Rep. Nancy Pelosi

Agents of Change

2011-03-08T11:10:50-05:00

In my travels, I have met with presidents, prime ministers, and kings. But what has impressed and inspired me the most were my conversations with young people, and especially young women. They are the agents of change that make history every day as they forge a new path for their future daughters.

On International Women's Day, we must recommit to ensuring that the benefits of change are extended to all citizens, especially women.

In Afghanistan, I met with women -- among the poorest in the world -- who are struggling for the most basic needs: security, education and health care. They have high aspirations for their families, and they have placed their trust in other women from around the world to help them build a brighter future. The future of Afghanistan, indeed the future of so many nations, depends on the empowerment of women.

In America, where we're still fighting for equal pay, we are also facing an assault on women by the Republican-controlled House. They have voted multiple times this year to repeal and defund the patient's rights protections in the health care reform law that ends "gender rating" where insurance companies charge women up to 48 percent more for the same coverage men have and treat being a woman as a preexisting condition simply because we have children and are more likely to be victims of domestic violence. And instead of focusing their attention on job creation, which would greatly benefit the economic security of American women, House Republicans are moving a series of extreme bills that disrespect the judgment of women, are dangerous to our health, and collectively are the most comprehensive and radical assault on women's health in our lifetime. But from the hundreds of thousands who have signed the petition to stand with Planned Parenthood to those who attended rallies in their communities in recent weeks, we are building momentum to stop these bills.

Change often requires enormous bravery. In Egypt, a young woman tagged a tweet #Jan25 -- a hashtag that took off as the movement for change coalesced; a hashtag that connected the lives of a woman in Tahrir Square to a woman here at the United States Capitol; a hashtag that proved the world wide web has earned its name. And today, Egyptian women organized a march to raise awareness of their vital role in the change that has come to Egypt and ensure their country's progress includes equal opportunities for women.

As we celebrate the 100th International Women's Day and honor women around the world who are changing the course of history by reaching for the ballot box, demanding equal rights, organizing their communities, and paving the path for progress, these are a few of the many reasons I am filled with optimism that we can work together to raise women's voices to expand opportunities for all.

Twenty Years Later, Still Calling for Freedom in China

2009-06-04T15:41:35-04:00

Twenty years ago today, thousands of Chinese students, workers, and citizens marched in peace in Tiananmen Square. They called for democratic reform, freedom of speech and assembly, and an end to corruption. The People's Liberation Army, the People's Army, was used against the people, crushing demonstrators in Tiananmen Square and crushing dissent throughout China -- killing thousands. Today, the spirit of Tiananmen lives on in those continuing the struggle both in China and around the world.

Last week, I led a bipartisan Congressional delegation to China. While China has made great economic progress in the last twenty years, it is a country that remains full of contradictions and complexities. While its leaders have astonishing political power, they continue to censor the internet, lock up citizens who organize peacefully, and try to prevent 1.3 billion people from learning the truth about history.

The topic of human rights was discussed in our high level meetings and in my speeches. In Shanghai, our first meeting was with Catholic Bishop Jin to discuss the status of religious freedom in China.

In Beijing, I delivered a letter calling on the Chinese government to release certain prisoners of conscience. One of those individuals is Liu Xiaobo. Liu spent five years in prison and in re-education-through-labor camps for supporting the Tiananmen students and questioning the one-party system. Late last year, Liu was again arrested for being one of the organizers of Charter '08, an online public petition for democracy and the rule of law that called for new policies to improve human rights and democracy in China. About 5,000 people signed it. Imagine the courage of those who signed such a petition. Liu continues to be held without charges, and is reportedly under residential surveillance at a location outside of his residence, in violation of China's Criminal Procedure law.

In Hong Kong, we met with democracy, human rights, and labor leaders. But what I saw in China last week is that despite continued repression, the spirit of Tiananmen continues to inspire people there and abroad. Throughout China, workers and farmers are fighting back. They might not know about June 4th, as the Chinese government continues to censor news on the news (Wired's Threat Level blog compiled sites authorities have blocked which include Twitter, Flickr, Hotmail, and the Huffington Post, among others), but they have similar concerns.

Two of the issues which have been priorities of my service in Congress -- promoting human rights and protecting the environment -- are coming together in the discussion about China. Environmental damage adversely impacts the poorest people in the world and this is especially true in China. It is estimated that there are more than 100,000 protests each year in China and the number continues to increase.

My friend Han Dongfang, one of the heroes of Tiananmen, explained to me that the Chinese people aren't fighting under a banner of democracy this time. They are defending their land from unlawful seizure. They are fighting corruption at the local levels. They are fighting against the poison that is being dumped into their air, land, rivers, and lakes. They do not have the proper channels to address their grievances. They are calling for a government that is accountable to the people. They are calling for openness and transparency. They are calling for justice. All of these things are what we mean when we talk about fighting for human rights.

