[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 154 (2008), Part 7]
[House]
[Page 9931]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       DEMOCRATS WORKING TO BRING RELIEF TO HARDWORKING AMERICANS

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, over the last couple of weeks, this House 
has passed important legislation that is going to provide some much 
needed relief to hardworking families who are being squeezed by high 
gas prices, high grocery bills, and a housing crisis that many 
economists believe has not yet hit rock bottom.
  Last week, Congress took decisive action to bring down the price of 
gas by passing legislation to suspend the filling of the Strategic 
Petroleum Reserve through the end of the year. After initially opposing 
the proposal, the President announced last Friday that he would comply. 
The House also overwhelmingly supported a farm bill conference report 
that invests $10 billion more in nutrition programs that will help 38 
million Americans afford healthy food. And earlier this month, we 
passed housing legislation that stabilizes the housing market and makes 
a real difference for families at risk of losing their homes.
  Mr. Speaker, this month, the House has passed significant legislation 
that will help all Americans and will basically address the economic 
downturn. I would hope the President would also support these important 
initiatives.

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