The Capitol - June 2008
June 30, 2008
Dear Friends:
Speaker Pelosi meeting with leaders of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans |
In June, I met with leaders of the National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA) to discuss issues critical to the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. They brought to the table their concerns regarding the World War II Filipino veterans, the lack of information available to AAPI homeowners during the mortgage crisis, immigration issues, and the health disparities facing communities of color.
These priorities are the priorities of Democrats in Congress and we will continue to work with our partners like NCAPA to make life better for all Americans.
The New Direction Congress has also taken action on issues affecting both the AAPI community and country with recent legislation such as extending unemployment insurance benefits to those Americans who have been laid off during this economic downturn, Medicare improvements, and energy solutions to help bring the rising cost of gas and energy prices down.
We are committed to providing much-needed relief to 3.8 million unemployed workers, including those in the AAPI community, to assist them with rapidly rising gas and food costs, while they continue to struggle to find work in the slowing economy. On June 12, the House passed the Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act, which will provide an additional 13 weeks of unemployment benefits to workers who have extended their 26 weeks of regular benefits. This legislation is now on its way to the President's desk.
On June 24, the House passed the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act, which would greatly benefit those in the AAPI community who serve as physicians and those who collect Medicare by preventing the pending 10 percent payment reduction for physicians in Medicare. It would also enhance Medicare preventive and mental health benefits, improve and extend programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries, and extend expiring provisions for rural and other providers.
The New Direction Congress will continue work in a bipartisan way to find solutions to jumpstart and rebuild this economy that will assist the AAPI community and the American people.
Best regards,
NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House
Speaker Pelosi commemorating the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square Massacre |
19th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre
June 4 marked the 19th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square massacre in Beijing, China, and I was honored to speak at an event on Capitol Hill commemorating the anniversary earlier this month. We paid tribute to the brave souls who defied the powers of their day to demand the liberties and freedom to which all people everywhere are entitled. We remembered the courage of the heroes of Tiananmen and we reaffirmed our commitment to the principles of freedom and democracy of which they dreamed. As I have said before, we must not lose our moral authority to speak out on behalf of human rights anywhere in the world.
Watch video highlights from the commemoration event>>
Read Speaker Pelosi's remarks at 19th Anniversary of Tiananmen Square Massacre commemoration event>>
Order of the Golden Heart
Speaker Pelosi accepting the Order of the Golden Heart from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo |
On June 23, a number of my colleagues and I were deeply honored to accept the Order of the Golden Heart from Philippine President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo for Congress' work to gain recognition for World War II Filipino war veterans in the Veterans Equity Bill. These Filipino vets have waited too long to receive the respect they deserve and I look forward to bringing the legislation to the House floor soon.
We have an obligation to care for and honor America's servicemen and women, their families, and our veterans for their bravery and sacrifice. The new Democratic-led Congress is keeping our promises to America's veterans and military - including the more than 321,000 veterans of AAPI descent and the more than 48,000 AAPI men and women who have served their country in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2001.
Unemployment Insurance
As unemployment reached record rates, the House voted to help workers who have lost their jobs as a result of an economy on the brink of recession. The Emergency Extended Unemployment Compensation Act will help 3.8 million Americans who are out of work in large part due to the disastrous economic policies of this White House and its Republican allies in Congress. The bill is now on its way to the President's desk.
The legislation will immediately provide up to 13 weeks of extended unemployment benefits, in every state, to workers exhausting the 26 weeks of regular unemployment benefits. This measure will provide much-needed relief to unemployed workers by assisting them with rapidly rising gas and food costs as they continue their struggle to find work in the slowing economy.
Learn more about what the New Direction Congress is doing to providing relief to America's workers>>
Medicare Improvements
The House passed the Medicare Improvements bill by a strong veto-proof margin of 355 to 59 on June 24. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act is essential legislation that will enhance preventive and mental health benefits for our seniors. This critical bill strengthens care for rural Americans, and ensures that we maintain access to doctors who care for Medicare beneficiaries by making sure they are more fairly reimbursed for their work. Unfortunately, Senate Republicans blocked the bill from moving forward.
Learn more about the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act>>
Lower Gas Prices and an Energy Independent Future
As the price of oil reaches record highs, the Democratic-led Congress has made progress to bring real relief to those feeling the squeeze from high gas and diesel prices and ensure the needs of families and businesses are put before the interests of Big Oil companies.
Recent and upcoming legislation:
- Reducing Transit Fares - Gives grants to mass transit authorities to lower fares for commuters pinched at the pump and expand transit services. Passed the House on June 26
- Curtailing Excessive Speculation that Distorts Energy Prices - Directs through legislation the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) to use it full authority and most potent emergency tools to curtail excessive speculation and other practices distorting the energy market. On Wednesday, Speaker Pelosi wrote to President Bush, calling on him to direct the CFTC to use existing its emergency authority to curb excessive speculation in energy markets and ensure that energy prices are fair. With this legislation, the House will move to curb excessive speculation that raises pr ices at the pump, with or without the President. Passed the House on June 26
- Cracking Down on Price Gouging - Gives enforcement authority to the Federal Trade Commission to investigate and punish those who artificially inflate fuel prices, similar to legislation passed last year.
- "Use It Or Lose It" for Oil Companies Holding Permits and Not Drilling - Compels the oil industry to start drilling or lose permits on the 68 million acres of undeveloped federal oil reserves which they are currently warehousing, keeping domestic supply lower and prices higher. While President Bush, Senator John McCain and their Republican allies want to give away more federal lands to Big Oil, this bill compels oil companies to drill on the land they already have leased, but have not developed for drilling.
- Further Closing the "Enron Loophole" for Petroleum Markets - Takes steps to curb excessive speculation in the energy futures markets, which experts have noted is driving up the price of a barrel of oil.
Learn more about the New Direction Congress is doing to bring down gas and energy prices>>
Contact: | Office of Speaker Nancy Pelosi |