Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Orrin Hatch (R-UT) today introduced the Best Buddies Empowerment for People with Intellectual Disabilities Act of 2008.  This bill seeks to expand the acclaimed Best Buddies program through federal grants, allowing the organization to raise awareness of their services and ultimately help many more Americans living with intellectual disabilities learn valuable social skills, obtain job coaching, and become more independent members of their communities.

Baucus, Kennedy, Grassley, Enzi, Rockerfeller, Hatch, Dodd met today to discuss prospects for advancing legislation in 111th Congress

Leaders of the Senate Finance Committee and the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee committed today to work together early in the 111^th Congress toward comprehensive health care reform.  Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and HELP Chairman Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) were joined at an afternoon discussion in the U.S. Capitol by Finance Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and HELP Ranking Member Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.), as well as Finance Health Care Subcommittee Chairman Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.), Health Care Subcommittee Ranking Member Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), and HELP Children and Families Subcommittee Chairman Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.).  The Senators issued a brief statement following the meeting today:

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families, released the following statement today on a new study by researchers at the University of Missouri indicating that obese children and teens are at risk of heart disease at an earlier age.

Senator Chris Dodd and his wife Jackie Clegg Dodd participated in the Connecticut Walk for Food Allergy in Killingworth on Saturday.  Ms Clegg Dodd was the honorary chair of the walk, which is supported by the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network (FAAN).

Senator Dodd is a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, and the Chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families.  He is the author of the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act, a bill that addresses the critical need for uniform food allergy policies in our schools and early childhood centers while providing the resources schools need to implement them.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) released the following statement today on the Administration’s announcement that it is releasing the funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) that was included in a comprehensive funding measure passed by Congress and signed by the President last month.  The bill provided $5.1 billion for LIHEAP including over $125 million for the state of Connecticut, nearly twice the amount of funding Connecticut received last year.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and the Chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families, today performed the swearing-in of members to the National Commission on Children and Disasters.  Dodd was the Senate sponsor of the legislation approved by Congress last year that created the Commission, which is charged with analyzing how the Federal government can better meet the specific needs of children before, during and after disasters.  The bill was endorsed by Save the Children, based in Westport, Connecticut.  Save the Children’s Vice President and Managing Director Mark Shriver is the elected Chairman of the Commission.   

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), senior member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and chair of its subcommittee on Children and Families, welcomed today’s announcement by drug manufacturers that over-the-counter cough and cold medicine should not be given to children under the age of four years old. 

The Senate has passed a bipartisan resolution sponsored by Senators Pete Domenici (R-N.M.) and Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) establishing the 2008 National Character Counts Week to call the nation’s attention to the benefits of good character and character education.

The Senate resolution establishes Oct. 19-25 as the 2008 National Character Counts Week.  The Character Counts program is built on the “Six Pillars of Character,” which are promoted through school and community based character education programs across the country.  The six pillars are: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring, and citizenship.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-Conn.), Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.), and Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) today praised final House passage of legislation that includes their bipartisan mental health parity agreement that will improve mental health coverage for an estimated 113 million Americans.

In approving the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (HR.1424) Friday, the House also agreed to a tax extenders package that includes the mental health parity legislation.  The package will now be sent to President Bush, who has indicated his support for the measure.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) called on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to immediately investigate the cases of contaminated candy made in China and distributed  in Connecticut over the last few days.  Dodd wrote to FDA Commissioner Dr. Andrew von Eschenbach urging the FDA to take immediate action and ensure that no additional Americans are put at risk.