Progressive Caucus News Releases

Progressives Introduce New Comprehensive Legislation to Compel Change in U.S. Policy in Iraq, Including Requirement to Redeploy U.S. Troops and Military Contractors Within 1 Year of Enactment
Friday April 25, 2008
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Progressives Unveil Comprehensive Budget Plan to Balance America's Priorities and Fiscal House During Next Decade--The Anti-Poverty, Pro-Opportunity, Peace, and Security Budget
Friday April 25, 2008
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Progressive Leaders Press for Immediate Action on 2nd Economic Stimulus Package Apart From Iraq War Funding
Friday April 25, 2008
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Progressive Leaders and Members Oppose President Bush's U.S - Colombia Free Trade Agreement and Applaud Speaker's Action
Friday April 25, 2008
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Progressives Demand Classified Access to Domestic Spying Program
Friday February 15, 2008
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Progressives Vow To Oppose Immunity in FISA Legislation
Thursday February 07, 2008
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Progressive Caucus Rallies Over 150 Members to Support Increased Food Stamp Benefits
Monday February 04, 2008
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Progressive Leaders Outraged Over Allegations of Misconduct by Iraq Inspector General
Friday December 14, 2007
In the wake of allegations of overspending and mismanagement by Special Inspector General for Iraq (SIGIR) Stuart W. Bowen Jr., Congresswomen Barbara Lee (D-CA), Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) released the following:
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Lee Leads Growing Group That Will Only Fund Redeployment
Tuesday October 16, 2007
There are now 89 signers of the letter to President Bush expressing their determination to respect the will of the American people, and asking the President to do the same.
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Barbara Lee: New Poll Shows Strong Opposition to Unconditional Iraq Funding, Support for Funding Redeployment
Wednesday October 10, 2007
“How many of our troops should die so the President can save face? How big a mortgage should we take out on our children's future so the President can avoid admitting he was wrong?"
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Woolsey: Iraq Bill "Misses an Opportunity to Hold the President Accountable"
Tuesday October 02, 2007
“Four and a half years after the invasion of Iraq the American public is fed up with the President’s failed policy, and is demanding that the Congress stand up to him and force him to bring our troops home."
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Welch Leads Congressional Effort on Auto Standards, Citing Guidance of Vermont Court Case
Thursday September 20, 2007
“While I believe the federal government must adopt stronger mileage standards, states should not be prevented from leading the way.”
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Stark: Petraeus a Broken Record for Bush
Friday September 14, 2007
”In his testimony before Congress, General Petraeus sounded like a broken record for the Bush Administration. Rather than speak factually about the lack of progress and the rising death toll in Iraq, Petraeus chose to carry water for the President who appointed him."
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Barbara Lee: Exit Plan for Bush Comes at the Expense of Our Troops
Thursday September 13, 2007
"How many of our troops should die so the President can save face? How many billions of our tax dollars should we spend so the President can avoid admitting his policy has failed?"
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Barbara Lee: Petraeus Walks in Powell’s Footsteps
Tuesday September 11, 2007
"The debate about alleged military progress in Iraq is a distraction – a smokescreen – that only serves to obscure the basic, fundamental fact that there is no military solution to the situation in Iraq."
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Woolsey Calls on House Colleagues to Force a Fully-Funded Withdrawal of U.S. Troops and Military Contractors From Iraq
Monday September 10, 2007
"It’s up to the US Congress to use the power of the purse to force the President to bring them home."
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Statement of Rep. Lynn Woolsey at Press Conference on Training of Iraqi Security Forces
Wednesday September 05, 2007
"By arming and training the Iraq Security Forces we are only further contributing to the violence and bloodshed that has come to mark Iraq as a country in the middle of a civil war."
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Barbara Lee Joins Experts in Calling for End to Arming and Training Iraqi Security Forces
Wednesday September 05, 2007
"The weapons and the expertise we are providing are being used both to kill American forces and Iraqi civilians as well as to to commit acts of terrorism and ethnic cleansing. This policy only serves to further endanger our troops and pour gasoline on an already out of control civil war."
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Stark: Under Bush, Millions Lost Health Insurance
Monday August 27, 2007
“The latest Census report should inspire Bush to reconsider his veto threat and motivate my Republican colleagues to support bipartisan efforts to improve both CHIP and Medicare.”