As a Member of Congress in 1991, I visited China and unfurled a banner in Tiananmen Square dedicated to those who died for democracy there. That was one of the proudest moments of my career. It was my opportunity to express the concern that I had for the human rights situation in China and Tibet. On last week's trip, as Speaker of the House, I had the opportunity to speak directly to the President of China and other top leaders on the issues of freedom and human rights.

On Tuesday, the House passed a resolution recognizing the 20th anniversary of the brutal suppression of protesters and citizens in and around Tiananmen Square -- expressing sympathy to the families of those killed, tortured, and imprisoned in connection with the protests, calling for the Chinese government to allow full and fair investigations and to release those imprisoned for participating in the 1989 demonstrations.

With this, the United States Congress says to the people of China and freedom-loving people everywhere: Your cause is our cause. We will never forget, and we will continue to push for freedom in China, so that one day the world's most populous country can finally be called the world's largest democracy.

Denial is Not An Economic Recovery Plan

2008-09-15T19:26:20-04:00

In the midst of a dire economic situation, President Bush this morning characterized recent market developments as an 'adjustment' that can be painful for investors and employees of the firms, while Senator McCain said the 'fundamentals of our economy are strong.' President Bush, Senator McCain, and their Republican Party are out of touch and apparently ill-equipped to get our economy back on track.

"I still believe our fundamental underpinnings of
our economy are strong."

-Sen. John McCain (1/23/08)

"I still believe the fundamentals of our economy
are strong."

-Sen. John McCain (8/20/08)

"Our economy, I believe, still, the fundamentals of our economy are
strong…"

-Sen. John McCain (9/15/08)

"Ladies and gentlemen: The state of our economy is
strong."

-President George Bush (1/31/07)

"There have been some recent signs that our economy
is beginning to improve."

-President George Bush (8/30/08)

"I'm confident that our capital markets are flexible
and resilient, and can deal with these adjustments."

-President George Bush (9/15/08)

Under the leadership of President Bush, Senator McCain and the Republican Congress, Wall Street gamed the system and American families and businesses paid the price. This morning, as reports of major financial institutions faltering were piling up, Americans were left looking for answers.

Eight years of weakened regulation of our nation's financial system -- including a failure to regulate risky, and often predatory, lending practices -- by the Bush administration and Republicans in Congress have led us to this point, and could further erode our nation's economic health. America needs leadership going forward that understands the depth of the problem. Senator John McCain's public statements don't offer much confidence:

"I believe, still, the fundamentals of our economy are strong..."
- Sen. John McCain, 9/15/08

Sen. McCain admitted in December that the economy isn't his strong suit:

"The issue of economics is not something I've understood as well as I should... I've got Greenspan's book."
- Sen. John McCain, 12/18/07

Perhaps Sen. McCain should have watched former Federal Reserve Chairman, Alan Greenspan, on Sunday's ABC News This Week:

"I can't believe we could have a once-in-a-century type of financial crisis without a significant impact on the real economy globally, and I think that indeed is what is in the process of occurring."
- Alan Greenspan, Former Federal Reserve Chairman, 9/14/08

Millions of Americans are feeling the pain of eight years of disastrous economic policies -- job losses, foreclosed homes, reduced home values, eroded pensions, high gas prices and compromised financial futures. Today, more than 9 million Americans are without work and millions more are struggling with the high cost of gas, health care and groceries, yet John McCain told Americans who are out of work or who just lost their jobs that another four years of the same failed Bush economic policies are the right solution for them and for America.

This year, the Democratic-led Congress enacted the largest reform to the housing finance system in a generation -- a key to helping our economy recover. We also passed a bipartisan economic stimulus package earlier this year and the House will soon take up another economic package that will create jobs and address some of the most immediate consequences of the Administration's serious mismanagement of our economy. Democrats are ready to do the hard work of helping address the pain of everyday Americans and begin to stabilize and grow this economy again.

Bush Drilling Proposal is a Hoax Unworthy of Serious Debate

2008-07-30T15:50:50-04:00

The president knows, as his own administration has stated, that the impact of any new drilling will be insignificant -- promising savings of only pennies per gallon many years down the road. Americans know that thanks to the two oilmen in the White House, consumers are now paying $4 a gallon for gas. But what Americans should realize is that what the president is calling for is drilling as close as three miles off of America's pristine beaches and in other protected areas.

The president has failed in his economic policy, and now he wants to say, 'but for drilling in protected areas offshore, our economy would be thriving and the price of gas would be lower.' That hoax is unworthy of the serious debate we must have to relieve the pain of consumers at the pump and to promote energy independence.

