Bob in the News

The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) announced plans to kickoff an initiative next Monday that pushes all 900 district offices of members to be more energy efficient in their daily practices.

On April 29, Mayor Michael Nutter released "Greenworks Philadelphia," his framework for transforming Philadelphia into America's greenest city. Then, on May 15, the Energy Coordinating Agency graduated its first class of low-skilled workers retrained for green-collar jobs.

Philadelphia area Congressional members met with Tom Vilsack, Secretary of the United States Department of Agriculture, to discuss the decision made by the Bush administration to terminate the Philadelphia Universal Feeding pilot program.

Building on recent success securing an unprecedented $6 billion for clean water and green infrastructure in the federal economic recovery package, American Rivers testified today at a Congressional Field Hearing in Philadelphia to demonstrate how 21st century clean water solutions can benefit communities and local economies.

Lawmakers want advertisements for drugs to treat erectile dysfunction declared "indecent" and banned on radio and television during the vast majority of daytime and primetime hours.

Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) doesn't mind if couples use medication to help revitalize their love life. He just doesn't want to hear about that medication when he turns on his television.

Democrats in Congress capped President Obama's 100th day in office by advancing a $3.4 trillion federal budget for next year - a third of it borrowed - that prevents Republicans from blocking his proposed trillion-dollar expansion of government-provided health care over the next decade.

U.S. Reps. Bob Brady and Chaka Fattah, who previously partnered on the President's House commemorative project at Independence National Historical Park, have announced that the park will receive $5.6 million in federal stimulus funds to repair the water-damaged Independence Hall clock tower and other park projects.

At a House Administration Committee hearing Wednesday, Smithsonian officials and safety experts were divided on how effective the institution has been in handling asbestos in its museums.

The House Administration Committee recently approved plans to get rid of smoking rooms in the House office buildings.

Like so many other Americans, I was outraged when I found out that AIG was going to use taxpayer dollars to award $165 million in bonuses to its executives.

House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Edolphus Towns (D-N.Y.) is appealing for more money to run his committee over the next two years, after learning that the panel – charged with keeping the federal government honest – received one of the smallest funding increases in the 111th Congress.

House committees are looking at tight budgets this Congress after the House Administration Committee passed a resolution Wednesday authorizing a less than 5 percent across-the-board increase in panel spending.

U.S. Rep. Bob Brady (D., Phila.) has joined a group of labor-oriented Democrats, led by freshman U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy (D., Ohio), warning Dimon to watch his step.

A member of Congress who oversees the Smithsonian Institution said today he would hold a hearing to investigate health-and-safety allegations regarding the handling of asbestos at the world's largest museum complex.

Vice President Biden convened the White House's Middle Class Task Force in Philadelphia yesterday for a daylong inaugural hearing on the promise of prosperity in thousands of "green" jobs expected to be created by the drives to make the nation energy-independent and reduce global warming.

Vice President Joe Biden said today that making buildings more energy efficient will both benefit the environment and create jobs.

WASHINGTON - In a major victory for President Obama, Democrats muscled a huge $787 billion stimulus bill through Congress late last night in hopes of combating the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression. Republican opposition was nearly unanimous.

More than $100,000 in souvenirs meant for sale at the new Capitol Visitor Center are languishing in storage because Rep. Robert A. Brady (D-Pa.) doesn't want "Made in China" products sold there.