Press Release
“As I have said repeatedly since the House passed its budget nearly 100 days ago, Speaker Boehner has no excuse for his refusal to finish our work on a budget – a goal Republicans once shared.
I am proud to join Rep. Nadler in introducing the House version of the Respect for Marriage Act today.
"Thank you, Madam Leader. As disappointed as I was yesterday, I am happy today. Today the court stood up for the principles of America of equal justice under law.
“’We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.’
“Today’s confirmation of Penny Pritzker as our new Secretary of Commerce is welcome news for America’s businesses and entrepreneurs. With a strong record of leadership in the private sector and experience serving the Administration as an advisor to the President on jobs and competitiveness, she brings a wealth of talent and expertise to her new position, which will benefit the President’s ongoing efforts to help American businesses grow and access a range of opportunities in financing, export assistance, and market access.
“I join in marking the seventy-fifth anniversary of the enactment of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, a core component of President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal that standardized the forty-hour workweek, guaranteed ‘time-and-a-half’ overtime pay, and established the first federal minimum wage.
“Today’s ruling is a disappointing blow to voting rights in America and will have a real impact on voters.
“As Americans have witnessed the increasing frequency of deadly storms like Hurricane Sandy and the stifling heat that has led to devastating droughts, there can be no denying the impact of climate change on our environment, our economy, and our national security.
“Today’s Supreme Court ruling is extremely disappointing. For many years, I and others have traveled with civil rights hero Rep. John Lewis to Selma, Alabama, to commemorate the historic 1965 march for voting rights and reflect on the need for the Voting Rights Act and its continued importance today.
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) participated in the third annual NOH8 On The Hill event, joining nearly 70 Members of Congress in posing for a portrait to show his support for marriage equality.