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Connecticut Coverage

Local Officials Take Steps to Respond to Indian Point Incident as Federal Agencies Bide Their Time
WASHINGTON, Apr. 22--Less than 30 miles from Norwalk's City Hall lies the Indian Point nuclear power plant, which, in the case of an accident or even a terrorist attack, could spew out radioactive materials over hundreds of miles. (By Paul Ziobro)

Fuel cells begin to play major role in state, country
WASHINGTON, Apr. 21--As the war in Iraq continues to highlight the United States' dependence on foreign oil, many scientists are turning their attention to something discovered 164 years ago: fuel cells powered by hydrogen. (By Bill Yelenak)

Wilton Girl Begins Lyme Disease Treatment After Prolonged Process With HMO
WASHINGTON, Apr. 10--Patience and persistence paid off for a Weston family, whose child plans to begin potentially life-changing treatments Sunday following a five-month long appeal process with their health care provider. (By Paul Ziobro)

Connecticut Dems, other House members endorse Lieberman's candidacy
WASHINGTON, Apr. 10--Eleven House Democrats, including the two from Connecticut, on Thursday endorsed Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman's run for president. (By Bill Yelenak)

Dem Candidates Participate in Forum on Children's Issues, War in Iraq
WASHINGTON, Apr. 9--Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) and the eight other candidates for the Democratic nomination for President answered questions last night ranging from children's issues to the war in Iraq. (By Bill Yelenak)

Newly Passed C.A.R.E. Act Would Encourage Charitable Contributions
WASHINGTON, Apr. 9--Legislation to grant new tax breaks for charitable contributions, sponsored by Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn., passed the Senate Wednesday without a controversial provision backed by the Bush Administration that would have opened more government funding to religious organizations. (By Paul Ziobro)

Lieberman lagging behind in campaign contributions
WASHINGTON, Apr. 3--U.S. Sen. Joseph Lieberman (D-Conn.) has raised more than $3 million for his presidential campaign during the first quarter of 2003, placing him far behind two other Democratic presidential hopefuls. (By Bill Yelenak)

New Study Finds Radio Alcohol Ads Heard More By Children
WASHINGTON, Apr. 3--While a study released Wednesday found that children and teenagers are more prone to hear alcohol radio advertisements than adults, the manager of seven Connecticut radio stations said he airs such ads only on broadcasts geared toward listeners 25 and older. (By Paul Ziobro)

Dodd intends to monitor underage drinking
WASHINGTON, Apr. 2--U.S. Sens. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) and Mike DeWine (R-Ohio) announced Wednesday that they will monitor underage drinking trends and possibly hold a hearing on the issue in a response to a Georgetown University study showing that radio ads for alcohol tend to target youths. (By Bill Yelenak)

Department of Veterans Affairs prepared to deal with new vets
WASHINGTON, Mar. 27--The Veterans Affairs Department is "definitely better prepared than ever" to give aid to soldiers who complete their military duties after the war in Iraq, according to department spokesman Jim Benson. (By Bill Yelenak)

Shays Says Strong Incumbency A Response From Voters
WASHINGTON, Mar. 27--Eight-term Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4, said Thursday he mentally prepares two speeches each election night, aware that voters might have decided to send him packing. (By Paul Ziobro)

Connecticut congressional delegation in favor of supplemental
WASHINGTON, Mar. 25--Members of Connecticut's congressional delegation said Tuesday they will support President George W. Bush's supplemental budget proposal to fund the war effort, although they disagree with some of the key details and question how much the rebuilding effort for Iraq will ultimately cost. (By Bill Yelenak)

Nation's Capitol increases security measures
WASHINGTON, Mar. 20--Security around the Capitol and the District of Columbia has intensified since the national terror alert was raised to high and the United States began military action in Iraq. (By Bill Yelenak)

CT delegation discusses funding, staffing issues with state firefighters
WASHINGTON, Mar. 20--Members of the Connecticut congressional delegation met with about 40 state firefighters Wednesday to discuss the firefighters' staffing and spending concerns, homeland security matters and war with Iraq. (By Bill Yelenak)

Shays Warns Terror Threats Will Be Real
WASHINGTON, Mar. 19--Rep. Christopher Shays, R-4, said Wednesday that despite the recent absence of terrorist activities, his constituents should heed warnings of potential terrorist attacks as America begins its war with Iraq. (By Paul Ziobro)

Conn. Firefighters Lack Federal Money, Resources, Training
WASHINGTON, Mar. 19--Connecticut firefighters said Wednesday they are frustrated with the lack of money, equipment and training coming from the federal government, especially in light of war with Iraq, which will mean an increased demand for first responders. (By Paul Ziobro)

Dodd meets to make law for children's dosages
WASHINGTON, Mar. 18--Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) joined a bipartisan group of senators Tuesday to introduce legislation that would require drug companies to evaluate the effectiveness of their drugs and medicines on children. (By Bill Yelenak)

Johnson, Larson express sentiments over war in Iraq
WASHINGTON, Mar. 18--Reps. John Larson (D-1) and Nancy Johnson (R-5) disagreed Tuesday about President George W. Bush's abandonment of diplomatic efforts to disarm Iraq, but agreed that American troops in the Middle East deserve the nation's continued support. (By Bill Yelenak)

Larson's Web site one of ten best in House
WASHINGTON, Mar. 5--U.S. Rep. John Larson (D-1) is one of 10 House members with a Web site ranked A+ by the Congress Online Project, which released its 2003 rankings this week. (By Bill Yelenak)

Johnson plans to introduce legislation to end offshore reincorporation
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27--U.S. Rep. Nancy Johnson (CT-5) said Thursday she planned to introduce legislation to prevent American companies from reincorporating offshore to avoid paying U.S. income taxes. (By Bill Yelenak)

Local Evacuation Routes OK for Indian Point Attack, Conn. OEM Says
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27--While Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4) would love to have strong support from his constituents for military action in Iraq, his support of striking preemptively remains steadfast even though some members of the Norwalk Common Council disagree with him, Betsy Hawkings, his chief of staff, said Wednesday. (By Paul Ziobro)

Constituent Opposition on Iraq Won't Faze Shays
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26--While Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4) would love to have strong support from his constituents for military action in Iraq, his support of striking preemptively remains steadfast even though some members of the Norwalk Common Council disagree with him, Betsy Hawkings, his chief of staff, said Wednesday. (By Paul Ziobro)

Virtual March affects Senate offices by causing busy signals
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26--With the Internet becoming increasingly popular in recent years, political Web sites are rising in number and disseminating more information, according to Paul R. Petterson, an associate professor and chairman of the political science department at Central Connecticut State University. (By Bill Yelenak)

House Hearing Criticizes Indian Point Evacuation Plans
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25--House lawmakers accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) at a hearing Tuesday of near-outright abandonment of a report that rejected the emergency preparedness plans of the Indian Point nuclear power plant. If attacked, the plant could emit radiation that would threaten all of Fairfield County. (By Paul Ziobro)

House Hearing Criticizes Indian Point Evacuation Plans
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25--House lawmakers accused the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) at a hearing Tuesday of near-outright abandonment of a report that rejected the emergency preparedness plans of the Indian Point nuclear power plant. If attacked, the plant could emit radiation that would threaten all of Fairfield County. (By Paul Ziobro)

Political Web sites becoming more prevalent in today's society
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--With the Internet becoming increasingly popular in recent years, political Web sites are rising in number and disseminating more information, according to Paul R. Petterson, an associate professor and chairman of the political science department at Central Connecticut State University. (By Bill Yelenak)

Organization hopes to tie up Congressional phone lines with anti-war messages
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--Win Without War, an organization whose announced goal is to find alternatives to U.S. military action in Iraq, plans to organize a march on Washington - no trudging through snow involved. (By Bill Yelenak)

Former Berlin resident finds calling in the District
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20-- Many times when outsiders accept their first position on Capitol Hill, they describe their experiences in being thrust into a new, unfamiliar job as a "baptism by fire." (By Bill Yelenak)

Senate Bill Forgives Loans for Early Childhood Educators
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--NEON Head Start teacher Wendy Hilliard, 35, juggles raising three children, working full-time and earning an associate's degree in early childhood education at Norwalk Community College, where, she said, her tuition is subsidized through federal financial aid. (By Paul Ziobro)

Iraq, Medicare, environment issues highlight congressional mail
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19--While the potential conflict with Iraq may be among the most pressing national issues to most Americans, the letters, phone calls and e-mails flooding the offices of U.S. Reps. John Larson (D-1) and Nancy Johnson (R-5) also focus on the future of Medicare and environmental legislation. (By Bill Yelenak)

