Since the late 1990s, government officials have been concerned about the theft of materials stored on government servers.  In 2006, information systems at the Departments of State and Commerce were penetrated by hackers who origins are believed to be Chinese.  Government officials are unclear about how long attackers were inside government systems, or how much information may have been copied and removed.

In response to these attacks, the House Committee on Homeland Security held a subcommittee hearing last week discussing the vulnerabilities of federal information systems.  Witnesses testified that the penetrations may be much more significant and dire than reported earlier.  Though failure to comply with the Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) resulted in witnesses being unable to assert for certain whether these attacks could have affected classified networks, the Committee learned that an agency is still vulnerable to attack even if it receives a high FISMA grade.

The security of our Federal information is a critical issue for our nation.

At a presidential campaign stop at Boston University, Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) on Friday said he noticed the U.S. political landscape was changing

"We need a new kind of politics," Obama said. "This cyclical politics has created a situation where lobbyists and special interests - they determine the agenda. "Here's the good news, it's starting to change ... the American people are starting to pay attention in a way that they haven't paid attention in a very long time."

As Congress considers climate change policies, policymakers would do well to take into account the link between energy consumption and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This linkage means that energy-saving materials will play a vital role in helping the U.S. reduce its GHG “footprint. Read more...

Earth Day provides us an excellent opportunity to put aside ideological differences and face the challenges of climate change head on.

Over the past year, events have finally helped create consensus that climate change requires government action and international cooperation.  Earlier this year, my committee held hearings to explore the ramifications of the latest Intergovernmental Panel of Climate Change (IPCC) reports.  The first report highlighted the growing scientific consensus that human influence is causing the climate to change. The second report provided a powerful statement of the impacts of climate change around the world.

As Chairman, I was encouraged to see the broad bipartisan agreement and interest in the science of climate change.  As a committee with important jurisdiction over this issue, we will be active in working on legislation to address this global crisis.  Read more...

History will record Congresswoman Juanita Millender-McDonald as the first African American woman to chair a full committee in the United States House of Representatives; our hearts will revere her as a fearless leader who vowed to enhance our local and global communities through tireless service and timely advocacy. The Congressional Black Caucus is proud to call her our own and will remain steadfast in our pursuit of making America honor its promise to all Americans.

Last weekend in cities across the country people came together to celebrate Earth Day and learned more about how we can and must act to save our planet. Nowhere is it more appropriate to observe Earth Day than on the Central and South Coasts, one of the most beautiful places in America and a place where environmental stewardship has become the rule rather than the exception. Earth Day holds particular significance for our community because the idea was conceived after Senator Gaylord Nelson visited Santa Barbara to witness the devastating effects of the 1969 oil spill.

I remember well the tragic aftermath of that 1969 oil spill. The long term damage to the local economy and environment caused by that historic oil spill helped jump start the modern environmental movement and it convinced me that there was a better way to meet our nation’s energy needs.

We have come a long way in the past 37 years. Our oceans, rivers, and lakes are cleaner, and our parks and open spaces are vaster. Yet much remains to be done, particularly in the areas of energy independence and Global Warming. Fortunately the new Democratically-led Congress, under the leadership of Speaker Pelosi, has made a commitment to addressing environmental issues.

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On Earth Day, we must rededicate ourselves to addressing global warming and making America more energy independent.  We owe it to future generations to act now.  Investing in alternative energy sources and ending our addiction on foreign oil will be good for our environment, our health, our economy, and our national security.

The science is clear -- global warming exists, and we have caused it.  Now, Congress is stepping up and taking the lead on addressing global climate change.   By setting specific and achievable targets, we can significantly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions.   As the largest contributor of greenhouse gas emissions to date, the U.S. must lead by example, and reduce our carbon emissions. Read more...

In her latest campaign video, Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) traveled to Rutgers University and responded to controversial remarks radio personality Don Imus made about the school's female basketball team.

"Will you be willing to speak up and say, 'Enough is enough,' when women or minorities or the powerless are marginalized or degraded?'' Clinton said.

Earlier last week I testified before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health about the critical importance of reauthorizing a program that provides Americans with timely access to potentially life-saving new medicines.

The Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), first enacted in 1992 and renewed twice since, allows the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to assess fees from pharmaceutical research companies to help ensure the efficiency of the drug review process.

Over the past 15 years, PDUFA has proven to be a crucial program for FDA and America’s pharmaceutical research companies, but most importantly, for patients. Because of the user fees collected by FDA, the agency has the expanded staff and enhanced technology it needs to perform its essential job.
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