You know, I've always said there's nothing like topping off a week of hearings, speeches and smacking down McCain apologists like a 110 mile bike ride to raise money for cancer research and treatment.
OK, I've never actually said that. Truth be told, I'd probably not make it past Monday afternoon, let alone be able to get on a bike at the end of the week. But Senator Kerry seems to enjoy all of the above, plus writing some excellent legislation and doing a bit of campaigning on the side.
The Senator spoke on fighting terrorism at the Center for American Progress, and on interfaith understanding at Yale Divinity School. He also beat the stuffings out of Jon Kyl on MSNBC and Joe "How rude is this guy?" Lieberman on MTP this week.
The Senator's legislation to help struggling homeowners was signed into law last week. Four key provisions of the bill include establishment of a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund, Mortgage Revenue Bond Provision, provisions to amend the Service Members Civil Relief Act, and $3.92 billion for the Community Development Block Grant program.
Senators Kerry and Snowe wrote to the SBA to urge that they help small businesses through the energy crisis, Sen. Kerry and Sen. Kennedy secured $3 million to help Massachusetts fight drug abuse, and, with Nikki Tsongas, announced a grant for Middlesex Community College. The Senator released statements regarding MIT's new solar power advances, and the state legislature's Global Warming Solutions Act, and congratulated Massachusetts' AmeriCorps graduates.
He worked with Sen. Murkowski on a bill to create veterans' treatment courts, and wrote a letter with Sen. Casey to Sec. Rice on the Blackwater contract.
There were a couple of great news stories last week from Matthew Yglesias and Steve Benen regarding the Rand Corporation study which validated Sen. Kerry's approach to fighting terrorism.
Oh, and David Wade is going to help out on the Obama campaign. Temporarily, I hope. I'm sure he'll do an excellent job for Obama, just as he has been doing for Sen. Kerry, but his wit and wisdom will be missed by us here at KV. Good luck, David!
There was also some silliness that suggested the Senator should be rude to his constituents when they ask to have their picture taken with him. We'll just leave that one to the gossip mongers and other small minded people with too much time on their hands.
And a very happy 47th birthday to Senator Obama, just three years away from AARP membership!