Johnson joins Markey and Dems to introduce bill to protect ANWR
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--Rep. Nancy Johnson (CT-5) joined several Democratic congressmen Thursday in a bipartisan effort to introduce legislation that would prevent drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. (By Bill Yelenak)

Shays' Committee Assignments Finalized
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4th) has added two committee assignments to his workload: the vice chairmanship of the House Budget Committee and membership on the new Select Committee on Homeland Security. (By Paul Ziobro)

Southington youth group participates in building Habitat houses in Baltimore
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12--High school students from the First Congregational Church in Southington are preparing to come to the District Friday, where they will tour various landmarks and then go to Baltimore to build houses in with Habitat for Humanity. (By Bill Yelenak)

Lieberman’s ideals spawn several websites
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11--If Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) has trouble raising money during the campaign season, he could a start a website to sell “Lieberman for President” yarmulkes to make a few extra bucks. (By Bill Yelenak)

Pepperidge Farm to Receive Federal Money to Help Dislocated Workers
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11--Pepperidge Farm Inc. will receive $258,000 in federal grants to help workers who will lose their jobs when the company begins moving its bakery from Norwalk to Bloomfield in late March, a spokeswoman for the company said Wednesday. (By Paul Ziobro)

Shays Honored as Champion of Public Interest
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11--Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4th) was one of five congressional Republicans recognized this week by the State Public Interest Research Groups for their work on environmental issues and consumer protection. (By Paul Ziobro)

Dodd creates legislation aimed at expanding FMLA
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5--Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) joined former Rep. Pat Schroeder (D-Colo.), leaders of women's organizations and several families Wednesday to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Family and Medical Leave Act and to introduce new legislation to extend the act to additional employees. (By Bill Yelenak)

Johnson addresses CASA study on young women substance abuse
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5--Rep. Nancy Johnson (CT-5) said Wednesday that a new survey of substance abuse by girls and young women clearly demonstrated that there are important and inherent differences between men and women. (By Bill Yelenak)

Dodd Introduces Bill to Expand Job Leave
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5--Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) introduced legislation Wednesday that would qualify 240,000 more Connecticut workers for leaves of absences under his proposed Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act. (By Paul Ziobro)

Johnson, other republicans fight to prevent ANWR drillings
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4--Rep. Nancy Johnson (CT-5) and 10 other House Republicans have joined together in an effort to curb oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, something President Bush has proposed in his budget for the forthcoming year. (By Bill Yelenak)

Conn. Not Alone in Budget Gaps
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4--Connecticut’s not alone in facing a projected budget gap for this fiscal year and next. Nearly three-quarters of the states reported budget gaps midway through fiscal year 2003, with Connecticut spending expected to fall $650 million short of revenue estimates, according to a report Tuesday by the National Conference of State Legislatures. (By Paul Ziobro)

Indian Point meltdown could wreak havoc on area
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30--Radiation from a nuclear meltdown at the Indian Point power plant in Westchester County, N.Y., could cause damage throughout Fairfield County, according to a new report commissioned by New York state, Norwalk-area emergency response personnel said Thursday that on the basis of the new report, Indian Point’s response plan should be revised to incorporate all areas that could suffer from an accident or an attack on the plant. (By Paul Ziobro)

Dodd vows to preserve Head Start funding
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) Wednesday vowed to preserve federal funding for the national Head Start program and resist a push by Republicans to move it to another federal department. (By Paul Ziobro)

Dodd speaks out against Head Start cuts
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--Sen. Christopher Dodd (D-Conn.) spoke to over 300 parents, concerned citizens and children involved with the National Head Start program Wednesday about continued funding for Head Start. (By Bill Yelenak)

Lieberman meets with New Democrat Coalition to discuss presidental run
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--Presidential candidate and Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (D-Conn.) met with House members of the centrist New Democrat Coalition Wednesday in a closed-door session to discuss his plans for a presidential bid and the possibility of war with Iraq. (By Bill Yelenak)

Conn. Congressional Delegation partisan in response to president’s address
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28--The responses of Connecticut’s delegation to President Bush’s State of the Union speech last night fell on opposing sides of the partisan fence, with the Democratic senators faulting some of Bush’s policies and Rep. Christopher Shays (R-4th) pledging support. (By Paul Ziobro )

Connecticut delegation responds to the State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28--Members of the Connecticut congressional delegation were split in their reaction to the State of the Union address last night in which President George W. Bush spoke about the possibility of war with Iraq and his hopes to stimulate the economy. (By Bill Yelenak)

Maine Coverage

Educators in Maine worry that children will get left behind after all
WASHINGTON, Apr. 22--The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001- President Bush's sweeping education reform initiative - was supposed to revolutionize the nation's education system by raising standards, testing more students and offering parents better options. But many Maine educators say pieces are missing, out of place or just plain wrong. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Collins meets with Maine soldiers in North Korea
WASHINGTON, Apr. 14--The soldiers at Warrior Base, just a few miles from the Korean
demilitarized zone, keep watch near a barbed wire fence that separates North Korea from South Korea. A nearby field is littered with land mines. North Korean tunnels, discovered by the U.S. military, burrow under the border at key spots. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Michaud introduces federal legislation mirroring Maine Rx
WASHINGTON, Apr. 9--Rep. Mike Michaud introduced his first substantial piece of legislation today - a bill modeled after a Maine law that would authorize the federal government to negotiate for lower medication prices for people without health insurance. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Collins hears from Portland Police Chief at hearing
WASHINGTON, Apr. 9--Local and state officials told senators Wednesday that federal homeland security dollars are not effectively being distributed to states and towns across the nation. Sen. Susan Collins, R.-Me., introduced legislation to give state and local governments more flexibity in how they use the money. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Snowe and Collins examine first responder funds
WASHINGTON, Apr. 3--State and local emergency first responders need more money and more flexibility, Maine Republican Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan M. Collins said Thursday as the Senate debated President Bush's wartime spending request. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Maine lawmakers vote on energy and environment bills
WASHINGTON, Apr. 2--Maine Democratic Rep. Thomas Allen warned Wednesday that the influence of dam owners could cost the public its say in the dam relicensing process (By Deirdre Fulton)

Amid war and protest, Maine 4-Hers quietly visit the capital
WASHINGTON, Apr. 1--While affirmative-action activists filled the street outside the Supreme Court and Maine's Congress members ran from committee hearings to policy meetings, 17-year-old Erin Spear of Canton and 19-year old Devin Prock of Walderboro wound their way through the overwhelming maze of Senate and House office buildings Tuesday. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Candidate-donor relationship is a strong one
WASHINGTON, Mar. 31--Everything, right down to the paper and the water in Democratic Rep. Michael Michaud's legislative offices, is about unions. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Michaud campaign finances broke state records
WASHINGTON, Mar. 27--In his first run for Congress last year, Rep. Mike Michaud raised $1,187,462, more than any candidate ever brought in before in a District 2 House of Representatives race, according to the Federal Election Commission. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Collins proposes increase in money paid to families of war victims
WASHINGTON, Mar. 26--When Maine Republican Sen. Susan M. Collins heard about the deaths in Iraq of two marines who had ties to Maine, she started thinking about how the United States compensates the families of those servicemen and women who die in action. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Cause of helicopter crash remains unknown
WASHINGTON, Mar. 21--The military is launching an investigation into the cause of the helicopter crash that killed Capt. Jay T. Aubin and Cpl. Brian Kennedy, two marines with ties to Maine, early Friday morning. (By Deirdre Fulton)

War worsens budget concerns
WASHINGTON, Mar. 20--Members of the Maine congressional delegation pledged Tuesday to support President Bush's request for $74.7 billion to pay for the war in Iraq and increased homeland security although a majority of the delegation opposes the size of the proposed Bush tax cut. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Alaska refuge safe from drilling, for now
WASHINGTON, Mar. 19--Senate Democrats, joined by a handful of Republicans, including Maine's Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins, attached an amendment Wednesday to the proposed budget for next year that would block an attempt by the Bush Administration to allow oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Snowe, Collins vote against drilling in Arctic Wildlife Refuge
WASHINGTON, Mar. 19--Republican Sens. Olympia J. Snowe and Susan M. Collins voted against a majority of their party Wednesday in opposing oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Both senators said reducing energy reliance and increasing energy efficiency would accomplish more than drilling in the Alaska refuge, which, they warned, would have negative environmental and economic effects. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Andrews and Win Without War continue anti-war campaign
WASHINGTON, Mar. 17--Win Without War, the national anti-war coalition headed by former Maine Rep. Tom Andrews, intends to continue expressing its steadfast opposition to the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive attack, despite the seeming unavoidability of war with Iraq. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Snowe introduces health insurance legislation
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--Next week, the American public will be asked to focus its attention on the 41 million uninsured employees across the nation during national Cover the Uninsured Week. In appropriate timing, Maine Sen. Olympia J. Snowe introduced legislation Thursday that she hopes will help small-business employers provide quality and affordable health care to their employees. (By Deirdre Fulton)