Today, the New Direction Congress will vote on legislation to bring down gas prices by taking crucial steps to curb excessive speculation in the energy futures market. The president himself could lower prices by drawing down a small portion of our government oil stockpile, the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. The New Direction Congress will continue to bring forth responsible proposals to increase supply, reduce prices, protect consumers, and transition America to a clean, renewable energy independent future.

This post was first published on the Speaker's blog, The Gavel.

On the San Francisco Olympic Torch Relay

2008-04-08T17:08:00-04:00

The Olympic Charter states that the goal of the Olympic Games should be to promote "a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity." The Chinese government has failed to live up to the commitments it made before being awarded the Olympic Games to improve its human rights situation. In fact, there is disturbing new evidence that it is conducting a broader crackdown on human rights in China and Tibet because of the Olympics.

For the next four months, the International Olympic Committee and Chinese officials will parade the Olympic torch through dozens of countries and even through Tibet. The torch will be met by politicians and heads-of-state from all over the world along a "journey of harmony." It is the Chinese government that is making the Olympic torch relay a political event.

Freedom-loving people around the world are vigorously protesting because of the crackdown in Tibet and Beijing's support for the regime in Sudan and the military junta in Burma. The people are making a significant statement that the Olympic ideals of peace and harmony should apply to all people, including those in Tibet and Darfur.

San Francisco is blessed by a large and vibrant Chinese-American community. As San Franciscans, we embrace the diversity of our community and we value the contributions made in every corner of our great city. We also value free expression, and this week, many will exercise this right by demonstrating against the Olympic torch. I urge all those who protest to do so peacefully and respectfully. I commend those who speak out for their commitment to shining a light on the causes that challenge the conscience of the world.

This post first appeared here.

As A Mother

2007-05-11T17:04:12-04:00

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality,
May be appointed and held at someplace deemed most convenient
And the earliest period consistent with its objects,
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions,
The great and general interests of peace.
- Julia Ward Howe, Mother's Day Proclamation, 1870

These words are from Julia Ward Howe, who called for a day in 1870 that carried a meaning different from the cards, flowers and chocolates we've come to associate with Mother's Day today (not that I mind the chocolates). After witnessing the devastating effects of the Civil War, Howe began what she called Mother's Day for Peace-a call to women across the globe to come together and bring an end to war.

This Mother's Day, Julia Ward Howe's call is particularly relevant, not just for mothers, but for all women, all men, all daughters, and all sons. We are in the midst of a war that has taken far too many of our most precious resources - our children. It is a war the American people have lost faith in and are ready to end. It is a failed policy, and we are ready for a new direction.

There are numerous reasons to end this war - the cost of lives and limbs, the cost in dollars, the cost to our reputation in the world, the cost to our military and National Guard - but it is as a mother, that I am most committed to ending this war, because war hits mothers in an especially painful and personal way. We cannot help but think of our fellow mothers as their young sons and daughters are sent off to war in Iraq - praying for their child's safety, anxiously awaiting a call, an e-mail, a letter - anything. The relief as their children return, or the utter devastation when their children never come home. We think too of the Iraqi mothers, who have lost their children, and whose children are growing up surrounded by warfare and destruction.

Women have always been the peacekeepers of our societies. When I became the first woman Speaker of the House this year, I was honored to assume this position and humbled by the responsibility it brought. Nothing in my life will ever compare to being a mother - not being a Member of Congress; not being Speaker of the House. But I am thankful that I have the opportunity to bring my experience as a mother to this position. When I traveled to the Middle East last month in search for diplomacy and peace, I was there as Speaker of the House. But I was also there as a mother, carrying Julia Ward Howe's message. When I cast my vote yesterday for an end to the war in Iraq, I did so as a Member of Congress. But my vote was also taken as a mother of five and grandmother of six. We will bring an end to this war because the world is not ours alone, but our children's as well. As the adage goes, we do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children. Let us heed the call of Julia Ward Howe and make this Mother's Day a Mother's Day for Peace, and as mothers, as daughters, and as families, bring an end to this war.

Progress is Possible Again

2007-01-18T20:15:53-05:00

"Bully for the Democrats...They did what we didn't have the guts to do when it matters."

- Republican Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), January 5, 2007

That is what one of my Republican colleagues had to say about the first act of the Democratic majority, clamping down on corruption, lobbying, and earmarks. His sentiment was echoed in editorial pages across the country, along with many Republicans and millions of Americans, who are fully awakening to the optimism and possibility of a new direction in our government.

After endless foot-dragging, watering down, and turning of blind eyes in the 109th Congress on ethics, the first steps were taken to restore the public trust before the first legislative hour of the 110th Congress.

The two and a half years that Republicans spent ignoring most of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations came to an end with the passage of H.R. 1, as the Democratic majority set dozens of changes in motion for a comprehensive, effective, practical defense of our nation by passing the 9/11 Commission recommendations.

