Hooley Remarks

Remarks by Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (OR-05)

Salem Town Hall -- Noon, Thursday, September 6, 2007

Good afternoon and thank you for joining me today. I know there are a lot of you here today to talk to me about the war in Iraq, but first I'd like to give you a brief update on what I've been working on in Congress.

Since taking control of Congress in January, Democrats have passed a number of important accomplishments including the first minimum wage increase in ten years; tough rules to establish the highest ethical standards in Congressional history; and restoring budget discipline to end six years of deficit spending.

In the first 100 hours, the newly Democratic House passed crucial legislation to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors.

And just last month, we passed a bill that will provide health insurance for an additional 71,000 children in Oregon, taking us one step closer to covering all uninsured American children.

Another issue this Congress is reform of the No Child Left Behind Act. I testified in April about my concerns with the law, including the one-size-fits-all testing policies and the punitive nature of the bill, and I will continue to push for these reforms as we move forward.

And for those of you who are sending children to college this year, you will be pleased to know Democrats passed a 25 percent increase in the maximum Pell Grant and a 50 percent cut to college loan interest rates.

Another important issue for our communities is the meth epidemic. I'm working on treatment and prevention issues to provide resources to those that are trying to fight against this drug, and expand treatment opportunities for those who need it most.

If we are to protect our families and communities, we need to attack the problem from all angles: law enforcement, treatment and prevention.

But meth is not the only danger to our neighborhoods. We also need to assure the American people that the products they purchase are safe.

I fear that the stories we've heard so far of Chinese manufacturers cutting corners and jeopardizing the safety of our children are only the tip of the iceberg so I will using my role in the Energy and Commerce Committee to increase consumer protections and protect our families.

But let's turn to the number one issue for Congress right now: the Middle East.

Congress has already taken steps to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and later this fall, we will work to address issues surrounding global climate change and we will work to make cars more energy efficient.

And if the President thinks he's going to turn his attention to Iran next, he certainly will not do so with my vote. Congress must do everything in their power to stop that from ever happening.

We also need to help the close to 2 million Iraqi refugees who have fled their country because of this war, or we risk further unrest in the Middle East

And it is our moral obligation to keep our promise to the US soldiers who are returning from overseas and deserve our support for their sacrifices.

It has been almost five years since I voted against going to war in Iraq and seven months since I voted against the President's troop surge.

The military has done all it's been asked to do and more, they've been successful. But the president and his administration have failed on the diplomatic and political fronts and no amount of military might can fix those missteps.

In the last six months I voted for an exit strategy that included strong benchmarks that was vetoed by the President. I won't allow another blank check for this war.

The President has no plan to win the war and no strategy to bring our troops home. He insists that our soldiers give even more and taxpayers spend billions for an Iraqi government that is not able to meet the basic needs of their citizens.

When General Petraeus's report comes out, Republicans in Congress will have to decide whether they will continue to vote with the President or join Democrats and the vast majority of Americans who are demanding a new direction in Iraq and refocusing America's efforts on fighting the real threats of terrorism around the world.

I'm in favor of a rapid end to this war. I can assure you, I will vote NO on any funding bill that would continue operations in Iraq without a timetable for redeployment of American troops and a plan to turn Iraq over to the Iraqis. We need to bring our troops home.

Finally, I'd like to address another issue that I know is important to a great number of you. I've heard from many Oregonians who are frustrated about how we got into the war, how the war's been mismanaged by the Administration, and how they have consistently abused its power whether its warrantless wiretapping or stonewalling Congress.

I will be introducing a resolution that calls on the President to encourage all relevant parties that have been subpoenaed to testify and not hide behind Executive Privilege. Transparency is key to our democracy.

Oversight must be followed by accountability. Impeachment is in the Constitution and should never, ever be off the table for any President. Congress needs to right the wrongs of this Administration, and I want to use every tool available to hold individuals accountable for their actions.

As a representative, my job is to represent you, and that's why I'm holding this town hall today. Your views are important to me and I want to hear from you.

If you have a problem with an individual agency like the Social Security Administration or the VA, I have staff available who can help you one on one.