More business for Bath in President's budget
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--President Bush's proposed budget allots $12.2 billion for shipbuilding, including money for Bath Iron Works to build three Aegis guided missile destroyers over the next two years. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Rubber footwear may be insulated a little longer
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--As Congress considers opening more doors to foreign competition, Sen. Olympia Snowe is trying to protect domestic rubber footwear manufacturers, more than one-third of whose U.S. workforce is employed at New Balance factories in Maine. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Snowe introduces health insurance legislation
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--Next week, the American public will be asked to focus its attention on the 41 million uninsured employees across the nation during national Cover the Uninsured Week. In appropriate timing, Maine Sen. Olympia J. Snowe introduced legislation Thursday that she hopes will help small-business employers provide quality and affordable health care to their employees. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Maine delegation responds to reports of anti-war comments
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--Reports of Maine teachers making insensitive remarks in their classrooms about the conflict with Iraq have spread across the nation and have made an impact here in the capital, where the Maine congressional delegation is responding to the accounts. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Delegation worried about post-war Iraq
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28--Reconstruction of post-war Iraq would be a daunting task, some Maine lawmakers said Thursday, and would require a lot of money, time and energy. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Snowe takes action to protect New Balance workers
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27--The New Balance athletic shoe plants in Norridgewock, Norway and Skowhegan employ about 900 workers. With only 4,000 rubber footwear jobs remaining in America, according to the American Apparel and Footwear Association, these 900 jobs represent an at-risk group. And some lawmakers are worried that foreign imports are putting these few remaining jobs in considerable danger. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Snowe, Collins receive messages against war in Iraq
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26--Organizers estimated that nearly 2,000 Maine residents called Washington Wednesday to deliver a message to Sen. Olympia Snowe, Sen. Susan Collins and the White House - "We don't want war on Iraq." (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Turkish request worries some of the Maine delegation
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25--U.S. foreign relations are on shaky footing, some members of the Maine delegation warned Thursday, as the administration awaited a decision from Turkey on its request for more aid in return for the use of Turkish bases should the United States go to war with Iraq. (By Deirdre Fulton)

DAV pushes veterans health care in Washington
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25--Hundreds of members of the Disabled American Veterans were here Tuesday as DAV national commander and Maine resident Edward Heath told members of Congress that the Veterans Affairs Department's medical system suffers from a steadily increasing shortage of resources. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Maine acts as a trendsetter for Democratic Party
WASHINGTON, Feb. 24--Despite dismal results in the 2002 elections, Democrats still feel they have at least one reason to smile - the state of Maine. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Turkish request worries some of the Maine delegation
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--U.S. foreign relations are on shaky footing, some members of the Maine delegation warned Thursday, as the administration awaited a decision from Turkey on its request for more aid in return for the use of Turkish bases should the United States go to war with Iraq. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Thousands expected to flood Senators offices in a Virtual March against war
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--Millions of people around the world have rallied in cities, citizens have held peace vigils in towns across the United States--and next Wednesday, people will protest war with Iraq from their home phones and fax machines in a "virtual march" on Washington. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Maine Congressmen concerned about welfare bill
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--The House Thursday passed a Republican-sponsored welfare reauthorization bill that was supported by the Bush administration and staunchly opposed by Maine's two Democratic representatives. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

House passes welfare reauthorization bill, Maine delegation reacts
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--The House Thursday passed a welfare reauthorization bill that includes more stringent work requirements, marriage promotion funds and increased state flexibility. Maine Democratic Reps. Thomas Allen and Michael Michaud both opposed the legislation, which they said could cost Maine $56 million and would not do enough to help those in need. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Coast Guard considers change
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12--Next month, the U, S. Coast Guard will move to the Department of Homeland Security, putting an amplified emphasis on port and homeland security. And that could create changes along Maine’s 3,500 miles of coastline. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Senate Select Intelligence Committee hears evidence of terrorism, weapons in Iraq
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11--The Senate Select Intelligence Committee heard Tuesday what Maine Republican Sen. Olympia J. Snowe, a member of the committee, called “a sobering reminder” of the threats facing the nation. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Snowe announces SUV legislation
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--In an attempt to reduce national dependence on foreign oil, improve the environment and aid consumers plagued by rising gasoline costs, Sens. Olympia J. Snowe, R-Maine, and Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., vowed Thursday to fight to close the "SUV loophole" and increase fuel efficiency. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Snowe addresses crisis in small business health care
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--Small businesses are experiencing a health care crisis, Maine Republican Sen. Olympia J. Snowe and a bipartisan group of Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee members said at a hearing Wednesday. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Maine small businesses owners plead in Washington for better health care options
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5--Two small business owners from Maine testified to U.S. Senate Small Business Wednesday about the daunting task small businesses face in providing health care to employees. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Mixed reviews from Maine on Bush tax plan
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4--Some Maine legislators are skeptical about President Bush’s tax proposal, despite potential tax relief that could particularly benefit senior citizens. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Passamaquaddy songs join Elvis and Dylan in National Recording Registry
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4--In a search for the most important recordings in America, the Library of Congress has chosen songs by Elvis Presley and Frank Sinatra, speeches by Martin Luther King Jr. – and Passamaquoddy songs and stories from Calais, Maine. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Early Education Programs in Jeopardy, Snowe and Collins Reach Out
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--Concerned about the future of Head Start early childhood development programs, Jeanie Mills, executive director of Child and Family Opportunities, came down to Washington, D.C. yesterday to join hundreds of teachers in calling for congressional reauthorization of the Head Start bill – as long as reauthorization happens their way. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Bush Addresses Economy and Iraq, Maine Delegation Reacts
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28--Republican Senators Olympia J. Snowe and Susan M. Collins lauded President Bush’s State of the Union remarks regarding the economy and health care but remained reserved on the president’s analysis of the situation in Iraq. Meanwhile, Democratic congressmen Michael Michaud and Thomas Allen criticized what they labeled as a disproportionate economic plan favoring the wealthy and said the president failed to outline a convincing case for war in Iraq. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Michaud secures Transportation Committee seat
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28--Freshman Rep. Michael Michaud won a much sought-after seat
on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Tuesday. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Maine delegation tries to aid Great Northern workers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22--As a former Great Northern Paper mill worker, freshman Rep. Michael Michaud knows that closing the company mills in Millinocket and East Millinocket could have sweeping effects on the people and the state of Maine. (By Deirdre Fulton)

Mainers sound their protest in Washington
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18--Twelve buses filled with students, veterans and parents from Maine braved overnight bus rides and weather nearly as cold as Maine's to join tens of thousands in Washington, DC protesting potential war with Iraq. (By Rhiannon Varmette)

Massachusetts Coverage

Autism Growing, But Causes Are In Dispute
WASHINGTON, Apr. 30--Jareb and Avery Lopez are identical twins. They are six years old, with dark hair and brown eyes. They also are autistic. (By Scott Brooks)

The Army National Guard
WASHINGTON, Apr. 17--For most of the six decades since World War II, men and women have joined the Army National Guard to pay for school, to learn specialty jobs and to serve their country close to home. With the exception of a few tumultuous events - such as the 1992 Los Angeles riots -- serving in the guard has been relatively safe. (By Alison Frank)

Kerry Campaign Finds Support In SouthCoast
WASHINGTON, Apr. 17--SouthCoast business and political leaders have weighed in early in the presidential campaign cash war, donating almost entirely to home-state hopeful John Kerry. (By Scott Brooks)

Frank On Film: New Documentary On Mass. Rep.
WASHINGTON, Apr. 11--Rep. Barney Frank is in the studio, recording narration for a new documentary, "Let's Get Frank," and the film crew is getting frustrated. (By Scott Brooks)

