Dear Friend:

The Investigations and Oversight (I&O) Subcommittee of the Science and Technology Committee have continued to make a nuisance of ourselves over the failure of the Inspector General (IG) of NASA, Robert "Moose" Cobb, to act as an "objective and independent" watchdog. Most recently we've begun investigating whether Cobb watered down reports of investigations that would be politically embarrassing to NASA. Our recent effort has only attracted the attention so far of an obscure publication with a smallish, but maybe influential, readership:

Lawmakers launch new probe of NASA IG's work [1]

The biggest problem with Cobb is that he should never have been an IG in the first place. According to the statute, IGs are not to be appointed on the basis of politics, but solely on the basis of their integrity and relevant experience. Cobb would never have gotten the job if the statute had really been followed. This week the House passed a bill introduced by Jim Cooper of Tennessee to strengthen the independence of IGs. I offered two amendments, both of which were adopted by a voice vote. One was pretty technical, but the other would require a committee of IGs to evaluate the integrity and qualifications of anyone nominated to be an IG, and to provide their evaluation to the Senate before any confirmation hearing.

The I&O Subcommittee also held a hearing a couple weeks ago on the national security implications of global warming. The Bush Administration first said we weren't sure that the climate was really changing, then that we weren't sure that the change was the result of human activity, and then that we weren't sure how much the planet was really warming or what the consequences would really be.

National security professionals don't just plan for what's certain to happen, but what might happen. And we aren't preparing for the dangers we face as the planet warms. Conflicts resulting from climate change is not just a possibility, it's happening right now in Darfur, where precipitation is 40 percent less than it was a generation ago and now is not enough for both the crops grown by African tribes and the animals herded by Arab tribes.

The United Press International ran an article about the hearing:

Report: Global warming a threat to U.S. [2]

A generation ago, when the UPI and the Associated Press were in fierce competition, an article on the UPI wire would have ended up in hundreds of publications. The AP won the competition with the UPI years ago, however, so I don't know who really saw the UPI article about the hearing.

The biggest fight I've picked in Washington, however, is over whether predatory mortgage loans can be modified in bankruptcy. Under the bankruptcy law now, home mortgages are the only form of secured debt that a bankruptcy court cannot modify. There does not appear to be any rationale for the distinction. It was just a sloppy compromise in 1978 between consumer advocates, who wanted bankruptcy courts to have the discretion to adjust any secured debt in bankruptcy, and lenders, who didn't want bankruptcy courts to adjust any secured debt.

With 2.2 million American homeowners likely to lose their homes to foreclosure in the next couple of years, this is an important fight.

Linda Sanchez of California and I introduced legislation to change the bankruptcy law a couple of weeks ago. Linda is just a third-termer like me, but she's chair of the Judiciary Committee subcommittee with jurisdiction of the bankruptcy laws. We've gotten the support of some senior, influential Democrats in the House, and Senator Dick Durbin has picked the same fight in the Senate.

We got a little coverage when we introduced the bill. A Reuters article ran in a few publications, including the online edition of the Washington Post:

House bill would let courts alter mortgages [3]

There was also a national AP article that ran in various publications:

Ahead of the Bell: House mulls aid plan [4]

I also was interviewed on a video log (a "vlog") by The Hill, a trade rag for politicians:

Rep. Brad Miller: Bush Admin. Must Share Blame for Mortgage Crisis [5]

Linda's subcommittee passed the bill this week, and the full Judiciary Committee will take the bill up next week. And Senator Durbin and Senator Arlen Specter are talking about a possible compromise that would provide the urgent relief that homeowners facing foreclosure need:

Durbin, Specter aim for deal on bankruptcy code [6]

This issue is just starting to heat up.

I'm starting to feel like Garrison Keillor in writing these updates.

Oh, and a hat tip to David Price for his good work on wartime contractors:

House Acts in Wake of Blackwater Incident [7]

Sincerely,

Brad