Barney Frank |
The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform may have the imposing title, but it isn’t the only House committee looking to hold the feds accountable. The following US reps from New England also will oversee government management from various berths in the 110th Congress:— Barney Frank, Massachusetts. As chair of the powerful Financial Services Committee, Frank will keep an eye out for a host of consumer-protection and -privacy concerns.
— Marty Meehan, Massachusetts. Meehan has been named chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. He has expressed his desire to use that post to hold the Bush administration responsible for its strategic conduct of the Iraq War.
— Richard Neal, Massachusetts. A member of the House Ways and Means Committee, Neal has announced plans, in tandem with Rahm Emanuel, to investigate allegations that the Internal Revenue Service prematurely closed the books on taxes owed by large companies.
— Jim Langevin, Rhode Island. Langevin, who was named chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology, plans to improve supervision of the Department of Homeland Security directorate that provides security technology to local and state governments.
— Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut. DeLauro will chair the appropriations subcommittee that covers the Food and Drug Administration, agriculture, and several other agencies and programs, which must answer to her for funding.
— John Oliver, Massachusetts. Olver is chair of the far-reaching appropriations subcommittee on transportation, housing and urban development, and related agencies.
— William Delahunt, Massachusetts. Although not official as of press time, Delahunt is in line to become chair of the foreign-affairs subcommittee covering oversight and investigations.