High stakes and graduation-the MCAS struggle
WASHINGTON, Apr. 9--"Dad?" Nina Ward, a high school junior in Massachusetts recently asked her father, Larry. "So if I take the test now and pass it, do I still have to go to school?" (By Heidi Taylor)

Democrats meet to discuss their presidential agendas
WASHINGTON, Apr. 9--Although they came to discuss children's issues, the nine candidates running for the Democratic presidential nomination-who made their first joint appearance in Washington last night-were first asked to listen to some choice leadership advice.(By Heidi Taylor)

Congress Grants Immunity To Bulger, Salemme
WASHINGTON, Apr. 9--Congressional investigators voted Wednesday to grant immunity to one-time mafia boss Francis Salemme and University of Massachusetts President William Bulger, compelling each to answer questions about the FBI's history of protecting New England mob informants. (By Scott Brooks)

Gasoline prices expected to decline, but are still higher than last year
WASHINGTON, Apr. 8--There was some good news and some not-so-good news Tuesday as the Energy Information Administration announced its forecast for summer gasoline prices. (By Heidi Taylor)

Local mayors plead case with Sen. Kennedy
WASHINGTON, Apr. 3--In an early-morning conference call Thursday, 17 Massachusetts mayors told Democratic Sen. Edward M. Kennedy the same thing: Though cities and towns across the nation are expected to boost their homeland security efforts, their budgets just can't keep up. (By Alison Frank)

Congress Weighing Local Highway Requests
WASHINGTON, Apr. 3--Congress may distribute several million dollars this year to key South Coast highway projects, including long-discussed plans to relocate the New Bedford-Fairhaven Bridge. (By Scott Brooks)

Kerry Raises $7 Million In First Quarter
WASHINGTON, Apr. 2--Sen. John Kerry's presidential campaign raised about $7 million in the first three months of this year, a figure likely to position him near the top of the Democratic fundraising heap. (By Scott Brooks)

War Abroad, Congress Moves Forward On Domestic Agenda
WASHINGTON, Apr. 2--Though on the sidelines as the nation pursues its war against Iraq, Congress has positioned itself on the front lines of the government's domestic policy effort since war began two weeks ago. (By Scott Brooks)

Senate Run Could Be Costly Affair For Rep. Frank
WASHINGTON, Mar. 27--There are few surer bets in politics than an uncontested election. (By Scott Brooks)

Meehan has $1.8 million in war chest
WASHINGTON, Mar. 26--He earned a national reputation by battling the influence of big money on politics. But being the king of campaign-finance reform has not hurt Congressman Martin T. Meehan's ability to raise money for his own campaigns: his $1.8 million year-end war chest was larger than that of any other member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Massachusetts. (By Alison Frank)

U.S. Senate approves President's $2.2 trillion spending package, tax cut package still up in the air
WASHINGTON, Mar. 26--After days of intense debate over President Bush's plan to cut taxes, the U.S. Senate on Wednesday approved the president's request for $2.2 trillion to run the government in fiscal year 2004. (By Alison Frank)

Kerry's presidential campaign shapes up with heavy fundraising
WASHINGTON, Mar. 25--With less than 600 days until the next presidential election, the Democratic field is filling with contenders in what promises to be a crowded race for the party's bid. And while several of the Democratic presidential hopefuls boast big names, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry has positioned himself near the top-of the fundraising race at least. (By Heidi Taylor)

Rep. Frank Says He Would Consider Senate Run
WASHINGTON, Mar. 20--Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA, said Thursday he would think "very seriously" about running for Sen. John Kerry's U.S. Senate seat if the Massachusetts Democrat wins the presidency next year. (By Scott Brooks)

Kerry Campaign Keeps Eye On Tone Of War
WASHINGTON, Mar. 20--Sen. John Kerry, D-MA, who is running for the Democratic presidential nomination, will be keeping a close eye on what he says about U.S. policy on Iraq now that the United States has launched a military assault on that country. (By Scott Brooks)

Win Without War faces war with a three-prong plan
WASHINGTON, Mar. 19--With a U.S. attack on Iraq seemingly inevitable, leaders of the Win Without War coalition met in the capital Wednesday to announce plans for dissent against the war. Former Maine Congressman Tom Andrews, the national director of Win Without War, said that the group remained "steadfastly opposed to the Bush doctrine of pre-emptive attack and the reckless use of military power." (By Heidi Taylor)

Frank Moves Away From Anti-War Talk
WASHINGTON, Mar. 18--For Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA, who has been a vocal opponent of the upcoming war on Iraq, the time to speak out against the war has passed. (By Scott Brooks)

As Bush Administration marches toward war, thousands turn out to march against it
WASHINGTON, Mar. 15--The streets around the White House were crowded this weekend as thousands flooded the capital for an antiwar march in what could be a last-ditch attempt to stop the Bush administration on its path to war. Sleepy-eyed as they stepped off buses many had ridden through the night, protesters gained spirit and enthusiasm from the crisp air and early-morning sun light that shone on the National Monument, where the march began. (By Heidi Taylor)

Child nutrition heads for reauthorization
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--Today is sloppy joe day! But that's not all that kids at North Shore schools will eat. They'll also get corn, an apple and milk with lunch, and if they participate in the breakfast program, French toast sticks with syrup, fruit juice and some more milk--all in accordance with national nutrition guidelines set under the federal Child Nutrition Act of 1966 that authorizes such school meal programs.(By Heidi Taylor)

Immigrants Opting Not To Renew Their Green Cards
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--When the time comes for many of New Bedford's 25,000 immigrants to renew their green cards, the local Immigrants' Assistance Center is telling them not to. (By Scott Brooks)

Local residents will take part in national anti-war protest over the Internet, phone today
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--Fourteen years ago, Virginia resident Debbie Smith was brutally raped in the woods behind her home. Smith wouldn't learn her attacker's name or whereabouts for six and a half years - the time it took before the authorities tested her rape kit, which held critical DNA evidence gathered after her assault. Her attacker was already behind bars for another offense. But every day until then, Smith said she lived in fear. (By Alison Frank)

Coast Guard Moves To New Home
WASHINGTON, Mar. 1--A year and a half of structural surgery on the U.S. Coast Guard culminates Saturday as the agency officially leaves the Transportation Department and joins the ranks of the new Department of Homeland Security. (By Scott Brooks)

Congressmen, sports champions and celebrities urge leaders to save Title IX
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27--Under Title IX, a landmark civil rights law passed 31 years ago that requires schools to give equal opportunities to both sexes, the number of girls participating in high school sports alone has surged from 294,000 to nearly 2.8 million. But that law now stands to be weakened, and millions of female athletes negatively affected, critics say, if the Bush administration accepts proposed new recommendations... (By Heidi Taylor)

Mass. Residents Write Congress: We Don't Want War
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26--Letters from the SouthCoast and across the state continue to pour in, and the verdict is overwhelming: Keep U.S. troops out of Iraq. (By Scott Brooks)

Local residents will take part in national anti-war protest over the Internet, phone today
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25--Lawrence resident Arthur Brien doesn't have a computer, but he didn't let that stop him from participating in a virtual anti-war protest set to take place in the nation's capital Wednesday. (By Alison Frank)

Marion Student Gets Political In DC Program
WASHINGTON, Feb. 21--Sixteen-year-old Brent Shoemaker left behind Old Rochester Regional High School last weekend for a first-class education in federal politics. Turns out, he was ready for the government, but the government wasn't ready for him. (By Scott Brooks)

Congressman Meehan to host event on foreign policy for Cyprus
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--Congressman Martin T. Meehan, D-Lowell, will host a community forum this weekend to discuss Cyprus - the tiny, embattled Mediterranean island at the heart of the decades-long conflict between Turkey and Greece. (By Alison Frank)

New England fishermen to see federal funds in form of boat/permit buyback program
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--Beleaguered fishermen may see some relief under a program that would offer them financial incentives to quit the fishing business. Sens. Edward Kennedy and John Kerry slipped a voluntary "buyback" provision into the massive spending bill Congress passed last week that could funnel more than $10 million to New England fishermen. President Bush was expected to sign the $397.4 billion omnibus bill. (By Heidi Taylor)

Congress Revokes Protections To Vaccine Manufacturers
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--Parents of autistic children will regain the chance to sue vaccine manufacturers like Eli Lilly and Co. now that Congress has rescinded a recent measure that shielded the drug industry from lawsuits. (By Scott Brooks)

House passes Republican welfare reform bill-Dems offer strong opposition
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19--A Republican welfare plan that the House approved last week would cost Massachusetts at least $222 million in added costs over the next five years, according to Rep. John Tierney, D-Salem. (By Heidi Taylor)