After a decade of Republican inaction, hard-working Americans got the raise they deserve when we voted for H.R. 2, increasing the minimum wage. No longer will a day's work barely pay for a tank of gas, nor a week's work barely pay for a child's check-up at the doctor. All who work a 40-hour week will now have a fairer shot at building a life and joining in our nation's prosperity.

We gave voice to the hopes of millions of Americans and their families who suffer the brunt of humanity's worst afflictions by passing expanded stem cell research with H.R. 3. President Bush will be challenged to join us in supporting this hope, and he will know that we cast our votes in support of the majority of the American people who will not give up. The potential for stem cell therapies to cure diseases and alleviate human suffering is enormous, and must be unlocked.

We passed H.R. 4 to require Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices on behalf of the American people. In doing so, Medicare Part D will begin to shift from a program that tightens the stranglehold of big drug companies to a program that gives desperately needed relief to our nation's seniors. In this vote, we put government back to work for the American people, not the special interests.

As we honored Martin Luther King's birthday this week, we carried his spirit of hope and opportunity, passing legislation to cut interest rates on student loans with H.R. 5 and eliminated subsidies for Big Oil with H.R. 6, investing the savings in renewable energy, leading our nation toward a brighter future, unbridled by dependence on foreign oil.

More than 40 years ago, Martin Luther King came to Washington to say, 'We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off....Now is the time to make justice a reality for all God's children.' Nowhere is the need to heed the fierce urgency of now greater than in Iraq.

As President Bush called for an escalation of the war, I made my position clear both in a joint letter with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to the President, and in an interview with Bob Schieffer on CBS' "Face the Nation": no escalation. Adding more combat troops will only endanger more Americans and stretch our military to the breaking point for no strategic gain. The American people have spoken on this issue, and so too have President Bush's own generals. In November the American people sent a resounding message that they want a new direction in Iraq, not more of the same. In December, General Abizaid testified before the Senate that in his conversations with General Dempsey and with General Casey, they believe that adding more troops will not improve the situation.

When I addressed my colleagues and the nation after receiving the Speaker's gavel, I talked about the war and the need for a new direction to the applause of many Republicans. When I talked about the responsible redeployment of our troops, a standing ovation pervaded throughout the House, and certainly not just Democrats. This isn't just about Democrats; this is about the American people. They are watching to see what difference this election can make. The President ought to heed their message. We should not be obliged to an open-ended war, and as Speaker, I can assure you that the days of the blank check for President Bush in Iraq are over.

On Iraq and on all of these issues, there is a palpable feeling in the halls of Congress, one that I hope all who read this are sensing as well: Progress is possible again.

Progress is possible again, and I felt it when I gaveled down the passage of H.R. 6 this afternoon.

Progress is possible again, and you can see it with the formation of a new Select Committee on Global Warming that I announced today. For the sake of our future generations, we will address the most urgent environmental issue facing us. We must provide strong leadership to reduce emissions that are responsible for global warming. We have walked away from international efforts to help reduce this growing danger to the planet. This stops today.

Bettering the nation we love in ways both big and small is becoming reality. Democrats promised a New Direction for America, and in these first 100 hours we are all discovering that turning our promises into reality is much more than an obligation, it is our duty. Thanks to all of you for helping make it happen.

This is only the beginning.

Bringing the War to an End is my Highest Priority as Speaker

2006-11-17T19:00:06-05:00

This morning, I visited our brave men and women at the Bethesda Naval Medical Center. It is a place of prayers, of honor, of respect, and reflection. And I left there more committed than ever to bringing the war to an end.

I told my colleagues yesterday that the biggest ethical issue facing our country for the past three and a half years is the war in Iraq. This unnecessary pre-emptive war has come at great cost. Nearly 2,900 of our brave troops have lost their lives and more than 21,000 more have suffered lasting wounds. Since the war began, Congress has appropriated more than $350 billion, and the United States has suffered devastating damage to our reputation in the eyes of the world.

Yesterday, I was truly honored to have been selected by acclamation of the Democratic Caucus as Speaker-designate. Many of you worked incredibly hard in the past year to see House Democrats take control of Congress and honored us with your vote. When the House reconvenes on January 4, 2007, Democrats will take power and I will take the gavel knowing the responsibility we have to you and to the country.

The new Democratic Congress will live up to the highest ethical standard, beginning with the first 100 legislative hours when we start to change the way business is done in Washington. We are prepared to lead and ready to govern. We will honor the trust of the American people; we will not disappoint.

One Hundred Hours

2006-11-07T15:01:05-05:00

In 100 hours, the top five oil companies will take in $4.3 billion in profits.

In 100 hours, $1.1 billion will be spent on the war in Iraq.

In 100 hours, the public debt will grow by $4.9 billion.

In 100 hours, the top 10 pharmaceutical companies will gain $2.6 billion in profits.

