[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 152 (2006), Part 17]
[House]
[Page 21923]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 DEMOCRATS WANT TO WORK WITH REPUBLICANS TO HELP MIDDLE CLASS AMERICANS

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, now that the elections are over, it is 
time for Democrats and Republicans to come together to work in a 
bipartisan fashion to help all Americans.
  Throughout this year, Democrats have talked about a forward-looking 
agenda, one that encompasses all Americans. We want to expand economic 
opportunity to millions of Americans who have been left behind by 
increasing the minimum wage for the first time in 9 years. We want to 
expand educational opportunities to teens who want to attend college, 
by cutting interest rates on student loans so that they can better 
afford college. We also want to help seniors better afford their 
prescription drugs by cutting drug prices and filling the doughnut 
hole.
  Democrats touted these plans, but that doesn't mean Republicans can't 
join us in implementing them when the new Congress convenes in January. 
Raising the minimum wage, helping college students better afford their 
education and helping seniors pay for their prescription drugs is 
something we all, Democrats and Republicans alike, should be interested 
in. We will have the opportunity to follow through on this agenda in 
January

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