Congress approves money for Merrimack Valley projects
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--More money for technology improvements may be headed toward Northern Essex Community College if President Bush approves the final budget bill for fiscal year 2003 that Congress passed Thursday. (By Alison Frank)

Money secured for new transportation center in Lawrence
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--The federal government is giving $500,000 to the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority to help build a new transportation center in Lawrence. The new center, which is the final planning stage, would have a five-level parking garage, retail stores, shuttle service to Manchester and Logan International airports, a police substation, and a new location for Lawrence’s commuter rail. (By Alison Frank)

Coast Guard faces transition, changes but pledges to remain Semper Paratus—“Always Ready”
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--By March 1, the U.S. Coast Guard will have made its transition into the new Department of Homeland Security, an agency whose prime mission is to protect the United States from terrorist attacks. But many authorities—including some in the North Shore area-- worry that this shift of focus will take away from some of the Coast Guard’s established missions. (By Heidi Taylor)

Federal Budget Sends About $6 Million to SouthCoast Projects
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--This fiscal year’s long-overdue federal budget contains millions of dollars to improve New Bedford’s transportation system and develop programs highlighting the city’s history. (By Scott Brooks)

Rent Costs to Rise Under Budget Proposal
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12--Many of the Bay State’s poor and unemployed may have to dish out more for rent if Congress approves new federal housing aid standards that the Bush administration has proposed. (By Scott Brooks)

Rep. Frank Named to Homeland Security Committee
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12--Democratic leaders have named Rep. Barney Frank, D-MA, to a senior position on the House’s new Select Committee on Homeland Security. (By Scott Brooks)

State legislators and activists urge a ban on use of landmines in possible war
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11--The more than 135,000 American servicemen amassed in the Middle East are not alone. With them is a stockpile of over 90,000 U.S. landmines (and counting) in countries like Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Kuwait that ring Iraq, Pentagon records show. (By Heidi Taylor)

New England Seeking Funds To Decrease Bycatch
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--Almost a third of all federal dollars going to reduce occurrences of bycatch in U.S. fisheries—catching and killing fish and other sea dwellers in nets set for other species—would go to New England regulators, according to President Bush’s budget proposal for fiscal 2004. (By Scott Brooks)

Kennedy and others introduce legislation to protect therapeutic cloning
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--In the Capitol, battling legislators were holding back-to-back press conferences Wednesday arguing about whether cloning to produce stem cells for biomedical research should be outlawed. In Gloucester, meanwhile, Guntis Licis, who suffers from Type I diabetes, was giving himself three shots and had to prick himself six other times to test his blood sugar levels. (By Heidi Taylor)

Mass. Budget Troubles Consistent With National Trend
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4--Massachusetts’s growing budget gap, which is threatening to hit $3 billion in the next fiscal year, is well in line with state budget crises across the nation, according to a report released Tuesday. (By Scott Brooks)

Emergency release of fuel aid will benefit local residents
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31--Earlier this winter, Wayne D. Strickland had to make a tough choice. In order to have heat and hot water, he had to forgo paying other bills. (By Alison Frank)

Many worry as Head Start heads to congressional reauthorization
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30--Dressed in their finest, children representing Washington, D.C.’s local Head Start program sang to a packed room in the Russell Senate Office Building at the Capitol, “1, 2, 3…all my friends are here with me,” in both English and Spanish. The audience, filled with proud parents and several members of Congress, gave a standing ovation at the end of the performance. (By Heidi Taylor)

Kennedy Wants Vote Before War
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30--Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy will introduce a resolution requiring President Bush to come back to Congress and "present convincing evidence of an imminent threat" before the United States sends its troops to war against Iraq. (By Alison Frank)

Bush announces emergency relief of LIHEAP funds
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--Following a month of extremely low temperatures, Massachusetts will receive $12.3 million in emergency Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funds, but local sources say that low-income residents are still in a state of crisis. (By Heidi Taylor)

Kennedy demands pre-war evidence from Bush
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--With President Bush indicating that war with Iraq may be imminent, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-MA, is asking Congress to reconsider its resolution authorizing the president to use military force in Iraq. (By Scott Brooks)

Massachusetts Senators Oppose Bush Address
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28--Amid a barrage of Democratic assaults on President Bush Tuesday, both before and after he delivered his State of the Union address, the Bay State's two senators sharply criticized the president's speech. (By Scott Brooks)

Frank Takes Absence From Judiciary Committee Post
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28--Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), who recently became the senior Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, was forced to step down from his other committee post Tuesday to make room for a freshman party member. (By Scott Brooks)

Kennedy Spurs Democratic Opposition to GOP
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21--With his party already planning for a comeback in 2004, Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA) Tuesday urged Democrats to defy the Republican majority's agenda in the new Congress. (By Scott Brooks)

Kennedy takes stand on Iraq, civil rights in speech to National Press Club
WASHINGTON, Jan. 21-- Sen. Edward Kennedy echoed the sentiments of many foreign leaders Tuesday, saying the Bush administration should let United Nations weapons inspectors do their jobs before the United States wages war on Iraq. (By Alison Frank)

New Hampshire Coverage

Title IX: A Look at a Law Most New Hampshire Officials Support
WASHINGTON, Apr. 30--It's a simple law.Title IX states that no educational institution receiving federal money may discriminate on the basis of sex. (By Daniel Remin )

What's the big IDEA?
WASHINGTON, Apr. 28--When teachers, school administrators and parents talk about special education, they complain about excessive paperwork, gripe about under-qualified teachers and debate the pros and cons of the curriculum. But there's one subject on which there seems to be no debate. (By Kim Forrest)

Dangerous global warming reality makes passing comprehensive pollution control in Washington ever a critical step
WASHINGTON, Apr. 22--On a hot July day last summer, rangers in the White Mountain National Forest sounded an alarm. Air quality had dropped to a dangerous level, and for the first time ever rangers ordered strollers, hikers and mountaineers off the trails. (By Chad Berndtson)

Nitrogen, ozone levels up for northeast
WASHINGTON, Apr. 16--As New Hampshire's ozone levels hit their highest mark for this early in the year in 20 years of readings, a new study showed that increased nitrogen pollution not only is raising the ozone readings but is damaging the state's forests and waterways as well. (By Kim Forrest)

On the Fast Track
WASHINGTON, Apr. 16--Kate Käufer moves fast. She's run a marathon, loves to cycle and participates in any sporting event she can. (By Kim Forrest)

New Hampshire Lawmakers Say House Plays Significant Role
WASHINGTON, Apr. 14--When President Bush needs something from Congress these days, he has to negotiate with the Senate, where Democrats and moderate Republicans have the power to block White House proposals. That has left some House members feeling as if they don't matter. (By Daniel Remin )

Plaistow Man Helps Construct New Visitor Center
WASHINGTON, Apr. 11--- Stand at the top of the Capitol's Senate steps, and you will see bulldozers and builders hard at work constructing the new Capitol Visitor Center. (By Daniel Remin )

Bass visits injured Marines in Washington
WASHINGTON, Apr. 11--On a dark, cloudy morning, Rep. Charlie Bass, R-N.H., helped brighten up the spirits of wounded Marines hospitalized here with some of New Hampshire's maple syrup. (By Daniel Remin )

Jeb Bradley: The First 100 Days
WASHINGTON, Apr. 11--Although serving his first term as a U.S. Senator, the term "freshman" doesn't seem to fit John Sununu (R-N.H.). After all, he's no stranger to Washington. (By Chad Berndtson)

Jeb Bradley: The First 100 Days
WASHINGTON, Apr. 10--As Rep. Jeb Bradley returns to his office after a long day on the House floor, a man is climbing on his furniture. (By Chad Berndtson)

Maine's Moderate Republican Senators Stand By Centrist Position
WASHINGTON, Apr. 10--Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins of Maine always have been considered "moderate" Republicans who at times disagree with their more conservative Senate colleagues. But since the start of the 108th Congress in January, so closely divided that the Republicans have a mere two-vote majority, Snowe and Collins along with a small group of centrist Republicans have gained the considerable power to determine the outcome of Senate votes. (By Chad Berndtson)

Coalition still faces much work, NH delegation says
WASHINGTON, Apr. 9--After the Pentagon announced Wednesday that U.S.-led forces had taken control of Baghdad, New Hampshire's Congress members praised coalition troops and said they were buoyed by Iraqi citizens' celebrations. (By Kate Davidson)

