Oversight
Industry hoping for action on data security bill this year
Legislation would update the six-year-old bill establishing requirements for securing personal or sensitive data.
Oversight
Food and Drug Administration snubbed offer by USDA to help inspect plants
FDA requested use of third-party food safety inspectors because of limited funding and manpower.
Oversight
Congressional Budget Office: Patent bill cost exceeds expected revenue
Bill would would increase federal spending by $26.9 billion.
Oversight
Depressed Old Party
Republicans are going through a hard time, but will need to tough it out until the general election.
Oversight
Surplus federal computers not reaching rural towns
Advocates push for passage of a bill that would direct federal surplus property to communities in need.
Defense
Air Force envisions multiyear contract for new tankers
The multiyear buy would not immediately affect Air Force budgets.
Defense
Chairman delays bill to prevent debt collection from service members killed in action
Under current law, the VA is required to contact family of deceased to collect debt.
Defense
DHS and Labor want to revamp program for hiring temporary farm workers
More than half of the 1.2 million agricultural laborers are undocumented immigrants.
Oversight
GAO chief announces resignation
David Walker says he'll leave March 12 to head new foundation.
Oversight
Federal officials strategize on boosting acquisition workforce
Internships and new training programs are tools agencies hope will attract and retain contracting employees.
Oversight
First-term House Dems win earmarks while dueling over mantle of reform
Freshmen accounted for $263 million in personal, single-sponsor earmarks.
Defense
DHS chief defends grant funding, new satellite office
Congress won't see department transition plan before the incoming administration.
Defense
General bemoans glut of Air Force contract protests
Contract for huge airborne tanker program to be awarded by the end of this month, but commander fears protest against it already has been written.
Oversight
Bush urges federal agencies to purchase from blind, severely disabled
President promotes a federal procurement initiative that provides jobs for disabled Americans.
Oversight
House chairman calls for ban on earmarks in fiscal 2009 spending bills
The rest of the Democratic leadership have largely ignored the GOP's push for earmark reform.
Defense
Lawmaker: New amphibious ships should be nuclear
Gene Taylor, D-Miss., also repeated his demand that the Marine Corps' Expeditionary Fighting Vehicle be redesigned.
Defense
Defense agency submits blast-proof budget request for White House communications
Proposal includes development of network for president and other top officials that could operate after nuclear blast.
Defense
Pentagon management of multiyear procurements questioned
Defense Department unable to justify savings from using contracts that do not require annual reauthorization, GAO finds.
Oversight
HHS secretary could be held in contempt for withholding information
House committee pressures FDA to release briefing notes on hearing about controversial new drug.
Defense