http://ayotte.senate.gov Important information from Senator Kelly Ayotte. en-us Copyright 2012 Kelly Ayotte Wed, 16 May 2012 07:42:15 EST Las Vegas Review Journal These days, the failure to win OKs for new federal government appointees is often blamed on gridlock between the two parties. But there's no reason to believe that plays any substantial role in the Obama administration's failure to fill several key inspector general vacancies. There are 10 such vacancies, The Washington Post reports, including five at Cabinet-level agencies. Four of the positions have been vacant for more than three years. Some offices, such as the State Department's, have been led by a deputy inspector general for years. This administration's failure to fill the vacancies has exposed 'American taxpayer dollars to waste, fraud and abuse,' laments Rep. Darrell Issa, the California Republican who chairs the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee. Acting inspectors general have filled the vacant slots, but may not always be as aggressive in rooting out problems, according to some observers. 'Permanent IGs are in a better position to be viewed as credible than are acting IGs for a number of reasons,' Jake Wiens, an investigator with the Project on Government Oversight, told the Post. 'One is that permanent IGs are selected for the position on the basis of their qualifications to lead an IG office, whereas a temporary IG may be a good auditor or investigator, but may not be as qualified for a leadership role.' The failure of the White House to bring forth nominees seems curious. There's no reason to believe Republicans would systematically block them - in fact, in a letter last week to President Obama, Republican Sens. Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire and Marco Rubio or Florida asked for information on the delays and a time frame in which nominations can be expected. The day may come when a systematic policy of down-sizing the federal government by leaving positions unfilled could gain support, but there's no reason to believe that's Mr. Obama's goal, nor would these 10 important oversight posts be a sensible place to start. If nothing else, some lawmakers have asked why the president doesn't merely nominate some of the acting inspectors general who have enjoyed successful tenures. Members of Rep. Issa's committee praised Mary Kendall, acting inspector general of the Interior Department, for example. Ms. Kendall investigated the department's role in the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill. Yes, the campaign season nears. But surely Mr. Obama doesn't want to campaign on the slogan 'Too busy to do the job.' http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=news&id=590 Tue, 15 May 2012 15:19:00 EST WASHINGTON, D.C. - At a reception she hosted in her Capitol Hill office this morning, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) welcomed members of New Hampshire's law enforcement community to the nation's capital for 2012 National Police Week, which recognizes the service and sacrifice of the nation's law enforcement officers.  State Troopers and members of the Derry and Portsmouth police departments are taking part in Police Week events, including the annual National Peace Officers Memorial Service, a poignant tribute to the memory of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2011.  Approximately 20,000 law enforcement officers, Members of Congress, and guests were expected to attend the memorial service held on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol. 'New Hampshire's law enforcement officers risk their own safety every day to keep us safe, and it's important that we take time to thank them for their dedicated service.  Police Week is also a time to honor the heroes we have lost in the line of duty and their families, who have made the ultimate sacrifice,' said Senator Ayotte. PHOTO: Senator Ayotte with members of the Portsmouth Police Department.  Left - right: Lt. Russell Russo, Ofc. Duane Jacques, Capt. Corey MacDonald, Senator Ayotte, Ofc. Chris Kiberd, Ofc. Sean Evans, and Ofc. Brian Houde. ### http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=589 Tue, 15 May 2012 15:11:00 EST WASHINGTON, D.C. - Based on new criteria released today, Pease Air National Guard Base is the best location for the Air Force's new KC-46A tanker, said U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) in a letter to Air Force Chief of Staff General Norton Schwartz. Earlier today, the Air Force released metrics that will determine the basing location for the new KC-46A tanker, which will replace the KC-135 tankers that the Guard currently flies out of Pease. 'Based on the metrics the Air Force has selected, we believe Pease Air National Guard Base is the optimal location and the 157th Air Refueling Wing is the ideal unit for the KC-46A tankers that will be assigned to the Air National Guard in 2017,' the Senators wrote.  'The basing criteria places a premium on a base's location relative to operational and training refueling tracks, aircraft-related infrastructure, as well as the presence of a flight simulator and Total Force Enterprise.  In each of these areas, Pease represents a clearly superior base for the KC-46A.' The Senators, both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, received an update last week from the New Hampshire Air National Guard on Pease's unique advantages as a base for the new KC-46A tanker.  In meetings and hearings with Air Force and Pentagon officials, the Senators have repeatedly praised the New Hampshire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing and have pushed for objective and transparent basing criteria to decide where to station the new tankers. SHAHEEN/AYOTTE LETTER TO GENERAL SCHWARTZ: Dear General Schwartz:  We would like to congratulate you on today's release of the KC-46A basing criteria, which includes the metrics that will determine where the KC-46A will be stationed.  Based on the metrics the Air Force has selected, we believe Pease Air National Guard Base's 157th Air Refueling Wing represents the optimal location and unit for the twelve KC-46A tankers that will be assigned to an Air National Guard base in 2017.  The basing criteria places a premium on a base's location relative to operational and training refueling tracks, aircraft-related infrastructure, as well as the presence of a flight simulator and Total Force Enterprise.  