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Championing Green Jobs for Connecticut. Chris believes that that creation of "Green Jobs" lays the foundation for Connecticut's long-term economic prosperity. Connecticut has long been at the forefront of fuel cell and electrolysis technologies which is why Chris championed the package of renewable energy tax credits attached to the Emergency Economic Stability Act. These credits, which included a 1 year extension of the Production Tax Credit for wind and 2 years for biomass and an 8 year extension of the Investment Tax Credit for solar and fuel cells, will help Connecticut companies like Precision Combustion in North Haven, Infinity Fuel Cells in Windsor and research programs at both the University of Connecticut and Yale.

Chris Authored The Family And Medical Leave Act. At a time when nearly 50 million Americans have no health care, an estimated 50 million workers have been able to take up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave when they were ill or needed to care for a new child or a sick family member because of Chris' historic Family and Medical Leave Act – the most significant piece of health care legislation since Medicare. Chris also wrote legislation which expanded the Family and Medical Leave Act to provide leave for family members who are caring for a wounded soldier. Chris first introduced the Family Medical Leave Act in 1986. He fought for seven years offering legislation on a number of occasions, and through two presidential vetoes, until it became law in 1993. [HR 1, Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, PL 103-3, 2/5/93; S. 5, Family and Medical Leave Act of 1992, veto override failed, 9/22/92; H.R. 770, Family and Medical Leave Act of 1990, veto override failed, 1/29/90; S.2278, introduced 4/9/86]

Chris Authored The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility And Disclosure Act. Chris re-introduced the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act in February 2009, which after passing the Banking Committee by one vote, passed the Senate by a wide margin of 90-5 and was signed into law by the President. The CARD Act prevents unfair increases in interest rates and changes in terms, prohibits exorbitant and unnecessary fees, requires fairness in application and timing of card payments, protects the rights of financially responsible credit card users, provides enhanced disclosures of card Terms and conditions, strengthens oversight of credit card industry practices, ensures adequate safeguards for young people, and requires enhanced penalties for card companies that don't follow the rules. In 2004, Chris first introduced the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act to stop unfair and abusive credit card practices that harm consumers. Chris re-introduced the bill on March 2, 2005, July 10, 2008 and February 11, 2009. [S. 414, introduced 2/11/09, PL 111- 24, 5/22/09; S 2755, introduced 7/22/04; S. 499, introduced 3/2/05; S. 3253, introduced 7/10/08]

Chris Has Focused Tirelessly On Protecting Homeowners. Since before assuming the Chair of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, Chris has been focused on addressing the housing crisis and has worked tirelessly to help homeowners keep their homes. Chris sent a letter to regulators in December 2006 in regard to predatory lending, and later blasted regulators for their poor response and pressed Bernanke to focus on the housing crisis. The Banking Committee under Chris' leadership held more than 30 hearings on the housing crisis in 2007 and 2008. Chris convened a Homeownership Preservation Summit in April of 2007, getting the participants, who included lenders, servicers, securitizers and consumer groups, to agree to preserve homeownership to the fullest extent possible. Chris cosponsored legislation in 2007 to help mitigate foreclosures and protect mortgages. Chris' leadership forced in 2008 a reversal in Federal Reserve policy to follow the guidelines set in HOEPA. Chris' legislation to protect consumers by combating predatory lending, including the Foreclosure Prevention Act, The Hope For Homeowners Act, and FHA Modernization Act, became law as part of The Housing And Economic Recovery Act Of 2008. Chris stood up to the Bush Administration to protect homeowners in the financial rescue legislation, requiring Treasury to work to modify troubled loans and provide other assistance to homeowners. In 2009, Chris led Congress to pass the "Helping Families Save Their Homes Act" which President Obama signed into law. Chris had previously cosponsored legislation to protect consumers from predatory lending in 2000, 2002, and 2003. [Meeting of the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, 2/7/07; Press release, office of Senator Dodd, 4/18/07; S.AMDT.2832, 9/11/07; American Banker, 1/4/08; National Mortgage News, 7/21/08; HR 3221, Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, PL 110-289, 7/30/08; CQ.com, accessed 4/15/09; Hearings of the Senate Banking Committee, 3/3/09; Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008, P.L. 110-343; S. 896, 4/24/09, PL 111-22, 5/20/09; S. 2415, 4/12/00; S. 2438, 5/1/02; S.1928, 11/21/03]

Fighting to Protect Connecticut Jobs. Chris authored legislation – the U.S. Worker Protection Act – to prevent most federal agencies from outsourcing jobs to overseas contractors. Under Chris' legislation, agencies were prohibited from outsourcing Federal Government work, unless Federal employees previously performed such work outside the United States. Chris also succeeded in requiring the Bush Administration to track and discourage the use of so-called "offset contracts" – agreements where a foreign government purchases defense related systems from U.S. companies, but only if those companies buy goods or services from that country.

Leading the Fight to Keep Connecticut Defense Jobs from Going Overseas. In addition to his work to stop the outsourcing of American jobs, Chris has also worked to reduce the use of so-called "offset contracts," agreements between a foreign government that purchases major weapon systems from U.S. companies, but only if those American corporations establish manufacturing facilities in that country. In 2003, Chris succeeded in passing legislation, as part of the Defense Production Act, which has required the Bush administration to monitor and discourage "offset contracts." In addition, the Chris measure prohibited the implementation of memorandums of understanding and related agreements if the President determined that they are likely to have a significant adverse effect on US industry that outweighs their benefit.

Opposing Giving US Companies Tax Breaks for Moving Factories Overseas. Chris supported legislation forbidding American companies from receiving a tax benefit if they move a factory offshore and then re-importing goods back into the country, and requiring employers to notify employees and the Labor Department when jobs will be moved offshore.

Protecting the Pensions Of Connecticut Workers. Chris went against the majority of his party and joined 12 other Democrats in opposing pension funding legislation that allowed companies to reduce their plan contributions. In addition, Chris opposed allowing employers to deny already accrued pension benefits after a company converts to a new pension plan.

Working to Protect Collective Bargaining Rights. Chris authored the RESPECT Act, which would reverse a series of decisions from the National Labor Relations Board that unfairly expanded the definition of a "supervisor" so that many workers would be denied the right to join a union. Chris has also cosponsored the Employee Free Choice Act, the so-called "Card Check" bill, which will remove obstacles to joining a union, such as the cumbersome election process that can be delayed by employers to intimidate or discourage workers.

Championing Economic Security for Working Families and Individuals. During his tenure in the Senate, Chris has supported common sense initiatives -- including increasing the minimum wage, extending unemployment insurance, and streamlining job training programs -- to ensure that working men and women have the tools to lift themselves up.