Honoring Service and Sacrifice

In 1868, the founder of Memorial Day said, "Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic." On Monday, we will pay our respect as a nation to American soldiers who gave their lives to advance freedom. We honor their memory. We comfort their family members who have survived their loss. It's almost ironic that for most of us, Memorial Day weekend is so carefree.  We... Read more

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Seeking Action to Reduce Violence on U.S.-Mexico Border

The drug trade always has been associated with violence, but recent escalation in aggressive brutality, especially along the U.S. border with Mexico, is unprecedented. Drug traffickers are battling for control of lucrative trade routes, and stopping the bloodshed will take cooperation between the United States and Mexico. This week, Senator Dianne Feinstein and I released a report that outlines specific recommendations to improve cooperation. We spell out ways to improve border... Read more

 

Tax Cheats Getting Government Business

Billions of dollars in economic stimulus program funds went to contractors and grantees who owed the government hundreds of millions of dollars in tax debts, according to a new report out this week. Of the 63,000 contractors and grantees examined, 3,700 were found to owe $757 million in back taxes, but also received $24 billion in stimulus awards. The study identified 15 cases of individual contractors or grantees involving "abusive or... Read more

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Disclose Pharma Money

This week, Senator Max Baucus and I detailed financial ties between a major pharmaceutical company and specialty medical groups that lobbied the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) against approving a generic drug. The generic drug competes with a product of the pharmaceutical company that had sales totaling $2.9 billion in 2009. The pharmaceutical company gave the specialty medical groups $5 million over several years, and those groups submitted letters to the FDA against the generic alternative through a citizen petition process. Our report from the Senate Committee on Finance, and our follow-up letter to the FDA Commissioner, called for reforms. These kinds of financial ties should be disclosed by medical groups who weigh in under the citizen petition process.  If the FDA isn't requiring... Read more