Press Releases

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Today, members of the Blue Dog Coalition leadership issued the following statement after the ‘Super Committee' announced its failure to come to agreement on a long-term plan to reduce the deficit and put the country on a fiscally sustainable path. The Blue Dogs have been strong advocates of a balanced, bipartisan solution that cuts the deficit by $4 trillion over 10 years.