Dreier Rings Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange

October 11, 2005

NEW YORK, NY - Congressman David Dreier (R-CA), Chairman of the House Rules Committee, rang the Opening Bell at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) today. After ringing the Opening Bell, Dreier toured the floor of the NYSE and met with specialists who oversee trading in California-listed companies, including Hewlett Packard. He also met with NYSE Chief Executive Officer John Thain. Dreier said it was an honor to launch a day of trading in one of the world’s leading equities markets.

"The New York Stock Exchange is more than a symbol of our country’s economic strength, it’s the heart of it. In the weeks following September 11, 2001, the reopening of the NYSE was a critical milestone in our effort to show the world we would not cower from terrorism. Four years later, it’s still going strong and so is our economy. Last week’s jobs numbers show that, despite the impacts of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, our economy is resilient and robust.

"The companies traded here are key to our nation’s economic health. Not only do they demonstrate the vitality of our private sector, many of them also demonstrate generosity as well. I applaud CEO John Thain's efforts to keep our economy strong and encourage corporate citizenship. Our publicly traded companies have been quick to lend a hand to the people of the Gulf Coast.

"As we deal with the challenges of the ongoing war on terror and the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast, we must keep our economy growing. My Republican colleagues and I are committed to maintaining pro-growth policies that empower America’s entrepreneurs, investors, and risk takers to propel our 21st century economy forward. Our agenda of reducing tax and regulatory burdens on businesses large and small has made our economy stronger and more resilient, and we will continue to work to minimize the impediments to innovation, job creation, and growth."