United States Senator Jay Rockefeller

ROCKEFELLER STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT'S SPEECH ON THE FUTURE OF COUNTERTERRORISM

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller issued the following statement after President Obama delivered a speech at the National Defense University on the future of our fight against terrorism:

“Having witnessed first-hand the mistakes and irresponsible overreach of the previous Administration regarding counterterrorism operations, I believe that public trust and support for these policies is of the utmost importance. While we do not wish to be at war forever, we are going to need these targeted counter-terror capabilities for years to come, and they must be morally, legally, and strategically sustainable.

“Any time we undertake targeted killings and drone strikes, they must be rooted in sound legal authorities and processes like those the President articulated today. We are accountable for these lethal operations, so each strike must be based on sound and reliable intelligence that has been heavily vetted, and our targets must be precise in order to minimize collateral damage.

“I also share with the President a common goal of closing the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay. The continued existence of this facility remains a damaging stain on our country’s commitment to the rule of law, an impediment to our counterterrorism cooperation with allies, and an exorbitant unnecessary expense. It is long past time that Congress acted in the interests of the United States on this issue and close Guantanamo once and for all.

“The President was right to use this opportunity to once again publicly condemn the use of torture. We know this approach is ineffective in gathering intelligence, and it is legally impermissible and morally repugnant. The 6,000 page report on the CIA detention and interrogation program that the Intelligence Committee completed over the course of many years makes this clear. Along with Vice President Biden and Senator McCain, I also believe that in order for our nation to move beyond the mistakes of the past, the record must be corrected and sunlight must be cast on that program.”

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Taking Pride in West Virginia's Military Service this Memorial Day

Senator Jay Rockefeller — Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

Memorial Day began as “Decoration Day” – a day to decorate the graves of those who had died during the Civil War – a war out of which West Virginia became a state almost 150 years ago. Today, many battles later, Memorial Day marks a special day of remembrance each year for all those servicemembers who have given the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.

As West Virginians gather with family and friends this Memorial Day for services, cookouts, and parades, we’ll also be taking the time to celebrate our state’s proud and unique military service.

We in West Virginia know military service well. In our state – where so many West Virginians join the military or are veterans – patriotism and service aren’t just words. They’re in our blood, and they’re points of serious pride.

West Virginians are always ready to step up and serve. Our active duty military members answer the call of duty, often far away from their families, to protect our families. Our state’s National Guard is quick to respond when our communities are faced with disaster and when our country needs defense abroad.

The sacrifice of these West Virginians has afforded us the lives we are able to live each and every day. We owe them so much, yet we know we can never fully repay them or their families. But here’s what we can do: We can make sure our veterans have access to the programs and services they need to rejoin civilian life once they come home. To that end, I have long been working on behalf of our veterans to make sure they get the jobs, health care, and other support services they absolutely deserve and need. And I’m soon convening a roundtable of veterans from across the state in Parkersburg to bring their needs before the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense.

Our veterans are people like Jessica Lynch—an Iraq war veteran who was taken prisoner. Or the late Ruby Bradley—who was the most decorated woman in military history. And people like Frederick Mayer, one of the greatest people I’ve met, who risked it all to bring an end to WWII. Theirs are stories of profound bravery and dedication. And they are echoed in each corner of our state.

Sadly, we know too many neighbors and loved ones who have not made it home to share their stories. On Memorial Day we can remember their service and reflect on their dedication to the protection of our country.

We can also honor our veterans by simply thanking them for their service. Just a few small words can go so far in expressing our appreciation for the sacrifices they have made.

This Memorial Day thank you for recognizing the many brave West Virginians and Americans who fought, and who are fighting today, to protect our freedoms and keep us safe.

A Minute with Jay: Memorial Day

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

In his one minute video, this Memorial Day, Senator Rockefeller encourages West Virginians to pay tribute to the incredibly brave men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice in defense of our country.

ROCKEFELLER URGES DOT NOMINEE FOXX TO FOCUS ON FIXING NATION’S OUTDATED TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

Senator Says Safety Must Also Be Major Focus of DOT Moving Forward...

