Press Releases
Brendan Daly/Nadeam Elshami
202-226-7616
07/31/2007
Pelosi: ‘With Passage of Lobby Reform, We Draw Back the Curtains, Throw Up the Windows, and Let the Sunshine In’
“Thank you very much, Chairman Emanuel, for your great
leadership on this issue of lobbying reform.
I want to commend you, and I want to commend another member of our
leadership, Congressman Chris Van Hollen, for his leadership as well.
“Justice Louis Brandeis observed more than 70 years ago,
‘Sunlight is the best disinfectant.
“Today, with passage of the Honest Leadership, Open
Government Act, we draw back the curtains, throw up the windows, and let the
sunshine in.
“Instrumental to this victory on behalf of the American
people have been our new Members. They
have led the way to make this the most honest and most open Congress in
history. I thank them for their
leadership and their commitment, and I want to acknowledge two of their
representatives who are here today.
Thank you for your leadership, Congresswoman Nancy Boyda of
“Last November, the American people spoke clearly for change
in the way business is done in
“On the very first day of the 110th Congress, we passed a
landmark rules package—the toughest ethical reform in a generation.
“Next, under Congresswoman Boyda’s leadership, we passed
legislation to deny taxpayer-funded pension benefits to House members convicted
of corruption while serving the American people.
“Today, we will shine a bright light on the linkage between
lobbyists and legislators, with legislation that requires an unprecedented
level of disclosure.
“And in so doing, we keep our promise to drain the swamp
that is