November '09 Nevada Government

Reid Statement on Passing of Former State Senator Ray Shaffer
Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement on the passing of former State Senator Ray Shaffer.

“I was saddened to learn of the passing of former State Senator Ray Shaffer. Through the years Ray did an excellent job representing the people of North Las Vegas, and I know they will miss him. My heart goes out to his wife Sharon, who was truly Ray’s partner in life. You would be hard-pressed to find a time when Sharon wasn’t by Ray’s side during his many endeavors.My thoughts go out to all of Ray’s family and friends during this difficult time.”

Reid Visits With The Air Force Family Of The Year From Nellis Air Force Base
Senator Reid met with the Ojala Family who were recognized by the National Military Family Association for their service in the Air Force.
Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid met with Wayne and Thane Ojala and their three children, who are a military family assigned to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The Ojala Family was awarded the 2009 Air Force Family of the Year by the National Military Family Association (NMFA). They are in Washington to attend the awards ceremony which will include the announcement of the NMFA Military Family of the Year Award for which they were nominated. The NMFA recognizes strong military families who embrace their service to the nation, are role models in their community, and understand that together they are stronger. Every year, one family from each of the seven uniformed services is chosen to represent their branch and be in the running for Military Family of the Year.

At least one member of the Ojala family has deployed every year since September 11, 2001, often for eight months or more. Wayne and Thane both hold key positions with Boy Scouts at Nellis Air Force Base, serve on school boards, and actively participate in the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, and the Air Force Sergeant’s Association.

“The Ojala family is an exemplary Nevada family,” said Reid. “They have sacrificed tremendously as a family and I want to thank them for their service and their dedication to our country and each other.”

Ojala Family from Nevada & Senator Harry Reid

Ojala Family from Nevada & Senator Harry Reid

The Ojala Family from Nevada, awarded Air Force Family of the Year, visit with Senator Harry Reid.

Reid: While Republicans Delay Important Nominees, the American People
Pay the Price
Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following remarks on the Senate floor this morning about Senate Republicans blocking critical nominees within President Obama’s administration. While Republicans delay these nominations for the sake of politics, important work is stalled. Below are Senator Reid’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

“Last week, four Nevadans tragically died from the H1N1 virus. In Clark County, Nevada—the state’s most populous county and the home of Las Vegas—18 people have now died this year from H1N1.

“We are all familiar with this strain of the flu—it has been on the front pages for months. This past weekend, President Obama declared the outbreak a national emergency in anticipation of a rush of patients to doctors’ offices and emergency rooms.

“Fortunately, for nearly 150 years the United States has had a high-ranking official in place to serve as the government’s top public-health officer. We call that person the Surgeon General.

“Unfortunately, though, right now we have no permanent Surgeon General in place. And the reason is as simple as it is mind-boggling: Republicans in the Senate refuse to confirm President Obama’s exceptionally qualified nominee for this job.

“I would try to explain the Republican reason for their refusal, but as with so many other things they oppose, a rationale simply doesn’t exist. Senate Republicans are simply so opposed to everything—absolutely everything—that they even oppose putting people in some of the most important positions in our government.

“Democrats, on the other hand, believe that those who have chosen to serve our country must be able to get to work without delay.

“M. President, perhaps those watching and listening think this is how the Senate always operates. It is not. Allow me to put these delays in context:

“The Senate has confirmed 366 of President Obama’s nominees. How does this compare historically? At this point in President Bush’s first term, 421 of his nominees were already at their desks. At this point in President Clinton’s first term, 379 nominees were on the job. And 480 of President Reagan’s nominees were confirmed. But Senate Republicans have only allowed President Obama 366.

“In fact, in the first four months of the Bush Administration, when the Senate was controlled by the President’s party and we were in the minority, there wasn’t a single filibuster of a Bush nominee. Not one.

“But in the first four months of the Obama Administration, Republicans filibustered eight of his nominees. That means that President Obama faced twice as many filibusters of his nominees in his first four months as President Bush faced in his first four years.

“Now, those watching and listening may also understandably assume that if this is not how the Senate always operates, there must be something extraordinarily controversial about these nominees—something highly objectionable, or even questionable. Again, there is not.

“As I mentioned, Republicans in the Senate refuse to confirm our nation’s Surgeon General at a time when the President has declared a national emergency over the H1N1 virus. But President Obama’s nominee, Regina Benjamin—a physician from Alabama and the founder of a non-profit rural health clinic—is eminently qualified for the position.

“That’s not all. They also refuse to confirm the top official responsible for science and technology in our Department of Homeland Security. For that position, President Obama nominated an expert in combating both pandemics and bioterror attacks. Imagine that: Americans are bracing against a flu epidemic here at home and threats of terrorism from abroad, the President nominated someone highly experienced in both of those areas, and Republicans are saying no.

“If that sounds like something you wouldn’t want your Senate to do, you might be even furthered concerned that it’s not the first time these Republican Senators have done it. While our sons and daughters are fighting in Iraq and rebuilding that nation, Republicans earlier this year delayed the confirmation of America’s ambassador to Iraq. And while troops serve bravely in Afghanistan, Republicans earlier this year delayed the confirmation of Lt. Gen. Stanley McChrystal, our new commander in that difficult war.

“These telling examples are only the tip of the iceberg. Allow me to continue:

“Months ago, President Obama picked a trade expert who worked in the Reagan, Bush and Clinton administrations to be this nation’s Deputy Trade Representative. But she has yet to officially join the Obama administration. Why? Because a Republican Senator is holding up the nomination over a bill that he thinks would hurt tobacco companies.

