Archive: 2008

Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel spoke on the House floor on the fifth anniversary of President Bush’s speech aboard the USS Abraham Lincoln under a banner reading “Mission Accomplished.” Full remarks: Rep. Emanuel: “Madam Speaker, in 1993, when professional-baseball owners were deciding how… Continue

On May 1, 2003, President Bush landed on the U.S.S. Lincoln, an aircraft carrier adorned with a banner reading 'Mission Accomplished,' and declared major combat operations in Iraq over. Five years later, the war in Iraq continues to take a grave toll… Continue

The House has just passed the Worker Protection Against Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Act, H.R. 5522 by a vote of 247-165. This bill would require the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue rules regulating combustible industrial dusts, like sugar… Continue

Speaker Nancy Pelosi today released the following statement in the wake of the new numbers showing anemic economic growth (0.6 percent) and the Federal Reserve Board’s decision to cut a key interest rate by a quarter percentage point.

White House forces resignation of embattled GSA chief Dan Friedman and Robert Brodsky, Government Executive – April 30, 2008 Lurita Doan, the embattled head of the General Services Administration, resigned at the request of the White House, sources said Tuesday. According to… Continue

From the Appropriations Committee: Obey Responds to Veto Threat WASHINGTON — Dave Obey (D-WI), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, responded to yet another veto threat from a President unwilling to work with Congress to help veterans and the unemployed. “The President… Continue

Washington, D.C. — Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other bipartisan Members of Congress participated in a rally at the Capitol this afternoon to support the 21st Century GI Bill, which provides a four-year college scholarship to veterans who served in Iraq and Afghanistan…. Continue

“Today is a banner day for America’s natural, cultural and historic treasures. The legislation passed today signals the commitment of the New Direction Congress to protect our natural resources, including wilderness, national parks, national heritage areas, and water resources.”

“The President can take three actions today to help our economy: lower gas prices by halting deposits to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve; save 116,000 green jobs and create hundreds of thousands more by dropping his veto threat from House legislation creating tax credits for renewable energy; and come to the table to help pass major reforms to our home lending industry which allow Americans at risk of foreclosure to affordably refinance, and to stabilize neighborhoods in foreclosure crisis.”

“Contrary to the President’s assertion, the American people would benefit from suspending these government purchases. It could reduce gas prices by five to 24 cents a gallon – a critical first step for America’s families, businesses, and the economy.”