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

Reid Announces Outpatient Clinic To Assist Southern Nevada VA

Lease awarded for relocation and expansion of medical services

August 11, 2010 – Las Vegas, NV – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today announced a lease award that will allow the Department of Veterans Affairs to better support medical services for Southern Nevada veterans. The Northeast Community-Based Outpatient Clinic is being implemented as the last of four outpatient clinics in the VA Southern Nevada Healthcare System as a part of the new Southern Nevada Veterans Hospital. While the hospital will be the tertiary care center, the clinics will handle the delivery of regular medical care and provide access to primary care, mental health, specialty care, and diagnostic services for Nevada vets. The new clinic is under construction at the corner of Charleston Boulevard and Arden Street and is expected to open late next year.

“Part of our obligation to the brave men and women who serve this country is to make it easier for them to get the care they need and to make it more accessible,” said Reid. “This lease agreement provides improved access by creating a new location for veterans to receive the care they need in Southern Nevada. When the new clinic opens it will ease the pressure on the Southern Nevada Veteran’s hospital and help them improve the quality of care Nevada’s veterans receive. This is all about keeping our promise to veterans and honoring their service with the accessible, cutting edge health care they deserve.”

Reid, Key Leaders Discuss Nevada's Clean Energy Future

Hundreds of clean energy jobs have already been created

August 11, 2010 – Las Vegas, NV – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today hosted a discussion with his Blue Ribbon Panel on Energy at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) focusing on steps Nevada must take to realize its full potential as a leader in clean energy development, which will result in thousands of jobs and a diversified economy.

“Clean energy is a growing and increasingly important part of Nevada’s economic future,” Reid said. “Hundreds of jobs in this new industry have already been created; thousands more are on the way. Each member of this Panel recognizes that Nevada must diversify its economy to ensure economic prosperity in the years to come. We will keep pushing forward with new ideas that will make Nevada the envy of every other state.”

Reid, Congresswomen Shelley Berkley and Dina Titus, DRI President Steve Wells, NV Energy senior vice president Tony Sanchez, and Energy Works Consulting President Rose McKinney-James discussed a significant step for the state’s clean energy future—the recent agreement to build a north-south transmission line—and previewed the National Clean Energy Summit, which will take place early next month. They also talked about making Nevada a net exporter of clean energy.

Reid established the Nevada Blue Ribbon Panel on Energy in December 2008 to expound upon the progress of the first National Clean Energy Summit. The panel is comprised of Nevada policymakers, experts, industry leaders, representatives of business and labor, Democrats and Republicans.

The National Clean Energy Summit 3.0, to be held on Tuesday, September 7, at UNLV, will focus on the importance of investing in the clean energy industry to create jobs and fuel our economic recovery. With its vast clean energy resources, Nevada is ground zero in this national effort. The summit will include the nation’s leading clean energy entrepreneurs, investors, Nevada business and labor leaders, and Nevada state and federal government leaders who will discuss the importance of accelerating our investment in the clean energy economy.

Reid Statement On Passage Of The Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act

Change to tax code simplifies tax collection and payment for gun manufacturers

August 6, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following statement on the passage of the Firearms Excise Tax Improvement Act in the Senate. The legislation changes the tax payment schedule for firearms manufacturers to be the same as other industries. This change will allow companies to remit the tax with their quarterly returns allowing them to focus more time and capital on their businesses.

“For too long the tax rules required the firearms industry to remit the excise taxes they collect on a different schedule than the schedule for filing their returns.” said Reid. “Now we have corrected that and put firearms manufacturers on the same schedule as other parts of the recreational industry. This is a win for jobs and for Nevada’s sportsmen.”

Reid Announces $1.3 Million For Health Care Worker Training

Grants will help train nurses to serve Nevada’s seniors

August 6, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid today announced $1.3 million in grants for Nevada educational institutions to support health care worker training. Touro University, the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) received funds through the Advanced Education Nursing Trainee Grant. UNR and UNLV also receive grants for Nurse Education, Practice, Quality and Retention, as well as training programs for geriatric medicine. These training grants from the Department of Health and Human Services were created as a part of the new health insurance reform law and will help Nevada be prepared for future changes in the health care system.

“These funds ensure that Nevada has a well prepared nursing corps to accommodate new patients who are just now gaining access to quality health care under the new reforms,” said Reid. The geriatric education and training program grants will help Nevada’s medical institutions train nurses and specialists to ensure that Nevada’s seniors get the best possible care.”