Ben's Briefing - Week of May 25th

Statement

Ben's Briefing - Week of May 25th

MEMORIAL DAY: On this Memorial Day, I want to pay special tribute to the men and women who served in our Armed Forces and who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. As we honor our nation's fallen heroes, we also pray for our soldiers who are still in harm's way in Iraq, Afghanistan and around the world. We honor their commitment to our nation and we pray for their safe return. Throughout our nation's history, American men and women have answered the call to defend our democracy. It has not been an easy task and many sacrifices have been made. As we remember their patriotism and sacrifice, I am inspired by their courage and dedication to freedom.

SUPREME COURT NOMINEE: I welcome the announcement by President Obama of his intent to nominate Judge Sonia Sotomayor to fill the upcoming vacancy on the Supreme Court. We don't have openings on the Court very often, so I appreciate the great thought behind this announcement and its promptness, which will give my fellow senators and I ample time to consider Judge Sotomayor's nomination. As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I am privileged to have my first opportunity to participate in the confirmation process for a Supreme Court Justice and to question Judge Sotomayor at her upcoming hearing. I have said repeatedly that I believe the next Supreme Court Justice should be a leader who holds a passion for the protections found in our Constitution and will uphold the precedent of the Court.

HEALTHCARE REFORM: I joined twenty-eight U.S. Senators last week to introduce a resolution calling for a public health insurance option in health care reform. As we move forward, any reform of our nation's health care system should give consumers a choice of an affordable, federally-backed option to introduce competition in the health insurance market and contain health care costs. Reform with a public health insurance option could lower health costs, improve quality of care, and ensure access in rural and other underserved areas. To achieve meaningful reform, insurers must compete based on quality and affordability. A public option will create incentives for healthy competition that will serve the interests of all Americans.

AUTO INDUSTRY: I have sent a joint letter to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, along with Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, urging him to obtain more detailed information from Chrysler and General Motors on their recent decision to abruptly close hundreds of local dealerships nationwide. The end-goal is clear: restore the viability of the U.S. auto industry. But I am not convinced this dramatic action would help them to survive. My constituents are rightly concerned about this latest economic threat to their communities, which is why I want to understand the reason General Motors and Chrysler took such quick action to cut off dealerships that cost them little or no money to maintain.

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