Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today issued the following statement after President-Elect Obama announced several nominations for his economic team and outlined an economic recovery plan:

“I commend President-Elect Obama for announcing his economic team and for outlining a strong proposal for economic recovery.  These actions demonstrate that he is moving quickly and responsibly to address our nation’s economic crisis.  I look forward to considering these nominations swiftly and deliberately in the Banking Committee, and will work with my colleagues to ensure that these and other nominees are reviewed without delay.”

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today issued the following statement on the nomination of Neil Barofsky to be Special Inspector General Committee for the Troubled Asset Relief Program.  Having officially received the nomination on Monday, Dodd convened the Committee for a hearing just two days later.  The nomination was cleared by members of the Senate Banking Committee, the leadership of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, and all Democratic Senators.  However, the nomination was blocked on the floor by at least one Republican member.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee, today announced that the Committee will hold a hearing next week on Neil M. Barofsky, President Bush’s intended nominee to be the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program. This position was designed to conduct, supervise, and coordinate audits and investigations of the purchase, management and sale of assets under the Troubled Asset Relief Program.

Remarks as Prepared: This afternoon, the Committee examines the condition of the domestic automobile industry. 

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) released the following statement in response to news reports that Connecticut exports have grown over the last year:

“This is welcome news during these tough economic times. Connecticut’s workers are among the best in the country and the products and services they produce continue to be in high demand around the world.  I will continue to fight to ensure that our business community has the resources and tools it needs to continue to grow and prosper in this difficult economy.”

"I appreciate the Treasury Department’s willingness to adjust to the current situation in our financial markets.  I am also gratified that they listened to Congress when we insisted on including alternative strategies, such as liquidity injections, in the financial rescue legislation.  It is alarming to imagine how limited the Treasury’s options would be if Congress had not made substantial changes to their three page proposal." 

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and a senior member of both the Committees on Foreign Relations and Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, held a press conference today where he announced that he will continue to serve as the Chairman of the Banking Committee and laid out what his priorities will be for Connecticut and the Committee.

U.S. Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., and U.S. Rep. Joe Courtney, D-2nd District, are asking Pfizer Inc.'s chief executive officer to reconsider plans to replace local contractors at its southeastern Connecticut campuses with foreign workers.

In a letter Monday to Jeffrey B. Kindler, Pfizer's chairman and chief executive officer, Dodd and Courtney said they are concerned about a companywide policy dubbed Procedure 117 that would replace local information-technology contract workers at its Groton and New London sites with workers from outside firms, including those from overseas.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Congressman Joe Courtney (CT-2) sent the following letter today to Jeffrey B. Kindler, CEO of Pfizer Inc, expressing their concern over recent reports that suggest the company has been training foreign contractors to replace local workers at their facilities in New London and Groton.

NORWALK -- In the face of looming federal budget constraints, Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn., told employees of Norden Systems on Monday that $20 million has been included in the 2009 defense budget for an improved radar system to be built at the plant.

The allocation would allow continued development of the multi-platform radar technology insertion program, designed to replace air-to-ground systems on 17 Joint Stars Air Force aircraft.The new version would expand the surveillance system to air-to-air capabilities.