Videos

(Washington, D.C.) – On the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) spoke about the anniversary of September 11th and jobs for our veterans.

“Eleven years ago on this day, enemies of freedom and equality attacked the United States and murdered thousands of innocent people. From this attack, our nation grew stronger.  United by our flag and our beliefs, America rose to defend the homeland and take the battle to our enemies.

“A new generation of Americans dedicated to service and preservation of freedom were called into action because of 9/11. Today, our overseas operations fighting the War on Terror continues, but for many of these soldiers, their tour of duty is over and they are coming home. They’re coming home to family, friends and loved ones, but also to a stagnant economy with record high unemployment.

“Today, unemployment among post-9/11 veterans is 9.8 percent.  192,000 post-9/11 veterans are unemployed and 443,000 9/11 veterans are not even participating in the labor force. The economic policies of this nation are failing these brave men and women who have fought to protect our freedoms - including economic freedom.

“This week, the Senate will likely take up a bill that will provide $1 billion dollars over 5 years to hire 20,000 veterans.  I am proud to support this measure and hope that we will have the opportunity debate it and other job-creating measures before we return home at the end of this work period…” 

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(Washington, D.C.) – On the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) spoke about jobs, the economy, and the importance of small businesses.

“No state has felt the brunt of this recession like the State of Nevada.  There is not a day that goes by that I do not think about what can be done to create jobs and get our economy moving.  In order to help small businesses thrive again, we must tear down the barriers to growth and opportunity and launch this great nation into its next great chapter."

(Washington, D.C.) – On the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) spoke about the Senate majority’s bill to increase taxes on small businesses (S. 3412), which could cost more than 6,000 jobs in Nevada.

(Washington, D.C.) – On the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) announced introduction of the Veterans Small Business Protection Act (S. 3405).

Background

In December 2006, a law was passed that created additional benefits for surviving spouses who inherit service-disabled veteran-owned businesses. The intent of the law was to ensure that a business owned by a veteran that received contracts based on the service-disabled veteran-owned business status did not suffer because the veteran died. Unfortunately, this only took into account the veteran who returned disabled. No legislation was included that addressed service members who owned businesses that are killed in action.

The Veterans Small Business Protection Act:

  • Authorizes the Department of Veterans Affairs to treat any business left to a spouse or dependent by a member of the Armed Services killed in the line of duty as veteran owned business or a disabled veteran owned business for purposes of benefit eligibility.
  • Ensures that surviving spouses of service members that owned a small business and were killed in action are considered for government contracts.      

The American Legion has endorsed Heller’s Veterans Small Business Protection Act.

PDF copies of the bill and the American Legion’s endorsement letter are below.

On the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) spoke about jobs and the economy. This week Heller filed two amendments to the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act (S. 2237) that would have provided tax relief for Nevadans. Unfortunately, these amendments were blocked without debate.

Today U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) issued the following statement in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the President’s healthcare law.

(Washington, D.C.) – At the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) testified about his bill, the Women's Homeless Veterans Act (S. 3308). This legislation would require that at least 15 percent of funds provided to the Department of Veterans Affairs Grant and Per Diem Program would be allocated to homeless veterans with special needs, including homeless female veterans. It also provides the VA with the authority to reimburse shelters and facilities that provide services to children of homeless veterans.

On the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) spoke about EPA regulatory overreach. Heller joined Senators Barrasso (R-WY), Inhofe (R-OK), and Sessions (R-AL) in filing an amendment to the Farm Bill - as well as stand-alone legislation - that would preserve the current definition of waters of the United States.

On the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) spoke about the Paycheck Fairness Act (S. 3220) and his alternative legislation, the End Pay Discrimination Through Information Act (S. 3256). Heller’s legislation would protect employees who are trying to determine whether or not they are experiencing pay discrimination. 

On the Senate floor today, U.S. Senator Dean Heller (R-NV) announced introduction of the Stopping Ongoing Lender Delays (SOLD) Act (S. 3177).

The Stopping Ongoing Lender Delays Act would:

Require mortgage servicers to respond to a short-sale offer within 30 days, and make a final decision on acceptance within 60 days of receiving purchase offers.

Bring all short-sale decisions in line with the Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA's) April 17th announcement that loan servicers that collect payments for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mae must review and respond to short-sale requests within 60 days.

Awards homeowners a $1,000 monetary award per violation, if a loan servicer fails to make a decision within 60 days.