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Senate Aging Committee Gets New Democrat Leader,
Kolh, and New Members Clinton and Nelson
Dec. 7, 2004 – The U.S. Special Committee on Aging
is certain to have a new look in the next Congress as Democrat Senate
Leader Harry Reid, Nevada, is appointing a new ranking member for the
Democrats, Sen. Herb Kohl, Wisconsin, and adding new members Sen.
Hillary Clinton, New York, and Sen. Bill Nelson, Florida.
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Sen. Clinton |
Sen. Kohl |
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One of those being replaced is Sen. Reid, who has
taken over the leadership of Senate Democrats. Also leaving the
committee are former ranking member, Sen. John Breaux, Louisiana, and
Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Michigan.
Being retained on the committee for the Democrats,
along with Kohl, are James Jeffords, (Ind.) Vermont; Russell Feingold,
Wisconsin; Ron Wyden, Oregon; Blanche Lincoln, Arkansas; Evan Bayh,
Indiana and Thomas Carper, Delaware.
"There is incredible talent with our Democratic
caucus and we are a strong, united team," Senator Reid said. "Millions
of Americans are depending on us to improve national security, restore
fiscal responsibility, increase access to health insurance and reform
education. With these committee assignments, we have the right teams in
the right places to bring about results for our country."
Republican leader Sen. Bill Frist has not announced
appointments but the current Republicans include Larry Craig, Idaho,
Chairman; Richard Shelby, Alabama; Mike Enzi, Wyoming; Susan Collins,
Maine; Gordon Smith, Oregon; James M. Talent, Missouri; Peter
Fitzgerald, Illinois; Orrin Hatch, Utah; Elizabeth Dole, North
Carolina;Ted Stevens, Alaska and Rick Santorum, Pennsylvania
Kohl, who will lead the Democrats on the committee,
was elected to the Senate in 1988 and re-elected to a third six-year
term in 2000. Kohl was born and raised in Milwaukee, where he attended
public school. He earned his bachelor's degree from the University of
Wisconsin-Madison in 1956 and a master's degree in business
administration from Harvard University in 1958. Kohl served in the Army
Reserve from 1958 to 1964.
Before coming to the Senate, Kohl helped build his
family-owned business, Kohl's grocery and department stores. He served
as President from 1970 through the sale of the corporation in 1979. In
1985 he bought the Milwaukee Bucks to ensure the basketball team
remained in Milwaukee and is recognized as an avid sportsman.
Senator Kohl serves on the Senate Appropriations
Committee, the Judiciary Committee, and the Special Committee on Aging.
Kohl is the ranking member of the Agriculture Appropriations
Subcommittee, which has jurisdiction over the budgets of USDA, the FDA
and other agencies which include many programs important to farmers and
consumers. Kohl also serves as the ranking member of the Judiciary's
Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights and Competition.
“As a member of the Special Committee on Aging I
have worked to increase public awareness on matters concerning older
Americans. I am dedicated to protecting seniors, and I have fought to
secure their rights and interests. The Committee oversees issues related
to Social Security, and I have placed pressure on the Congress to create
a program that would permanently establish Social Security and ensure
its solvency,” he said.
“I am also concerned with the well being of older
Americans in assisted living facilities. That is why I have introduced a
nursing home safety bill, the "Patient
Abuse Prevention Act. I believe that any type of abuse or
neglect that occurs in nursing homes is a matter that needs immediate
attention. The Nursing Home Bill would help to eliminate staff members
that might be prone to committing such acts by performing back ground
checks on full time employees in nursing homes as well as in other
health care facilities and providers such as Hospice,” he added.
"I am extremely honored to have been selected to
serve on the Senate Special Committee on Aging. I have great respect for
the Chairman and incoming Ranking Member and it will be an honor to
serve with them," said Clinton.
"As the baby boomers begin to reach retirement, the
work of this committee becomes increasingly important. We must ensure
that bedrock programs like Medicare and Social Security remain solvent
and strong, as well as promoting federal policies that promote positive
aging, assist family caregivers, and help seniors remain in their homes
and active members of their communities for as long as they are able.
New York ranks third in the nation for the number of people over 65 and
I look forward to this new committee assignment providing another
opportunity to ensure that their concerns and needs are addressed."
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