House of Representatives

August 20, 2008 -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement on the passing of Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones:

"We are greatly saddened about the passing of Congresswoman Tubbs Jones. Stephanie was a true American hero and inspiring leader, having spent a lifetime breaking barriers and standing up for her values. Just last week I was honored to have Stephanie join me on the campaign trail in Ohio where, as always, her infectious energy, enthusiasm and passion uplifted the crowd. Her voice will be greatly missed.

"This is a great loss for our Party and our nation. On behalf of the Democratic Party, we extend our thoughts and prayers to Congresswoman Tubbs Jones' friends and family during this difficult time."

Source: DNC

August 7, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement in reaction to the Department of Labor’s announcement today on weekly jobless claims. The Department reported that first time claims for unemployment benefits rose to 455,000 – the highest number since the 2001 recession.:

“President Bush’s failed economic policies continue to take their toll on Americans as more workers have filed for unemployment benefits this week than at any time since the 2001 recession. After seven years of Bush Administration economic policies that have rewarded those at the very top at the expense of middle class Americans, we need a New Direction economic plan that strengthens job creation and renews the American Dream.    » read more »

August 1, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, other senior Members of Congress, and families impacted by unsafe toys joined together at an enrollment ceremony today for the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. This bill, which now goes to President Bush for his signature into law, gives the Consumer Product Safety Commission the resources, authority, and oversight it needs to protect children from lead, dangerous toys and other unsafe products.

“At the beginning of this Congress, I proudly gaveled the Congress to order in the name of all of America’s children, promising to make this a children’s Congress. This week, we have more than one reason to be honoring that pledge and be glad about that.    » read more »

"Good morning. This is Congressman Henry Waxman of California, Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.

"This was a great week in the House of Representatives for the children of America. On one single day, we passed two critically important pieces of legislation. The first, to reinvigorate the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and strengthen its ability to assure safe toys for our children. The second is legislation that provides the authority to regulate tobacco and stop tobacco companies from targeting our kids.    » read more »

Washington, D.C., 07/18/2008 – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement on House Republicans’ planned trip to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska this weekend:

“This weekend, House Republican leaders will take their allegiance to the President’s failed policies to a new latitude. They will follow him all the way to the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in northern Alaska instead of touring the 68 million acres of onshore and offshore lands that oil companies have already leased, but have not developed.    » read more »

Washington, DC, 7/17/2008 – Americans’ online privacy was discussed today at a hearing before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet. The hearing, titled “What Your Broadband Provider Knows About Your Web Use: Deep Packet Inspection and Communications Laws and Policies,” was meant to shed light on the practice of Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) by Internet service providers (ISPs). DPI allows ISPs to track users’ Internet browsing activities and can be data mined for targeted marketing purposes. The ACLU urges members of the committee to be wary of the privacy landmines inherent in DPI.

The following can be attributed to Timothy Sparapani, ACLU Senior Legislative Counsel:    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- Today’s vote in the House of Representatives to pass a vital extension of unemployment benefits marks an important step forward in getting desperately needed help to some of the most vulnerable in the rapidly failing economy – and giving the economy a needed boost. We commend Democratic leadership and all members who voted for this important legislation.    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement this afternoon after the House voted 274 to 137 to pass legislation that will help workers who have lost their jobs as a result of an economy on the brink of recession. The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act passed by a 2/3 majority, a margin large enough to override a threatened veto by President Bush.

“Today, the House voted to help 3.8 million Americans who are out of work in large part because of the disastrous economic policies of this White House and its allies in Washington.    » read more »

June 12, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman John P. Murtha, Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, joined a bipartisan majority of his colleagues today in voting to approve legislation that will aid workers who have lost their jobs as a result of the current economic downturn.

The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act provides up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits in every state to workers exhausting the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. Approximately 3.8 million unemployed Americans can benefit from this legislation, which will be fully paid for through existing reserves in the federal unemployment trust funds.    » read more »

June 10, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today in response to Senate Republicans blocking consideration of the Consumer-First Energy Act and the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008:

“Senate Republicans have once again shown themselves to be unwilling to break free of the costly, failed Bush energy policies of the past. They have again adopted President Bush’s ‘drill and veto’ policy that is driving up the price of oil, diesel, and gasoline and leaving us dangerously reliant on Middle East oil.    » read more »

June 4, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Barack Obama (D-IL) and Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL) today issued a statement following the announcement that Chicago has been chosen as a finalist in the International Olympic Committee (IOC)'s competition to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

"The Chicago 2016 organizers, the U.S. Olympic Committee, Mayor Daley and the people of Chicago deserve praise for a job well done. Because of their fine efforts, Chicago is well prepared to face stiff competition from the three additional finalists - Madrid, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo.    » read more »

June 6, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – Speaker Nancy Pelosi released the following statement as the price of oil by the barrel reached $139, an $11 increase from yesterday – the largest one-day increase in history:

“With crude oil prices reaching another record high today, Democrats in Congress are fighting to reverse seven years of Bush-Cheney energy policies that have driven up the price at the pump for Americans struggling to make ends meet.

“Democrats are working to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce gas prices, launch a cleaner, smarter energy future for America that creates hundreds of thousands of green jobs and helps save our planet.    » read more »

June 6, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charles B. Rangel announced this afternoon that legislation extending unemployment insurance benefits for the long-term jobless will be acted on swiftly by the House.

The House Ways and Means Committee has already passed the legislation to aid millions of workers who have lost their jobs in the struggling economy.    » read more »

Senators Feinstein and Leahy and Representative McGovern Introduce Joint Resolution Calling on the United States to Sign International Treaty Banning Cluster Bombs

June 3, 2008 -- Washington, DC – U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Representative James P. McGovern (D-Mass.) today introduced a joint resolution calling on the United States to sign on to a new treaty to ban the vast majority of cluster munitions.

The resolution specifically calls on the United States to “embrace efforts to protect innocent civilians from cluster munitions and sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions when it becomes open for signature in December 2008.”    » read more »

June 3, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued the following statement today after Congress sent to the President H.R. 1195, bipartisan legislation to help promote 40,000 American jobs in transportation and construction:

““The bipartisan transportation legislation Congress sent the President today will help create and support 40,000 good paying American jobs. This represents our down payment on a new commitment to renewing America’s infrastructure, which will continue with the reauthorization of the highway bill next year.    » read more »