In each of these areas, Pease represents a clearly superior base for the KC-46A.    Pease enjoys an ideal location, only a few minutes flight time to the most important refueling tracks for U.S. based aircraft heading to the Middle East, Europe and Africa.  In fact, Pease is within 12 minutes of Coronet routing to Europe and the Middle East.  Pease's proximity to these critical refueling tracks saves time and money.  Pease is also ideally suited to support the OPLAN 8010 mission.  In the area of existing infrastructure to support the KC-46A, Pease also stands out.  Pease has the largest fuel storage capability and largest Air National Guard aircraft parking ramp in the northeast.  In addition, Pease also has one of the longest runways in the northeast and an absence of any environmental issues that would impede the basing and operation of the KC-46A at Pease.  Also, Pease's close proximity to major ground transportation nodes and a deep water port would allow the Air Force to take full advantage of the KC-46A's cargo and aeromedical capabilities.  Pease is also the only Air National Guard base east of the Mississippi River to have a full motion, full visibility simulator.  With relatively minor modifications, this existing tanker simulator facility could easily accommodate a KC-46A simulator.  Adapting an existing simulator facility like the one at Pease to accommodate the KC-46A would be much less expensive for the Air Force and the taxpayers than building a new facility at another Air National Guard base.  Pease also boasts a mature and well-performing Active Duty Association.  While the Air Force may plan to develop associations at all KC-46A bases, it takes a significant amount of time to optimize the performance of an association.  A base with a long-standing and high-performing association offers significant advantages over a base that would be struggling to stand-up an association as they are trying to accept twelve new aircraft.  As evidence of the advantages of a mature and well-performing Active Duty Association, the 157th Air Refueling Wing achieved the highest aircraft utilization rates in the Air National Guard in fiscal year 2011.  We understand that there may be several competitive potential Air National Guard locations for the KC-46A.  However, based on the objective metrics the Air Force has selected, we believe Pease Air National Guard base represents the optimal location for the twelve KC-46A tankers that will be stationed with the Air National Guard in 2017.   We stand ready to work with you and provide whatever support is necessary to help ensure Pease Air National Guard base-the ideal Air National Guard location for the KC-46A-is able to continue to provide the best tanker support in the Air National Guard.  Thank you for your continued service on behalf of our men and women in uniform and our nation. ### http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=588 Mon, 14 May 2012 15:11:00 EST WASHINGTON, DC- U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte met last week with two of New Hampshire's outstanding student volunteers, who recently received national recognition for their service.  Jennifer Wright of Nashua and Sarah-Jean Sargent of Raymond received the 2012 Prudential Spirit of Community Award, and they were honored last week with fellow award recipients from across the country during a special ceremony in the nation's capital. Both students shared their experiences and future community service plans with Senator Ayotte during their visit.  Jennifer Wright, a senior at Nashua High School North, is the co-founder and president of a volunteer organization that raises awareness about domestic abuse and bullying through self-defense seminars, speaking engagements, and literature.  Sarah-Jean Sargent, an eighth grader at Iber Holmes Gove Middle School, was recognized for her volunteer work at Lucky's Legacy, a nonprofit equine rescue facility that provides care and rehabilitation for abused and neglected horses. ### http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=587 Mon, 14 May 2012 11:53:00 EST http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=video&id=585 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:44:00 EST WASHINGTON, D.C. - Continuing her call for Congress to prevent automatic, across-the-board defense sequestration cuts scheduled to take effect in January, U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today questioned the Army and Air Force Vice Chiefs of Staff, as well as the Assistant Commandant of the Marine Corps and the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, about the need to address defense sequestration now rather than waiting until the end of the year.  All four witnesses agreed that a solution to avoid defense sequestration is needed before December. 'I'm worried that there's a general feeling around here that we can kick this can until December,' said Senator Ayotte.  'If we wait until December, what are the disadvantages and consequences of doing that, as opposed to resolving this issue much sooner, particularly for each of our service branches?  I think this timing issue is very important for people around here to understand.' Testifying at today's hearing were Gen. Lloyd Austin III, Army vice chief of staff; Admiral Mark Ferguson III, vice chief of Naval operations; Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr., assistant commandant of the Marine Corps; and Gen. Philip Breedlove, Air Force vice chief of staff.  The following are excerpts of their responses: GENERAL AUSTIN:  'If this does come to pass, it would be devastating....From an Army perspective, again we've not done any planning on this, but the back of the envelope calculations are such that, this would mean a loss of probably another 100,000 troops - 50 percent of those in the Guard and Reserve.  And with those kinds of impacts that would probably drive us to go back and re-look at our planning efforts there.' ADMIRAL FERGUSON: 'If you look at sequestration, the impact on the Navy from the $600 billion defense reduction, would be about $15 billion a year- that's the amount of the entire ship construction account that we would have to figure out how to spread in our budget and reduce.  