Congress

November 17 2009 -- Washington, DC – Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced today that DOE is awarding $9,593,500 in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Maine to support clean energy projects across the state. Under DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program, the state will implement programs that lower energy use, reduce carbon pollution, and create green jobs locally.    » read more »

Drywall Victims Insurance Protection Act will Prevent Cancellation of Homeowners Insurance

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon (LA-03) introduced legislation today to aid Louisiana homeowners with defective Chinese drywall in their homes. The Drywall Victims Insurance Protection Act would prevent insurance companies from cancelling or failing to renew homeowners’ policies as the result of Chinese drywall in the home. The bill would also prevent insurers from changing rates or altering the type or amount of coverage based on problems stemming from Chinese drywall.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- Washington - Rep. Ron Kind returned Sunday from a congressional fact-finding trip to Pakistan - a weeklong visit that comes at a time when the Obama administration is turning up the heat on Pakistan to do more to fight against al-Qaida and the Taliban.

The trip also comes as President Barack Obama prepares to unveil a new strategy for Afghanistan that could include a significantly increased troop presence in the region.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - The Strengthening and Updating Resources and Equipment (SURE) Act, which was introduced by Congresswoman Mary Jo Kilroy on October 16th, was passed today by the House Committee on Homeland Security.

The SURE Act, which will allow first responders to maintain the capabilities necessary to prepare and protect their communities against acts of terrorism and other emergencies, has gained the support of 25 cosponsors including Chairman of the Committee on Homeland Security, Bennie Thompson.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Today, Congressman Hodes introduced and passed an amendment to financial industry reform legislation that would prevent more taxpayer-funded bailouts from occurring in the future. Congressman Hodes offered his amendment to the Financial Stability Improvement Act of 2009 in order to ensure that taxpayers are never again forced to pay for the reckless mistakes of Wall Street executives. The Financial Services Committee passed the amendment unanimously.    » read more »

11/17/09 -- Washington, D.C.--The following is a statement by Congressman Eliot Engel in response to the report released today on the changes to Mammography Guidelines by the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).

“I am concerned by USPSTF's recommendations that women in their forties should no longer routinely get annual mammograms, and that older women (ages 50-74) should cut back to one scheduled exam every other year.    » read more »

Requests GAO Audit on Reducing Illnesses and Death Due to Contaminated Raw Oysters; Audit Would Determine Effectiveness of ISSC Risk Management Plan in Reducing Deaths Due to Raw Oysters Contaminated with Vibrio Vulnificus

November 17, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT) today sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting an audit of the Interstate Shellfish Sanitation Conference’s (ISSC) risk management plan for Vibrio vulnificus (Vv).

The audit would determine whether the risk management plan being used by the oyster industry, and promoted by the ISSC, is effective in reducing illnesses and death due to oysters contaminated with the Vv bacteria.    » read more »

November 14, 2009 -- Honolulu, Hawaii -- Rep. Neil Abercrombie today issued the following statement on the selection of Honolulu, Hawaii as the site of the 2011 Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministerial and Leaders Meeting—the first APEC summit in the United States since 1993. (President Obama announced the selection at the 2009 APEC meeting in Singapore.)

“Hawaii’s selection as the site for the 2011 APEC summit will underscore the unique perspective of our President and state in relation to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). President Obama views APEC as an essential forum that will play a major role in nurturing economic and governmental relationships between the United States and the Asia-Pacific region.    » read more »

"Most members of Congress - and nearly all of the American public -- lack important information about the issue".

November 17, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – In anticipation of the upcoming Senate debate over Patriot Act reauthorization, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) asked U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to declassify key information pertaining to the law’s “business records” provision (Section 215). Today’s letter follows a classified letter that the senators sent Holder in June 2009.    » read more »

Directs VA to examine gender differences in prevalence, treatment

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Mark R. Warner today successfully amended S.1407, a military construction and veterans appropriations bill, to include language directing the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to study how it addresses combat stress in women veterans. A final vote on S.1407 is expected later this afternoon.

The amendment, co-sponsored by Senators Jeanne Shaheen (NH), Kay Hagan (NC), Dianne Feinstein (CA) and Barbara Boxer (CA), directs the VA to examine the gender differences in the prevalence and diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other combat-related conditions.    » read more »

Legislation Encourages Donations to Feed Hungry Before Thanksgiving

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate has designated this Thursday, November 19 – exactly one week before Thanksgiving Day -- as “Feed America Day”.

Senator Tom Udall, a sponsor of the bipartisan “Feed America Day” initiative, said that in the spirit of Thanksgiving, the bill encourages Americans to skip two meals this Thursday before Thanksgiving, and instead donate the money they would have spent or food to a local charity or food bank for the hungry.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The U.S. Senate has unanimously approved a measure that will make a major investment in jobs in Great Falls and will significantly improve veterans’ health care, Senators Jon Tester and Max Baucus announced today.

Tester, a member of the influential Senate Appropriations Committee, and Baucus secured the funding for Malmstrom Air Force Base and for better veterans’ services in the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) -The U.S. Senate has approved the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations spending bill which includes more than $9 million for the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

This funding, which was supported by Senators Judd Gregg (R-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Olympia J. Snowe (R-ME), and Susan Collins (R-ME), includes $7.1 million to be used for security improvements at Gate 2.    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – By a vote of 100-0, the U.S. Senate today approved the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2010, including $73.55 million U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) helped secure to upgrade Naval Station Newport.

“This federal funding will allow the Navy to make critical renovations at Naval Station Newport and improve readiness and operational support for our troops,” said Reed, a member of both the Armed Services and Appropriations Committees. “This federal investment is vitally important to the continued presence and growth of Rhode Island’s military facilities and defense industry, which play an important role in our state’s economy.”    » read more »

November 17, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a member of the Senate Military Construction Appropriations Subcommittee, announced that the $398.8 million for military installations in Washington state passed the full Senate. The funding will be used to make improvements to a number of installations that facilitate training and care for service members and their families.

The funding is also expected to create family-wage construction jobs in communities throughout the state. The funding was included in the Fiscal Year 2010 Military Construction Appropriations bill, which passed the Senate today 100-0.    » read more »