Press Releases
March 23, 2012
Today marks the second anniversary of the Affordable Care Act, a law that is already delivering greater access to high quality care, stronger patient protections, and more predictable health care costs to American families and businesses – all while reducing the deficit. Today, insurance companies can no longer discriminate against children with pre-existing conditions – a protection that will extend to all Americans by 2014. They can no longer impose arbitrary caps on coverage, charge women higher premiums than men for the exact same policies, or drop people from their plans when they get sick. Medicare beneficiaries now pay less for their drugs and nothing for their preventive care, and their premiums have either held steady or outright declined.
March 23, 2012
Two years ago today, the Affordable Care Act was signed into law. It was a major step forward in our efforts to provide access to affordable health care to more Americans. Today, millions of Americans are already seeing the benefits.
March 22, 2012
Today’s announcement by the President of an expedited review process for the southern portion of the Keystone XL pipeline builds on the ‘all-of-the-above’ strategy for energy savings his Administration has pursued. Since the President was sworn into office, domestic production of oil and natural gas has increased, while the importation of foreign oil has fallen to less than half of what we consume. During the same period, 75,000 jobs have been created in the oil and gas sector.
March 22, 2012
“The tragic killing of 17-year old Trayvon Martin warrants a thorough investigation, and I commend the Justice Department and Attorney General Eric Holder for opening an investigation into his homicide. Americans from all walks of life are rightly appalled by his tragic death. Trayvon deserves justice, and his family and his community deserve answers. It is my hope that the Justice Department’s investigation will provide those answers and that appropriate action will be taken to punish any wrongdoing to the fullest extent of the law.
March 22, 2012
The American people say to every member of the House and Senate: when are you guys going to get together? When are you going to work together on behalf of the welfare of the country? On behalf of us. Not your politics in Washington, DC, but on behalf of us?
March 21, 2012
Two years ago, we passed a comprehensive health care reform package that is already lowering costs, expanding access, and contributing to deficit reduction. The Affordable Care Act was a significant moment when Congress once again took bold action to constrain the growth in health care spending and make insurance more accessible and affordable for all Americans. In the wealthiest country on the face of the Earth, we ought to make sure people can get insurance and have affordable, accessible health care.
March 21, 2012
I thank the gentlewoman from New York for yielding time. I'm proud to stand with her and with other Democratic members in support of the women's access to comprehensive, affordable health care. Access that was greatly expanded by the Affordable Care Act, which passed two years ago this week and which my Republican colleagues want to repeal.
March 20, 2012
Today, Education and the Workforce Committee Ranking Member George Miller, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, and Rep. John Tierney introduced the Workforce Investment Act of 2012.
March 20, 2012
The Republican budget introduced by Rep. Paul Ryan today is a repeat of last year’s budget: it once again ends the Medicare guarantee while protecting tax cuts for the wealthy. It slashes investments in innovation, education, and infrastructure, which puts our economic recovery at risk and threatens American jobs. It does not reduce the deficit in a responsible way, instead placing the burden of deficit reduction onto seniors, the middle class, working families, and the most vulnerable by refusing to ask the wealthiest among us to contribute.
March 15, 2012
I've had the honor of serving alongside Gary Ackerman in Congress for nearly thirty years, and during that time I have come to know him as a faithful public servant, a fighter for New York families, and a dear friend. As a public school teacher, Gary taught students the workings of our system of government and the value of justice for all. Later, as a community journalist, he helped bring people together and remain informed about issue affecting their neighborhoods. As a State Senator and U.S. Representative, Gary brought that same concern for his community, its families, and future generations to legislating.
March 15, 2012
Today, the President came to Maryland to reiterate his commitment to an all-of-the-above strategy to combat rising energy costs. He is right to say that there is no one silver bullet that will bring down the price of oil or gasoline, but that we ought to keep building on the gains we have made over the past three years in increasing domestic energy production and making investments in new vehicle, alternative fuel, and energy production technologies that harness power from solar, wind, and biofuels. This Administration has already made significant progress in reducing our dependence on foreign sources of oil, and we now import less than half the oil we consume. At the same time, millions of acres in this country are now open to new oil and natural gas exploration.
March 14, 2012
"After weeks of watching House Republicans attempt unsuccessfully to bring a highway bill to the Floor, today the Senate passed bipartisan legislation in the long tradition of working together on investing in our transportation infrastructure...
March 10, 2012
"I want to thank Jay Inslee for his years of service in Congress. He is a good friend, and it has been an honor to be his colleague in the House. Jay is a leader on clean energy issues, working for policies that create clean energy jobs and protect our environment ...
March 9, 2012
President Obama’s announcement today of a National Network for Manufacturing Innovation represents a major step in our efforts to revitalize manufacturing in this country and remain the world’s innovation leader.
