Press Release
Today the President announced measures to help businesses and consumers upgrade to advanced vehicles, moving us closer to energy independence and economic security. This initiative is one step our nation can take to maintain our edge in innovation, which is a key part of House Democrats’ Make It In America plan to create jobs and strengthen American manufacturing. Innovation, especially in clean energy technologies, will help fuel our long-term economic competitiveness and add jobs in new and expanding sectors. It is an essential component of the all-of-the-above energy strategy being pursued by the President and Democrats in Congress to ensure that this nation has sufficient energy available to meet its needs today and for many years to come.
Right now, Congress ought to be doing everything it can to help our businesses compete in the global marketplace so they can create jobs here in America. A big part of that is making sure they can also compete domestically. I have always believed that our workers create the best products, which will always do well when there is a level playing field, and when countries unfairly subsidize their companies exports, we must use all the WTO-consistent tools at our disposal to level that playing field.
“Today the people of New Jersey lost a beloved public servant, and the House of Representatives lost a respected member. As his state's first African American elected to Congress, Donald Payne was a trailblazer who helped pave the way for many to follow throughout the country. Don was a tireless campaigner for justice. Whether it was for the men and women from urban communities in Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties, the millions of American students who benefited from his service on the Committee on Education and the Workforce, or those suffering from poverty and oppression in Africa for whom he was a vocal advocate, his fight for justice at home and human rights around the world will be Don's lasting legacy. His many travels to the Sudans brought hope to those experiencing the bitterness of war, hunger, and displacement, and his efforts drew Americans’ attention to the genocide in Darfur and ongoing violence across the Sudans. All of us who had the honor of serving with him will dearly miss him and the energy and passion he brought to his job. My thoughts are with his family today.”
“This bill reflects the immutable and enduring bond between our two nations,” Whip Hoyer said. “It is a bond that reflects the shared values of our people and our shared interests in preserving stability in the Middle East. The threat from Iran’s nuclear ambitions is real and demands serious, cooperative effort by both the United States and Israel. I am proud to put forward this legislation along with Majority Leader Cantor, and I am hopeful it will pass with strong support from across party lines. It is a reminder that support for Israel is not and should never be a partisan issue.”
For three decades, Norm Dicks and I have served together in Congress, and he is not only a respected colleague but a dear friend. I’m saddened that Norm has decided to retire at the end of the 112th Congress. He will be greatly missed in the halls of the Capitol by Members on both sides of the aisle.
“I join today in celebrating the start of Women’s History Month, when Americans mark the progress we have made as a nation breaking down barriers and shattering glass ceilings. From marching for equal rights to contributing to our prosperity as leaders in business and entrepreneurship, from serving our nation in uniform and giving their lives in every war to making important discoveries in science and medicine, women have carried forward the work of building America since its earliest days. Describing the suffrage and equal rights movement she led early in the last century, Alice Paul said: 'Each of us puts in one little stone, and then you get a great mosaic at the end.' Today, the mosaic of America is rich and inspiring because of the contributions of millions of ordinary and extraordinary women to the history of this country, including the many outstanding women I have the privilege of serving with in Congress.
On March 7, 1965, our friend and esteemed colleague from Georgia, John Lewis, was among the leaders of that march. He was the leader – he and Hosea Williams. Two by two they walked, some 600 with John and Hosea at the front of the line. That day, in an extraordinary practice of nonviolence, he and other marchers were brutally beaten while trying to cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama. They were on their way to Montgomery, the state capital, to protest the murder of a young man, Jimmie Lee Jackson, who had been shot and killed while protecting his mother during a voting rights rally. And they were marching to Montgomery to say in a nonviolent way every American deserves the right to be able to register and to vote.
“I was pleased to see so many federal employees at today’s event. These are public servants who perform important work on behalf of this nation, from keeping our homeland safe to ensuring the food we eat is safe and making certain our seniors get their Social Security checks on time. Federal employees are a living example of government ‘for the people, by the people.'
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) will deliver remarks in support of federal workers at a rally hosted by the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) today, February 29 at 12:30 p.m. in the Congressional Auditorium in the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC-200). The rally is part of NTEU’s week-long 2012 legislative conference.
As Parliamentarian, John Sullivan has been a careful steward of the rules of the House and a strong defender of their proper exercise, which has earned him the respect of members and leaders from both parties. When he became Parliamentarian in 2004, John brought with him seventeen years of experience working in the Office of the Parliamentarian, three years as counsel to the Armed Services Committee, and seven years as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Air Force. Having given over thirty-five years of his career to our nation, I join in thanking him for his many contributions.