"We had everybody asking us not to hold hearings," Davis said. "But we let whistle-blowers testify as a courtesy for the minority."
A bill to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service passed the committee unanimously, although the administration opposes language transferring some costs to the federal government. Davis also forced a successful roll call vote in the House on a 3.5 percent pay raise for civilian federal workers, over administration objections.
Thomas M. Davis III
Born: Jan. 5, 1949, in Minot, N.D.
Education: B.A., political science, Amherst College; J.D., University of Virginia.
Career: U.S. congressman, 1995-present. Chairman Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, 1992-94, Mason District supervisor, 1980-92.
Family: Married to state Sen. Jeannemarie Devolites Davis (R-Fairfax). Three children from previous marriage.
Campaign theme: Works tirelessly for his constituents, delivering money for major transportation projects and other Northern Virginia needs.
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 | | Full coverage of races and winners in the Nov. 2 elections:
• Results: D.C. | Maryland | Virginia
• Washington in Red and Blue: Compare how area residents cast their votes in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections.
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"In terms of oversight and other investigations, he's been considerate of some of the things we wanted to pursue," Waxman said. He added: "That doesn't mean we haven't had our disagreements."
Some legislation Davis pushed through the committee has been more controversial. He authored a bill that loosened policies for contractors to get federal business, a nod to the many defense and information technology firms in his district.
Some politicians and observers of government operations contend that he may have bent over backward for contractors at taxpayers' expense.
"He's unabashedly an advocate for contractors' interests," said Danielle Brian, executive director of the Project on Government Oversight, a watchdog group. "But in doing that, he's reduced transparency in contracting, with less competition."
Davis also supported another bill, pushed by the administration, that denies grievance rights to approximately 700,000 civilian Defense Department workers.
Davis declined to discuss his future, although he has long been said to be eyeing a run for U.S. Senate when Sen. John W. Warner (R-Va.), 77, retires. Warner's term is up in 2008.
As Davis builds alliances that could be helpful in a statewide campaign, he is paying close attention to the heavy concentration of federal workers and contracts across the state, in such places as Virginia Beach.
And he won points with conservatives this year on a key issue in the District, teaming up with D.C. Mayor Anthony A. Williams (D) to launch a federal school voucher program.
