Archive: 2012

“We have a shared responsibility to answer that call, stemming from our belief in shared values. The freedom to assemble peacefully and demand basic human rights. The freedom to practice your faith. The freedom to live in security in your homeland. These values – like the challenge of Tibet – are not limited by borders and are not limited to any one country or parliament.”

“What we’re talking about today directly relates to what keeps people up at night. Their economic security, the education of their children, the health of their families, the list goes on. Some of those are addressed in this legislation. I think we all agree, the greatest thing the country can do, and that a family can do, is to invest in the education of the next generation. The education of our children. Imagine if we’re sitting around that kitchen table, as a family, as we are, and we say as a family ‘in order for your to go to college, we’re not going to be able to immunize your little brother or sister, we’re not going to be able to have preventative care, in terms of screening for breast cancer, cervical cancer, the list goes on and on, for your mom, or any other preventative care for men and women, in our family. That just would be wrong. As a nation, is that a statement of our values? That you must choose between the education of your children and the health of your family? It’s just not right. Especially, when you have a situation where we had this fight over and over again.”

“The FCC’s action represents one building block in Democrats’ broader efforts to create a new politics free from special interests. Our agenda is clear: we must fight for disclosure to ensure corporations and special interests stand by their ads by urging federal agencies to obtain meaningful disclosure of political spending under their purview and by passing the DISCLOSE Act. We must reform the system to empower the grassroots; and we must amend the Constitution to reverse the devastating effects of Supreme Court decisions that put special interests ahead of the public interest. The American people deserve nothing less.”

“President Obama took the issue to the public explaining why and what the difference this makes in terms of the obligation and the burden that would be on America’s families. Apparently he made the issue too hot for the Republicans to handle because now, today, they’re saying “okay, we will postpone the increase in interest rates for one year,” by bringing a bill to the floor that says “we will do this, but we will only reduce the interest rates by making an assault on women’s health, a continuation of their assault on women’s health.” Just before we came to this press availability, the President issued a veto threat. The Administration issued a Statement of Administration Policy, which said that if the “President is presented with H.R. 4628, his [advisors] would recommend he veto the bill.” And the reason why is because this prevention fund, from which they want to take the money, is very important to women’s health.”

Unless Congress acts, the interest rates on more than 7 million students will double to 6.8 percent on July 1st. Failure to act now will add $6.3 billion to students’ debt burden in one year alone. The doubling of loan rates will… Continue

“We will not support a bill that robs Peter to pay Paul, which ostensibly supports a middle class initiative while making those very same people pay for it. I don’t know what it is that the Republicans have against the idea that there is a positive role that we can do in a public private way to make America healthier, that a woman’s health is central to the health of her family. They consider it a slush fund to pay for women’s health. We consider it an absolute necessity. And that is the difference here. So we will be whipping against the student loan bill as it is proposed by the Republicans in the House.”

“What the motion that we have here today, is to say that: ‘instead of taking the money, instead of robbing Paula to pay Peter, we should be taking the money from the tax subsidies that go to Big Oil in our country.’ That’s what we should be doing. Isn’t that a better show of what our values are? That we value the health of our women and our children. Why would we – and not only, to make matters worse, not only are they suggesting that we take the money from the prevention fund, the immunization and screening for breast cancer, and cervical cancer, and other women’s health issues, not only are they saying we should take the five or six billion dollars from there, they’re saying we should take the additional $5 billion that would be left in the account and repeal it – repeal it. We’re not even – we’re taking twice as much money as we need for the student loan bill because we want to do away, we’re going to use this as an excuse to do away with this prevention initiative that affects women’s health so directly. It’s outrageous. It’s outrageous. We prefer tax subsidies for Big Oil rather than the health of America’s women. Once again, they’re targeting women’s health.”

“House Democrats, led by Congresswoman Gwen Moore, have proposed legislation that mirrors the bill passed by the Senate. Both bills extend defense against domestic abuse, sexual assault, and stalking; include provisions to expand the classes of victims who would be protected – including Native Americans and the LGBT community; and ensure protections for immigrants affected by domestic violence.”

“These values form the foundation of the strong and enduring friendship between the United States and Israel. And as we work together to prevent a nuclear Iran and invest in Israel’s defense, we must reaffirm our commitment: the U.S.-Israel relationship is unbreakable, and our dedication to Israel’s security is unshakable.”

“As conferees begin their work, I urge them to do so swiftly and in the spirit of bipartisanship. We must come together this year in agreement for legislation that will put people to work, invest in road, rail, transit, and highway construction, and rebuild America.”