There was lots of action on Capitol Hill this past week, as many high-profile issues were debated and considered in both the House and Senate. The House took up veterans’ legislation and a State Department appropriations bill, while the Senate passed comprehensive energy legislation. For an in-depth look at the bills considered in Congress since Monday, we again turn to Robert McElroy’s TheWeekInCongress.
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
On June 25, the Central Intelligence Agency will declassify its "full 693-page file amassed on CIA's illegal activities by order of then-CIA director James Schlesinger in 1973 -- the so-called 'family jewels.'" The non-governmental research institute National Security Archive "separately obtained ...
For the second time in less than a year, President Bush vetoed a bill which would have lifted the current ban on federal funding for embryonic stem cell research. The measure had passed in the House and Senate earlier this year by 247-176 and 63-34 margins, respectively (neither margin is veto-proof).
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
Citing an unnamed "senior administration official," The Politico reports that Geoff Morrell, "previously a White House correspondent for ABC News, has been hired as the Defense Department's on-camera briefer. ... The official said that a working journalist was chosen by Defense Secretary Robert M.
Both the House and Senate are in session this week, with each chamber expected to debate and consider several important bills and resolutions. Highlights include:
After the jump is a full listing of this week's House and Senate hearings, courtesy of GovTrack and Thomas.
It was an eventful week on Capitol Hill, as many high-profile issues were debated and considered in both the House and Senate. The House took up veterans’ benefits and a Homeland Security appropriations bill, while the Senate debated a comprehensive energy bill. For an in-depth look at the bills considered in Congress since Monday, we again turn to Robert McElroy’s TheWeekInCongress.
Submitted by Diane Farsetta on
A new public diplomacy plan, authored by Undersecretary of State Karen Hughes, says the United States must "offer a positive vision of hope and opportunity that is rooted in our most basic values." The "U.S. National Strategy for Public Diplomacy and Strategic Communication" promotes a Hughes favorite, the "diplomacy of deeds," which is defined as "providing health care, education, economic opportunity, food and shelter, training for political participation, help after disasters." Also put forward is a "Counterterrorism Communications Center," to develop "messages and strategies to discredit terrorists and their ideology." The Center is "now being formed at the State Department and [is] staffed heavily with military and intelligence officers," reports Warren Strobel. The new plan stresses that "all communication and public diplomacy activities" should "support those who struggle for freedom and democracy." Former State Department official Price Floyd countered, "When people hear that, they stop and say, 'What about Abu Ghraib? What about Guantanamo?'"
Guest blogger: Congresspedia intern Herschel Nachlis
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"Army Strong, as the Army's latest recruiting campaign is called ... has a definite emphasis on electronic communications, from opportunities to chat live on the Web site with soldiers ... to interactive sections showing what boot camp is like, the different specialties the Army trains people for, and more," writes PR Week.
Submitted by Sheldon Rampton on
Several members of Congress are asking about conflicts of interest at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration after an FDA spokesman, who previously worked as a public relations representative for pharmaceutical companies, used agency email to attack the research of an independent scientist. Douglas Arbesfeld, a senior communications consultant to the FDA, sent an email to reporters attacking Dr.
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