Government Oversight & Ethics
More on Government Oversight & Ethics
WASHINGTON—Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives and the U.S. Senate passed the FAA Reauthorization Bill, which includes provisions to reduce noise pollution and an amendment authored by Mr. Lieu. This amendment will require the National Research Council to write a report assessing the existence of non-leaded fuels that can be used by piston-powered planes.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after the House passed the Hack Your State Department Act, which he introduced with Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) in March. The bill will strengthen cyber defenses for the State Department by tapping ethical hackers to identify vulnerabilities in State Department’s networks and data systems.
Congress needs to step in, now
Too many bills in Congress have boring, easily forgettable names. But when Rep. Ted Lieu introduced an anti-corruption bill last week, he chose a catchy title: The E. Scott Pruitt Accountability for Government Officials Act of 2018.
The bill, “honoring” the former head of the Environmental Protection Agency, makes it illegal for senior government officials to use public office for private gain. Not slap-on-the-wrist illegal. Up to five years in prison illegal.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after voting against funding to develop a new low-yield nuclear weapon. The funding, which was included in a minibus spending bill package, appropriated $65 million for developing and producing a low-yield nuclear warhead. The so-called tactical weapon could lower the threshold for using nuclear weapons and increase the risk of grave error.
WASHINGTON – Today, Congressman Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) introduced the E. Scott Pruitt Accountability for Government Officials Act of 2018. The bill honors the legacy of former EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt by increasing the criminal penalties for public officials who use their office for private gain.
Last week was a bad week for President Donald Trump. Special counsel Robert Mueller secured a guilty verdict against Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort, while his former lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty in the Southern District of New York to eight counts of campaign finance violations, tax fraud and bank fraud.
LOS ANGELES - Today, Congressman, Ted W. Lieu (D-Los Angeles County) issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, was convicted of eight counts of financial crimes and President Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to eight criminal counts including tax fraud and campaign finance violations.
Lawmakers increased pressure on the Trump administration over the war in Yemen this week after an airstrike killed dozens of children, urging officials to explain and possibly adjust U.S. support for nations waging war against rebels there.
Democratic members of the House and Senate sent three letters in as many days to administration officials, asking for an accounting of U.S. involvement in a conflict critics say has exposed Washington to claims of responsibility for thousands of civilian deaths.
It wasn’t too long ago when the release of a tape that featured a candidate discussing paying for the silence of a former mistress would be the sort of scandal to end a political career. Instead, we have a president who has so frequently and aggressively breached norms, and potentially laws, that we’re becoming accustomed to the chaos. We can’t let that happen, and we can’t write this off as just another salacious political scandal that Donald Trump can lie his way through.