Press Releases

“‘Strong evidence indicates that the Bush Administration abused a loophole provided by the prior Republican Congress permitting the indefinite appointment of interim U.S. Attorneys without Senate confirmation. This legislation, which now goes to the President’s desk, restores Constitutional checks and balances in the appointment process of interim U.S. Attorneys. It is a small but necessary step toward restoring confidence and independence in the administration of justice.”

“‘American consumers must not be at the mercy of foreign oil cartels that conspire to fix prices and allocate production. These state-controlled entities and cartels, which control more than two-thirds of crude oil traded internationally, avoid accountability by claiming immunity from the antitrust laws. The NOPEC bill provides a critical tool by authorizing the Justice Department to pursue antitrust actions in U.S. federal court against cartel members.”

“‘Thank you, Mr. Leader. My condolences on the loss of your constituent. It’s happening across America almost every day now. And that’s why the nation’s people have lost confidence in the conduct of this war. There is no question that America’s families are paying the price.”

“Today, Democratic Leaders issued a joint letter to President, calling on him to drop his opposition to Democratic plans to give troops the pay raise they deserve and increase benefits for surviving spouses of men and women in uniform.”

“‘We told the American people that Democrats would ‘drain the swamp’ and change the way business is done in Washington,’ said Speaker Pelosi. ‘In the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, we restored accountability by imposing the toughest ethics standards ever: no gifts, no private jets, and no meals from lobbyists.”

“‘Tonight, with the Federal Housing Finance Reform Act, the House is taking crucial steps toward addressing our nation’s need for affordable housing and restoring accountability that has been missing for too long.

‘The recent scandals at the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage-funding enterprises are clear evidence of the need for a change in how business is done in Washington. This legislation will restore accountability while addressing management and accounting problems that have undermined the mission of these government-sponsored enterprises – to expand access to housing for the American people.”

“‘That means we must secure our borders and enforce our laws, while also protecting against discrimination and adhering to the rule of law. It means that we must regularize the status of the 12 million undocumented immigrants who now work and live here, and establish a rigorous but real path to citizenship. It means we must promote family values and family unification. And it means that we must meet our economy’s need for additional workers when there is evidence that they are needed, and there are strict labor protections for all workers.”

“‘I wish to associate myself with your remarks in praise of this very important budget today. I want to join you in commending the exceptional leadership of Chairman Kent Conrad and Chairman John Spratt.”

“‘In passing the defense authorization bill today, the House acted to make our military stronger and the American people safer. The bill provides our troops with more than the Bush Administration requested, including a pay raise more in keeping with what they deserve, while rejecting increases in medical care costs the Administration had sought.”

“‘This year’s town hall was a great opportunity for dialogue with the Asian American and Pacific Islander community,’ Speaker Nancy Pelosi said. ‘Today, Democrats heard directly from the community – their ideas and concerns – and we look forward to continuing our relationship with AAPIs into the future.'”