In 100 hours, the top CEOs will earn an average of $2 million each.

In 100 hours, a minimum wage worker working 8 hours a day will earn $171.67.

And if all goes as expected, in less than 100 hours my sixth grandchild will be born.

I want my grandchild to be born into an America where government is for and by the people. I want my grandchild to be born into an America that rewards and values hard work. I want my grandchild to be born into an America where you are not labeled a terrorist coddler when you honor the Constitution.

I want my grandchild to be born into an America where if the U.S. Central Command judges the situation in Iraq to be near chaos, with "violence at all-time high, spreading geographically", if the top intelligence agencies tell you that the war in Iraq is inspiring the very terrorism it was purported to prevent, and if four highly respected military newspapers say of the Secretary of Defense that "his strategy has failed, and his ability to lead is compromised...[he] must go" that you fire your Secretary of Defense and change the course.

I want my grandchild to be born into an America whose government honors its duty for accountability and oversight.

I want my grandchild to be born into an America that inspires innovation, that leads with dignity and diplomacy, that rejects fear mongering, and whose leaders start each day remembering that the Constitution begins with the simple but revolutionary phrase "We the people," which announced to the world that here, the people rule.

If you honor Democratic candidates with your vote today, in the first hundred hours of a Democratic Congress: We will restore civility, integrity, and fiscal responsibility to the House of Representatives. We will start by cleaning up Congress, breaking the link between lobbyists and legislation and commit to pay-as-you-go, no new deficit spending.

We will make our nation safer and we will begin by implementing the recommendations of the independent, bipartisan 9/11 Commission.

We will make our economy fairer, and we will begin by raising the minimum wage. We will not pass a pay raise for Congress until there is an increase in the minimum wage.

We will make health care more affordable for all Americans, and we will begin by fixing the Medicare prescription drug program, putting seniors first by negotiating lower drug prices. We will also promote stem cell research to offer real hope to the millions of American families who suffer from devastating diseases.

We will broaden college opportunity, and we will begin by cutting interest rates for student loans in half.

We will energize America by achieving energy independence, and we will begin by rolling back the multi-billion dollar subsidies for Big Oil.

We will guarantee a dignified retirement, and we will begin by fighting any attempt to privatize Social Security.

I say this as a grandmother (of almost six) and as the Democratic Leader of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Is This how the President Expects to Make us Safer?

2006-09-28T12:10:24-04:00

It has been more than five years since Congress authorized the use of force against those responsible for the 9/11 attacks.

Five long years. And what do we have to show for it? Not a single one of the planners has been brought to trial.

We have a wiretapping program of questionable constitutionality targeting Americans without any kind of oversight. We have detention centers where people are held for years without charges being brought against them. We have Iraq, which has become a training ground for international terrorists, on the brink of civil war. And we have a Military Commissions bill that brings dishonor to our values and to our Constitution.

But we do not have Osama bin Laden. Al Qaeda has not been destroyed and is still a threat.

Our moral authority has been tarnished. Our civil liberties have been compromised. Our sons and daughters are fighting and dying in a country that had nothing to do with the 9/11 attacks.

Is this how the President expects to make us safer?

For years, the President and the Administration have been using fear to distort the facts and frighten Americans into supporting their policies. The Administration is right about one thing: Americans should be extremely concerned about the security of our nation. But let's be honest. Let's address the facts. We did not invade Iraq to fight terrorism, as the President would now have us believe. Instead, we are less safe today because the war in Iraq has hindered our ability to make progress in combating terrorism. The recently disclosed National Intelligence Estimate makes that case clearly. As we debate critical funding bills for the Department of Defense, the Electronic Surveillance Act, and the Military Commissions bill, we need to consider fully the assessments of our intelligence agencies on terrorism. That is why I offered a motion this week to have the House go into secret session - it is our responsibility, as part of our duty to conduct oversight over the war in Iraq.

As long as the President refuses to change course, and as long as the Republican Congress follows blindly in his footsteps, we will not be as safe as we should be.

While the President Pats Himself on the Back...

2006-08-28T16:06:33-04:00

It's no secret that the Bush Administration values politics and press opportunities over policy. But the dichotomy between the White House media campaign marking the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina and the harsh reality Gulf Coast residents have been facing these past 12 months is unconscionable. President Bush has devoted more time and preparation to this public relations blitz than to helping the people of the Gulf Coast.

While the President pats himself on the back and touts his Administration's appalling performance, thousands of families are still waiting for FEMA trailers. The incompetence, mishandling, and shear opportunistic greed that has occurred under the President's watch has been stunning - with $2 billion of the $19 billion spent by FEMA having been wasted on fraud and abuse. But even as families continue to wait for temporary housing, the locks on as many as 118,000 trailers used by Gulf Coast hurricane victims have to be replaced because they could be opened by multiple keys. Tests have also revealed that 94 percent of FEMA trailers tested have hazardous levels of formaldehyde gas, a respiratory irritant and carcinogen. When it comes to the health, security and protection of the American people, negligence and failure have no place.