Democratic Candidates Speak Out in First Joint Forum
WASHINGTON, Apr. 9--In their first joint forum, the 2004 democratic presidential candidates spoke out on issues ranging from education to the war in Iraq Wednesday night. (By Kim Forrest)

Gas Prices to Decrease for Summer Travelers
WASHINGTON, Apr. 8--It looks as if the worst gasoline prices are behind us, though the best are not yet to come. (By Kim Forrest)

Congress hears testimony on SARS; Gregg says U.S. needs more vaccine development
WASHINGTON, Apr. 8--A day after the Senate heard testimony from health experts on the growing threat of SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome), New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg joined Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., at a press conference Tuesday where immunization advocates supported a bill that would encourage manufacturers to develop vaccines for 21st century health threats. (By Kate Davidson)

Bradley says war in Iraq going according to plan
WASHINGTON, Apr. 4--Despite recent criticism that the Pentagon did not send enough troops to fight the war in Iraq, New Hampshire's freshman Congress member, Rep. Jeb Bradley, R-N.H., said he believes the war plan is efficient. (By Daniel Remin )

Gregg Legislation to Reduce Air Pollution
WASHINGTON, Apr. 3--New Hampshire's Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) is co-sponsoring legislation aimed at decreasing the emission of harmful pollutants by power plants. The bill has won the praise of New Hampshire's attorney general but has cast Gregg as an opponent of the Bush administration's "Clear Skies" air pollution control initiative. (By Kim Forrest)

Gregg moves against administration with air pollutant legislation
WASHINGTON, Apr. 3--Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) introduced environmental legislation on Wednesday that he said would aggressively reduce harmful emissions of pollutants from the nation's power plants. This marks the second time in three months that Gregg has taken on the Bush administration's "Clear Skies" initiative on air pollutants. (By Chad Berndtson)

Judd Gregg introduces Clean Air Bill in Senate
WASHINGTON, Apr. 3--New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., introduced a bill Wednesday to reduce air pollution and limit harmful chemicals that are released from power plants. (By Daniel Remin )

U.S. Senate honors sinking of Thresher
WASHINGTON, Apr. 3--Forty years after the nuclear submarine U.S.S. Thresher sank to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean, New Hampshire's two senators supported legislation commemorating the event. (By Daniel Remin )

New Hampshire Delegation - It's Business As Usual, With a Few Changes
WASHINGTON, Apr. 2--Nearly two weeks after the war began in Iraq, the offices of New Hampshire's congressional delegation on Capitol Hill are trying to keep to business as usual despite increased security and their need to keep a close watch on the Middle East. (By Kim Forrest)

Democrats lambaste Gregg smallpox compensation bill
WASHINGTON, Apr. 2--Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and several other Democrats lambasted a bill Wednesday introduced by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., that would compensate health-care workers and other first responders who were injured by smallpox vaccines. (By Kate Davidson)

NH and Maine senators join to push for USS Thresher memorial
WASHINGTON, Apr. 2--The U.S. Senate unanimously adopted a resolution Tuesday night marking the 40th anniversary of the loss of the USS Thresher, a pioneering nuclear submarine that sank to the bottom of the Atlantic on April 10, 1963, killing 96 Navy sailors, 16 officers and 17 employees of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. (By Chad Berndtson)

Gregg moves smallpox compensation bill to Senate floor despite heavy criticism
WASHINGTON, Apr. 2--Sen. Judd Gregg (R-N.H.) successfully moved his smallpox vaccine compensation package through the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee Wednesday by a vote of 11-10, despite scathing criticism led by the committee's senior Democrat Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). (By Chad Berndtson)

3 NH congressional winners spent less than their opponents
WASHINGTON, Mar. 31--All three New Hampshire winners of last year's election to Congress received and spent less money than their opponents. (By Daniel Remin)

Gregg, Sununu Vote Against Special Education Amendment
WASHINGTON, Mar. 27--Sens. Judd Gregg (R-NH) and John Sununu (R-NH), both notably strong supporters of federal grants for special education, voted against an amendment Wednesday that would have provided the full 40 percent of local costs next year that Congress had promised when it adopted the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. Their vote prompted much disapproval from the New Hampshire Democratic Party. (By Kim Forrest)

NH congressional delegation focused on work and war
WASHINGTON, Mar. 27--Eight days after the first bombs struck Iraq, Congress and New Hampshire's lawmakers are going about their daily business, for the most part. (By Daniel Remin )

Both Sununu and Bradley won more with less in 2002 election
WASHINGTON, Mar. 27--Both of New Hampshire's freshman Congressmen, Sen. John Sununu (R) and Rep. Jeb Bradley (R), spent and received less money than their losing opponents in the 2002 elections, according to the Center for Responsive Politics (CRP) in Washington. (By Chad Berndtson)

Group lobbies for more aid to low-income college students
WASHINGTON, Mar. 26--Members of TRIO flooded congressional offices Tuesday, including all four from New Hampshire, lobbying for more money for their program of college aid to low-income students. (By Daniel Remin )

Gregg Amendment to Increase Special Ed. Funding
WASHINGTON, Mar. 25--Keene schools' special-education director praised Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) on Tuesday as Gregg continued his push for increased federal funds for special education that would add to the increases New Hampshire has seen during the past seven years. (By Kim Forrest)

N.H and Maine members support Bush's war funding; caution budget implications
WASHINGTON, Mar. 25--Members of Congress from New Hampshire and Maine agreed that President Bush's supplemental budget request Tuesday for $74.4 billion in war funds was a necessary one, despite conflicting opinions over the effect such spending could have on the president's fiscal 2004 budget. But one of Maine's Republican Senators broke party ranks in voting to cut the president's tax cut proposal in half, in part because of her concern about the costs of the war in Iraq. (By Chad Berndtson)

Watching the pall give way to reality of the situation
WASHINGTON, Mar. 25--I received a phone call from a good friend nearly an hour after President Bush had appeared on television last Wednesday night and officially announced that yes, military strikes in Iraq had begun. (By Chad Berndtson)

Business as usual on Capitol Hill, NH delegation says
WASHINGTON, Mar. 20--The New Hampshire Republican delegation said Thursday that Congress would continue with scheduled business-including a vote on President Bush's proposed budget-even as the United States launched initial ground attacks against Iraqi forces on the Kuwaiti border and bombed government buildings throughout Baghdad. (By Kate Davidson)

Gregg, Sununu against Arctic drilling ban
WASHINGTON, Mar. 20--The Senate voted yesterday to ban oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, with New Hampshire's two senators voting in favor of drilling. (By Daniel Remin )

Any Day Now
WASHINGTON, Mar. 20--My parents are sending me a gas mask. The typical care package of cookies and extra sweaters has become a thing of the past. Phone calls from home are more urgent and more frequent. The color orange suddenly is not simply a color that makes my skin look green. Whenever a plane flies overhead, I look out my window and stare at the sky. When I stand on the underground platform of the Metro, my eyes wander, analyzing every inch of the station. What I'm looking for, I can't say. But I'm watching and waiting. (By Kim Forrest)

National, Local Peace Events Planned for Wartime
WASHINGTON, Mar. 19--Win Without War, a coalition led by former Rep. Tom Andrews (D-Maine), announced Wednesday its plans for national peace actions protesting military action against Iraq. Local groups have been planning various measures as well. (By Kim Forrest)

Maine, N.H. delegates discuss going to war without U.N. support
WASHINGTON, Mar. 19--Several members of Congress from Maine and New Hampshire said Wednesday that President Bush's decision to go to war against Iraq without a U.N.-backed resolution was the right one, saying that Bush made considerable diplomatic efforts and that not acting against Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein would be an even greater risk. Others voiced frustration and wished Bush had gained more international support before making his decision. (By Chad Berndtson)

NH, Maine delegates debate points of Bush budget proposal
WASHINGTON, Mar. 19--As members of Congress debated President Bush's proposed fiscal 2004 budget this week, members of the New Hampshire and Maine delegations were divided about their support for Bush's tax cuts and budget proposal. (By Chad Berndtson)

Gregg introduces bill requiring stricter testing of pediatric drugs
WASHINGTON, Mar. 18--Senate colleagues and child health advocates praised New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg yesterday at a press conference called to announce the introduction of the Pediatric Drugs Research Authority bill. The legislation would allow the Food and Drug Administration to require pharmaceutical companies to conduct adequate clinical tests on how drugs can be used safely and affectively by children. (By Kate Davidson)