Waiting until December, and then not having a resolution at that point, would allow a very short cycle for planning, it will not allow us to make efficient or effective choices, it would also cause us to go back and look at the strategy.  Because the force that comes out of sequestration is not the force that can support the current strategy that we're operating under.'  GENERAL DUNFORD:  'We have a tendency to view sequestration as a budget issue, but it's really not a budget issue.  It's a re-ordering of our national priorities - it's what we won't be able to do.  And certainly at the strategic level, I think what the Secretary has said is, we won't be able to implement the strategy as currently written if sequestration goes into effect.  From a Marine Corps perspective, we're at 182,000 right now, we're at the margin of being able to meet the strategy...we believe that 182,000 marines, with that number, we can meet the strategy that Secretary Panetta has articulated.  But just like what General Austin mentioned, there's an automatic 10 percent personnel cut unless personnel is exempted.  There's an automatic 10 percent personnel cut in the Marine Corps, that's another 18,000 right away if we were to be reduced.  If we were to be cut another 18,000 we would not have adequate capabilities and capacities to meet a single major contingency operation.' BREEDLOVE:  'We think that we would definitely not be able to execute the existing strategy if we have to go through sequestration....we desperately need to recapitalize our flying fleet, and if we see sequestration, we will not be able to maintain capacity and do recapitalization of those fleets.'     ### http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=584 Fri, 11 May 2012 11:29:00 EST WASHINGTON, D.C. - In a letter to President Obama on Wednesday, U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) urged the administration to fill 10 vacant federal agency inspector general positions with qualified individuals, highlighting the need for strong oversight and the critical role of inspectors general in rooting out waste and inefficiency within the federal bureaucracy.  In their letter, the Senators referenced the recent inspector general (IG) report that uncovered lavish spending and mismanagement at the General Services Administration. The IG positions require either an agency appointment or a presidential nomination and subsequent Senate confirmation.  Currently, four of the 10 positions have been vacant for more than 1,000 days, including the IG position at the State Department.  The Senators also expressed concerns regarding the lack of permanent IGs at the Defense Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as the lack of a Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction. 'Inspectors general are critical in rooting out government waste, mismanagement, inefficient federal programs, and fraudulent spending by federal employees and contractors,' the Senators wrote.  'Americans deserve to know that their hard-earned tax dollars are being used wisely and efficiently by federal agencies and departments.  As elected officials, we have a responsibility to ensure that all federal agencies have proper oversight through highly qualified, permanent inspectors general.' AYOTTE/RUBIO LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA: Dear President Obama: We write to urge the administration to expeditiously fill ten vacant federal agency inspector general positions with qualified, experienced individuals.  As you know, these positions either require an agency appointment or a presidential nomination and subsequent Senate confirmation.  Currently, four of the ten positions have been vacant for more than 1,000 days, and five of the ten are cabinet level positions.  We are particularly concerned that the State Department inspector general position has been vacant since January 2008 - more than four years. In light of the important role that permanent inspectors general play in ensuring proper stewardship of taxpayer dollars, we are requesting information explaining the reasons for the delay in filling the vacant inspector general positions at the Department of State, Department of Labor, Department of the Interior, National Endowment for the Humanities, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the Department of Defense, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and the position of Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction.  We also request that the administration provide us with estimated target dates for agency appointments or presidential nominations for each of the vacant positions. Inspectors general are critical in rooting out government waste, mismanagement, inefficient federal programs, and fraudulent spending by federal employees and contractors.  A September 2011 Government Accountability Office report found that inspectors general generated more than $43 billion in potential savings through audits and investigations in fiscal year 2009, representing an $18 return per dollar spent on inspectors general.  Most recently, an inspector general report uncovered a troubling pattern of mismanagement and lavish spending within the General Services Administration. With a $15.6 trillion national debt, our nation faces a grave fiscal crisis.  Americans deserve to know that their hard-earned tax dollars are being used wisely and efficiently by federal agencies and departments.  As elected officials, we have a responsibility to ensure that all federal agencies have proper oversight through highly qualified, permanent inspectors general. Thank you for your attention to this matter.     ### http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=582 Thu, 10 May 2012 12:47:00 EST WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) met with leadership of the New Hampshire Air National Guard in Washington today to discuss how to best coordinate their efforts to convince the Air Force to base its newest refueling tanker at the Pease Air National Guard Base. The Senators, both members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, discussed with Guard leaders how they could best emphasize Pease Air National Guard Base's unique advantages as a base for the new KC-46A tanker, which will replace the KC-135 tankers that the Guard currently flies out of Pease.  