Kerry also spoke here today (Busy, busy guy.)

[TayTay]

The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) - Conference
The Washington Daybook, Sec. General News Events - Update 05-16-2006


20060517

**Revised

TIME: All Day

EVENT: The Computer and Communications Industry Association (CCIA) hosts its 2006 Washington Caucus conference to consider pending legislation and administrative decisions relating to telecom reform, intellectual property and Internet freedom.

AGENDA: Events begin at 8:30 a.m. Highlights:

-- 8:55 a.m.: Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., delivers remarks

-- 9:30 a.m.: Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., delivers remarks

-- 11 a.m.: Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., delivers remarks

-- 12:30 p.m.: Sen. Byron Dorgan, D-N.D., delivers remarks

-- 1:15 p.m.: Sen. Ted Stevens, R-Alaska, chairman, Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, delivers remarks

-- 2 p.m.: Sen. Norm Coleman, R-Minn., delivers remarks

-- 3 p.m.: Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., delivers remarks

-- 4 p.m.: Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., delivers remarks

-- 4:30 p.m.: Commerce Undersecretary for International Trade Franklin Levin, delivers remarks

-- 6 p.m.: Dinner cruise on the USS Sequoia

DATE: May 17, 2006

LOCATION: St. Regis Hotel, 923 16th Street NW, Washington, D.C.

CONTACT: Hunter McIntosh, 202-783-0070 ext. 113, [e-mail]; http://www.ccianet.org/

[TayTay]

1. Thank you Senator. Massachusetts needs this.

SEN. KERRY, REPS. TIERNEY MEEHAN ASK GOV. ROMNEY TO REQUEST DISASTER DECLARATION FOR FLOODED MASSACHUSETTS COMMUNITIES
US Fed News 05-16-2006


WASHINGTON, May 16 -- Rep. John F. Tierney, D-Mass. (6th CD), issued the following press release:

Today, Sen. John Kerry, Rep. John Tierney, and Rep. Marty Meehan called on Gov. Mitt Romney to immediately request a federal disaster declaration for areas in Massachusetts devastated by recent floods.

Kerry and Tierney toured Peabody and other communities yesterday with members of the Peabody Fire Department and the National Guard. Many of the Emergency Responders had been working over thirty-six hour shifts fighting to save the community from the rising flood waters.

Concerning Governor Romney's delay Senator Kerry said, "Having seen the devastating flood waters on the North Shore I don't know why Governor Romney is waiting to request federal aid for these hard hit Massachusetts communities. The Governors of Maine and New Hampshire have already responded to this crisis and requested a federal disaster declaration. Governor Romney must follow their lead and act now to help the citizens of Massachusetts."

"After touring flooded areas on the North Shore over the weekend and yesterday, families and businesses need urgent relief. We need the Governor to request a federal disaster declaration to make federal funds available to these devastated areas," said Congressman Tierney.

"Immediately urging the federal government to declare a disaster in the areas hardest hit will help residents and businesses begin to rebuild and recover from the havoc these devastating floods have wreaked on their communities," Meehan said. "A federal disaster declaration will help residents and businesses in Lowell, Lawrence, Methuen and Haverhill, which are among the areas hardest hit by these storms, begin to repair and restore these disaster-damaged areas."

BELOW IS THE TEXT OF THE LETTER SENT TODAY TO GOVERNOR ROMNEY:

May 16, 2006

The Honorable Mitt Romney Governor Commonwealth of Massachusetts State House, Room 360 Boston, MA 02133

Dear Governor Romney:

We are writing to urge you to immediately request a federal disaster declaration for the flooded communities in the Commonwealth. Yesterday, we had the opportunity to tour the affected communities, and after seeing the damage firsthand and talking with local officials it is clear that our cities and towns do not have the resources to deal with such severe flooding.

We understand that the Commonwealth has not yet begun to make specific damage assessments that generally precipitate a request for a federal disaster declaration. It is clear, however, that the damage caused by the flooding will far exceed the minimum requirements for federal assistance, and we think this justifies your immediate action. Hundreds of Essex and Middlesex County residents have already been evacuated from their homes, and emergency management personnel are stretched thin.

In addition, we urge you to seek a declaration from the Small Business Administration (SBA) for small businesses and homeowners impacted by the flooding. Although the SBA's disaster loan program will be triggered automatically if the President issues a disaster declaration, we should take every precaution to ensure that small business owners and homeowners have access to the capital necessary to rebuild their lives.

This is the worst flooding we have seen in Massachusetts during our time in public office, and possibly the worst in the Commonwealth's history. We therefore request that you expedite your request for a federal disaster declaration to the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and help our constituents get the assistance they need.

Sincerely, John F. Kerry United States Senator

Marty Meehan Member of Congress

John F. Tierney Member of Congress

[ProSense]

2. They had

to ask the Gov. to do that?


It's Bush all over again!

[_dynamicdems]

3. Mittens was already on the news saying he would ask for it...but he's not

too quick, apparently.

In any case, it is a good way for the Dems to go on record as having pushed for this. It'll probably annoy the Hell out of Mit the Twit.

[wisteria]

4. My thoughts exactly. What is wrong with the Mass Gov.?

To busy doing photo-ops and alluding to the flooding being of "biblical proportions" ?

[rox63]

5. We have a Governor?

Mittens has been working very hard at disassociating himself from the running of this state for quite some time now. :sarcasm:

[TayTay]

6. There have been rumors of same

Some tall guy with shoe-polished hair that is going around claiming he was elected Gov of Massachusetts. He follows that with saying how much he despises the place and it's people and, espeically, it's politicians. He was last seen hovering around South Carolina. (We should set up an Early Mitt Warning System so that poor states that don't know him can prepare for the invasion.)