Press Releases

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democratic leaders held a press availability this afternoon following a Democratic Whip meeting with President Obama in the Cannon Caucus Room. Below are the Speaker's opening remarks:

"Thank you very much, Mr. Whip. Yes, it was a great occasion for us to receive the President of the United States on this day when we will be making history with our vote and making progress for the American people.

"It is also, as Chris Van Hollen reminds us, the third anniversary of Democrats winning the House and Senate for the American people - November 7, 2006. So it is appropriate that the New Direction that we promised them at the time and that we have worked on since then, will be manifested today in the passage of this important legislation.

"It is very humbling to stand here at a time when we can associate ourselves with the work of those who passed Social Security, those who passed Medicare, and now we will pass health care reform. It is also appropriate that as we were in there with the President, that in the chair on the floor presiding over the debate was John Dingell, the person who gaveled down Medicare. So the continuity of this, the dedication over a long period of time, gives us strength and makes us humble.

"When the President was speaking, I couldn't help but think of Senator Kennedy. Senator Kennedy called passing health care 'the great unfinished business of our country.' He also said it was about the character of our country that we do this. In the same letter that he said that to the President, as we listened to the inspirational remarks of the President, I was also reminded that in that same letter, Senator Kennedy said to the President: 'When I first came into public life, we had a young President who inspired a generation and inspired the world. As I leave,' Senator Kennedy said, 'I have hope because I know that we again have a young President who will inspire our country, a new generation and on behalf of our country, inspire the world.'

"Our President is indeed doing that. Without his leadership, we would not be in position to take the historic step we are doing. He has said to us: 'We will measure our success in the progress that is made by America's working families.' Today, we will make not only history, but progress for America's working families.

"With that, I am pleased to yield to our distinguished Majority Leader, who, without whose leadership we most certainly would not be in position to win today. His knowledge of these issues, his strategic thinking about how to get us from here to there, and just his persistence, and more important than all of that, the respect with which he is held in our Caucus for his opinion has gotten us where we are today. Mr. Steny Hoyer, Majority Leader of the Congress."

SOURCE Office of the Speaker of the House

OXFORD, Ohio, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire/ -- Heralding a new era in business education, Miami University today announced the official dedication of the new home of its Farmer School of Business. As one of the most advanced management education facilities in the country, the new $65 million facility has a unique focus on increasing communication and collaboration within the school community as well as technology-enhanced teaching and learning.

The official dedication ceremony* will pay tribute to the building's major donors - including lead donor Richard T. Farmer, founder of Cintas Corporation. Combined gifts from private donors, totaling $50 million, funded nearly 80 percent of the project cost.

"The most inspiring aspect of the new building is seeing the sense of community that it is generating through the vibrancy of interaction among students and faculty, and the increased opportunities for spontaneous collaboration," commented Roger Jenkins, Dean of the Farmer School of Business.

Dean Jenkins added that the comprehensive new building will, for the first time, house all aspects of the Farmer School of Business under one roof, enhancing its ability to successfully prepare students for leadership in 21st century businesses. "There's no question that it will uniquely support the school's legacy for fostering and facilitating innovative problem-solving and teamwork that's so important in today's global workplace," he said.

Designed by Robert A.M. Stern Architects of New York City and Moody Nolan, Inc. of Columbus, Ohio, the building took 30 months to construct and was completed on time and under budget. While the exterior mirrors the red-brick Georgian Revival style of the majority of Miami University's buildings, the student-centered interior design reflects a shift toward more small group work and seminar instruction, as well as experiential and hands-on learning. Just as importantly, the new building is the first of its kind to promote daily interaction among faculty members in an effort to expand frames of reference, collaboration and curricular integration.

"A great college building -- and the Farmer School's new hall is a great college building -- is known not only for its enduring beauty but even more for its support of a great educational experience," commented David Hodge, President of Miami University. "I am delighted that this new home for the Farmer School will provide exceptional learning opportunities for students enrolled in one of the nation's top ranked business programs."

