Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter

A very productive Congress

Sunday February 7, 2010

When President Obama urged lawmakers during his State of the Union speech to work with him on “restoring the public trust,” he was hardly going out on a limb. The Congress he was addressing is one of the least popular in decades. Barely a quarter of Americans approve of the job it’s doing, according to the latest Gallup/USA Today poll, while 58 percent said it was below average or one of the worst ever, according to an NBC/Wall Street Journal survey last month.

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Slaughter Secures $1.6 Million for RIT-Delphi Program

Sunday January 24, 2010

“I’m so pleased to provide funding for a productive partnership between RIT and Delphi,” said Slaughter. “The fuel cell sector is an emerging growth market that could generate an estimated $15 billion in revenue globally over the next ten years and the collaboration between RIT and Delphi has the potential to cement Rochester as a hub of knowledge-based jobs developing tomorrow’s energy solutions.”

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Slaughter Announces Stimulus Funds For Local Green Job Training

Sunday January 24, 2010

“Preparing our workforce for the green jobs of tomorrow is so vitally important,” said Slaughter. “This is another example of the stimulus package investing in the next generation of jobs and I’m pleased that these federal stimulus dollars will be helping our workforce in Erie and Niagara Counties.”

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Harvard Study Shows Healthcare Bill Will Lower Costs, Help The Economy

Sunday January 24, 2010

“This study once again shows clearly that reforming our health care system will help our economy get back on track,” Slaughter said. “Slowing the staggering growth in health care costs frees up resources for U.S. businesses to invest in expansions and afford to both raise wages and hire more workers. It’s a common sense idea and it will pay enormous dividends for years to come. This study indicates that employers could create from 250,000 to 400,000 new jobs each year for the next 10 years.” (more...)

Rochester Turning - Sen. Coburn blocks Slaughter’s GINA Bill

Thursday September 13, 2007

Louise Slaughter has been championing the GINA (Genetic Non-Discrimination Act) bill for about 14 years now. It basically says this: you can’t do things like deny insurance coverage based on someone’s genetic profile. This will not only protect those who ALREADY have the misfortune of being born with a genetic problem, but, as this Buffalo News article points out:

Supporters of Slaughter’s bill said the fear of such discrimination stands in the way of genetic research that could lead to miraculous health care breakthroughs.

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Slaughter's quest undone by 'Dr. No'; Senator blocks bill on gene profile bias

Thursday September 13, 2007

It looked like Rep. Louise M. Slaughter had finally won her 12-year battle to pass a bill protecting Americans against discrimination based on their genetic profile.

But then the Senate’s “Dr. No” got in the way.

After Slaughter’s bill passed the House by a 420-3 vote in April, the bill went to the Senate, where Sen. Tom Coburn placed a “hold” on it. That’s a courtesy power available to every senator, indefinitely barring a bill from final passage.

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Editorials - Bill Block Unwarranted

Thursday September 13, 2007

“The evidence is what has happened to a bill, sponsored by New York’s Rep. Louise Slaughter, that would have banned discrimination against people based on anything found in their genetic profile. It passed the House overwhelmingly and was said to have a presidential signature awaiting it if it could get through the Senate.”

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End of the Bush Era

Tuesday September 13, 2005

The Bush Era is over. The sooner politicians in both parties realize that, the better for them—and the country. Recent months, and especially the past two weeks, have brought home to a steadily growing majority of Americans the truth that President Bush’s government doesn’t work. His policies are failing, his approach to leadership is detached and self-indulgent, his way of politics has produced a divided, angry and dysfunctional public square. We dare not go on like this. (more...)

Slaughter Pushes for Expanded NEXUS Use

Friday July 8, 2005

The NEXUS program for no-wait, cross-border travel is underutilized in New York, partly because Americans don’t want to get snarled in Canada-bound traffic to sign up, said U.S. Rep. Louise Slaughter, who on Friday outlined proposed changes to the program. (more...)

Great Lakes Lawmakers Seek More Security Funding For Ports

Thursday July 7, 2005

A coalition of lawmakers from the Great Lakes states is protesting the fact that most Great Lakes ports – including the Port of Rochester – were left out of the running for federal grants to strengthen security against terrorists. (more...)

Free Trade with Central America Will Cost U.S. Jobs, Protesters Say

Thursday June 30, 2005

Holding up pictures of empty factories, opponents of the Central American Free Trade Agreement demonstrated in downtown Buffalo on Wednesday, saying the proposal will deepen the region’s economic plight. (more...)

Battle for Base Solidifies

Saturday June 25, 2005

The White House is not the only building with a war room. In a secluded conference room in Niagara County, men and women huddle in anxious concentration as they strategize ways to save the Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station. (more...)

Affordable Housing Gets Federal Funds

Saturday June 25, 2005

Seven new affordable housing projects in Western New York, including four in Buffalo, will be partially funded by a $1.2 million grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of New York. (more...)

