How Congress Changed Administration Policy on the Bunker Buster Bomb
A Case Study in Effective Oversight
Featured Speaker:
Congressman David Hobson (R-Ohio)
Congressional Scholar Donald Mathews divided legislators into two categories, “work horses” and “show horses.” Congressman David Hobson is definitely in the former category. As Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development and the Second Ranking Republican on the Defense Subcommittee, Hobson attracts relatively little press attention but plays an enormous role in shaping government policy in a variety of venues.
Despite widespread criticism of Congress in recent years for its failure to conduct effective oversight, Hobson has continued to ask tough questions and stand his ground until he gets sensible answers. As a result he has had major impact on government policy in a variety of areas. Most recently, he has forced the Bush Administration to rethink its strategy on development of a nuclear charged bunker buster bomb.
Representative Hobson will speak at the Center for American Progress on how his subcommittee forced the Department of Energy to go back to the drawing board and what we can learn about Congressional oversight from that experience. Hobson is also expected to touch on a number of other topics before his subcommittees, including current U.S. policy in Iraq, reconstruction of the southeast Louisiana levee system and U.S. efforts to secure nuclear weapons and materials overseas.
Video:
• Intro: Scott Lilly
• Congressman David Hobson
Note: All video provided in QuickTime (MPEG-4) format.
Full Transcript
Wednesday, December 14, 2005
Program: 9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.
Admission is free.
Center for American Progress
1333 H Street, NW 10th Floor
Washington D.C. 20005
Map
To RSVP:
Please visit us at center-for-american-progress.vipdev.lndo.site/hobsonreg
Or call 202.741.6246
Nearest Metro: Metro Center or McPherson Square
Biography
Congressman David Hobson’s reputation for sound judgment and hard work has earned him key committee posts, including the chairmanship of the House Appropriations Energy and Water Development Subcommittee, and as a senior member on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. In those positions, Congressman Hobson is able to support high-tech research and development that is key to economic growth in the 7-th District, and to care for the environment by funding water and sewer infrastructure projects, and the cleanup of Cold War-era nuclear sites in Portsmouth, Miamisburg and Fernald in Ohio. He also supports the needs of our men and women in the military and our local bases, such as Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB), the Springfield Air National Guard Base, the Defense Supply Center Columbus (DSCC) and Rickenbacker Airport. As a veteran himself, Congressman Hobson has a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing our Armed Forces. As a senior member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and former Chairman of the House Appropriations Military Construction Subcommittee, he has fought to make sure our military has the resources it needs to defend American interests around the world.