|
Click here to view my briefing as an RSS feed.
Week of June 16th
ENERGY SECURITY: I am still troubled that a Republican minority voted last week to prevent the Senate from even proceeding to the consideration of a bill - H.R. 6049, the Renewable Energy Independence and Income Tax Relief Act of 2008 - designed to bring down sky-high oil and gasoline prices, promote clean and renewable energy, create good jobs here in America, and put our Nation on a path to energy security. The Senate will try again this week to move forward this critical legislation. The American people need our help and we have an opportunity to provide needed relief to American families. I will support this bill and continue to fight to help lower gas prices.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTIONS: As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday I will participate in a hearing examining enforcement of intellectual property (IP) laws. The hearing, "Protecting Consumers by Protecting Intellectual Property Rights," will focus on the dangers to the health and welfare of American citizens caused by counterfeit goods, such as counterfeit drugs that may have improper doses or may not be effective or counterfeit auto parts. The theft of intellectual property takes a significant toll on our economy, costing at least $200 billion and resulting in the loss of approximately 750,000 jobs per year. There are two primary forms of problem activity: piracy and counterfeiting. Piracy is the copying and distribution of protected works without permission. This is especially problematic for Maryland's thriving music industry, as well as the numerous TV/film projects in our state. Counterfeiting is the illicit production of goods that appear to be legitimate. In Maryland, our growing biotech sector is filled with technology most vulnerable to such activity.
JUNETEENTH: June 19, 1865 marked the end of slavery in the United States. More than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation, Union soldiers landed at Galveston, TX, with news that the war had ended and that the slaves were now free. We have come a long way with respect to protecting the rights of minorities over the past 143 years, but as we commemorate Juneteenth we recognize the continuing role the federal government has in promoting and enforcing equal rights for all citizens and that we all must work to ensure that everyone has an equal opportunity to achieve success.
WORLD REFUGEE DAY: The United Nation's established World Refugee Day in 2000 "to recognize and celebrate the contribution of refugees throughout the world." As Co-Chair of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, I have long been committed to helping protect the rights of vulnerable and displaced persons. According to the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants, the total number of refugees worldwide grew to 14 million in 2007. Driving this growth are Iraqi refugees, with more than 550,000 fleeing their country in the past year. In all, an estimated 2 million Iraqi refugees are awaiting an end to the violence in their homeland in neighboring countries while another 2.7 million are displaced within Iraq.
The United States has a moral obligation and a security interest in trying to alleviate the suffering of Iraqi refugees. For those Iraqis who will never return home, either for sectarian reasons or because of the stigma that has come from working for coalition forces and companies, resettlement is the only option. I have been supportive of Senate legislation that attempts to speed refugee processing through in-country processing as well as broaden the criteria and increase the annual pool of Special Immigrant Visas available for Iraqis who have risked their lives to directly support America's military and diplomatic efforts.
UPCOMING MEDIA: If you live in or around the Eastern Shore, listen to my live interview Thursday morning with Bill Reddish at about 7:35am on WICO-1320AM (Delmarva Broadcasting). On Friday, I'll be live on WTOP with Mark Plotkin from 10-11am, answering Mark's questions and taking calls from listeners like you. In the DC area WTOP can be found at 103.5FM or 103.9FM in Frederick.
|
