Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), released the following statement today after the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense approved a preliminary version of the Fiscal Year 2009 Defense Appropriations Bill.  If passed by the Congress and signed into law by the President, the bill will provide critical funding for Connecticut’s defense industry, particularly in the areas of submarine and aircraft purchases, as well as critical radar technology research. 

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), along with Representatives Christopher Shays (R-CT-4) and Chris Murphy (D-CT-5), today sent a letter to Federal Aviation Administration Acting Administrator Robert Sturgell requesting that the FAA carry out the analyses recommended by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in its report on the FAA’s proposed airspace redesign.  The Connecticut elected officials also requested that the FAA respond to several shortcomings highlighted in the GAO report and present a detailed airspace redesign implementation plan to Congress that includes a time and cost schedule, risk mitigation plan, transition planning, and monitoring and evaluation plan.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) today announced they have filed an amicus brief in support of court challenges to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) proposed airspace redesign over Connecticut, New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.  On Friday, the Senators submitted the brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia for the case of County of Rockland, et. al v. U.S. Department of Transportation. 

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today praised approval of a provision requiring the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to report back to the Senate after the Government Accountability Office (GAO) releases its review of the FAA’s proposed airspace redesign.  The provision, which was introduced by Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, would require the FAA Administrator to report the agency’s attempts to address any concerns or recommendations raised in the GAO’s report to the Senate Committee on Appropriations and the Senate Committee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Transportation. 

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), a former Peace Corps volunteer and an outspoken advocate for national service programs, today announced he will introduce the AmeriCorps: Together Improving Our Nation (ACTION) Act of 2008. Dodd’s bill would raise AmeriCorps’ Segal Education Award to reflect the rising cost of college, make the award tax-exempt so AmeriCorps Members can apply the full amount of the award to their tuition, and elevate the Corporation for National and Community Service to Cabinet-level status, while empowering the Corporation to partner with other federal agencies.  

Sen. Christopher J. Dodd says he's not interested in running for majority leader in the U.S. Senate. Given the performance by the position's current occupant, maybe Dodd will reconsider.

During Dodd's ill-fated run for the presidency, his support for civil liberties and the rule of law against an out-of-control White House and its corporate backers was viewed by critics as a cynical attempt to rile partisans to his candidacy. Well, he's not running for president anymore, but Dodd has not given up on this fight. He is not going to allow this rampant lawbreaking to continue without a fight.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today met with Mayor Eddie Perez of Hartford and Mayor Bill Finch of Bridgeport to discuss priorities for their respective cities in the coming year.  Senator Dodd and the mayors, who were in Washington to attend a meeting of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, discussed the state of the nation’s economy, local economic development, and transit in their discussion.      

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced federal grants to the Bridgeport Fire Department and the Deep River Ambulance Association totaling $342,200 to improve operations and firefighter safety. These awards were made possible as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) by the U.S. Fire Administration. In fiscal year 2007, the AFG program will award approximately $490 million to fire and EMS departments across America.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) today announced the approval of the 2008 Defense Appropriations Bill by a key Senate panel which includes substantial funding for Connecticut’s defense industry.  This bill, which was unanimously approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, contained 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 impacts 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

“Yesterday’s announcement by the FAA is very disappointing.  The FAA has ignored repeated requests from me and my colleagues for information about how their proposed changes to regional flight patterns would impact the people of our state, and their decision yesterday demonstrates an utter disregard for the quality of life of residents of Connecticut who will be affected by the Integrated Airspace Alternative.  I will continue to work to oppose this proposal.”