Press Release
I am extremely disappointed that Republicans are asking federal employees to take a freeze in pay for a third year in a row. Federal employees have already accepted two consecutive pay freezes with the knowledge that the savings would be applied toward meeting our nation’s fiscal challenges. At the same time Republicans were asking federal employees to contribute, they refused to ask the same of millionaires and billionaires.
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today after the House passed the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013:
I was honored to join the President today as he signed into law a bipartisan reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank. Democrats unanimously supported this bill in the House, and it is an important part of House Democrats’ Make It In America plan for job creation and long-term economic competitiveness.
Each year, Congress has a duty to review and authorize defense programs that keep Americans safe and our troops supplied for their missions. This has traditionally been an area where Democrats and Republicans have come together, and I have consistently supported this important bill. I continue that support today, though I am disappointed that this year’s authorization bill includes several troubling Republican provisions.
John Lewis was our lead sponsor on this particular piece of legislation, joined by an awful lot of people on our side of the aisle representing majority groups and representing minority groups. What John Lewis was saying was: look, in America we ought to facilitate, encourage, and make easier voting. Not doing what is happening in so many states, Al, trying to make voting more difficult to do. We want to modernize registration, we want to have a responsibility of the state and local subdivision to make sure voters are on the registration rolls and make sure they are included. We want to make sure that people with disabilities have access to the polls.
I thank my friend from Massachusetts for yielding, the acting Ranking Member of the Rules Committee right now, who is a distinguished member of this body. I rise in deep disappointment at the treatment he was accorded last night. Unworthy of this body, unworthy of the Rules Committee and unworthy of the character and integrity of the Gentleman from Massachusetts. I'm pleased there has been an apology for that. But I did not want it to go unmentioned. This body is better than that, although at times it is not. And we all lament the fact when it is not.
I am pleased that the Senate passed the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank that the House approved last week. This bipartisan legislation will enable the Export-Import Bank to continue helping American businesses remain competitive in overseas markets, which will, in turn, provide manufacturers with greater certainty that they can invest in growth and create well paying jobs here in our country.
“I opposed this appropriations bill for several reasons, chief among them that it is not consistent with the bipartisan agreement reached in August on spending levels. Breaking that agreement is just one more sign that this House Republican conference is simply unwilling to compromise or work with Democrats to find solutions to our challenges.
"One of the first votes I cast as a member of the Maryland State Senate in 1967 was to repeal the anti-miscegenation statute that remained Maryland law. It was a legacy of a discriminatory history of prejudice and segregation. It was my feeling then and now that individuals have a right to choose their partners, and society must accord them that freedom.
I am disappointed Republicans once again chose confrontation over compromise by voting for a candidate who promised to bring more partisanship—not less—to Washington. In fact, Sen. Lugar’s opponent was quoted as saying: ‘bipartisanship ought to consist of Democrats coming to the Republican point of view.’...