Barack Obama

AFL-CIO’s Sweeney, SEIU’s Rivera discuss labor’s pains

ROSEMONT, IL (June 4, 2007)—Commending Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. and the Rainbow PUSH Coalition for keeping the faith with American workers, several of the nation’s most powerful labor and political leaders today offered their programs and platforms to help working people at the 36th Annual Rainbow PUSH Coalition & Citizenship Education Fund Conference, held at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare, 9300 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., through June 6.    » read more »

June 5, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today praised the Environmental Protection Agency’s announcement of support for his proposal to remove toxic lead from childcare, pre-school, and kindergarten facilities. Senator Obama originally introduced S. 3969, the Lead Poisoning Reduction Act of 2006, during the 109th Congress to require all child care facilities that are outside of the home to be certified lead-safe in five years.    » read more »

June 5, 2007 -- WASHIINGTON, DC – “Craig Thomas was a valued colleague and a tireless advocate for the people of Wyoming, and all of us who had the privilege of serving with him in the U.S. Senate will miss him dearly.

In the face of a life-threatening illness, he served these last months with the same honor and distinction with which he’s served the eighteen he’s spent in Congress.

I offer my sincerest condolences to his wife Susan and their four children, and pray that they find peace and comfort in the difficult months to come.”

Source: Senator Barack Obama

June 4, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on the actions of former Liberian President Charles Taylor before the Special Court of Sierra Leone:

“Charles Taylor is one of the worst war criminals of the last century. He must answer for the 11 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, and he can't be allowed to pull another stunt like he did today when he walked out of the Special Court for Sierra Leone.”    » read more »

June 04, 2007 -- During the Democratic debate in New Hampshire last night, there was disagreement over whether or not America is safer since the 9/11 attacks on our nation. Senator Obama believes and asserted in the debate that America is less safe since 9/11 largely because the war in Iraq has fueled terrorism around the world. He opposed the war from the beginning and has a plan to end it, bringing all combat troops out of Iraq by March 31, 2008.    » read more »

June 01, 2007 -- CHICAGO , IL-- U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement to commemorate Pride Month.

"Pride Month is a reminder that while we have come a long way since the Stonewall riots in 1969, we still have a lot of work to do."

"Too often, the issue of LGBT rights is exploited by those seeking to divide us. But at its core, this issue is about who we are as Americans. It's about whether this nation is going to live up to its founding promise of equality by treating all its citizens with dignity and respect."    » read more »

Legislation would boost transparency, spur public debate over rising executive compensation

May 30, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee to request that they hold a hearing on the Shareholder Vote on Executive Compensation Act, a bill he sponsored that would give shareholders an advisory vote on executive compensation and spur both increased transparency and public debate over pay packages. The legislation passed the House by a wide margin in April.    » read more »

Founding Member of the CBC

May 29, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. –"Congressman Parren Mitchell was an American trailblazer. His fight for civil rights evolved into a lifetime commitment to increasing minority business ownership and and battling poverty in our communities. Congressman Mitchell helped the Congressional Black Caucus grow in size and influence each Congress, providing inspiration to the next generation of African American leaders. My thoughts and prayers are with the Mitchell family. It's men like Parren Mitchell that made my career in public service possible."    » read more »

May 29, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) last week introduced a bill that would create an official designation in higher education law and provide funding for Predominantly Black Institutions (PBIs). The PBI designation would provide grants to approximately 75 urban and rural colleges and technical programs that serve a large number of African American students – many who are the first in their families to attend college.    » read more »

May 29, 2007 -- Chicago, IL--Senator Obama today released the following statement in response to President Bush's announcement of sanctions on the Sudanese government.

"President Bush's announcement today that he will finally impose tightened sanctions on the Sudanese government is welcome. But, it falls well short of what is necessary to compel Khartoum to stop the four year-old genocide."    » read more »

May 25, 2007 -- Chicago, IL - "I spent much of my childhood in Hawaii and Indonesia, and for most of my adult life, I've lived in Chicago, a city with its own vibrant Asian American and Pacific Islander community. So I join millions of Americans in celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by honoring the many contributions this community has made to our country."    » read more »

May 24, 2007 -- Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today released the following statement on his vote on the supplemental appropriations bill:

"This vote is a choice between validating the same failed policy in Iraq that has cost us so many lives and demanding a new one. And I am demanding a new one."    » read more »

May 21, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) today sent a letter to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras raising serious concerns about whether the FTC has adequately protected America's seniors from abusive telemarketing fraud schemes.    » read more »

May 22, 2007 -- Washington, D.C.—A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators led by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Barack Obama (D-IL), and Kit Bond (R-MO) today expressed deep concern to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates about the state of mental health care services for soldiers at Ft. Carson, Colorado.    » read more »

May 17, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. –“The Supreme Court’s landmark ruling in Brown v. Board of Education to desegregate our country’s public schools was not only a victory for African Americans, but a triumph for the soul of an entire nation.

"While this courageous decision opened doors for me and millions of my fellow Americans, many of today’s schools remain divided by resources and opportunities, and we must push forward until all children are afforded an equal chance to succeed.”

Source: Senator Barack Obama