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.
I would like to state how delighted I am that the President has nominated a statesman of such skill and integrity to serve as our Ambassador in Japan. Senator Baker had just completed three terms when I entered this body, including terms…
in the State this Senator represents, we are of moderate means. We can't afford a lot of charts. So when Senator Byrd and this Senator come to the floor, we don't usually use charts. We use whatever words we have. I don't mean to make any…
today I introduce the Save the American Steel Industry Act of 2001. As you know, the domestic steel industry is currently faced with the most devastating crisis in its history, one that could lead to its decimation if the Administration…
This amendment takes the top rate reduction of our income tax as proposed under the compromise bill and makes it contingent upon the passage of a prescription drug bill, a prescription drug benefit that would, in fact, be voluntary…
it gives me great pleasure and pride to introduce today the MediKids Health Insurance Act of 2001. I am joined by my colleague Representative Stark, who is introducing companion legislation in the House. In 1997, we passed historic…
Congress transformed the landscape of health care delivery for veterans with the Veterans' Health Care Eligibility Reform Act of 1996. This law eliminated barriers to outpatient care and encouraged the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA…
I am committed to focusing a spotlight on the good work of the Department of Veterans Affairs, VA, in the area of long-term care. VA has hidden its light under a barrel for too long. The federally funded VA health care system, out of…
Let's be very clear. The Senator from Minnesota is correct. For the Department of Veterans Affairs, under the budget resolution which is proposed, there will be tremendous damage to the Veterans' Administration and to the veterans of our…
Senator Edwards' amendment establishes a Technology Partnership Ombudsman at Department of Energy's National Laboratories. It is my understanding that the Ombudsman should promote the use of collaborative alternative dispute resolution…
many of us have struggled for months to decide what is the right vote on China PNTR--the right vote for our individual states, the right vote for the Nation. I certainly have, as I have tried to grasp what effect PNTR with China might have…
over the last several years health care reform has dropped off our national and Congressional agenda. We talk about it primarily to posture politically, not because we are determined to actually succeed in extending coverage. Too often…
I rise to comment on the bill Senator Kennedy and others have worked on which is formally called the Medicaid/CHIP Family Improvement Act, but I will simply refer to it as the Family Care Act. Most of the people in this country who are…
In 1994 we passed the original Violence Against Women Act, creating programs that addressed the many forms of domestic violence all-too prevalent in the United States today. The bill helped communities create shelters, build partnerships…
This is really a moral issue, and the question is, Are we going to do it? We keep putting it off. We keep talking about it. We keep saying, let's have a commission, let's do a resolution, let's study it some more, let's make the process…
I believe it is vital to make a clear statement against all violent hate crimes against individuals because of race, color, religion, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, or disability. This is a basic point, and the number of hate…
recently my colleagues, Senators Grassley, Kennedy, Jeffords, and Harkin introduced The Family Opportunity Act of 2000. I have proudly signed on to this important piece of legislation which will help hundreds of thousands of American…
today I gladly lend my support to the Alternative Fuels Tax Incentives Act being introduced by Senator Jeffords, along with Senators Hatch, Robb, Kerry, Bryan, and Chafee. I join with my colleagues because of my longstanding dedication to…
I am extremely pleased to be here today to introduce the Telemedicine Improvement and Modernization Act with Senator Jeffords and many other of my Senate colleagues. This bill incorporates two issues that I care about passionately--health…
this past Sunday, April 30, was the 25th anniversary of the end of the Vietnam war. And that reaches deep into the soul of every Member of this body, all across America, and all across the world. Our involvement with Vietnam was filled…
I introduce, on behalf of myself and Senator Murray, legislation that would aid the children born with birth defects to female Vietnam veterans. This legislation, the Children of Female Vietnam Veterans' Benefits Act of 2000, is long…
I indicated this is the largest increase in aviation spending in history. I did that out of a sense of pride because of the urgency of the situation we face. This is not money which is being spent for the sake of money; it is money being…
We have known a long time we have been underfunding our aviation system as a whole, particularly our air traffic control system, reforming the FAA--all the rest of it --building airports. Overall, aviation funding is increased by 25…
The process of working legislation is extraordinary. This has been a very long process, more or less a 2-year process. Working with Senator Slade Gorton from the State of Washington over the years has been a great privilege for me and…
yesterday, I introduced the Phone Bill Fairness Act. Consumers across this country have to deal on a regular basis with telephone bills, and one thing they do understand is that telephone bills are very complicated and frustrating. But…
I come to the floor, after many of my colleagues have already said magnificent things, to say a word about a man I revered, worked with, and cherished both in personal and professional terms. That is, of course, John Chafee. There are so…
Politicians like Jay Rockefeller
