Floor Statements

Below are recent floor statements on significant events in this session of Congress.

• 09/28/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark In Support of Diplomatic Negotiations with Iran
  I am as concerned as the authors and supporters of this bill about Iran’s nuclear weapons program. But I do not believe that levying additional sanctions and encouraging regime change is the correct course. Instead, we should work with our allies to negotiate a diplomatic solution.
  
  
• 09/28/2006: Statement of Rep. Pete Stark In Opposition to Domestic Spying
  I rise against the Electronic Surveillance Modernization Act (H.R. 5825) because I swore to uphold the Constitution.
  
  
• 09/27/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark In Strong Opposition to Torture
  Some call this legislation a “compromise.” I call it a capitulation. The Military Commissions Act (H.R. 6166) continues Republicans’ despotic assault on the Constitution. 
• 09/21/2006: Statement of Rep. Pete Stark In Opposition to Election-Year Hate-mongering
  If you define progress by anything other than fear-mongering rhetoric, then this Congress is no more likely to secure the border than the Capitol Police are to stop an armed intruder.
  
  
• 09/20/2006: Statement of Rep. Pete Stark In Opposition to an Attempt to Disenfranchise Millions
  It’s no coincidence that the people who will be disenfranchised by this bill are core Democratic constituencies. Powerful interests have figured out that there are lots of ways to institute a poll tax by another name.
  
  
• 09/19/2006: Statment of Congressman Pete Stark in opposition to bill authorizing intrusive searches of public school students
  I rise today in opposition to the Student and Teacher Safety Act of 2006, HR 5295.
  
  
• 09/13/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark In Opposition to Republican Partisanship
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to a misguided resolution that caters to partisan politics more than it honors the victims of 9/11 and the sacrifices of our brave men and women in uniform.
  
  
• 07/26/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark In Opposition to Undermining the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty
  Were India to sign the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), the primary international tool for limiting the proliferation of nuclear weapons, I would gladly support the agreement. But I am – and have always been – an ardent proponent of nuclear nonproliferation. I believe that the fewer nuclear weapons that exist in the world, the better. Unfortunately, America’s unilateral agreement will encourage an arms race on the Indian subcontinent, promote weak export controls around the world, and undermine the NPT.
  
  
• 07/25/2006: Statement Of Congressman Pete Stark Introducing the AmeriCare Health Insurance Act of 2006
  Mr. Speaker, it gives me great pleasure to introduce the AmeriCare Health Insurance Act of 2006.
  
  
• 07/25/2006: Statement Of Congressman Pete Stark In Support Of
  The Child And Family Services Improvement Act
  I rise today in support of the House amendments to the Child and Family Services Improvement Act, which include re-authorization of the Promoting Safe and Stable Families Program.
  
  
• 07/20/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark In Support of Diplomacy in the Middle East
  I support Israel’s right to exist and denounce the tragic kidnapping of Israeli soldiers. I also appreciate the desire to marginalize Hezbollah. But Israel’s disproportionate military response is counterproductive. Rather than back any and all actions Israel takes, the United States should act as an honest broker and pressure both Israel and Lebanon to show restraint. Diplomacy, not more violence, is the path to peace in the Middle East.
  
  
• 07/18/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark On the Politicization of Stem Cell Research 
  If Senator Santorum and President Bush truly believe that it’s morally superior to discard single cells in a freezer rather than to use them to help millions of Americans with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, then they should have the guts to say so without another sham bill for political cover. 
  
  
• 07/18/2006: Statement of Rep. Pete Stark In Opposition to Pathetic Election-Year Pandering
  The proposed amendment not only bans marriage, but any of the "legal incidents thereof," meaning that the proponents think our founding document should keep gay and lesbian couples from filing a joint tax return, inheriting property, or visiting their partner in the hospital. I vehemently oppose this discrimination.  
  
  
• 07/13/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark In Support of Extending Landmark Voting Rights Legislation
  This historic legislation has eliminated the most blatant forms of discrimination in voting practices and continues to send a strong message that American voters of all races have the full support and enforcement of the United States government behind them when they exercise a basic democratic right.
  
  
• 06/29/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark In Opposition to Shortchanging the United Nations, Ocean Protection, and Law Enforcement
  We are administering death by a thousand cuts to the basic functions of government to finance tax breaks for millionaires and an open-ended war in Iraq.  
  
  
• 06/29/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark On Another Environmentally Destructive Giveaway to the Oil Industry
  This bill simultaneously endangers our coasts and delays an urgently needed transformation to a clean energy economy.  I vote no to yet another Republican attempt to maintain our oil addiction.
  
