Blog Post

Today, the House passed three homeland security bills which were passed in the 110th Congress but not acted upon in the Senate.

The Reducing Over-Classification Act, H.R. 553, enhances accountability by requiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to develop a strategy to prevent over-classification of security information and improve the access of state and local law enforcement, as well as the public, to DHS documents.

"Americans know that our economic recovery will take years -- not months...Rarely in history has our country faced economic problems as devastating as this crisis. But the strength of the American people compels us to come together." -- President Barack Obama [1/31/09]

In a new Gallup poll released today, 75 percent of those surveyed support economic recovery legislation.

Speaker Pelosi:

Tonight, 11 million of America's children are one step closer to receiving quality, affordable health care through the State Children's Health Insurance Program, which is critical to supporting hard-working families in these difficult economic times. By ensuring health care for these children, families will get regular doctor visits and preventive care so that minor illnesses do not become more serious, saving parents out-of-pocket medical expenses and avoiding costly emergency room care.

Today, the Congressional Oversight Panel released a report - mandated by Congress - making recommendations on how to reform our financial regulatory system. In the report, the panel summarized:

Today's vote is a victory for the American people. As the President urged us to do in his Inaugural Address just eight days ago, the House is taking action, 'bold and swift,' by passing a bill to create and save 3 to 4 million jobs.

This is a bill about the future and about how we create jobs for today's workers and for the next generation. It provides tax cuts for 95 percent of Americans, invests in science and innovation, in energy, in health care, in education -- all with strict accountability and fiscal responsibility.

During debate of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the House adopted several amendments by voice vote.

The House adopted an amendment by Reps. Nadler, DeFazio, Lipinski, McMahon, and Ellison to add $3 billion to funding for mass transit projects. Learn more from the Transportation & Infrastructure Committee>>

Rep. Nadler:

Rep DeFazio:

During consideration of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the House debated a substitute offered by House Republicans which would cut tax relief for working Americans and eliminate targeted investments in infrastructure, LIHEAP, food stamps, health IT, and clean, efficient American energy provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.