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Barbara Lee Bill Sets Goal of Cutting Poverty in Half by 2017
Wednesday August 01, 2007
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House to Vote on Lee Bill to Ban Permanent Bases in Iraq
Wednesday July 25, 2007
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Barbara Lee and Other Members Get Tested Publicly to Highlight HIV Testing Day
Tuesday June 26, 2007

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Lynn Woolsey decries passage of FY07 Iraq Supplemental Appropriations Bill
Thursday May 24, 2007
Washington, DC – The first Member of Congress to call upon President Bush to develop a plan to bring the troops home from Iraq, and a co-founder of the Out of Iraq Caucus, Representative Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) today lashed out at the Iraq supplemental bill.
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Barbara Lee and Colleagues Unveil Plan to Fully Fund Withdrawal of U.S. Troops from Iraq
Thursday March 08, 2007
“This very simple proposal represents where the majority of Americans are with regard to Iraq, and we are in discussion with our leadership to consider this proposal in formulating the supplemental.”
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Rep. Woolsey takes up President Bush’s challenge on Iraq
Tuesday January 16, 2007
Washington, DC - Joined by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Maxine Waters (D-CA), Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma) today introduced the Bring Our Troops Home and Sovereignty of Iraq Restoration Act of 2007.
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Serrano Denounces Immigration Raids
Monday December 18, 2006
Washington, DC – December 18, 2006 – Today, Congressman José E. Serrano denounced the series of immigration raids that took place across the country last week aimed at undocumented workers in the meatpacking industry.
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Lynn Woolsey Calls for Courage & Leadership on Iraq
Friday December 15, 2006
Washington, DC - Lynn Woolsey (D-Petaluma), who in January of 2005 became the first Member of Congress to demand a withdrawal from Iraq, today, almost two years later, again called upon the President, the Congress and her own party to heed the calls from the American public for a military withdrawal from Iraq.
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Barbara Lee Named to House Appropriations Committee
Wednesday December 13, 2006
December 13, 2006 "This committee assignment puts me in a better position than ever to continue to fight for and serve the people of California's 9th Congressional District."
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Serrano: Iraq War Fiscal Tradeoffs Make War Even Less Palatable
Thursday July 13, 2006
Washington, DC-Today, Congressman José E. Serrano again called for the pullout of our troops in Iraq to prevent further casualties, and to cut our financial losses in the sands of Iraq. He released numbers showing the fiscal tradeoffs this war has caused our nation to make – citing the public services that could have been provided in the 16th Congressional District if we had not gone into Iraq.
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PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS CO-CHAIRS SPEAK FOR MAJORITY OF AMERICAN PEOPLE DURING IRAQ DEBATE IN HOUSE
Thursday June 15, 2006
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representatives Barbara Lee and Lynn Woolsey, Co-Chairwomen of the 64-Member Congressional Progressive Caucus, (CPC) and U.S. Representative Maxine Waters, Chairwoman of the 74-Member Out of Iraq Caucus, today led the way in giving voice to the growing majority of more than 60% of the American people who believe that it was a costly mistake for the U.S. to go to war in Iraq and who want a redeployment of American troops out of Iraq.
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Congressional Progressive Caucus Hosts First Capitol Hill Forum on Iran and Preemption
Thursday May 25, 2006
(Washington, DC- May 25) – The Co-Chairs of the 62-Member Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA) and Congresswoman Lynn Woolsey (D-CA) hosted the first in a series of open forums on Capitol Hill yesterday where experts discussed the possible consequences of a preemptive attack on Iran. Video of the forum is available online at: http://politicstv.com/blog/?p=32.
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Baldwin Reminds Seniors of Medicare Part D Enrollment Deadline
Monday May 08, 2006
Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin reminds seniors and other Medicare beneficiaries that the deadline to enroll in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program is May 15. Those eligible, who do not have other creditable coverage and do not enroll before the deadline, face penalties in the form of permanently increased premiums.
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DeFazio - DeFazio Sends Letter Directing Bush To Get Congressional Authorization Before Military Strikes on Iran
Thursday May 04, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC—U.S. Congressman Peter DeFazio organized a bipartisan group of 62 members of Congress to send a letter to President Bush today calling on him to seek congressional approval before making any preemptive military strikes against Iran.
