[Davis Democrats] Message from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi- Making College Affordable

[John Chendo]

------ Forwarded Message
From: Speaker Nancy Pelosi <pelosi at democraticleader.ctsg.com>
Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 16:19:24 -0700 (PDT)
To: <jac07 at dcn.org>
Subject: House Call - Making College Affordable

 

September 21, 2007 
  

On the CBO Report That Long-Term Military Presence in Iraq Could Cost $2
Trillion
The President¹s endless war in Iraq could cost American taxpayers as much as
$2 trillion, according to the CBO. 
The Gavel>> <http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145019>

Financial Services Hearing on Mortgage Foreclosures
The Financial Services Committee held a hearing, ³Legislative and Regulatory
Options for Minimizing and Mitigating Mortgage Foreclosures,² where it heard
testimony from Chairman of the Federal Reserve System Ben Bernake. 
The Gavel>> <http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145020>
Judiciary Hearing on Warrantless Surveillance and FISA
The Judiciary Committee held a hearing, ³Warrantless Surveillance and
Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act: The Role of Checks and Balances in
Protecting Americans¹ Privacy Rights,² with testimony by Director of
National Intelligence Mike McConnell.
The Gavel>> <http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145021>
Select Committee Launches New Global Warming Web Site
The Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming launched a
new website to raise the visibility of global warming and assure we make
real progress on this crucial issue.
The Gavel>> <http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145022>
Oversight Committee to Hold Hearings on Blackwater
Chairman Henry Waxman announced plans to hold a hearing on Blackwater,
following the press accounts that Iraq had revoked the license of the U.S.
private security contractor.
The Gavel>> <http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145023>
Speaker Pelosi on the Next Attorney General
After President Bush this week nominated Judge Michael Mukasey as the next
Attorney General, Speaker Pelosi stated, ³The next Attorney General must
restore the public trust that has been seriously eroded by the subversion of
federal law enforcement for partisan purposes and by the Bush
Administration¹s persistent disregard of constitutional rights.²
The Gavel>> <http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145024>
Making College Affordable and Accessible for All Americans

As the cost of a college education continues to rise across our country,
this week the New Direction Congress sent historic college aid legislation
to the President's desk for his signature. The College Cost Reduction and
Access Act makes college more affordable and provides the single largest
investment in college financial assistance since the 1944 GI Bill, at no new
cost to taxpayers. The bill cuts interest rates in half on subsidized loans,
increases the maximum Pell Grant scholarship by at least $1,090 over the
next five years, and rewards students going into public service with loan
forgiveness. 

No one should be denied the opportunity to go to college simply because of
the price, yet unfortunately, that has been what many American young people
and families have been forced to do. Each year nearly 200,000 students are
holding off going to college, or skipping it altogether, because they cannot
afford it.

The dream of a college education is one to which all Americans are entitled.
This legislation makes an historic investment in America's college students,
our economic competitiveness, and our future.

Watch Speaker Pelosi and other Congressional leaders send the legislation to
the President>> 
<http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145025>

A New Direction for Young Americans: Progress Report on the 110th Congress>>
<http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145026>

 

How Can the President Say ŒNo¹ to 10 Million Children?

The House and the Senate reached a final agreement this week on legislation
providing health care for 10 million children, President Bush again said he
plans to veto this crucial bill. The bipartisan legislation would
reauthorize the State Children¹s Health Insurance Program, which serves as a
critical health care safety net for low-income uninsured children. Yet if
the President vetoes this bill, 6 million children will lose their health
insurance.

The State Children¹s Health Insurance program is successful, affordable, and
cost-effective. Since the program began in 1997, the number of low-income
children without health insurance has fallen by one-third. The program costs
less than $3.50 a day ­ about the cost of a Starbucks Frappuccino ­ to give
a child health insurance.

If the President says no to this bill, he is saying no to the 10 million
children who will receive health care coverage should this bill become a
law. Members of Congress across the political spectrum stand with all
Americans, who, regardless of politics, agree that our children should come
first.

Watch Speaker Pelosi speak on the House floor in support of this
legislation>> <http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145027>

 

Restoring the American Dream of Home Ownership

Affordable housing is crucial to strong families, strong communities, and a
strong economy. Yet because of subprime loans leading to increased mortgage
payments, many American families are concerned about losing their homes.
This week, the House passed the Expanding Homeownershp Act, as a part of the
New Direction Congress¹ commitment to protecting and expanding the American
dream of home ownership.

This bill revitalizes the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), which was
established to provide a reliable source of affordable mortgage loans for
first-time homebuyers.  The bill will enable the FHA to serve more subprime
borrowers at affordable rates and terms, to attract borrowers that have
turned to predatory loans in recent years, and to offer refinancing to
homeowners struggling to meet their mortgage payments in the midst of the
current turbulent mortgage markets.

Watch clips from the Joint Economic Committee Hearing - Evolution of an
Economic Crisis>> 
<http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145028>   

Learn more>> <http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145029>


Improving Our Nation¹s Airline System

This week, the House passed legislation to modernize our aging airport
infrastructure in order to improve our air travel system, putting a stop to
the delays that have plagued travelers this summer.

The first half of 2007 has been the worst in history for airline delays.
Through July, more than one-quarter of flights were delayed, and over 6
percent arrived more than one hour late. This is simply unacceptable. With
air traffic on the rise, this legislation brings much-needed change.

This bill makes sure airline companies are accountable to consumers,
requiring them to have emergency contingency plans to take care of
passengers stranded in long flight and tarmac delays‹ensuring passengers
have food, water, clean restrooms and medical care. This legislation reduces
the over-scheduling that causes chronic delays, establishes and publicizes a
hotline for consumer complaints, and requires monthly reports on cancelled
and diverted flights on the Department of Transportation Web site.

Enhancing Drug Safety

This week, the House approved a final House-Senate agreement on a bipartisan
bill addressing the growing concern about drug safety, with the most
sweeping drug safety provisions in years. The FDA Amendments bill makes sure
that once a drug receives FDA approval and is on the market, its safety is
still being monitored. A recent drug that showed the need for this
monitoring was Vioxx, a popular arthritis drug that was reported to have
caused fatal heart attacks. Vioxx was taken off the market in 2004.

In addition to monitoring the safety of drugs on the market, this bill
ensures the FDA acts based on objective information and is not tainted by
conflict-of-interest.  And it increases penalties against prescription drug
companies that violate the FDA standards that keep Americans safe. With this
week¹s bill, Congress is strengthening drug safety in our nation, and
keeping our commitment to care for America¹s families. 
Pelosi: 'Today¹s Sweeping, Bipartisan Legislation to Improve Drug Safety Is
a Victory for All Americans'>>
<http://democraticleader.ctsg.com/ctt.asp?u=4360827&l=145030>




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