Press Releases

“Today's ruling in Pennsylvania affirms what Democrats have contended all along:  that new, Republican-sponsored voter identification laws are an attempt to suppress the votes of eligible Americans. In a democracy, that’s not what we ought to do. We ought to encourage and facilitate every vote.

“I thank the Leader for yielding and I want to simply say that once again we have this morning a demonstration of Republicans walking out on the American people – not on us.

“For two years, House Democrats have put forward our Make It In America plan to create jobs by strengthening American manufacturing and making investments in education, innovation, and infrastructure that will help our businesses compete and succeed.  Today’s announcement by the Departments of Commerce and Labor of the new ‘Make it in America Challenge’ is exactly the type of investment House Democrats have called for.  Many American businesses want to keep jobs here at home while staying competitive in the global economy.  The $40 million in competitive grants made available by the ‘Make It In America Challenge’ will help increase the trend of insourcing - U.S. companies bringing back jobs and investing here in the U.S. These grants will also assist businesses looking to expand and train American workers for jobs on our shores.  

"What we are seeing this week is a convulsing end to a dismal Congress. Two distinguished political scientists [Tom Mann and Norman Ornstein] in our country said this: 'The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics. It is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unmoved by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition.'

“This legislation exemplifies this Do-Nothing Republican Congress.  Once again, Republicans are choosing to focus on a political messaging bill over serious issues like jobs, middle-class tax cuts, or a farm bill.  Instead, the House is wasting time on a Republican bill that misrepresents the facts in an attempt to score political points.

“The resolution passed by the House today honors the memory of the Americans who died in last week’s attack in Benghazi and reaffirms our bipartisan commitment to the dedicated civilians who serve America overseas.  It also demonstrates our continued support for Libya’s ongoing democratic transition.

“Today’s action is yet another step taken by the Obama Administration to hold China accountable for their unfair and illegal trade practices. When competing on a level playing field, American workers, businesses, and manufacturers can out-compete anyone. But by providing illegal export subsidies to their auto and auto-parts industries, China is tilting the playing field in their favor and putting other nations, including the U.S., at a distinct disadvantage.

“Today’s report demonstrates exactly why we need to replace the sequester by passing a big and balanced deficit reduction plan this year.  If the sequester were to take effect in January, the consequences would be devastating to our economy and to our national security.

“Sunday evening, across America and throughout the world, Jewish families will usher in a new year – one that I hope is filled with the blessings of peace and happiness for all.  Rosh Hashanah offers an opportunity to remember the important contributions made to our country by its Jewish community, which has enhanced America in the fields of science, politics, law, entertainment, athletics, and a host of others since the days even before our nation’s independence.   

"Today's announcement by the Census Bureau that our poverty rate fell for the first time in three years is welcome news, as is the fact that 1.3 million more Americans have health insurance coverage, a sign that the Affordable Care Act is working. 

“Hopefully [a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff] will come together before the end of the year. I've been working on that. Others have been working on that. Contrary to what I heard Mr. Cantor say, the President of the United States in the 32 years I've been in Congress, has spent more time working with Republicans and frankly with Democrats in the White House around his conference table to try to get to an agreement. The Republicans walked away from the Bowles-Simpson plan. They walked away from the [Vice President] Joe Biden talks. Mr. Cantor himself walked away from those. And they walked away from the [Speaker John] Boehner- [President Barack] Obama agreement. So I'm hopeful that we will come to agreement. I think Moody's is correct - if we don't, we will undermine confidence and undermine credibility of the United States. We need to come to agreement. We need to sit down together and reason together and adopt a balanced plan. That's the trick.”