In meetings with Air Force and Pentagon officials, the Senators have repeatedly praised the New Hampshire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing and requested that the Air Force conduct a transparent and objective process to decide where to base the new tankers. 'Based on the merits, Pease and the 157th are well-positioned to compete for the new refueling tanker,' Ayotte said. 'Senator Shaheen and I have pushed for objective and transparent basing criteria, and today's briefing will help us keep making a strong case for Pease.' 'It is important for all of us to work together in communicating the clear advantages Pease has a cost-effective home for the new tankers,' Shaheen said. 'It was great to meet personally with Senator Ayotte and Guard leaders to discuss our plans, and to thank The New Hampshire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing for the great work it does and will continue to do for our country and our national security.' Last year, the Air Force and Defense Department announced a contract to build the next generation of aerial refueling tankers, the KC-46A, which allow other planes to refuel in mid-air.  Several bases across the country are being considered as potential locations for the new planes. The Air Force plans to release the basing criteria, which is the first step in determining where the new tankers are located, in the next several weeks. The Air Force has said it plans to identify candidate installations this summer and will identify preferred and reasonable alternatives by the end of the 2012.  Final basing decisions for the first round of KC-46A tankers are not expected before December 2013.  In addition to advocating for Pease at numerous hearings, Shaheen and Ayotte also sent a letter to top Air Force officials calling for a comprehensive and open process.  The Senators emphasized the factors that make Pease a leading choice to station the new planes-the base has one of the longest runways, operates with a cost-effective hybrid of Air National Guard and active duty Air Force personnel and is well placed along the operational flight path to Europe, Africa and the Middle East.   -30- http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=580 Tue, 08 May 2012 10:00:00 EST WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today regarding an Iraqi court's ruling to release Ali Mussa Daqduq - a Hezbollah member who was transferred to Iraqi custody when U.S. forces withdrew last December: 'This confirms my fears that transferring Daqduq to Iraqi custody would result in his release. Daqduq is a member of Hezbollah who served as a key liaison with Iran. He trained Iraqi extremists who targeted U.S. troops, and he is suspected of planning the operation in 2007 that resulted in the deaths of five U.S. military personnel.  If Daqduq is released, there is little doubt that he'll resume terrorist activities. This case highlights the need for a designated terrorist detention facility to detain, interrogate, and try foreign terrorists.' In addition to questioning senior Defense Department officials about Daqduq in Senate Armed Services Committee hearings last year, Senator Ayotte joined 19 other Senators in sending a letter to Secretary Panetta on July 21, 2011.  The letter expressed the Senators' concerns that transferring Daqduq to Iraqi custody might result in his release and a return to terrorist activities.    ### http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=579 Mon, 07 May 2012 15:59:00 EST Editorial, Foster's Daily Democrat A news report in the May 2 issue of Foster's Daily Democrat got us to thinking. It was titled 'Ayotte insists upon getting advice, comments from 'ground level.''As political reports go, it wasn't all that unusual - a recently elected public official touching base with her constituents.What is unusual, however, is how fast out of the gate Sen. Kelly Ayotte has been to speak up on behalf of Granite Staters and engage the issues important to them.Not only has she been visible here in the Granite States (like the roundtable discussion on May 2), but she has become a go-to senator for national media (even before her name was floated as a vice presidential candidate). As we have noted before, tradition - either by design or happenstance - dictates that those new to Congress be seen and not heard. We won't spend time or space pointing out those who have followed the tradition. Suffice it to say, the only outstanding exception we could find in recent memory was Judd Gregg, Ayotte's predecessor. And that was probably because, while new to a particular office like the U.S. Senate, he had been in public life for so long, he was never considered a newbie.As for Ayotte, she co-sponsored the Regulations from the Executive In Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act' to fight government waste, mere months after being sworn into office. This was follow quickly by 'No Contracting With The Enemy' legislation. A week later she called on the U.S. Department of Energy to schedule an additional hearing on the Northern Pass project here in New Hampshire.From there came lobbying on behalf for federal funds to assist in the replacement of the Memorial Bridge between Portsmouth and Kittery.Clearly, Ayotte was off and running. And equally clear, the senator has been far from a one-note ideologue on the issues important to the broad spectrum of her constituency.Ayotte, a Republican, has worked across the aisle with the likes of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., in opposing another base closure round which threatens the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, lobbying for more funding for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and to cut wasteful military spending (re: the president's 2013 budget request includes $400.9 million for the Medium Extended Air Defense System (MEADS) program, despite current law, which states that fiscal year 2012 funding represents the final funding for the program .)This is not to say, Foster's Sunday Citizen expects readers to unanimously support Ayotte's efforts in the Senate. That would be an unrealistic view of modern-day politics. It is our hope, however, that public servants like Sen. Ayotte will engender a new respect for the work Congress does on our behalf. Additionally, that overtime her 'lead by example' approach will restore a level of cooperation in Washington that has for too long been missing. http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=news&id=578 Sun, 06 May 2012 13:00:00 EST WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today released the following statement regarding Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng.  