Media

“With today's historic vote to establish a new Consumer Financial Protection Agency, we move a step closer to answering President Obama's call for strengthened accountability and responsibility by corporate America..."

“The Solar Technology Roadmap Act lays the foundation for a future of renewable energy, sustainability, a growing economy, and good-paying jobs that cannot be shipped overseas. This bill helps improve the performance and reliability of solar technology, and invests in critical research and development initiatives that will redefine how we power our homes and offices..."

“In signing the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, President Obama is standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Congress in fulfilling our obligation to make sure that veterans get the care and support they have earned..."

By a vote of 310 to 106, the House passed the Solar Technology Roadmap Act (HR 3585) to strengthen the American solar technology industry through a coordinated research and development program and public-private partnerships. The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to select a group of experts from industry, academia, and government researchers to develop a long-term roadmap to guide solar energy research--identifying RD&D activities needed to improve the performance and reliability of solar technologies, decrease cost, and reduce water use. The Committee's recommendations will direct a growing percentage of federal solar RD&D funding over time and the bill authorizes over $2 billion to new research partnerships and demonstration projects for solar energy technologies.

Health insurance reform opponents have reached a new low. This morning, Steve Champlin, a lobbyist for America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) -- the insurance industry lobby group who recently paid for a thoroughly debunked report criticizing reform -- urged Congressional Republicans not to vote for health insurance reform saying it would be "giving comfort to the enemy":

This afternoon, the House passed the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Treatment Extension Act by a vote of 408 to 9. The Ryan White program has been serving people with AIDS and HIV for nearly two decades and currently provides care, treatment and support services to nearly half a million people -- most of whom are low-income. Without this critical safety net, some of our nation's most vulnerable populations would not receive the care and treatment they need and rightfully deserve. There are more than 50,000 new HIV/AIDS infections reported each year in America and according to the CDC, approximately 1.1 million Americans are currently living with HIV/AIDS.