Press Releases

"I watched with great pride the debate, and the strong - this distinction that has been made between a values based budget put forth by the Democrats and that supports a thriving middle class, and the Ryan Republican Tea Party budget that upholds millionaires over the middle class."

"Today, on the floor of the House, we will see a debate on the budget which clearly defines the values and visions of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party. I wish that this were a statement that we could come together on what our priorities are for the education of our children, job creation for our workers, retirement and health security for our seniors, safety in our neighborhoods, and the air our children breathe, and security for our country, all done in a fiscally sound way. Nothing partisan, nothing political about that."

"Republicans are standing on the wrong side of history. Just yesterday, a Republican-backed amendment to ban same-sex marriage passed in North Carolina. Here in the House, Republican leaders refuse to bring up a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act that includes critical domestic violence protections for the LGBT community, and they are using taxpayer funds to defend the indefensible Defense of Marriage Act in court. These actions only serve to advance fundamental unfairness in our society."

"Today, led by House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, the House took strong action to create American jobs and keep our nation competitive by reauthorizing the U.S. Export-Import Bank in a bipartisan way. This key part of the Democrats' Make It in America jobs agenda will give certainty to the business community."

"Good morning. Thank you all for your nice welcome. Thank you all for being here. I don't know where you'll go next year, you get larger and larger, and I think this is one of the biggest spaces in the Capitol. But it is wonderful to see so many of you here. The leadership and intellectual power that you bring to this debate, the constituents, in terms of your organizations that you represent. It's my honor to join my colleagues on being part of this welcoming CAPAC [Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus] ceremony."

"Rather than take up the bipartisan, Senate-passed reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, Republicans voted along party lines to roll back critical protections in the law and limit its provisions to certain classes of individuals. The Republican effort to politicize this issue does a disservice to our nation's women."

"President Obama's ‘to do list' shines a bright light on the failure of the House Republicans to address middle class economic security - the ability to get a job, start and expand a business, or own a home. The American people get up every morning facing these challenges and ready to work; now, the Republican Congress must do the same."

“This morning, I was honored to have a conversation with Mr. Chen at his request. I thanked him for his courage in fighting for legal and human rights in China, his view of his personal situation and the situation of his family and supporters, and I commended the Administration for moving his case forward.”