Robert Casey

Hearing on Child Nutrition Reauthorization

November 17, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today urged his Senate colleagues to take action to end hunger as the Senate begins to debate the reauthorization of U.S. Child Nutrition Programs. Senator Casey participated in a hearing of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry entitled “Reauthorization of U.S. Child Nutrition Programs: Opportunities to Fight Hunger and Improve Child Health.”    » read more »

USDA report shows highest level of U.S. food insecurity since report initiated in 1995; UN conference held on combating international hunger; Casey launches statewide “Witnesses to Hunger” exhibit

November 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- As the USDA released new data showing that one in seven American households had difficulty in putting enough food on the table and the World Summit on Food Security convened in Rome, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) addressed the urgent need to address food insecurity at home and abroad. Senator Casey also launched a statewide Witnesses to Hunger exhibit to document hunger and poverty.    » 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 »

November 7, 2009 -- SHANKSVILLE, Pa. – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today joined Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell, Senator Bob Casey and the families of the Flight 93 heroes to break ground on the Flight 93 National Memorial. Senator Arlen Specter and Congressmen John Murtha and Bill Shuster had representatives there on their behalf.

“On behalf of a grateful nation, we say to the men and women of Flight 93 who gave their lives on September 11, 2001 to prevent terrorists from attacking our nation’s capital ‘We will never forget you,’” Salazar said. “This national memorial will always stand to honor you and to remind future generations that you fought and were victorious over the forces of evil.”    » read more »

Underscores Need For Safety Net, Recovery Efforts; Unemployment Insurance Extension Signed Into Law Today; Casey COBRA Health Care Subsidy Introduced

November 6, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- Following the announcement that the U.S. unemployment rate climbed to 10.2% in October, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement on improving the safety net for unemployed workers and the need for job creation initiatives:    » read more »

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- At a hearing today of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) urged passage of the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which would prohibit workplace discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Senator Casey is a cosponsor of ENDA.

Senator Casey released the following statement:

“It is long past time to require employers in the private sector to respect the rights and dignities of their employees and to provide employees with remedies in federal courts when they are the victims of egregious and insidious discrimination based on their sexual orientation or gender identity.    » read more »

Bill Would Extend and Expand COBRA Subsidy Included in Recovery Act; Subsidy Set to Expire on December 1 without Legislative Action

November 5, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced a bill today to extend the “COBRA” subsidy which helps unemployed workers and their families afford temporary health care coverage. Many Families will lose this temporary assistance which will begin to expire on Dec. 1, 2009, if Congress fails to act. The bill is also cosponsored by Sen. Al Franken (D-MN).    » read more »

Casey’s homebuyer tax credit fraud prevention provisions included

November 4, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today applauded Senate passage of legislation to extend unemployment insurance for laid-off workers who have exhausted their benefits, to expand and extend the homebuyer tax credit and provide relief to businesses with operating losses. The legislation must now be reconciled with the House before being sent to the president.    » 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 »

October 29, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Following an announcement by the U.N. Food Agency of a record one billion people in the world who go hungry, U.S. Senator Bob Casey today took to the Senate floor to urge his Senate colleagues to take action on global food security and pass the Global Food Security Act.

“This is a humanitarian crisis of immense proportions that we can go a long way towards solving,” Senator Casey said. “This crisis is solvable with a combination of assistance and emphasis on providing small farmers around the world with the know-how, technology and means to provide for themselves.”    » 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 »

October 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Following the release of a Treasury Department Inspector General report detailing fraud related to the first-time homebuyer tax credit, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) introduced legislation (S.1930) to add protections and increase oversight to the program.

“The first-time homebuyer tax credit has proven to be a popular and successful effort that has spurred the housing market and provided tax relief to 1.4 million Americans,” said Senator Casey. “Despite the success of the program, there are significant and troubling issues with its oversight. My legislation would help to fix these problems as we look to extend the tax credit to continue providing economic relief.”    » read more »

October 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- Following the release today of new data showing the Pennsylvania unemployment rate for September at 8.8 percent, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) released the following statement:

“This news is another reminder of the toll taken by the recession.

“Although the Pennsylvania unemployment rate is one percentage point lower than the national rate, over half a million Pennsylvanians remain unemployed. A significant number of these people have been out of work for months and tens of thousands have had their unemployment benefits expire. That is why I hope that Congress acts quickly to pass a robust package to extend unemployment benefits.    » read more »

Last month, Sen. Casey endorsed legislation to provide a $250 payment

October 14, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today welcomed the support of President Obama for legislation to provide a one-time payment of $250 to Social Security recipients to offset the expected lack of a cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Last month, Senator Casey cosponsored the Emergency Senior Citizens Relief Act that would provide such a payment to Social Security recipients.    » read more »