| This week, Democrats took another step in our effort to lower the record gas prices that are straining the budgets of American families by passing legislation temporarily suspending deliveries of oil to the Strategic Petroleum Reserve. This action will increase our petroleum supply, and could help bring down gas prices slightly as a result. This step joins other actions taken by Democrats, including spurring the Federal Trade Commission to investigate market manipulation, passing legislation on price gouging, and passing legislation holding OPEC accountable for price fixing.
On Wednesday, both the House and Senate overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan Farm Bill that makes an unprecedented investment in nutrition programs. These programs will assist millions of American families who are feeling the pinch of rising food prices.
Yesterday, the House passed two amendments of an Iraq supplemental bill. One amendment calls for a change in policy in Iraq, including a plan to redeploy all American troops within 18 months and a requirement that Iraqis contribute more to the reconstruction effort. The second amendment restores full education benefits to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, giving them a GI Bill equal to what veterans of WWII received, and making them a key part of our economic recovery. However, Republicans chose to play political games with the third amendment that provides funding for the war. In a clearly cynical move to delay completion of this bill, 132 Republicans refused to vote 'yes' or 'no' on the amendment, voting 'present' instead. Despite their antics, I expect the troop funding to return to the House Floor for another vote in the coming weeks.
Next week, the House will take up a tax package that will extend tax relief to millions of families, provide tax incentives to small businesses investing in new technologies so that they remain competitive in the global economy, and offer tax credits to invest in renewable energy. We will also take up a Defense Authorization bill that focuses on restoring our military readiness, taking care of our troops and their families, and returning our attention to the war in Afghanistan. And, for the first time in an election year since 2000, we will pass a budget conference report that invests in America's priorities in a fiscally responsible manner. | |