New Child Abduction Alert System in Works for NH, Congress Proposes National AMBER Alert
WASHINGTON, Mar. 18--A week after 15-year-old Elizabeth Smart was found safe and returned to her family in Utah, lawmakers in Washington are working on passing a nationwide AMBER alert. While New Hampshire has no AMBER plan of its own, state officials are preparing a system to facilitate broadcasting vital information when a New Hampshire child goes missing. (By Kim Forrest)

Maine receives drought relief as conditions persist in region
WASHINGTON, Mar. 18--U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman approved disaster assistance for Maine this week to counter the losses that an ongoing drought in the region has caused, according to Maine Republican Senators Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins. (By Chad Berndtson)

Sununu addresses struggling economy in New England Council forum
WASHINGTON, Mar. 7--Sen. John Sununu (R-NH) said today that a slowdown in business investment is driving the current economic downturn and that a successful recovery would involve creating new incentives for small businesses to invest, eliminating taxation of dividends and reforming corporate behavior. (By Chad Berndtson)

Business investment essential to stimulating economic growth, Sununu says
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--New Hampshire Sen. John Sununu, addressing a meeting of the New England Council Thursday, said Congress must increase incentives for small business investment, eliminate the double taxation of dividends and encourage better corporate behavior to reverse the business investment slowdown, which he blamed for the current economic situation. (By Kate Davidson)

Additional LIHEAP Funds to Bring More Warmth to a Frigid Winter
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--With local temperatures averaging below the freezing mark for most of this winter, the bitter cold is often tempered by the comfort of a heated home. However, for those who cannot afford heating, the chilly climate does not end when they enter their homes. (By Kim Forrest)

New Hampshire Senators Say States Receive Enough Funding
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--A recent Center on Budget and Policy Priorities report indicated that President Bush's statement last week in which he said that his budget calls for a nine percent increase in federal grants to state governments is "misleading" because it does not take inflation into account and is "skewed" up by Medicaid. (By Daniel Remin )

Sununu opposes double taxation
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--Sen. John E. Sununu, R-N.H., at a press conference yesterday, called for an end to the double taxation of dividends, saying such a tax is unfair and "wrong." (By Daniel Remin )

Snowe receives prestigious award from national Hispanic organization
WASHINGTON, Mar. 6--Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) received the prestigious Capital Award from the National Council of La Raza (NCLR), a prominent Hispanic civil rights organization. (By Chad Berndtson)

Members of Congress push for stronger legislation in using DNA to catch rapists
WASHINGTON, Mar. 4--Lawmakers introduced legislation Tuesday in the House designed to prosecute rapists more effectively by improving the use of DNA evidence collection. (By Chad Berndtson)

Sununu says relationship with Bush good for NH
WASHINGTON, Mar. 1--Visiting the Bush family more than 20 years ago at Walker's Point in Kennebunkport, Maine, Sen. John E. Sununu, R-N.H., first met President Bush, who was not yet Texas governor. (By Daniel Remin )

Officials addressing concerns as Coast Guard transitions to Homeland Security
WASHINGTON, Feb. 28--Amid persistent worries that the U.S. Coast Guard's new Homeland Security responsibilities will spread its resources too thin, officials say that steps have been taken to make the transition as smooth as possible and that the Coast Guard will still be able to effectively perform its traditional duties. (By Chad Berndtson)

Environmental groups seek ban on kids toys containing toxic chemical
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27--A group of national environmental organizations will continue to push a petition to ban the use of toxic chemicals in children's toys, despite a unanimous vote this week by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) denying the request. (By Chad Berndtson)

Bush speech clearly outlined plans for post-war Iraq, NH delegation says
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27--New Hampshire's congressional delegation agrees that President Bush outlined a comprehensive vision for a post-war Iraq in his speech Wednesday night, but not all were convinced that the plan would guarantee peace throughout the Middle East. (By Kate Davidson)

Study Shows Graduated Drivers Licensing Means Fewer Accidents for Teens
WASHINGTON, Feb. 27--Teenagers who live in states like New Hampshire that force them to go through steps before getting full driving privileges get into fewer accidents, according to a group of studies released recently by the National Safety Council. (By Kim Forrest)

Virtual Marchers Tie up Phone Lines with Protest
WASHINGTON, Feb. 26--Eager protestors from all over called, faxed and e-mailed anti-war sentiments to Senate offices and the White House Wednesday during an all-day "Virtual March." (By Kim Forrest)

War protestors to flood Senate, White House with calls
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25--New Hampshire Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu said their offices are prepared to handle the hundreds of calls expected Wednesday from constituents participating in the Virtual March, an anti-war effort to flood Senate and White House offices with phone calls, e-mail messages and faxes protesting an attack on Iraq. (By Kate Davidson)

Thousands expected to participate in "virtual march" Wednesday
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25--Thousands of people opposed to war with Iraq are expected to participate Wednesday in a "virtual march" on Washington, in which they will flood the White House switchboard and the offices of their U.S. senators with phone calls, e-mails and fax messages voicing their concerns about a war. Area senators say they welcome the calls. (By Chad Berndtson)

Protest Potential War…But Don't Leave Your Living Room
WASHINGTON, Feb. 25--For those who want to rally against the impending war on Iraq but are too busy (or lazy) to leave their homes or offices, the organization Win Without War has created the perfect protest. (By Kim Forrest)

Vote Gives States New Regulatory Power over Phone Lines
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--New Hampshire's two Republican congressmen said that Thursday's Federal Communications Commission vote to allow states to decide if local phone companies should let competitors use their lines is not the best option. (By Daniel Remin )

New Hampshire federal nutrition programs lagging
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--The number of families helped by New Hampshire federal nutrition programs since 2000 falls behind the national average, according to a report released Thursday by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) that profiles each state's progress in providing assistance to low-income families. (By Kate Davidson)

FRAC report identifies strengths and weaknesses in national nutrition programs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--An annual report from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) released Thursday finds that while eight key federal nutrition programs are producing positive results, there are still many gaps and weak spots in the federal government's plans to feed the hungry in New Hampshire and Maine and across America, especially with the current state of the economy. (By Chad Berndtson)

NH One of the Worst for Food Stamps but Showing Improvement, Study Shows
WASHINGTON, Feb. 20--Although New Hampshire has ranked among the lowest of the states in providing food stamps to those in need, it has shown improvement in recent years, a new study released Thursday by the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) revealed. (By Kim Forrest)

Cato Institute Proposes Solution to Problem
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19--At a Social Security forum sponsored by the Cato Institute Wednesday, speakers proposed changing the current "pay-as-you-go" system to a fund-based system that would privatize Social Security, allow more people to collect benefits and, they said, make the system more equitable for all Americans. (By Daniel Remin )

House Passes Bass' Fraud Prevention Act
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19--The American Spirit Fraud Prevention Act, a bill introduced by Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH), has passed the House, 422-1. The legislation, intended to thwart scams and fraudulent activity during national emergencies, would double fines that the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) could impose on scam artists. (By Kim Forrest)

Snowe introduces new bill to protect workplace breastfeeding
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19--Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) has introduced the Pregnancy Discrimination Act, designed to protect women from discrimination in the workplace if they need to breastfeed their children during their breaks or at lunchtime. Her bill would amend the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which assigns rights and responsibilities to employers and employees in the workplace. (By Chad Berndtson)

N.H. staffs in D.C. back after storm
WASHINGTON, Feb. 19--Most of the New Hampshire delegation's congressional offices opened yesterday in the wake of this week's snowstorm. (By Daniel Remin )

Coast Guard transition raises concerns about spreading too thin
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14--At a hearing this week, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) addressed concerns that the United States Coast Guard’s new focus—homeland security--will make it far more difficult for the agency to fulfill its traditional roles. (By Chad Berndtson)

Bass' anti-fraud bill passes house
WASHINGTON, Feb. 14--A bill introduced by Rep. Charlie Bass, R-N.H., to prevent fraud, scams and deceptions against Americans during declared national disasters and emergencies passed the House late Wednesday. (By Daniel Remin )

New Hampshire Sees Increase in Education Funding with Gregg Amendment
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH), a strong proponent of increased education funding, said he has added over $2 billion to the fiscal year 2003 omnibus appropriations bill for education programs. The money will go toward expanding special-education programs, programs for disadvantaged students and Pell Grants for college students in need, adding money to programs valuable to New Hampshire’s education system. (By Kim Forrest)

