chevron, and shell are no better preparrd to deal with a major oil spill than bp. the same company, the response group, wrote the five plans and described them as a cookie cutter plants. much of

i want to thank my good friends chairman waxman, chairman of our energy and commerce committee, bobby rush, the chairman of the consumer protection subcommittee, as well as joe barton the ranking member of the full committee. as my colleagues have fence mentioned calling cards are an invaluable resource for a number of people who make frequent long distance or overseas calls. students, members of the armed forces, and those whose family is outside of the country regularly use these cards to call home. the cards are also popular among people who choose not to subscribe to long distance telephone service or can't afford it. they are a necessaryity, they are a necessary tool for keeping in touch with friends and family members. calling cards that provide the services the company advertise can save consumers a great deal% of money when they call home. unfortunately, my colleagues have mentioned as we see all too often, a number of inscrupulous companies are failing to keep their advertised trms. i first learned of this issue about three years ago when i heard from a number of constituents

i'd like to thank chairman waxman and chairman markey and ranking members barton and upton for their help in bricking -- bringing this legislation to the floor. and i would urge passage today of h.r. 4451. i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman reserves the balance of his time. the gentleman from nebraska. mr. terry: mr. speaker, i yield myself as much time as i may consume. the speaker pro tempore: without objection. mr. terry: mr. speaker, i rise today on behalf of our side of the aisle, the energy and commerce committee, and report that we have absolutely no opposition and actually support this bill. mr. speaker, we're considering the collinsville renewable energy promotion act. this was considered in the markup of the committee on energy and commerce on march 24, and in a markup of the full committee on may 26, both times passing by a voice vote. the purpose of this bill is to authorize the federal energy regulatory commission, also known as ferc, to reinstate the terminated licenses for the upper and lower collinsville dams hydroelectric project

waxman: mr. speaker, i yield to the distinguished chairman of the health subcommittee of energy and commerce, mr. pallone from new jersey, two minutes. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman is recognized for two minutes. mr. pallone: thank you, and thank you, mr. waxman. i'm listening to the debate on the other side of the aisle and i can't believe what i hear. we passed -- the house democrats, the majority, passed a comprehensive permanent fix to the s.g.r. and we only had one republican vote on the other side. i heard the gentleman from california say that it's not someone else's problem. that's true. it's also the republican problem. you have a responsible as republicans to help us out and you're not helping us out at all. when this jobs bill that included the s.g.r. and that was a two-year fixed passed a couple of weeks ago here in the house we had just a handful of republican votes and that's what it's been all along. republicans not willing to do anything for any kind of permanent fix to t

chairman waxman talk about this. the best practice would have been a liner and a tieback which includes barriers to prevent the flow of dangerous hydrocarbons to the well head. instead, bp chose a long string approach, which has only to barriers. an internal document at the company warned that this approach was not recommended because, "cementing simulations indicate it is unlikely to be a successful summit job." you can look at had six of the notebook you have in front of you to see that, mr. hayward. it says, "cement simulations indicate it is unlikely to be a successful cement job, due to formulation breakdown." this is an internal confidential bp documents from mid april. have you seen this document before? >> i saw it as a consequence of the -- >> you did not see it as the time? but there were bp folks that saw it? >> there were certainly the people said -- there were certainly bp people that saw it. >> there would need to be a remedial cement job. bp chose the riskier approach. bp chose the riskier centralized

unfortunately, we have not had, in all the hearings that were rempsed by chairman waxman, since 2006 a hearing on the sustainible growth rate formula. and i think it's time we do that. i have a bill 4693. i'd like to see that get a full hearing. since this will not i will be holding a forum by myself dutch, astonishing, holding up the bill. ok. maybe it's delinquent, perhaps scanned louse so. but it's a repreview for the speaker because it won't let it go to the floor because it is not what she wants. i voted against this to -- the speaker should do the same thing. very few members in congress outside the physician members have, have any delay for what this delay does. when off small physician practice, even with a smaller population of 15% medicare and you don't get paid for three weeks, that's a big deal. this decision will lead businesses to closings and we have price wrols. every private insurance company in the country pegs to what we do in medicare. that's why it's so creditically important that we get off our duff and do the right thing. people aren't hiving people. driving pe

