Senate

November 18, 2009 -- Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) issued the following statement tonight after the release of the Senate health care reform legislation.

“This bill meets the test of history, reflecting the ideals that drove Ted Kennedy to lead the fight for health care reform for a generation and inspired me to take up his torch this summer. It’s a comprehensive and thorough approach that comes in under budget and finally makes stable, affordable, quality care available to every American. It has been an honor to work with Leader Reid and Chairman Baucus in this process, and I look forward to an open and inclusive debate on the Senate floor.    » read more »

“Ninety colleagues here voted for the bill this spring. Why wouldn’t you join us today?”

November 18, 2009 -- Today, Senate Republicans blocked Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd’s (D-CT) attempt to pass legislation to stop credit card interest rate hikes.

Dodd went to the Senate floor to ask for consent for the Senate to take up and pass his Credit Card Rate Freeze Act, which would prevent credit card companies from hiking interest rates, fees and finance charges on customers’ existing balances until Credit CARD Act protections take effect in February. Regrettably, Republican Senator Thad Cochran (R-MS) objected to Dodd’s request, blocking the bill from Senate passage.    » read more »

Procedural Vote Cast in Order to Amend and Improve Health Reform Package, Senator says

November 21, 2009 -- Washington – In a rare late Saturday night session, Senator Kent Conrad tonight voted to move the Senate health reform proposal to the floor so that the entire Senate could formally begin to debate the legislation. In an important procedural step, the Senate voted 60-39 in favor of moving the legislation to the floor.

“The proposal put forward by Senator Reid is an important step toward delivering health care reform that lowers cost, expands coverage and improves health outcomes for all North Dakotans.

“Still, I believe further improvements can be made to this legislation, which is why I voted to move the bill to the floor for full consideration by the Senate.    » read more »

November 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has approved $2,727,700 in federal funding for clean energy programs in Pennsylvania. The funding is a portion of the $3.2 billion allotted to the DOE’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) Program as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“This funding is great news for Pennsylvania and is a crucial step towards creating a more sustainable and environmentally friendly America,” Senator Casey said. “With this support, communities can focus on what they can do to reduce their energy use and create green jobs.”    » read more »

November 21, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Tonight the Senate voted to begin debate on their heath care bill by a vote of 60 to 39. Senator Tom Carper (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response:

“This bill, created by the merger of two Senate bills, deserves to be debated by the full Senate when we reconvene following Thanksgiving weekend.

“Is it perfect? No. Can we make it better? Yes we can, and we’re sure going to try.

“It is my hope that the full Senate will pass an even better bill by Christmas than the one we’ll be starting with now.    » read more »

Medicare, Basic Health provisions included. Cantwell pledges to further strengthen legislation in floor debate

November 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Health care reform legislation introduced today by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) includes major initiatives on coverage, quality and cost control authored by Senator Maria Cantwell (D-WA).    » read more »

Increased cooperation will generate economic growth, U.S. jobs

November 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Maria Cantwell (D-WA) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) today hailed agreements reached by the United States and China including greater energy efficiency, expansion of renewable energy, acceleration of electric vehicle development, advancement of clean coal technologies, promotion of shale gas production, and creation of a joint clean-energy research center.    » read more »

On becoming the longest serving member of Congress in history; 20,774 days – 56 years, 320 days

November 18, 2009 -- “I am so deeply grateful to the people of the great State of West Virginia for demonstrating such confidence in me and enabling me to reach this momentous milestone. My only regret is that my beloved wife, companion and confidant, my dear Erma, is not here with me to witness this wonderful day. I know that she is looking down from the heavens smiling at me and saying congratulations my dear Robert -- but don’t let it go to your head.”    » read more »

Closes Investigation

November 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. -- After months of investigation into the circumstances surrounding the appointment and seating of Senator Roland W. Burris, the Senate Select Committee on Ethics has closed its inquiry and cleared the Senator of any legal wrongdoing.

In a "public letter of qualified admonition," the Senate Ethics Committee outlined the specific areas of concern that it investigated, and conclusively found no "actionable violations of the law" occurred.

Earlier this year, Senator Burris was also investigated and subsequently cleared of any wrongdoing by the Sangamon County State's Attorney in Springfield, Illinois.    » read more »

November 21, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following tonight’s vote by the U.S. Senate to open debate on health reform legislation, U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) issued the following statement:    » read more »

Brown Joined by Ohio Dept. of Health Director to Give Update on H1N1 in Ohio, Release County-by-County Report on Vaccine Distribution

November 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) held a news briefing on H1N1 influenza and the federal response. They were joined by Dr. Alvin D. Jackson, Director of the Ohio Department of Health (ODH).

"We can never be too prepared for the spread of the H1N1 virus," Brown said. "In order to combat this quickly-spreading virus, we need to continue close coordination between state and federal governments. Preventing the spread of H1N1 and keeping Ohioans safe is our top priority."    » read more »

November 18, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) issued the following statement in response to the Senate health insurance reform proposal:

"Today, we are one step closer to passing meaningful health insurance reform that will lower costs and improve medical care. The legislation will help tame out-of-control premium increases and hold health insurers to higher standards. This legislation will end insurance industry practices that limit medical care or deny coverage based on pre-existing conditions or gender.    » read more »

November 20, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) made the following statement regarding the news that California’s unemployment rate increased to 12.5 percent in October:

“The news that California’s unemployment rate rose to 12.5 percent last month is another sign that too many of our families are still struggling – and we must take further action to put people back to work.    » read more »

November 19, 2009 -- "This is an important moment for our country. If you have health insurance, this bill gives you the security of knowing it will be there for you. If you don't have health insurance, you'll be able to get affordable coverage through the exchange, which includes the public option.

Ultimately, we are expanding health care to cover more than 94 percent of Americans, while cutting the federal deficit by an estimated $127 billion over 10 years.

When this bill is signed into law, America’s families will see immediate improvements.

For example:

If you get sick, your insurance company won’t be able to kick you off your plan because they no longer want to cover you, and they will no longer be able to put a limit on your coverage.    » read more »

November 21, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today voted to bring up key health insurance reform legislation in the Senate for debate and amendment. Today’s vote (60-39) is the first procedural vote in the process to allow the Senate to consider The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.

The bill takes several key steps that would both contain skyrocketing health care costs and extend health insurance to the 46 million Americans who currently do not have it.    » read more »