Floor Statements: 2012
01 Aug
FLOOR STATEMENT: Statement in Opposition to H.R. 8, the Job Protection And Recession Prevention Act Of 2012
MR. SPEAKER, I rise in opposition to H.R. 8. I cannot support legislation that prioritizes millionaires over middle class families.
25 Jul
FLOOR STATEMENT: Statement Opposing the GOP Drilling Bill
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to HR 6082, the so-called “Congressional Replacement of President Obama’s Energy-Restricting and Job-Limiting Offshore Drilling Plan.” This bill opens up nearly every last piece of our public lands to drilling, giving even more to Big Oil.
19 Jul
FLOOR STATEMENT: Opposing the Department of Defense Appropriations Act
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to HR 5856, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act for fiscal year 2013. Until we can rein in defense spending and treat it like all other federal programs facing damaging funding cuts, I cannot support yet another bloated defense budget.
10 Jul
FLOOR STATEMENT: Opposing Republicans' 31st Attempt to Repeal Health Reform Law
Mr. Speaker: I don’t think I look much like Bill Murray, or have his wit, but I sure feel like him in his role in “Groundhog Day.” There are pressing issues facing our country -- mainly the need to get our economy back on track and start creating jobs. But, my Republican colleagues refuse to allow us to focus on that vital priority.
29 Jun
FLOOR STATEMENT: Supporting Transportation and Education Investments
I rise today in reluctant support of the Transportation and Student Loan Agreement (H.R. 4348). We must prevent interest rates on student loans from doubling as they are set to do tomorrow. We must reauthorize our transportation programs and get people to work rebuilding our infrastructure. This legislation, while far from ideal, accomplishes both of those worthy goals.
19 Jun
FLOOR STATEMENT: The Human Cost of the War in Afghanistan
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with deep sadness and regret: we have reached 2,000 American troop deaths in the War in Afghanistan—a war we needlessly continue to fight. My sincerest condolences go out to the families, friends, and communities who have lost loved ones to a war I have ardently opposed for the past 11 years.
07 Jun
FLOOR STATEMENT: Statement in Opposition to the Repeal of the Medical Device Tax
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.R. 436 -- Republican legislation that protects special interests at the expense of working families.
31 May
FLOOR STATEMENT: Opposing the Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the so-called Prenatal Non-Discrimination Act, H.R. 3541. This legislation is the latest Republican attack on women’s health and would actually criminalize doctors who provide reproductive health care to women.
18 May
FLOOR STATEMENT: Opposing the National Defense Authorization Act
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 4310, the National Defense Authorization (NDAA) Act. Our country has always spent too much taxpayer money on an outdated, ineffective military apparatus; this year's reauthorization is no different. The pattern of lopsided investment causes us to sacrifice critically needed investments in job growth, health care, education, and economic recovery.
16 May
FLOOR STATEMENT: Supporting Protecting All Survivors of Violence
Mr. Speaker, reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) should present Congress with an opportunity to set aside our many differences and work together so that women and families across the country can lead safer, healthier, and happier lives.
10 May
FLOOR STATEMENT: Opposing the Sequester Replacement and Reconciliation Act
Mr. Speaker, the legislation we are considering today is quite possibly the moral low-point of this House Republican Majority. Not only does it negate a law that was agreed to just last year to cut the deficit, it makes unconscionable cuts to safety net programs that help to feed hungry children and seniors and to protect them from abuse.
07 May
FLOOR STATEMENT: Recognizing Hopkins Junior High School Science Team of Fremont
I rise today to recognize the remarkable achievement of the Hopkins Junior High School Science Team of Fremont, California for winning the National Science Bowl. This is the second time in four years that Hopkins Junior High School has won the National Science Bowl, sponsored by the Department of Energy.
27 Apr
FLOOR STATEMENT: Recognizing the National Day of Reason
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize Thursday, May 3, 2012 as the 2012 National Day of Reason. The National Day of Reason celebrates the application of reason and the positive impact it has had on humanity. It is also an opportunity to reaffirm the Constitutional separation of religion and government.
27 Apr
FLOOR STATEMENT: Opposing Elimination of the Prevention and Public Health Fund (H.R. 4628)
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to this sham Republican bill that would eliminate a vital component of ObamaCare—the Prevention and Public Health Fund (PPHF)—in a blatantly political attempt to avoid being blamed for allowing interest rates on student loans to double on 7 million Americans.
19 Apr
FLOOR STATEMENT: Statement in Opposition to Republican Bill H.R. 9, to Gut our Safety Net and Enrich the Wealthy
Mister Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 9, the Small Business Tax Cut Act, a bill that provides a $46 billion tax break for the wealthy paid for by ordinary working people. This bill will send half of the tax cuts to those with annual incomes over $1 million and 80 percent of benefits to those earning more than $200,000. Once again, Republicans are extending a helping hand to those who need it least, including professional sports teams, law firms, lobbying firms, and accounting firms.
29 Mar
FLOOR STATEMENT: Opposing the Republican Budget and Supporting the Progressive Alternative: the Budget for All
Mr. Speaker, the Republican budget proposal, very similar to their draconian proposal from last year, fails the middle class, undermines our nation’s values, and destroys the social safety net. It's been said that this year's Republican budget is "austerity on steroids." I would call that an understatement.
21 Mar
FLOOR STATEMENT: Statement in Opposition to the Independent Payment Advisory Board
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill, HR 5, as brought to the floor by my Republican colleagues. This bill does two things. First, it repeals the IPAB Board as created in the Affordable Care Act. Second, it enacts “medical malpractice reform” long sought by Republicans as a way to protect pharmaceutical companies, medical device companies, and health care providers from full liability when they cause harm or death.
29 Feb
FLOOR STATEMENT: Opposing the State Water Rights Repeal Act, H.R. 1837
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to legislation that would trample on the state’s rights of California and overturn a carefully crafted agreement about how our state’s fresh water is allocated.
17 Feb
FLOOR STATEMENT: Supporting Bipartisan Bill to Extend Payroll Tax Cut, Unempolyent Insurance, Delay Medicare Doc Pay Cut
I rise in support of this bipartisan legislation extend the payroll tax cut through 2012, delay a massive Medicare physician pay cut until January 1, 2012, and extend unemployment benefits for long-term unemployed workers.
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