March 14, 2011

As you know, this “lame duck” session was an unusually productive period for the United States Congress, due primarily to strong bipartisanship among Republicans and Democrats. While President Obama and congressional leaders struck a deal on a two-year extension of the Bush-era tax cuts (H.R. 4853), I voted against this bill because it would add too much to the national debt. While I supported some provisions in the bill, I could not vote in favor of legislation that would add $858 billion to our national debt without offering any long-term solutions.

Also during the lame duck session, I joined 70 other senators who voted to ratify the START nuclear arms treaty with Russia, an agreement supported by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Admiral Mike Mullen. The treaty will strengthen strategic nuclear weapons stability with Russia and modernize our nuclear weapons and delivery systems. Along with Secretary Gates and Chairman Mullen, I also supported a repeal of the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy (H.R. 2965), which passed by a bipartisan vote of 65-31.

Two other important pieces of legislation passed during the final weeks of the 111th Congress will protect our nation’s food supply and ensure that our September 11th heroes get the health care they desperately need and deserve. The Food Safety Modernization Act (S. 510) seeks to reduce food-borne illnesses and prevent erroneous recalls that cost farmers, including ones in North Carolina, millions of dollars. Senator Jon Tester (D-MT) and I fought hard to add an amendment to the bill that will protect small farmers by exempting them from unnecessary red tape. The Senate also passed the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (H.R. 847), which will provide 9/11 first-responders with access to care for health problems stemming directly from their efforts to respond to the terrorist attack on our nation.

I have always felt that elected officials should do more to work across the aisle to pass legislation that benefits all Americans. I have strived to promote bipartisanship among my colleagues in the Senate and will continue to do so in the 112th Congress. I pledge to work with individuals from all political backgrounds as I champion the interests of North Carolina.

Kay R. Hagan