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The Reid Report—February 11, 2010
Dear Fellow Nevadan,
Today, I introduced a Jobs Bill in the Senate that will help put Nevadans back to work, cut taxes for business, and invest in job-creating transportation projects in our state.
The bill creates tax incentives for businesses to hire new workers, and it puts Americans to work rebuilding our bridges and roads. Importantly, this legislation is paid-for, meaning it does not add to the national deficit. Improving our economy is my top priority, and I think this legislation is an important step in that process.
 As we work to dig ourselves out of this economic crisis, we have important work to do to ensure that banks are treating consumers fairly and not engaging in the risky behavior that caused this crisis. This month, the credit card reform bill we passed last year will take effect. The very same banks that taxpayers kept afloat to prevent an economic disaster took advantage of hardworking Americans by doubling and tripling their interest rates. We put a stop to these abuses by passing this legislation, and the law’s enactment comes not a moment too soon.
I also successfully pushed the Housing Department to send a Foreclosure SWAT Team to Nevada to help struggling homeowners stay in their homes; and I’m encouraging banks to take similar action. I convened a meeting yesterday with Nevada’s top housing experts to get their advice on our state’s housing crisis, and believe we now have a clearer picture of what we must do to improve the situation.
On another note, I am happy to share that this morning, I testified at the confirmation hearing of Judge Gloria Navarro to be Nevada’s next Federal Judge. It was my privilege to nominate an extremely qualified individual to this important position and I look forward to her swift confirmation.
Thank you for reading this update. Please visit my website to learn more.
HARRY REID
United States Senator for Nevada
Reid Unveils First In Series Of
Jobs Bills To Put America Back To Work
February 11, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today unveiled the first of several job creation bills as part of the larger Senate Democratic jobs agenda. With millions of Americans struggling to find work, creating and saving jobs and strengthening the economy is priority one for Senate Democrats.
This bill, which is fully paid for, includes provisions that will accomplish the following key objectives:
- Create Tax Incentives to Spur Immediate Job Growth
- Help Small Businesses Grow and Hire More Workers
- Rebuild Our Nation’s Infrastructure
Senate Democrats are hopeful to build strong bipartisan consensus to move forward with this bill. Each of the ideas adopted in this initial bill enjoy bipartisan support.
This bill represents the first action on job creation this year, but Senate Democrats will work throughout the year to pass legislation to strengthen the economy, support out-of-work Americans and encourage businesses to hire more workers.
“People in Nevada and all across the country are struggling to find work and go to bed each night without the peace of mind that they deserve,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “This is a simplified, focused bill that addresses our core priority: putting millions of Americans back to work by helping our business community thrive again. Each piece of this bill enjoys bipartisan support, and I look forward to swift action on this measure that will create and save dependable jobs.”
SENATE DEMOCRATIC JOB CREATION BILL
This Senate Democratic job creation bill is a simplified, focused effort that is geared toward making our economy thrive again. The provisions of this bill will encourage businesses hire more workers, give tax breaks to strengthen small businesses and invest wisely to rebuild America’s infrastructure.
The following is a specific package of ideas that will be introduced in this proposal:
- Schumer-Hatch Jobs Payroll Tax Exemption: offers an exemption from social security payroll taxes for every worker hired in 2010 that has been unemployed for at least 60 days. There would also be an additional $1,000 income tax credit for every new employee retained for 52 weeks to be taken on the employer’s 2011 income tax return.
- Section 179 Expensing: helps small businesses grow by allowing them to write off more of their expenditures
- Highway Trust Fund Extension: extends existing highway programs which provide states and localities with the certainty they need to make decisions on projects. It allows for billions more to be invested in infrastructure throughout the nation and saves one million jobs
- Expanding Build America Bonds: allows state and local governments to borrow at lower costs to finance more infrastructure projects and put people to work.
Reid Meets With Nevada National Guard Generals
February 11, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Senator Harry Reid today met with Nevada Adjutant General William Burks and Nevada Army National Guard Commander Brigadier General Frank Gonzalez to discuss funding for several major projects included in the 2011 Military Construction and Defense appropriation bills. The group discussed the construction of a Civil Support Team Ready Building, improving operations for the Counterdrug Taskforce program, the development of advanced training centers, and the modernization of other facilities to accommodate the growth of personnel and the increasing number of concurrent missions.
“Adopting the most advanced training and readiness activities for our state’s National Guard is essential to keeping Americans safe,” said Reid. “I remain committed to getting the Guard the resources it needs to expand its facilities and strengthen programs as it serves the nation and the Battle Born State.”
