Sep 19, 2024
We should better safeguard people's rights and data while still protecting the global internet.
Earl Blumenauer
The Public Record
Earl Francis Blumenauer is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for Oregon's 3rd congressional district since 1996. A member of the Democratic Party, Blumenauer has been a prominent advocate for environmental issues and urban development. He has played a significant role in legislation related to transportation, health care, and social justice, often emphasizing the importance of local community input in federal decision-making processes.
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by number of sources- I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy. We are watching the harsh reality of governing without any meaningful Republican participation. It would have been an opportunity as we were moving forward to act as if they were actually legislating. People who were part of the party could have been able to zero in on some of these things. I personally am absolutely committed to deal with the SGR problem. This bill is a step forward to deal with it. It is not as good as what we had passed earlier in the House. But it is interesting that our friends on the other side of the aisle just took a hike, decided to be negative. One of the best examples is their hypocrisy or willful ignorance when it comes to the stimulus. I talked to hundreds of people who were here in town, and I'm sure some of them made it to Republican offices as part of the construction industry fly-in. All were thankful for the investment of the economic recovery package that kept people working in construction. Not just the thanks from teachers, firefighters, energy industry who have benefited from the jobs that have resulted, but they heard that particularly from infrastructure companies, if they cared to listen. I find a certain amount of disingenuous argument here when people are saying, well, we can't use emergency funding to help unemployed people in America. It should, instead, be funded by raising taxes or cutting programs.31 sources2010govinfo.gov
- I appreciate the gentlewoman's courtesy and her advocacy here. I just finished listening to my friend from Colorado, and he gets it half right. First of all, it is ironic that the new Republican majority, having been touted on the floor for its openness, did, in fact, rush this to the floor without the 72-hour notice, not any substantive committee work. If it had been subjected to careful committee analysis, the flaws in the argument would have been revealed. It is not going to save a single penny of taxpayer dollars, not one, even in the unlikely event that this legislation passed through Congress, which it won't. It won't defund NPR. NPR will exist. And those of us who are in Cleveland or New York or Los Angeles or Washington, D.C., will be able to enjoy it, although it will be diminished a little bit. But what it do is hammer small rural American stations, small town and rural America, where it is more expensive to broadcast and where they rely on this funding to be able to purchase the programs. It would not just hammer NPR, but it would deny them the ability to use the funds for that subversive show ``Prairie Home Companion,'' for ``This American Life,'' for the car guys. It would prohibit them from purchasing locally produced content from other public broadcasting stations. This is lunacy. It unravels a carefully crafted partnership that has delivered year after year.…6 sources2011govinfo.gov
- my goal in Congress is for the Federal Government to be a better partner with States, local government, business, and private citizens in promoting livable communities. This means helping our citizens guarantee their families they are safe, economically secure, and healthy. While we give much attention to the physical infrastructure in livability, roads, housing, transit, environmental protection, there is another fundamental building block of a livable community and that is a healthy education system. The Federal Government has, throughout our history, been a key partner with the States and local communities in education. Some mistakenly suggest that there is no Federal role. Yet from the Northwest Ordinance of 1789, which set aside land in each of the new States for educational purposes, to the GI Bill following World War II, to the important legislation in the 1980s that expanded educational opportunities to the disabled, the Federal Government has played an instrumental role in the development of American education. One of the most important actions Congress has taken in the last 10 years to promote both the goal of quality education and connections to the broader world through the Internet is to be found in the Telecommunications Act of 1996.3 sources1999govinfo.gov
- Thank you. I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy and interest in at least looking at it. {time} 1810 Mr. Speaker, one of the things that we have done with the trade agenda in 2007 was establish environmental protections which are part of future FTAs. We've kind of turned the corner with trade agreements. And I'm hopeful that this relatively modest--and I would think noncontroversial--item could be included so that as we move forward in the future we add to our list and would benefit developing countries' respect for the environment. Trade can have a powerful effect on environmental protection. We've worked hard to include them in previous items. And I'm hopeful that we can work together to make sure when this comes before us again that the environment is given its due protection.2 sources2011govinfo.gov
- I appreciate the gentleman joining us and couldn't agree more about the critical nature of investing in our economy and putting people to work. Millions of jobs are at stake, jobs that won't be outsourced overseas. I appreciate your joining in that conversation. Mr. Speaker, I would like next to turn to the dean of the Oregon delegation, someone with whom I have been privileged to work for over 3 decades. Congressman Peter DeFazio is a senior member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, ranking member of Natural Resources, somebody who I have found to be tireless in his promotion of infrastructure investment, creative in terms of ways to approach it. Mr. Speaker, I think a number of us would be open to any mechanism that provides steady, predictable resources that would be able to meet the needs because, before you can have public-private partnerships so you can deal with financing, you have got to have the underlying funding. There is nobody who has spent more time and creativity and taken more risks to advance that than my friend and colleague, Peter DeFazio. I am very pleased that you have joined us to be a part of this conversation and can't say enough for your tireless efforts to try and make sure that we realize the promise of infrastructure investment and that we actually do it. I yield to the gentleman from Oregon (Mr. DeFazio). Mr. DeFAZIO. I thank the gentleman.…2 sources2014govinfo.gov
- I came to Congress committed to helping the Federal Government do a better job dealing with water and sanitation. We have had great success internationally raising the profile and directing more money in a more effective way to deal with water and sanitation in poor countries, making a difference in millions of lives. In the United States, we often take those conditions for granted. But as has been demonstrated recently in Flint, Michigan, we do so at our peril because we have serious problems right here in the United States. It is not just Flint, Michigan. There are up to 10 million lead water lines that remain where even a slight change in the water chemistry, even from just repairing it, can damage lead pipes enough to start contaminating people's water. What is underground and out of sight is actually in worse condition than our crumbling roads and bridges. America leaks more water than we drink every day. In the aftermath of the recession, we have seen States cut drinking water budgets and staff. The Federal Government had cut our investment in drinking water infrastructure by more than 80 percent by 1980. This, despite the fact that ours is a growing country with aging infrastructure that was rated a D by the American Society of Civil Engineers in their latest report. Now, I am pleased that the administration in its budget would put a little extra money to help replace lead pipes.…2 sources2016govinfo.gov
congress.gov
Sep 19, 2024
I would like to start by commending the Biden-Harris administration for their leadership role in the recent extension of the WTO e-commerce moratorium.