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	Home Hooley Remarks Remarks by Congresswoman Darlene Hooley (OR-05) Salem Town Hall -- Noon, Thursday, September 6, 2007 Good afternoon and thank you for joining me today. I know there are a lot of you here today to talk to me about the war in Iraq, but first I'd like to give you a brief update on what I've been working on in Congress. Since taking control of Congress in January, Democrats have passed a number of important accomplishments including the first minimum wage increase in ten years; tough rules to establish the highest ethical standards in Congressional history; and restoring budget discipline to end six years of deficit spending. In the first 100 hours, the newly Democratic House passed crucial legislation to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to negotiate lower prescription drug prices for seniors. And just last month, we passed a bill that will provide health insurance for an additional 71,000 children in Oregon, taking us one step closer to covering all uninsured American children. Another issue this Congress is reform of the No Child Left Behind Act. I testified in April about my concerns with the law, including the one-size-fits-all testing policies and the punitive nature of the bill, and I will continue to push for these reforms as we move forward. And for those of you who are sending children to college this year, you will be pleased to know Democrats passed a 25 percent increase in the maximum Pell Grant and a 50 percent cut to college loan interest rates. Another important issue for our communities is the meth epidemic. I'm working on treatment and prevention issues to provide resources to those that are trying to fight against this drug, and expand treatment opportunities for those who need it most. If we are to protect our families and communities, we need to attack the problem from all angles: law enforcement, treatment and prevention. But meth is not the only danger to our neighborhoods. We also need to assure the American people that the products they purchase are safe. I fear that the stories we've heard so far of Chinese manufacturers cutting corners and jeopardizing the safety of our children are only the tip of the iceberg so I will using my role in the Energy and Commerce Committee to increase consumer protections and protect our families. But let's turn to the number one issue for Congress right now: the Middle East. Congress has already taken steps to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and later this fall, we will work to address issues surrounding global climate change and we will work to make cars more energy efficient. And if the President thinks he's going to turn his attention to Iran next, he certainly will not do so with my vote. Congress must do everything in their power to stop that from ever happening. We also need to help the close to 2 million Iraqi refugees who have fled their country because of this war, or we risk further unrest in the Middle East And it is our moral obligation to keep our promise to the US soldiers who are returning from overseas and deserve our support for their sacrifices. It has been almost five years since I voted against going to war in Iraq and seven months since I voted against the President's troop surge. The military has done all it's been asked to do and more, they've been successful. But the president and his administration have failed on the diplomatic and political fronts and no amount of military might can fix those missteps. In the last six months I voted for an exit strategy that included strong benchmarks that was vetoed by the President. I won't allow another blank check for this war. The President has no plan to win the war and no strategy to bring our troops home. He insists that our soldiers give even more and taxpayers spend billions for an Iraqi government that is not able to meet the basic needs of their citizens. When General Petraeus's report comes out, Republicans in Congress will have to decide whether they will continue to vote with the President or join Democrats and the vast majority of Americans who are demanding a new direction in Iraq and refocusing America's efforts on fighting the real threats of terrorism around the world. I'm in favor of a rapid end to this war. I can assure you, I will vote NO on any funding bill that would continue operations in Iraq without a timetable for redeployment of American troops and a plan to turn Iraq over to the Iraqis. We need to bring our troops home. Finally, I'd like to address another issue that I know is important to a great number of you. I've heard from many Oregonians who are frustrated about how we got into the war, how the war's been mismanaged by the Administration, and how they have consistently abused its power whether its warrantless wiretapping or stonewalling Congress. I will be introducing a resolution that calls on the President to encourage all relevant parties that have been subpoenaed to testify and not hide behind Executive Privilege. Transparency is key to our democracy. Oversight must be followed by accountability. Impeachment is in the Constitution and should never, ever be off the table for any President. Congress needs to right the wrongs of this Administration, and I want to use every tool available to hold individuals accountable for their actions. As a representative, my job is to represent you, and that's why I'm holding this town hall today. Your views are important to me and I want to hear from you. If you have a problem with an individual agency like the Social Security Administration or the VA, I have staff available who can help you one on one.