. >> lehrer: as the hearing wore on, california henry waxman drilled in on hayward's reluctance to say more. >> i'm not prepared to draw conclusions about this accident until such time as the investigation has concluded. >> well, this is an investigation and we expect you to cooperate with us. are you failing to cooperate with other investigators as well because they're going to have a hard time reaching conclusions if you stone wall them. which is what we seem to be getting today. >> i'm not stonewalling. >> i'm just amazed at this testimony, mr. hayward. you're not taking responsibility >> lehrer: but several republicans criticized the obama white house in equal or greater measure for its response to the spill. >> the lack of effort by this administration to contain the spill has doomed the economy and wildlife of the gulf coast from an oil spill which could have been contained. >> i've heard some assert that it was lax oversight of the previous administration that led to this accident. well, if that's the case, why did this not happen during the last decade ? >> lehrer: meantime, ad

>> i received a copy of a letter written by congressman waxman and congressman stupak that did make reference to a concern about the financial status of the project, yes. >> so it was over budget. >> that was the inference and chairman waxman') letter. >> i am not asking about that. >> this is a bp budget so i cannot comment on what the original budget was the and i have no idea where they were with respect to the process. >> of a different issue for bp. mr. willis, can you tell me -- there's all sorts of stuff that needs to be cleared up. for example, this would not point a finger at you guys -- well, it kind of wood but not in a bad way. there are inspectors out there, and you could pay attention to this, mr. newman, and maybe even mr. bennett, but there were inspectors out there that told -- they were on fishing trips, and going to lsu games, college football games, that were not doing their jobs. can you shed any light on that. >> senator tester, and the claims guy. >> i understand that. mr. newman, can you shed any light on that? were they doing their jobs? >> from transocean's perspecti

>> that was the inference in senator waxman's letter. >> the budget -- did the b.p. budget -- so i can't comment what the original budget was and i have no idea where they were with respect to that. >> ok. that is a different issue for b.p. could you tell me, i mean, there is all sorts of stuff out here that needs to be cleared up. for example, this by the way, wouldn't point a finger at you guys. well, it kind of would but not in a real, real bad way. there are inspectors out there. maybe this -- pay attention to this, too, mr. newman. there were inspectors. maybe mr. bennetts. i don't know. there were inspectors out there that have been told that were on fishing trips going l.s.u. games, college football games that were not doing their job. can you shed any light on that? >> i'm the claims guy. >> that's ok. i understand. >> mr. newman? can you shed any light on that? if you're drilling the well you know whether the people are doing their job or not. their conduct inspections of the drilling rigs and make notes and leave notes with our people that result from those

harry waxman says israel would cease to exist. and she attacked president obama is iran policy, calling it nuclear narcissism. >> i am jane harman and i approve this message. >> how are these ads playing out in the race? >> this area is of very expensive media markets. direct mail is the only way to win there. you can see from the tone harman largely ignored winograd until the last week. but they have really gone after her for a lot of different things, both the candidates are jewish. those attacks by harmon had generated a lot of noise from his role groups, different jewish groups that have really been supporting harman. at the same time, winograd is running well with people that are counter to those groups. we will have to see what the results say about that. >> what about outside influences when it comes to money in these campaigns? >> we see a lot of outside expenditure ads. but harman -- both harman and winograd are independently wealthy. but they've been spending a lot of their own money. and groups like democracy for americ

waxman votes aye by proxy. mr. conyers votes aye by proxy. mr. burman votes aye by proxy. mr. cummings votes aye. ms. velasquez votes aye by proxy. >> the clerk will go to the republicans. >> mr. bacccus votes no. mrs. kapatow votes no. mr. garrett votes no. mr. lucas votes no by proxy. mr. barton votes no by proxy. mr. smith votes no by proxy. mr>> madame clerk, i do have a proxy for mr. schuler. he votes aye. the clerk will report the tally. >> there are 20 ayes and 11 nays. >> i am pleased to be able to report to you that we send you the approval of the financial reform bill. >> we congratulate you on a terrific job. house members will now vote on the senate side. the ayes will have it. [laughter] i asked the clerk to call the roll. >> mr. chairman, aye. mr. johnson, aye. mr. schumer, aye. ms. lincoln, aye. mr. leahy, aye by proxy. mr. harkin, aye by proxy. mr. shelby, no. mr. corker, no. mr. gregg, no. >> the clerk will report. >> the votes are 7 aye, 5 nay. the bill is passed. >> i thank my colleagues, immensely. [applause] >> will the house and senate conferees in favor