New Hampshire Interns Hit the Beltway Scene
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--In the years following the Monica Lewinsky affair and the Chandra Levy disappearance, interns in Washington have become associated with scandal and salacious gossip. However, according to some young D.C. interns from the New Hampshire area, these stereotypes are certainly not what interning in the nation’s capital is all about. (By Kim Forrest)

Gregg secures additional $2 B for education funding
WASHINGTON, Feb. 13--New Hampshire Sen. Judd Gregg secured more than $2 billion in additional federal education funding Thursday as part of the fiscal year 2003 omnibus appropriations bill, which he said “translates into significant dollars for New Hampshire.” (By Kate Davidson)

Collins, Jeffords reintroduce Clean Air act to clean up pollution
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12--Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jim Jeffords (I-Vt.) introduced a new revision of the Clean Air Act Wednesday that they said would prevent the nation’s dirtiest and most polluting power plants from evading pollution controls. (By Chad Berndtson)

Gregg to introduce malpractice legislation
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12--Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., highlighting what he said was the need for medical liability reform, said yesterday he soon will introduce a bill that will address the “over-litigious situation in the area of medical care.” (By Daniel Remin )

Gregg and others introduce legislation to help prevent a nuclear bomb attack
WASHINGTON, Feb. 12--Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., is co-sponsoring a bipartisan bill calling for a government task force to help prevent a so-called dirty bomb attack—low-grade nuclear material wrapped in a conventional bomb--on American soil. (By Daniel Remin )

Greenspan warns Congress to control deficit
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11--New Hampshire Sen. John Sununu and Rep. Jeb Bradley said Tuesday they agreed with Federal Reserve chairman Alan Greenspan that Congress must, in the face of current “geopolitical risks,” regain discipline in the budget process to eliminate deficit spending and foster long-term economic growth. (By Kate Davidson)

100th was penny, memorial-- How to mark Lincoln's 200th?
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10--Advisers to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission are meeting for the first time today to brainstorm on how best to celebrate, in 2009, the 200th birthday of one of the nation's most revered presidents. (By Chad Berndtson)

Sununu says U.N., Congress back war
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--Sen. John E. Sununu, R-N.H., said yesterday he believes that after Secretary of State Powell’s U.N. Security Council speech Wednesday and his testimony before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee the following day, most people in both Congress and at the United Nations will back the war effort. (By Daniel Remin )

Egyptian economic growth essential to U.S.-Middle East relations, Sununu says
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--New Hampshire Sen. John Sununu said Thursday that the United States must strengthen its trade and investment policies with Egypt so the country can reinforce its position as an economic leader in the Middle East and help confront current crises in the region. (By Kate Davidson)

DC pushing for pre-NH primary
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--New Hampshire’s celebrated role as the host of the first presidential primary in the country is being challenged by the nation’s capital. (By Kim Forrest)

Gregg developing national air quality program
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) is working to secure $3 million to develop a national air quality forecasting program, which would be the first of its kind to provide highly specific forecasts on probable concentrations and kinds of pollution in a community. He said in a statement that he hopes the program will become operational within two years and that it will be piloted in New England. (By Chad Berndtson)

Snowe and committee hear possible solution for small business healthcare woes
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6--Senator Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) Wednesday chaired a hearing of the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee at which U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao discussed the growing crisis in health insurance protection for small businesses and their employees and the Bush Administration’s proposals for dealing with the problem. (By Chad Berndtson)

NH Delegation calls Powell’s UN presentation “extraordinary, powerful”
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5--New Hampshire’s Republican congressional delegation said Wednesday that Secretary of State Colin Powell made a powerful and convincing presentation to the United Nations Security Council regarding Iraq’s unwillingness to disarm. (By Kate Davidson)

Bass opposes oil drilling in Alaskan refuge
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5--New Hampshire Rep. Charles Bass and 10 other House Republicans have expressed opposition to oil drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) in a letter sent to House Budget Committee chairman Jim Nussle (R-Iowa). (By Kate Davidson)

Moose Mountain tapped for Forest Service protection
WASHINGTON, Feb. 5--Sen. John Sununu (R-N.H.) said in a statement Tuesday that New Hampshire’s Moose Mountain forest legacy project is a “land conservation priority” and that he will work hard to ensure final passage of the $1 million that President Bush has earmarked for the project in his fiscal 2004 budget. (By Chad Berndtson)

Covering Uninsured, Controlling Costs, Top Health Care Issues for NH Voters
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4--In survey results released Tuesday, New Hampshire Democratic voters said covering the uninsured was their main health care concern, while Republicans said controlling health care costs was the principal issue. (By Kim Forrest)

Proposed budget is "responsible, appropriate," Gregg says
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4--New Hampshire Sens. Judd Gregg and John Sununu called President Bush’s proposed 2004 budget responsible and appropriate considering the economic downturn and possibility of war, but Gregg said he wanted to see the country return to budget surpluses. (By Kate Davidson)

Portsmouth Hospital CEO testifies at D.C. smallpox hearing
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31--Chairman Judd Gregg, R-NH, and other members of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions heard expert testimony Thursday in the continuing efforts to develop the Bush administration's plan to administer smallpox vaccinations to all Americans in the event of a bioterrorist attack. (By Chad Berndtson )

JUDD GREGG: Committee examines Smallpox inoculations
WASHINGTON, Jan. 31--A congressional committee chaired by Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H., heard from medical experts yesterday about what might happen if a smallpox virus was unleashed in the United States and how health officials should prepare to deal with such a possibility. (By Daniel Remin )

Sununu, Gregg push for Social security reform
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30--Sen. John Sununu joined like-minded lawmakers Wednesday in a push for “action” in reforming Social Security, and a plea for “lowering the volume” on the heated partisan debates that have polarized opinions in Congress for years. (By Chad Berndtson )

New community study for Segway
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30--The public delivery date for Segway scooters is still a month away, but residents of Celebration, Fla., will be getting a sneak peak at the “human transporters” or HTs, as they are known. (By Kim Forrest)

Iraq failed to comply with resolution, State Dept. says
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30--New Hampshire Sens. John Sununu and Judd Gregg joined other members of Congress at a press conference Wednesday to rally support for a bicameral, bipartisan effort to reform Social Security, and Gregg announced plans to introduce such a bill. (By Kate Davidson)

New House, Senate offices bring New Hampshire faces to Capitol Hill
WASHINGTON, Jan. 30--A new session of Congress is in full swing and that means New Hampshire freshman Rep. Jeb Bradley and John Sununu, who has moved from the House to the Senate, are putting together new staffs including a number of Granite State natives. (By Kate Davidson)

Sununu, Gregg seek social security reform
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--Senators John Sununu (R-NH) and Judd Gregg (R-NH) joined Senators and House members from both sides of the aisle yesterday in a press conference pushing for Social Security reform. (By Kim Forrest)

Rudman analyzes Bush's speech and potential war
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--The day after President George W. Bush’s State of the Union speech in which he made the case for going to war with Iraq, former New Hampshire Senator Warren Rudman said he believes war will happen. (By Daniel Remin)

Sununu, Gregg rally support for Social Security reform
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--New Hampshire Sens. John Sununu and Judd Gregg joined other members of Congress at a press conference Wednesday to rally support for a bicameral, bipartisan effort to reform Social Security, and Gregg announced plans to introduce such a bill. (By Kate Davidson)

State of the Union Reaction
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29--Members of the New Hampshire congressional delegation praised President Bush’s State of the Union Address last night, saying it demonstrated “clear and decisive leadership” in dealing with domestic and foreign policy issues. However Maine members were somewhat more skeptical about Bush’s message. (By Chad Berndtson )

N.H. Delegation Praises Bush's State of the Union Address
WASHINGTON, Jan. 28--The New Hampshire congressional delegation praised the “clear and decisive leadership” and “bold” policy initiatives outlined by President Bush in his State of the Union address last night, in which he suggested the United States might be willing to act unilaterally to disarm Iraq. (By Kate Davidson)

Six Flags claims rides 'extraordinarily safe'
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22--In the face of a congressional push to regulate safety in amusement parks, Six Flags--which operates a park in Gurnee--unveiled two studies on Tuesday that claim roller coasters to be "extraordinarily safe'' and posing "no public health risk.'' (By Chad Berndtson )

N.H. Maine Contingents Strong in D.C.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20--Hundreds of protesters from both New Hampshire and Maine were among the thousands that marched on the Capitol Mall Saturday, rallying and encouraging Americans to oppose war in Iraq.(By Chad Berndtson )