Pelosi: Appropriations Bills Keep Our Promise to the American People

June 12, 2007

Washington, D.C. - Speaker Nancy Pelosi was joined by other House Democratic Leaders and Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey at a news conference this afternoon to discuss Democratic plans to reverse years of Republican cuts and invest in America's priorities as the House begins considering appropriations bills. Below are her opening remarks:

'I thank my colleagues for their presentations and their leadership in bringing us to this day. It is with great pride that I stand with them because it is a day that we are keeping our promises to the American people. Earlier in the spring, we passed a budget that was a reflection of America's values. It was a blueprint for a new direction for the country. It lowered taxes on middle class, and it brings the budget into balance in five years.

'Today, we are taking it down a path to the specifics in the Appropriations bill. We always talk about, first and foremost, how we protect the American people. In the Homeland Security bill, when we're talking about first responders, port security, the whole agenda, we have a very strong bill to protect the American people. And as we do that, we honor our promises to our men and women in uniform in the Military Quality of Life bill, to give them the biggest increase in veterans' help since the inception of the Veteran's Administration 77 years ago. It's been said over and over again, but it bears repetition, this really is a breakthrough and the veterans appreciate it.

'Then we go to how we grow our economy and we will have more legislation, not all of it this week on this subject, but certainly the work that is being invested into research on health care is part of our innovation agenda - to be number one, to keep America competitive, and to make the American people healthier.

'How we care for our families -- the health and education of our children are very well served by this legislation that the Appropriations Committee has written and taken the lead on.

'And how we preserve our planet --Mr. Hoyer and others have referenced the provisions for energy independence and stopping global warming in the legislation that will come before the Congress this week.

'How we protect our country, how we grow our economy, how we strengthen our families and care for our children, how we preserve our planet -- these are the four points that cover all of what we do. And we promised that we would do all of these things in a way that was fiscally sound, and we do, in a way that is open and transparent, and we do, in a way that strives for bipartisanship and stability, and we do.

'I want to salute our distinguished chairman, Mr. Obey, who was my chairman when I was on the Appropriations Committee in those days as he indicated, we didn't have any earmarks. And the ones that we have today will be well known to the American people. And no one will be taken by surprise with them.'

'Then we go to how we grow our economy and we will have more legislation, not all of it this week on this subject, but certainly the work that is being invested into research on health care is part of our innovation agenda - to be number one, to keep Americacompetitive, and to make the American people healthier.

'How we care for our families -- the health and education of our children are very well served by this legislation that the Appropriations Committee has written and taken the lead on.