Mr. President, I thank the bipartisan cosponsors of this amendment, including Senator Snowe, Senator Scott Brown, and Members on both sides--my colleague, Senator Klobuchar, will be speaking in a moment--Senator Begich, Senator Boxer, as I…

I ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading of the amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. (The text of the amendment is printed in today's Record under ``Text of Amendments.'')

Mr. President, I call up amendment No. 3962, the Merkley-Klobuchar amendment. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Oregon (Mr. Merkley), for himself, Ms. Klobuchar…

I ask unanimous consent Senator Kerry, Senator Franken, and Senator Levin be added as cosponsors. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, in honor of National Nurses Week, I wish to recognize the more than 3 million nurses who work hard day-in and day-out to give patients the care they deserve. Because my wife Mary is a nurse, I have seen firsthand what an…

Mr. President, he will elaborate on these provisions, but I want to put up my third chart because at the hearings my colleague had focused attention on a real challenge. Through those hearings some have observed that Goldman Sachs has…

Mr. President, I am honored to rise to address the Volcker amendment, which I am pleased to be able to cosponsor with my colleague and friend who is now presiding over the Senate. I thank Senator Levin for the outstanding job he has done…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. We are in morning business. ____________________

My colleague is absolutely right. Because predatory mortgage practices were at the heart of this crisis that led to securities that blew up the economy and led to the loss of millions of jobs around our Nation, with an unemployment rate in…

Mr. President, I applaud my colleague from California who has been an extraordinary champion of consumers throughout her career. She understands that the basis of a successful nation is successful families. That depends on them having a…

My friend and colleague is absolutely correct; that, indeed, my colleagues across the aisle, the Republicans, voted three times to say they did not want to proceed to the bill, where their ideas would bear public scrutiny. Instead, they…

Well, my colleague is absolutely correct. The failure of financial rules has become so obvious and had such devastating impact for our families--as my colleague put it, $17 trillion worth of damage. That means families lost their…

Mr. President, on April 16, 2010, Senator Merkley and I objected to any unanimous consent agreement in connection with the nominations of Sharon E. Burke, to be the Director of Operational Energy Plans and Programs at the Department of…

I will vote against the Motion to Recommit on the Home Star Energy Retrofit Act because it undermines the underlying legislation. The Home Star legislation will help homeowners, the environment, and the construction industry. This Motion…

I appreciate the gentleman's courtesy, as I appreciate his leadership. This bill is perfectly timed to help American families increase the efficiency of their homes, saving money on their energy bills, and create jobs for those in the…

I am proud of Portland, Oregon's--my hometown--leadership as America's Sustainability Capital. And thanks to the Port of Portland, we just acquired another symbol of that sustainability. The Port of Portland is one of five major…

Mr. President, in Oregon, we just honored the return of 2,700 members of the Oregon National Guard's 41st Brigade Combat Team. Although the 41st's service in Iraq was Oregon's biggest single contribution to a war effort since World War II…

Mr. President, along with Senator Grassley, I am introducing as an amendment to the financial reform bill, S. 3217, our bipartisan resolution to amend Senate rules to eliminate secret holds. The legislation now before the Senate is…