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. 

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.

Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today oversaw the passage of three major bills out of the Committee.  The Terrorism Risk Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2007, the Sudan Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007, and the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2007 all passed with bi-partisan support.

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Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) today went to the Senate floor to speak in support of the Feingold-Reid-Dodd amendment to the Defense Appropriations bill.  The amendment, which Dodd cosponsored, would set firm and enforceable timelines for the phased redeployment of combat troops out of Iraq.

“I am deeply disappointed in the Defense Authorization Act that was passed by the Senate tonight.  Not only does it lack provisions to end this disastrous war, but it fails to provide even the simplest benefit to the families of our returning wounded warriors.  The least we could have done for these families is protect their jobs for six months as they care for their injured loved ones, which is exactly what the amendment I filed a few weeks ago would have done.  Unfortunately, my amendment was not included in the bill that passed tonight.  While I am pleased that the Senate has finally acted to increase funding for some critical national defense initiatives, such as the $470 million provided for the production of an additional submarine per year, I cannot applaud the Senate for passing yet another piece of legislation that takes no steps to end this war and bring our troops home.”

Today Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT) explained why he voted against ending debate on the Defense Authorization bill late last night. 

“I voted against ending the debate on the Defense Authorization bill for two simple reasons— First, this bill doesn’t do anything to end the war; and second, it doesn’t provide adequate support for the families of our returning wounded warriors.

“I cannot support the Kyl-Lieberman amendment on Iran.  To do so could give this president a green light to act recklessly and endanger US national security.  We learned in the run up to the Iraq war that seemingly nonbinding language passed by this Senate can have profound consequences.  We need the president to use robust diplomacy to address concerns with Iran, not the language in this amendment that the president can point to if he decides to draw this country into another disastrous war of choice.”

Responding to an announcement by the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that it had recently enacted export control laws to prohibit  unlicensed trafficking of “strategic goods” such as chemical and biological weaponry, military hardware, and dual-use items,  Senator Chris Dodd, D-Conn.,  Chairman of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, today wrote to Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez to request a report on the latest U.S. efforts to keep sensitive technology out of the hands of rogue and dangerous nations such as Iran.