Sep 10, 2024
I appreciate the gentleman from Butler's courtesy. It was my pleasure to sit next to Bill Pascrell for 16 years. We came to Congress at the same time. We entered the Ways and Means Committee at the same time, and he was right there every…
Jul 9, 2024
This is not just about extending his presidency, but protecting democracy. While this is a decision for the president and the first lady, I hope they will come to the conclusion that I and others have: President Biden should not be the…
Jun 25, 2024
These things aren't going to get enacted into law, they are not going to make a difference to the American people. It is a distraction, it is a sideshow.
Jun 25, 2024
I have 190 days left in Congress, so I have been spending time on issues that bring people together rather than divide them.
Jun 11, 2024
But reauthorizing the programs without improving them is a missed opportunity.
Jun 11, 2024
House Democrats have collectively shown an impenetrable commitment to the people of sub-Saharan Africa and Haiti.
Jun 11, 2024
I can speak confidently for House Democrats when I say we are firmly committed to reauthorization of AGOA and HOPE before their expiration next year.
Jun 4, 2024
I seek the time in opposition to the amendment, although I am not opposed to it. The Acting CHAIR. Without objection, the gentleman from Oregon is recognized for 5 minutes. There was no objection.
Jun 4, 2024
I deeply appreciate the opportunity to join my friends Representatives Mast, Lee, and Joyce in supporting this amendment. Mr. Mast talked about the necessity of providing our veterans with the best possible treatment. I have heard from…
Jun 4, 2024
I deeply appreciate the leadership of my friend from Florida, and his personal experience adds particular impact to his leadership on this. Another tireless champion for rational cannabis reform is Congresswoman Barbara Lee, with whom I…
May 23, 2024
Had I been present for the vote today on Roll Call No. 227, Ogles Amendment No. 1, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present for the vote on Roll Call No. 228, Mooney Amendment No. 2, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been present for…
May 22, 2024
Had I been present for the vote today on Roll Call No. 221, Ordering the Previous Question on H. Res. 1243, I would have voted NAY. Had I been present for the vote on Roll Call No. 222, H. Res. 1243, I would have voted ``no.'' Had I been…
May 21, 2024
Had I been present for the vote today on H.R. 5863, I would have voted ``yea.'' Had I been present for the vote on H.R. 3019, I would have voted ``yea.'' personal explanation
May 1, 2024
The Biden administration announced the long-awaited rescheduling of cannabis from schedule I to schedule III. This reschedule eliminates the vestige of the failed war on drugs started by the Nixon administration. Contrary to science, it…
Apr 10, 2024
I am assuming that both of you are very careful to make sure that you meet your tax obligations.
Apr 10, 2024
We have $163 billion a year that is not paid by the top 1 percent of American taxpayers.
Apr 9, 2024
Streetcars are still the foundation of cities and suburban areas across the country, establishing a pattern that guided development for over a century. By 1910, you could travel from Boston to Chicago entirely on streetcar lines, just…
Mar 21, 2024
I just have to note that my dear friend from West Virginia, a woman I deeply respect, would have reliance on fossil fuel for energy security. In her own State of West Virginia, the cheapest sources of power are renewable energy sources…
Mar 21, 2024
Republicans used to believe in market forces. They were part of a bipartisan effort to reduce acid rain, which had a cap, which in the short term increased price, but drove innovation. We solved that problem for a fraction of the…
Mar 21, 2024
I am listening to my dear friend from Montana and the University of Oregon, and I couldn't disagree more. We have the opportunity to produce clean energy in the United States. The cost today of alternatives with wind and solar is cheaper…
Mar 20, 2024
I am here this morning on the occasion of the 24th annual National Bike Summit to celebrate the bicycle. It was an honor to kick off the annual bicycle ride through the Capitol this morning with several hundred enthusiasts. We had a lot to…
Politicians like Earl Blumenauer
