CQ Politics: House Leaders Plan Push on Iraq Link

The Iraq War debate is expected to resume as early as next week in the House, where the leadership is lining up measures intended to unify Democrats around an anti-war position and attract some Republican votes.

The Senate also adopted a number of amendments by voice vote. One, by Democrat John Kerry of Massachusetts and Republican Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, is intended to expand business opportunities for veterans and help reservists keep businesses afloat during deployments. The measure would also authorize about $2 million for the Small Business Administration’s Office of Veteran Business Development and create an interagency task force to explore ways to assist veterans’ business ventures.

PC Magazine: Where is Our National Broadband, Senate Asks Link

Two Democratic FCC commissioners on Wednesday called for a national broadband summit to discuss the U.S. high-speed Internet penetration rate, blaming its slow rollout on a lack of cohesive data and a reliance on marketplace conditions rather than government-sponsored initiatives.

Copps and Adelstein appeared before the Senate Small Business Committee to discuss how improved Internet access would help small businesses. It was convened by Committee Chairman John Kerry, D-Mass., who slammed the White House for not following through on its 2004 pledge to have universal broadband by the end of 2007. "You need tax credits, you need grants, you need the universal service fund," Adelstein said. "You need the FCC to promote incentive policies and opportunities to invest." President Bush "has yet to put policies in place that will realize this goal," Kerry said.

Kerry also expressed an interest in calling the two Republican FCC commissioners and Chairman Martin before his panel to discuss the topic. An inquiry to Kerry's press office as to whether they had not been invited or simply could not attend Wednesday's hearing was not answered by press time.

UPI: Senate passes amendment to defense bill Link

WASHINGTON, Sept. 26 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate passed an amendment to the defense bill that expands business opportunities for veterans and protects employment for reservists in theater.

Lawmakers unanimously passed the amendment Tuesday, the Veterans Business Provisions, which is expected to expand business opportunities for veterans and help reservists keep their businesses afloat during deployment.

Sens. John Kerry, D-Mass., and Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, sponsored the amendment to the Defense Department authorization bill.

"America's veterans and reservists sacrifice for their country -- they shouldn't have to sacrifice their jobs and their livelihoods when they come home," said Kerry, in a statement.

"This bipartisan amendment will provide critical resources to business development programs for our veterans and reservists and hold federal agencies accountable. We owe our troops more than a simple thank you. The least we can do is provide the resources they need to keep their businesses afloat while they're deployed and to start a business when they return."

INC.com: More Help for Veteran-Owned Businesses Link

Senate lawmakers on Tuesday approved provisions aimed at helping veterans and reservists keep their businesses afloat, during or after deployment.

"This bipartisan amendment will provide critical resources to business development programs for our veterans and reservists and hold federal agencies accountable," Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.), the chairman of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, said in a statement.

All Headline News: Senate Passes Bill To Aid Deployed Soldiers Keep Their Businesses Back Home Running Link

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Late Tuesday night the Senate unanimously passed an amendment that will expand business opportunities for veterans and aid reservists in keeping their business going while they are deployed. The bill sponsored by Senators John Kerry, Olympia Snowe and others is based on the Military Reservist and Veteran Small Business Reauthorization and Opportunity Act (S. 1784) introduced earlier this year.

Senator John Kerry, (D-Mass) said, "America's veterans and reservists sacrifice for their country -- they shouldn't have to sacrifice their jobs and their livelihoods when they come home."

He goes on to say, "This bipartisan amendment will provide critical resources to business development programs for our veterans and reservists and hold federal agencies accountable. We owe our troops more than a simple thank you. The least we can do is provide the resources they need to keep their businesses afloat while they're deployed and to start a business when they return."

The Hill: Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) on Iraq debate in the Senate

“We have overly politicized, overly polarized debate, which doesn’t do justice to the facts on the ground or give the troops a policy that actually represents those realities and their best interests.”

Boston Globe: Paul's their all Link

CHICAGO - Late on a balmy Friday night in Wicker Park, a gentrifying neighborhood just northwest of the Loop, a small tribe of 20-somethings gathers outside a corner bar. Their leader, a petite, energetic 25-year-old named Meghann Walker, hands out leaflets to people heading inside.

Walker, a waitress and anthropology student who lives in Chicago, cried on Election Night 2004, crushed that Democrat John Kerry had failed to unseat President Bush. Last year, deeply disillusioned with the Iraq war and with politicians of both par ties who had failed to stop it, she began a political odyssey that transformed her into a libertarian Republican.

AP: Sullivan wins praise at Senate hearing Link

US Attorney Michael J. Sullivan answered tough questions and earned praise at a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Suillivan has been nominated by President Bush to be the new head of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. He has been acting director of the agency for more than a year. Sullivan was grilled about gun laws, but also earned praise from Massachusetts' two Democratic senators. Senator Edward M. Kennedy lauded Sullivan's "distinguished career in public service." Senator John F. Kerry said Sullivan is a good law enforcement officer doing a tough job with character. It is unclear when the full Senate will vote on the nomination. Sullivan is a former Republican state legislator and district attorney. (AP)

Associated Press: Senate Considers Bush's ATF Nominee Link

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. Attorney Michael Sullivan fielded some tough questions about gun laws while winning praise Wednesday at a Senate confirmation hearing to become director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Sen. John Kerry, D-Mass., introduced Sullivan at the hearing, praising both his professional abilities and his character.

''It is a job that he's proven more than qualified and capable of performing,'' Kerry said.