President Trump's reckless withdrawal from the Paris Climate Accord banishes America to the political and scientific fringes of the international community, and relinquishes any leadership role that the United States could play in tackling what is arguably the most pressing global crisis of our time. It's a craven and calamitous retreat on so many fronts. Trump's decision ignores the consensus opinion of the scientific community that humans are contributing to climate change, and it disregards the vast majority of Americans who recognize global warming as a real threat that must be addressed now. Read more »
Each June, we celebrate Pride Month by honoring the LGBT community, evaluating the distance we must still travel in establishing equality for all, and recommitting ourselves to protecting and promoting the rights of LGBT Americans. We do so in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots, which serve as a powerful reminder that the fight for full LGBT equality has come a long way, but is far from over. Read more »
Each Memorial Day, we gather to pay tribute to those Americans who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect and preserve this great democracy. These brave men and women fought valiantly so the rest of us can enjoy the freedoms, liberty and security that we all enjoy in America. It's easy to get caught up in the demands of daily life and overlook their constant vigilance and sacrifice – all across the world – past and present. These courageous soldiers, airmen, sailors, Marines and Coast Guardsmen and women put their lives on the line for all of us every day Read more »
Today's disturbing CBO score confirms exactly why Republicans rammed through their destructive Trumpcare legislation without hearings, and without a CBO score that would reveal its devastating impact. It is a tax cut for the wealthy, masquerading as a health care bill that would cruelly leave 23 million Americans without coverage. Read more »
The Trump budget ignores the needs of America's hard-working families and brutally assaults our health care and public education system, while all but abandoning those struggling to make ends meet. It hollows out crucial commitments to housing, nutrition assistance, and the environment, along with job training and medical research investments. Yet it delivers obscene tax cuts to the wealthiest Americans, and relies on unrealistic revenue projections that no respected economist would embrace. Read more »
As I am writing yet another statement expressing horror and condolences after another inexplicable terror attack, I feel the angst and anger of a mother who has sent my children off to a concert just like last night's in Manchester. The terror attack that apparently targeted innocent young people was a truly despicable act committed by cowards. As Americans, we are heartbroken and horrified by this mass murder of young adults and even children, but make no mistake: our resolve to make our world a safer one for our children is only strengthened, and our commitment to working with our British ally in pursuit of that goal remains unshakeable. Read more »
Today's decision to provide a six-month grace period from deportation for more than 58,000 Haitians is a welcome but temporary solution, and it falls woefully short of what is needed. The move appears to be designed to allow families time to voluntarily return to Haiti or prepare to leave the country. It's the absolute minimum that the Department of Homeland Security could have done. However, this additional time does provide an opportunity to make the very compelling case that sending people back to a country still ravaged by earthquake, food shortages, disease and other harsh conditions is simply inhumane. Read more »
I am pleased that the Trump Administration has finally issued sanctions targeting Venezuela's Supreme Tribunal of Justice. The humanitarian tragedy unfolding in Venezuela is an affront to all who believe in freedom, democracy, and justice, and it is appalling that the members of the Tribunal, who are tasked with protecting these values, are actually contributing to their corrosion. Read more »
I'm encouraged by the Justice Department's decision to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate the Trump-Russia connection, and I have a deep respect for former FBI Director Mueller. Assuming he is given true independence, this appointment will remove some of the clouds that have hung over our system of justice during this deeply troubling situation. It's certainly overdue. However, the investigation must include Russia's meddling in the 2016 election, the Kremlin's possible ties to the Trump campaign, and the President's alleged interference in the Michael Flynn investigation. This is a positive step, but more still needs to be done to ensure that we provide the whole truth to the American people. Read more »
Roxcy O'Neal Bolton was a fierce, brave feminist fighter who challenged unjust power wherever she encountered it. Whether it was taking on male-only department store lunchrooms, or City Hall and Congress, she stood up for the voiceless. And she did it when the risks were far greater for such an outspoken woman. The first Floridian to join the National Organization for Women in 1966, she blazed a trail of advocacy that touched countless lives, whether championing children's and equal rights, rape prevention, or standing up for the poor, elderly and homeless. I was proud and honored to have known Roxcy. We've lost a true community advocate and civic hero. It is comforting to know that thanks to her courage and leadership, I and so many other women will stand on her shoulders for decades to come. Read more »
