July 10, 2008

The Honorable John Boehner
House Republican Leader
H-204, U.S. Capitol
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Leader Boehner:

Thank you for your letter on the recommendations by Franking Chair Capuano to the Committee on House Administration regarding posting web video external to the House.gov domain. We share the goal of modernizing the antiquated franking regulations to address the rapidly changing realities of communications in the internet age. Like many other Members, I have a blog, use YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, Digg, and other new media to communicate with constituents, and I believe they are vital tools toward increasing transparency and accountability.

Mr. Capuano’s initial recommendations are an effort to establish standards that permit Members to publish web videos on external web sites, a broadening of the rules that currently prohibit posting videos on external sites. I can assure you that it is not the intention, nor will it be the result, of the final regulations to stifle, censor, or deprive Members of communicating effectively and in real-time with their constituents. I am confident that the Committee on House Administration will develop these final rules on a bipartisan basis, recognizing that we have a responsibility to ensure that taxpayer dollars are not used for political or commercial purposes.

While I am delighted to see the attention of internet users and citizens toward our much needed movement to update the franking regulations, there has been a large amount of misinformation regarding these efforts. We all have a responsibility to ensure that Members and the public understand the need to prevent the misuse of public funds, while at the same time ensuring access to emerging online means of communication.

Unfortunately, inaccurate rumors have been circulated asserting that the suggested standards allowing for web video outside of the House.gov domain would affect Member blogging or use of sites such as Twitter. Dissemination of this false information does a disservice to the vital dialogue on using technology to increase citizen involvement, education, and transparency in the House.

Thank you again for your letter and your commitment to work on a bipartisan basis to develop standards that are agreeable to both Parties and most importantly, serve the public interest.

best regards,

NANCY PELOSI
Speaker of the House

Thank you, Speaker Karma Choepel for your kind introduction and for inviting us to visit your wonderful community. We could never have dreamed of being here at such an important time.

There is a special relationship between the United States and His Holiness the Dalai Lama. It is a relationship that began with a gold watch. As a boy, the Dalai Lama enjoyed science and mechanics. Knowing this, President Franklin Roosevelt gave the very young Dalai Lama a watch showing the phases of the moon and the days of the week. His Holiness still uses the watch today and it affirms our special relationship.

Last October, the President of the United States presented the Congressional Gold Medal to His Holiness for his ‘many enduring and outstanding contributions to peace, non-violence, human rights and religious understanding.’ In recognizing his courage we also honor the courage of the Tibetan people, both inside and outside Tibet.

Today, this delegation from the United States Congress is here to shed the bright light of truth on what is happening in Tibet. In sanskrit the word non-violence means ‘truth insistence.’ Insistence on the truth is what this is all about. We insist that the world know the truth about what is happening in Tibet.

If freedom loving people throughout the world do not speak out against China’s oppression in Tibet we have lost all moral authority to speak on human rights anywhere in the world. The cause of Tibet is a challenge to the conscience of the world. A challenge we can help meet.

When His Holiness the Dalai Lama extended an invitation to visit Dharamsala over 20 years ago little did I know I would be here today as Speaker of the House. Little did we know even a few weeks ago that we would be coming here at this critical time. Maybe it is our karma that we are here now to lend support to the Tibetan people. When we return home we will bring your message and try to meet the challenge to our conscience.

Thank you!

The President’s comments this morning regarding new House legislation to modernize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act demonstrate an almost complete misreading of this important bill. In fact, this bill is the product of weeks of negotiations – negotiations which the White House and Congressional Republicans refused to engage in – and it marries the best of the House and Senate-passed FISA bills.

This legislation provides our intelligence professionals with all the tools they need to protect our nation, while also protecting the rights and values that make us proud to be Americans. The White House insistence that Congress provide telecommunications companies that participated in the President’s surveillance program with blanket immunity is neither justified nor in keeping with our nation’s legal tradition. In essence, the President is asking Congress to immunize companies for their conduct – despite the fact that Congress is not sure what conduct it would be immunizing, and despite the fact that serious questions have been raised about the legality of the surveillance program. Congress owes the American people more than blind obeisance to the Executive Branch.

This House bill would allow telecommunications companies which participated in the President’s surveillance program to avail themselves of the legal defenses that currently exist, without providing blanket immunity. This approach is reasonable, thoughtful and appropriate.

House Democrats have every intention of passing this legislation and moving the process forward.

The absurd and outrageous allegations made by President Bush this morning that FISA legislation being considered in the House would make America less safe are false and misleading.

The FISA legislation being debated in the House this week would upgrade our intelligence surveillance capabilities while at the same time protecting core constitutional freedoms that all Americans value and cherish. Keeping America safe and defending the Constitution are goals I would hope the President could share with us.

I encourage the President to stop the scare tactics and work with Congress on legislation that improves our national security and moves our country in a New Direction.

“We agree with the President that we must work together to make progress on our most pressing challenges. Yet, tonight, the President offered little more than the status quo. At a time when our economy is on shaky ground and our leadership around the world is eroding, the status quo won’t do.

“The President repeatedly asked Congress tonight to trust the American people to create their own opportunities. But just as we must trust the American people, they must be able to share the same confidence in their leaders – and only bold action will re-establish Americans’ faith in their government. They must be able to trust that their President will work to change course in Iraq so we can more effectively fight terrorism around the world and rebuild our mighty military.

“They must be able to trust that their leaders will govern with ideas rather than ideology so that every American has the opportunity to pursue a sound education, earn a fair wage, and afford a decent home. And they must be able to trust that we will lead the way for change by reducing our dependence on oil and the rising costs of health care.

“We hope that the bipartisanship on the economic stimulus package that has marked the start of this new year is a sign of things to come. But the President must do much more than simply give speeches that promise progress and commit to cooperation – he must work with Congress to make it happen.

“If the President holds fast to the commitment he made to bipartisanship tonight, we can make great progress for the American people this year.”

Washington, D.C. – House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel released the following statement in response to the announcement from the White House that Monday’s State of the Union address will contain no new ideas for the country. The Associated Press story referencing the White House announcement is pasted below.

“At a time when the debt is at a record level, college costs are up, savings rates are down, energy and health care costs are up, and our economy is struggling, the American people are looking for a new direction and leadership from Washington. But what will the American people hear from the President during his State of the Union address? In the words of the White House: ‘no new ideas.’ The time has come to trade no ideas for new ideas; lethargy for leadership.â€

In a bow to political reality, President Bush’s final State of the Union speech will skip bold proposals in favor of ones the country has heard before, a modest approach for a White House that prides itself on big ideas.

Bush’s strategy reflects what he is up against: little time left in office, confrontational relations with a Democratic Congress and a diminishing role on the national stage. White House aides say there is not much point in unveiling grand ideas sure to go nowhere.

So don’t expect anything Monday on the scale of overhauling Social Security or immigration policy, two earlier initiatives that died on Capitol Hill.

“It’s just not realistic,” acknowledged White House press secretary Dana Perino on Thursday.