Nevada Senator Harry Reid talks with Nevada Adjutant General William Burks and Brigadier General Frank Gonzales about the Nevada Guard’s needs for the future.
Reid Testifies In Support Of
Gloria Navarro At Senate Judiciary Hearing
February 11, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to introduce Clark County Deputy District Attorney Gloria Navarro and to testify in support of her nomination to be the United States District Court Judge for the District of Nevada. Reid recommended Navarro for the position in December of last year. Included below are Reid’s prepared remarks.
“Madam President, I am pleased to formally introduce Gloria Navarro, President Obama’s nominee for the United States District for the Judge for Nevada.
“I am impressed by this Nevadan’s professional record and her commitment to public service in all areas of her life. My meetings with her have certainly confirmed her dedication. She is a very personable individual and a professional who is devoted to justice and the rule of law.
“We have talked about our families, our shared respect for the law and our experiences growing up in Nevada and it is clear that Ms. Navarro is yet another example of the quintessential American story:
“She is the daughter of an immigrant family from Cuba and speaks Spanish fluently.
“She learned English and her ABCs watching Sesame Street and worked hard to take advantage of every opportunity that came her way.
“Today she is an outstanding attorney who chose to serve a community and a state she loves and knows intimately.
“And when she is confirmed, she will be the first Hispanic woman to sit on the bench in the District of Nevada.”
“It is also clear that Ms. Navarro is prepared to do this job. She has worked for nearly 20 years in both in the private and public sectors and is experienced at handling very complex litigation at both the federal and state levels.
“She is currently the Chief Deputy District Attorney in the Office of County Counsel, providing legal counsel and litigation defense to the Clark County Board of Commissioners.
“She has worked as a public defender—and in 2002, she received the Nevada State Bar Access to Justice Pro Bono Public Lawyer of the Year award.
“She has also worked in private practice—representing clients in federal and state litigation relating to criminal, civil and family law. In 2001, she was awarded the Louis Wiener Pro Bono Service Award for her representation of a victim of spousal abuse.
“She is truly committed to the Nevada community. Among other things, as President of the Latino Bar Association, she created a mentoring program pairing high school, college, and law students with community lawyers.
“I am proud to have recommended this exceptional Nevadan to President Obama and I am confident that she will be confirmed expeditiously by the Senate.”
Reid, Veterans Discuss Importance Of Creating Jobs Through Energy Security
February 6, 2010 – Las Vegas, NV – Nevada Senator Harry Reid and local veterans today welcomed Operation Free’s National Veterans for American Power Tour to Las Vegas for a roundtable discussion on the need to make America more secure by investing in clean energy and stopping climate change. Held at the National Guard Las Vegas Readiness Center, the event represented the latest stop on the National Veterans’ 16-state bus tour to discuss the connection between climate change and national security. Reid and the veterans, many of whom served in Iraq of Afghanistan, also discussed the goals of Operation Free, a coalition which promotes clean energy as a part of American security.
“Nevada is making great progress when it comes to energy independence,” Reid said. “With our vast solar, wind, and geothermal resources our state is leading the way in an energy revolution that will create jobs and make our country safer by reducing our reliance on foreign sources of energy.”
The Reid Report—February 5, 2010
Dear Fellow Nevadan,
I know how difficult these times are for Nevadans, as families struggle with unemployment and housing concerns. I work every day to help these families and put our economy back on track. While we still have a lot of work left to do, I think it’s important for you to be aware of some of the steps we have taken this week to help people in our state. 
At the beginning of the week, we won an important victory to end the Yucca Mountain Project once and for all. I worked with the President to cut all funding from the proposed nuclear waste dump and withdraw its licensing application from the Department of Energy. We also now have a panel of experts looking at alternatives for nuclear waste storage, but Yucca Mountain will not be one of them. I have always believed Nevada should not be the nation’s nuclear dumping ground.
Nevada is also getting some much-needed help on housing. I met with the Housing Secretary recently and pressed him to send more resources to Nevada, and he agreed. As a result, HUD now has a Foreclosure SWAT team in Las Vegas to help struggling homeowners stay in their homes.
President Obama’s budget that was released on Monday also makes significant investments in the Silver State, with a focus on creating jobs. It makes a serious investment in clean energy, which can employ thousands of Nevadans and make our state energy independent within three years. The budget also extends Medicaid funding to the state, which should help alleviate the state’s budget concerns.
On Monday, we’ll turn our focus to a Jobs Bill, which invests in infrastructure and provides tax breaks to small businesses and middle class families. I realize we have a long way to go, but I am focused on the economy and helping struggling families and businesses.
Thank you for reading this update. Please visit my website to learn more.
HARRY REID
United States Senator for Nevada
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