I would hope that whatever policies the Congress decides to come up with, I think that certainly access for rural and community institutions is critical.

It is essential that these institutions can offer their customers fixed-rate mortgages at affordable prices.

It strikes me that the secondary market is not only an important financing avenue but also a vital risk mitigation tool for institutions of all sizes.

If this would have been in place a few years ago when the market collapsed, we would have had a firewall in front of the taxpayers.

I also want to say thank you to all the witnesses that are here today.

Anyone else have any thoughts on that?

I regard as unsustainable.

Access to the secondary market is a necessary tool to mitigate that risk.

When the market collapsed, taxpayers became responsible, in effect, for a massive amount of debt.

I just cannot imagine--there is another proposal being put forward in the House that would remove any Government backstop.

It seems to me that Wells Fargo should get the same price for selling a qualified mortgage to the guarantor as First National of Omaha.

I hope today we can begin the discussion here in the Banking Committee about the bipartisan Senate bill.

ICBA is grateful to Senators Warner, Corker, Tester, and Johanns for introducing S.1217, the Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act.

One of the things I looked at when I first looked at this proposed legislation was how does it fare compared to what we have today.

We appreciate that thought has been given to the ramifications for home mortgage finance.

One of the things that American agriculture is facing is that 95 percent of the world's population does not live here.

I rise today to speak about longstanding rules of procedures and traditions of the Senate. I have watched with interest over the past few weeks as members of the majority have continued to threaten to break the Senate rules in order to…

there is a huge debate on the appropriate approach to campaign finance.

When I came here 4 years ago, 4.5 years ago, the SEC was reeling from the Bernie Madoff scandal and the fallout from that; how could that possibly have been missed?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. And let me just say how much I appreciate you calling this hearing today.

the Budget Control Act was passed with significant bipartisan support. It was signed by the President of the United States; it is the law.

I just caution you to tread very, very carefully into this area because there is nothing that is more controversial, more hotly debated.

I voted against Dodd-Frank. I don't share the enthusiasm that the chair does.

very briefly, I thank Senator Pryor for bringing this amendment forward. I very proudly support it and concur that it can be voice voted. Thank you, Mr. President. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there anyone who expresses opposition? The…

So now you have gotten into phone records. You have gotten into who they might be Googling.