Members of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation praised today’s decision from New York Governor David Paterson to reject the proposed construction of the Broadwater Liquefied Natural Gas Floating Storage and Regasification Unit on Long Island Sound.  The project was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last month despite vehement objections from Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Representatives John Larson (D-CT1), Joe Courtney (D-CT2), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT3), Chris Shays (R-CT4), and Chris Murphy (D-CT5), along with other members of Congress and numerous environmental groups. 

Working to restore local control over liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal placement, U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR), Hillary Clinton (D-NY), Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), and Chris Dodd (D-CT) introduced legislation today to repeal portions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which gave that authority to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Such decisions had historically been decided by state siting agencies.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) hailed today’s report by The Nation’s Report Card that found Connecticut eighth-grade students ranked first, along with students from New Jersey, out of 45 states in writing tests in 2007.    More than 165,000 eighth- and twelfth-graders across the nation participated in the writing assessment, administered by the National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education.  Dodd is a senior member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee and the Chairman of its Subcommittee on Children and Families.   

Members of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation yesterday strongly urged New York Governor David Paterson to reject the proposed construction of the Broadwater Liquefied Natural Gas Storage and Regasification Facility in Long Island Sound.  The project was approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission last month despite vehement objections from Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), Representatives John Larson (D-CT1), Joe Courtney (D-CT2), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT3), Chris Shays (R-CT4), and Chris Murphy (D-CT5), along with other members of Congress and numerous environmental groups.  Final approval of the project now rests with the State of New York.

Senators Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT), Joseph I. Lieberman (D-CT), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), and Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) called on the Senate Interior Appropriations Subcommittee to fully fund the Long Island Sound Restoration Act and the Long Island Sound Stewardship Act at $40 million and $25 million respectively for Fiscal Year 2009.  In a letter to Subcommittee Chair Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Ranking Member Wayne Allard (R-CO), the Senators underscored the importance of these programs in restoring the environmental health of the Long Island Sound and protecting and preserving the Sound’s shorelines.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) announced today that more than $47,000 in federal grants were awarded to fire departments in Hamden and Derby, Connecticut.  The grant to Hamden was made possible through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program’s Fire Prevention & Safety Grant initiative, while Derby’s grant came through the AFG Program’s SAFER initiative.  Both efforts are administered by the U.S. Fire Administration. In 2007, the AFG program awarded approximately $490 million in grants nationwide to enhance first-responder organizations and to help them effectively provide response equipment, personal protective equipment and vehicles. 

Members of the Connecticut Congressional Delegation today sent a letter to Joseph Kelliher, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, urging him to deny final approval of the proposed construction of the Broadwater Liquefied Natural Gas Storage and Regasification Facility.  Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT), along with Representatives Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), John Larson (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Joe Courtney (D-CT), and Chris Shays (R-CT), expressed their concern about the potentially significant dangers the construction of the facility would pose to the delicate ecology of Long Island Sound, as well as the economic and safety implications of the proposal.  The delegation also sent a similar letter voicing their concern to Admiral Thad Allan of the U.S. Coast Guard, which is responsible for the security of offshore energy facilities.

U.S. Sen. Christopher J. Dodd, D-Conn., Thursday will convene a hearing on the state of the economy and how it can be strengthened by addressing the turmoil in the mortgage market.

In a boom from 2002 to 2006, the mortgage industry generated lucrative fees for brokers, lenders, credit rating firms, investment banks and investors. Many banks pooled mortgages from various lenders into securities that were assigned a score by rating agencies.

Senators Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Joe Lieberman (ID-CT) announced today that more than $200,000 in federal grants was awarded to Connecticut fire departments in the towns of Oakdale, Beacon Falls, and Sandy Hook. The grants were made possible through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program’s Fire Prevention & Safety Grant initiative, administered by the U.S. Fire Administration.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today commented on the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) regarding the proposed Broadwater Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Storage and Regasification Facility in Long Island Sound.

“I am very concerned about the final environmental report on the Broadwater project released today by the FERC.  It minimizes the potential dangers to the health of Long Island Sound’s fragile ecosystem and does not adequately prove that suggested mitigation measures will be enough to protect the Sound. While I understand the need for increased energy resources in our region, I believe Broadwater is too dangerous and disruptive to the environment and remain opposed to the project.”