[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 1293]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 DEMOCRATS ACCOMPLISH MUCH DURING FIRST 2 WEEKS OF 110TH CONGRESSIONAL 
                                SESSION

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, as we begin the third week of this new 
Congress, it is important that the American people know what we have 
accomplished so far on their behalf.
  During our first week in session, we changed the rules on how this 
institution works, cutting ties between lobbyists and lawmakers, and 
reinstituting commonsense pay-as-you-go budget rules.
  Last week we began our 100-hour agenda, passing four pieces of 
legislation that will help the American people live better and 
healthier lives. We increased the minimum wage for the first time in 9 
years. We passed legislation giving the government the ability to fund 
promising stem cell research. We passed a bill that allows the 
government to negotiate better prescription drug prices for American 
seniors. We passed long overdue legislation instituting the 
recommendations of the 9/11 Commission that should make our Nation 
safer. And we are not finished yet.
  This week we will make college more affordable by cutting interest 
rates in half on student loans and investing in biofuels by repealing 
unnecessary tax breaks to Big Oil.
  Democrats are delivering on the promises we made to the American 
people.

                          ____________________