[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 27]
[House]
[Page 36191]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     THE DEMOCRATIC YEAR IN REVIEW

  (Ms. SCHWARTZ asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. SCHWARTZ. The first year of the new Democratic majority is coming 
to a close, and we have already set our Nation in a new direction. We 
increased the minimum wage, improving the lives of millions of American 
workers. We increased fuel efficiency standards and set a new path for 
energy independence that will create new jobs and enhance our economic 
competitiveness. We enacted the largest college financial aid expansion 
since 1944, bringing the American Dream within the reach of millions of 
children in our country. And we are about to pass the largest increase 
in veterans health care in American history in honor of the service and 
commitment of all of our veterans.
  We accomplished all of this in spite of the stubborn resistance of 
Republican obstructionists who have tried to undermine our efforts at 
every opportunity. We did this despite the President's refusal to 
compromise.
  This year is coming to a close, but our commitment to change will 
continue. Hard-working American families can be assured that when we 
return in January, the Democratic majority will continue to fight for 
their and our priorities.
  Best wishes for a happy, healthy, secure and hopeful new year to all 
Americans. God bless our great Nation.

                          ____________________