Archive: 2009

“This national climate science report confirms the conclusions of credible scientists around the world: climate change is occurring now, it is affecting our lives, and we cannot ignore it.”

“It’s a very important visit that the Prime Minister is making to the United States. As you know, he just came from a visit with the President. As he was there, we were presenting on the floor of the House a resolution to express the sympathy of the American people and the support of the American people for those affected by the earthquake in Abruzzo in April.”

“President Obama made a clear and compelling case today for how the Administration and Congress are working together on a uniquely American solution for quality, affordable health care right now. As the President said, American families and businesses cannot afford for us to fail. Fixing health care is the single best way to improve our nation’s fiscal future–and is critical to our economic recovery.”

This afternoon, President Obama delivered a speech to the American Medical Association on the urgent need for comprehensive health care reform. The President outlined the cost of inaction, explaining that Americans are currently spending over $2,000,000,000,000 a year on health care which,… Continue

“Today, we have an opportunity to protect public health and prevent disease. And today, we have an opportunity to honor our responsibility to our children to protect them from the harm that can come to them from the use of tobacco.”

“Today’s Treasury announcement to utilize the Recovery Zone Bonds program to aid areas hit by major jobs losses through economic development assistance is a welcome move, particularly in California. This innovative tool, created within the economic recovery package passed by Congress and President Obama earlier this year, will kickstart public infrastructure, job training and other projects.”

This afternoon, the House voted 413 to 0 to condemn the violent attack at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum yesterday and to honor the bravery and dedication of museum employees and security personnel. Officer Stephen Johns died in the line of duty–doing… Continue

“Jack Henning will be long remembered for his distinguished career on the front lines of the labor movement, fighting passionately for justice, equality, human rights and jobs in California, and across America, and throughout the world.”

“And so, while the Holocaust Memorial Museum is about something that happened in the past, it is a memorial and a reminder to us about ridding our societies of these kinds of attitudes. So how ironic that this person, this individual, would go into that museum with hate in his heart, a gun in his hand, and kill this beautiful man, Stephen Johns, who really gave his life — he guarded others with his life.”

“This afternoon, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan provided an update on efforts to reduce the home foreclosure crisis and the progress that President Obama’s Make Home Affordable initiative has made. Our Members will continue to provide feedback to the Secretary about the foreclosure situation and on ways to improve the response of mortgage servicers to homeowners who are seeking to modify their loans to avoid foreclosure.”