$100M Cut Rejected for Public TV, Radio

Friday June 24, 2005

The House of Representatives yesterday voted overwhelmingly to keep intact the government’s basic funding for public television and radio, turning back an effort by GOP budget-writers to cut $100 million from the broadcasting agency they have accused of pushing a left-leaning political agenda. (more...)

Dems To Read Names Of Iraq War Dead

Thursday June 23, 2005

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel of Illinois is leading an effort to read all the names of the 1,719 soldiers who have been killed in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, starting tonight during special orders on the House floor. (more...)

Democrats Call For Tomlinson to Quit

Wednesday June 22, 2005

Rep. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), ranking member of a House panel on telecommunications, called at a rally yesterday in support of public broadcasting for the resignation of Kenneth Tomlinson. (more...)

Congressional Group Eyes E-waste Disposal Laws

Monday June 20, 2005

Four members of the U.S. House of Representatives have created the Congressional E-Waste Working Group to work on standardizing national laws for the recycling and disposal of discarded electronic and computer equipment. (more...)

Supporters Fight for Low-Power FM Radio

Thursday June 16, 2005

Recently, approximately 200 people congregated on Capitol Hill to hear Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., announce she is introducing legislation to protect low-power FM radio stations from what she called the “encroachment” of larger commercial media. (more...)

Democrats Intensify Ethics War

Wednesday June 15, 2005

House Democrats took their charges of GOP power abuses to a heightened level on Tuesday, accusing two powerful Republican committee chairmen of misusing their authority and demanding that one of them resign his post. (more...)

Ethics panel in partisan deadlock

Wednesday June 15, 2005

With the House ethics panel locked in a tense stalemate, the majority leader, Rep. Tom DeLay, accused Democrats on Tuesday of deliberately stalling an investigation of him in order to drag it into the midterm… (more...)

Defense funds aimed here

Tuesday June 14, 2005

New jobs and investment could be headed here as a result of about $25 million earmarked for the area in the 2006 defense… (more...)

Low-power stations imperiled as giants gobble up frequencies

Tuesday June 14, 2005

For most of his working life, Jim Price has been helping others establish community radio stations in every state of the country. But now, as president of his own station in Ringgold, Ga., he might soon be out of a job. (more...)

Defense bill could bring $25 million

Monday June 13, 2005

Rochester area firms and organizations are earmarked to receive nearly $25 million in defense spending. (more...)

Indigos, Lawmakers Link For LPFM Legislation

Thursday June 9, 2005

The Indigo Girls, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, performed to a packed room of about 150 congressional lawmakers, staffers and interest group representatives, gathered to hear the artists and to learn more about proposed legislation designed to expand Low Power FM�s reach across the country and to elevate the broadcast service�s status. (more...)

E-waste Rules Need National Consistency

Wednesday June 8, 2005

California has blazed the trail on collecting and recycling e-waste. Maine and Maryland are following. Two dozen other states are considering legislation to keep old computers, TVs and other electronic devices out of landfills, where they take up space and may leach hazardous chemicals into the ground. (more...)

Slaughter Revels in New Role

Sunday May 15, 2005

Rep. Louise Slaughter’s desk sits just a few feet from the door where British troops stormed into the U.S. Capitol during the War of 1812. Today it is Slaughter who is doing battle. Her weapons are words and her target is the House Republican leadership. (more...)

American Legacy Foundation Addresses Tobacco-Related Health Issues

Tuesday May 10, 2005

More than 100 influential women, including several Members of Congress, came together today for a Circle of Friends: Uniting to be Smoke-Free® women’s luncheon on Capitol Hill. The luncheon, sponsored by the American Legacy Foundation, along with Women’s Policy, Inc. and the National Journal, was held in honor of National Women’s Health Week. (more...)

House Approves $82-Billion War Spending Bill

Friday May 6, 2005

The House approved an $82-billion war spending bill Thursday that included a controversial provision designed to pressure states into denying driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants. (more...)

House OK's $82b for Iraq, Afghanistan

Friday May 6, 2005

The House easily approved another $82 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan yesterday, a measure that includes sweeping immigration overhauls and boosts the total spent on fighting terrorism since 2001… (more...)

House Approves Clampdown on Drivers

Friday May 6, 2005

Getting or renewing a driver’s license would take more time and effort under a security measure approved by the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday. The Senate is expected to pass a similar measure next week. (more...)

House OKs $82 Billion More for Wars

Friday May 6, 2005

The House overwhelmingly approved the fourth big special spending bill in the last two years for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan on Thursday, along with an added provision that will make it all but impossible for illegal immigrants to get driver’s licenses from any state, including California. (more...)

House approves $82 billion for Iraq, Afghanistan wars

Friday May 6, 2005

The House yesterday overwhelmingly approved $82 billion in emergency spending for Iraq and Afghanistan, turning back complaints from some Democrats that the military effort is off course and that billions of dollars slated for the reconstruction effort have gone missing. (more...)