waxman, rush and barton of texas. from the committee on the judiciary for consideration of sections 1101-e-2, 1104-i-5 and i-6, 1105-h, 1601, 1605, 1607, 1609, 1610, 1612-a, 3002-c 3 and 4, 3006, 3119, 3206, 4205-n, 4306-b, 4501 through 4509, 46, 4905-c-8-d and e, 6003, 7203-a, 7205, 7205, 7210, 7213 through 7216, 7220, 7302, 7507, 750 9004, 9104, 9105, 9106-a, 9110-b, 9111, 9118, 9203-c and 9403 of the house bill and sections 112-b-5-b, 113-h, 153-f, 20 1,202, 205, 208 through 210, 211-a and b, 316, 502-a-3, 723-a-3, 724-b, 725-c, 728, 731, 733, 735-b, 744, 748, 763-a, c and i, 764, 767, 809-f, 922, 924, 929-b, 932, 991-b-5, c-2-3 and c-3-h. 1024, 1042, 1044-a, 1046-a, 1047, 1051 through 1058, 1063, 1090, 1095, 1096, 1098, 1151-b and 1156-b of the senate amendment. messrs. conyers, berman and smith of texas. from the committee on oversight and government reform for consideration of sections 1000-a, 1007, 1103-d, 1212, 1217, 1254-c, 1609-h-b. 3301, 3302, 3304, 4106-b-2 and g-4-d. 4801, 4802, 5004, 7203-a, 7409 and 80-

congressman gary waxman said -- in an interview with the iranian government newspaper, she attacked presidentbama's iran policy, calling it "nuclear narcissism." jane harman disagrees. >> how are these played out in the race? >> the district is marina del rey. it is very hard to penetrate. direct mail is really the way to win there. but it has been getting a lot of buzz. harman has largely ignored winograd until the final week. they have really gone after her for a lot of different things. both of the candidates are jewish. winograd has in the past supported combining israel and palestine. the attacks generating a lot of money in the final week or two from israel groups. she has been a strong, a staunch ally in the past. at the same time, winograd is gathering support from those who normally run counter to those groups. there is the fight for the soul of the democratic party on foreign policy. >> and what about outside influences, when it comes to money in these campaigns? >> we are seeing a lot of independent expenditure, not as much as in that other campaign we were talking about, but both

i now turn to congressman waxman.. >> i want to thank chairman frank and chairman dodd and the otherswho brought us to this point. the strong support to support legislation and the reforms it will bring to our financial system -- i strongly support this legislation and the reforms will bring to our financial system. last congress, we held many hearings investigating the causes of the financial crrsis. it will examine the collapse of lehman brothers and aig. conflicts of interest that pervaded the rating agencies. the mistakes were made by alan greenspan and other regulators. those hearings show government regulators were asleep at the switch, where wall street banks drove the economy over the cliff. the aaility to respond to future crises, there are a number of issues important to my current committee, the committee on energy and commerce. we have consumer financial protection, regulation of electricity, and other energy markets. i strongly support a new consumer financial protection agency that is independent, has strong rule making and enforcement authorities, and has broad jurisdic

waxman, you said, cookie-cutter plans, and we call upon the same resources. the resosheses for bp are not enough. so no matter which oil companies are here before us, the resources are not enough to prevent what we are seeing day after day on the gulf. not only the loss of 11 people, but we're on to day, what, 56 or 57 of oil washing up on shores? there is no other plan, there is no way inform stop wlats happened until we finally cap this well, correct? >> that is correct. >> but for the grace of god, there goes i, right? it's bp this time, it could be exxonmobil tomorrow, it could be -- >> not if we follow our procedures and practices. >> but if it does, we can't handle it. worst case scenario is pie in the sky and oil in our waters and on our shores? >> it is a scenario that the mms and the coast guard require us to calculate using their methodologies. but to your point, and i think that's all that matters, we have to take every stape step to prevent these thrings from happening, because when they happen, it is a fact that we're not well equipped to prevent