Jan 7, 2009
the current economic recession is putting a lot of pressure on American families. Today, millions of our constituents are fearful that they could lose their jobs any day now. Last night, my sister told me that she lost hers in New York…
Kirk Watson
The Public Record
★ Featured Quote
February 9, 2025
We have to respect the people's vote. We shouldn't create a system that allows a minority to thwart what the will of the majority wants.
— Kirk Watson
Most widely reported
by number of sources- words are not sufficient to describe how I felt on Saturday morning when the Chairman of the Democratic Caucus announced that the space shuttle Columbia had gone down. My heart goes out to the families and friends of the seven courageous men and women astronauts. We mourn the tragic loss of Columbia's crew, whose lives were precious to all Americans. Today, as NASA and the Nation continues to struggle with shock and sadness, I want to take this opportunity to commend three Dorsey High School Students from my Congressional District--Atiabet Ijan Amabel, Christina Mojarro, and Juan Carlos Ortega--for participating in the STARS Academy Research Mission with an experiment that was placed aboard space shuttle Columbia. The STARS Academy is an online cultural and scientific global learning program. It incorporates a standards based curriculum in math, science, language arts, geography, and technology.2 sources2003govinfo.gov
- it is shameful enough that the Republican leadership in Congress has chosen to gamble our children's future on a risky and unsustainable tax scheme such as the one signed into law just last week. But what is even more shameful is that the Republicans sold out the very men and women who recently fought for our country in Iraq by cutting many of them out of that tax cut. That is right. Only hours before Congress was set to vote on President Bush's big tax giveaway, Republicans cut out provisions to expand the child tax credit for working families in order to give the President's wealthy friends a bigger tax cut. The child tax credit provisions Republicans erased would have benefited millions of working families, including many families of Americans soldiers, sailors, airmen and women just as they return from war. This is outrageous, and my outrage grows when I hear Members of the other party's leadership suggesting that this is grounds to write another tax bill for wealthy investors and accuse us of a new welfare scheme. How can they in all honesty stand on this floor representing the United States and say that kind of thing? Mr. Speaker, I appeal to Members to fix this problem immediately. This House vote to restore the deleted provisions that would help millions of Americans and their children is one that needs to be taken immediately, so please bring H.R. 2286 to the floor.2 sources2003govinfo.gov
govinfo.gov
Jun 18, 2008
just how long are congressional Republicans going to follow President Bush's lead? Thanks to 7 years of Bush policies, Americans are facing skyrocketing costs for basic necessities. Millions of families have lost their homes, unemployment…
Jun 10, 2008
I would just like to read some of the 51 stories of Americans with cancer who suddenly find themselves overburdened with medical bills, and they have gaps in their coverage. These are real people, Mr. Speaker. These are real Americans who…
Jun 10, 2008
I would just like to close out this hour by saying all those who came forward this evening we appreciate so much because you represent different areas of the country, and we hope this word can get out across the country that we're ready to…
Jun 10, 2008
I just want to say that Members in this first hour have struck a chord with the American people and the needs. And when we talk about homeland security, it is not the land, it's the people on the land. And I am very disturbed that we're…
Jun 10, 2008
this will be the first of a special order pinpointing and focusing on the need for universal health care insurance. There will be speakers today that will point up various areas of need. But in opening this hour, I would like to say that…
Jun 10, 2008
for 7 years now, Washington Republicans have allowed Big Oil to run our Nation's energy policy. From the very first days of this administration, Vice President Cheney was meeting in secret with energy executives to develop its energy…
Jun 5, 2008
over the last month this Democratic Congress has passed important legislation that will help our economy, our veterans, and millions of middle class families. But our efforts are being opposed by a Bush White House that refuses to work…
May 22, 2008
I rise to speak on the Watson-Cummings amendment to section 595 of the National Defense Authorization Act. Our amendment would strengthen the Senior Military Leadership Diversity Commission by including the U.S. Coast Guard as part of the…
May 19, 2008
Representing the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, I rise to join my colleagues in the consideration of H. Con. Res. 334, as amended, a resolution supporting the goals and objectives of National Military Appreciation…
May 19, 2008
it is wonderful to live in a democracy when we can recognize our athletes, when we can recognize our entertainers, we can recognize all of our people, along with doing the people's work. The idea of a democracy says anyone at the lower end…
May 19, 2008
on behalf of the over 14 million Asian and Pacific Islander Americans and the entire population of America for that matter, let us demonstrate our full support of this year's celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month by passing…
May 7, 2008
Tomorrow this House will have the opportunity to send the Iraqi Government a strong message: They're now responsible for their own reconstruction funding. As we debate a new war supplemental, Democrats are bringing an amendment to the…
May 5, 2008
I am pleased to support this resolution that adds the House's voice to the chorus of condemnation from the administration and our European allies to the provocative actions taken in recent weeks by the Russian Federation against the…
Apr 15, 2008
Today, Tax Day, millions of Americans know that their tax dollars will support rebuilding Iraq instead of rebuilding America. Americans have already spent $44 billion in rebuilding Iraq at a time when the Iraqis have a huge oil revenue…
Apr 2, 2008
I just returned from South Africa, and I did a single codel visiting the various clinics and hospices that are receiving PEPFAR funds. And I happily report that the small donations they do receive are stretched beyond imagination. They are…
Apr 2, 2008
Washington Republicans are not leveling with the American people on the immediate effects of the expiration of the Protect America Act. Despite their fear-mongering, even the Bush administration admits that it still has the ability to…
Mar 13, 2008
I am continuing to object until I am satisfied that this meeting is necessary in secrecy and why it didn't go to the Intelligence Committee first. I don't feel comfortable being manipulated with scare tactics. Why is it this didn't come…
Mar 13, 2008
I just want to end this with this: I went over to the Chair of Intelligence. I said, Do you know about this? He said, No. He can speak for himself. But why at this time are we given information that is supposed to be so strategic we have…
Mar 13, 2008
I want to know why the Intelligence Committee did not receive the confidential information that I am hearing is going to be discussed here. If the information discussed here is not confidential, why do we need a secret session and to what…
Mar 11, 2008
it is clear that no one is buying into the scare tactics created by the President and some Republicans regarding the expiration of the President's Protect America Act. Newspapers around the country are rightfully asking Republicans that if…
Mar 10, 2008
Madam Speaker and my honorable colleague, Stephanie Tubbs Jones, thank you for this opportunity to salute our women over a period of time. I would like now to introduce you to a woman by the name of Mayme Clayton. Mayme Clayton, a renowned…
Feb 26, 2008
Washington Republicans are throwing the facts out the window and are trying to scare the American public into believing that our Nation is less safe today than it was under the administration's supposed Protect America Act. The Bush…
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