[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 27]
[House]
[Page 36192]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




               DEMOCRATIC ACHIEVEMENTS OVER THE LAST YEAR

  (Mr. HODES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HODES. Madam Speaker, as we prepare to complete this first year 
of the new Democratic Congress, I would like to take a moment to 
reflect on some of the major accomplishments that we have achieved on 
behalf of the American people. As a member of the majority makers, the 
historic class of 2006, we have helped to restore integrity, idealism 
and imagination to the people's House. We increased the minimum wage 
for the first time in a decade and fully implemented the 9/11 
Commission recommendations to better protect our Nation.
  Since then, we have worked to ease the financial burdens that middle-
class families face, passing the most sweeping college affordability 
package in more than 60 years, and yesterday, we approved an historic 
energy bill to declare our energy independence and help us address 
global warming, saving Americans anywhere from $700 to $1,000 a year in 
gas prices.
  Madam Speaker, I am proud to stand with fellow Democrats for an 
American agenda, real security, healthy families, a thriving economy, 
with opportunity for all, not just a few at the top, and a sustainable 
future for our planet. I look forward to 2008.

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