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Press Releases |
For Immediate Release
04/29/09
Contact: |
Jena Longo - Democratic Deputy Communications Director 202.224.7824
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Rockefeller Cracks Down On Fraud
The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act passes in the U.S. Senate |
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Washington, D.C.—Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, a strong supporter of the Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act, commended its passage in the U.S. Senate by a vote of 92 to 4.
“This is about protecting families from fraud that has plagued the mortgage and financial industries, contributing to a nationwide economic crisis,” said Senator Rockefeller, a cosponsor of the legislation. “It’s time to hold wrongdoers responsible. For our country to rebound from this economic crisis we need proper tools in place to crack down on fraud. This includes giving our law enforcement the tools and resources they need to prosecute and punish those responsible, so that hard-working Americans are not caught in fraudulent schemes again.”
Senator Rockefeller is a longstanding supporter of efforts to protect consumers and taxpayer dollars. As Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, Senator Rockefeller has held hearings focusing on consumer protections and holding industries accountable for their actions.
Background on The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act:
• The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (FERA) will provide funding and new tools needed for law enforcement to prosecute and punish those responsible for mortgage, corporate, and financial fraud, and will ensure that funds expended under the Troubled Assets Relief Program and the Emergency Economic Relief Act are protected by the federal fraud statute.
• FERA authorizes $245 million per year for the next two years for the Department of Justice and various federal agencies to investigate and prosecute cases of fraud.
• FERA also clarifies provisions under the False Claims Act – one of the most effective tools in combating waste and fraud in government spending – to ensure that the government can recover federal funds that were obtained through fraud.
• This bill is supported by top law enforcement coalitions and anti-fraud experts, including the National Fraternal Order of Police, Taxpayers Against Fraud, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Association of Assistant U.S. Attorneys, and the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. The bill is also supported by the Department of Justice, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Inspector General for the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the U.S. Secret Service.
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29th - |
current Press Release |
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29th - |
Chairman Rockefeller Applauds President Obama’s First 100 Days In Office
- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s First 100 Days in Office:
“President Obama and his team have proven that they can hit the ground running, from boosting the economy to beginning the process of updating our transportation ...
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28th - |
Chairman Rockefeller's Statement on The Future of National Surface Transportation Policy
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation held a Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, and Security Subcommittee hearing today on The Future of National Surface Transportation Policy. Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, was unable to attend today&rsqu...
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28th - |
Sen. Hutchison Says Highway Funding Formula No Longer Serves Best Interests of States
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), the Ranking Member on the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, made the following statement today during a Commerce Committee hearing on the future of surface transportation.
“Thank you Mr. Chairman. I do thank you for holding this hearing today. It is the first hearing of this committee to consi...
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28th - |
Chairman Rockefeller Applauds Supreme Court’s Decision on Indecency Standards
- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding the Supreme Court’s 5-4 decision today on the Federal Communications Commissions "fleeting expletives" policy.
“I am encouraged by the Supreme Court’s decision today to reverse the ruling ...
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28th - |
Sen. Hutchison Introduces Bill Allowing States to Opt Out of Federal Highway Program
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – To eliminate the long-obsolete Federal Highway Program funding formula, U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior Senator, today introduced legislation that will allow states to opt out of the federal program. Rather than receiving funding for highway maintenance and construction via the federal formula, opt-out states would instead be rebated gas tax d...
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27th - |
Chairman Rockefeller Applauds New Members Of President’s Science And Technology Advisory Council
- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding President Obama’s announcement of new members on the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST):
“This advisory council will help us take science out of the laboratory and into ...
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24th - |
Chairman Rockefeller’s Statement On FAA Bird Strike Data Release
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding the FAA’s disclosure of bird strike data:
“I am pleased that the Federal Aviation Administration and the Department of Transportation released the data regarding bird strikes. I have been in touch with the FAA...
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24th - |
Rockefeller Introduced Legislation Calling For Universal Adoption Of Electronic Health Records
- Washington, D.C. —Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV has introduced legislation that will facilitate nationwide adoption of electronic health records, particularly among small, rural providers. The Health Information Technology Public Utility Act of 2009 will build upon the successful use of “open source” electronic health records by the Department of Veterans Affairs as well ...
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23rd - |
Rockefeller Statement on Nominees Voted Out Of Commerce Committee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. - Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding the nominations reported out by the Committee today:
“I am extremely impressed with the caliber of individuals President Obama nominated to run these vital positions in our government. The President and I agree that ...
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21st - |
Chairman Rockefeller’s Statement On Commerce Committee Nominees
- Washington, DC – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, released the following opening statement regarding nominees put before the committee today:
“I wish to congratulate all of you on your nomination for positions in the United States Department of Transportation (DOT), the United States Department of Commerc...
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17th - |
Hearing Postponed: Reform of the Federal Communications Commission
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has postponed the hearing scheduled for Wednesday April, 22, 2009 on the Reform of the Federal Communications Commission. Additional information will be made available once the hearing is rescheduled.
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3rd - |
SENATOR ROCKEFELLER URGES IMMEDIATE ACTION ON BAYER CHEMICAL EXPLOSION
- Washington, D.C. –Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV sent a letter today to the United States Coast Guard requesting that they release key findings in the Bayer CropScience chemical explosion investigation without compromising national security.
The Coast Guard has been working with the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigations Board (CSB) to determine the cause and reaction to the Aug...
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3rd - |
CHAIRMAN ROCKEFELLER REQUESTS INFORMATION FROM EIGHTEEN HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANIES
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation has held two full committee hearings on Deceptive Health Insurance Industry Practices – Are Consumers Getting What They Paid For? Rockefeller sent letters late yesterday to 18 different health insurance companies asking them what data they use to dete...
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2nd - |
COMMERCE CHAIRMAN ROCKEFELLER’S STATEMENT ON RESIGNATION OF NASA INSPECTOR GENERAL ROBERT COBB
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John D (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the U.S. Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement regarding the resignation of NASA Inspector General Robert Cobb:
“Only a few short weeks ago, Senator McCaskill and I expressed deep concerns to President Obama that the NASA Inspector General, Robert Cobb, had been re...
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1st - |
Chairman Rockefeller and Senator Snowe Introduce Comprehensive Cybersecurity Legislation
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation and Senator Olympia Snowe (R-ME) today announced the introduction of comprehensive cybersecurity legislation to address our nation’s vulnerability to cyber crime, global cyber espionage, and cyber attacks that could potentially cripple the United States&rsq...
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1st - |
Bill Would Federalize Cybersecurity- Senate Proposal Would Affect Even Some Private Networks
- Key lawmakers are pushing to dramatically escalate U.S. defenses against cyberattacks, crafting proposals that would empower the government to set and enforce security standards for private industry for the first time.
The proposals, in Senate legislation that could be introduced as early as today, would broaden the focus of the governments cybersecurity efforts to include not only military ne...
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