  
• 06/29/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark Regarding a Republican Attempt to Shoot the Messenger
  If this Congress spent half as much time doing oversight as it did criticizing those who dare question their government, we wouldn’t have to find out what our government is doing on the front page of the New York Times. 
  
  
• 06/27/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark On the Stark/Burton Flood Insurance Amendment
  The logic of the Stark/Burton amendment is simple. Translating flood maps into on-the-ground information about households is already happening, but often only in time to send the first bill for flood insurance. Our amendment merely changes the timeline to guarantee that property owners will find out earlier in the process when there is still time to get involved and appeal as a community.
  
  
• 6/22/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark In Opposition to Estate Tax Repeal
  A cartoonist couldn’t draw a clearer illustration of the Republicans’ misguided priorities. Though 46 million Americans lack health insurance and millions of children are denied access to quality education, Republicans insist on enriching those who least need our assistance.
  
  
• 06/20/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark In Opposition to Wasteful Defense Appropriations
  H.R. 5631 provides billions more for missile defense systems that are nothing but a pipe dream and a War in Iraq that has turned into an international nightmare. Defense spending will now total more than half of the entire federal discretionary budget!
  
  
• 6/15/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark in Opposition to Domestic Terrorism
  President Bush and Republicans in Congress would have you believe that the War on Terror and the War in Iraq are one and the same. But terrorism is not exclusive to a geographic or political entity. Terrorism is the result of an accidental or intentional trauma inflicted on humanity. Numerous examples exist within our own borders.
  
  
• 6/13/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark In Opposition to Additional Funding for a Misguided War in Iraq
  When is enough, enough? I rise in opposition to H.R. 4939 because there is no limit to the amount of money Republicans are willing to spend on this counterproductive War in Iraq.
  
  
• 6/9/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark in Opposition to Military Aid
  The United States should plant seeds of peace, not seeds of war. Tragically, however, this legislation appropriates nearly $5 billion – or about 25% of total spending – for direct military assistance. This spending subsidizes armed conflict, encouraging violence rather than diplomacy around the world.
  
  
• 6/8/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark in Support of Equal Access
  When Google was being run out of a college dorm, the search page loaded just as quickly as Yahoo or MSN or the Comcast corporate website.  The ability for so-called “garage inventors” to enter the market without paying a toll or suffering degraded service enabled the Internet’s rapid growth and success.
  
  
• 6/7/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark in Support of America's Air Traffic Controllers
  I strongly support putting a stop to the Federal Aviation Administration’s abusive and dishonest tactics in negotiating a new contract with the nation’s air traffic controllers.
  
  
• 6/7/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark in Opposition to Administration Censorship
  Nowhere in this bill is there a definition of offensive content. This legislation merely increases fines tenfold for what the Bush Administration deems to be indecent. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration has a poor track record of selective censorship.
  
  
• 6/7/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark in Opposition to an Unnecessary Attack on Environmental Regulations
  Oil companies admit that environmental regulations have not prevented them from building new refineries. This legislation is just another ill-conceived talking point for Republicans desperate to appear responsive to rising energy prices.
  
  
• 5/25/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark
  In Opposition to Drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
  Mr. Speaker, even President Bush admits that this country's addiction to oil is a crisis, but, like a desperate junkie, the Republican Congress is frantically trying one more time to squeeze every last drop out of our pristine wilderness.
  
  
• 5/24/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark at the Health Subcommittee Mark-Up of H.R. 4157
  U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, issued the following statement during today’s mark-up of H.R. 4157.
  
  
• 5/23/2006: Stark Opposes Dangerous Hamas Resolution
  I rise in opposition to H.R. 4681 because it inappropriately uses a blunt instrument to clumsily attempt to achieve Middle East peace. If this carelessly written and unnecessary legislation becomes law, it will set the Israeli-Palestinian peace process back further and result in additional Israeli and Palestinian deaths
  
  
• 5/18/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark On HR 5386, Interior Appropriations for FY 2007
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to the Interior Appropriations bill. Given their commitment to “conservative values,” I would think that Republicans would be more committed to actual conservation. Instead, this bill shortchanges our environment, attacks our natural heritage, and recklessly endangers public health.
  
  
• 5/17/2006: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark On H.R. 4200, A Disastrous Republican Environmental Bill
  I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4200, the Forest Emergency Recovery and Research Act. Rather than aid in a speedy recovery after a natural disaster, this bill is itself a disaster for the environment.
  
  
• 5/17/2006: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Opposing the Republican Budget
  It appears the third time’s the charm for the Republican leadership. Unfortunately, the same is not true for working Americans who will be worse off under yet another morally reprehensible Republican budget. This budget insults students, attacks veterans, and bankrupts future generations.
  
