Ranking Member's Press
SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY STATEMENT ON THE DEFEAT OF ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOR AMERICA1S LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS
Tonight, America1s seniors and low-income residents were told that they1re being left out in the cold this winter. While Americans are facing some of the highest energy costs in decades and oil companies are raking in record profits, a measure to increase funding for energy assistance for theneediest was defeated on the Senate floor for the fourth time this year. Americans deserve better than tax cuts for the wealthy, they deserve to have their priorities heard and to stay warm in the cold winte… Continue Reading
11.17.05
KENNEDY CHARGES REPUBLICANS WITH MISPLACED PRIORITIES LABOR H BILL IS A TURKEY THAT WON’T FLY
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senators Edward M. Kennedy, Tom Harkin and Dick Durbin held a press conference to discuss the Labor HHS Appropriations conference report. Republican conferees stripped funding for avian flu preparedness, and the final proposal also lacks adequate resources for key education, health care, and job training initiatives. "This bill affects the lives of every single American, and it lets them down. It fails our commitments to the education of our children, to our health care, to t… Continue Reading
11.17.05
SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY STATEMENT ON THE DEFEAT OF ENERGY ASSISTANCE FOR AMERICA1S LOW-INCOME RESIDENTS
Tonight, America1s seniors and low-income residents were told that they1re being left out in the cold this winter. While Americans are facing some of the highest energy costs in decades and oil companies are raking in record profits, a measure to increase funding for energy assistance for theneediest was defeated on the Senate floor for the fourth time this year. Americans deserve better than tax cuts for the wealthy, they deserve to have their priorities heard and to stay warm in the cold winte… Continue Reading
11.16.05
KENNEDY: EEOC CHANGES WILL FURTHER UNDERMINE ENFORCEMENT OF CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS
Washington, DC: Today the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission approved proposed changes to the form that employers use to track the race and ethnicity of their employees. Senator Kennedy sent the following letter to EEOC Chair Cari Dominguez yesterday urging her not to make these changes prior to the vote. There is a thirty day review period before the decision becomes final. "I am deeply disappointed at the outcome of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's vote," Senator Kennedy sa… Continue Reading
11.16.05
BIPARTISAN MEASURE WILL BRING RETIREMENT SECURITY TO MILLIONS
Washington, DC: Today the Senate passed by 97-2 the Pension Stability and Transparency Act, a bipartisan measure that would bring retirement security to millions of Americans. In the past five years 700 pension plans have gone into crisis and millions of workers have lost $8 billion in pension benefits that they had been promised. The bill, sponsored by Senators Kennedy, Enzi, Baucus and Grassley, requires companies to protect their pensions with rules that are fair and predictable and includes … Continue Reading
11.16.05
ADVOCATE FOR THE POOR RECEIVES THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD FOR HIS WORK IN LOUISIANA SENATOR KENNEDY HONORS THE LIFE AND LEGACY OF HIS BROTHER WHO WOULD HAVE CELEBRATED HIS 80TH BIRTHDAY
Washington, DC- Today Senator Edward M. Kennedy honored Stephen Bradberry, an advocate for the poor from Louisiana, with the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights Award. The event will celebrate the life and legacy of his brother, Robert F. Kennedy on what would be his 80th birthday. The ceremony featured Mrs. Robert F. Kennedy and historian Douglas Brinkley and speeches by Senator Edward Kennedy and Senator Barack Obama. For the first time ever the RFK Human Rights award was given to an American for … Continue Reading
11.15.05
KENNEDY LAUNCHES ANTI-WAL-MART AGENDA (202) SUPPORTS NEW GRASS ROOTS DOCUMENTARY ON THE HIGH COST OF LOW PRICE
WASHINGTON - Today Senator Kennedy and Representative DeLauro joined filmmaker, Robert Greenwald, and the Co-Director of the Campaign for America's Future Robert Borosage to discuss the impact of the Wal-Mart economy as detailed in a new film called WAL-MART: The High Cost of Low Price. Senator Kennedy detailed their efforts in Congress to improve the working conditions of WAL-MART employees and low-wage workers across the country. He heard firsthand about the devastating impact of Wal-Mart on c… Continue Reading
11.15.05
KENNEDY STATEMENT ON THE NEW MEDICARE DRUG PLAN
"The new Medicare drug plan that starts today will help some seniors, but it won't work for many more - and I believe that America can do better for the millions of seniors struggling too make ends meet. With enrollment now starting, there's still too much confusion and too few answers for seniors as they make critical decisions about their financial and medical future. It is not too late to make this program better for America's seniors who work hard and play by the rules all their lives expect… Continue Reading
11.15.05
KENNEDY ON REPUBLICAN CUTS TO FLU FUNDS FUNDS STRIPPED FROM LABOR H FUNDING
Once again, this Administration and its Republican allies in Congress have looked at what needs to be done to deal with a major health threat -- and decided to do the opposite. It's unbelievable that with the threat of a life-threatening flu epidemic looming over America, the Republican Congress is denying the resources we need to keep our families safe and healthy. The nation waited five long years for the Administration to release a plan for pandemic flu. We can't afford to wait yet again for … Continue Reading
11.07.05
KENNEDY, RELIGIOUS LEADERS DENOUNCE $5.15 MINIMUM WAGE AS MORAL OUTRAGE IGNITE GRASS ROOT CAMPAIGN ACROSS THE COUNTRY
Washington, DC- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy joined national religious leaders to announce the "Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign." This grassroots effort will team religious and community leaders with legislators to do right by the American worker and finally raise the minimum wage through ballot initiatives throughout the country. Frustrated by federal inaction, the "Let Justice Roll Living Wage Campaign" teamed over 50 religious and community groups with legislators to fight for an in… Continue Reading