ROCKEFELLER INTRODUCES LEGISLATION TO PROTECT YOUNG ATHLETES FROM CONCUSSION

Wed, 22 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

Rockefeller Bill Strengthens Safety Standards and Stops False Advertising by Equipment Makers...

Statement on Senate Finance Committee Hearing to Senate Finance Committee Hearing on "A Review of Criteria Used by the IRS to Identify 501(c)(4) Applications for Greater Scrutiny"

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

Senator Jay Rockefeller Statement for the Record

Senate Finance Committee Hearing on

“A Review of Criteria Used by the IRS to Identify 501(c)(4)

Applications for Greater Scrutiny”

May 21, 2013

Chairman Baucus, thank you for holding this hearing and giving this Committee a chance to take a deeper look at the IRS’s practices with regard to non-profit groups.

Like all of my colleagues here today, I was deeply troubled to learn about decisions at the Cincinnati office being made that had the effect of targeting groups of one political persuasion disproportionately. I’ve heard from my constituents on this issue and they want Congress, in particular this Committee, to move quickly in our investigation.

As more information has come to light, we have learned that decisions were made by employees of the Cincinnati office that appear to directly contradict what they had been told by their superiors in the Washington IRS headquarters. I look forward to learning more about how an atmosphere could be created that would allow these kind of decisions to be independently made, and what steps have been and can be taken to prevent these mistakes from happening again.

There is a lot of blame to go around here. Impermissible criteria were used that could have the effect of unfairly targeting groups of one particular viewpoint. That is not the whole story though.

The Cincinnati office was clearly struggling under an increasing workload and its requests to the Washington office for additional guidance in the wake of Citizens United were not adequately responded to. Groups, conservative and liberal alike, that truly met the standards set forth in 501(c) had their applications delayed unnecessarily.

Congress shares responsibility here too. 501(c) clearly does not go far enough in delineating when a group is engaging in permissible political activity, and when a group crosses the line into impermissible campaign intervention. That is our job, especially for the members of this Committee, to fix.

While the Cincinnati office has seen its workload more than double, we have not given the IRS the funding necessary to keep up with the increased demand in the wake of the Citizens United decision. We have all heard that every dollar of funding that the IRS receives comes back to the taxpayers several times over. But adequate funding also improves customer service and can reduce delays. U.S. News & World Report recently reported that this fiscal year, the amount the IRS spends per capita (meaning per citizen) will be 20 percent lower than it was in 2002.

I hope this Committee’s investigation takes a look at all of these problems rather than a few bad actors. The IRS and the country must live with 501(c) going forward, and the law remains vague. To go through this inquiry without taking a hard look at the very real problem of campaign intervention by groups that claim to be non-profits would be a missed opportunity.

Make no mistake, when groups that engage in partisan activity receive non-profit status, taxpayers end up subsidizing political campaigns. That’s a result we should all be able to agree is completely unacceptable.

ROCKEFELLER SAYS FINANCE COMMITTEE SHOULD TAKE COMPREHENSIVE LOOK AT IRS SCANDAL & ISSUE OF NON-PROFITS FUNDING CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY

Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller today issued the following statement for the record for the Senate Finance Committee’s hearing on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) targeting conservatives groups that applied for tax-exempt status.

Rockefeller urged the Committee to thoroughly look into the problems that have been revealed at the IRS, including funding cuts that could have increased delays. He also encouraged the Committee to examine the serious problem of organizations seeking non-profit status and then engaging in political activity at the taxpayers’ expense.

Below is Senator Rockefeller’s statement for the hearing record:

Senator Jay Rockefeller Statement for the Record

Senate Finance Committee Hearing on

“A Review of Criteria Used by the IRS to Identify 501(c)(4)

Applications for Greater Scrutiny”

May 21, 2013

Chairman Baucus, thank you for holding this hearing and giving this Committee a chance to take a deeper look at the IRS’s practices with regard to non-profit groups.

There is a lot of blame to go around here. Impermissible criteria were used that could have the effect of unfairly targeting groups of one particular viewpoint. That is not the whole story though.

