Wednesday, 16 May 2012

Blumenauer on the Need for Robust Violence Against Women Act

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) is one of the great legislative successes of the past 20 years. Since 1994, when VAWA was signed into law by President Clinton, it has helped millions of women ...

Monday, 14 May 2012

J.P. Morgan Chase Loses $2 Billion: The Importance of the Volcker Rule

At the beginning of May I sent a letter, with 34 of my colleagues, to encourage Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to implement the Volcker Rule. The Volcker Rule would make it harder for banks to make risky investments that could lead to another crisis or the loss of customer ...

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Blumenauer: "Transportation Bill is a Jobs Bill!"

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Earl Blumenauer released the following statement on the first meeting of Surface Transportation Conference Committee:

“Today, I had the opportunity to sit down with my colleagues from both chambers of congress to discuss the future of surface transportation investment. Renewing and rebuilding America should be ...

Tuesday, 8 May 2012

Blumenauer: Common Sense, Concrete Proposals "Shut Down"

Washington, DC – Today, Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a member of the House Budget Committee, released the following statement regarding the Budget Committee markup of bills to replace automatic budget cuts:

“Last night, we saw very clearly in the Budget Committee that there is a stark difference between the views ...

Tuesday, 15 May 2012

Building the Future: Visiting ACE Academy

On Monday, May 14, Congressman Earl Blumenauer visited the ACE Academy, a public, tuition-free charter high school that focuses on Architecture, Construction, and Engineering (ACE).  A partnership between the Oregon Building Congress and Centennial, Gresham-Barlow, Parkrose, and David Douglas School Districts, the 3-year-old Academy employs educators and building professionals to ...

Tuesday, 20 March 2012

International Politics: Q&A with the Students of Catlin Gabel

On Thursday, March 15, Congressman Blumenauer took a trip to Catlin Gabel High School for a presentation and Q&A session with students on international relations. Much of the conversation centered on finding a balanced approach for our national defense, with a greater emphasis on development and diplomacy, and the conflicts ...

Monday, 5 March 2012

Garden Club of America: Important Advocates

On February 29^th, Garden Club of America members from around the country gathered in Washington, DC to speak with their elected officials about the importance of clean air, clean water, public lands, and an environmentally friendly transportation policy. Congressman Blumenauer was honored to have an opportunity to address the group. ...

Saturday, 3 March 2012

Innovative Projects Ahead

Congressman Blumenauer visited with the Oregon State Association of Electrical Workers last week when they gathered for their annual meeting in Portland. Electrical workers have seen improving employment over the last year but still face a difficult job climate like many construction trades. Blumenauer offered encouragement and a look back ...

Thursday, 16 February 2012

Consequences of the Worst Bill Ever

One consequence of the House Republican effort to eliminate mass transit from the Highway Trust Fund may well be to undermine ability to ever get the resources we need for all our surface transportation needs.

Study after study has documented the woeful inadequacy of current funding levels to meet the needs ...

Friday, 20 January 2012

The Opportunities and Challenges of 2012

We begin the new year on the same disappointing political note that we concluded 2011. The political process in the minds of virtually all independent observers and lots of people in both parties is that ...

Wednesday, 21 December 2011

Farm subsidies: We can cut the fat in spending and in our food

As you stroll through the aisles of your local grocery store this holiday season, grab an apple and a two-pack of Ho Hos. Can you guess which one your tax dollars are subsidizing?

If you guessed the Ho Hos -- packed with 370 calories from saturated fat and high-fructose corn syrup ...

Tuesday, 13 December 2011

Safe Drinking Water: Giving Life, Health, and Hope

As America prepares for the holiday season, it is important to pause and reflect on what we can do for others as well as ourselves. I hope that Congress will give a gift of life, health and hope by helping people around the world with something that most Americans take ...