[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 20]
[House]
[Page 28614]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                   ANNIVERSARY OF NOVEMBER ELECTIONS

  (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, we are fast approaching the 1-year 
anniversary of the November elections when the American people went to 
the polls demanding to take our Nation in a new direction.
  Over the last 10 months, the new Democratic Congress has produced 
real results that are now making a real difference in millions of 
Americans' lives. For 10 years, Republican Congresses have refused to 
increase the minimum wage for nearly 6 million hardworking Americans. 
Democrats thought that was unacceptable, and 1 of our first actions was 
to ensure that these workers finally got a much-deserved and long 
overdue pay raise.
  Democrats also realize it is difficult for middle-class parents to 
send their children to college. Over the last 6 years as wages have 
stagnated, college costs have increased 40 percent above inflation. 
This Democratic Congress passed and the President signed into law 
legislation that provides the single largest increase in college aid 
since the GI Bill, and this new law will allow more Americans to live 
the American Dream.
  Madam Speaker, congressional Democrats are proud of these 
accomplishments, but they are only the beginning as we continue to move 
America in a new direction.

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