RICHMOND, Va., May 15 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- At today's meeting in
Richmond, VA, the Executive Committee of the Democratic National Committee
passed the following resolutions. The meeting was presided over by DNC
Chairman Tim Kaine.
(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20080519/DNCLOGO )
The following resolution was adopted by the DNC Executive Committee its
meeting on May 15, 2009, in Richmond, Virginia.
Submitted by: James Zogby, At-Large/District of Columbia
Resolution Commending the Accomplishments of President Barack Obama in his
First 100 Days in Office
WHEREAS, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act gave tax cuts to 95
percent of working families and will create or save millions of jobs
nationwide by investing in the nation's infrastructure and rebuilding schools
and government buildings with greener, more energy-efficient improvements; and
WHEREAS, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, signed and enacted by the
President, provides greater assurances of pay equity for women, ensuring that
women finally receive equal pay for equal work; and
WHEREAS, President Barack Obama signed into law legislation to enhance the
State Children's Health Insurance Program and expand coverage to an additional
4 million children, bringing to 11 million the number of children covered
under the program; and
WHEREAS, the President's reversal of a ban on federal funding for potentially
life-saving stem cell research put responsible science and technological
innovation ahead of ideology; and WHEREAS, President Obama's submitted budget
blueprint that invests in America's future by making bold investments in
healthcare, education and renewable energy was approved by the U.S. Congress;
and
WHEREAS, President Obama's swift and assertive action to jump start the
economy and reverse eight years of failed policies has restored the faith of
millions of Americans in their federal government and reinstated the
proposition that the nation's policies should serve the American people and
not special interests and Washington insiders;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of the Democratic
National Committee commends President Barack Obama for the tremendous
accomplishments achieved in the first 100 days of his term as President of the
United States to get the country back on track; and that we pledge to work
with the President to help make his bold agenda for change - reforming health
care, achieving energy independence and creating green jobs and improving
education - a reality.
The following resolution was adopted by the DNC Executive Committee its
meeting on May 15, 2009, in Richmond, Virginia.
Submitted by: James Roosevelt, At-Large/Massachusetts
Resolution Recognizing the Democratic National Committee Chairman and Staff
for the Success of the 'Party of No' Campaign
WHEREAS, the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Democrats in Congress
have supported President Obama in his efforts to continue and extend the State
Children's Health Insurance Program to 11 million American Children; to
provide greater assurances of pay equity for women; and, to create a recovery
package that cuts taxes for 95 percent of Americans and will create or save
millions of jobs; and
WHEREAS, the vast majority of U.S. House and Senate Republicans voted NO to
these efforts; and
WHEREAS, every Republican in Congress voted against the President's budget
which cuts the deficit in half over the next four years while making important
investments in and reforms to health care, energy and education; and
WHEREAS, the Republican leadership has offered NO new solutions to jumpstart
the economy, invest in the nation's infrastructure and create jobs, and
WHEREAS, the Republican Party has brought forward NO new faces to bring this
country much needed change, and has instead relied on the same figures who
have promoted partisanship and whose failed policies have lead to the worst
economic recession since the Great Depression;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the DNC Executive Committee supports the
continued efforts of the Democratic National Committee Chairman and Staff to
communicate that the Democratic Party under President Obama's leadership is
the party dedicated to uniting Americans, creating opportunity, and developing
common sense solutions to the problems faced by Americans, and that the
Republican Party continues to work against the change the nation voted for in
November 2008 without offering serious alternatives to the failed policies of
the past.
The following resolution was adopted by the DNC Executive Committee its
meeting on May 15, 2009, in Richmond, Virginia.
