Newsroom
July 25, 2012 — Press Item
Over the last 19 months in the majority, House Republicans have wasted time passing GOP messaging bills that appeal to their conservative base, rather than working towards bipartisan compromises on critical legislation. Meanwhile, the Senate has passed multiple pieces of legislation with strong bipartisan votes. House Republicans continue to choose confrontation over compromise, refusing to take up any of these bills and putting American families and businesses at risk. Here’s a look at how House Republicans are refusing to govern for the middle class:
July 25, 2012 — Press Item
“This morning it was announced that over one million Medicare beneficiaries have saved money this year thanks to the Affordable Care Act, with the average senior saving $622 so far this year on prescription drugs. Affordable Care Act provisions, including closing the Part D ‘donut hole’ coverage gap, are resulting in real benefits and savings for seniors. More than 5.2 million seniors and others on Medicare have now saved a total of $3.9 billion on prescription drugs since the Affordable Care Act first came into effect.
July 24, 2012 — Press Item
“The tax legislation introduced by House Republicans today shows that their priority is protecting tax cuts for the wealthiest 2% and that they are willing to hold tax cuts for the middle class hostage unless they have their way. The Republican bill is a far cry from what most Americans and small businesses are asking for: an extension of rates on income below $250,000, which will cover 98% of families and 97% of small businesses.
July 24, 2012 — Press Item
“Today’s report by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office makes it very clear: the Affordable Care Act is controlling the growth of health care costs and contributing to deficit reduction. The CBO report attests that House Republicans’ latest attempt to repeal health reform would leave an additional 30 million Americans uninsured and increase deficits $109 billion over the next ten years as well as an even greater amount – roughly 0.5% of GDP, or $1.5 trillion – over the following decade.
July 24, 2012 — Press Item
“Mr. Speaker, when the sponsors of the bill talk about auditing the Federal Reserve, they don't mean a traditional audit.
July 24, 2012 — Press Item
Without Congressional action, middle class Americans will see their taxes increase in January 2013. Extending tax cuts for income up to $250,000 would provide much needed certainty to the 98% of American families and 97% of small businesses who make less than that amount. Unfortunately, Republicans refuse to work with Democrats to pass an extension of middle class tax cuts so that they can give yet another tax break to the wealthiest 2% of Americans.
July 23, 2012 — Press Item
"Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my friends in the Congressional Black Caucus for organizing today's special order. As my colleague, Mr. Engel, as my colleague on the Republican side, and as Dr. Christensen has pointed out, our hearts and thoughts go out to and with those people who by happenstance of going to a movie have lost their lives. Been injured badly. Have lost family members. Have had the confidence of going out and about in this country put at risk. How we lament that loss of life, that loss of confidence, that loss of a sense of safety in their community.
July 20, 2012 — Press Item
“I join in mourning the tragic loss of life in Colorado this morning. The families of the victims, the many injured, and all those in Aurora are in my thoughts and in my prayers. It is in times like these that Americans have always rallied together as one community and one family, and we do so again today. I commend the heroism of our first responders from local and federal law enforcement and area hospitals, who have done an outstanding job in the face of great difficulty.
July 19, 2012 — Press Item
“I was disappointed that Senate Republicans blocked legislation today that would have ended tax breaks for companies shipping jobs overseas. The Bring Jobs Home Act, one of the bills House Democrats added to our Make It In America jobs plan last week, would eliminate deductions for moving expenses when companies outsource and would provide a tax credit to those businesses that bring jobs back home. This type of reform is necessary to stop encouraging the export of jobs and instead help manufacturers hire workers here to produce goods we can export across the world.
July 19, 2012 — Press Item
“I am deeply disturbed that Speaker Boehner would falsely charge President Obama with putting politics ahead of the challenges facing middle-class Americans still out of work and their families, and not caring about their situation. He should look very carefully at the history this Congress of the House over which he presides. It tells the story of Republicans walking away again and again from their responsibility to extend unemployment insurance, keep payroll taxes from rising, maintain low interests rates for student loan borrowers, protect Medicare for seniors, and pass comprehensive jobs legislation – like Democrats’ Make It In America plan – that will help put more Americans back to work.
July 19, 2012 — Press Item
“Infrastructure is critical to attracting manufacturing businesses and improving U.S. economic competitiveness, which is why I’m pleased that President Obama announced that projects modernizing and expanding five major ports will be expedited. Upgrading our port and freight infrastructure is a central component of House Democrats’ Make It In America jobs plan, with a number of bills aimed at helping manufacturers more easily move their goods to market and revitalizing our aging port and freight facilities.
July 19, 2012 — Press Item
The sequestration cuts scheduled to take effect were designed as a worse-case scenario to encourage a bipartisan agreement to address our fiscal challenges. If these cuts are carried out on January 2, 2013, they will have a devastating impact on our national security, critical domestic programs, and our economy writ large. The best solution to sequester is a big, bold and balanced plan – an idea supported by a bipartisan range of experts and officials.
July 19, 2012 — Press Item
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) announced today that House Democrats have begun using open tools on POPVOX.com that enable citizens and organizations to publicly weigh in on specific legislation before Congress. Whip Hoyer issued the following statement:
