Statements For the Record
Mr. Speaker, today, the Natural Resources Committee is marking up H.R. 850 which grants an exemption from the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act in order to allow construction of a $700 million mega-bridge connecting Minnesota and Wisconsin across the St. Croix River. This bridge would be located less than six miles from the eight lane Interstate 94 crossing of the St. Croix.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to pay tribute to the life and memory of Ms. Judy McLaughlin, a civic and political leader in St. Paul, Minnesota who passed away on September 5, 2011 at the age of 66. Throughout her adult life Judy was an active and influential leader in the Minnesota Democratic Farmer Labor Party (DFL) and a force in the civic life of St. Paul.
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Thank you to the Clean Air Act Coalition for bringing us together today and to Children's Hospital for hosting us. We are here to call attention to a gathering threat to the quality of the air Americans breathe.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to voice my strong opposition to H.R. 2608, the short-term continuing appropriations measure on the floor today to fund government operations through November 18, 2011.
Mr. Speaker, once again this Tea Party Republican majority is determined to ignore the jobs crisis in this country and instead focus the energy and efforts of Congress on busting unions and attacking the federally protected rights of workers to organize. This legislation is a direct assault on workers' rights in order to protect the profits of one corporation -- Boeing.
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Thank you Mothers2Mothers International and Management Sciences for Health for organizing this briefing. Mothers and children around the world need access to quality health care. As a global community, we must do more to ensure all children and their mothers have access to the support, information, and health care they need to grow-up healthy and strong.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark the special occasion of the centennial celebration of St. John's Hospital. For 100 years, this community hospital has provided quality health care to residents in the Saint Paul – Minneapolis Metropolitan Area.
Thank you for that introduction and for inviting me to be here with you all today!
This is a historic time to be here in DC. I can honestly say that no one knows what's going on here in Washington. I say that in sincerity. And I say that in sadness. We have to get this issue resolved, because it affects all of us.
Mr. Chair, in Minnesota, we understand that the arts are an essential part of our economy and the number of jobs it creates.
The arts are so vital to our economy and our development and civic life that in 2008, Minnesotans voted to amend our state constitution to raise money, yes, to tax themselves, and dedicate part of the revenue to the arts.