Arlen Specter

Sense of the Senate Resolution seeks to bring sunshine into the courtroom

Washington, D.C. -- November 5, 2009 -- Today, Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), along with seven colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced a Sense of the Senate Resolution urging the Supreme Court to permit television coverage of open Court proceedings. The resolution seeks to open the Supreme Court’s doors so that more Americans can see the process by which the Court reaches critical decisions of law that affect this country and everyday Americans.

The resolution is cosponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Russell Feingold (D-Wis.), Ted Kaufman (D-Del.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.).    » read more »

Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act helps struggling Americans, first-time homebuyers and grows the economy

Washington, D.C. -- November 4, 2009 -- Today, Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) commented on the passage of the Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act. The bill provides 14 weeks of additional Federal-State Unemployment Insurance Program (UI) benefits to all states. In addition, it provides another six weeks of benefits to recipients in states such as Pennsylvania where unemployment exceeds 8.5 percent. The bill passed the Senate unanimously.    » read more »

Bill, Supported By White House and Media; Organizations, Addresses National Security Concerns and Creates a Legal Protection for Journalists Guarding Sources' Anonymity

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senators Charles E. Schumer (D-NY) and Arlen Specter (D-PA) today released a revised version of the Free Flow of Information Act which has received backing from the White House and the newspaper industry. The bill includes new provisions that further protect national security interests while providing legal protection for journalists guarding the anonymity of their sources.    » read more »

Over $5.5 million to PA for infrastructure improvements and Department of Interior projects including Flight 93 Memorial

October 30, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey announced that the U.S. Congress has passed an appropriations bill that includes millions in federal funding for several Pennsylvania interior and environmental projects. The funding is contained in the Department of the Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 which passed both the House and Senate on Thursday. The bill will now be sent to the President for his signature.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- October 27, 2009 -- U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $233,184,232 to four companies in Pennsylvania to invest in Smart Grid Technology. Federal funding is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“I am pleased that this federal funding has been allocated to energy providers in Pennsylvania to reduce consumer costs and invest in infrastructure,” said Senator Casey. “This funding will allow Pennsylvania to continue to be a leader in conserving energy, increasing efficiency and harnessing innovative, renewable energy sources.”    » read more »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Bob Casey and Arlen Specter today announced that the U.S. Department of Energy has awarded $233,184,232 to four companies in Pennsylvania to invest in Smart Grid Technology. Federal funding is provided through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

“I am pleased that this federal funding has been allocated to energy providers in Pennsylvania to reduce consumer costs and invest in infrastructure,” said Senator Casey. “This funding will allow Pennsylvania to continue to be a leader in conserving energy, increasing efficiency and harnessing innovative, renewable energy sources.”    » read more »

Suggests Proposal of $4,000 Tax Credit Over Two Years Could Increase New Hires

Washington, D.C.
-- October 7, 2009 -- Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) today wrote to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) urging them to consider legislation that would provide immediate tax incentives to employers who create new jobs or provide employees with more hours worked. A copy of the letter is attached.    » read more »

October 7, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter and Bob Casey applauded Senate passage of the concurrent resolution encouraging the Government of Iran to grant consular access by the Government of Switzerland to the three American citizens that have been held in Iran since July 31, 2009 when they were detained after reportedly crossing into Iranian territory while hiking in Iraqi Kurdistan.

The resolution also encourages the Government of Iran to allow the three young people to communicate by telephone with their families in the United States.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- September 30, 2009 -- Today, Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.), member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, made the following comments regarding the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act introduced today by Senators Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and John Kerry (D-Mass.):

“I support legislation to create clean domestic energy and address climate change in a way that is economically responsible, environmentally effective, and encourages action by other countries to achieve these goals. I believe the Kerry-Boxer bill can be structured, with Committee and floor amendments, to meet these goals subject to the following considerations:    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- June 18, 2009 -- U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) said today that the International Trade Commission should recommend robust import relief following its conclusion announced this morning that a surge of imports of tires from China has injured domestic tire industry workers.    » read more »

Levin, Grassley, Specter Release GAO Report on SEC Actions to Curb Stock Failures to Deliver and Manipulative Naked Short Selling

June 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON – Today, Senator Carl Levin, D-Mich., Chairman of the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations; Senator Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, Ranking Member of the Finance Committee; and Senator Arlen Specter, D-Penn., Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, released a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report analyzing recent actions taken by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to curb failures to deliver securities and manipulative naked short selling.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. - May 26, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) made the following comments regarding President Obama’s nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court of the United States:

“I applaud the nomination of Judge Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. Her confirmation would add needed diversity in two ways: the first Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the high court. While her record suggests excellent educational and professional qualifications, now it is up to the Senate to discharge its constitutional duty for a full and fair confirmation process.”

Source: Senator Arlen Specter

Washington, D.C. -- May 24, 2009 -- Today, U.S. Senator Arlen Specter (D-Pa.) wrote President Barack Obama urging him to clarify the decision made by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to terminate the Philadelphia School District’s Universal Feeding pilot program.

“While I appreciate the administration’s offers of assistance to the Philadelphia School District as it transitions out of the pilot program, the unacceptable result of the transition to paper applications will be children missing meals,” Senator Specter wrote. “If your administration does, in fact, intend to end the program this school year, I would appreciate a clear statement to that effect, so that I and others can introduce immediate legislation to extend the program.”    » read more »

May 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Arlen Specter (D-PA) and Bob Casey (D-PA) announced today that the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) will allocate $142,720,815 in federal funding to transportation projects in Pennsylvania. The funds are enabled by the recently enacted American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

“I am pleased the stimulus funds are benefiting Pennsylvania’s important transportation projects,” Specter said. “By advancing our roadways and mass transit infrastructure, this funding will reduce congestion, as well as our nation’s greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on foreign oil.”    » read more »

April 28, 2009 -- "It's clear to us that the right-wing conservatives in control of the leadership of the Republican party in Pennsylvania left Senator Specter long ago and we are pleased that he has decided to do the same.

"Just as he did with his leadership on the economic stimulus bill, Senator Specter has once again demonstrated the political courage it takes to put the interests of the working families of Pennsylvania ahead of partisanship. We have always had tremendous common ground with Senator Specter on issues important to working families including the need for reform to our nation's labor laws.

"We look forward to continuing our long history of working with Senator Specter to create positive change for the working families of Pennsylvania."

Source: SEIU