On Monday, Senator Ayotte and Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC) plan to introduce a Senate resolution expressing support for Chen and calling on the Chinese government to end the persecution of human rights activists and their families. 'Chen Guangcheng has now expressed a desire to leave China with his family.  The U.S. should offer Chen and his family political asylum in America. 'Chen has bravely stood up to the Chinese government and protested its abhorrent human rights practices.  The U.S. should never apologize for promoting human rights and protecting courageous human rights activists like Chen.'  ### http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=576 Thu, 03 May 2012 09:01:00 EST By Aaron Sanborn, Portsmouth Herald STRATHAM - U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte, R-N.H., painted a bleak economic outlook during a town hall meeting on 'America's Fiscal Crisis' in front of about 100 people at the Cooperative Middle School on Tuesday evening. Ayotte used a PowerPoint presentation with numerous numbers about the county's debt and spending to wow her audience and also criticized some of her fellow senators for failing to pass a budget. Ayotte said the national debt for 2012 is $1.3 trillion and more than $15 trillion overall, and one of the concerning factors about those figures is much of that debt is owed to other countries. For example, the country currently owes about $1 trillion to China, she said. 'To me, that gives too much leverage to other countries if we rely on them for our debt,' she said. Federal government spending is equivalent to about 24 percent of the country's gross domestic product, but the government only brings in revenue equivalent to 14 percent of GDP and the spending gap continues to grow, according to Ayotte. As the debt grows, it has been 1,098 days since the Senate has passed a budget, and in that time $4.5 trillion has been added to the debt, Ayotte said. 'I've been so frustrated by this fact,' she said. Ayotte, who serves on the Senate Budget Committee, said she has co-sponsored two bills in hopes of getting a handle on the nation's debt; one would prevent the Senate from doing any other business until a budget gets passed, and the other bill is called 'No Budget, No Pay.' 'We don't get paid if there's no budget,' Ayotte said as the crowd applauded. 'I feel very strongly about that.' Ayotte said she would support an amendment to the Constitution that would require the federal government to balance its budget. The first-term senator also stressed other issues the Senate has neglected to address, including Medicare and Social Security, programs that could go bankrupt in 2024 and 2033, respectively, she said. 'We need to do something. These are programs people rely on, and they need to be preserved, and the only way to preserve them is to make changes,' she said. Ayotte also expressed concerns about potential cuts to the military and having the highest corporate tax rate in the world. 'I can't tell you how many corporations that have told me they have billions of dollars overseas because of our tax structure,' she said. Residents who attended Ayotte's meeting had various concerns besides the economy. Small-business owner Paula Wood asked Ayotte what could be done to make health insurance more affordable for small-business owners. Ayotte said she would like to see an open insurance market across state lines, which would mean competition among insurance companies and lead to better prices. She said small businesses should also be allowed to pool together and shop for insurance. Dean Merrill asked Ayotte whether the Senate was reviewing the No Child Left Behind law. Ayotte said the issue hasn't reached the Senate floor, and the economy has put it on the back-burner. However, the senator acknowledged it's an issue that needs to be reviewed based on the feedback she has received from educators. 'It's my belief that No Child Left Behind has to be substantially modified,' she said. Ayotte has been making appearances across the state this week. For the past two days, she has been in Portsmouth, where she introduced presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney at an event on Monday.   http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=news&id=574 Wed, 02 May 2012 12:56:00 EST By Laurenne Ramsdell, Foster's Daily Democrat PORTSMOUTH - U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte met with business professionals Tuesday afternoon to solicit feedback on how decisions made by the federal government are having a trickle-down effect.Ayotte assured the nearly dozen individuals who attended the roundtable discussion at Global Relief Technologies that their comments and concerns are instrumental in her efforts to advance things in the nation's capitol. 'I want to be able to understand from the ground level how its impacting you,' said Ayotte.The federal statute known as Dodd-Frank, which was signed into law by Obama in 2010 and is intended to promote financial stability by regulating Wall Street and consumer protection, was just one of the topics discussed during Ayotte's visit. The senator called the statute 'flawed,' noting that it creates regulations that burden smaller banks who she said were not one of the driving factors in the recession period that has lead to today's dismal economy. Ayotte said Dodd-Frank has allowed larger banks to 'swallow up' local, community banks because they can't afford to comply with regulations.Ayotte is hoping the legislation will revisit Dodd-Frank during her time in office so she may have the opportunity to push for substantially modifying the statute.'We're on an unsustainable path fiscally,' she said.Ayotte recently spoke about the restrictive regulations placed on small businesses with presidential hopeful Mitt Romney, who she is a strong supporter of. She told attendees she feels a high corporate tax rate of 25 percent is not going to allow for businesses to be successful.'I think this is an opportunity for us to do real, fundamental tax reform,' said the senator. 