THE LEADER'S REPORT: WEEK OF DECEMBER 07, 2009

As Democrats continue to focus on creating jobs and strengthening our economy, a key part of our recovery is restoring oversight to Wall Street.  For eight years, Republicans allowed Wall Street to engage in irresponsible and risky behavior that ultimately brought our economy to the point of collapse.  By passing the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Democrats acted to bring accountability to Wall Street, protect Americans from the abusive and predatory lending practices that contributed to the crisis, and help ensure that taxpayers will never be asked to bailout big Wall Street banks again.
  This week we also passed a package of appropriations bills that invest in our nation’s priorities.  It makes targeted investments in the areas that will help grow our economy and get Americans back to work: infrastructure, job training, increased lending to small businesses, education, and health care.  It also funds services to our nation’s veterans and ensures troops have the equipment they need to keep our country safe.

 

Next week, we will continue our work on the fiscal year 2010 appropriations bills with the Defense Appropriations bill.  This bill puts our troops first, ensuring that we meet the needs of our troops in the field and their families here at home, as well as making critical investments in the health, well-being and readiness of our forces.

 

Today, Leader Hoyer supported House passage of the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, because holding Wall Street accountable means protecting consumers and investors, saving taxpayer money from future bailouts, and protecting our economy from another job-destroying collapse.

 

This week, Leader Hoyer voted in support of the FY 2010 Consolidated Appropriations Act. This legislation includes significant, job-creating investments in our priorities, including our nation's infrastructure, health, education, veterans, and foreign operations.

 

This week, Leader Hoyer joined President Obama at the White House for a bipartisan, bicameral discussion on plans to build on the jobs created and saved by the Recovery Act.

 

On Monday, Leader Hoyer discussed the minority party's role in Congress and the current Republican leadership's record as the "Party of No," putting up roadblocks rather than working constructively to find solutions to the challenges facing our country.