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Arlen Specter was a prominent American politician who served as a U.S. Senator from Pennsylvania for 30 years, from 1981 to 2011. Originally a member of the Republican Party, he switched to the Democratic Party in 2009. During his tenure, Specter was known for his moderate positions and played a key role in various significant legislative efforts, including judicial nominations and health care reform. He was involved in high-profile hearings, including those related to the 9/11 attacks and the confirmation of Supreme Court justices.
the health and future of Pennsylvania's veterans has been a longstanding concern of mine. The first veteran I knew was my father, Harry Specter, a veteran of WWI. My father received terrific care from the VA following his service to our…
I have sought recognition to introduce legislation titled The Weekends Without Hunger Act. This legislation will ensure that children who rely on free and reduced-price school meals have access to nutritious meals on the weekends and…
I seek recognition today to introduce an important piece of legislation entitled the Student Loan Forgiveness and Repayment Assistance Act of 2010. This legislation is in response to the increasingly high cost of postsecondary education…
as I have expressed to Senator Harkin and to Secretary Duncan, I am concerned that the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, SAFRA, may not adequately provide for the replacement of the early college awareness, default prevention…
I have a few observations on what we should do as Senators, not as Democrats or Republicans, to tend to the Nation's business in these difficult days. Partisanship ran high in 2005, with Republican threats to invoke the nuclear or…
The issue as to what has happened in Arizona has caused a great deal of concern in many quarters.
My State has a considerable Latino population, and I hear a lot of concern and a lot of anger.
There is no doubt that NAFTA has benefited Mexico. Has NAFTA benefited the United States?
But the question looms, and there is still a lot of undercurrent of dissatisfaction with NAFTA from the start.
The issue of mine safety is a gigantic one. We tend to downplay it until there is a tragedy, and then we're all up in arms about it.
I have sought recognition to comment briefly on a hearing which will be held by the Criminal Law Subcommittee of the Committee on the Judiciary on May 4 concerning allegations of improper practices on Wall Street. In light of the…
I have sought recognition to vigorously, enthusiastically support the nomination of U.S. district court judge Thomas I. Vanaskie for the Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Judge Vanaskie is someone known to me personally for the…
I have been a consistent proponent of aggressive preparedness efforts at the Federal, State and local levels to reduce the threat of an influenza pandemic.
I seek recognition today to commend the Pennsylvania State University and the many students across the Commonwealth who each year play a very important role in the fight against cancer. The Pennsylvania State University IFC/Panhellenic…
I think there really has to be some break point where we stop the retaliation.
It is my hope that we will find one day soon an opportunity to break the gridlock which has engulfed the Senate for some time now on the judicial issues.
The business about the filibusters is being carried to just ridiculous extremes.
I have sought recognition to introduce the Surreptitious Video Surveillance Act of 2010, on behalf of Senator Feingold, Senator Kaufman, and myself. This is a bill which I submit is necessary to protect our citizens from unwarranted…
the Court, by deciding not to decide, is very deferential to Executive power.
I filed a bill to compel the Supreme Court to take the warrantless wiretap case.
I have sought recognition to urge passage of the bill I have just introduced, the Fair Access to Veterans Benefits Act of 2010. Its main provision would require the United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims, known as the Veterans…
I have sought recognition to comment briefly about the prospective vacancy in the Supreme Court of the United States with the resignation of Justice Stevens. I do so to urge the President to select a nominee without regard to any threats…
The work that you're doing has tremendous impact, generally, but especially on the big cities, on the Job Corps, so many unemployed minorities with so many difficulties.
Politicians like Arlen Specter
