My name is Reshma Saujani

"Yesterday, the people of Israel experienced yet another brutal attack from the terrorist organization Hamas.

"I’d like to offer my deepest condolences to the victims’ families. We must stand by Israel and ensure that the negotiations toward a peace agreement provide safe, secure and defensible borders for Israel to protect its citizens from cowardly acts of terror.

"When I was in Israel earlier this year, I was struck by the consistent endorsements of peace from everyone I met, both Israeli and Palestinian.

"I am hopeful that the talks beginning today in Washington will not be derailed by this senseless act by a terrorist organization, and that all parties to the negotiations remain committed to the critical work of achieving a lasting peace."

"Last night, President Obama officially ended combat operations in Iraq, stating, 'The greatness of our democracy is grounded in our ability to move beyond our differences, and to learn from our experience as we confront the many challenges ahead.'

 

“I couldn't agree more. We must learn from the diplomatic and political failures leading up to the war and the challenges which arose as a consequence of it. Looking forward, diplomacy must prevail over dogmatism, courage over political complicity.

 

"After seven years of fighting, I am pleased to see combat operations in Iraq coming to a close. I applaud President Obama for keeping his promise to the American people and to Iraq. During the past seven years, more than 4,400 American soldiers lost their lives serving their country with distinction and almost 40,000 have been injured. I commend our brave troops for their hard work, determination, and strength, and I share in the joy their loved ones feel at their return.

 

"It is my sincere hope that the end of combat operations in Iraq will send a message to the world that the United States does not have ‘imperial ambitions’ in the Middle East, and that this important event will be a welcome prelude to the full redeployment of all troops from Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

"This morning, we watched Vice President Biden and Secretary Gates transfer military command to Iraqis in Baghdad, ending Operation Iraqi Freedom and launching Operation New Dawn. While today is a sign of the great progress made since the darkest days of the Iraq War, it is important to acknowledge that there remains much work to be done in Iraq in order to prepare the army and police to fully accept responsibility for security. We must also continue to engage in diplomatic efforts to assist the development of Iraqi civil society and government, and protect the delicate peace between Iraq’s diverse ethnic groups.

 

"As we appreciate this long anticipated moment we must also look back at how we came to this point so that we can prevent other protracted and costly conflicts in the future. More than seven years ago, President George W. Bush advocated for the invasion of Iraq under the false premise that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction and posed a threat to U.S. security. Many in Congress were swayed by this argument, though 60 percent of House Democrats voted against the Iraq War Resolution.  Carolyn Maloney wasn’t one of them. I opposed this war from the beginning, and had I been in Congress, I absolutely would not have voted to support it.

 

"The War in Iraq has already cost the American people over 700 billion dollars, and continues to cost billions, even as America suffers from the greatest financial catastrophe since the Great Depression. This war has also damaged our international relationships and compromised our country’s global standing. Today is an important step in remedying the damage caused by our prolonged involvement in Iraq, and I commend President Obama for his efforts to rebuild the United States’ global ties and to mend our errors in the Middle East.

 

"Though the end of major combat operations in Iraq is no 'Mission Accomplished,' it does represent a new era for U.S. international relations. It is my hope that in the years to come we can now turn our attention to the most pressing domestic and international issues we face. We must focus our efforts on fixing our economy, prepare our children for success in the 21st Century by giving them the highest quality education, and enacting a comprehensive immigration policy that will create a fair path to citizenship for the millions of undocumented immigrants.  We must work to foster greater international cooperation in order to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, renew our efforts to broker a peaceful settlement to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and advance the cause of peace and democracy throughout the world."

 

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"This week, a taxi driver in Manhattan was brutally attacked because of his religion.  Thankfully, the driver, Ahmed Sharif, will survive his injuries -- and the suspect has been arrested.  I hope that the Manhattan District Attorney will prosecute the perpetrator of this terrible hate crime to the fullest extent of the law. I extend my thoughts and prayers to Mr. Sharif and his family, and I wish him a full recovery and healthy life.

"The attack on Mr. Sharif is another heartbreaking reminder of the bigotry and ignorance that still exists in the United States of America. This tragic event is yet another example of why we must continue to promote cultural understanding and interfaith dialogue. It doesn't matter whether you're Christian, Jewish, Muslim or Hindu -- we're all Americans, first and foremost.  We cannot allow religion to dictate the way you are treated in our country.

"The demonization of Muslims is one of the reasons I've been so frustrated by the debate surrounding the Cordoba House -- or what's been dubbed the "Ground Zero Mosque" by critics. We cannot condemn an entire faith for the actions of a fanatic few, and I refuse to allow those zealots to designate Muslims to be second-class citizens and put boundaries around where one group is or isn't allowed to pray. That's wrong. I will continue to voice my strong support for the Cordoba House and work to ensure that all Americans are treated with the decency they deserve."

Already this week, we’ve held two stops on our “Community Conversations” tour -- one at the 14th Street Y and one at the 92nd Street Y.  It has been incredibly inspiring to see so many passionate members of the 14th District coming together to discuss the issues they find most important in such lively, diverse forums.
 
