Barack Obama

Bill would protect workers’ right to organize, strengthen employer violation penalties

June 20, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today called for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which would give workers the right to choose to sign up for a union that would be established once a majority opted in. The bill, of which Obama is an original co-sponsor, is expected to come up for a vote in the Senate tomorrow.

The text of the statement is below:    » read more »

Chicago, IL | June 20, 2007 -- CHICAGO, IL - Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement in response to President Bush's veto of Stem Cell Bill

"By vetoing funding for stem cell research once again, the President is deferring the hopes of millions of Americans who do not have the time to keep waiting for the cure that may save or extend their lives.

The promise that stem cells hold does not come from any particular ideology, it is the judgment of science, and we deserve a President who will put that judgment first and make this promise real for the American people."    » read more »

June 19, 2007 -- Las Vegas, NV - Barack Obama made the following statement today on the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 settling their contract with Harrah's.

"This is a positive step forward, but this is bigger than one contract or negotiation and it is time for other companies to follow suit. I pledged my support for the workers when I met with the negotiating committee two weeks ago and I'll be there with them on the picket line until every worker has a fair contract.    » read more »

June 19, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) released the following statement on the coal-to-liquid fuel proposals considered by the Senate today:

"Achieving energy independence and significantly reducing greenhouse gas emissions are two of the greatest challenges America faces. With the right technological innovations, coal has the potential to be a cleaner burning, domestic alternative to imported oil.    » read more »

June 19, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on the ongoing detention of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi in Burma, on her 62nd birthday:    » read more »

June 19, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) issued the following statement on Juneteenth Independence Day, the anniversary of June 19, 1865 when Union soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas with news the Civil War had ended, effectively emancipating slaves in the Southwest. Obama is a co-sponsor of a resolution commemorating Juneteenth that is expected to be considered by the Senate today.

The text of the statement is below:    » read more »

19 June 2007 -- Democratic presidential contenders focused their attention on the war in Iraq during appearances at two candidate forums Tuesday in Washington. VOA national correspondent Jim Malone has the latest on the race for the Democratic Party's presidential nomination.

The most recent polls show New York Senator Hillary Clinton solidifying her lead in the Democratic field.

Senator Clinton sought to strengthen her position as the frontrunner for the party nomination in separate campaign appearances before a union group and an organization of liberal activists.    » read more »

June 15, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today announced that the Senate Appropriations Committee approved his request for $3.35 million in federal funding to renovate and expand Rock Island Arsenal’s combined Fire and Police Station facility – which was originally constructed in 1874.

“Making sure our first responders have the facilities, resources, and equipment they need to do their jobs and keep us safe is a critical priority for the Quad Cities region,” said Senator Obama.    » read more »

Senators say men must take responsibility for raising their children

June 15, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators Evan Bayh (D-IN) and Barack Obama (D-IL) today introduced legislation to encourage more men to take responsibility for their children and to address the challenges faced by millions of American families as a result of the national epidemic of absentee fathers.    » read more »

Standard would reduce fuel emissions 10 percent by 2020

June 14, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today offered a low carbon fuel standard that would require a 10 percent reduction in fuel emissions by 2020, the equivalent of taking 30 million cars off the road, as an amendment to the energy bill. The amendment is based on the National Low Carbon Fuel Standard Act he introduced with Senator Harkin earlier this year.

Senator Obama delivered the following remarks on the floor of the Senate:    » read more »

June 14, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO) today praised members of the Armed Services Committee for adopting proposals from their Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act to improve health care and the recovery process for service members and their families. Like the Obama-McCaskill legislation, the new legislation would cut Pentagon red tape, improve military medical facilities, and increase oversight at our nation’s military hospitals.    » read more »

June 13, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barack Obama today released the following statement on yesterday’s developments in Darfur:

“Yesterday the African Union announced that the Sudanese government had accepted the deployment of a substantial UN peacekeeping force in Darfur.”

“While welcome news, it is news we have heard before -- only to see Khartoum backtrack as soon as the world's attention has shifted. Already Sudanese officials have suggested that the new reinforcements come from African countries -- an unacceptable precondition on the UN deployment.”    » read more »

Asks him to reconsider refusal to classify China as a currency manipulator

June 13, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Paulson asking him to reconsider the decision not to classify China as a currency manipulator:

Dear Secretary Paulson,    » read more »

June 12, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent the following letter to Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Ranking Member Robert Bennett (R-UT), raising concerns about the nomination of Hans von Spakovsky to the Federal Elections Commission.    » read more »

June 06, 2007 -- Chicago, IL- The Barack Obama campaign today announced the launch of Spanish captioning for videos on www.barackobama.com. Obama's campaign, which was the first presidential campaign to make both closed captioning and Spanish captioning videos available online, currently has six videos with Spanish captioning.    » read more »