'There's a lot we could do that would make our tax code more productive.'Some of the business professionals who attended the roundtable session wanted to know how Ayotte has been teaming up with U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen.Ayotte noted she and Shaheen both serve on the Senate's small business committee and have supported legislation to address the issues such companies are facing. Most recently, Ayotte said she and Shaheen have done all they could to support job-related bills to exempt small businesses from some regulatory rules when first coming into creation. Ayotte explained allowing these businesses to be exempt from some restrictive rules will allow them to grow more easily and ultimately create more jobs in the Granite State.'We need to make sure that we're solving the problems that people in this country want us to solve,' said Ayotte.One problem Jay Horn, president of CPManagement, Inc., addressed is how water and sewer rates spike severely as a result of mandates proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency on cities and towns throughout the state.Horn stressed in an already tough market, rate increases make it all the more difficult for a property manager to be competitive.Ayotte said she was glad Horn brought up the fact that ultimately, it is the rate payers who will foot the majority of the bill for the waste water treatment system upgrades the EPA is requiring, as so much focus on this matter has been on how it will affect municipalities as a whole.Ayotte called the EPA's originally proposed mandates for costly waste water treatment plant upgrades 'unrealistic,' noting she is actively engaged in trying to find a more appropriate solution for cities, towns and their taxpayers.Ayotte followed up her nearly two-hour long business roundtable Tuesday afternoon with a town hall-style meeting in Stratham that evening. http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=news&id=572 Wed, 02 May 2012 12:38:00 EST By Charles McMahon, Portsmouth Herald PORTSMOUTH - A day after saying she had little interest in being the running mate for presumptive Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney, U.S. Sen. Kelly Ayotte got back to work Tuesday, meeting with local business leaders to talk about challenges in the current business climate. Ayotte, R-N.H., was in Portsmouth for the second day in a row to attend a roundtable with Seacoast business leaders at Global Relief Technologies on Pease International Tradeport. Topics discussed during the roughly 90-minute meeting included health care, regulation reform, budget accountability and tax reform. Guy Esposito, chairman of the department of surgery at Wentworth-Douglass Hospital in Dover, told Ayotte his feelings on the state of the health care industry. Esposito said the so-called 'Obamacare' plan is 'doomed' to fail because it adds 130,000 state residents to a health care system that is and will continue to be underfunded. 'This is going to be a real problem for us and will make rationing necessary,' he said. 'I fear for where we're heading if this thing is not changed.' Esposito said the 'elephant in the room' is that society has to define what is good care and what is acceptable care. In response, Ayotte said she believes that if Obamacare is shot down by the Supreme Court, it will spur discussion about what people want out of the country's health care system. 'It's very important that it's an open process, full of debate,' Ayotte said. 'The people of this country need to weigh in.' James Horne, owner of CPManagement Inc., spoke about what he said was over-regulation hurting the real estate business. Horne said increased regulations on wastewater treatment from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency are causing the water and sewer line items in his budget to 'explode.' Horne compared the increased costs for water and sewer to another form of a real estate tax. Ayotte said she has been trying to work with the state's legislative delegation to ease the regulation issues with the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to taking questions from business leaders, Ayotte also addressed what she said is her increasing frustration with Washington. 'I hope I haven't drank the water yet,' she joked. 'I don't plan on it.' Ayotte said she wakes up every day with a sense of purpose and hopes to address the country's problems to avoid another major fiscal crisis. She said there is also a strong bipartisan effort among New Hampshire lawmakers to address issues linked to the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and Pease Air National Guard Base. 'We're always looking for areas where we can work together on behalf of people of New Hampshire,' Ayotte said. 'Despite our philosophical differences, the people of New Hampshire will benefit when common ground is found.' Ayotte told those in attendance to keep an eye on Congress' end-of-the-year 'lame-duck session' that she said will include some moves on tax reform and government spending http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=news&id=571 Wed, 02 May 2012 12:33:00 EST MANCHESTER, NH -- U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement regarding the Strategic Partnership Agreement between the United States and Afghanistan: 'While many challenges remain, this strategic partnership agreement signals to friend and foe alike that the U.S. will remain a key security partner of the Afghan people for years to come. A stable and secure Afghanistan is vital to our national security interests. This agreement will help ensure Afghanistan never again becomes a terrorist safe haven and launching pad for attacks against the United States.' ### http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=570 Tue, 01 May 2012 22:00:00 EST Op-ed, By Senator Kelly Ayotte, Foster's Daily Democrat Today marks the third year since the Democratic-controlled Senate last passed a budget for our country. With four straight years of $1 trillion-plus deficits and $15.6 trillion in debt, that's unacceptable.I ran for the Senate to get America's fiscal house in order. That's why I was so excited to be named to the Budget