At the 14th Street Y on Monday night, I spoke with a wonderful collection of young students, energetic Stuy Town residents, veteran Lower East Siders, and activists, all gathered from different backgrounds for the same reason: to brainstorm innovative solutions for our nation’s problems. Together, we discussed immigration reform and the creation of a pathway to citizenship -- an issue our government has neglected to address. Many participants voiced their concerns about the future of our country’s jobs, and I talked about my Congress-ready legislation to create a 21st Century Job Corps and a National Innovation Fund, which would invigorate our regional and national economy while spurring job growth.

Just last night I got to meet with another wonderful group of engaged constituents at the 92nd Street Y.  I started our “Community Conversation” by asking the question “why aren’t things getting better?” As the conversation progressed and people shared their perspectives, we started to answer that very question. The topics of discussion ranged from foreign policy and Afghanistan to more local issues like unemployment in Queensbridge, the largest public housing complex in the United States.  We also had a spirited dialogue about the Cordoba House, and I voiced my unequivocal support for it.
 
To me, these “Community Conversations” are emblematic of my campaign’s scope: to embrace the diversity of the 14th District while fostering a true sense of community.  This campaign is about honesty, integrity, and communication, and I believe it is critical that our representatives engage the residents of their communities on the issues that matter.
 
Our first two “Community Conversations” were overwhelmingly successful and informative, and I am grateful to everyone who participated.  We’re off to a running start, and I could not be more excited to continue listening to the residents of the 14th District. I hope you’ll join me for my next two “Community Conversations” in Long Island City and Roosevelt Island!


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"Today we are celebrating Women's Equality Day, thanks to New York's own Bella Abzug who introduced the legislation, and the amazing women who have stood up for equality for generations.

"Women's Equality Day commemorates the passage of the 19th Amendment, giving women the long overdue right to vote, and it encourages us to reflect on how far we've come.  Ninety years after suffrage, it's a testament to the strides we've made that two pro-choice women, Carolyn Maloney and myself, can run against each other based on substance and ideas -- and we've seen this happen all around the nation.

"But the fight for true equality is far from over, and Women's Equality Day also marks an opportunity to consider the inequities and injustices women still face today in America and around the world.  Today, only 29 Fortune 1000 CEOs are women, and we must continue to foster female leadership and entrepreneurship through education and female mentoring programs. And while it is encouraging to see so many women getting involved in politics, Congress is still disproportionately male, so we must support organizations like EMILY's list and the Women's Campaign Forum that are furthering progressive female leadership."

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There’s been a lot of talk lately about ethics.  Every day we open the newspaper or flip on the TV and there are more ethics scandals -- more leaders who have compromised their integrity and abused their positions.

As voters, we elect our leaders based on trust, and we expect them to represent us with dedication and integrity.  When we send them to Washington, we expect them to work tirelessly with our best interests in mind.  But too many of our representatives have lost their moral compasses, shutting us out and making backroom deals that benefit the special interests.

Such behavior has become so commonplace that many consider ethics violations nothing more than “politics as usual.”  It’s gotten easy to forget what real leadership is.  But in our democracy, an honest representative should be our most valuable asset, fighting for us on the front lines day in and day out. 

We must hold each and every one of our elected officials to the highest ethical standards.  That’s why I have written and signed the following pledge:

• I will not use my office to dispense special favors or privileges to individuals or institutions
• I will not accept campaign contributions from a registered lobbyist with interests before my committee
• I will not accept campaign contributions from a corporate political action committee (PAC)
• I will place my personal investments and assets in a blind trust while holding office to avoid conflicts of interest
• I will conduct my responsibilities as an elected official with full transparency

We’re at a critical moment in our history, and it’s time for our leaders to make a new commitment to ethics. We need real, honest leadership and we need it now. I’m urging everyone -- constituents and representatives alike -- to sign my ethics pledge today.

Next week, I am hosting a “Community Conversations” tour that will make stops throughout the East Side of Manhattan and Queens. These four exciting events will provide residents of the 14th District with the opportunity to have a real dialogue about the issues that matter most to them in this upcoming election. I am looking forward to hearing from the voters in my district, and sharing my own ideas about how to fix Washington.

 

For the past ten months, I have been running a grassroots campaign and speaking to voters every day, whether it’s on the phone in my campaign headquarters or out in the field canvassing and holding meet and greets. The “Community Conversations” are a great forum to take this effort a step further, bringing everyone together as neighbors for a productive discussion about our future as a community and as a nation. 

 

Day after day on the campaign trail I’ve been hearing from people that their current representative in Congress isn’t listening to them, and I believe that this is one of the biggest problems with our leadership in Washington today. In office, I will continue rolling up my sleeves and taking every opportunity to work with constituents on the issues facing our community. I can’t wait to get started, and I hope that you will join us for a “Community Conversation” in your neighborhood!

 

Monday, August 23, 2010 at 07:30 PM 

14th St Y Community Room in New York, NY

Wednesday, August 25, 2010 at 07:30 PM 

92nd Street Y in New York, NY

Monday, August 30, 2010 at 07:30 PM 

Holiday Inn -Lower Level Meeting Room in Long Island City, NY

Sunday, August 29, 2010 at 05:00 PM 

Trellis Diner in Roosevelt Island, NY