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WEBB AND CLINTON
It’s not an endorsement, but Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., worked closely with fellow Senate Democrat Hillary Clinton of New York Wednesday.
The two members of the Senate Armed Services Committee issued a joint statement faulting the U.S. Army for having substandard body armor. A recent Pentagon report found there was “no assurance” that 13 of the Army’s 28 body armor contracts met required standards.
“We owe it to those who are in harm’s way to examine conclusively whether we are providing them the best protection possible,” Webb said in a statement.
In a joint letter, the senators called for the Government Accountability Office to conduct an independent investigation reassessing the body armor contracts, valued at $5.2 billion, to determine if troops are being issued the best available armor systems.
DOLLAR MEETING
Reps. Tom Davis and Jim Moran met with Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt Thursday to discuss potential new laws for foreign investments in the U.S.
With the U.S. dollar sagging, the Virginia lawmakers say some countries who had invested in U.S. Treasury bills may look to create fast-growing government-controlled sovereign wealth funds instead to invest in global stocks. Sovereign wealth funds are typically comprised of a nation’s budget surplus money or revenues from oil or other natural resources.
Davis, a Republican, says Congress should consider ways to make the funds more transparent, but that the U.S. should not discourage the foreign spending. There are about $2.2 trillion invested in sovereign wealth funds worldwide.
“This is all about attracting capital,” he said. “The money’s going to go somewhere. They will invest it somewhere else if they don’t invest it here.”
Some critics of the foreign funds fear countries will use the investments in industries for political rather than economic gain. Davis and Moran, a Democrat, are seeking recommendations on whether the funds should be taxed and how to keep competition fair between the larger funds and the rest of the private sector.
JUDICIAL NOMINEES
Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and Webb urged their colleagues Thursday to support the nominations of Mark S. Davis and David Novak to serve as federal judges in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Warner called Davis “one of Virginia’s best and brightest” in introducing him to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Davis, a former intern to the senator, is currently the chief judge on the Third Judicial Circuit of Virginia in Portsmouth.
Novak, a career prosecutor and assistant U.S. attorney in Richmond since 1991, prosecuted Zacarias Moussaoui after the Sept. 11 attacks in a four-year investigation and case that resulted in Moussaoui being sentenced to life in prison.
Warner cited Novak’s “20-year record as a prosecutor” and “dedication to public service” in recommending him to the committee. The Eastern District currently has vacancies in its Richmond and Alexandria divisions.
TEAM WITTMAN
Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., announced Thursday he’s starting a new race – joining the 2008 Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure.
Wittman’s congressional office challenged other offices to participate in the breast cancer awareness run in honor of Rep. Jo Ann Davis, who passed away in October 2007 after a two-year battle with the disease.
The 19th annual race will be on the National Mall June 7. Last year 32 congressional offices formed teams to participate in the five kilometer event.
--Neil H. Simon
It’s not an endorsement, but Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., worked closely with fellow Senate Democrat Hillary Clinton of New York Wednesday.
The two members of the Senate Armed Services Committee issued a joint statement faulting the U.S. Army for having substandard body armor. A recent Pentagon report found there was “no assurance” that 13 of the Army’s 28 body armor contracts met required standards.
“We owe it to those who are in harm’s way to examine conclusively whether we are providing them the best protection possible,” Webb said in a statement.
In a joint letter, the senators called for the Government Accountability Office to conduct an independent investigation reassessing the body armor contracts, valued at $5.2 billion, to determine if troops are being issued the best available armor systems.
DOLLAR MEETING
Reps. Tom Davis and Jim Moran met with Deputy Treasury Secretary Robert Kimmitt Thursday to discuss potential new laws for foreign investments in the U.S.
With the U.S. dollar sagging, the Virginia lawmakers say some countries who had invested in U.S. Treasury bills may look to create fast-growing government-controlled sovereign wealth funds instead to invest in global stocks. Sovereign wealth funds are typically comprised of a nation’s budget surplus money or revenues from oil or other natural resources.
Davis, a Republican, says Congress should consider ways to make the funds more transparent, but that the U.S. should not discourage the foreign spending. There are about $2.2 trillion invested in sovereign wealth funds worldwide.
“This is all about attracting capital,” he said. “The money’s going to go somewhere. They will invest it somewhere else if they don’t invest it here.”
Some critics of the foreign funds fear countries will use the investments in industries for political rather than economic gain. Davis and Moran, a Democrat, are seeking recommendations on whether the funds should be taxed and how to keep competition fair between the larger funds and the rest of the private sector.
JUDICIAL NOMINEES
Sen. John Warner, R-Va., and Webb urged their colleagues Thursday to support the nominations of Mark S. Davis and David Novak to serve as federal judges in the Eastern District of Virginia.
Warner called Davis “one of Virginia’s best and brightest” in introducing him to the Senate Judiciary Committee. Davis, a former intern to the senator, is currently the chief judge on the Third Judicial Circuit of Virginia in Portsmouth.
Novak, a career prosecutor and assistant U.S. attorney in Richmond since 1991, prosecuted Zacarias Moussaoui after the Sept. 11 attacks in a four-year investigation and case that resulted in Moussaoui being sentenced to life in prison.
Warner cited Novak’s “20-year record as a prosecutor” and “dedication to public service” in recommending him to the committee. The Eastern District currently has vacancies in its Richmond and Alexandria divisions.
TEAM WITTMAN
Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., announced Thursday he’s starting a new race – joining the 2008 Susan G. Komen National Race for the Cure.
Wittman’s congressional office challenged other offices to participate in the breast cancer awareness run in honor of Rep. Jo Ann Davis, who passed away in October 2007 after a two-year battle with the disease.
The 19th annual race will be on the National Mall June 7. Last year 32 congressional offices formed teams to participate in the five kilometer event.
--Neil H. Simon