[Page H259]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




DEMOCRATS MAKE GOOD ON THEIR PROMISE TO TAKE AMERICA IN A NEW DIRECTION

  (Mr. PALLONE asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. PALLONE. Mr. Speaker, Democrats promised that if the American 
people trusted us with control of Congress, we would take America in a 
new direction. So far, we have made good on our promise to break the 
link between lobbyists and legislation, and we reinstituted pay-as-you-
go budgeting.
  But our work is not done. We are now in our first 100 hours of 
legislation, and already we have passed legislation that will make 
America more secure by implementing the independent 9/11 Commission 
recommendations.
  Today, we will give Americans a much-needed pay raise by increasing 
the minimum wage; later this week, we are going to begin making health 
care more affordable by giving the Federal Government the ability to 
negotiate for lower prescription drug prices; and tomorrow we are going 
to give hope to millions of Americans by allowing stem cell research. 
Next week, we will also move down the path to energy independence by 
ending subsidies to Big Oil and investing in renewable energy.
  Democrats promise to deliver so we can take America in a new 
direction.

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