Experience, Good Sense Pay Off for Kildee

Washington, D.C.  - Representative Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) has taken a leading role in successfully maneuvering critical legislation for approval by the House of Representatives in an ambitious agenda to bring Michigan and the country back on track.  Of the 81 bills cited by Speaker Nancy Pelosi as the major accomplishments this year, Kildee has sponsored four. 

Kildee legislation includes:

• H.R. 1429, the Head Start for School Readiness Act of 2007, Sponsor: Kildee (D-MI), Passed House by Roll Call vote: 365-48 (5/2/2007), Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent (6/19/2007)

• H.R. 980, the Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007, Sponsor: Kildee (D-MI), Passed House by Roll Call vote: 314-97 (7/17/2007)

• H.R. 475, the House Page Board Revision Act 0f 2007, Sponsor: Kildee (D-MI), Passed House by Roll Call vote: 416-0 (1/19/2007), Passed Senate by Unanimous Consent (1/23/2007), Signed into law by President (2/2/2007)

• H.R. 545, the Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement Act, Sponsor: Udall (D-NM) / Kildee (D-MI), Passed House by Roll Call vote: 423-0 (3/22/2007)

Since January, the new Democratic House Majority of the 110th Congress has passed significant legislation that addresses the priorities of the American people and moves the country in a new direction. 

“I have always worked hard to set aside partisan politics to ensure the very best for the people of Michigan;” said Kildee.  “Legislation works best when it is built from consensus.”

Head Start is the country’s premiere early childhood education and development program and has served more than 20 million families in its 42-year history.  The Improving Head Start Act of 2007 would reauthorize Head Start for five years, make services available to more children, extend classroom hours and improve teacher quality.

The Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007 requires each state to provide minimum collective bargaining rights to their public safety employees.  The bill would empower these public safety employees to negotiate fundamental issues with their employers such as hours, wages and workplace conditions.  A majority of states, such as Michigan, currently have laws in place that satisfy the bill’s requirements and would be unaffected.

The Native American Methamphetamine Enforcement Act clarifies that territories and Indian tribes are eligible to receive grants for confronting the abuse of methamphetamine.

Under Congressman Kildee’s bill, the board will add a representative from the minority party making the body equally bi-partisan.  Also, the board will include a former page and a parent of a current or recent page.  In addition, the law will require the board to meet on a regular basis.