Pete Stark

“ I stand before you eager to learn and ready to help make the laws of the greatest country on Earth reflect its values: fairness, justice, and a guarantee that working men and women, parents, students, seniors, the disabled, and the disaffected, every American, has the right to a seat at the table of opportunity. ”

“ What is most unconscionable is that there is not a shred of evidence to justify the certain loss of life. Do the generalized threats and half-truths of this administration give any one of us in Congress the confidence to tell a mother or father or family that the loss of their child or loved one was in the name of a just cause? ”

“ There'll be no money to keep them from being left behind — way behind. Seniors will pay. They'll pay big time as the Republicans privatize Social Security and rob the Trust Fund to pay for the capricious war. Medicare will be curtailed and drugs will be more unaffordable. And there won't be any money for a drug benefit because Bush will spend it all on the war. ”

“ The FDA proposed rule requires each tobacco manufacturer to
contribute to a $150 million public education campaign to discourage
youth from tobacco use. The tobacco industry doesn't even bother to
include this provision in their proposal. ”

“ And, Madam Speaker, as passionate as people are about getting out of Iraq, they are also worried, about their jobs, their houses, and their futures. I got an earful from taxpayers outraged that the Fed bailed out Bear Stearns while neighbors are losing their homes to predatory lending practices. A man in a union hall put it simply: "When will our government care as much for Main Street Americans as Wall Street speculators?" ”

“ I would like to, on behalf of the California GOP delegation, extend a hearty congratulations to our new colleague. Of course, it is with mixed emotions that we're here because we are very still thinking about the life and the contribution of our colleague Tom Lantos but very pleased that you are going to be able to work in the spirit of bipartisanship that the California delegation has pursued for years. ”