April '10 Nevada Government—U.S. Senator Harry Reid Column

Reid Meets With National Shooting Sports Foundation

April 29, 2010 – Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today met with shooting, hunting and firearms industry representatives to discuss challenges currently facing domestic gun manufacturers and distributors. Reid discussed his commitment to protecting the 2nd Amendment and his efforts that led to the passage of a law (P.L. 109-92) that protects gun manufacturers from junk lawsuits, thereby keeping jobs here in the United States. Attendees included National Shooting Sports Foundation Senior Vice President & General Counsel Larry Keane; Arsenal Inc’s Walker English; Beretta USA Vice-General Manager & General Counsel Jeff Reh; Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc., Vice President Chris Killoy; Mossberg & Sons, Inc., General Counsel Joe Bartozzi and S&W Firearms’ Leland Nichols.

“Shooting sports are an essential part of Nevada’s western heritage,” said Reid. “I thank the National Shooting Sports Foundation for their continued advocacy for the rights of gun owners and gun producers. The Foundation has been a great friend to Nevada’s hunters and shooters, and has been a major supporter of the Clark County Shooting Park. I greatly appreciate their work to promote shooting sports in the Silver State.”

Senator Reid meets with representatives from the National Shooting Sports Foundation.

Reid Announces More Than $400,000 In Grants For Southern Nevada Fire Departments

April 29, 2010 – Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today announced $425,600 in competitive grants from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to improve the operations and safety of two Southern Nevada fire departments. Clark County Fire Department will receive $318,000 and North Las Vegas Fire Department will be awarded $107,600 to upgrade training activities, equipment, personal protective equipment, wellness and fitness, and health and safety measures at stations and facilities.

“I’m pleased that these two fire departments will receive crucial assistance to improve safety measures as they protect our state’s highest-populated area,” Reid said. “We’re grateful for the courage these men and women show every day to keep Nevadans safe, and now they’ll be even better protected on the job.”

Reid Meets With Chief Gillespie, International Association Of Fire Chiefs

April 29, 2010 – Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid met yesterday with Chief Al Gillespie, Treasurer and Vice Chair of the Safety, Health and Survival Section of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) and the Vice President and Chief of the North Las Vegas Fire Department. They discussed solutions to fire safety issues that Nevada faces. Also in attendance were representatives from the IAFC including President and Chairman of the Board Jeffrey Johnson, First Vice President Jack Parow, Treasurer William Metcalf, Former Presidents Larry Grorud and Steven Westermann, Director-at-Large Richard Carrizzo, Incoming Second Vice President Hank Clemmensen, Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Mark Light and Government Relations Senior Advisor Alan Caldwell.

“Chief Gillespie and I are concerned with the appropriate actions needed to protect property in Southern Nevada that houses our children in schools and employs many Nevadans in casinos and the entertainment industry from the devastation of fire,” Reid said. “I will continue working to make sure Nevada’s firefighters have the tools they need to improve emergency responder services and enhance fire relief efforts in order to best serve the community.”

Senator Reid meets with Chief Al Gillespie and representatives from the International Association of Fire Chiefs.

Reid Statement On USDA Visit To Las Vegas

April 28, 2010 – Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid thanked Audrey Rowe, USDA Food and Nutrition Service’s Deputy Administrator for Special Nutrition Programs, for visiting two Las Vegas schools today to emphasize the importance of improving the health and nutrition of Nevada children:

“The health of our children is the most important issue to every parent in Nevada,” Reid said. “I thank Audrey for coming to Nevada to highlight ways to improve the quality of meals served in schools, to increase access to healthy meals, and to encourage physical activity for our children. I applaud First Lady Michelle Obama for her leadership with her Let’s Move! campaign, and I’m committed to taking every necessary step to ensure the well-being of children in Nevada and across the country.”

Reid, Ensign Announce More Than $1 Million To Improve Safety Of Nevada’s Highways

April 28, 2010 – Washington, DC – Nevada Senators Harry Reid and John Ensign today announced $1.2 million from the Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to make Nevada highways safer. While specific uses of the funds are determined by the State, the grants are required to support highway safety goals that include reducing crashes and protecting drivers and passengers.

