Do members of Congress have authority to demand access to records?

[Just Me]

Can, say, Boxer and Byrd go to the DoD or the Dept. of Energy and demand access to their records? If so, are there any limits on their power to access?

I'm just curious since the neoCON administration are blocking FOIAs. I thought there may be more effective alternatives.

If I were a member of Congress and had access to those records, I'd send a couple of my people to stand at the DoD and/or the Dept. of Energy and/or DHHS every day and raise hell until I received access. I'd write papers, constituents, file lawsuits, whatever it takes.

[shraby]

1. Congress can request them and hold

the department that won't give them the records in contempt of congress..but this republican congress won't do it. One of the committees..senate judiciary (I think) was going to hold Ashcroft in contempt for not turning over documents to them..flat out said "no" to them and they were going to hold him in contempt but the Republicans on the committee wouldn't.

[Just Me]

3. What about individual members?

That's what I am wondering. Do individual members hold that power?

[Just Me]

2. I should know the answer,...and feel kinda' foolish that I don't,...

,...but, I don't.

I know someone here does know whether congressional members have authority to demand access.