Press Release

Over the course of the next three weeks, Democrats and Republicans must work together to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. Democrats have shown that we are willing to cut spending as long as it does not hurt our economy or cost jobs. I hope Republicans show a similar willingness to compromise and work with us. They cannot insist on extreme social policy riders that have no place in a debate on spending cuts, and they must come down from their reckless and economically damaging demand for $100 billion in spending cuts. After this week’s vote in the House, it is clear that if Republicans do not insist on inflammatory riders and make targeted and smart spending cuts, we will be able to reach a compromise.

I am proud to introduce the Full-Service Community Schools Act today. Full-service community schools are part of re-imagining how we can make sure our children get the education they deserve. These schools tap into community resources to ensure that when children go to school, they are ready to learn and their families are prepared to support learning. Students and their families are able to access a wide range of services – from early childhood programs, to health clinics and dental care, to English lessons and career advice for parents. These services remove serious obstacles that would prevent children from succeeding.

We cannot continue funding government week by week. It is disruptive and wastes taxpayer money, and it causes significant uncertainty for the private sector. That is why it is imperative for Republicans to put forward a new long-term measure and tell us where they are willing to compromise. They don’t have any excuses left: the Senate rejected House Republicans’ reckless and arbitrary spending cuts, which would have cost thousands of jobs and harmed our economy. And using their own measure - $100 billion in cuts – Democrats have already offered to meet them more than halfway. So it’s time for Republicans to step up and put something new on the table.

Our thoughts are with the people of Japan in the wake of today’s devastating earthquake and tsuanmi. Though the full extent of the damage is not yet clear, we do know that Japan has suffered widespread loss of life and destruction of property—and those who have suffered from this horrific natural disaster should know that they have the world’s sympathy, and that we continue to hold them in our prayers. As President Obama made clear, the United States stands ready to assist Japan as it begins its recovery efforts.

We need to do more to address the foreclosure crisis in this country, but the Republican housing bills on the floor this week are not the answer. By only proposing to terminate housing programs and not offering any solutions of their own to help responsible middle class American families stay in their homes, these bills are not the way forward. So far, Republicans have not put forth a jobs plan, have not put forth a real health care reform plan and today, it is clear they have no plan to help middle class families stay in their homes.

I believe this hearing would have been more useful had it taken a broader look at domestic terror and radicalization. As currently structured, however, I believe it sends the wrong message to the Muslim-American community. We need them to work with law enforcement to identify terrorist threats, not be afraid of them. We all need to work together to keep our nation and Americans safe, and we need everyone’s cooperation to do so. Targeting one segment of our population is not helpful to that objective.

Now that the Senate has failed to pass either the Republican spending bill or the Democrats’ compromise measure, it is time for negotiations on a long-term solution to continue. Democrats have come more than halfway to Republicans' demand of 100 billion in spending cuts, and yet Republicans have so far refused to move an inch from their one and only proposal. Since their proposal has failed in the Senate, Republicans must now put forward a real compromise measure that backs away from their reckless and arbitrary spending cuts that would cost thousands of jobs. We need to make smart spending cuts while protecting investments in our nation’s future.

Today, I attended a meeting of the House Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group, which voted to intervene in litigation pertaining to the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in court. I voted against this decision. I believe that the Administration is correct in concluding that DOMA is unconstitutional and discriminatory. There is ample precedent for the Justice Department’s decision not to defend this statute: since 1979, both Democratic and Republican Administrations have declined to defend acts of Congress on more than 50 occasions. In fact, it is rare for the House to intervene in defense of statutes that the Justice Department has declined to defend. I am disappointed in Republicans’ decision today.