Hinchey Sworn In For Eighth Term In U.S. House of Representatives

Washington, DC -- Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) today was sworn in for his eighth term in the U.S. Congress as the representative for New York's 22nd Congressional District (formerly the 26th Congressional District) by the first female Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.  Hinchey will continue to serve on the House Appropriations Committee and on that panel's Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies and the Subcommittee on the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.  The congressman today also added a third Appropriations Subcommittee: the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government.  Hinchey will also continue to serve on and the bicameral Joint Economic Committee.

"It is an extraordinary honor for me to be sworn in for an eighth term in the U.S. House of Representatives.  I'm also delighted that I had the privilege of being sworn in by the first woman Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, who will do an outstanding job of leading this chamber," Hinchey said. "I promise to continue working tirelessly to implement policies that will take New York and the entire country in a new, better direction.  The American people spoke in November and demanded change and today is the first day that we get to put their hopes, dreams, and ideas into action.  The next two years are going to be extremely important for the future of our country and I look forward to doing everything I can to make our state and our country more secure, prosperous, and just."

Hinchey vowed to help pass sweeping legislation in the first 100 hours of Democratic control of the House.  In particular, Hinchey said he would help: approve a rules package containing sweeping ethics reform; restore pay-as-you-go budgeting to prevent any increase in the budget deficit; make America safer by implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 commission; make the economy more fair by raising the minimum wage; improve health care by promoting life-saving stem cell research; make health care more affordable by requiring Medicare to negotiate for lower prescription drug prices; make college more affordable by cutting the interest rates on student loans; and take the first step towards achieving energy independence by repealing massive subsidies to the oil industry, closing the royalty-free loophole in oil and gas contracts, and investing the savings in renewable energy.

In addition to the first 100 hours agenda, Hinchey vowed to continue pressing for Congress to hold the Bush administration accountable for its numerous abuses of power.  The congressman expressed strong optimism that with Democrats in control of both the House and Senate, Congress would finally begin conducting strong oversight of the administration.  Among other issues, Hinchey plans to focus on the administration's deception regarding pre-war intelligence, the NSA warrantless surveillance program, corporate favoritism towards the oil industry, and a mismanaged and disorganized Food and Drug Administration.  The congressman also vowed to continue fighting for New York-specific projects.  Throughout his time in Congress, Hinchey has helped secure more than $3 billion through appropriations requests and grants for initiatives in the congressional district he represents. 

Maurice Hinchey was first sworn into the U.S. House of Representatives in January 1993 after serving for 18 years in the New York State Assembly, including 14 years as Chairman of the Committee on Environmental Conservation.  Before joining the House Appropriations Committee in January 1999, Hinchey was a member of the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services and the House Committee on Natural Resources from January 1993 through December 1998.