Every day, I get mail from men and women across Nevada offering advice and criticism, suggestions and stories.  They are making sure their representative democracy works the way it should. If anyone wonders whether the representatives you send to Washington actually read the many letters you send here after us, I can tell you that we do. And I can tell you that on no other issue have the letters you sent me underscored the urgent need to act more than the health care nightmares you have shared. These stories are as real as they come.  

The letters are written by people who play by the rules and don’t understand why their health care system doesn’t.  They are written from the heart.  And many are written through pain, tears and uncertainty. These letters reaffirm my belief that we need real reform in our health care system.

I am committed to health care reform that:

• Lowers the high costs to consumers;

• Ensures every American has access to that quality, affordable care; and

• Lets people choose their own doctors, hospitals and health plans.

I believe in protecting existing coverage when it is good, improving it when it is not, and guaranteeing health care for the millions who have none.  

In the 8 years that have passed since the attacks of September 11, there has been a 3% decrease in foreign visitors to the US, despite a 40% increase in travel to other countries around the world. Nevada’s travel industry employs almost a quarter of a million people, and thousands more work for hotels, rental car companies, airports, restaurants, parks and shops that need visitors in order to survive. Despite it being our country’s largest industry, we do very little overseas to promote travel to the United States. Senator Ensign and I think that’s a missed opportunity.

A 2007 study by Oxford Economics suggested that a modest travel promotion program, similar to what exists in nearly every other developed country, could drive $8 billion in new private spending and nearly $1 billion in tax revenues annually. Not only would this create new, good-paying jobs in Nevada, it could also help relieve our state’s budget crisis, since more than one quarter of the budget comes from revenues generated by the travel industry.

I am cosponsoring the Travel Promotion Act with Senator Ensign because I know it could bring millions more visitors to our state, potentially creating tens of thousands of new jobs, at no cost to our taxpayers. Yesterday, I talked with the leaders of Nevada’s travel industry. They support this legislation because they know, as I do, that it will grow our state’s economy and create good jobs for Nevadans.

Reid, Ensign Welcome Air Force Colonel Belote To Washington

Col. Belote is the commander of the 99^th Air Base Wing at Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases

Nevada Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign welcomed Air Force Col. Dave Belote to Washington during a weekly breakfast with constituents. Col. Belote has been the commander of Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases since May of 2008. Col. Belote was accompanied by Capt Amanda Ferrell, Command Chief Master Sergeant Al Herring, and Staff Sergeant Timothy Klave.

 “It’s great to have Col. Belote here in Washington. We appreciate the great job he’s doing and it was good to have the opportunity to highlight the benefits that the base has enjoyed as a result of solar energy,” said Reid. “I want to thank him and all the soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines who serve in the United States military for their courage and sacrifice.”

"I want to thank Col. Belote for his dedication to our country," said Ensign. "He is doing a terrific job at Nellis and Creech and our country is truly benefitting from his leadership."

Tobacco Bill Will Keep Kids From Smoking and Save Lives

Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following statement after the U.S. Senate overwhelmingly passed the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act, 79-17:

“This bill will save lives.  This vote was a victory for common sense, public health and our nation’s future.
 
“Senator Kennedy, Senator Dodd and the HELP Committee’s bipartisan bill will keep American children and families healthier, and will keep tobacco companies honest about the dangers of using their poisonous products by strengthening existing warning labels.  The bill will also make it harder for those companies to sell cigarettes and smokeless tobacco to children, and for tobacco companies to lure our children in the first place.  It will also help those who smoke overcome their addictions and make tobacco products less toxic for those who cannot or do not want to stop.
 
“With 3,500 kids trying smoking for the first time every day, 3.5 million of our nation’s high school students smoking and nearly half a million Americans dying every year as a result of their smoking or someone else’s, this bill could not come at a more important time.

“Tobacco-related deaths are among the most painful and the most preventable, and tobacco-related health care costs Americans almost $100 billion every year.  In fact, state and federal governments spend about $60 billion every year on Medicare and Medicaid payments for health problems created by tobacco.  So this bill will not only save lives; it will also save taxpayer money.”