House Ethics Committee has New Life, and DeLay's the Target

Friday April 29, 2005

House Democrats, used to being pummeled by the majority Republicans, scored a major victory this week in forcing a reversal of Ethics Committee rules changes that had completely defanged that none-too-ferocious legislative panel. (more...)

DeLay Debate Creates Rare Victory

Friday April 29, 2005

This week a beleaguered minority enjoyed a rare victory in American politics – rare enough to make it the political Play of the Week. (more...)

House Deal Paves Way for DeLay Probe

Thursday April 28, 2005

House Republicans, acceding to heavy political pressure, agreed yesterday to a change in the rules that clears the way for an investigation of embattled House majority leader Tom DeLay. (more...)

House GOP Retreats on Ethics Code

Thursday April 28, 2005

The House voted overwhelmingly Wednesday night to toss out controversial rules governing its ethics committee as House Speaker Dennis Hastert gave in to public pressure to do so. (more...)

Republicans Rescind House Ethics Rules Changes

Thursday April 28, 2005

House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Republican from Texas, pledged yesterday that his office will turn over “everything that we have” about controversial overseas trips, as House Republicans overwhelmingly agreed to rescind rules changes imposed in January that led to a shutdown of the ethics committee. (more...)

Democrats Prevail in Ethics Fight

Thursday April 28, 2005

Democrats wanted to investigate Majority Leader Tom DeLay and have the House Ethics Committee run as it had since 1997. (more...)

House Clears Way for Anticipated DeLay Probe

Wednesday April 27, 2005

The Republican-led U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday dropped new ethics rules opposed by Democrats, clearing the way for another anticipated probe of their majority leader. (more...)

House Approves Abortion Limits

Wednesday April 27, 2005

The House yesterday approved a bill that would make it a federal crime to skirt a state parental-notification law by taking a minor to another state to obtain an abortion without her parents’ involvement. (more...)

Slaughter Takes Lead Role In Criticizing Ethics Rules

Wednesday April 20, 2005

Just four months into her job as the top Democrat on the Rules Committee, Rep. Louise Slaughter (N.Y.) has found herself at the center of a political firestorm: She’s taken on the role of leading minority critic of changes to House ethics rules. (more...)

Victims' Advocate Changes Sought

Wednesday April 6, 2005

Two prominent congresswomen called on Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday to strengthen protections for advocates of sexual assault victims, a move prompted by a… (more...)

No Punishment Recommended in Sex Assault Scandal

Saturday March 26, 2005

The acting secretary of the Air Force has recommended not disciplining military officials who a recent report said were responsible for the sexual assault scandal at the Air Force Academy. (more...)

Sex-Assault Policy Unveiled at Congress' Behest

Sunday March 20, 2005

For the first time, Pentagon officials have created confidentiality protections for service members who report being sexually assaulted, unveiling a policy Friday that allows them to have private conversations with medical personnel, counselors and victim advocates. (more...)

A Roadblock to Justice

Sunday March 20, 2005

Kayla Michael says she barely finished introducing herself before the garrison commander’s deputy stiffened his spine and narrowed his eyes on a point somewhere just past the top of her head. (more...)

Dems Charge Congress Ethics Wrecked

Tuesday March 8, 2005

Democratic lawmakers Tuesday spoke out against what they characterized as the unprecedented erosion of the democratic process… (more...)

Democrats Ask for Gannon Investigation

Wednesday February 23, 2005

Two prominent House Democrats urged the Government Accountability Office on Wednesday to investigate whether the Bush administration broke a law against using federal money for propaganda by giving “pre-packaged stories” to former reporter James Guckert, who used the pseudonym Jeff Gannon at White House briefings for two years. (more...)

Congresswoman Wants Explanation of White House Ties to Ex-Reporter

Thursday February 17, 2005

With the mystery of “Jeff Gannon” deepening, Rep. Louise Slaughter, D-N.Y., on Thursday renewed her call for the White House to explain its relationship with a conservative ex-reporter linked to an… (more...)

E-Waste Bill Debuts in U.S. House

Monday February 14, 2005

Two House members have introduced a national electronics recycling bill aimed at preventing obsolete computer equipment and other electronics from going into the nation’s landfills. (more...)

Fakers and Frauds Fool American Taxpayers

Sunday February 13, 2005

Some of the kids in the Bush administration have been having too much fun, fun, fun. Now Daddy has to take the T-bird away. (more...)

Web Writer Quits After Being ID'd By Liberals

Friday February 11, 2005

A conservative reporter who asked President Bush at a news conference last month how he could work with Senate Democratic leaders “who seem to have divorced themselves from reality” resigned this week after liberal bloggers uncovered his real name and raised questions about his connections to Republicans. (more...)