Reid Statement On Secretary Of Labor’s Visit To Nevada

Sen. Harry Reid made the following statement on Secretary Hilda Solis’ visit to Nevada.

“I thank Secretary Solis for taking the time to come to Nevada. She understands very well the challenges facing our state. This recession has hit Nevada harder than just about any other state with the highest foreclosure rate in the country and over 10 percent unemployment.

This is why I have been working with the administration to bring $1.5 billion in economic recovery funding to the families, businesses, and community organizations that need it. I thank Secretary Solis for her meetings at Nevada Partners as they prepare workers for jobs in the renewable energy economy and other high demand industries.

Nevada Partners has been a leader in employment services, training, education, and community development programs designed to help adults, youth, and unemployed workers achieve success at school, in the workplace and in their communities. As a result of their efforts and smart investment from the economic recovery package Nevada will have a workforce that is vibrant and competitive, making our state a leader in clean energy.”

Reid, In Letter To McConnell, Calls For Bipartisan Effort On Health Care Reform

Nevada Senator Harry Reid, in a letter today to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, called on Republicans to join Democrats for an open and honest debate about how to lower health care costs, expand access and improve the quality of care.  In Reid’s letter to McConnell, he urges the Republican Leader to join him in providing health care for the residents of Nevada and Kentucky who are currently without coverage.  More than one out of three Nevadans under the age of 65 went without health insurance during 2007 and 2008.  Reid stressed the need for bipartisanship in meeting these challenges:

 “Make no mistake – we are determined to reform health care this year,” Reid wrote.  “Our strong preference is to do so by working alongside you and your caucus.  The health of our citizens and our economy are at stake; neither will be able to recover if we do not.”

Following is Reid’s letter to McConnell.

April 27, 2009

The Honorable Mitch McConnell

Republican Leader

United States Senate

Washington, DC 20510

Dear Leader McConnell:

As health insurance costs and unemployment both soar, so do the number of Americans who cannot get the care they need to stay healthy, get better or support their loved ones.  We have an urgent and overdue responsibility to reverse that trajectory, and time is not on our side.

In the coming weeks and months, it is my greatest hope that Republicans will decide to work with Democrats to respond to this emergency and help us fashion comprehensive, bipartisan health reform legislation.  I know that we will disagree at times, but I welcome an open and honest debate about how to lower health care costs, expand access and improve the quality of care.  I welcome a dialogue about how to prevent disease, reduce health disparities, and encourage early detection and effective treatments that save lives.

But above all, we must discuss how to help struggling Americans, not drown in distractions and distortions – or be sidetracked by squabbles about arcane Senate procedure, as some in your party seem intent to do.  The costs of inaction are too great for us to lose focus.  Nearly 46 million Americans – including 15 percent of your constituents in Kentucky – have no health insurance, and the problem grows worse by the day.  In Nevada, more than one out of three people under the age of 65 went without health insurance during 2007 and 2008 – and more than three-quarters of them went without health care for six months or longer.

In order for this bipartisan process to take root, Republicans must demonstrate a sincere interest in legislating.  Rather than just saying no, you must be willing to offer concrete and constructive proposals.  We cannot afford more of the obstructionist tactics that have denied or delayed Congress’ efforts to address so many of the critical challenges facing this nation.

To the millions of Americans without health care, this is a concrete and critical crisis that affects children, families and small businesses every single day.  It is about the parent who cannot take a child to the dentist because insurance is prohibitively expensive.  It is about the small business that had to lay off employees because it couldn’t afford skyrocketing health care premiums.  Last week we learned that six in 10 families put off necessary medical care because it simply costs too much.

Make no mistake – we are determined to reform health care this year.  Our strong preference is to do so by working alongside you and your caucus. The health of our citizens and our economy are at stake; neither will be able to recover if we do not.

Democrats believe all Americans deserve high-quality and affordable health care.  We believe in protecting existing coverage when it is good, improving it when it is not, and guaranteeing health care for the millions – including nine million children – who have none. 

We look forward to hearing your ideas and working with you.  The budget we will vote on this week gives us nearly six months to work together toward a comprehensive reform bill.  Let’s use that time to work together in our common interest rather than against each other and against the interests of the American people.

I hope your conference will recognize that this issue is too important to be manipulated for political purposes.  There is a seat for you at the table; we hope you take it.

Sincerely,

Senator Harry Reid                           

Majority Leader

Reid Meets With Nevada Director Of Bureau Of Land Management

Nevada Senator Harry Reid met with the Nevada State Director of the Bureau of Land Management, Ron Wenker, to discuss the long list of public land issues impacting the Silver State.  Senator Reid asked Wenker about the progress being made on solar and other renewable energy applications in Nevada.  Senator Reid also expressed his concerns about the proposed Sloan Hills Mine near Henderson.  The distribution of funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to Bureau of Land Management projects around Nevada was also discussed.  These funds will help put Nevadans back to work and help our communities get back on track.

Senator Harry Reid meets with Ron Wenker, the Nevada State Director of BLM, to discuss solar energy applications in Nevada.