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ROCKEFELLER, MANCHIN, RAHALL ANNOUNCE FUNDING FOR HEALTH CENTER

Mon, 20 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin, along with U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall(all D-W.Va.), today announced more than $515,000 in federal funding for the Northern Greenbrier Health Clinic in Williamsburg to continue operations and improve preventive care.

“The Northern Greenbrier Health Clinic improves the health and lives of so many in Williamsburg and across Greenbrier County, and this grant makes sure the clinic has the resources it needs to continue providing critical primary and preventive health care services,” said Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Finance Subcommittee on Health Care. “This funding provides access to oral health care, mental health care, and substance abuse services that are often hard to come by in our rural communities.”

“With Federal investments in community health centers, we expand access to quality and affordable care for West Virginian families, and certainly those are funds that I will continue to do all I can to secure for our State,” said Rahall, a senior Member of the House Rural Health Caucus. “At issue is addressing the basic human need for quality health care and marshalling our resources as a nation to meet that need.”

“It is critical that we make health care services available to all West Virginians, particularly those living in rural and underserved areas,” Manchin said. “This grant funding will greatly benefit communities that have a need for health care resources, and it will help ensure all individuals, especially our children and seniors, have access to preventive care, quality treatment when they are sick and much-needed medicine.”

The Health Center Cluster grant is a competitive grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide financial assistance to health centers that offer comprehensive primary and preventive health care services to underserved or rural areas.

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A Minute with Jay: National Police Week

Fri, 17 May 2013 12:00:00 EST

In this week’s 1 minute video, Senator Rockefeller marks National Police Week, a time to honor the men and women who serve our communities as police officers, thank them for their hard work and remember the families of those who have lost loved ones.

ROCKEFELLER, MANCHIN ANNOUNCE FEDERAL ASSISTANCE FOR HURRICANE SANDY RESPONSE AND RELIEF IN WV

Thu, 16 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin today announced $1,045,590 in federal funding to help alleviate the cost of West Virginia’s emergency response and relief during Hurricane Sandy.

“Hurricane Sandy called on our response teams requiring a lot of financial support upfront, and continues to require resources as our communities work to recover,” said Rockefeller. “West Virginia’s National Guard, first responders, and Emergency Operations Center are top-notch, and they did all they could to keep our communities safe and functioning during the storm. This funding helps alleviate the costs associated with that response, reimbursing the state for all they did to protect West Virginians.”

“This is tremendous news for the communities in West Virginia that are still working to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy,” said Manchin. “When I toured the areas that were severely damaged, I was so inspired by the willingness of West Virginians to come together. However, the toll this storm took on our state was incredible, and there are still families and businesses who are struggling. I am pleased that FEMA granted our urgent request for additional assistance and I know the people of West Virginia will put this aid to good use rebuilding their communities and their lives.”

Rockefeller and Manchin fought to include West Virginia in the final Hurricane Sandy disaster relief package passed in January. In November, Rockefeller and Manchin joined 11 other Senators from states impacted by Hurricane Sandy to urge President Obama to provide additional emergency aid for federal disaster assistance programs. On December 5, Rockefeller submitted an official statement for the record to the Senate Appropriations Committee urging colleagues to include federal assistance to help communities and families in West Virginia as the chamber considered disaster relief legislation.

The funding has been awarded to the Office of the Adjutant General for the State of West Virginia to offset the cost of implementing the State’s Emergency Operations Plan, and activating the State’s Emergency Operations Center and the West Virginia National Guard in order to address electrical outages and damaged utility lines that interrupted essential food, fuel, and communications services during Hurricane Sandy. This funding reimburses the state for the federal government’s share of the cost of Hurricane Sandy response and recovery including: emergency medical support teams, search and rescue teams, and emergency patrol and security. The funding also helps pay for the clearing of debris from roads. The funding comes from the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

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ROCKEFELLER SAYS FUTURE CARS’ FOCUS MUST BE ON SAFETY

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

Chair of Senate Commerce Committee Holds Hearing on Next Generation Automobiles...

ROCKEFELLER APPLAUDS PASSAGE OF WATER INFRASTRUCTURE BILL IN SENATE

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Jay Rockefeller, Chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today hailed the passage of a bill that invests in critical water infrastructure projects.

