Media

Latest News

Blog Post
Chairman Obey & Rep. Murtha on Accountability and the Troops
March 23, 2007
Debate on the U.S. Troops Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act was largely managed by Appropriations Chairman David Obey and Rep. John Murtha (PA-12), who is Chairman of the Appropriations Defense Subcommittee.

In response to repeated demands from Republicans for a "clean supplemental," which Speaker Pelosi has referred to as a "blank check," Chairman Obey made the following remarks:

Chairman Obey on Checks & Balances:
Press Release
Pelosi Statement on Introduction of Bipartisan Immigration Reform Bill
March 22, 2007
"'It reflects a strong commitment by a bipartisan group of House Members toward realistic and comprehensive immigration reform. It provides an excellent framework for Congress and the President to begin work on the vital task of immigration reform, collaboratively and on a bipartisan basis. The President should embrace this framework."
Read More
Press Release
Pelosi: Gulf Coast Housing Recovery Act Is Crucial First Step to Rebuilding Gulf Coast
March 22, 2007
"'House Democrats are delivering on our promise to bring a new direction to the Gulf Coast region and help these families recover from the largest natural disaster in our nation's history. The Gulf Coast Housing Recovery Act is a crucial first step. The bill will speed up the repair and rebuilding of homes and affordable rental housing in affected areas, ensure continued rental assistance for displaced families and those who have moved back home, and provide reimbursements to communities and landlords that generously assisted evacuees."
Read More
Blog Post
Debate on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act Part II
March 22, 2007
Debate on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act will continue tomorrow. The House of Representatives has a choice: either endorse the President's open-ended commitment to the war in Iraq or demand accountability, support our troops and set a timeline for the phased redeployment of our troops.

"With all sincerity, no one questions your patriotism or love of country, and yet we hear you come down here and belittle the proposal that we have before us and call Democrats defeatists. When it is you who have surrendered your judgment... because of your blind, myopic allegiance to a failed policy, you have surrendered your judgment to what is the right thing."

Rep. John Larson (CT-01):
Blog Post
Debate on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act
March 22, 2007
Debate on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act has begun. The House of Representatives has a choice: either endorse the President's open-ended commitment to the war in Iraq or demand accountability, support our troops and set a timeline for the phased redeployment of our troops.

"Very frankly I'm getting a bit tired of those who are consistently wrong from the beginning on the issue of Iraq. I'm getting tired of them lecturing those of us who were consistently right from the beginning in our opposition to this war."

Appropriations Chairman David Obey:

Rep. Murtha (PA-12):
Blog Post
Political Interference & the Tobacco Industry
March 22, 2007
Prosecutor Says Bush Appointees Interfered With Tobacco Case

Carol D. Leonnig, Washington Post - March 22, 2007

From the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform:

Information Requested on Allegations of Political Interference in Tobacco Case

Following renewed allegations of political interference in the Justice Department's case against the tobacco industry, Rep. Waxman requests documents and communications between the Department and the White House relating to the litigation.

Blog Post
Debate on Rules for the Iraq Accountability Act
March 22, 2007
H.Res. 261, the rule providing for consideration of the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act, has just passed, 225-201. Rep. Louise Slaughter (NY-28), Chair of the Rules Committee, opened the debate on the rule (debate on the bill itself will begin soon):

"This is a war that is being fought by soldiers who often do not have the equipment they need or the care they are owed, that is not improving the security of the Iraqi people, that is depleting our military and endangering the security of this nation, and that is to this day based on a flawed strategy that desperately needs to be changed."

Chairwoman Slaughter:

Rep. Hastings (FL-23):
Articles
New York Times: Congress's Challenge on Iraq
March 22, 2007
"The House of Representatives now has a chance to lead the nation toward a wiser, more responsible Iraq policy."
Blog Post
Rep. Patrick Murphy: One Minute on the Iraq Supplemental
March 22, 2007
In advance of the full debate on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health and Iraq Accountability Act, Rep. Patrick Murphy (PA-08), an Iraq War Veteran, speaks on the bill:

"After the fall of Saddam Hussein, ensuring no weapons of mass destruction and several elections, the Republicans still followed lock-step as my fellow soldiers continued to give the ultimate sacrifice in Iraq without a clear mission, without benchmarks to determine success, and without a clear timeline for coming home. That ends in the 110th Congress. This is a defining moment."

Rep. Murphy:

Blog Post
DC House Voting Rights Act
March 22, 2007
Image removed.

Today, the House will consider H.R. 1433, the D.C. House Voting Rights Act. This bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA), secures voting rights in the House for the District of Columbia. Specifically, the bill permanently expands the U.S. House of Representatives from 435 to 437 seats. The two-seat increase will provide a vote to the District of Columbia and a new, at-large seat through the 112th Congress to the state next entitled to increase its congressional representation.

View more