House Democrats have been examining many of the Administration's failures affecting our Gulf Coast citizens. As everyone who lives there and has volunteered or visited already knows, in order to rate the Administration's performance, there needs to be a grade lower than "F." Last week, House Democrats formed a Waste, Fraud and Abuse Truth Squad, chaired by Congressmen Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Dennis Cardoza (D-CA). They will conduct oversight of the Bush Administration's handling of taxpayer dollars, giving the Golden Drain Award to those who fail to provide meaningful oversight or hold the Administration accountable despite documented instances of waste, fraud and abuse.

Last week, the Truth Squad released a detailed report highlighting the financial mishandling and corruption that has marred the recovery process, dedicating the first Golden Drain Award to the President's Hurricane Katrina contract process. You can read the full report here and you may be interested in some of the other reports House Democrats have issued recently on Katrina:

Housing - Democratic Members of the House Financial Services Committee, led by Senior Democratic Member Barney Frank (D-MA), released a report detailing the Bush Administration's housing failures in the year since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita seriously damaged the Gulf Coast region. This report demonstrates the Bush Administration's failed response to the housing needs caused by Katrina, which includes the legendary failures of FEMA, the indifference of HUD (the federal agency responsible for housing policy) to the crisis, woefully inadequate requests for housing reconstruction funds, and opposition to numerous Congressional efforts to provide affordable rental housing for working families. The conclusion is inescapable: the Bush Administration's response to the housing crisis spawned by Hurricane Katrina has been an abject failure. Read more >>

Education - One year after Hurricane Katrina devastated the greater New Orleans area, local schools and colleges still have not received the leadership and resources they need from the federal government to truly recover, according to a new report released by Congressman George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. Read more >>

Small Business - Nearly an entire year after Katrina first touched down in the Gulf Coast, small business owners continue to struggle. A report released by Senior Democratic Member Nydia Velazquez (D-NY) and Democrats on the House Small Business Committee found that 80 percent of the loans that were approved have still not been put in the hands of Gulf Coast small business owners. In addition, the evaluation also reported that a year later the Bush Administration has failed to take adequate steps to address the myriad of issues which ultimately led to a failed response last year - raising serious concern for hurricane victims this year. Read more >>

Homeland Security - A new report issued by the Democratic Members on the Homeland Security Committee, led by Congressman Bennie Thompson (D-MS), finds that the nation is not much more prepared to effectively protect our communities and respond to catastrophic emergencies. The report, "One Year Later: Katrina's Waste," further develops several significant contracting questions raised late last week by Democratic colleagues on the Government Reform Committee. In addition, the report urges Congress to address the institutional failures and poor emergency financial controls that continue to leave America vulnerable. Read more >>

Federal Government Response - Senate Democratic Leader Reid and I released "Broken Promises: The Republican Response to Katrina," detailing the failed response in the almost one year since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita struck the Gulf Coast. The hurricanes showed the American people that even so long after 9/11, the government is still not prepared to protect them. The report makes clear the disastrous effects incompetence and mismanagement continue to have on Gulf Coast residents. As the Bush Administration seeks to trumpet its "accomplishments" in the year since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, this report makes clear how much work remains to be done. Read more >>

These reports should serve as a reminder to President Bush that a photo op on the South Lawn of the White House is not going to help the tens of thousands of survivors who are still waiting for housing aid, for their schools and hospitals to re-open, for electricity to come back on in their homes and businesses, and for safe drinking water. The President promised a plan for the region, but all there is to show for it are 10,000 empty, unused trailers in an airfield in Arkansas. I will be traveling to the Gulf Coast today, as will many House Democrats, not to smile or pretend we're doing all we can, but to listen firsthand to residents about what Congress needs to do. As survivors are rebuilding their lives, House Democrats will work to rebuild trust and faith that the federal government is truly working for the people of the Gulf Coast region.

Americans deserve more than no bid contracts, bureaucratic inefficiencies and a too little, too late PR campaign. One year later, the Gulf Coast continues to need the financial, health care, education, housing and small business support that they deserve to turn devastated neighborhoods into thriving communities. And we still need an independent commission, modeled after the 9/11 Commission, to find out what exactly went wrong, why it went wrong, and how to fix it.

I can even give a hint about where the biggest problem is. Start at the top.