11.03.05
KENNEDY, ENZI, LANDRIEU WIN SUPPORT FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IMPACTED BY KATRINA SENATE OVERWHELMINGLY DEFEATS EFFORT TO REOPEN THE IDEOLOGICAL VOUCHERS DEBATE
Washington, DC: Today Senators Kennedy, Enzi, Landrieu, Dodd, and Alexander were successful in their effort to provide one-time, temporary impact aid to local school districts and private schools impacted by Katrina. The measure also cuts fees on student loans so that college is more affordable for all Americans, taking advantage of extra savings created by the underlying bill through cuts to banks subsidies in the student loan program. Prior to the voice vote in support of their amendment, the … Continue Reading
11.02.05
KENNEDY: BUSH FLU PLAN INCOMPLETE
"As in so many other areas, the Bush Administration gets a grade of 'incomplete' for its flu plan. After all the buildup and the long wait, the American people had a right to expect a comprehensive plan. But all the Administration released was a glossy brochure and a plan for a single agency, the Department of Health and Human Services - and even that was missing its most important element, the actual operational plans for responding to a pandemic epidemic. The Administration has called for swe… Continue Reading
11.01.05
STATEMENT OF SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY RELEASE OF THE ADMINISTRATION'S FLU PLAN
Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy attended the announcement by President Bush at the National Institute of Health where the President set forth an initial plan for preparing the United States for a pandemic flu outbreak: "The President's announcement is a long-awaited first step toward a comprehensive pandemic flu plan that America needs and deserves. Democrats have sounded the call for a comprehensive plan and today, the President answered. The President's plan needs to be stronger to ensure t… Continue Reading
11.01.05
KENNEDY AND ENZI OFFER RELIEF FOR LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICTS IMPACTED BY KATRINA AND A CUT ON THE FEES FOR STUDENT LOANS FOR ALL STUDENTS FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS STILL NOT PROVIDED ASSISTANCE TO KATRINA SCHOOLS
Washington, DC: Today Senators Kennedy and Enzi offered an amendment to the reconciliation bill that provides one-time, temporary impact aid to local school districts and private schools impacted by Katrina. The measure also cuts fees on student loans so that college is more affordable for all Americans. The amendment takes advantage of extra savings created by the underlying bill through cuts to banks subsidies in the student loan program. Over 370,000 students have been displaced by the hurri… Continue Reading
10.27.05
KENNEDY’S FLU PLAN PASSES THE SENATE
Washington, DC- Today, Senator Edward M. Kennedy released the following statement on thepassage of his flu plan in the Senate: This is a major step forward in our efforts to protect America from the deadly threat of avian flu. This amendment is necessary because the Bush Administration is lagging far behind inresponding to this looming danger. The Administration has failed to act, but Congress has answered the call. The flu threat is dangerous and real, and we are determined to do everything we… Continue Reading
10.27.05
SENATE FUNDS KENNEDY PLAN TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE IN AMERICAN HISTORY AND CIVICS
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Kennedy's amendment to address the underachievement of American students in U.S. history and civics passed in the Senate as part of the Labor-H Appropriations bill. Earlier this year, Senators Kennedy and Alexander offered S. 860, the American History Achievement Act, to encourage states to make progress on their U.S. history and civics standards, elevate the standing of these subjects in school curriculum, and promote better teaching in classrooms. "Instillin… Continue Reading
10.27.05
SENATOR KENNEDY’S PLAN TO RAISE STANDARDS IN AMERICAN HISTORY PASSES THE SENATE
Washington, D.C. - Today, Senators Kennedy's amendment to address the underachievement of American students in history passed in the Senate as part of the Labor-H Appropriations bill. Senators Kennedy and Alexander offered this bill, acknowledging that students still consistently score lower on American history than on any other course. The American History Achievement Act would encourage states to make progress on their U.S. history standards, elevate the standing of American history in curric… Continue Reading
10.27.05
BINGAMAN – KENNEDY AMENDMENT BOOSTS FUNDING FOR EDUCATION INITIATIVES THAT BENEFIT HISPANIC STUDENTS
WASHINGTON - U.S. Senators Edward Kennedy and Jeff Bingaman today said they are pleased that an amendment Bingaman wrote and Kennedy cosponsored boosts funding for migrant education, Hispanic Serving Institutions and other initiatives has been made part of an education spending bill that passed the Senate today. The proposal, which sets aside a total of $30 million for a variety of education programs, was made part of the fiscal year 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropri… Continue Reading
10.26.05
SENATOR EDWARD M. KENNEDY STATEMENT ON HOUSE RECONCILIATION BILL IN COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION AND THE WORKFORCE
"Over the last four years, the rich have gotten richer, while four million more Americans fell into poverty. Families are facing a 60% increase in energy costs to heat their homes this winter, the nation is running a record deficit, we are facing billions of dollars in costs to fulfill our commitment to rebuild the gulf coast, and last month we had the highest increase in inflation since 1980. America deserves a government as good as its people, and it's time we give the American people the supp… Continue Reading
10.26.05
***PRESS CONFERENCE TODAY*** KENNEDY OFFERS AMENDMENT TO ADDRESS AVIAN FLU Senator Kennedy Continues Push for National Preparedness Plan and Appropriate Funding for Safety Measures
WASHINGTON, DC- TODAY, Senator Edward M. Kennedy and Senator Tom Harkin will offer an amendment to the Department of Labor and Health and Human Services appropriations bill to help ensure that the United States is prepared for a pandemic flu outbreak. Senator Kennedy joined Senator Harkin to attach an amendment to the Department of Defense appropriations bill earlier this month and has worked with Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid in offering a bill to outline the safeguards and funding that m… Continue Reading