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CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE CALLS ON PRESIDENT BUSH ASKING FOR A WHITE HOUSE BIPARTISAN AND BICAMERAL IMMIGRATION SUMMIT AT THE WHITE HOUSE
Wednesday May 03, 2006
Washington, DC – Today Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee wrote President Bush requesting a White House bipartisan and bicameral Immigration Summit. “The nation you lead has arrived at a critical moment in history. Hanging in the balance is whether the United States will continue into the 21st century a confident, unified, forward looking nation proud of its ancient heritage as the global beacon of immigrants everywhere or renounce this heritage and attempt to seek refuge from the world behind barricades to be erected on its southern borders,” wrote Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee.
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CONGRESSWOMAN WATERS AND 118 OTHER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Monday May 01, 2006
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Rep. Maxine Waters (CA-35) sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Appropriations requesting an appropriation of $610 million for the Minority AIDS Initiative in fiscal year 2007. A bipartisan group of 119 Members of Congress signed the letter. The text of the letter follows:
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STARK CALLS FOR AN END TO THE IRAQ WAR
Monday May 01, 2006
WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-Fremont), a member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, issued the following statement on the third anniversary of President Bush’s aircraft carrier landing and “Mission Accomplished” address.
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STARK CRITICIZES REPUBLICAN SCARE TACTICS
Monday May 01, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Representative Pete Stark (CA-13), Ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to the 2006 reports of the Board of Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds.
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RULES COMMITTEE REJECTS MARKEY AMENDMENT, GIVES “THUMBS-UP” FOR TORTURE OUTSOURCING
Thursday April 27, 2006
WASHINGTON, DC- Representative Edward J. Markey (D-MA), a senior Democrat on the House Committee on Homeland Security, today expressed disappointment with the decision by the House Republicans to prevent a vote on his amendment to ban funding in the Intelligence Authorization Act for the extraordinary rendition that facilitates the outsourcing of torture to foreign countries. This decision comes on the same day that the European Parliament investigators announced that they have evidence that the C.I.A. rendition program had flown more than 1,000 flights through European airspace since 2001. Markey’s amendment would have generally restricted the use of diplomatic assurances – simply taking the word of foreign governments that no torture will take place, regardless of the country’s track record on this issue – as the basis for renditions of persons to countries that are known to use torture.
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Serrano Introduces “Child Citizen Protection Act”
Wednesday March 29, 2006
Washington, DC – March 29, 2006 – Late yesterday Congressman José E. Serrano introduced “The Child Citizen Protection Act,” a bill to restore partial discretion to immigration judges in cases where removal of an immigrant is clearly against the best interest of a child that is a United States citizen. Serrano called the bill “common sense legislation,” that would protect children and families from unnecessary separation.
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Serrano Reintroduces Herring
Tuesday March 21, 2006
The Bronx, March 21, 2006 – Today, Congressman José E. Serrano helped release 200 alewife herring into the Bronx River calling it “a historic moment.” The reintroduction, which came as the culmination of years of cleanup and restoration, marks the return of a native species of herring to the river for the first time in living memory. The fish are expected to be the seed colony for a breeding population
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Kilpatrick Secures $7 Million for NextEnergy
Tuesday March 14, 2006
Congresswoman Carolyn Cheeks Kilpatrick has secured $7 million in funding for NextEnergy, a non-profit organization created to enable the commercialization of advanced alternative energy technologies that positively contribute to economic competitiveness, energy security, and the environment. Kilpatrick, a member of the House Appropriations Committee, is committed to the development of alternative energy sources in an effort to reduce energy costs and create jobs for America’s families.
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U.S. REP. BOBBY L. RUSH URGES PRESIDENT BUSH TO FULLY FUND LIHEAP IN EXCLUSIVE MEETING
Thursday March 09, 2006
WASHINGTON (March 9, 2006) - At the request of President Bush, Congressman Bobby L. Rush and several other bipartisan Members of Congress, most of whom who sit on the House Energy & Commerce Committee, met with the president to discuss his Advanced Energy Initiative, which was outlined during his State of the Union Address
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OCEAN REPORT CARD REFLECTS A LACK OF COMMITMENT FROM BUSH, FARR SAYS
Friday February 03, 2006
This morning Congressman Sam Farr welcomed a critical assessment of recent ocean policy efforts from the Joint Ocean Commission Initiative, noting that the longer the Administration delays enacting broad reforms, the harder the job of reviving and protecting our oceans becomes.
