This afternoon the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) joined the Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition to "filibuster" H.R. 2584, a bill proposing unprecedented cuts to pollution controls and public health protections. More than 20 Members of Congress spoke for more than two hours to protest the bill, in which House Republicans are attempting to make back-door changes to 40 years of federal laws that protect clean air, water, lands, and wildlife.
Eighty Members Sign on to Progressive Caucus Letter Demanding No Cuts to Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
July 22, 2011
Eighty Members of Congress have now signed onto a letter spearheaded by Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) leaders to Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi insisting that cuts Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid be off the table in any budget deal. Leaders of the Congressional Black Caucus and Congressional Asian Pacific American have also signed the letter and are encouraging their respective Caucus members to join them.
House "Gang of 70-Plus" to Senate "Gang of Six": We Outnumber Your Plan to Slash Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security
July 20, 2011
This terrible plan could cut Medicare and Medicaid to unsustainably low levels and put seniors' well-being at risk. Anyone who wants to pass it through Congress should remember that more than 70 House Democrats have already pledged their opposition, and more are signing on every day. The letter we sent to Leader Pelosi July 8 vowing to oppose any cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid as part of these budget negotiations has become a growing wave of House resolve to protect these programs.
Co-Chairs Raul M. Grijalva and Keith Ellison & Budget Task Force Chair Michael Honda Blast Republican Plan to End Medicare
July 19, 2011
Republicans have made their values abundantly clear. The "Cut, Cap, and Balance Act" would essentially make it unconstitutional to care for our seniors, our veterans, and our children.
Twenty-four members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) today sent a letter to President Barack Obama laying out their demands that any final budget deal generate significant revenue and avoid cuts to Social Security, Medicare or Medicaid. The letter, unveiled at a press conference earlier this morning, says the middle class "has experienced enough pain during the last three years. Republicans are willing to inflict even more. We will not join them."
The Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Peace and Security Taskforce call on Congress and the President to immediately end our war in Libya. The US has been engaged in hostilities for over 90 days without congressional approval, which undermines not only the powers of the legislative branch but also the legal checks and balances put in place nearly 40 years ago to avoid abuse by any single branch of government.
Statement by CPC Peace and Security Taskforce Co-Chairs Reps Honda, Lee, Woolsey & CPC Co-Chairs Reps Ellison and Grijalva
June 22, 2011
On March 16, 2011, the four Co-Chairs of the Congressional Progressive Caucus Task Force on Peace and Security and 76 other Members of Congress sent a letter to the President asking him to move swiftly to end America’s longest war, the war in Afghanistan.
Since then, the Co-Chairs have continued to call on the Administration to move towards a significant, swift and sizeable reduction in our troops in Afghanistan, meeting or exceeding the number of troops on the ground before the escalation. Similarly, the Democratic National Committee called for a “sizeable and significant” drawdown beginning in July. This week, the U.S. Conference of Mayors called for an end to the Afghanistan war. In poll after poll, the majority of Americans are consistently calling for an end to this war.
A significant redeployment of U.S. troops from Afghanistan beginning next month would send a clear message that the United States does not seek a permanent presence in Afghanistan. This move would recognize that we cannot afford the war in Afghanistan –costing nearly $10 billion per month – while American families struggle to stay afloat amid the slow recovery of our nation’s economy.
The Co-Chairs of the CPC Task Force on Peace and Security believe that a significant, swift and sizeable troop reduction in Afghanistan is necessary. Anything less hurts our nation’s future and is unacceptable. It is time to focus on securing a future of economic opportunity and prosperity for the American people, and the President must move swiftly and boldly to end the war in Afghanistan and bring our troops home now.
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89 House Members Urge President Obama To Appoint Elizabeth Warren To Head Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
June 2, 2011
Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs Keith Ellison (D-MN) and Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ) and 87 fellow House members today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to appoint Elizabeth Warren, as a recess appointment if necessary, to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Congressional Progressive Caucus Co-Chairs RaúlM. Grijalva (AZ)and Keith Ellison (MN)released the following statement today after the Senate rejected the Republican plan to end Medicare as we know it:
Forty-One Progressive Members Of Congress Urge Direct Involvement Of The People's Budget In Deficit Talks
May 12, 2011
Forty-one Members of Congress signed a letter to President Barack Obama today urging him to include the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC) leadership in ongoing bipartisan budget negotiations.
