The Leader's Report: Week of May 21, 2007

Op-Ed

THE LEADER'S REPORT: WEEK OF MAY 21, 2007

Yesterday, the House passed legislation that will significantly impact the war in Iraq. For the first time, the Bush Administration is being held accountable for making progress in Iraq. The Iraq supplemental spending bill that was passed ties economic aid to 18 benchmarks for political, security, and economic progress. President Bush said only a few months ago that he would only accept war funding with no strings attached. The bill passed yesterday shows that this Democratic Congress has listened to the American people and made significant progress in changing direction in Iraq.

The House also passed two pieces of legislation yesterday that will make our government more open and transparent. In response to ethics scandals of past Republican-controlled Congresses, House Democrats are committed to restoring people's trust in government, and these bills put us on that path.

This week has wrapped up five months of strong accomplishments by House Democrats. From raising the minimum wage and restoring fiscal responsibility, to providing assistance to Hurricane Katrina victims to ensuring veterans have access to quality health care, House Democrats have governed effectively and gotten real results. Our work, however, is not finished. This is only the beginning. In the coming months, we will continue our work to address the priorities of the American people.

Sincerely yours,
Steny H. Hoyer

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