Calling the legislation "remarkable" and "bold," Rep. Barbara Lee told the press conference that HR 1579 would address "out-of-control tactics" on Wall Street and would "lead to critical investments for our future -- in health and development assistance."

The reckless actions of Wall Street institutions led to the collapse of the the U.S. economy and the deep recession of 2008-09. The Wall Street firms looted and gambled trillions in worker pensions and mutual fund savings. The Wall Street traders made billions of dollars in speculative money -- bets on bets -- holding hostage the real economy where money is made by providing goods and services. And the actions of Wall Street resulted in the loss of more than 8 million jobs.

“The global crisis cost Americans $19 trillion in lost wealth.... American citizens provided the money to stabilize the financial sector….The global financial crisis, along with wars, unabated and unaddressed climate change, unsustainable tax cuts, and a continuing unemployment crisis, if unaddressed, will deprive a generation of a meaningful role in the larger economy.”

Betty, who was on the ground to help victims after Hurricane Katrina and in Haiti after the devastating earthquake, was working at the medical tent at the finish line of the Boston Marathon yesterday, and she was there to respond and care for the victims when the bombs exploded. “I never had to run out to victims before where one of them could have been someone I knew, a member of my family,” she wrote in an email after the event.