Blog Post

THE LONG-TERM unemployment rate is at a record level. So is the federal deficit. Both of these are serious concerns. But it is possible -- in theory, anyway -- for Congress to be both compassionate and prudent. In the short term, lawmakers should resolve the logjam that has allowed federal benefits to lapse for more than 900,000 unemployed. In the longer term, they should heed the example ofHouse Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), who gave a brave speech this week not only setting out the fiscal challenge but offering specific, credible suggestions for savings.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md., 5th) stopped by the CalvART Gallery in Prince Frederick on Friday for a first-ever recognition reception.

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) and Congresswoman Donna F. Edwards (D-Md.) and staff from the office of Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) met last week with Prince Georges and Montgomery County officials leading the development of the Prince Georges-Montgomery County Gang Initiative.

Lt. Governor Anthony G. Brown, chairman of the Governors Subcabinet on Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC), announced new funding, new partnerships and new initiatives to support BRAC jobs coming to Fort George G. Meade in Anne Arundel County, including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with all public, private and governmental parties to develop a Transportation Demand Management Plan for Fort Meade.

On this Memorial Day, we continue to be engaged in hostilities in Iraq and Afghanistan, and young men and women will pay the ultimate price while wearing the uniform of our nation. Let us honor the memory of the 4,400 Americans who have died in Iraq and more than 1,000 who have died in Afghanistan. We also honor the sacrifices of our wounded: nearly 32,000 U.S. troops in Iraq and 5,700 in Afghanistan.

Not to be overlooked are the men and women who serve America as federal, state and local government employees to provide vital services on which we rely. They are our teachers, our postmen and women, our police officers, our local government workers ensuring our trash gets picked up and our streets are paved, and federal civilian employees who work side-by-side with military personnel to keep our nation safe and secure.

After losing three-quarters of a million jobs per month, on average, during the last three months of the last administration, our economy is creating jobs again. It was announced this week that the economy added 290,000 jobs in April 231,000 in the private sector - which is good news for our recovery from recession and shows that employers and workers are starting to have some confidence in the economy.

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer speaks at the topping-off ceremony for the new explosives development facility at Indian Head Division Naval Surface Warfare Center. Officials at Indian Head Division Naval Surface Warfare Center celebrated the new explosives development facility currently under construction at a topping off-ceremony Friday.