Dec 11, 2014
I thank Senator Johnson for his interest and support for this legislation and for his shared interest in strengthening cyber security. I also thank my colleague from South Dakota for drawing attention to the potential impact of this…
Jay Rockefeller
The Public Record
John Davison Rockefeller IV, commonly known as Jay Rockefeller, is a prominent American politician and member of the Democratic Party. Born on June 18, 1937, in New York City, he served as the Governor of West Virginia from 1977 to 1985 and later represented the state in the U.S. Senate from 1985 until his retirement in 2015. During his time in the Senate, Rockefeller was known for his work on healthcare, education, and technology issues, advocating for the expansion of access to healthcare and the improvement of education systems in West Virginia and across the nation.
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December 11, 2014
it is my great privilege to recognize the distinguished career of John S. Pistole, on the occasion of his retirement as the Administrator of the Transportation Security Administration.…
— Jay Rockefeller
Most widely reported
by number of sources- I am proud today to introduce the Child Support Enforcement Effectiveness Act of 2013. This legislation will set the stage for improving child support enforcement across our country, and will provide states with more funds to allow them to do so. Through these crucial investments in this important child welfare program, we can improve the lives of thousands of children across our country. Child support enforcement is a State-Federal partnership that works. For every dollar agencies and departments spend on child support enforcement, states collect an average of $5.19 in child support due. For that reason alone, this is an extraordinary use of taxpayer dollars. In 2010, the child support enforcement program a11owed States to collect more than $26 billion on behalf of the children and families to whom that money is owed. There is no question that these children benefit because they receive support from both their parents. In addition to being an effective use of taxpayer dollars, child support enforcement is one of our most important investments in child welfare. Experts have repeatedly found that it is one of the most effective programs in reducing poverty rates among working families. For single parents below the poverty line, child support often represents as much as half of their family's income, and makes the difference between whether children's basic needs are met or not.…6 sources2013govinfo.gov
- throughout my career in the Senate, I have been proud to fight tirelessly for policies that will help vulnerable children in our foster care system find the permanent homes they need and deserve. I have been very proud of the Finance Committee's bipartisan work over the years to encourage adoption and enhance child welfare services for our most vulnerable children. That work would not have been possible without the commitment of Chairman Baucus, as well as my other colleagues that I have been so proud to work with over the years. Our goal has always been to improve our Federal laws related to adoption and foster care, so that every child has an opportunity to have a loving, safe home and a successful future. To build on our history of encouraging safe and stable families, Senator Casey and I are introducing the Removing Barriers to Adoption and Supporting Families Act of 2013. This legislation outlines our vision for a path to increase the number of successful adoptions from foster care in our country. Doing so, we believe, can improve the lives of the hundreds of thousands of children in our foster care system. This legislation encourages safe and stable families, and takes a number of important steps forward to ensure that permanency is paramount for children in our foster care system.…3 sources2013govinfo.gov
- today I am introducing two bills, S. 2287 and S. 2288, to help advance commercial deployment of clean coal technologies. The Carbon Capture and Sequestration Deployment Act of 2014 and the Expanding Carbon Capture through Enhanced Oil Recovery Act of 2014. These pieces of legislation would invest in carbon capture and sequestration, CCS, research and development; expand tax credits for companies investing in CCS technologies; and create loan guarantees for construction of new CCS facilities and retrofits of existing facilities. As I have said many times before, the reality remains for West Virginia and our Nation--we need coal and we simply cannot meet our energy demands without coal. That being said, it is unrealistic to think that coal is as clean as it could be, or that it will be around forever. Yet to think that we can stop burning coal and shift to cleaner sources of energy immediately is simply not viable. We must place our focus on a feasible alternative, and carbon capture and sequestration technologies can provide just that. The legislation I am introducing today combines several of my proposals in past years with new ideas for improving CCS deployment, including an expansion of tax credits for companies utilizing and improving upon CCS technology.…3 sources2014govinfo.gov
- I am tremendously pleased to introduce today legislation that would allow veterans to use their Montgomery GI bill educational benefits to pay for short-term, high technology courses that lead to lucrative careers. The GI bill allowed a generation of soldiers returning from World War II to create the booming post-war economy, and, in fact, the prosperity that we enjoy today. Today's Montgomery GI bill, MGIB, modeled after the original GI bill, provides a valuable recruitment and retention tool for the Armed Services and begins to repay veterans for the service they have given to our Nation. As a transition benefit, it allows veterans to gain the skills they need to adjust productively to civilian life. Currently, the MGIB provides a basic monthly benefit of $650 for 36 months of education. This payment structure is designed to assist veterans pursuing traditional four-year degrees at universities. However, in today's fast paced, high-tech economy, traditional degrees may not always be the best option. Many veterans are pursuing forms of nontraditional training, short-term courses often leading to certification in a technical field.3 sources2001govinfo.gov