Committee. And to force the Senate to do its job, I joined with a Democratic senator to introduce legislation that would prevent the chamber from doing anything else until a budget is passed. I'm also backing the 'No Budget, No Pay Act' - a bill that would dock pay for members of Congress when a spending plan isn't passed before the start of the fiscal year.But the Senate Majority Leader refuses to debate a budget on the floor - and Democratic leaders have even appealed, unsuccessfully, to the Senate parliamentarian to prevent the House-passed Republican spending blueprint from receiving a vote. Instead of doing the hard work of crafting a long-term budget, Senate Democrats have falsely claimed that last summer's bill to raise the debt ceiling - which I voted against - includes a budget resolution. That's a tough argument to make, seeing as the debt limit legislation was silent on autopilot spending, including programs like Social Security and Medicare, which account for 60 percent of spending.In the House, Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) at least had the courage to put forward a fiscally sustainable budget that also attempts to save Medicare - which, unless action is taken, is headed for insolvency in just 12 years. Whether you like the Ryan plan or not, House Republicans recently debated it and brought it to the floor for a vote, where it passed 228 to 191.House Republican leaders also allowed a vote on President Obama's proposed budget for next year. It was unanimously rejected in a 0 to 414 vote. Not even one Democrat voted for the Obama plan. That's a reflection of just how inadequate his spending proposal is, given the serious fiscal crisis we face. The president sent Congress a recycled budget that represents the worst of both worlds. It contains one of the largest tax increases in history, and it calls for more spending and more stimulus paid for with more borrowing from China. With the debt rapidly rising at a rate of $132 billion a month, the government is on a collision course to hit the debt limit again this fall. But you wouldn't know it from looking at the president's $3.6 trillion budget, which uses discredited gimmicks - such as counting already planned war savings - to falsely claim reductions. Under the administration's request, net interest payments alone will triple over the next decade - from $237 billion in 2013 to $743 billion in 2022. And the debt will reach an eye-popping $25 trillion in ten years, an increase of $10 trillion from today. While President Obama has savaged the Ryan plan, the president's budget is silent on the main driver of our debt crisis: automatic spending, including for entitlement programs. To be clear, his proposal doesn't include a plan to save Social Security or Medicare.Left unaddressed, spending on entitlements will eventually grow to consume every bit of revenue we have. Without taking steps to strengthen these critical programs, they won't be there for future beneficiaries. Just this past week, trustees for Medicare and Social Security said that trust funds for these programs are headed for insolvency as early as 2024 and 2033, respectively. In fact, Social Security's Chief Actuary recently testified that individuals currently receiving benefits, or those near retirement, will experience a 23 percent reduction in benefits if nothing is done. And astonishingly, the administration recently violated - for the fourth straight year - a law that requires the president to submit a plan to strengthen Medicare. The time has come for politicians to stop kicking the can down the road when it comes to making the difficult decisions needed to reduce spending and strengthen entitlement programs. That starts with putting together a serious, realistic budget that fundamentally changes our country's ruinous spending trajectory.It took members of both parties to get us into this mess - and it will take courage from both sides of the aisle to get us out of it. As a member of the Budget Committee, I will continue to work with members of both parties to face our fiscal crisis head on. Our country's future depends on it.U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte, of Nashua, is a member of the Senate Budget Committee. http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=news&id=575 Sun, 29 Apr 2012 14:30:00 EST WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) today applauded Senate passage of bipartisan legislation she co-sponsored to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act -- the landmark law aimed at preventing domestic violence and helping victims. The act encourages collaboration among law enforcement, judicial personnel, and public and private service providers to victims of domestic and sexual violence.  'As a longtime prosecutor, I've seen the devastating effects of domestic and sexual violence. These horrible crimes terrorize victims and tear families apart,' said Senator Ayotte. She continued: 'Having prosecuted cases that involve both female and male perpetrators, I've seen first-hand that domestic violence crosses all demographic groups. By identifying patterns, boosting enforcement and coordinating prevention efforts, we can stop these heinous crimes. The Violence Against Women Act includes valuable prevention programs that are primarily implemented at the state and local level, and I'm pleased that the Senate has approved reauthorizing these important initiatives.' The Violence Against Women Act was first enacted in 1994 and has been renewed in 2000 and 2005. With a focus on working closely with local government programs, the law helps support enforcement efforts as well as educational and social programs to prevent crime. During her time as New Hampshire's Attorney General, Ayotte chaired the Governor's Commission on Domestic and Sexual Violence.   ### http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=568 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:00:00 EST http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=video&id=567 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:32:00 EST http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=video&id=566 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:26:00 EST WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) is leading a group of freshman Republican Senators in calling on President Obama to fulfill his commitment to modernize the U.S. nuclear complex and strategic delivery systems.  