Reid Hosts Clean Energy Round Table

Nevada Senator Harry Reid today hosted a roundtable with clean energy companies at his office in Washington.  A dozen clean energy companies from Nevada or that have projects in Nevada were in Washington to participate in a Green Jobs Fair.  Reid organized the roundtable to discuss current efforts to make Nevada the leader in the clean energy revolution and lower Nevada’s record-high unemployment rate by creating jobs through investment in renewable energy.  Joining Reid for the roundtable were representatives from: Bombard Electric, Bright Source Energy, Cogentrix Energy, First Solar, G&G Systems, Johnson Controls, Solar Millennium, ORMAT, NV Energy, Searchlight Wind Energy / Duke Energy and SolarReserve

Reid Details Need To Reform Health Care System

Letters from Nevadans underscore urgent need to act

Today (June 17,) on the floor of the U.S. Senate, Nevada Sen. Harry Reid spoke about some of the letters he has received from struggling Nevadans asking for help dealing with the high cost of health care.  Each letter tells of different circumstances and different challenges, but all underscore the urgent need to repair and reform our nation’s broken health care system.  Nevada ranks number two in the nation of 18-64 year-olds without medical insurance.  Below are Reid’s prepared remarks.

 “Every day, like every Senator, I get mail from men and women across my state.

 “People offer advice and criticism, suggestions and stories.  They are making sure their representative democracy works the way it should.

 “If anyone is watching at home and wondering whether the representatives you send to Washington actually read the many letters you send here after us, I can tell you that we do.

 “And I can tell you that on no other issue have the letters you sent me underscored the urgent need to act more than the health care nightmares you have shared.

•  “Lisa lives in Gardnerville, Nevada, with her two daughters, ages 10 and 7.  The youngest suffers seizures and her teachers think she has a learning disability.

Because of her family history, Lisa is at high risk for cervical cancer.  Though she is supposed to get an exam every three months, she goes once a year to save money.

“When Lisa lost her job, she lost her health coverage.  Now both Lisa and her daughter miss out on the tests and preventative medicine that could keep them healthy.  Her long letter ended with a simple plea: “We want to go to the doctor.”

•  “Braden lives in Sparks, Nevada.  The 55-hour weeks he works to support his family just barely covers his bills.  But it is not enough to buy him health insurance.
  
  “Braden owes a hospital $12,000 for a trip to the emergency room – the only place he could go without heath care.
  
  “Braden is brave.  In his letter, he doesn’t dread the debt he carries, or grumble about how hard he works.  But he does fear that “if I was seriously sick or injured, I would lose it all.”

• “Alysia is a 21-year-old woman from Las Vegas.  She needs surgery for the kidney disease with which she has suffered since birth.  But because she recently lost her job, she can’t afford health care.

 “Alysia has done everything she can to try to get help.  Medicaid tells her she doesn’t qualify because she isn’t pregnant, doesn’t have children and doesn’t have disability insurance.

 “Insurance companies refuse to cover Alysia, calling her kidney disorder a pre-existing condition.  Everyone else calls this a tragedy.

 “These stories are as real as they come.  The letters are written by people who play by the rules and don’t understand why their health care system doesn’t.  They are written from the heart.  And many are written through pain, tears and uncertainty.

 “Sadly, they are not unique.  Many, many Americans, like Lisa, skip routine medical checkups – or, like Braden, live just one accident away from bankruptcy – or, like Alysia, fear for the worst while they fight through the red tape.

 “Our Republican colleagues like things just the way they are.  They have committed themselves to a strategy of misinformation and misrepresentation, of dishonesty and delay. 

 “But we are committed to our constituents.  We are committed to delivering on the promises we made and the oaths we swore to those who gave us the incomparable honor of serving our states.

 “We are committed to:

·        “lowering the high costs of health care;

·        “ensuring every American has access to that quality, affordable care; and

·        “letting people choose their own doctors, hospitals and health plans.

 “We believe in protecting existing coverage when it is good, improving it when it is not, and guaranteeing health care for the millions – like Lisa, Braden and Alysia – who have none. 

 “While our Republican colleagues debate semantics and deploy scare tactics, the health of our citizens is at stake.  Sometimes it’s hard to blame those who send us the most personal of letters and wonder if the envelope they seal will ever be opened again.”