Submitted by: Alice Germond, DNC Secretary/West Virginia
Resolution Recognizing the Importance and the Recent Success of the Grassroots
Efforts of Organizing for America, and Authorizing Continuation of the Project
WHEREAS, the unprecedented national grassroots effort to elect Barack Obama,
now known as Organizing for America, a project of the Democratic National
Committee, fostered a successful movement that brought together Americans of
every race and creed from all corners of the country to work for change and a
brighter future for every American; and
WHEREAS, Organizing for America held thousands of House Parties and conducted
other significant activity to help pass President Obama's jobs and economic
recovery package; and
WHEREAS, Organizing for America volunteers and supporters continued the spirit
of that movement by organizing a nationwide pledge drive, holding
conversations with their friends and neighbors and encouraging Americans to
call their Members of Congress in support of the President's budget blueprint
for America's future with its investments in health care, education and
renewable energy; and
WHEREAS, Organizing for America has held more than 225 'Listening Tour'
meetings with more than 8,600 attendees to continue the dialogue that began
with Barack Obama's historic election and to promote community organization to
move forward the President's vision for change; and
WHEREAS, Organizing for America is committed to working to make President
Obama's vision of affordable health care for all, energy independence and a
world class education system a reality; and
WHEREAS, the success of President Obama's policy initiatives, which Organizing
for America is working in the furtherance thereof, is vital to the success of
the Democratic Party and its candidates for elective office at all levels;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of the Democratic
National Committee recognizes the importance of the efforts of Organizing for
America to engage the grassroots supporters who made possible the election of
Barack Obama last November, that we recognize the importance of Organizing for
America and its grassroots volunteers in promoting the President's policy
initiatives to bring the change for which the country voted, and in
recognition of those successful efforts, we authorize the continued operation
of Organizing for America as a project within the Democratic National
Committee and encourage its expansion to all 50 states.
The following resolution was adopted by the DNC Executive Committee its
meeting on May 15, 2009, in Richmond, Virginia.
Submitted by: Alice Germond, DNC Secretary/West Virginia
Resolution Recognizing the Success of Scott Murphy in the Special Election to
Replace Kirsten Gillibrand in New York's 20th Congressional District
WHEREAS, Scott Murphy was elected in a special election from a New York
congressional district in which Republicans outnumber Democrats by more than
70,000 in a race which Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele
said would be a focal point for Republicans and where [Republicans] should be
able to go in and be competitive and win; and
WHEREAS, the race to fill newly-appointed Senator Kirsten Gillibrand's vacated
congressional seat was a referendum on President Obama's plans for economic
recovery including passage of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, for
which Scott Murphy expressed strong support while his Republican challenger
said he would have voted no; and
WHEREAS, the election of Scott Murphy is further evidence that Americans
continue to support the President and want him to succeed, and is a
repudiation of the failed policies of the past that Republicans continue to
tout while offering no new ideas and no new solutions to the serious problems
facing America's working families;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Executive Committee of the Democratic
National Committee congratulates Scott Murphy on his successful campaign in
the 20th District of New York and his election to the United States House of
Representatives and commend him for embracing President Obama's vision for
change and plans to turn our economy around, reform healthcare, invest in
clean energy and improve education.
The following resolution was adopted by the DNC Executive Committee its
meeting on May 15, 2009, in Richmond, Virginia.
Submitted by: Frank Leone, Virginia
Resolution honoring the life and career of George Chancellor Rawlings, Jr.
WHEREAS, George Chancellor Rawlings, Jr., was born of a historic Virginia
family and tradition on November 7, 1921, in Fredericksburg, Virginia; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Rawlings was educated at Randolph-Macon College (B.A. 1942) and
the University of Virginia School of Law (1947); and
WHEREAS, he was an early and active leader for civil rights, voting rights,
public education, worker's rights, and mental health care reform.