March 9, 2012
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Report out today, February marked two years of consecutive month-to-month growth in private sector employment. This is a strong sign that our economy is recovering and that our country is on the right path forward. Last month the American economy added 233,000 private sector jobs. This is progress, but as long as millions of Americans remain out of work we cannot afford to let our focus shift away from those still out of work and trying hard to find jobs.
March 7, 2012
Today the President announced measures to help businesses and consumers upgrade to advanced vehicles, moving us closer to energy independence and economic security. This initiative is one step our nation can take to maintain our edge in innovation, which is a key part of House Democrats’ Make It In America plan to create jobs and strengthen American manufacturing. Innovation, especially in clean energy technologies, will help fuel our long-term economic competitiveness and add jobs in new and expanding sectors. It is an essential component of the all-of-the-above energy strategy being pursued by the President and Democrats in Congress to ensure that this nation has sufficient energy available to meet its needs today and for many years to come.
March 6, 2012
Right now, Congress ought to be doing everything it can to help our businesses compete in the global marketplace so they can create jobs here in America. A big part of that is making sure they can also compete domestically. I have always believed that our workers create the best products, which will always do well when there is a level playing field, and when countries unfairly subsidize their companies exports, we must use all the WTO-consistent tools at our disposal to level that playing field.
March 6, 2012
“Today the people of New Jersey lost a beloved public servant, and the House of Representatives lost a respected member. As his state's first African American elected to Congress, Donald Payne was a trailblazer who helped pave the way for many to follow throughout the country. Don was a tireless campaigner for justice. Whether it was for the men and women from urban communities in Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties, the millions of American students who benefited from his service on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, or those suffering from poverty and oppression in Africa for whom he was a vocal advocate, his fight for justice at home and human rights around the world will be Don's lasting legacy. His many travels to the Sudans brought hope to those experiencing the bitterness of war, hunger, and displacement, and his efforts drew Americans’ attention to the genocide in Darfur and ongoing violence across the Sudans. All of us who had the honor of serving with him will dearly miss him and the energy and passion he brought to his job. My thoughts are with his family today.”
March 5, 2012
“This bill reflects the immutable and enduring bond between our two nations,” Whip Hoyer said. “It is a bond that reflects the shared values of our people and our shared interests in preserving stability in the Middle East. The threat from Iran’s nuclear ambitions is real and demands serious, cooperative effort by both the United States and Israel. I am proud to put forward this legislation along with Majority Leader Cantor, and I am hopeful it will pass with strong support from across party lines. It is a reminder that support for Israel is not and should never be a partisan issue.”
March 2, 2012
For three decades, Norm Dicks and I have served together in Congress, and he is not only a respected colleague but a dear friend. I’m saddened that Norm has decided to retire at the end of the 112th Congress. He will be greatly missed in the halls of the Capitol by Members on both sides of the aisle.
March 1, 2012
“I join today in celebrating the start of Women’s History Month, when Americans mark the progress we have made as a nation breaking down barriers and shattering glass ceilings. From marching for equal rights to contributing to our prosperity as leaders in business and entrepreneurship, from serving our nation in uniform and giving their lives in every war to making important discoveries in science and medicine, women have carried forward the work of building America since its earliest days. Describing the suffrage and equal rights movement she led early in the last century, Alice Paul said: 'Each of us puts in one little stone, and then you get a great mosaic at the end.' Today, the mosaic of America is rich and inspiring because of the contributions of millions of ordinary and extraordinary women to the history of this country, including the many outstanding women I have the privilege of serving with in Congress.
March 1, 2012
On March 7, 1965, our friend and esteemed colleague from Georgia, John Lewis, was among the leaders of that march. He was the leader – he and Hosea Williams. Two by two they walked, some 600 with John and Hosea at the front of the line. That day, in an extraordinary practice of nonviolence, he and other marchers were brutally beaten while trying to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. They were on their way to Montgomery, the state capital, to protest the murder of a young man, Jimmie Lee Jackson, who had been shot and killed while protecting his mother during a voting rights rally. And they were marching to Montgomery to say in a nonviolent way every American deserves the right to be able to register and to vote.
February 29, 2012
“I was pleased to see so many federal employees at today’s event. These are public servants who perform important work on behalf of this nation, from keeping our homeland safe to ensuring the food we eat is safe and making certain our seniors get their Social Security checks on time. Federal employees are a living example of government ‘for the people, by the people.'
February 29, 2012
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) will deliver remarks in support of federal workers at a rally hosted by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) today, February 29 at 12:30 p.m. in the Congressional Auditorium in the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC-200). The rally is part of NTEU’s week-long 2012 legislative conference.
February 28, 2012
As Parliamentarian, John Sullivan has been a careful steward of the rules of the House and a strong defender of their proper exercise, which has earned him the respect of members and leaders from both parties. When he became Parliamentarian in 2004, John brought with him seventeen years of experience working in the Office of the Parliamentarian, three years as counsel to the Armed Services Committee, and seven years as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force. Having given over thirty-five years of his career to our nation, I join in thanking him for his many contributions.