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Rep. Lewis Condemns Pentagon Surveillance Of Atlanta Peace Activists
Thursday January 26, 2006
Atlanta, GA. - Congressman John Lewis, himself a former subject of unwarranted FBI surveillance as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement and an outspoken critic of the recently revealed NSA domestic spying program, was highly critical of alleged covert Pentagon initiatives that targeted peace activists in Atlanta. He made the following statement in light of this new evidence:
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Watson Statement on Congressman Murtha’s
Thursday November 17, 2005
“Congressman Murtha is one of the most highly regarded members of Congress on defense issues. In his remarks delivered before the Democratic Caucus earlier today, Congressman Murtha described the war in Iraq as ‘a flawed policy wrapped in an illusion.’ He said that ‘the future of our country is at risk,’ ‘that we cannot continue on the present course,’ ‘that intelligence was misused’ and that it is time to bring U.S. troops home now.
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REP. BECERRA ON THE RECONCILIATION TAX CUT PACKAGE
Monday November 07, 2005
WASHINGTON, D.C. – This past Tuesday evening, November 15, the Ways and Means Committee, by a party-line vote of 24-15, favorably reported to the floor of the House H.R. 4297, a $56.6 billion tax reconciliation package whose marquee features include a capital gains and dividend tax cut extension that gives 53% of the reckless windfall to one-fifth of one percent of the country’s population.
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Members of Congressional Black Caucus Join Representative Watson in Outlining Goals to Narrow Digital Divide in Upcoming DTV Legislation
Thursday October 27, 2005
(Washington, DC)— Fifteen members of the Congressional Black Caucus joined Congresswoman Diane E. Watson (CA-33rd) in signing a letter addressed to the Chair and Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The letter calls on the Committee to address the issue of universal access to digital television (DTV) and the equitable allocation of spectrum when it considers the upcoming DTV bill.
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U.S. REP. JIM MCGOVERN TO INTRODUCE BILL ENDING FUNDING FOR IRAQ WAR
Tuesday October 25, 2005
As the number of U.S. military deaths in Iraq reaches 2,000, U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA) this week will introduce legislation to prohibit the use of taxpayer funds to deploy United States Armed Forces to Iraq. The bill will allow funds to be used for the safe and orderly withdrawal of our troops; for transitional security provided by other countries – including international organizations like NATO and the United Nations; and for continued support for Iraqi security forces and international forces in Iraq – as well as funding for reconstruction efforts.
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Congressional Tri-Caucus Pushes for Healthcare Equality
Thursday July 28, 2005
Washington, DC – Members of the “Tri-Caucus” – made up of Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) – today joined with House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi to introduce the “Healthcare Equality and Accountability Act,” ground-breaking legislation that addresses persistent healthcare disparities by providing access to quality medical treatment for minority patients across the country.
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Hinchey Introduces Sweeping Reform Bill To Restore Integrity To America's Media System
Thursday July 14, 2005
Washington, DC -- In an effort to restore integrity and diversity to America's media system, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today introduced the sweeping Media Ownership Reform Act of 2005 (MORA). Hinchey, who is the chairman and founder of the congressional Future of American Media (FAM) Caucus, authored the bill to fix what he sees as a broken media system in the United States in which only a select group of individuals get to determine what information Americans can receive via television, newspaper, radio, and other media.
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Congresswoman Tubbs Jones Re-Introduces Second Chance Act of 2005
Wednesday April 20, 2005
Washington, D.C. –Yesterday, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones joined Congressmen Rob Portman (R-OH) and Danny Davis (D-IL) in introducing new bipartisan prisoner re-entry legislation. Washington, D.C. –Yesterday, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones joined Congressmen Rob Portman (R-OH) and Danny Davis (D-IL) in introducing new bipartisan prisoner re-entry legislation. Washington, D.C. –Yesterday, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones joined Congressmen Rob Portman (R-OH) and Danny Davis (D-IL) in introducing new bipartisan prisoner re-entry legislation.
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REP. MARKEY: DETAINEES SHOULD BE ‘QUESTIONED HERE NOT BOILED THERE’
Monday March 07, 2005
Whitehouse Spokesman defends sending prisoners to Uzbekistan when reporters turn up the heat on the U.S. practice of ‘outsourcing torture’
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