  
• 5/15/2006: Statement Opposing Boondoggle Defense Authorization Bill
  I rise in opposition to this Defense Authorization Bill, H.R. 5122. Only a few months after ruthlessly slashing $40 billion in health care, education and job training benefits for working Americans, the Republicans have shamelessly brought forth a Defense Authorization bill that wastefully spends taxpayer dollars and does nothing to make this country any safer.
  
  
• 5/4/2006: Statement of Rep. Pete Stark On H.R. 4954
  H.R. 4954, the SAFE Port Act, falls far short of what’s needed. Because the Republican Majority operates largely as a subsidiary of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, they refuse to take the only step that will ensure the safety of our ports: 100 percent scanning of containers. Instead, this bill mandates more reports that will tell us what hundreds of experts already have: you can’t ensure safety if you don’t verify the contents of every container. The studies, further reorganization of the Department of Homeland Security, and micromanaging of port operations in this legislation are a paltry substitute for real security.
  
  
• 3/30/2006: Stark Opposes Do-Nothing Republican Higher Education Bill
  I rise in opposition to the so-called College Access and Opportunity Act of 2005 (H.R. 609). This Republican bill represents a significant missed opportunity to rollback the raid on student aid and make higher education more affordable and accessible for America’s students.
  
  
• 03/16/2006 -- A Tale of Two Republican Disasters: Stark Opposes Funding for Irag
  I rise today to tell a tale of two Republican disasters, the Iraq War and Hurricane Katrina. It is a story with no best of times, only the worst of times. This tale is why I oppose the Supplemental Appropriations Act (H.R. 4939).
  
  
• 03/08/2006 -- Stark's Statement Opposing the National Uniformity for Food Act (H.R. 4167)
  I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 4167, the National Uniformity for Food Act. This bill puts commercial food industry interests ahead of the rights of consumers to be warned about food safety issues.
  
  
• 03/08/2006 -- Stark's Statement Against Children's Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act (H.R. 4472)
  I rise in opposition to H.R. 4472, the Children's Safety and Violent Crime Reduction Act. Once again, this Congress is attempting to address very serious and complicated problems with a law that substitutes the talking points of “tough on crime” politicians for the wisdom of judges, prosecutors, treatment professionals and child advocates. As a father and someone who has fought for better foster care, education, and health care for children, I object to this ill-conceived legislation that is as much an attack on our independent judiciary as it is a bill to protect kids.
  
  
• 03/07/2006 -- Stark's Statement Against the Reauthorization of the USA Patriot Act (S. 2271)
  I rise in opposition to S. 2271, the USA PATRIOT Act Additional Reauthorizing Amendments Act of 2006. This bill is a great example of what happens when you put Republicans Senators in a room with Dick Cheney to negotiate over Constitutional rights. It’s like two foxes negotiating over who can do more damage to the henhouse without upsetting the neighbors.
  
  
• 02/16/2006 -- Stark Votes Against US Unilateralism
  I rise today in opposition of House Concurrent Resolution 341, which calls on the UN Security Council to expeditiously take action in response to reports of Iran’s noncompliance with its nuclear non-proliferation obligations
  
  
• 02/01/2006 -- In Opposition to the Unjust Republican Budget
  I rise in opposition to this unjust Republican budget that cuts funding for working class programs and does nothing to improve the U.S. deficit.
  
  
• 12/16/05 -- In Opposition to Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control (HR 4437)
  I rise in strong opposition to the Border Protection, Antiterrorism, and Illegal Immigration Control Act because border security without immigration reform is no more effective than an umbrella in a hurricane.
  
  
• 12/16/05 -- In Opposition to Energy Basic and Applied Sciences Act of 2005 (HR 612)
  I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 612. The Republicans do not want any timetables to end the Iraq War because timetables would force the Bush Administration to actually create a workable strategy to end the war.
  
  
• 12/15/05 -- In Opposition HR 2830, the so-called Pension Protection Act
  I rise today in strong opposition to H.R. 2830, which would be better titled the Republican Pension Destruction Act.
  
  
• 12/14/05 -- In Opposition to the 2006 Labor, HHS & Education Appropriations Conference Report
  I rise in strong opposition to the newer, but not better, Labor-HHS-Education appropriations conference report.
  
  
• 12/14/05 -- In Opposition of H.R. 3199 Conference Report
  I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 3199, the USA PATRIOT and Terrorism Prevention Reauthorization Act conference report. I would be violating my Oath to uphold the Constitution if I voted to unravel the very freedoms for which we're supposedly fighting.

More Floor Statements...

For a complete list of Congressman Stark's floor statements, please click here to search the Legislative Information System of the U.S. Congress.

For floor statements from previous sessions of Congress, click on the appropriate link: 108th, 107th, 106th and 105th.