“As we approach Memorial Day, the challenge to our conscience of that – meeting the needs of our veterans is heightened. It is with us every day. But it’s heightened on Memorial Day, Veteran’s Day, and other times of the year. As we say in our meetings all the time on the battlefield, the military says: ‘on the battlefield, we will leave no soldier behind.’ And all of us say together, in a bi-partisan way: ‘and when they come home, we will leave no veteran behind.’ And so, it is in that spirit that this backlog is a challenge to the conscience of our country..."

“On this Harvey Milk Day – on what would be his 83rd birthday – Harvey’s green light has opened doors for LGBT elected officials nationwide: from America’s first LGBT Senator in Tammy Baldwin to six LGBT Members of the House, each contributing their leadership to the most diverse Democratic Caucus in history. These Members are a living testament to Harvey’s principle that LGBT people deserve a place at the table."

“I am pleased that the more than 600,000 American citizens who reside in the District of Columbia will finally have a statue representing them in the U.S. Capitol. While the District deserves to have two statues in the Capitol, like the states, since its residents pay federal taxes and have fought and died in every American war, a statue depicting Frederick Douglass could not be a more apt representative for the people of D.C. Douglass fought for District residents to have self-government and Congressional representation, a fight our Caucus carries on today.”

Washington, D.C. – Today, Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, Democratic Caucus Vice Chairman Joe Crowley, Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Nita Lowey, and Congressman Rush Holt met with President U Thein Sein of Burma and his delegation.

“So, I hope it is a comfort to the people of the region, that their loss is one that is shared, and mourned, by people across the world, certainly in our country, and definitely in this Congress of the United States. Whatever it is in our power to be helpful to them, we will do, and we will do quickly. And that most importantly, they will always, always, always, and ever, be in our prayers."

“As rescue workers continue the search for survivors, Members of Congress stand ready to do what we can to support the communities in Oklahoma, the first responders, and state and local government in their efforts to recover, respond, and rebuild.”

“This is important to us, as anything that relates to our democracy, because what we are talking about here – Income disparity, inequality in recognizing the value of work – can do more to undermine the middle class and therefore undermine our democracy. It is absolutely, almost to the point of immoral the attitude that some have toward the workforce and what recognition the contribution of the workforce toward productivity."

“Today, you graduate at a time when public service is not only commendable, it is essential; when our common values of fairness and equality must not only be restated, but they must be strengthened. We need now, is the courage – your courage – to face, confront, and overcome some of the challenges of our time, the challenges to our democracy. Today, these challenges are being reflected over the meaning of our Constitution at the highest court in the land..."

Washington, D.C. – Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi and senior House Democrats have sent letters to nine separate U.S. retailers calling upon them to join a broadening global coalition supporting a May 12 Accord on Fire and Building Safety, developed by the Worker Rights Consortium and a number of key stakeholders.

"Here we are, 134 days into the 113th Congress, without one vote on a jobs bill. Fifty-four days after the Senate passed its budget, we still haven't moved forward to the budget process with this do nothing agenda that does not reflect the priorities of the American people. It is an agenda that only the Republicans are interested in pursuing. So, you see a series of subterfuges, job evasions. Today's job evasion is that the Republicans have decided to vote on the Patient's Rights Repeal Act, their 37th attempt to repeal our country's landmark reform bill. That's 37 votes, 43 days, $52 million – $52.4 million – on an obvious evasion of our responsibility to work on the priorities of the American people."