Hands-On and Technology-Enhanced Learning

The building is designed to provide students with a variety of real world experiences that are an integrated part of the curriculum. This includes participating in financial market activity through the Chaifetz Trading Center which simulates transactions based upon real-time electronic feeds from Bloomberg and Reuters via dozens of dual-monitor computer stations. The high-tech, 1,800-square-foot Center also features scrolling stock market tickers, projection screens, and an adjacent room with a viewing window.

In addition to Wi-Fi capabilities that can serve up to 3,000 users and polling devices to measure student comprehension, classrooms are designed to raise the level of interaction during class periods. The building also includes a pair of behavior labs with a central observation room and a Mock Trial practice room with special "courtroom" furnishings that can be wheeled into place.

Environmental Sustainability

The new facility exemplifies the Farmer School of Business' commitment to environmental sustainability by being the first building at Miami University to pursue LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification.

One of the key components of LEED practices is reduction of waste and an active effort to reuse materials during the construction process. To that end, much scrap material from the deconstruction of the building that previously occupied the site was either sold or reused during construction. Concrete was crushed and used for the base of the new structure and more than 90 percent of construction waste was diverted from the landfill. Additionally, most building materials were manufactured within 500 miles of Oxford.

Because LEED promotes the need for open space and environmentally conscious landscaping, the surrounding green space is a larger area than the built space and includes mature trees to provide a heat reducing canopy. There was also a significant commitment to efficiency that involved efforts to reduce water and energy consumption via motion-sensitive technologies, maximizing natural lighting, and insulation utilization.

Farmer School Accolades

In the 2009 BusinessWeek survey of the nation's best undergraduate business programs, the Farmer School of Business ranked 18th overall and 6th among those offered by public universities and colleges, making it the highest-ranked undergraduate business program in Ohio. Additionally, a 2009 survey of accelerated MBA programs conducted by the Wall Street Journal and released in September ranked The Farmer School's 14-month MBA program 9th in the world and 3rd among such programs in the U.S.

*The official dedication ceremony, which is open to the entire Miami community and the public, takes place Saturday, November 7 at 2 p.m. in the 500-seat David R. Taylor Auditorium.

SOURCE Miami University

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. bishops November 7 urged members of the House of Representatives to vote for the Stupak-Ellsworth Amendment to the health care reform.

"The Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment will keep in place current federal law on abortion funding and conscience protections in the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962)," they said.

The letter was signed by Cardinal Justin Rigali, chair of the bishops' Committee on Pro-life Activities, and Bishop William Murphy of Rockville Centre, New York, chair of the Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development.

The letter follows.

Dear Representative:

On behalf of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB), we strongly urge you to vote for the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment and to support a fair process in the House of Representatives to consider this essential improvement in health care reform legislation. The Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment will keep in place current federal law on abortion funding and conscience protections in the Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962).

Despite some claims to the contrary, H.R. 3962 does not reflect the status quo on abortion. It fails to explicitly and clearly include the longstanding policy prohibiting federal funding of elective abortion and plans which include elective abortion (Hyde Amendment), Medicaid, Medicare, Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other federal health legislation include this provision. Currently H.R. 3962 has some helpful provisions on conscience protection and non-preemption of state laws, but it utterly fails to maintain current prohibitions on abortion mandates and abortion funding. Instead it creates elaborate measures requiring people to pay for other people's abortions with their taxes, private premiums or federal subsidies. Significantly, the Federal Employee Heath Benefit Program, which covers all members of Congress and their families, has long been governed by the Hyde amendment in all its aspects and is widely seen as a model for reform.

Additionally, H.R. 3962 allows the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to mandate that the "public option" will include unlimited abortions. Millions of purchasers will be forced to pay an "abortion surcharge," which requires purchasers of many plans to pay directly and explicitly for abortion coverage. This is unprecedented in federal law.

The Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts-Kaptur-Dahlkemper-Lipinski-Smith Amendment will not affect coverage of abortion in non-subsidized health plans, and will not bar anyone from purchasing a supplemental abortion policy with their own funds. Thus far, H.R. 3962 does not meet President Obama's commitment of barring use of federal dollars for abortion and maintaining current conscience laws.

If the Motion to Recommit focuses on denying immigrants needed health care, as reported, we strongly urge Members to oppose the Motion to Recommit.