- I rise today with Senators Schumer and Leahy to introduce an important piece of legislation for seniors, individual with disabilities, children, and anyone who is taking a brand name prescription drug with a generic equivalent. The bill we are introducing today would outlaw the latest in a long line of loopholes that brand name manufacturers have found to limit generic drug access to the market. Our legislation would prohibit brand name manufacturers from introducing so-called ``authorized generics'' during the 180-day period that Congress intended true generics to have exclusive market rights. Some of my colleagues may be wondering what an ``authorized generic'' is. An authorized generic drug is a brand name prescription drug produced by the same brand manufacturer on the same manufacturing lines, yet repackaged as a generic in order to confuse consumers and shut true generics out of the market. This is a huge problem and one that is becoming even more prevalent as patents on some of the best-selling brand name pharmaceuticals start to expire. Pravachol, Zocor and Zoloft have patents that have expired or will expire this year. Together, these drugs account for approximately $9 billion in sales annually. In 2007, another top-selling brand name drug, Norvasc, will lose its patent protection, followed by Advair the following year.…3 sources2006govinfo.gov
- today, I introduce the EPSCoR Research and Competitive Act of 2006, and I am proud to have the bipartisan support of my colleagues, Senators Snowe, Inouye, Cochran and Johnson. The Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research, EPSCoR, at the National Science Foundation, NSF, is designed to help states that historically do not receive much NSF funding to compete more effectively for grants. NSF maintains it high standards, but it also provides help to States to meet such standards. Such an investment is fundamental to help promote our country's competitiveness nationwide. Twenty-six States are eligible for the EPSCoR program, and these States represent 20 percent of our population, 25 percent of our doctoral and research universities, and 18 percent of our academic scientists and engineers. The EPSCoR states also represent unique environments for scientific research with Hawaii and Alaska having unique features. Montana is a major area for paleontology. Six of the top ten energy producing States are EPSCoR States. It is common sense to invest in building research capacity in our EPSCoR States. We also know that EPSCoR works. More than one-half of the researchers supported by NSF's EPSCoR program during the first 10 years later were successful in competing for non-EPSCoR funding. Also, 75 percent of new technology companies started by university research are based in the States where the original research was done.…3 sources2006govinfo.gov
govinfo.gov
Dec 9, 2014
From the beginning, I have recognized that this bill would make important changes to the Freedom of Information Act. My concerns have been rooted in the possible unintended consequences this bill would have on consumer protection. I was…
Dec 9, 2014
I thank Senator Leahy for attempting to address my concerns about this bill. I thank his committee staff for working with my committee staff to insert clarifying report language.
Dec 9, 2014
I ask unanimous consent to speak in a seated position. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Dec 9, 2014
Furthermore, if we are going to potentially burden our government agencies with increased costs that will be associated with complying with the bill, then I think Congress should also provide these agencies with sufficient funding to deal…
Dec 9, 2014
I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with Senator Leahy of Vermont, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, regarding S. 2520, the FOIA Improvement Act of 2014. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Dec 9, 2014
I come to the floor to wholly support the comments of my colleagues, the Senator from California and the Senator from Arizona, to speak about a matter of great importance to me personally but more importantly to the country. The Senate…
Dec 4, 2014
For hours and hours. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Farewell to the Senate
Dec 4, 2014
I come today with a spirit of reflection and optimism about our future. I am also compelled towards an honest assessment of where we are as a body--of the promise of what we can achieve when we don't shy away from compromise and what we…
Dec 4, 2014
I ask unanimous consent to give my remarks while seated at my desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Dec 2, 2014
If confirmed, I will commit to review all of the statutory requirements and congressional deadlines.
Dec 2, 2014
If confirmed, I pledge to consider all relevant facts and public comments in the docket.
Dec 1, 2014
Domestic violence is a deep national stain that every segment of our society must work to confront, prevent, and end.
Dec 1, 2014
We need to provide more transitional housing and more training for law enforcement, counselors, and healthcare workers to make it easier for victims to come forward.
Dec 1, 2014
I incorrectly stated that the League has in place a policy requiring clubs to report to law enforcement.
Dec 1, 2014
We need to change our culture through increased awareness and education to prevent domestic violence from occurring.
Dec 1, 2014
It's my understanding that only the NFL can promulgate uniform rules and policies to address domestic violence.
Nov 23, 2014
Because Mr. Shimizu's testimony left so many questions unanswered, then Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Nelson sent a letter to Takata requesting documents and information regarding the company's defective airbags.
Sep 18, 2014
today, I rise to reintroduce the Incentives to Educate American Children, or I TEACH, Act of 2014. With teacher retention rates on a steady decline nationwide, it is my hope that this legislation will encourage our best and brightest…
Sep 15, 2014
We are talking about dealing with everything from continuing resolutions, all of the appropriations, what are we going to do about ISIS, and all the rest of it, in a lame duck session forum.
Sep 15, 2014
We simply cannot afford to take this major step backwards and jeopardize the future of generations by allowing CHIP to expire.
Sep 15, 2014
Without congressional action, I say again, CHIP will run out of funding next fall, placing at risk the well-being of hundreds of thousands of children and pregnant women.
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