Newsroom
December 14, 2012 — Press Item
I was deeply saddened to hear about today’s shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. What occurred there is every parent’s worst nightmare – a senseless tragedy, leaving us to wonder what could motivate someone to commit such a horrible act against innocent children and those who serve as their educators. My thoughts and prayers are with the students, teachers and families affected by today’s shooting. There can be no consolation other than to know that they have the heartfelt prayers and support of an entire nation.
December 13, 2012 — Press Item
It think it's a positive sign once again that the President and [Speaker] John Boehner are sitting down. I've talked to both of them. They both want to get to an agreement. ... Nobody's walking away from the table. The stakes are very high here, the hopes of America are keen on us getting to success, and failure is going to have real consequences, so I'm very hopeful that [Speaker] John Boehner and President Obama … are talking [about] a way to get us to an agreement that Congress can consider and hopefully pass so that America will have the confidence that we have placed ourselves on a fiscally-sustainable, credible path for the long-term. I think that's what America wants.
December 12, 2012 — Press Item
Thank you very much Mr. Speaker. I thank my friend for yielding. I want to thank the Chairman of the Rules Committee for his efforts as well. Ladies and gentlemen of this House, we talk a lot, correctly, about creating certainty, alleviating uncertainty – alleviating angst among our people and among our economy. We have an opportunity to bring certainty to a large segment of America that they will not receive a tax increase on January 1.
December 12, 2012 — Press Item
“Everything's on the table. That doesn't mean we're for what's going to be on the table, but we need to have a full consideration of the whole gamut of things that are creating this issue and that can solve this issue. We need to not go over the fiscal cliff. We need to come to an agreement, and the President, I think, is working hard to get there.”
December 11, 2012 — Press Item
I am deeply disappointed that Republican legislators in Michigan today passed two so-called ‘right-to-work’ bills that erode the hard-won right of unions to organize workers for better wages and conditions. President Obama was right yesterday when he characterized this move as having nothing to do with economics and everything to do with politics. These bills represent the type of class warfare that puts profits before the needs of hard-working Americans; they will not grow our middle class or help families who have struggled throughout the economic downturn. By weakening the bargaining strength of labor unions, these bills undermine the relationships forged over many years in Michigan between labor and management, and in the past Governor Rick Snyder has called ‘right-to-work’ legislation divisive and inappropriate. I urge him to reconsider his stated intention to sign these bills into law.
Approaching the Fiscal Cliff: More Calls for Balanced Solution, Preventing Middle Class Tax Increase
December 11, 2012 — Press Item
As we get closer to the deadline to reach a solution to the fiscal cliff, a growing number of Republicans have publicly supported the idea of passing middle class tax cuts now to protect families and small businesses from a tax increase on January 1 while negotiations continue on higher tax rates for the wealthiest two percent in our country:
December 7, 2012 — Press Item
The history of America is the history of advancing civil rights, and this is the next step in that journey. By hearing these cases, the Supreme Court has the opportunity to ensure that every family is treated equally under the law. I am confident that the Supreme Court will rule that discrimination has no place in this nation, and will further the cause of civil rights for years to come.
December 7, 2012 — Press Item
For residents of areas affected by Hurricane Sandy, additional assistance to continue recovery efforts cannot come soon enough. The emergency aid package requested today by the Obama Administration will help communities in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and neighboring states get back on their feet.
December 7, 2012 — Press Item
In a sign of continuing progress in our recovery, the Bureau of Labor Statistics report released this morning shows that our economy added 147,000 private sector jobs in November, causing the unemployment rate to drop to 7.7%. With thirty-three consecutive months of private sector job growth, more Americans are getting back to work. However, despite this month's strong gains, too many remain unemployed, and we have work left to do to solidify our economic recovery.
December 6, 2012 — Press Item
Today, the Senate ensured that U.S. companies will have better access to the Russian market when it passed H.R. 6156 by a strong, bipartisan vote of 92-4. By granting Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia, Congress has provided the President the tools needed to ensure Russia follows World Trade Organization rules and the market access commitments it has made. This will help create a level playing field for American businesses and workers seeking to export to the growing Russian market. In addition, this bill provides for tougher sanctions against those officials responsible for violating human rights and basic freedoms, including those involved in the tragic death of Sergei Magnitsky. I look forward to seeing President Obama sign this bill into law and take the steps it makes available to enforce fair trade rules that benefit American businesses and the jobs they create.