Archive: 2009

“The delegation members landed yesterday in Anchorage and visited the Alaska Native Heritage Center, where they heard from Native Alaskans who are on the frontline of the effects of the climate crisis. The Native Alaskans said global warming is affecting their culture, habitat, and way of life, from villages crumbling into the sea, to lakes drying up, to possibly losing the iconic salmon.”

Speaker Pelosi and bipartisan leaders of the House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming will travel to China during the Memorial Day District Week Period, focusing on opportunities that will help create clean, sustainable energy policies. Speaker Pelosi: The urgency… Continue

The 111th Congress is off to a strong start, working with President Obama to take America in a New Direction, to turn our economy around and create good jobs, with common sense reforms and targeted investments in: affordable health care, clean energy… Continue

A report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) this year found that the Pentagon's 96 largest acquisition programs had cost overruns of $296 billion and were on average 22 months behind schedule — $296 billion is more than the amount spent on… Continue

“Calling climate change ‘the greatest challenge of our day,’ House Speaker Nancy Pelosi credited young voters yesterday with pressuring Congress to finally craft a national response, and she predicted that the United States would join other countries this year in an international pact to reduce planet-warming pollution.”

Tonight, the Energy and Commerce Committee approved the American Clean Energy and Security Act (HR 2454) after four days of debating the bill: Building on the energy provisions in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which included doubling renewable energy production, renovating… Continue

“The Secretary-General is a visionary. He’s a man of peace, and he has been a leader in calling attention to the global climate crisis. In our first meeting over two years ago, when I first became — when we were both new at our jobs — you came here and told me how urgent the issue was, that national governments must take the lead in fighting climate change and industrialized nations had a crucial rule in doing so.”

“My message to you today is this: ‘Know your power and follow your passion.”

“I share President Obama’s commitment to protecting the American people while preserving American values. The President offered a sensible, balanced approach to the treatment of detainees and to the handling of state secrets. President Obama pledged to reassert our nation’s moral authority and the rule of law consistent with providing maximum security to the American people.”

“The bold action taken by the Energy and Commerce Committee tonight brings us one step closer to comprehensive reform. Chairman Waxman and Chairman Markey have built consensus across regional differences and developed bold legislation to create millions of new jobs and provide a strong foundation for economic recovery. The progress made by the committee has been tremendous and I congratulate every member of the panel.”