Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following comments today on this first full day of the Obama administration and the legislative agenda ahead for the 111th Congress.

“With President Obama now in the White House, I am eager to get to work on the important issues facing our nation.  Americans expect us to pass a stimulus bill that will address the problems left behind by the previous administration and get people working. We need to make sure our nation’s small businesses, auto companies and financial institutions can survive this challenging economic climate, while making sure the people’s money is spent wisely.  Those solutions must include relief for homeowners fighting off foreclosure, getting credit flowing again to consumers and small businesses and strengthened accountability and increased transparency of TARP funds.  I am already working with my colleagues on legislation that will make the most significant changes to our health care laws since the creation of Medicare – bringing quality, accessible health care to all Americans.  This has been my life-long ambition, and that of my father before me. Working with President Obama, Secretary-designee Daschle, Chairman Waxman, Speaker Pelosi, Senators Kennedy and Baucus as well as the entire Democratic Caucus, I will help lead the effort to accomplish this task once and for all.

“I look forward to working with the President’s Cabinet, including my good friend Hillary Rodham Clinton in the State Department.  I applaud the Senate for approving her nomination today and look forward to helping her confront the world’s challenges, from renewing U.S. leadership and diplomacy in the Middle East to mitigating the affects of global climate change.  I also want to congratulate Energy Secretary Steven Chu, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, Office of Management and Budget Director Peter R. Orszag, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on being approved by the Senate.  The Obama team is well-respected and they are very capable of doing the jobs the President has asked them to perform.  I urge the Senate to work diligently to get the rest of the President’s Cabinet into their positions quickly.  We need Tom Daschle at Health and Human Services, applying his unique talents to address our health care calamity.  It is time to end the political gamesmanship and hyper-partisanship of the past and let these outstanding people get to work solving the nation’s problems.  I look forward to working with them starting today.  America demanded change, and I intend to help bring it to them.”