Restoring Opportunity for All Americans, Fighting for Homeowners, Investing in America

Restoring Opportunity for All Americans
This week, House Republicans put forth a highway transportation bill that kills 550,000 American jobs, undermines public safety, cuts highway investments in 45 states, and bankrupts the Highway Trust Fund by $78 billion. Their bill ends all dedicated funding for public transit – endangering BART and Muni – and would end dedicated funding for bikes, pedestrian walkways and Safe Routes to Schools programs for San Francisco children. Instead of working to address the number one priority of the American people – job creation – the GOP has pushed legislation which destroys jobs, weakens our infrastructure and undermines our economy.

On Monday, President Obama put forth a budget that lays out an innovative blueprint for restoring opportunity for all Americans and for constructing an economy that is built to last. The President’s plan reinforces the building blocks of American prosperity: ensuring our students and our workers have the skills and education to succeed in the future; investing in innovation and strengthening small businesses; supporting manufacturers and creating the clean energy jobs of tomorrow; and rebuilding our roads, bridges, broadband lines, and rail lines.

Democrats are ready to work with the President to create jobs, preserve the Medicare guarantee, and get our fiscal house in order. The House and the Senate have sent the President legislation to extend the payroll tax cut, extend unemployment benefits for millions of Americans, and ensure seniors on Medicare can keep their doctor. A final compromise was reached only after Republicans succumbed to unrelenting pressure from President Obama, Congressional Democrats and the American people—and Democrats successfully blocked GOP attempts to cut Medicare benefits and jeopardize Americans’ access to health care. Democrats are dedicated to reigniting the American dream and building ladders of opportunity for all who work hard, take responsibility, and play by the rules – and we have work to do.

Fighting for Homeowners
Recently, the County of San Francisco’s Assessor-Recorder Phil Ting commissioned a report, assessing compliance with applicable foreclosure laws by certain entities in the mortgage industry operating in San Francisco. The report, based on a review of a random sample of mortgage loans that entered into foreclosure between January 2009 and October 2011, found that 99 percent of the San Francisco mortgages reviewed showed irregularities in the foreclosure process, and 84 percent showed potential violations of California foreclosure laws.

Today, I sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder urging him to direct the Justice Department’s Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to examine whether any violations of Federal law occurred in the processing of foreclosures in San Francisco. The severity of the report’s conclusions warrant a thorough review at the Federal level.

I commend the Obama Administration and the state Attorneys General in achieving a multi-state mortgage settlement, including the helpful protections for borrowers secured by California Attorney General Kamala Harris. I am hopeful that preserving the ability of the states and the Federal government to continue to pursue actions not covered by the terms of the settlement will ensure that homeowners who experienced losses unfairly, particularly where abusive practices were the cause, will be able to seek a remedy.

Investing in America
Today, we mark the two-year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Passed by Democratic majorities and signed into law by President Obama, at its peak this historic legislation has created or saved more than 3 million jobs, invested in America’s crumbling infrastructure, and lowered taxes for 95% of American workers. This bold measure invests in science and innovation, energy, health care, and education — all with strict accountability and fiscal responsibility. To find out more about how the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act has helped the city of San Francisco, please visit my website.

Protecting our Environment
On Thursday, Secretary Hillary Clinton announced a new State Department joint initiative with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Through the Initiative to Cut Short-Term Climate Pollutants, the Obama Administration will partner internationally to reduce emissions of short-lived pollutants. It is a necessary step that will help raise the profile of this issue and hopefully spur other nations, including other developing nations, to action.

I have long said that the United States must be a leader in addressing global climate change. In addition to today’s action, we must enact longer-term strategies to address carbon emissions. The leadership of the Obama Administration on behalf of our environment is good for our economy, good for our citizens, and good for the planet. I look forward to working with the Administration to continue to take strong action on behalf of our clean energy future.

Please feel free to forward this information to your family and friends. To learn more about these efforts, to express your views, or to sign up for email updates, please visit my website. I am also on Twitter at https://twitter.com/NancyPelosi.