Jay Rockefeller

November 8, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, issued the following statement commending the House of Representatives for passing comprehensive health care reform legislation. The legislation passed the House of Representatives with a vote of 220-215.

“Last night’s passage of the Affordable Health Care for America Act brings this nation one step closer to comprehensive health care reform.

“I applaud the House of Representatives for taking such a strong vote in favor of the American people and against our broken health care system.    » read more »

Bloomington, IL.– October 30, 2009 – State Farm applauds Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV) for sponsoring the Distracted Driving Prevention Act of 2009. The company said this legislation (S. 1938) is a good first step toward addressing the problem of distracted driving and its threat to the lives and safety of millions of drivers, passengers and pedestrians.    » read more »

Calls on DOL to Improve the Claims Process for Coal Miners

October 30, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator Jay Rockefeller today released a report he requested from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regarding the persistent barriers that miners and their families face when trying to secure benefits through the federal Black Lung Benefits Program. Senator Rockefeller called on the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) to quickly consider and act on the report and he plans to introduce related legislation.    » read more »

October 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller, a West Virginia Democrat, and Sen. Chuck Grassley, an Iowa Republican, have introduced legislation that would make it easier for consumers to take advantage of a tax break in the stimulus package intended to encourage the purchase and manufacture of energy-efficient doors, windows, and skylights.

“I have seen firsthand how the tax credit can make a difference, both for the West Virginia industries that produce and sell these energy efficient windows and for the families who use them. We need to make it easier for people to understand and be able to take advantage of these tax credits, so they can get more for their money, particularly during these tough economic times,” said Senator Rockefeller.    » read more »

October 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care, successfully fought and succeeded in having his Excise Tax Amendment (F1 modified) included in the Finance Committee health care reform bill.

The amendment is designed to protect coal miners, first responders and other high-risk workers from an excise tax being proposed on high-cost health insurance plans. His amendment will now be part of the final Finance Committee bill, which will merge with the Senate HELP Committee bill to produce a final product for full Senate review.

Statement from Senator Rockefeller:    » read more »

September 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, lead Senate supporter of the creation of a strong public option to drive down insurance costs and save families money, gave the following statement after his public option amendment won a majority of Democratic votes but was ultimately not accepted by the Senate Finance Committee.

“Today’s vote is progress toward a strong public option in health care reform,” said Senator Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care. “We solidified a strong majority of Democrats who believe that true health care reform cannot be realized without a strong public insurance option that works for American families.”    » read more »

Legislation Keeps Families Intact As Parents Enter Substance Abuse Treatment

June 22, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator Jay Rockefeller today introduced the Keeping Families Safe Act – which allows families to stay together in residential family treatment programs when one parent or both enter substance abuse treatment.

“The statistics are clear – parents are more likely to heal and families have a better chance of remaining intact when they stay together throughout the treatment process,” said Senator Rockefeller. “Keeping families together in a safe environment is immensely important, and it is essential that we maintain successful residential family treatment programs across the nation.”

Background    » read more »

Grants Could be Used to Install Positive Train Control Technology

June 22, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) wrote to a key Senate Committee and requested at least $50 million in funding for a new railroad safety technology grant program, created by the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008.    » read more »

June 18, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Robert C. Byrd, together with Congressman Nick J. Rahall, today announced that the Department of Energy is awarding $15,033,550 through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) for the weatherization of more than 3,500 homes in West Virginia.

“Help with weatherization is so important for families across West Virginia,” said Rockefeller, a longtime supporter of home weatherization. “These improvements make homes more energy efficient, reduce utility costs, and create jobs along the way – new green jobs that we’ll need for the future. This is an unbeatable combination that strengthens homes, helps families save money, protects our environment, and bolsters our economy.”    » read more »

Senator Rockefeller Calls On Companies To Do More To Protect Consumers, Dealers And Workers

June 16, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Members of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee last week sent letters to the President of Chrysler and CEO of General Motors requesting responses on a number of issues regarding consumer, dealer and worker protections. The Committee received a response this week from both companies and Senator Jay Rockefeller IV issued the following statement:    » read more »

Rockefeller Calls for a Permanent Solution

June 2, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, commended the deal reached between Comcast Cable and West Virginia Public Broadcasting (PBS) as an important first step to allow Comcast subscribers to continue receiving West Virginia PBS at no additional charge for two years. Senator Rockefeller strongly pushed for such a solution, and is urging further discussions for a permanent solution.    » read more »

Urges Action to Protect West Virginia Families and Dealerships

June 1, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, has issued the following statement in response to the Chrysler and General Motors (GM) bankruptcies and subsequent restructuring:    » read more »

Funding for rural water and environmental projects

May 28, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Robert C. Byrd announced today that West Virginia will receive $3,605,000 in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding through the United State Department of Agriculture (USDA) for safe drinking water projects and improved wastewater treatment systems for West Virginia rural towns and communities.

West Virginia’s $3.6 million will go toward the following projects:

* $1,940,000 for the Clover Public Service District (Roane County)
* $1,665,000 for the City of Glen Dale (Marshall County)    » read more »

May 29, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, issued the following statement today on the Obama Administration’s Cybersecurity Policy Review:

"We applaud President Obama for highlighting the extraordinarily serious issue of cybersecurity. No other President in American history has elevated this issue to that level and we thank him for his leadership.    » read more »

Highlight The Cybersecurity Act Of 2009

May 27, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. -- Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) and Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation issued the following statement today in anticipation of the Obama Administration’s 60-day Cybersecurity Policy Review Report:

"As members of both the Senate Commerce Committee and the Senate Intelligence Committee, we meet at the legislative crossroads between our national security and economic security. We believe the time for our government and the private sector to act in a coordinated fashion to combat cyber terror was yesterday.    » read more »