“Improving our waterways and water infrastructure safeguards our communities, keeps our economy competitive, and is good for our environment,” said Rockefeller. “This bipartisan bill does so much, and benefits West Virginians by providing critical funding for flood prevention and storm management—which saves lives and prevents costly repairs in the wake of floods. The bill also invests in our inland waterways and ports, and makes it easier for the Army Corps of Engineers to fund important projects throughout the country, and importantly for West Virginia along the Ohio River.”

The Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) was last passed in 2007, and must be reauthorized by Congress as needed. Reauthorization of WRDA helps to modernize water infrastructure to keep up with the country’s needs by funding improvements to locks, dams, and other infrastructure, and funds flood and storm management programs.

The Water Resources Development Act of 2013 (WRDA) will:

• Improve Inland Waterways. The bill will implement reforms to the current Inland Waterways system to improve project management and delivery, and lower costs.

• Allow the Army Corps of Engineers to accept funding from non-Federal interests. The bill helps accelerate important projects, including the expansion of lock operations, by giving the Corps greater flexibility in accepting non-Federal funding for Corps initiatives.

• Create a new financing and loan program for water projects. The bill establishes a new project financing program that will provide loans and loan guarantees for flood control, water supply, and wastewater projects.

• Reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Restoration Program. The bill will reauthorize the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Restoration Program that includes West Virginia.

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ROCKEFELLER, MANCHIN ANNOUNCE FEDERAL FUNDING FOR LEWISBURG VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT

Wed, 15 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

WASHINGTON D.C.— Senators Jay Rockefeller and Joe Manchin today announced $97,584 in federal funding for the Lewisburg Volunteer Fire Department to purchase new equipment to keep their firefighters safe on the job.

“The Lewisburg Volunteer Fire Department keeps families and homes in Lewisburg and across Greenbrier County safe. And we must do all we can to protect those volunteer firefighters while they’re on the job,” said Rockefeller. “Providing our firefighters with safety equipment is critical to their safety and ours as they fearlessly approach dangerous situations, often risking their own lives to save their friends and neighbors. Our firefighters are so dedicated to our communities and in return, we need to support them as well.”

“I believe in our firefighters, who are dedicated to our communities and who protect the health and safety of the people of West Virginia day in and day out,” said Manchin. “My experience working with the volunteer rescue squad in Marion County has allowed me to appreciate their hard work firsthand. This funding will give Lewisburg Volunteer Fire Department the resources and equipment they need to operate safely and efficiently.”

The funding will help the Lewisburg Volunteer Fire Department purchase 23 new self-contained breathing apparatuses, which each firefighter must wear whenever entering a hazardous situation like a fire. The apparatuses will replace out-of-date equipment, and will help Lewisburg’s firefighters breathe clean oxygen on the job.

Funding from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, a competitive grant program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), helps fire departments purchase personal protection equipment and rescue equipment.

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ROCKEFELLER ANNOUNCES FUNDING FROM HEALTH REFORM LAW TO HELP UNINSURED WEST VIRGINIANS GET AFFORDABLE HEALTH COVERAGE

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

$2.4 Million Available for 27 Community Health Centers Across West Virginia...

ROCKEFELLER STATEMENT ON REPORTED IRS ACTIONS

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller today issued the following statement regarding reports that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) allegedly targeted conservatives groups that applied for tax-exempt status.

“IRS actions to target groups based on their beliefs are deeply troubling and wholly unacceptable,” said Rockefeller. “The IRS has a job to do here – which is to make sure under the law that tax-exempt social welfare organizations aren’t engaged in campaign activity – but it’s non-negotiable that IRS agents in Cincinnati and everywhere else must do that work in a totally non-partisan, even-handed way.

“The Senate Finance Committee has launched a bipartisan investigation. We’ll review carefully the independent Inspector’s General report and tackle the key questions of what happened, how it was handled, who is responsible, and how it’s going to be fixed.”

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Caring for Our Mothers Just as They Care for Us

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

By Senator Jay Rockefeller

May 10, 2013

Throughout our lives – whether as children or adults – our mothers look out for us. They help us take our first steps, send us off for our first day of school, and watch over us as we grow up.