Zarqawi's Death Should Be a Call for Debate on Iraq Policy

2006-06-08T17:40:10-04:00

This morning, news arrived that our troops in Iraq have tracked down and killed the evil terrorist Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. We are proud of our troops for their tireless work. Their efforts should be commended and their sacrifices should be honored. But the security situation on the ground continues to threaten the safety of our troops. Several hours after Zarqawi's death, 19 Iraqis were killed and 40 were wounded in a roadside bombing in Baghdad. These deaths are a stark reminder of the ongoing violence facing our brave men and women in uniform.

And just yesterday, we learned that our active-duty soldiers, many of them overseas in Iraq and Afghanistan, are now distracted with the threat of identity theft. The Washington Post reported that as many as 2.2 million military personnel were among the 26.5 million records mishandled and lost by the Department of Veterans Affairs. The fact that it took nearly three weeks for the Bush Administration to alert those affected is simply the latest example of incompetence in the Bush Administration. It is unconscionable that anyone whose personal information had fallen into the wrong hands would be left vulnerable for 19 days. It is not only wrong, it is a cover up. The Administration has clearly failed in its duty to protect those who have protected us. If we can't even protect the personal records of our men and women in uniform, what does that say about our ability to secure a nation?

Time and time again, I have urged President Bush to present the American people with a strategy to transfer the responsibility for security to the Iraqis and to bring our troops home safely. I support Congressman Murtha's plan to redeploy U.S. forces "over the horizon" to ensure that Iraq does not become a safe haven for terrorists and that the Iraqi people can decide their country's future for themselves. Zarqawi's death should be a resounding call to President Bush and the Republican Congress that we must have a serious debate about U.S. policy in Iraq. His death does not alter the fact that our brave men and women in uniform are fighting a war of choice in which the President sent our troops into harm's way without a plan for victory and without leveling with the American people.

Bush State of the Union - It Was a Nice Break from Reality TV

2006-01-31T22:30:01-05:00

The President's speech tonight was more of the same. Just a speech. Empty rhetoric from a man and a party who have consistently failed to lead our country on the most pressing issues. Health care costs and energy bills continue to hammer working families, and we still don't have a plan for our troops in Iraq. All this was true before the President's speech, and it remains true now.

The State of the Union showed that once again, the President is choosing lobbyists and special interests over the American people. Last year, it was Social Security; this year, it's Health Savings Accounts. President Bush may think Americans should pay more to get less, but Democrats will fight for real reform - because it's right, and because the nation's economic security depends on it. The President's health care plan is brought to you by the same people who created the confusing and special-interest driven Medicare prescription drug bill and promoted privatization of Social Security. Americans didn't fall for privatization of Social Security, and they know that Health Saving Accounts will do nothing to reduce soaring health care costs or the number of uninsured Americans.

I invite everyone to visit HouseDemocrats.gov to learn more about what we're doing on health care, energy, innovation, honesty in government, and holding the Administration accountable.

PS: Be sure and read these blog posts by my House colleagues: Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-NY) on energy and Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) on seniors. You might also be interested in the live blogging after the State of the Union by Congressmen John Conyers (D-MI), Rush Holt (D-NJ), Frank Pallone (D-NJ), and Tim Ryan (D-OH) over at Stakeholder.

Here's an Idea

2005-11-15T12:51:11-05:00

The United States owes its very existence to entrepreneurial ideas. Our Founders had confidence that they were part of change in the world, and they had great faith in the future. That confidence and their faith in the future are reflected on the Great Seal of the United States, where they included these words in Latin: "novus ordo seclorum" -- "A new order for the centuries." In answering that call to leadership in science and industry, America built the world's most vibrant economy and leads the world in scientific discovery and innovation. World economic and innovative leadership have continually been defined by American genius. Every advance once thought impossible has been achieved by Americans: splitting the atom; landing a man on the moon; mapping the human genome; and transmitting information around the globe in an instant.

Each of these discoveries and inventions launched new industries, created good jobs, and triggered even further innovation. We promoted an entrepreneurial culture, creating the most powerful public private partnership in the history of the world by investing in long-term, high risk ideas.

All of these factors made America the breeding ground for the innovations and inventions that increased our prosperity, enhanced our lives, and protected and advanced our freedoms. That dynamic and virtuous cycle of innovation is what secured our status as world leader, and that status has remained unchallenged...until now.

Today, the world has changed dramatically - in ways that pose unprecedented challenges to our economic well-being. The underdeveloped countries of yesterday can become the formidable competitors of tomorrow, or even today. Those countries are following what has been the United States' blueprint for decades, and which resulted in our pre-eminence. As others have copied our blueprint, we have departed from it.

They are investing heavily in improving their educational systems, and creating world-class universities, particularly in science and technology. We have fewer students studying math and science, and fewer qualified teachers of math and science than we need. We will graduate 70,000 engineers this year. India will graduate 350,000 engineers, while China will graduate 600,000. They are making a commitment to long-term research and development. We are allowing that commitment to falter. Our federal support of basic research peaked in 1987, and has been flat or falling ever since. They are utilizing cutting-edge technologies to propel themselves forward. South Korea is an incubator for new innovation and leads the world in broadband penetration. We now rank 16th in the world in broadband penetration. Even if the United States were following our blueprint for success, we would still face these challenges from abroad. But we aren't, and that only compounds the problem.

