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Edited on Tue Sep-16-03 09:49 PM by wrkclskid
Note: This is an email digest, which is why I didn't post a link.
T H E D O D D D I G E S T
September 2003
Vol. 1, No. 5
DODD FIGHTS TO PRESERVE AMERICAN JOBS
As America's economy staggers with over 3 million fewer jobs
since 2001, Senator Dodd has initiated an aggressive two-pronged
effort to defend the American workforce and get more unemployed
men and women back on the job.
At recent events across Connecticut, Dodd announced two new
legislative initiatives – one to prevent overseas workers from
securing domestic employment when well-qualified Americans are
available to do the same job, and a second to curb the growing
trend of some companies firing U.S. workers and moving their
jobs overseas.
Speaking at a manufacturing event in New Britain on July 28, Dodd
emphasized the important need to tighten labor laws and prohibit
large corporations from hiring overseas workers when equally-
qualified Americans are available to fill open positions.
"American workers are first-rate," Dodd said. "They shouldn't be
treated as ‘second-class citizens' when it comes to jobs here at
home. I intend to fight to ensure that Connecticut workers have
a level playing field when competing for jobs."
Dodd's legislation, the USA Jobs Protection Act of 2003, includes
provisions that will assist thousands of workers in Connecticut
and around the country who are struggling to find good jobs in a
stagnant economy, and in a labor market that increasingly relies
on foreign workers.
Dodd is also actively pursuing a measure that would address the
growing problem of "offset agreements." These are arrangements
whereby U.S. companies sign a deal with a foreign company that
includes transferring manufacturing jobs from the U.S. company to
the foreign company, where they are performed by foreign workers.
These offset contracts have often resulted in unnecessary layoffs
at home and have, in some instances, weakened the nation's
defense industrial base of which Connecticut is an integral part.
In an amendment passed as part of the Senate Defense
Appropriations bill, Dodd's legislation would have the Secretary
of Defense review all offset contract arrangements thoroughly,
make full reports to Congress on how these arrangements adversely
affect domestic manufacturers, jobs, and our national security,
and empower the Secretary of Defense to crack down on this
practice. "I believe that America's small businesses and
aerospace workers are the best in the world," Dodd wrote in a
recent letter to Commerce Secretary Donald Evans and Defense
Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. "If we accept offsets with foreign
countries that forego U.S. subcontracting work at home, we will
continue to erode our nation's industrial base in critical
sectors."
DODD INTRODUCES BILL TO IMPROVE HEAD START
Senator Dodd recently introduced legislation aimed at
further improving and ensuring the continued success of Head
Start. Dodd's bill more than doubles funding for early Head Start
and provides the resources necessary to attract and retain a more
educated Head Start workforce. Head Start, America's most
comprehensive initiative aimed at leveling the playing field for
children from low-income families, has helped more than 21
million children nationwide.
"This bill we are introducing today lays out in a concrete
fashion the priorities needed to improve Head Start and ensure
that all eligible children have access to this critically
important program," said Dodd. The legislation allocates funding
to attract and retain a qualified Head Start workforce,
encouraging higher education for teachers and providing for
competitive wages. It also promotes better coordination across
all early child care and education programs in every state, and
would expand Head Start to all eligible preschool children,
including infants and toddlers through Early Head Start, by 2008.
In contrast, the House-passed Republican proposal, backed by the
Bush Administration, fails to adequately fund Head Start and
includes a block grant proposal that would undermine quality
standards and comprehensive services for children.
Throughout his career in Congress, Senator Dodd has always
believed that investing in America's neediest children, those who
are least likely to enter school ready to learn and those without
health insurance, is an investment in our nation's future. Head
Start is critical to providing these children with a much better
chance of succeeding in the long term. In 1991, Senator Dodd was
named "Senator of the Decade" by National Head Start as a result
of his continuing battle to give every eligible child access to
Head Start.
SENATOR DODD SPEAKS ON POSTWAR IRAQ
In response to President Bush's recent request for $87 billion in
additional funding to support our military campaigns in Iraq and
Afghanistan, Senator Dodd emphasized the need for the Bush
Administration to be open about the costs of American military
action, especially in the face of mounting federal budget
deficits that are severely crippling our economy. "I'm prepared
to support reasonable additional funding for our efforts in
Iraq," said Senator Dodd. "But the president should have come
clean with the American public and Congress regarding the cost of
this war a whole lot sooner."
In a speech delivered on the Senate floor on July 17, Senator
Dodd also criticized the Administration for being unprepared to
meet the challenges of postwar Iraq. He encouraged the
Administration to do all it can to involve the United Nations
and NATO in the administration of postwar Iraq, so that fewer
American soldiers will be put in harm's way, and more will be
able to return home to their families. Dodd also urged the
Administration to seek international involvement in sharing the
costs of Iraqi reconstruction, which would significantly lighten
the financial burden on American taxpayers.
"The bottom line is the U.S. military has done and is doing a
tremendous job – under very difficult conditions. Having said
that, it is increasingly apparent that the Bush Administration
was ill prepared for what is now confronting on the ground in
Iraq – both in terms of the extent of hostilities and the costs
of the operations...I strongly urge the Administration to turn to
the U.N. and NATO for that assistance. It is in our national
security and foreign policy interests for the U.N. and NATO to
become partners in rebuilding Iraq."
Finally, Senator Dodd stressed the need to fully explore and
investigate, in a bipartisan fashion, allegations that
intelligence information was manipulated or distorted in the
weeks and months leading up to the war in Iraq. "This calls into
question the integrity of our entire intelligence community,"
said Senator Dodd. "We need to get to the bottom of this and put
in place safeguards to prevent future manipulation of
intelligence."
* DODD RECEIVES JUSTICE FOR ALL AWARD: On July 23, Senator Dodd
was honored by the American Association of People with
Disabilities with their Justice for All Award for his work on
behalf of people with disabilities, and in particular for his
efforts as the sponsor of the Help America Vote Act, which was
signed into law in October 2002. This election reform
legislation, introduced in the aftermath of the 2000 Presidential
election, is designed to ensure that every single American is
able to exercise his or her fundamental right to vote, and to
have that vote counted. It also takes specific steps to ensure
that disabled American men and women can cast their ballots
privately and independently. Studies have shown that because of
limited access to polling places and voting machines, Americans
with disabilities vote at a rate that is at least 10 percent
lower than that of the general population.
Being in Connecticut, I am so proud to have this guy as Senator. I know this is made to increase his image, but still he is doing good things.
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