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From the Budget Committee:

SENATE-HOUSE REACH BUDGET CONFERENCE AGREEMENT

Fiscal Plan Funds Priorities and Returns Budget to Surplus Without Raising Taxes

Washington, DC -- Senate and House negotiators have reached an agreement on a budget plan for fiscal year 2008. The five-year budget resolution funds critical national priorities while returning the budget to surplus by 2012. And it achieves this goal without raising taxes.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today issued the following statement:

"Democrats are committed to fully funding our troops and changing course in Iraq. In the coming days, we will work to send the President a bill that does just that. We hope the President and Congressional Republicans will negotiate in good faith so that we can provide our troops the funding they need and an effective strategy by next week. If they do not, we are prepared to work through the Memorial Day district work period to accomplish our goals."

The Education and Labor Workforce Protections Subcommittee has just concluded a hearing: "Private Sector Whistleblowers: Are There Sufficient Legal Protections?"

Subcommittee Chairwoman Lynn Woolsey:

The Committee on Homeland Security is currently holding a hearing: "The 2007 Hurricane Season: Are We Prepared?" David Paulison, Undersecretary for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, has just concluded testimony. Mr. William Jenkins, the Director for the Homeland Security and Justice Issues Division of the Government Accountability Office; Mr. Craig Fugate, Director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management, and Mr.

Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers, and Reps. Linda Sánchez (CA-39) and Zoe Lofgren (CA-16) called upon Attorney General Gonzales to provide information to the Judiciary Committee regarding the dismissal of Todd Graves, the ninth U.S. Attorney known to have been fired by the Justice Department in 2006.

This afternoon the House debated the COPS Reauthorization Act, which calls for reauthorizing the COPS program to allow for the hiring of up to 50,000 new cops on the beat over the next 6 years. It is a top priority of House Democrats. Rep. Anthony Weiner (NY-09), who authored the bill, spoke on the floor:

Rep. Weiner:

The Foreign Affairs Committee is currently holding a hearing: "U.S. Re-Engagement in the Global Effort to Fight Climate Change."

Watch the hearing live >>

Chairman Tom Lantos gives opening remarks:

Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers:

"Mr. McNulty's resignation is a sign that top level administration at the Justice Department may be crumbling under the pressure of ongoing revelations, and what is yet to be disclosed. With this news and as we press on with our investigation, we look forward to his cooperation."

Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel: