| By Weekly Reid - May 7, 2008 2:55:00 PM ET |
| Also listed in: Featured Bloggers |
Welcome to the Weekly Reid, a compilation of the highlights of the past week about Majority Leader as well as occasional messages and special information from Senator Reid himself. Look for it every Wednesday.
Nevada First: Look! Up in the Sky! Pop quiz: You’re a United States Senator, faced with a bill that would upgrade airport infrastructure, improve oversight of the FAA and the airlines, modernize the air-traffic control system, and help the airlines lower the cost of their fuel. Do you a) co-sponsor it, b) offer an amendment to incorporate aspects of the Passenger Bill of Rights into the final bill or c) filibuster it.
If you chose a or b, then congratulations! You’re an honorary member of the Democratic caucus! Bush Republicans faced this choice this afternoon, as the vote on cloture for the FAA Modernization Bill came to the floor. For those of you keeping count at home, this is the 69th time in this Congress that Bush Republicans have donned their obstructionist hats and threatened a filibuster. They’re not even willing to DEBATE the bill or offer amendments - they just want to kill it. The Las Vegas airport - McCarran International - accommodates 4 million passengers a month. In about 3 years, it’ll reach full capacity. What will Vegas do with all those empty hotel rooms? This bill would invest in the future of all airports and air travel (read: tourism). If he were still around, Howard Hughes - everyone’s favorite rich recluse aviator - would probably just build another one for Nevada
Maybe If They Served Peanuts. Here’s something about airports that isn’t controversial. Senator Reid joined forces with Senator Ensign and Congressman Heller in announcing funding for Reno-Tahoe airport. The 7 million dollars - split over two separate grants - will help reduce the noise level from the increase in air traffic coming into the airport. Said Senator Reid: “Reducing noise levels around the Reno-Tahoe Airport is an important quality of life issue for people residing in nearby neighborhoods. I’m happy we’re able to bring the money we need back home to Nevada for this important work.”
Must Reid: Mission…still not accomplished. Half a decade. That’s how long it’s been since President Bush declared “Mission Accomplished.” Of the more than 4,000 heroic Americans who’ve died in this war, 97% have given their life since President Bush’s photo-op on the USS Abraham Lincoln. And if President Bush had not so recklessly vetoed a bill passed by both houses of Congress and supported by the vast majority of the American people, every one of our combat troops would be well on their way home. We’re spending $5,000 a second in Iraq. $5,000 a second. How much do you think that banner cost the American taxpayer?
Money in the bank. The Weekly Reid got its economic stimulus check last week - while on vacation in Las Vegas (no, the $600 was not put on red). Keep an eye on your mailbox! They’re being mailed out to you based on the last two numbers of your social security number.
Reid’s Watching: Thank God For TiVo. Jon Stewart hosted Senator Reid last night - watch the video here. And listen to his talk with Steve Inskeep from NPR’s Morning Edition here. Still haven’t read the book? Order it from Amazon.com now - it’s cheaper than in the bookstore, and your online purchase will help us move up the list of non-fiction bestsellers! Don't forget - all proceeds will be donated to charity!
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I am writing you as Majority leader of the United St States Senate to make a concentrated push in clng the gap by cosponsored Senate Bill S 961.
President Bush and the House and Senate see the need for economic stimulation to keep our country out of a recession or yet a depression. As it stands 58 senators from 23 states have cosponsored the Belated Merchant Mariners Act S. 961 with your cosponsoring this bill and one other senator you will go down ore record as aextremely strong fighter for all Veterans.
This legislation is payment of a 60-year old debt the W.W.II Merchant Marine Mariners Combat Veterans who were denied the 1944 G.I. Bill of Rights that were given to all other W.W.II Veterans.
As the House of Representatives have already approved (H.R. 23) last July but the Senate has not acted and the bill approved by the House awaits the Senates attention. The Senate also has legislation of its own, S. 961, introduced by SentoB Ben Nelson (D-NE.) The Nelson Bill has already 58 cosponsors.
Recognition the Merchant Mariners for the contribution that they made to the war effort during W.W.II is long overdue. Passage of this measure provides the opportunity to rectify an error made at the end of / W.W.II when our government failed to make mariners eligible for the G.I. Bill and related veterans benefits.
Generals Eisenhower and MacAuthor praised the Merchant Marine. They said "The war would've been extended time or lost without the service of the Merchant Marine." Over 800 ships and 9,400 Mariners were lost during the war -- one in every 26 Mariners who served was killed.
The Merchant Mariners were involved in every invasion and theater of war. Long overdue is the recognition of exemplary, indispensable service to America's war efforts, recognized by all leaders of the Allied Forces, Merchant Mariners were not given the formal recognition and benefits granted other services by the Congest the end of the war in 1945.