Weekly Update from Senator John Ensign
April 21 - 27, 2008: Greeting the Nevada Small Business Person of the Year, Requesting Greater Access to Military Voting Celebrating Earth Day, and Bringing Awareness to Breast Cancer

Greeting the Nevada Small Business Person of the Year
For the past eight years, since I was first elected to the United States Senate, Senator Reid and I have hosted a weekly constituent breakfast. This is a great opportunity for the two of us to meet with Nevadans in the United States Capitol as they visit Washington, D.C. This week, we had the pleasure of meeting with Jade Anderson, the Nevada Small Business Person of the Year. Mr. Anderson was awarded this honor by the United States Small Business Administration. This award is given out annually to small business leaders who meet business growth standards and are actively involved in their communities. As a former small business owner, I congratulate Mr. Anderson on this recognizable achievement.

Requesting Greater Access to Military Voting
The ability of our military men and women to cast absentee ballots in elections has faced several problems in recent years. This process has seen little change in the last 80 years, despite numerous Congressional efforts. As it currently stands, the military voting process still depends on a single soldier in the field reading a guide and being informed about how to vote under specific precinct guidelines. I have joined with several Senate colleagues in a bipartisan letter sent to President Bush urging immediate action on improving military absentee voting. The men and women of our armed services, who are charged with protecting our country, should not be faced with barriers in their own country when trying to elect their representatives; they have more than earned an equal right to vote.

Celebrating Earth Day
This week our nation and world joined in celebration of Earth Day. It is important to make sure that the world we enjoy today will still be enjoyed by our children in the future. For this reason, I have been leading efforts on legislation that will increase our energy independence, strengthen our economy, and protect the environment. I recently introduced the Clean Energy Stimulus Act, breaking through partisan gridlock, to encourage the development of renewable energy and expand energy efficiency in buildings, homes, and appliances. This passed the Senate with 88 votes and will help put us on the path toward energy independence with American ingenuity leading the way.

Bringing Awareness to Breast Cancer
I recently signed a letter urging the Senate to include $150 million in the Department of Defense for the peer-reviewed Breast Cancer Research Program. My family and I have been personally touched by breast cancer, as a dear family friend of ours passed away from this disease. This tragic loss inspired our drive to raise awareness of breast cancer, hopefully finding a cause and a cure in the very near future. I have participated in countless Races for the Cure, and this year will be no different as there are few things more inspiring than being surrounded by a sea of pink-shirt-wearing survivors. I look forward to again participating in this year’s Race for the Cure alongside my fellow Nevadans and breast cancer survivors.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, Southern Nevada

Sincerely, John Ensign United States Senator