Democrats believe that together, America can do better. That is why, over the past several months, we've sought out the best possible thinking on how to secure America's place as the world leader in innovation. We went outside of Washington, and met with leaders and CEOs from many fields: academia, venture capital, and entrepreneurs from the high-tech, biotech, and telecommunications sectors who are creating the jobs of tomorrow. We held forums with these leaders in Silicon Valley, Seattle, Chicago, Boston, Northern New Jersey, North Carolina's Research Triangle, and we will hold more.

In each of these forums, my colleagues and I were invigorated by the freshness of the participants' thinking, and the depth of their commitment to the future. They took pride in the amazing history, power, and creativity of America's economic model, and the inventiveness of the private sector. Many credited much of their success to public investment in education, infrastructure, university research, and institutions like the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and DARPA. But they warned that the commitment of the public sector has not kept pace with America's challenges in the global economy.

Today, Democrats challenge Congress and the country to renew our commitment to the public-private partnerships that will secure America's continued leadership in innovation, and unleash the next generation of discovery, invention, and growth. In addition to laying down this challenge, we're also laying out a series of specific goals, proposals, and timelines that, taken together, chart a clear path to a new era of American leadership and prosperity. This is our innovation agenda - our commitment to competitiveness to keep America number one.

I invite you to visit www.HouseDemocrats.gov to learn about the Innovation Agenda and let us know what you think.

Let's Not Hide Behind Compassion - Let's Talk About Action

2005-09-15T18:55:04-04:00

My heart is heavy after my trip to Houston last Friday to visit those who lost everything and are now living in shelters. The enormity of the Houston shelters cannot be captured with photographs, television or words. These self-contained cities are filled with those grieving, shocked and lonely, and complete with pharmacies, doctors' offices, indoor play grounds, cafeterias and disbursement centers. Thousands sit or stand in lines for everything from eye glasses to an extra blanket for a child.

One cannot fully understand this tragedy by just looking at the mass of people. You have to step into the crowd of survivors and see the individual faces; look down at one cot, out of thousands, and see a brown paper bag of belongings, a ragged blanket and a stuffed animal that are the few items a person has left.

I met one evacuee who was seven months pregnant. She lay on her cot and ignoring her pain, took my hand to tell me she would be fine. I played with a child who said he was sure he would be going home soon to New Orleans. After visiting some of the survivors and seeing their resolve firsthand, I am committed as ever to speak out for those who need a voice and a helping hand.

Democrats have a clear message to the people of the Gulf Coast: We stand with you and we are prepared to do whatever it takes to help to rebuild your communities.

Today I proposed a Marshall Plan for the Gulf States: a partnership with the people of the region to build new housing, revive farmland, repair infrastructure, construct schools to rebuild their communities, revive their economy, and restore lives. We have also proposed legislation to punish those who gouge consumers on gasoline and home heating fuel.

What have Republicans done? How do they respond to the Americans who were left behind as the waters rose? Despite their rhetoric, the Republican leadership has not proposed a bipartisan committee to conduct a national inquiry on the government response to Katrina. Instead, the Republican-led House this afternoon approved a Republican-controlled panel, where only the Republican majority has the power to issue subpoenas and it gives the Speaker sole authority to appoint the 20-member Select Committee. This morning, House Republicans voted against bringing up the House Democratic proposal to create an independent commission, modeled on the highly successful 9/11 Commission, to conduct the investigation.

The President will talk about compassion tonight. As I listen to him, I will be thinking about the little boy I met in Houston. I will be thinking about the City of Houston and Harris County, who when many of the pharmaceutical and basic supplies for the thousands of survivors had yet to arrive from FEMA, acquired all the medicines and supplies themselves. I will be thinking about all the people who 17 days ago had homes, jobs and communities, and whose only remaining belongings fit into a brown paper bag today. I will be thinking that only a week ago, after encouraging the President to fire "Brownie," he asked me why. " What didn't go right?" But mostly, I will be thinking about the people who are suffering, who need hope, who need answers and who need a comprehensive plan.

This ravaged region of our nation deserves our support, our cooperation and our sympathy. We are concerned by Bush Administration initiatives this week waiving wage protections, environmental safeguards, and safeguards for veterans, minorities, women and the disabled. The Gulf Coast region does not deserve to be treated as a laboratory for political opportunism or ideological experimentation.

It is a source of sorrow to our nation that so many were left behind as the waters rose. We must now commit that none will be left behind as the waters recede.

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi
www.HouseDemocrats.gov/Katrina