Congressmen

Over a thousand Kuwaitis risked imprisonment demonstrating for free elections and democratic reforms in an effort to tell the world that Kuwait is not yet free. But at the same time, our own Republican congressmen, Bob Lagomarsino and Elton Gallegly, played host to the Kuwaiti ambassador, promoting business opportunities with the racist, sexist, repressive ruling al Sabah family ("Kuwait Asks Assistance in Rebuilding," June 15). I hope when these two men are up for reelection, people remember that, given a choice between standing for the principles of democracy and freedom or making a buck, these congressmen sold out. CONNIE HIGHBERG, Thousand Oaks

KABUL, Afghanistan - An American contractor was detained illegally for 24 hours in an Afghan prison, beaten, denied more than basic medical help and told he wouldn't be released unless his company paid $2.4 million, according to three U.S. congressmen and his employer. Contractor David Gordon was released Friday afternoon after the congressmen wrote a letter to U.S. Secretary of State John F. Kerry and after the company's attorney in Afghanistan appealed to U.S.-led coalition forces.

President Fidel Castro held talks with six U.S. congressmen, discussing the U.S. embargo and international events, participants said. Most of the congressmen later met with about a dozen of the island's leading dissidents, who say they are seeking peaceful changes to Castro's one-party system. Rep. William D. Delahunt (D-Mass.) said Castro, who also entertained two senators last week, was conciliatory. "The tone reflected a new attitude . . .

It's the latest twist in an increasingly vitriolic campaign for Congress: Rep. Brad Sherman is going after payments made to the brother of his rival, fellow Democratic Rep. Howard Berman. In a complaint filed Thursday with the Federal Election Commission, the Sherman campaign alleges that Berman vastly, and illegally, overpaid Michael Berman or his political consulting firm for campaign services during two decades in which the congressman faced only token reelection challenges and spent relatively little to reach voters.

Six American congressmen accused a Taiwanese company of perpetuating racial stereotypes by marketing a locally produced toothpaste named "Darkie," the American Institute in Taiwan said Thursday. In a news release, the institute said the representatives, citing the toothpaste as an example, told Taiwan's authorities and business community that "xenophobia and racism" would never be tolerated. The institute is the unofficial U.S.

President Reagan plans to name former Republican Reps. Joel Pritchard of Washington and W. Henson Moore of Louisiana to the consultative committee established by the Panama Canal Treaty of 1977, the White House announced Monday.

Nicaragua's contra political leadership, executing a surprise public-relations stroke in the war against that nation's socialist regime, said Thursday that three of its members will fly to Managua soon in an attempt to force Sandinista President Daniel Ortega to talk directly with them about a cease-fire. The dramatic visit is to take place before the Nov.

Is economics called "the dismal science" because the prospect of congressmen understanding it is dismal? TIM ESTLE West Hills

No wonder those congressmen were laughing all the way to the bank--their checks were on the House. JACK SMOTHERS, San Diego

One short sentence about cutting the budget. How about congressmen cutting their salaries? MARGARET WEINER Encino

WASHINGTON -- FBI officials said they are not investigating any criminal wrongdoing in a late-night swim last summer in Israel involving drinking and several Republican congressmen, including one who skinny dipped in the Sea of Galilee and has since apologized. The incident, which occurred during a fact-finding congressional trip for mostly freshmen GOP lawmakers and was paid for by the American Israel Educational Foundation, occurred during a night of revelry  that eventually led to a late-night dip by congressmen and some of their aides.

A complex plan to build a new federal courthouse and federal office building in downtown Los Angeles has come under fire by two congressmen who argue that the proposal lacks justification and won't work financially. Under the plan proposed by the U.S. General Services Administration, two buildings would be built on a lot bounded by Broadway and 1st, 2nd and Hill streets. Part of the project would be funded by a private developer, which in return would take over an existing federal courthouse building on Spring Street.

Recent troubles with the Air Force's fleet of F-22 Raptor fighter jets have prompted fresh questions by two members of Congress looking for answers on the oxygen problems that have plagued the aircraft for years. F-22 pilots have reported dozens of incidents in which the jet's systems weren't feeding them a proper amount of oxygen in flight, causing hypoxia-like symptoms. Hypoxia is a condition that can cause nausea, headaches, fatigue or even blackouts. On Tuesday, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.)

Apple has some explaining to do -- to Congress. On Wednesday, Democratic Reps. Henry A. Waxman of Beverly Hills and G.K. Butterfield of North Carolina penned a letter to Apple Inc. Chief Executive Tim Cook, requesting information on Apple's iOS app developer policies and suggesting that perhaps Apple could be doing more to secure iPhone users' private information -- specifically the email addresses and phone numbers they keep in...

Three lawmakers walked into the House of Representatives and did something that has proved quite a challenge for Congress this year: They agreed to fund the government. Without bluster or brinkmanship or bleary-eyed midnight rancor, two Republicans and one Democrat engaged Thursday in a civilized moment of legislating. It was over in a matter of minutes. Congress gave final approval to a stopgap measure to keep the government running for a few days and replenish disaster aid, ending for now a partisan war that risked shutting down the government.

The goal of the Endangered Species Act is to restore healthy, self-sustaining populations of disappearing plants and animals, not to keep them teetering on the brink of extinction. Yet the actions of three states and a handful of congressmen seem likely to undermine the spectacular return of the gray wolves of the Northern Rockies and possibly harm attempts to restore other wolf populations across the country. Even worse, they would set an appalling precedent for undermining the species act. When the Northern Rockies population of wolves reached a robust 1,700 two years ago ?

I'm sure it comes as no surprise to the abused citizens of this nation that our gutless, venal congressmen have allowed themselves to receive undeserved salary increases by the simple expedient of not voting against them. Nowhere could this happen but here. But all is not forever lost; I have good news and bad news. The good news: 1--Congressmen invariably die and many go to hell. 2--Congressmen sometimes get caught, go to prison and then go to hell. Now the bad news: The good news doesn't happen often enough.

If North lied to the Congress it hardly seems worth all the fuss. What really sends chills up and down me is congressmen lying to us. FRANK CADY Cambria

The Food and Drug Administration acknowledged Thursday that it made a mistake in overruling its scientists and approving a knee implant after the agency was lobbied by four members of Congress. The FDA said in a statement that it would seek to remove the device from the market, but also would meet with the company that makes it, ReGen Biologics Inc. of Hackensack, N.J., to see if there is a process through which they could apply again for approval for the implant. The device, called a Menaflex Collagen Scaffold, was approved by the FDA in December 2008 to repair and reinforce the meniscus, a C-shaped disc of tissue that cushions and helps lubricate bones in the knee joint.