Today, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) appeared on Good Morning America to discuss his work on The Family Leave Insurance Act of 2007, which provides for up to 8 weeks of paid leave during life changing events, such as a serious family illness or the birth of a child. Appearing with more than 100 working mothers as part of Good Morning America’s ‘Take Control of Your Life Tour,’ Dodd spoke about the importance of passing legislation that supports working families.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) praised Congress for passing their amendment, "The Support for Injured Servicemembers Act," which if signed into law will allow the family of wounded military personnel to take up to 6 months of unpaid leave. The legislation expands the benefits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which currently allows 12 weeks of unpaid leave. The Act was passed as an amendment to the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), and has received broad bipartisan support.

Today, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) lauded Congress for reauthorizing the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and urged President Bush to sign the critically important legislation into law.  The legislation, which has received wide bi-partisan support, would allow states to provide health insurance to a greater number of children from low income and working families. By reauthorizing SCHIP, an additional 3.1 million uninsured children will receive coverage, as well as the 6.6 million children currently in the program.  President Bush announced his intention to veto the legislation. If the President fails to sign this legislation into law, approximately 800,000 children will lose their SCHIP coverage.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today announced that the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) has endorsed his proposal to allow the families of wounded military personnel to take up to 6 months of unpaid leave to care for their loved ones during the often lengthy rehabilitation process.

Requests Assurance from Secretary Jackson that Public Housing Will Not Be Demolished Unless HUD Will Replace and Revitalize Buildings

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, late last week sent a letter to Alphonso Jackson, Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), expressing his concern about HUD’s approval of plans to demolish four major public housing sites in the city of New Orleans. 

Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Amendments, Pediatric Medical Device Safety and Improvement Act approved with Final Package of Food and Drug Administration Amendments

Members of the Senate today passed the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Amendments Act, which contains legislation – the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Amendments of 2007 and the Pediatric Medical Device Safety and Improvement Act – that were introduced earlier this year by Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) to improve the safety and availability of medications and medical devices for children.  The bill will also make important changes to the nation’s drug safety system so that the FDA has clear authority, backed up by new enforcement tools, to ensure the safety of prescription drugs once they are on the market.  The FDA Amendments Act, which was approved by the House yesterday and the Senate today, will now go to the President’s desk to await his signature. 

Today, Senator Dodd called on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to stay strong on children’s health by ensuring that the Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Act (BPCA) maintains the compromise reached by House and Senate Democrats.  The compromise called for reducing pediatric exclusivity from 6 months to 4.5 months.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a senior Democrat on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families, today lauded unanimous Senate passage of S. 558, the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007.  If enacted into law, the Mental Health Parity Act would help ensure that all Americans who have insurance coverage for physical ailments such as a broken limb will also have comparable coverage for a mental illness.  Previously, Dodd voiced strong concerns about the bill and its impact on Connecticut which has strong mental health parity and consumer protection laws.

Dodd: “Wounded soldiers deserve the care of
their closest loved ones.”

Today, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) testified before the House Education and Labor Subcommittee on Workforce Protections in support of extending Family and Medical Leave Act benefits to wounded soldiers and their families.  Dodd is the author of the landmark Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), and has introduced The Support for Injured Servicemembers Act to allow the families of wounded military personnel to take up to 6 months of unpaid leave to care for their loved ones during the often lengthy rehabilitation process.

Today, Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) lauded the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) announcement of $450,000 in grants for Connecticut to fight the manufacture, use, and distribution of methamphetamine. The COPS Methamphetamine Initiative will provide $43.6 million to 117 different state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies to combat methamphetamine use.