“This much-needed funding will put Nevadans to work making road travel in our state safer,” Reid said. “At a time when our state’s budget is suffering, this money will be put to good use improving our roads, protecting passengers and keeping Nevadans employed.”

“It’s important to ensure that motorists are safe when traveling along our many roads and highways,” said Ensign. “This money will help with funding important highway safety programs that will help to keep Nevadans and visitors to our state safe.”

Reid Statement On A-Power Energy’s Plan To Build A Wind Turbine Plant In Nevada

April 27, 2010 – Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement on A-Power’s search for a Nevada location to build their wind turbine production and assembly facility, which will supply wind turbines for projects in North and South America.

“I commend A-power, their partners and supporters for moving forward with a project that will put more than 1,000 Nevadans back to work and help our nation in its effort to achieve energy independence,” Reid said. “I encouraged A-Power to come to Nevada because our tax friendly business environment and abundance of clean energy resources make our state the perfect place for them to do business. If we play our cards right, this project will be just one of many more to come.”

Reid Congratulates Clark County Shooting Park On Excellence Award

April 26, 2010 – Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement congratulating the Clark County Shooting Park for earning the 2010 Elmer H. Anderson Park Excellence Award by the Nevada Recreation & Park Society. Reid led the effort to secure the land and funding needed to build the 2,900-acre shooting park. The new world-class facility provides a place for people of all ages to learn about shooting sports. The park celebrated its grand opening on March 27, 2010.

“I congratulate the Clark County Shooting Park for earning the Excellence Award. Last month, I helped the park celebrate its grand opening. I enjoyed the opportunity to shoot trap and take advantage of the park’s other state-of-the-art facilities,” said Reid. “I know that this award is much deserved. I thank everyone who worked so hard to realize this vision and who will help maintain the Clark County Shooting Park as the world’s most outstanding shooting sports facility long into the future.”

Reid Statement On National Infant Immunization Week

April 26, 2010 – Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today made the following statement in recognition of National Infant Immunization Week 2010, which runs from April 24 through May 1:

“Immunizations prevent many diseases and deaths, making them one of the most effective public safety tools that exists,” Reid said. “Unfortunately, Nevada has among the lowest childhood immunization rates in the nation. Health reform will help to make vaccines more accessible to Nevada families and infants. During this National Infant Immunization Week, I encourage all parents to make sure they get their young children vaccinated.”

To find locations where children can receive immunizations, visit www.SNHD.com or www.immunizenevada.com.

Reid Spokesman: A Vote Against Debate Is A Vote To Protect Wall Street

April 26, 2010 – Washington, DC – Jim Manley, spokesman for Nevada Senator Harry Reid, released the following statement today in advance of a key Senate cloture vote to move to debate on Wall Street accountability legislation:

“Today, Republicans face a major choice: Will they stand up for the American people, and join us to hold Wall Street accountable for the reckless gambling that cost 8 million Americans their jobs and millions more their economic livelihood? Or will they follow the marching orders they’ve been getting at their secret, closed-door meetings with Wall Street executives, and continue to protect Wall Street?

“We remain eager to work with Republicans who are sincere about reforming Wall Street, and we are hopeful for bipartisan agreement on this important effort. But there are no two ways about it: a vote against even opening debate on holding Wall Street accountable is a vote to protect Wall Street.”

Reid: Immigration And Energy Reform Both Important To Our Economy And National Security

April 24, 2010 – Washington, DC – Nevada Senator Harry Reid released the following statement today regarding his desire to pass both immigration and energy reform this year:

“Immigration and energy reform are equally vital to our economic and national security and have been ignored for far too long. As I have said, I am committed to trying to enact comprehensive clean energy legislation this session of Congress. Doing so will require strong bipartisan support and energy could be next if it’s ready. I have also said we will try to pass comprehensive immigration reform. This too will require bipartisan support and significant committee work that has not yet begun.

“I appreciate the work of Senator Graham on both of these issues and understand the tremendous pressure he is under from members of his own party not to work with us on either measure. But I will not allow him to play one issue off of another, and neither will the American people. They expect us to do both, and they will not accept the notion that trying to act on one is an excuse for not acting on the other.”