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Floor Statements
Below are recent floor statements on significant events in this session of Congress.
- 2008-05-14: Stark Opposes Lack of Reform in Farm Bill Conference Report
Madam Speaker, I rise today in opposition to a Farm Bill Conference Report (H.R. 2419) that will continue our wasteful agricultural policy for another five years. It is a rare day indeed that I agree with President Bush, but he is absolutely right to have issued a veto threat of this bill.
- 2007-07-31: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark In Support of the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act
The rationale for the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2007 should be obvious. All people, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, and religious or sexual orientation, should receive equal pay for equal work. Unfortunately, that is not the case today in America.
- 2007-07-30: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark Opposing Harmful Agri-business Subsidies
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong opposition to continuation of a failed farm policy that takes from the poor to give to the rich. Although the Farm Bill (H.R. 2419) before us is being sold as a reform package, it is little more than a dressed up version of previous “Farm Bills“ that have paid over $1 billion to dead farmers and $1.3 billion to individuals who do not farm.
- 2007-07-18: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark Supporting Education, Labor, and Health and Human Services Funding
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of making quality education and health care available to our children.
- 07/12/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark In Support of Ending the War in Iraq
Madam Speaker, I rise in support of ending the War in Iraq.
Last November, the American people demanded a new direction for Iraq. Today, the new Democratic Congress is taking a concrete step toward bringing our troops home.
- 07/11/2007: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark Supporting Elderly and Disabled Refugees
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of assisting immigrants who Congress invited to live in the United States because they were being persecuted in their home countries.
- 07/11/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark
Supporting College Access and Affordability
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007. This bill provides the largest single investment in higher education since the Montgomery GI Bill of 1944, with no new cost to taxpayers.
- 06/27/2007: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark
Supporting Interior and Environmental Funding
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of strengthening environmental protections, preserving public lands, and confronting global warming.
- 06/07/2007: Statement of Rep. Pete Stark In Support of Life-Saving Stem Cell Research
Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of Federal funding for stem cell research. Gravely ill Americans are asking their government for help, but President Bush's so-called "moral" reservations could again stand in the way of advances in medical science and deny people potentially life-saving cures.
- 05/24/2007:Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Opposing Additional Funding for the War in Iraq
The supplemental before us includes no deadlines for troop withdrawal and no enforceable benchmarks for holding President Bush accountable. In other words, there is no way I or the overwhelming majority of my constituents would ever support it.
- 04/26/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Introducing the Save Our Climate Act
Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce a simple solution to the global warming problem, a carbon tax.
- 05/02/2007:Statement by Congressman Pete Stark
Supporting Reauthorization of Head Start
I rise today in strong support of the Improving Head Start Act of 2007 (H.R. 1429). Since 1965, Head Start has served millions of low- income families and helped children prepare for school.
- 04/25/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark On Funding the War in Iraq
My ‘present’ vote is an expression of strong opposition to the war’s continuation for even one more day and strong support for the Democratic Congress’ attempt to get an arrogant and stubborn President to change course in Iraq.
- 04/25/2007: Statement of Congressman Pete Stark In Support of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act
This bill makes sure that patients can undergo genetic tests which could help with treatments or cures without fear that the results will keep them from affordable, reliable health care.
- 04/24/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Expressing Support for Increased Public Awareness of Child Abuse and Neglect
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of increasing public awareness of child abuse and neglect. Nearly 900,000 children were found to be victims of abuse and neglect in 2005.
- 04/23/2007:Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Expressing Support for a National Foster Parent’s Day
Madam Speaker, I rise today in strong support of establishing a National Foster Parents Day. Individuals and families that open their homes and their hearts to vulnerable children are truly deserving of our recognition.
- 03/23/2007: Stark's statement on the Iraq Supplemental Funding Bill
Madam Speaker, today’s vote is very difficult for me.I support the immediate withdrawal of American troops from Iraq.
- 02/15/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark In Support of Our Troops and Our Security
I rise today in strong opposition to the President’s proposal to send more than 20,000 additional United States combat troops to Iraq. Today’s non-binding resolution is an important first step. After its passage, I will encourage my colleagues in Congress to take further steps to end the War in Iraq.
- 02/15/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Introducing the Foster Children Self Support Act
Madam Speaker, I rise today to introduce the “Foster Children Self Support Act.” This bill will codify into federal law what should be common sense: abused and neglected children should not be used as a funding stream for states that should be acting in the best interests of these extremely vulnerable children.
- 01/31/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark In Support of Funding Government Activities
Cleaning up a mess is never fun, but because Republicans failed to take ‘personal responsibility’ for this year’s budget, it is necessary. While adhering to the spending limit in the Republican budget, it provides significant funding increases to several important programs.
- 01/18/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Introducing the "Keeping Families Together Act"
Tens of Thousands of mentally ill children are torn from their families each year because they can only receive needed care through the child welfare system. The Keeping Families Together Act is a first step toward ending the barbaric practice of custody relinquishment and allowing children to stay with their families while receiving quality mental health care.
- 01/18/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Supporting Clean Energy
Eliminating tax subsidies will increase revenues, but we must spend those revenues wisely in our quest for clean renewable energy sources. We must focus our efforts on promoting advancements in wind, hydrogen, solar and thermal power.
- 01/17/2007: Statement of Rep. Pete Stark In Support of Making College More Affordable
Access to college is absolutely necessary if our country is to fulfill its promise of economic, social, and political inclusiveness for all individuals. By cutting interest rates in half on needs-based student loans, we will make college more accessible to hundreds of thousands of students from low- and middle-income families.
- 01/12/2007: Statement of Rep. Pete Stark In Opposition to Escalation of the War in Iraq
This administration has made mistake after mistake in an unnecessary war of its choosing. Now the President insists on sacrificing more lives, more money, and more goodwill on an increasingly lost cause.
- 01/11/2007: Statement of Rep. Pete Stark In Support of Federal Funding for Stem Cell Research
This bill to allow federal funding for stem cell research involves a simple question: should we use frozen cells to help millions of Americans with Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and diabetes, or throw them away and claim moral superiority?
- 01/10/2007: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark
Against Medicare privatization
Mr. Stark highlights Paul Krugman op-ed calling for the protection of Medicare against plans to privatize the program.
- 01/10/2007: Statement of Representative Pete Stark Supporting an Increase in the Minimum Wage
For far too long, working class Americans have been struggling to make ends meet at $5.15 an hour, a wage that leaves a family of three more than $6,000 below the poverty line. Today we can make a real difference in the lives of millions of Americans by increasing the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.
- 01/09/2007: Statement of Representative Pete Stark In Support of Implementing the 9/11 Commission Recommendations Act
I rise in support of an important bill that will make America safer and more secure. Today’s legislation ends years of gridlock by finally enacting recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission over two years ago.
- 12/08/2006: Statement by Congressman Pete Stark Opposing the Last Gasp Republican Tax Breaks
Tax breaks for the rich and new oil for Cheney and the gang…looks like Republicans really won one for the Gipper today.
- 12/06/2006: Statement of Representative Pete Stark in Opposition to the Unborn Child Pain Awareness Act
Where is the sense of urgency for children once they are actually born? What has this Congress done to address increasing rates of child poverty and hunger, decreasing access to health care, and the abysmal state of education and child care in this country?
- 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.
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