“If that seems like an unrelated, random reason to hold up this qualified nominee, you might be even more outraged to learn that the bill that so angers this Republican Senator is not even before the United States Senate. It’s not even in the United States House of Representatives. In fact, it’s not even in the United States. The bill is before the Canadian Parliament. It should go without saying that our Administration cannot dictate how the Canadian legislature does it job, any more than the Canadian Parliament can dictate how we do ours. It should go without saying, but unfortunately, we evidently must say it.

“Another example: President Obama nominated the former chief of staff of the General Services Administration—which manages the basic functions of our federal agencies—to lead that organization. He nominated her in April, on the first full day of the Major League Baseball season. Today, on the second day of the World Series, she still remains unconfirmed for that job. Why? Because a Republican Senator is demanding a federal building is built in his home state.

“One more example: President Obama asked an expert in Latin American affairs—a man who has written books on regime change in that region and has been a visiting scholar at Oxford and many other universities—to be our nation’s Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere affairs.

“Nearly half a year after he was nominated, one Republican Senator still refuses to allow his confirmation to move forward. This Republican Senator is trying to force our nation to recognize a military coup in Honduras, and so he is holding this nomination hostage. Most people would reasonably conclude that this nominee’s expertise would be particularly useful at a time when there is a diplomatic crisis in Central America. But Senate Republicans don’t.

“These examples are not isolated. They are part of a much larger pattern. Republicans this year have already gone to great lengths to ensure President Obama cannot have his full team in place.

“They have already wasted taxpayers’ precious time and money by holding up the President’s nominees for:

     · the Secretary of Labor;

     · the Secretary of Health and Human Services;

     · the Director of National Drug Control Policy

     · the Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior;

     · two members of the Council of Economic Advisors;

     · several Assistant Attorneys General;

     · and many others.

“These nominees finally broke through. But their story doesn’t end there. When votes were finally called, they passed with flying colors: They passed with vote counts of 89-2, 97-1, 88-0 and 97-0. The numbers don’t lie, and there’s no clearer evidence that many of these objections are without merit.

“So it’s obvious that these objections are not the norm, that they are not based on qualifications, and that they are rampant.

“As far as Republicans are concerned, no one is too important to block, no high-ranking position is too important to remain empty, no problem is too urgent to delay.

“If I sound like a broken record, it’s because Senate Republicans continue to be record-breakers. Last year, after they held up the work of Congress more than any other time in history, the American people rejected the Republican status quo. They said ‘no’ to Republicans’ just-say-no strategy.

“There is no question the American people are taking notice. There is no question they see these games for what they are. There is no question they are fed up with these petty, partisan tricks. And there is no question that these reckless tactics have consequences.

“I would say that Republicans delay and delay at their own peril—but the truth is, all Americans suffer. It’s time Republicans let us get to work.”

Reid Announces More Than $13 Million Headed to Southern Nevada for Solar and Water Power Projects
Funds made available as part of economic recovery act
Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid announced more than $13 million of economic recovery funding is headed to Southern Nevada for job creating solar and water power projects. Las Vegas, North Las Vegas, and the city of Henderson will be partnering with the Federal government to make renewable energy upgrades at fire stations, parks, and other public buildings.

“This money will create jobs and upgrade numerous facilities across southern Nevada,” Reid said. “It’s a perfect example of why the economic recovery act is so important to our state, and how we can diversify our economy, protect our environment, and create jobs all at the same time.”

The Reid Report
October 28, 2009

Dear Fellow Nevadan,

I’ve been working for most of this year to reform our health insurance system, fixing what is broken and leaving alone what isn’t. I have said from the beginning that I support a plan that lowers costs, ensures that patients could continue to choose their own plans and doctors, expand coverage to those who don’t have it, and does it all without adding to the national debt. On Monday, I announced that the Senate plan I sent to the Congressional Budget Office includes a public option that allows states to opt-out if they don’t want to participate.

I have long been a supporter of the public option, and the majority of Nevadans I hear from are as well. The public option would ensure choice and force insurance companies to compete for your business, which would mean lower rates and increase the number of people who would have medical coverage. To be clear, despite the rhetoric, no one will be forced to switch from their current plan to the public plan. It is simply one option on the menu, but it helps even those who don’t choose it because it creates enough competition in the market to lower prices for everyone else.

I encourage you to read what the Reno and Las Vegas newspapers wrote this week about the public option and health reform.

This week, I was pleased to announce that $138 million in Recovery Act funding is headed to Nevada for clean energy jobs. NV Energy will match the Federal grant with another $160 million to create a highly efficient electricity Smart Grid that will save consumers money, create hundreds of jobs, and accelerate Nevada’s energy independence.

Tomorrow, I’ll make another big announcement about even more money coming to our state to create clean energy jobs. I advocated for these projects because they will create jobs across the state while empowering Nevadans to take control of their energy consumption, integrate renewable sources and net real savings on their energy bills.

While I know our state is struggling with unemployment, there is some positive news I think you should know about. Last week, we learned that a provision I inserted in the Recovery Act saved at least 31,000 Nevada jobs at Harrah’s and has created at least 6,000 new jobs in clean energy, education, and other fields. This week, I am happy to say that hundreds more jobs are headed to the state based on the information I shared earlier in this email. I know that too many Nevadans are still struggling to make ends meet, and I am still working hard to help our economy recover and put Nevadans back to work.

Thank you for reading this update. Please visit my website for more information.

HARRY REID
United States Senator for Nevada