WHEREAS, Mr. Rawlings throughout his life worked to align Virginia's
Democratic Party with national Democratic values, opposed the Byrd
Organization, and lead the Party in support of Democratic presidential
candidates in the 1960s; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Rawlings served with distinction in the Virginia House of
Delegates from 1964 to 1970; and
WHEREAS, he ran as the Democratic candidate for the United States House of
Representatives, defeating House Rules Committee Chairman Howard W. "Judge"
Smith in the Democratic primary for Virginia's 8th Congressional District in
1966, thereby eliminating a roadblock to civil rights and other progressive
legislation; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Rawlings also carried the Democratic banner as the Party's
nominee for the United State Senate against Harry F. Byrd, Jr. in 1970; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Rawlings also served with distinction as a member of the Virginia
Jaycees, serving as its president in 1954; as a substitute trial justice in
Spotsylvania County from 1950 to 1963; as president of the Fredericksburg
Mental Health Association; on the George Mason University Board of Visitors
from 1992 to 1996; and
WHEREAS, he served proudly as a member of the Democratic National Committee,
serving from 1972 to 1980; and
WHEREAS, he also served on the Democratic Party of Virginia State Central
Committee, serving as Chairman of the Eighth District Democratic Committee
from 1981 to 1993; and as an elector for the Eighth Congressional District in
1996; and
WHEREAS, he faced many challenges, including the deaths of his two sons from
cystic fibrosis when they were in their 20s, and prejudices he faced as a gay
man, but he always carried forward with commitment, courage, and a unique
style; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Rawlings died on April 22, 2009;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee Executive
Committee honors the life and achievements of George Rawlings.
The following resolution was adopted by the DNC Executive Committee its
meeting on May 15, 2009, in Richmond, Virginia.
Submitted by: Alice Germond, DNC Secretary/West Virginia
and the California DNC Members
Resolution honoring the life and career of Jerome (Jerry) Waldie
WHEREAS, Jerome (Jerry) Waldie was born in Antioch, California, in 1925; and
WHEREAS, he served in the U.S. Army for three years before earning a B.A.
degree and a law degree from the University of California at Berkeley; and
WHEREAS, he was elected to the California Assembly in 1958 and became Majority
Leader of the Assembly in 1961; and
WHEREAS, in 1966 Mr. Waldie won a special election to fill a vacant seat in
the U.S. Congress, where he was an early critic of the Vietnam War; and
WHEREAS, in 1974 he did not run for re-election and returned to his law
practice in California; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Waldie also served on a number of commissions and boards,
including the Agricultural Labor Relations Board, where he was a strong voice
for farm workers' rights; and
WHEREAS, on April 3, 2009, Jerry Waldie passed away at his home in
Placerville, California, at the age of 84;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee (DNC)
Executive Committee honor Jerry Waldie for his dedication and service to his
country, his state and to the Democratic Party.
The following resolution was adopted by the DNC Executive Committee at its
meeting on May 15, 2009, in Richmond, Virginia
Submitted by: Alice Germond, DNC Secretary/West Virginia and the California
DNC Members
Resolution honoring the life and career of Richard J. O'Neill
WHEREAS, Richard (Dick) O'Neill was a prominent Orange County landowner and
Democratic Party activist; and
WHEREAS, Mr. O'Neill contributed to many Democratic candidates and
philanthropic causes, including South Coast Repertory Theater in Costa Mesa,
the Heart of Jesus Retreat Center in Santa Ana and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo;
and
WHEREAS, he enlisted in the Navy in 1943 and served on troop transport ships
during World War II; and
WHEREAS, after being discharged from the Navy, Mr. O'Neill attended Cal Poly
San Luis Obispo, where he studied animal husbandry; and
WHEREAS, Mr. O'Neill organized many fundraisers for Democrats and served as a
delegate to several Democratic National Conventions; and
WHEREAS, despite Orange County's long-standing reputation as a Republican
stronghold, Mr. O'Neill worked diligently at the grassroots level, registering
voters and walking precincts to get out the vote; and
WHEREAS, in 1964 he became a member of the California Democratic Party's (CDP)
Orange County Central Committee and in 1974 he was elected Southern Chairman
of the CDP; and
WHEREAS, Mr. O'Neill served as California Democratic Party Chairman from 1979
to 1981; and
WHEREAS, on April 4, 2009, Richard O'Neill passed away at the age of 85;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Democratic National Committee (DNC)
Executive Committee honor Richard O'Neill for his dedication and service to
his country, his state and to the Democratic Party.
SOURCE Democratic National Committee
Hari Sevugan, +1-202-479-5148, or Brandi Hoffine, +1-202-863-8069, both of
Democratic National Committee
