Press Releases
February 17, 2012
WASHINGTON – The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives has endorsed a bipartisan bill to better protect taxpayer dollars by reducing waste, fraud and abuse within federal spending. On Friday, Reps. Edolphus "Ed" Towns, D-N.Y.; Todd Platts, R-Pa.; Gerald Connolly, D-Va.; and, Kurt Schrader, D-Ore., Chair of the Blue Dog Task Force on Fiscal Responsibility, introduced H.R.
February 16, 2012
Leaders of the fiscally conservative, Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday announced their support of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's approval last week to build two new nuclear reactors in the United States – the first in over 30 years. The reactors would be built in Georgia by a consortium of utilities lead by Southern Co. and will be located at the Vogtle nuclear power plant complex, about 170 miles east of Atlanta. The plant already houses two older reactors.
February 13, 2012
Leaders of the fiscally conservative, Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives issued the following statements in reaction to President Obama releasing his FY2013 budget proposal on Monday.
February 8, 2012
The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives today praised passage of a budget tool they have long fought to enact, which they said will help Congress and the President better work together to reduce unnecessary spending. H.R. 3521, the Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011, passed the House on a 254 to 173 bipartisan vote.
February 7, 2012
Leaders of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives today urged their colleagues to pass H.R. 3521, the Expedited Legislative Line-Item Veto and Rescissions Act of 2011, which is scheduled to be considered this week in the House.
February 2, 2012
U.S. Representative Mike Ross, D-Ark., Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications, issued the following statement on U.S. Representative Health Shuler's, D-N.C., announcement that he will not be seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives. Shuler is the Co-Chair for Administration for the fiscally conservative, Democratic Blue Dog Coalition.
February 1, 2012
The fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition in the U.S. House of Representatives today urged House Majority Leader Eric Cantor to bring H.R. 1148, the Stop Trading on Congressional Knowledge Act, or STOCK Act, to the House floor for a vote.
With the President urging Congress to pass the STOCK Act in his State of the Union address and with the Senate overwhelming voting 93-2 on Tuesday to move forward on debate with a companion bill, Cantor has delayed a mark-up on the bill in the House.
With the President urging Congress to pass the STOCK Act in his State of the Union address and with the Senate overwhelming voting 93-2 on Tuesday to move forward on debate with a companion bill, Cantor has delayed a mark-up on the bill in the House.
January 24, 2012
Tonight, Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR), Co-Chair of the fiscally conservative Democratic Blue Dog Coalition, released the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union Address:
"The Blue Dogs share the President's commitment to putting Americans back to work. The American people expect their representatives in Congress to put politics aside and come together to pass bipartisan legislation that will drive job creation.
"The Blue Dogs share the President's commitment to putting Americans back to work. The American people expect their representatives in Congress to put politics aside and come together to pass bipartisan legislation that will drive job creation.
January 22, 2012
Today, Congressman Mike Ross (D-AR) issued the following statement after Blue Dog Representative Gabby Giffords announced her decision to step down from Congress in order to focus on her recovery.
"The strength and determination Gabby has demonstrated throughout her recovery is an inspiration to all of us. She represents the very best this country has to offer, always working to bring people together during a time marred by bitter partisanship and political extremes.
"The strength and determination Gabby has demonstrated throughout her recovery is an inspiration to all of us. She represents the very best this country has to offer, always working to bring people together during a time marred by bitter partisanship and political extremes.
December 1, 2011
U.S. Representative Mike Ross, D-Ark., Blue Dog Co-Chair for Communications, today commended passage of H.Res.364 in the U.S. House of Representatives, which designates room HVC 215 of the Capitol Visitor Center as the "Gabriel Zimmerman Meeting Room." Zimmerman was the community outreach director for U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, a member of the Blue Dog Coalition, and was killed when a gunman opened fire on January 8, 2011, at Giffords' congressional event. Zimmerman is the first and only congressional staff member to have been slain in the line of duty.