Press Release
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank my friend for yielding. I have known Mr. Berman for almost half a century. He has been an extraordinary leader, as a young person, as Chairman of this committee, as Ranking Member on this committee. And I want to thank him for his leadership on this issue. He has been instrumental. I want to thank my dear friend in whose district I used to live so many years ago, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, the Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, thank her for her leadership and her commitment. She's been a stalwart.
Perhaps the only silver lining to the Great Recession is that it triggered a new focus on manufacturing in the United States. After 25 years of being sold a shiny vision of a service-dominated post-industrial economy, the U.S. is rediscovering how important it is to actually make things in order to spur innovation, raise wages, drive exports and lower the trade deficit.
Over two decades ago the first President Bush signed into law the bipartisan and historic Americans with Disabilities Act. I was proud to sponsor that legislation and have worked over the last 20 years to make sure that it was effective and strengthened.
I was disappointed that Senate Republicans today voted to block a bill that would keep student loan interest rates low for another year. If Congress fails to act by July 1, the interest rates on student loans for 7.4 million Americans will double. We cannot allow this to happen. I strongly urge Republicans to get serious about keeping student loan interest rates low, and I hope they will work with Democrats to address this issue before the July 1 deadline arrives that includes a pay-for acceptable to both sides.
Today, the President called on Congress to take concrete steps that will help American businesses create jobs that won’t be shipped overseas. It is very unfortunate that Republicans in control of the House have chosen to shirk their responsibilities by refusing to consider a comprehensive plan for growing jobs. Moreover, after a year in the majority, they continue to block Democrats’ Make It In America jobs plan.
When I was a student at Suitland High School, in Prince George’s County, Maryland, I had a teacher who left a lasting impression on me. Ms. Jane Dumire was a young, energetic, and inspiring teacher of journalism and English. As such, she served as the advisor to the school paper, and as a junior I was the editor of its sports page. She was also advisor to the yearbook, for which I was the editor in my senior year.
Throughout this weekend, Americans from all backgrounds come together to celebrate the 150th Cinco de Mayo. On May 5, 1862, outnumbered Mexicans heroically defeated invading French forces and preserved their independence at the Battle of Puebla. On Cinco de Mayo, we join together to remember that victory and celebrate the close relationship between Mexico and the United States. We also honor the contributions Mexican Americans have made to our national life in every area, including business, medicine, culture, education, workers’ rights, government, and military service. I am proud to mark this 150th Cinco de Mayo, and I join in celebrating the Mexican American community and all it has done to make the United States a stronger, more vibrant, and more prosperous country.
"With our economy continuing to add jobs in April, the twenty-sixth consecutive month of private sector job growth, our economic recovery keeps moving forward. I am encouraged that the unemployment rate has fallen further and is now at 8.1%, down significantly from its peak during the worst of the recession...
The agreement reached today to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank ends the uncertainty so many of our businesses have faced as the deadline for Congress to act approaches. I am glad that Democrats and Republicans were able to come together to provide the Export-Import Bank with the tools it needs to assist American exporters and help them compete in the global marketplace.
"Our men and women in uniform continue to carry out their mission in Afghanistan with distinction and courage. Because of their service and sacrifice, Al Qaeda and the Taliban are seriously weakened and on the run, and the Afghan people have been able to take significant steps toward assuming control over their own security...