It wasn't easy, but once again I was able to squeeze the Senator's entire week into less than five minutes.
Senator Kerry held another hearing this week, this time on Syria and our diplomatic options in the region. Just as he pointed to Pakistan as a country where there is a great need for our attention, Syria and its relations with Lebanon are critical to the stability, such as it is, in the Middle East. The full hearing on Syria can be found on the SFRC site.
The situation in Pakistan does not seem to be improving, as Musharraf continued the suspension of the country's constitution and banned a protest march planned by opposition leader Benazir Bhutto, who was placed under house arrest and later released. Senators Kerry and Biden have introduced a resolution condemning the 'state of emergency ' and urging a restoration of the country's constitution. While President Bush sees "positive steps" in Pakistan, his "indispensible ally" Musharraf is releasing Taliban from prison as he locks up lawyers and democratic activists. Pakistan is a nuclear power. This is not comforting.
Turning from the crisis in the Middle East for a moment, we also have a climate crisis, and Senator Kerry is preparing to lead a delegation to Bali for international talks. He spoke with MSNBC last week about the economic benefits of alternative energy sources.
And of course, Sunday was Veterans Day, and Senator Kerry was in attendance at the Massachusetts State House to honor his fellow veterans. The ceremony was attended by several members of the Tuskegee Airmen, who were presented with Congressional Gold Medals for their service.
Someone questioned me yesterday on the Senator's support of the troops (actually, I think this person was questioning him, but this isn't the Senator's blog, so ...). In yesterday's post, I explained that I would keep it nonpartisan in honor of all our veterans, who we commemorate on Veterans Day without regard to politics. But I will respond with the legislation Sen. Kerry has sponsored this year regarding veterans' benefits, and write off the rest of the comment as an uninformed and misdirected outburst. In the list below, I didn't include the legislation the Senator co-sponsored that was written by other Senators, although perhaps I should have, because that's important. I'll do that later. While I'm at it, I'll just check to see how many from the other side of the aisle co-sponsored Senator Kerry's efforts to 'support the troops'.
sponsored by Sen. Kerry
S.CON.RES.34: A concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that Congress and the President should increase basic pay for members of the Armed Forces.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 5/25/2007)
S.455: A bill to amend the internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide tax relief to active duty military personnel and employers who assist them, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 1/31/2007)
S.1005: A bill to amend the Small Business Act to improve programs for veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 3/28/2007)
S.1243: A bill to amend title 10, United States Code, to reduce the age for receipt of military retired pay for nonregular service from 60 years of age to 55 years of age.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 4/26/2007)
S.1784: A bill to amend the Small Business Act to improve programs for veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 7/12/2007)
S.1971: A bill to authorize a competitive grant program to assist members of the National Guard and Reserve and former and current members of the Armed Forces in securing employment in the private sector, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 8/2/2007)
S.1999: A bill to provide for the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 8/3/2007)
S.AMDT.615 to S.CON.RES.21 To include in the veterans' reserve fund services for low-vision and blinded veterans.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 3/22/2007)
S.AMDT.687 to H.R.1591 To improve programs for small business concerns that employ Reservists, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 3/27/2007)
S.AMDT.2969 to H.R.1585 To provide for the establishment of a Center of Excellence in Prevention, Diagnosis, Mitigation, Treatment, and Rehabilitation of Military Eye Injuries.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 9/20/2007)
S.AMDT.3024 to H.R.1585 To improve small business programs for veterans, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen Kerry, John F. [MA] (introduced 9/24/2007)
