Senator Dodd: A Champion for Working Families

In the last year alone, he has been at the forefront of major pieces of legislation that will have long-lasting effect. “No doubt he will be remembered as a Senator unmatched for his hard work this past year and for his accomplishments,” said President Olsen.

Senator Dodd shares the dream of his colleague, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, that health care in the United States should be a right not a privilege. On behalf of his friend, he assumed the chairmanship of the Health Education, Labor and Pensions and he is shepherding health care reform. As Chairman of the Banking Committee he has pushed for legislation that would protect consumers and regulate financial institutions. His landmark legislation is the Family Medical Leave Act that he worked for years to secure and that has been invaluable to more than 50 million families in need.

As union leaders and members, many of us can recount the times that Senator Chris Dodd has stood with us. He has been at the center of all the major fights to secure and protect jobs including those at Electric Boat and the sub base in New London, at United
Technologies, for construction and for public services.

He pushed for the extension of unemployment benefits. He has fought discrimination in the workplace, most recently leading the fight for the Lilly Ledbetter legislation, and advocated for workers’ freedom to organize and for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. “The Connecticut AFL-CIO can continue to count on Senator Dodd’s leadership in 2010 because he has always been there for us,” said Olsen. “We take issue with those who think Senator Dodd is now a “lame duck”. Senator Dodd is anything, but that. There are enormous challenges facing working families in today’s economy and we look forward to working with Senator Dodd, one of the greatest allies for working families that we have had in the Senate.”