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February 13, 2009
Pelosi, Democrats Celebrate Stimulus Passage
Nancy PelosiPELOSI: ...take the country in a new direction. He said we will harness the sun and the wind and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories. And he went on to talk about 21st century education, investments in health and science, to making American people healthier, and innovation to make us competitive. These and other things were contained in his promise to America.
One week and one day after that, Congress passed a bill that did just that. And today, we followed through with a conference report that, as the president requested, swift, bold action.
The American people are feeling a great deal of pain. They have uncertainty about their jobs, about health care, about ability to pay for the education of their children. And sad to say in our great country, even their ability to put food on the table. And so today, we have passed legislation that does take that swift, bold action on their behalf. I could feel it myself when I turned in my voting card, that I was voting not just for myself and the people of my district, but for all Americans who want us to fulfill the promise of what President Obama had to say. And also, on issues that we've been working on for years.
I'm going to yield to my colleague, Mr. Hoyer now. But first, I want to acknowledge - do we have a list of the folks who are here - some friends who are with us who helped with the outside mobilization of this legislation. The Committee on Education Funding, Feeding America, the Coalition on Human Needs, the League of Conservation Voters, thank you and others who are here for the work that you have done.
(APPLAUSE)
I want to (INAUDIBLE) my colleagues, and the leadership will be speaking, but I want to acknowledge our chairmen who played a pivotal role in making this day possible for our country. Chairman Waxman of Energy and Commerce, Chairman Frank of Financial Services, Chairman Obey, master on Appropriations Committee.
(APPLAUSE)
Chairman Miller from Education and Labor.
(APPLAUSE)
And Chairman Olberstar on Transportation and Infrastructure. He wasn't here when we first walked out. We thought he was already working on a shovel-ready job.
(LAUGHTER)
Mr. Rangel, I walked in, this is Chairman Rangel from the Ways and Means Committee.
And before I yield again, I just want to say something about Barack Obama. Barack Obama in just a few short weeks as president has passed one of the biggest packages for economic relief in our country's history. Probably the biggest tax cut for the middle class. Investments in our future that I already mentioned. The American people know and historians are judging that this is one remarkable president. He did something faster than any other president ever has in our history, and that is to pass his economic package in just a matter of weeks. And we salute him for his leadership.
And now I want to yield to the distinguished majority leader who, again, championed these issues. We've been working on it for over a year. And Steny has the knows chapter and verse day to day, the work that went into getting us to where we are. Thank you, Mr. Leader.
HOYER: Thank you very much, Madam Speaker, and thank you for your leadership. Obviously President Obama was critical, but I want to congratulate Speaker Pelosi for her leadership, untiring leadership.
(APPLAUSE)
He's not standing here with us, but I also want to congratulate Senator Harry Reid, who has gone through the fire of great difficulty in the United States Senate in putting together the votes to pass this critically important piece of legislation. We expect him to do that in a very short period of time and I want to congratulate him as well on this achievement.
(APPLAUSE) November 4th, millions of Americans went to the polls knowing that their country was confronting crisis. Knowing that their country need change. Knowing and having a confidence that they had the opportunity to vote for a leader who would bring change. Vote for a leader who would confront the crisis and bring solutions. A leader who would end gridlock in Washington. And by a large majority, installed a new president, Barack Obama, setting not only history in terms of being an African-American first elected ever in the history of our country, but in many respects from their standpoint, irrespective of that historic fact, a person who talked to them for 18 months about change they could believe in. And he said to them, the challenges are great, but together, yes, we can. They believed him. Today, that belief has been affirmed. Today, we talk about in historic terms the first 100 days.
