Press Release

In January, the people of Southern Sudan voted overwhelmingly to form a new nation. That critical vote offered the people of Southern Sudan an opportunity for a better future, and a chance to put to rest the legacy of Africa’s bloodiest civil war. Unfortunately, Khartoum’s current actions are putting that possibility at risk. Their disproportionate and violent offensive in the disputed Abyei region threatens a wider breakdown of peace and a return to armed conflict between North and South, which is deeply concerning to those of us who have long advocated for peace and security across the whole of Sudan. The Obama administration has rightly condemned this offensive, and I join it in urging the Khartoum government to abide by the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement and resolve the future of the Abyei region through negotiation only. Khartoum must understand that normalization with the U.S. hinges on its ending violence, human rights abuses, and targeting of civilians.

My thoughts and condolences are with all those who suffered the effects of Sunday’s devastating tornado in Joplin, Missouri, and with all those who lost loved ones. Sunday’s tornado was historically destructive, and I know that its effects will sadly linger in the Joplin community for a long time to come—in damaged property, in painful injuries, and, worst of all, in lives that cannot be replaced. But natural disasters like this one have so often shown those qualities that are best in our communities: the toughness, selflessness, and commitment to our neighbors that help us rebuild. Those qualities are already on display in Joplin, and I know that the community will soon recover and rebuild.

 Today President Obama spoke about deeply held American values, such as self-determination and respect for all, as he declared that it is the policy of the United States to stand on the side of those seeking democracy and progress, and that human rights must be respected.

Now that the U.S. has reached the debt limit today, it is past time for Republicans to get serious and work with Democrats to ensure our nation pays its bills while laying out a path to reduce the deficit. The longer we wait to take responsible action, the more damaging it is to our economy. I agree with Speaker Boehner’s statement yesterday that an agreement doesn’t ‘have to wait until the eleventh hour.’ Businesses – and the global economy – need certainty that the U.S. will continue to pay its bills. By choosing to hold the economy hostage by risking a default on our nation’s debt, Republicans are endangering our economic recovery. I hope now that we’ve reached the debt limit, and the Treasury has been forced to employ extraordinary measures, Republicans stop putting the economy at risk and work with us to meet our obligations and set forward a serious, balanced approached to deficit reduction.
 

Today’s Trustees Reports show that the Social Security and Medicare programs have the resources to meet their obligations well into the next decade, but have taken a hit due to economic conditions. The programs will be solvent into the next decade, due in part to the enactment of the Affordable Care Act, which strengthened Medicare by taking significant steps to constrain cost growth through innovative delivery system and payment reforms that will increase efficiency, improve quality, and generate long-term savings for both beneficiaries and the government. According to the Trustees, Medicare’s financial outlook was substantially improved by this critical law.

This week, House Republicans are working to dismantle protections against speculation in the oil markets, which may drive gas prices up for American families. Democrats believe that aggressive oversight of oil speculation is an important part of an energy policy that can bring down gas prices for consumers and ensure that businesses have the fuels they need at a reasonable cost. But Republicans are once again failing to meet the challenge of high gas prices.

After more than four months in the majority, Republicans have made their priorities clear – and it is not the middle class. They have not produced a jobs agenda to get more Americans back to work, they’ve proposed ending Medicare as we know it, they are fighting to protect taxpayer subsidies for oil companies and now they are moving forward on a bill that could take away extended unemployment benefits for over four million Americans. This would harm families as well as our economic recovery.

Rising gasoline prices put a painful economic burden on American families and Congress must deploy every energy solution in its power, including, but not limited to, safe and responsible drilling for oil. Unfortunately, this week House Republicans passed two bills focused on drilling that will not have any significant impact on gas prices in the short term.