[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 12]
[House]
[Page 16475]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




 BUSH ADMINISTRATION BLOCKING DEMOCRATIC ATTEMPTS TO MOVE AMERICA IN A 
                             NEW DIRECTION

  (Mr. ARCURI asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. ARCURI. Mr. Speaker, over the last 6 months the new Democratic 
Congress has passed over 37 major pieces of legislation, many of them 
with bipartisan support, which have helped millions of Americans. 
Unfortunately, President Bush seems content with the status quo, 
opposing two-thirds of our forward-agenda.
  Today, the President will again veto legislation providing for a 
serious Federal investment in lifesaving stem cell research, supported 
by 70 percent of the American people. Further stem cell research would 
give new hope to millions of American families across the country 
suffering from life threatening and debilitating diseases like lupus, 
juvenile diabetes and Parkinson's.
  Earlier this year, we approved a defense authorization bill that 
includes a 3.5 percent pay raise for military personnel. The 
President's response was a veto threat. He believed a 3.5 percent raise 
was too much.
  Mr. Speaker, there is never too much gratitude and respect we can 
show for our troops. We don't show gratitude with lip service, we show 
it by action.
  Mr. Speaker, I was elected in November to move this country in a new 
direction, and my fellow Democrats are serious about real change. And I 
respectfully ask the President to join us.

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