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Week of July 13th
SUPREME COURT: This week, as a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, I will be an active participant in the confirmation hearing for Judge Sonia Sotomayor to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. Providing Advice and Consent for the President's Supreme Court nominees is one of the most important responsibilities we have as senators. I look forward to questioning Judge Sotomayor on important issues relating to civil rights and civil liberties, voting rights, judicial precedent and the rule of law.
SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY: This week, the Senate will begin consideration of the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2010, which begins October 1. This legislation provides the men and women of our armed forces, both active and reserve, and their families, with the pay, benefits, equipment, and training they need and deserve. As part of the debate, I will be introducing an amendment to address the alarming increase in suicides among our active military and veterans. In 2006 and 2007, nearly 40% of Army suicide victims were found to have taken prescription anti-depressants or sleeping pills. My amendment calls for a study and report on the risk of suicide in military personnel who have been prescribed anti-depressants and anti-psychotic medication.
STOPPING HATE CRIMES: As a co-sponsor of The Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Prevention Act, I can announce that my colleagues and I will be introducing this bill this week as an amendment to the larger defense authorization bill. Like the original bill, this amendment would strengthen the ability of federal, state, local, and tribal governments to investigate and prosecute hate crimes based on race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity or disability. It sends a clear message that crimes motivated by hate will not be tolerated in America.
HONORING HARRIET TUBMAN: On Wednesday, I will testify before a subcommittee of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee on the Harriet Tubman National Historical Park and Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park Act. I introduced this legislation to honor the life of one of Maryland's true heroines - Harriet Tubman - by creating two national parks, one on Maryland's Eastern Shore and one in New York. The Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park would trace her early life as a slave on the Eastern Shore and her work on the Underground Railroad. Harriet Tubman was a true patriot and these two national historical parks will help tell her story to all Americans.
UPCOMING MEDIA: This week, I will discuss the confirmation hearing of Judge Sonia Sotomayor in several media interviews. Among those already scheduled, Monday morning (7/13) I will be live on MSNBC before their gavel-to-gavel coverage begins. On Tuesday (7/14) at 6 pm., I also will be live on MSNBC's The Ed Show, talking with host Ed Schultz about the hearings. For those who live on the Eastern Shore, I will be talking with Bill Reddish on Thursday morning (7/16) on WICO (1320AM). In the Washington area, I will be live on WAMU's The Kojo Nnamdi Show (88.5FM) at noon on Thursday (7/16). The hearings will be broadcast live all week on C-SPAN and local PBS stations.
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