Agreement Will Keep Jobs in Connecticut

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), along with Senator Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) and Representative John Larson (CT-1), today praised an agreement between Connecticut-based Hamilton Sundstrand and Oceaneering International that will allow workers in Connecticut to continue producing components for NASA’s space suits.  Hamilton Sundstrand and Oceaneering International have agreed to submit a single bid to NASA for the new Constellation Space Suit System contract.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) recently sent a letter to National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Administrator Michael Griffin expressing concern about how the recent competition for the new Constellation Space Suit System was executed.  The competition resulted in NASA awarding the new contract to Oceaneering International, a firm that specializes in deep sea diving suits, instead of Connecticut-based Hamilton Sundstrand, the company that has manufactured America’s space suits for more than 40 years.  This decision has since been withdrawn by NASA due to concerns voiced by the NASA Inspector General and a protest filed by Hamilton Sundstrand with the Government Accountability Office (GAO).

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today spoke on the Senate floor on the state of our nation’s infrastructure and the importance of long-term investment in our roads, bridges, mass transit, drinking water, and wastewater removal systems.  Dodd’s speech comes on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the tragic I-35 bridge collapse in Minneapolis. Tomorrow also marks one year since Dodd introduced the National Infrastructure Bank Act along with Senator Chuck Hagel (R-NE).  Dodd has held two hearings on the legislation, which has 12 co-sponsors.

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Remarks as Prepared: The Committee will please come to order.  We gather here this morning to examine once again the condition of our nation’s infrastructure and proposals for needed improvements to it.

When the Committee last gathered to examine this critical issue, we considered the perspectives from individuals who held expertise in public and private financing, civil engineering, labor, and business.  They were unanimous in voicing compelling support for increased investment in our nation’s infrastructure and for the need to develop and implement alternative ways to finance this critically important investment in our nation’s future.

U.S. Senator Chris Dodd’s (D-CT) website was honored Monday by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), a non-profit, non-partisan research and consulting organization in Washington, D.C., for having one of the best websites in Congress. Analyzing 618 congressional websites, Dodd.Senate.Gov was one of only four personal offices in the Senate to receive the Golden Mouse Award in CMF’s “2007 Gold Mouse Report: Lessons from the Best Web Sites on Capitol Hill.”

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and George Voinovich (R-OH) introduced legislation yesterday to help ensure that the United States will continue to lead the world aeronautics industry.  The “Aeronautics Competitiveness Act of 2007” will increase research funding, technology transfer, and workforce development, all of which are vital to maintaining the United States’ competitive edge.  

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) yesterday sent a letter to Kevin Martin, the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), expressing his concern about a recent FCC proposal that would cap funding for the construction of more cell phone towers in rural areas across the country.  Dodd explained that making reliable wireless service available to all Americans is not just a matter of convenience, but is critical to public safety, and he urged Chairman Martin to ensure that any funding proposal will not jeopardize the security of America’s rural communities.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) secured $45 million in authorized spending for Connecticut water resource projects within The Water Resources Development Act of 2007 Conference Report, a bill that the Senate passed last night.  The legislation gives the Army Corps of Engineers authority to undertake essential water resource studies and to construct and modify water resource projects that will help Connecticut communities ensure the safety and cleanliness of their water supplies, restore marine habitats, and improve navigation in working harbors.  The conference report was passed by the House of Representatives last month and will now be sent to the President’s desk for his signature. 

In response to today’s findings by the Texas Transportation Institute that traffic congestion continues to worsen in cities across America, Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Chuck Hagel (R-NE) again stressed the need for their bipartisan legislation to revitalize, repair, and replace America’s aging and crumbling roads, bridges, transit systems, water treatment facilities, and public housing properties. 

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (D-CT) successfully secured more than $30 million for critical transportation, urban development, and environmental needs in Connecticut. The funding, which was included in the Senate's Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Energy and Water bills, was approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee last week.  The Senators also secured funding for the Women’s Business Development Center in Stamford, CT as part of the Financial Services appropriations bill.