Senate

Stress Langley's Capacity & Facilities

November 12, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Senators Jim Webb (D-VA) and Mark Warner (D-VA) and Representatives Glenn Nye (D-VA), Bobby Scott (D-VA) and Rob Wittman (R-VA) this week requested a Virginia delegation staff briefing on Air Force plans for future basing of the F-22 Raptor aircraft fleet. In a letter to the Secretary of the Air Force and the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, the Virginia lawmakers emphasized that Langley Air Force Base (LAFB) in Hampton is a “world-class installation” with the excess operational capacity to support increased numbers of the F-22.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen announced today that the City of Manchester has been awarded a $1,049,400 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the Department of Energy (DOE) through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

"Investing in energy efficiency and conservation will create jobs, bring down energy costs for consumers, and help communities take control of their energy use," said Shaheen. "This money will help Manchester become more energy efficient and create jobs, both of which are essential for economic recovery."    » read more »

November 12, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) - U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen announced today that Itaconix of Hampton Falls as been awarded $1,861,488 by the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Energy to research and develop technologies to produce clean, renewable energy. Itaconix will use the funding to develop a chemical compound derived from biomass wood pellets that will replace the petroleum-based chemicals used in products such as detergents and diapers.    » read more »

Chemical Used in Countless Products Including Baby Bottles, Canned Formula and Canned Food

November 13, 2009 -- On the heels of a new Consumer Reports’ study showing that the toxic chemical bisphenol-A is now in a wider range of products used and consumed by children and in higher concentrations than previously thought, U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer today unveiled his legislation that bans BPA in food and beverage containers marketed to kids aged three and under.    » read more »

Senators say returning soldiers' unemployment rate too high and say benefits should include apprenticeship and job training, not just college

November 12, 2009 -- (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), a senior member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mike Johanns (R-NE), today introduced the Post-9/11 Veterans’ Job Training Act to include job training and apprenticeship opportunities for veterans who have served our country since the attacks of September 11, 2001.    » read more »

"Co-Sponsors the Growing Safe Food Act to Protect Families by Strengthening Food Safety Practices"

November 13, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley announced today that he has co-sponsored legislation to increase food safety by assisting local farmers and processors with new food safety regulations. The Growing Safe Food Act will help educate and train farmers and food processors about the best safety practices to ensure that the nation’s food supply is safe for citizens.    » read more »

Senator Landrieu gets commitment from FDA Commissioner Dr. Hamburg in phone call today.

11/13/2009 -- WASHINGTON -- Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed to halt a proposed plan to ban Gulf Coast oysters that are not subject to post-harvest processing. Sen. Landrieu received the news in a phone call with FDA Commissioner Dr. Peggy Hamburg earlier today.

Sen. Landrieu has been a staunch opponent of the FDA regulation, and has organized several calls and meetings urging top FDA officials to reconsider their proposed action.    » read more »

Kerry Proposal Builds on Successful Best Practices in Massachusetts Health Care Reform

11/13/2009 --
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John Kerry (D-Mass.), a senior member of the Finance Committee, has written Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) requesting Kerry’s proposal to provide affordable insurance plans for the middle class be included in the health reform legislation that comes to the senate floor.

Kerry’s plan, often referred to as “prudent purchasing,” would allow state-run health insurance marketplaces to negotiate with private insurance companies to select the best, most affordable options for consumers.    » read more »

Letter Authored by Sen. Harkin (D-Iowa) Pushes for Emission Allowances That Don't Punish Mid-Western Enegy Consumers

Washington, D.C. -- Nov 12, 2009 – U.S. Senator Al Franken (D-Minn.) today joined a group of 14 colleagues in asking Senate leaders to make sure that any climate and energy legislation does not unfairly or disproportionately raise electricity costs in certain regions of the country.    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Assistant Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that the Department of Energy (DOE) has awarded a $2,475,900 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) to McHenry County through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help improve energy efficiency, reduce energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and create jobs locally.

“Creating jobs and securing the future of our planet are two of the aims of the Recovery Act,” said Durbin. “This funding will make a significant investment in the effort to reduce the carbon footprint of residents and businesses in the Chicagoland area, while creating the good-paying jobs that will drive our economy in the years to come.”    » read more »

Fed Will Require Customers’ Permission Before Banks Can Charge Overdraft Fees

November 12, 2009 -- Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-CT) welcomed today’s release of a new Federal Reserve rule that will require banks to get a customer’s consent before enrolling them in an overdraft coverage program. Banks use these programs allow customers to overdraw their accounts without their knowledge, and then slap them with fees of upwards of $30 for this “courtesy.”    » read more »

Ashtabula Facility Harnesses Power of Wind to Boost Economy, Senator says

November 13, 2009 -- Luverne – Senator Kent Conrad today met with leaders from Otter Tail Power Company to brief them on the status of Energy legislation in Congress and discuss the importance of North Dakota based wind energy projects.

“North Dakota’s success in the clean-energy economy is exciting. Nowhere is that success more evident than here in Finley where they are harvesting much more than crops. The Ashtabula facility is harvesting the power of the wind to create renewable electricity,” Senator Conrad said.

The new Ashtabula II wind farm consists of 35 turbines with the potential to produce up to 52.5 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 15,000 homes.    » read more »

North Dakota Has Potential to Be Nation's Powerhouse, Conrad says

November 12, 2009 -- Langdon – Senator Kent Conrad today met with management and employees of the Langdon Wind Energy Center and applauded their commitment to generating clean energy and creating jobs in Cavalier County.

“Anyone who has stood on the plains has felt the tremendous force of North Dakota’s winds. The Langdon Wind Energy Center is harnessing this clean, natural energy to power homes throughout the region,” Senator Conrad said. “This project is yet one more example of how we can use North Dakota’s powerful winds to reduce America’s dependence on foreign oil, keep energy prices affordable, and grow our state’s economy with additional jobs.”    » read more »

November 13, 2009 -- PITTSBURGH, PA- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today spoke at Carnegie Mellon University about Pennsylvania’s proud industrial and manufacturing heritage, natural resources and skilled workforce as a backdrop for the state’s transition to a clean energy economy. Senator Casey highlighted the important role Pennsylvania can play as our nation moves forward to regain control of our economy, our national security and our energy future.    » read more »

Carper, Kaufman, Castle urge Army Corps of Engineers to reconsider plan

November 12, 2009 -- WILMINGTON, DE – In a November 10 letter to Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army Corps of Engineers (ACOE), Delaware’s congressional delegation objects to the Corps’ plan to proceed with the deepening of the Delaware River without required permits, urging her to reconsider.

Bypassing a congressional directive that requires the Corps to obtain appropriate permits from Delaware, the Corps intends to commence a $300 million project as early as next month to deepen the Delaware River shipping channel – a project that has not yet received environmental clearance from the state.    » read more »