Congress

HUD Secretary announces eligibility for borrowers up to 125% underwater in Las Vegas with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and Congresswoman Dina Titus

July 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan today announced an expansion of the Obama Administration's Home Affordable Refinance Program to include participation by borrowers who are current but up to 125 percent underwater on their mortgage.

Under authorization provided by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, borrowers whose mortgages are currently owned or guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will now be allowed to refinance those loans according to the terms of the Home Affordable Refinance program established earlier this year.    » read more »

Governor Pawlenty statement regarding the Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision in the Franken-Coleman election contest

June 30, 2009 -- Saint Paul – The following is a statement from Governor Tim Pawlenty regarding the Minnesota Supreme Court’s decision in the Franken-Coleman election contest.

“The Minnesota Supreme Court has today addressed the issues surrounding the accuracy and integrity of our election system during the 2008 U.S. Senate race in Minnesota. In light of that decision and Senator Coleman’s announcement that he will not be pursuing an appeal, I will be signing the election certificate today as directed by the court and applicable law.    » read more »

Washington, DC - 06/26/2009 - Phyllis Cuttino, director of the Pew Environment Group’s U.S. Global Warming Campaign, released the following statement on the passage of the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 by the U.S. House of Representatives.

“This is the landmark energy and environmental legislative achievement of a generation. The bill’s clean energy, efficiency and other emissions reduction provisions will make the United States safer, cleaner and more prosperous.    » read more »

Statement of David Arkush, Director, Public Citizen’s Congress Watch Division

June 30, 2009 -- For too long, financial regulators have been too cozy with the financial services industry that they were supposed to be overseeing. Moreover, not a single federal agency focuses primarily on consumer protection for credit products. Lenders have run amok, writing their own rules and creating a maze of unfair and predatory products that have harmed consumers and destabilized the economy.

The lack of oversight and regulation, along with Wall Street’s unchecked greed, drove this country into its current financial crisis. Americans deserve an agency that will put their financial well-being ahead of the short-term profits of a few Wall Street banks.    » read more »

Energy efficiency provisions will create 770,000 jobs by 2030

June 24, 2009 -- Washington, D.C.—The federal energy efficiency provisions included in H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (aka Waxman-Markey), could save approximately $1,050 per household by 2020 and $4,400 per household by 2030, according to an updated analysis by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).

Changes to ACEEE’s analysis come from an updated assessment of savings from a number of provisions, as well as changes to the bill made in a Rule’s Committee version of the bill released yesterday.    » read more »

Landmark Waxman-Markey Climate and Energy Bill clears House; Statement of Kevin Knobloch, Union of Concerned Scientists

WASHINGTON (June 26, 2009) — The House of Representatives today passed the first comprehensive climate and energy bill, the "American Clean Energy and Security Act," by a 219 to 212 vote. Below is a statement by Kevin Knobloch, president of the Union of Concerned Scientists.

"We're thrilled that Congress has finally caught up with science and the American people in recognizing the need to switch on clean energy. Our future is now looking more like the Jetsons and less like the Flintstones.    » read more »

HOUSTON, June 29, 2009 -- "ConocoPhillips is fully committed to the prompt enactment of national legislation in the United States to address the growth of greenhouse gas emissions while ensuring the availability of secure, affordable and reliable energy. We commend the House of Representatives leadership and members for their efforts to advance federal climate legislation.

While the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACESA) contains many of the elements intended to balance greenhouse gas emissions reduction with economic growth and national security needs, we do not believe the bill passed June 26 achieves these aims.    » read more »

Passage of the DREAM Act will allow next generation of leaders to achieve their own American dream

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, DC --Today, with the U.S. Capitol's Statue of Freedom reaching to the sky behind them, more than 500 students from across the country took part in a symbolic graduation ceremony to urge Congress to support our nation's future leaders by passing the DREAM Act. The National DREAM Graduation ceremony was hosted by labor organizations like SEIU, education, faith, business, immigrant and civil rights groups through the United We Dream Coalition.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – The following is a statement from Senator Jim Webb (D-VA) on the Metro tragedy in Northeast Washington, DC on Monday evening:

“The events of Monday evening draw heightened attention to safety conditions on the Capital region’s highly-utilized Metro system. With Metrorail transporting an average of one million riders each workday, we have a responsibility to ensure that vital infrastructure upgrades and safety recommendations are implemented in an appropriate time and manner.

“I intend to work closely with my colleagues in Congress and area leaders to determine how such a disaster could have occurred and what measures must be carried out in the near-term to prevent further incidents that jeopardize passenger safety.”    » read more »

Warner, Corker introduce bipartisan bill to maximize taxpayer returns of TARP investments; Bill creates private market trust for TARP investments

June 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner (D-VA) spoke on the Senate floor today about bipartisan legislation he has introduced with Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) that will maximize returns of taxpayer investments into TARP(Troubled Asset Relief Program)assisted institutions. The bill provides for a responsible exitstrategy from government ownership of TARP-recipient companies, such as AIG, Citigroup, and General Motors.    » read more »

Introduces bipartisan bill to create tax break for consumers who buy water-saving appliances; Incentive similar to Energy Star program could save families $170 a year on water bills

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mark Udall introduced a bipartisan bill that would create a tax credit for consumers and businesses who invest in water-saving appliances. The credit would be similar to the Energy Star credit for purchasing energy-efficient appliances, and could save families as much as $170 a year. The bill was also introduced in the House of Representatives by Colorado Republican Mike Coffman.

In a speech about the legislation on the Senate floor, Senator Udall said it is a win-win for consumers and water supplies in Colorado and across the country.    » read more »

Stabenow statement on President Obama’s Executive Order to create White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON -- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) today made the following statement regarding President Obama’s executive order to create a White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers.

“Today’s announcement further demonstrates the Obama Administration’s commitment to helping communities that are most affected by restructuring in our automotive industry. With a new White House Council on Automotive Communities and Workers in place, Dr. Montgomery and his team will have the resources they need to provide additional federal support to workers and families who need it most.    » read more »

June 23, 2009 -- Dearborn, MI—Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI) made the following statement regarding the announcement that the U.S. has filed a World Trade Organization complaint against China for its export restraints on raw materials. The export restraints provide Chinese companies with an unfair competitive advantage over U.S. companies. Senator Stabenow has been leading the fight to hold accountable countries that practice unfair trade. Earlier this year, she introduced the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act of 2009 and is currently working on legislation that would expand our resources for trade enforcement.    » read more »

Stabenow reaction to Energy Secretary Chu’s announcement that Ford will receive $5.9 billion in retooling loans

June 23, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow made the following statement regarding the announcement by Secretary of Energy Steven Chu that Ford will receive $5.9 billion in low-interest loans to retool older plants for the production of advanced technology vehicles.

The loans were awarded as part of the Advanced Technology Vehicles Manufacturing Incentive Program that Senator Stabenow authored last year, as part of a legislative effort that began in 2007.    » read more »

Co-sponsors Disaster State Housing Recover Act

June 23, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Today, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), ranking member of the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, joined Senator Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) in introducing the Disaster State Housing Recovery Act. This bill ensures that states with GO Zone or Heartland Act credits, such as Alabama, are treated as Congress intended when it provided the special allocations of credits to aid in their recovery from recent natural disasters.    » read more »