In a letter sent today to the president, the senators note that the administration's failure to commit to nuclear modernization, combined with the reductions mandated by New START, poses additional risk to U.S. and global security.  In addition to Senator Ayotte, the letter was signed by Senators Roy Blunt (R-MO), John Boozman (R-AR), Dan Coats (R-IN), John Hoeven (R-ND), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Mike Lee (R-UT), Jerry Moran (R-KS), Rand Paul (R-KY), Rob Portman (R-OH), Marco Rubio (R-FL), and Pat Toomey (R-PA). 'Those of us who came to the Senate after the New START was ratified, and who were already skeptical of the treaty's merits, will watch closely to see how these commitments are carried out,' the senators wrote.  'A failure to honor past nuclear modernization commitments will impact our willingness to support New START implementation and any future treaties related to our nuclear weapons complex.' They continued: 'While our nation's fiscal crisis demands that we make difficult budget decisions, failing to address our nation's nuclear modernization requirements will add a needless national security crisis to our nation's fiscal crisis. Reductions to nuclear force levels mandated by New START cannot be made without unacceptable risk unless the arsenal and the weapons complex are modernized.' In order to persuade the Senate to ratify the New START Treaty, the administration committed to modernizing the United States nuclear complex and strategic delivery systems.  The fiscal year (FY) 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) required that the administration submit a 10-year modernization plan, and in November 2010, the administration pledged to provide sufficient funding for nuclear modernization.  However, President Obama's FY 2013 budget proposal fails to honor that commitment and does not adequately address the nation's nuclear modernization needs.    FRESHMAN REPUBLICAN SENATORS LETTER TO PRESIDENT OBAMA: Dear Mr. President: We are writing to request that the administration honor its past commitment to modernize the United States nuclear weapons complex.  Your budget proposal currently underfunds nuclear modernization, endangering our nation's nuclear deterrent and the security of all Americans.  A reliable and modern nuclear deterrent is central to American national security.  A credible nuclear arsenal deters potential enemies from launching a nuclear attack against our country or our allies.  A strong and dependable U.S. nuclear deterrent also helps prevent nuclear proliferation by assuring friendly nations that a nuclear program is unnecessary.  When the U.S. fails to maintain a reliable and modern nuclear deterrent we undermine these objectives which are central to the security of our country.  The Senate's ratification of the New START Treaty was contingent on the administration's commitment to modernize the United States nuclear complex and strategic delivery systems.  Section 1251 of the fiscal year (FY) 2010 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) required that the administration submit a 10-year modernization plan.  In response to this statutory requirement, in November 2010, the administration pledged to provide sufficient funding over the next five years relative to the initial plan provided to Congress in May 2010.  Unfortunately, your budget proposal fails to honor these commitments and does not adequately address our nation's growing nuclear modernization needs.  One consequence of this failure to provide adequate funds for nuclear modernization is the delay in the start of construction for the Chemistry and Metallurgy Research Replacement (CMRR) facility at Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico.  This facility, which supports our nuclear stockpile and warhead life extensions, is critical to the credibility of our nation's nuclear stockpile which has deterred our enemies and kept the peace for decades.  The current facility is 50 years old and was originally scheduled to be replaced by 2021 according to the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, which also noted that replacement of this facility is one of the 'key investments...required to sustain a safe, secure, and effective nuclear arsenal.'  During a March 27, 2012, Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, the Commander of Strategic Command, General Robert Kehler, testified that this CMRR facility was critical to our country's nuclear modernization and expressed concern that the construction of the CMRR facility, under your budget proposal, would be delayed by five to seven years.   The Senate Resolution of Advice and Consent to Ratification required the administration to provide a justification when nuclear modernization funding fails to match prior commitments.  This requirement was triggered in December 23, 2011, when you signed the FY 2012 Omnibus Bill that did not fully fund the 1251 plan.  This plan was due in February, and as of the date of this letter, the administration has not provided this report to Congress.  For those who voted in favor of New START, the commitment to nuclear modernization was deemed essential.  Those of us who came to the Senate after the New START was ratified, and who were already skeptical of the treaty's merits, will watch closely to see how these commitments are carried out.  A failure to honor past nuclear modernization commitments will impact our willingness to support New START implementation and any future treaties related to our nuclear weapons complex. While our nation's fiscal crisis demands that we make difficult budget decisions, failing to address our nation's nuclear modernization requirements will add a needless national security crisis to our nation's fiscal crisis.  Reductions to nuclear force levels mandated by New START cannot be made without unacceptable risk unless the arsenal and the weapons complex are modernized.  We welcome the opportunity to work with your administration to ensure the United States maintains the safe and reliable nuclear deterrent that has protected our nation for decades.  ### http://ayotte.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=564 Thu, 26 Apr 2012 15:32:00 EST