Our Bishops' conference has been working for many years to support health care reform legislation that truly protects the life, dignity, health and consciences of all. Adopting this amendment will help move us move toward this essential national priority and moral imperative.

Sincerely,

    Bishop William Murphy                    Cardinal Justin Rigali
    Diocese of Rockville Centre              Archdiocese of Philadelphia
    Chairman                                 Chairman
    Committee on Domestic Justice and        Committee on Pro-life Activities
    Human Development

SOURCE United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

MIAMI, FL -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 11/07/09 -- Robert Rico is chairman of the board of directors of Expert Group Inc. as well as the chairman of Expert Financing & Investments Inc. a company he co-founded in 2005.

Expert Financing has been originating conventional and government loans since its inception. The company started as a retail firm providing millions of dollars in real estate loans to all types of borrowers including domestic and foreign nationals for all kinds of properties including condominiums, single family residences, town houses, commercial buildings like hotels, strip mall, gas station, restaurants, warehouses, industrial facilities and day care to name a few. Expert has also assisted in loans for luxurious projects like the Icon Brickell, Aventura Marina, Williams Island, the Continuum in South Beach, Aqualina and The Trump in Sunny Isles Beach.

The company operates as a public company with its shares trading on the over the counter under the stock symbol EXPU. As a loan origination and marketing firm, utilized as an independent outsource platform for several national and regional community banks.

"We have originated and closed millions of dollars in loans since our inception with steady production consistent to date." Robert Rico is a self-made entrepreneur with experience in both the public and private sector with a clear vision for Expert Financing to become the "go to firm" for all your real estate lending needs.

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=1109270

Contact Info:

Robert Rico
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305-949-LOAN

www.ExpertFinancing.net

Robert@ExpertFinancing.net

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Brown: "Faithful Catholics have a responsibility to vigorously oppose abortion in healthcare, not negotiate the status quo."

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- American Life League president Judie Brown released the following statement on the news that Cardinal Justin Rigali will support Speaker Nancy Pelosi's Affordable Health Care for America Act (H.R. 3962), provided an amendment preserving the status quo for abortion is voted upon.

"Our Catholic bishops should be fearlessly leading the way towards a culture of life. Fighting to maintain a status quo credited to the destruction of 51 million preborn children is wrong and confusing to 65 million Catholics united in the defense of life.

"What Cardinal Rigali has permitted by way of political maneuvering is to allow an amendment to be heard and watch it be defeated. While our Catholic bishops will scramble to define their opposition to abortion in the aftermath, Pelosi will wave Rigali's support for health care reform as evidence that lay Catholics would somehow be wrong in opposing her bill.

"In endorsing Pelosicare, our Catholic bishops have risked making themselves political pawns in advancing a culture of death that treats human life as disposable.

"Once again, this incrementalist approach to abortion will serve to enshrine in law grave injustices condemned unequivocally by the Catholic Church. Among these are rationed health care, In vitro fertilization, embryonic stem cell research, human experimentation, euthanasia and birth control.

"Faithful Catholics have a responsibility to vigorously oppose abortion in healthcare, not negotiate the status quo.

"Our bishops, when they negotiate anything less than the full protection all human beings deserve, undermine the very principles of the Catholic Faith and destroy the confidence of faithful Catholics across America.

"Our Catholic bishops should point to the unchanging principles and doctrines of the Catholic Faith, not negotiate a status quo that ends human lives. Today's letter abrogates those principles. Americans should know that a truly Catholic position on health care protects human life at all stages and at all times.

"Negotiation on truth is never a Catholic principle. Truth alone should inform the consciences of faithful Catholics, and truth demands the full protection of human life."

American Life League was cofounded in 1979 by Judie Brown. It is the largest grassroots Catholic pro-life organization in the United States and is committed to the protection of all innocent human beings from the moment of creation to natural death. For more information or press inquiries, please contact Katie Walker at 540.659.4942.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20081105/DC44231LOGO )

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Politico: Bishops sign off on deal as vote nears (07 November 2009) http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29262.html

USCCB: Bishops To House: Keep Abortion Funding Out Of Health Care Reform, Make Health Care Available To Vulnerable (06 November 2009) http://www.usccb.org/comm/archives/2009/09-228.shtml

SOURCE American Life League