“The Administration’s foreign policy budget simply does not reflect reality.  Our troops have been operating in Iraq since 2003 and in Afghanistan since 2001.  And yet, after all our troops have sacrificed and endured, and America’s lost standing in the world, the President still refuses to account for this war’s full impact.  By keeping the wars out of his budget the President somehow thinks that he can pull the wool over our eyes and act as if our continued operations in Iraq and Afghanistan won’t contribute to the national deficit, or won’t weigh on the shoulders of future generations of Americans.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today applauded the enactment of their legislation, the Support for Injured Servicemembers Act, which was signed into law by President Bush late yesterday.   The Dodd-Clinton legislation extends the benefits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by allowing the families of wounded military personnel to take up to six months of unpaid leave to care for their loved ones during the often lengthy rehabilitation process.  The legislation immediately implements a key recommendation of the Commission on the Care for Wounded Warriors, led by former Senator Bob Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today announced that their legislation, the Support for Injured Servicemembers Act, would again head to the President’s desk for his signature.   The Dodd-Clinton legislation extends the benefits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by allowing the families of wounded military personnel to take up to six months of unpaid leave to care for their loved ones during the often lengthy rehabilitation process.  The legislation will implement a key recommendation of the Commission on the Care for Wounded Warriors, led by former Senator Bob Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala.  This is the second time that Congress has approved the Defense Authorization.  President Bush vetoed the first version.

Today, Senator Dodd praised the Air Force Chief of Staff on the release of a long-term plan which allocates the new Joint Cargo Aircraft to the National Guard base located at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT.  The plan, referred to as the Air Force Weapon Systems Roadmap, presents a 25 year outlook on future Air Force weapon and major system development and acquisition and considers locations for basing these new systems.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today announced that the Senate has approved their legislation, The Support for Injured Servicemembers Act, as part of the Department of Defense (DOD) authorization conference report.  Having now been approved by both chambers of Congress, the bill now goes to the President’s desk to be signed into law.  The Dodd-Clinton legislation extends the benefits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by allowing the families of wounded military personnel to take up to six months of unpaid leave.  The legislation will implement a key recommendation of the Commission on the Care for Wounded Warriors, led by former Senator Bob Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala. 

...for Families Of Wounded Soldiers in DOD Conference Report  

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today announced the inclusion of their legislation, "The Support for Injured Servicemembers Act," in the Department of Defense (DOD) authorization conference report.  The Dodd-Clinton amendment extends the benefits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) by allowing the families of wounded military personnel to take up to six months of unpaid leave.  The legislation, which still must be approved by the Senate, will implement a key recommendation of the Commission on the Care for Wounded Warriors, a panel led by former Senator Bob Dole and former Secretary of Health and Human Services Donna Shalala.  

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced that the final passage of the 2008 Defense Appropriations Conference Report includes substantial funding for Connecticut’s defense industry. The bill, which was signed into law today by President Bush, contains significant additional funds that will increase submarine production to two submarines per year by 2010 – two years earlier than originally planned by the Navy.  This funding will impact thousands of jobs throughout Connecticut, especially in the southeast region of the state.  The bill also includes substantial investments in current defense systems and research and development activities to ensure U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are outfitted with the quality resources they need to perform their missions.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced Senate passage of the 2008 Defense Appropriations Conference Report, which includes substantial funding for Connecticut’s defense industry.  This bill contains significant additional funds that will increase submarine production to two submarines per year by 2010 – two years earlier than originally planned by the Navy.  This funding will impact thousands of jobs throughout Connecticut, especially in the southeast region of the state.  The bill also includes substantial investments in current defense systems and research and development activities to ensure U.S. soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are outfitted with the quality resources they need to perform their missions

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) announced today that an additional $588 million for submarine construction has been included in the 2008 Defense Appropriations conference report released by the Appropriations Committee today.  The funding will help to increase Virginia-Class submarine production to two submarines per year by 2010 – two years earlier than originally planned by the Navy.  These new funds, which will be used to begin the procurement of critical materials at the Electric Boat shipyards, will impact thousands of jobs throughout Connecticut, especially in the southeast region of the state.    

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) today hailed House passage of their amendment, "The Support for Injured Servicemembers Act," which if signed into law will allow the families of wounded military personnel to take up to six months of unpaid leave.  The Dodd-Clinton amendment expands the benefits provided under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which currently allows for up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave annually.  The measure, approved today as part of the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) bill, will implement a key recommendation of the Dole-Shalala Commission on the Care for Wounded Warriors.