I think that every Member of Congress, and especially Democrats, at this point should welcome the recommendations of the two cochairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform. This is one of the rare, tangible, and…

I admire the persistence of our friend, Mr. Gallegly. It has been my pleasure to have worked with him for over a decade on this legislation. We thought we had it taken care of when it was woven into the farm bill of 2002. Unfortunately, as…

I come from an area of the country that is intensely trade dependent. Some of our iconic brands, Nike, Harry and David, Columbia Sportswear, would not exist without strong international partnerships. Oregon's largest private employer…

In working with 26 Oregon National Guard members who have filed a lawsuit against defense contractor KBR, I discovered these Oregon veterans have a compelling case that, while serving in Iraq, KBR's negligence resulted in their poisoning…

The political parties are missing an opportunity to deal with both the discontent and the fundamental causes we see in the political process today. You don't have to identify with the tea party to be frustrated with the tax system. It is…

Almost 1 billion people lack access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation. Sick children miss 300 million school days a year from waterborne illness. And it kills 5,000 children every day. Our Water for the World Act emphasizes…

I'm outraged by the blatant lies being told by some health insurance companies. I have a renewal statement here for a small business with a 28 percent increase, allegedly all because of health insurance reform. How do we know it's a lie…

I appreciate my friend from Massachusetts permitting me to speak on this important bill. I could not agree with him more. I did spend a month working in Oregon to deal with people who are concerned about the economy. I had a meeting just…

In today's wars, military contractors play a larger role than ever before. As we have seen over the past decade, our laws have been inadequate to curb what became a free-for-all for contractors overseas. That is why I support efforts like…

Mr. Speaker, I rise as a cosponsor of H. Res. 1595 to recognize the 50th anniversary of real estate investment trusts. For the last 50 years, we have seen how these publicly traded REITs have provided American investors with an affordable…

I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy. Mr. Chairman, this is about keeping faith with the American public. It's not the end, but it's an important beginning. Large oil companies pay some of the lowest fees to American taxpayers compared to…

I strongly urge our colleagues to listen to the local communities, to local government, to businesses that are involved with rebuilding and renewing America, and approve this legislation.

This is the home stretch. We have had examples, for the last 14 years that I've been in Congress, where communities are struggling to figure out how to put the pieces together. I commend the committee for its work to try and give the tools…

I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy, and I commend the subcommittee on its work to refine the administration's proposal, reduce it a billion dollars, but nonetheless deal with the challenges that face the American people. And Mr. Olver…

These are precisely the types of programs that we should be concentrating on because they stretch dollars, because they help promote the activities back on the ground in our districts, and, in fact, they are supported by the people who…

I appreciate the chairman's courtesy for these 2 valuable minutes, and I want to use them to focus on three basic points. First and foremost, it is true that the administration advanced an economic recovery package that we had hoped would…

Madam Speaker, embedded here in this legislation for Transportation- HUD is the Livable Communities Initiative, a visionary, popular, and important program of the administration. In fact, however, it began in the last Congress where the…

The current article of the New Yorker magazine has a thoughtful article from Atul Gawande, ``What medicine should do when it can't save your life.'' It focuses on those critical areas of end of life. It deals with fascinating studies that…

This bill contains many worthy items, including a substantial investment in our Veterans Affairs programs. A strong safety net for our veterans is more important than ever, particularly in Oregon, where returning Guard and Reserve members…

I am proud to support H.R. 2480, the Truth in Fur Labeling Act. This legislation is an important step for consumers and animals. It is also basic common sense. It removes a loophole that has kept consumers from knowing what they're buying…

I am proud today to support House Resolution 1366, Recognizing and Honoring the Freight Rail Industry. Freight rail is an important part of our transportation system because of the unique role that it plays as both an economical and…

I appreciate my colleagues raising the issue of Congressional oversight in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the debate here today. I share their deep reservations about our engagement in the region, though I disagree with their invocation of…

As a nation, we face challenges ranging from education shortfalls and growing energy needs to a slowly recovering job market. We cannot afford to escalate the Afghan war with a credit card. The mounting loss of life and widespread…

Last night I had an opportunity to preview a documentary entitled ``Homeless, the Motel Kids of Orange County.'' In the shadow of Disneyland, filmmaker Alexandra Pelosi captures the stark reality of children who are living in motels. For…

I will support the rule, but I rise in reluctant opposition to the legislation. I sympathize with my good friend from Mississippi and admire his passion and commitment to this issue and his tireless effort to try and help his constituents…