When we get a cold, twist an ankle, or have a more serious illness, they are the ones right by our side, taking our temperature, bringing us chicken soup to make sure we feel better, and calling to find out what the doctor said. And Mother’s Day is the perfect time to thank our mothers for all that they have done and continue to do for us every single day.

Just as our mothers care for us, they also deserve to be cared for. I fought for the health reform law so that we could get more affordable health care to more families. As part of that goal, this law also makes long strides to better protect women’s health and make it a priority.

Too often, when women go to the doctor regular exams aren’t covered and they have to pay out of pocket. These expenses add up and have a real impact on families working hard to get by. The health reform law fixes many of these problems by offering women free annual checkups. These visits include crucial preventive services to protect women’s health, such as free mammograms to test for breast cancer, cervical cancer screenings, screenings for high blood pressure and diabetes, prenatal services, and much more. The law allows women to go to an obstetrician/gynecologist without a referral, and they are free to choose their children’s pediatrician.

For too long, the majority of health plans charged women higher premiums than men for the same health benefits, increasing costs on families, individuals, and single mothers. But the health reform law is changing that and making premiums the same across the board.

Health insurance companies often discriminated against those with pre-existing conditions, such as asthma or diabetes. And many insurance companies specifically discriminated against women by treating pregnancy, Cesarean sections, and medical treatment for domestic violence and sexual assault as pre-existing conditions. Because of the health reform law, starting in 2014, insurance companies will no longer be allowed to deny coverage for pre-existing conditions. We need to help women and mothers when they need it most, not turn them away.

And just over a week ago, I was incredibly proud to stand with our Governor as he announced that West Virginia will expand Medicaid eligibility – a key piece of the health reform law that is up to each state to approve. This means that 91,500 more West Virginians are expected to get affordable health care, and 67,000 women in West Virginia could be eligible for coverage. These are women and mothers of all ages who too often have to choose between seeing a doctor when they’re sick or putting food on the table for their families. The health reform law means they don’t have to make that awful choice – they can have both, as they deserve.

Mother’s Day reminds us how important our mothers are in our lives and it’s a moment thank and celebrate them, maybe with a handmade card or breakfast in bed. West Virginia’s own Anna Jarvis understood that when she created Mother’s Day to recognize her mother’s lifesaving work to treat Civil War soldiers.

On Mother’s Day this year, I give thanks for mothers across West Virginia making countless sacrifices every day for the families they love – and for the difference I know a strengthened health care system can make in their lives.

ROCKEFELLER GLAD ADMINISTRATION USED AUTHORITY TO KEEP CONTRACT TOWERS OPEN

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

WASHINGTON, D.C.—Senator Jay Rockefeller today released the following statement after the U.S. Department of Transportation announced it will use the authority provided by Congress in the Reduce Flight Delays Act of 2013 to transfer funds to maintain 149 contract towers, originally slated for closure in June 2013:

“I’m glad that the Department of Transportation has used the resources that Congress provided to keep 149 contract air traffic control towers open through this fiscal year. This decision means that airports in many communities – including four in West Virginia – will continue to have access to critical air traffic control services. While this is good news for the travelling public, it is only a temporary fix. We will face the same dire consequences in October if House Republicans do not work with the Senate and the President to forge a balanced compromise to replace the sequester.”

ROCKEFELLER SUPPORTS BILL TO PROVIDE INCREASE TO VETERANS COLA STARTING DECEMBER 1

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

Rockefeller Has Worked to Make Sure Veterans Receive Increase in Payments Each Year...

A Minute with Jay: Preventing Diabetes

Fri, 10 May 2013 12:00:00 EST

In this week’s 1 minute video, Senator Rockefeller talks about his bill to reduce the prevalence of diabetes in our state, and help many West Virginians avoid it altogether. West Virginia has some of the highest rates of diabetes in the country, as more than 1 in 10 West Virginia adults have this disease.

ROCKEFELLER APPLAUDS VA SECRETARY FOR TAKING STEPS TO EASE VA BACKLOG

Thu, 09 May 2013 12:00:01 EST

VA Secretary Shinseki Visits Huntington VA Regional Office to Outline Plan for Speedier Claims Processing...