I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Future of Employment for People with the Most Significant…

I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for up to 20 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I come to the floor frustrated, angry, and disturbed that our Republican colleagues are holding up three crucial bills. And America needs to hear this. They are stopping us from completing our work on our emergency FEMA bill, which…

I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 15, 2011, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Subcommittee on…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs' Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security be authorized to meet during the…

On infrastructure, we are together. We want a clean extension. We fight for these jobs and these businesses. I thank the Chair, and I yield the remainder of my time to the ranking member. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oklahoma.

I will reserve the rest of the time for the Senator to close. So tell me when I have used that 1\1/2\ minutes, and the Senator will have 1 minute left. Today, Mr. President, was a very rough day for us to get to this moment. I thank…

That is correct. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from West Virginia.

That is what I said, 2\1/2\ minutes and 2\1/2\ minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 15, 2011, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Disaster Recovery: Evaluating the…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on September 15, 2011, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 15, 2011, at 2:15 p.m., in room 628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 15, 2011, at 10 a.m., in room 215 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Tax Reform…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 15, 2011, at 9:30 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING…

the majority leader has asked that Senator Rockefeller have 2\1/2\ minutes of the time that remains on our side, which shall be divided, and I will have the 2\1/2\ minutes to speak about the highway amendment, which I would share that, if…

if you can tell me when I have finished with 1\1/2\ minutes, please. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Yes.

We need to give more consideration to our borrowers and give them a sense that we are all working together.

This particular shared appreciation modification program not only would minimize foreclosures, it would increase property values.

Interest rates for 30-year home mortgages are at 4.12 percent--the lowest rate in 60 years.

The Federal Government should not be profiting from borrowers paying higher interest rates than they should have to.

I applaud that effort and I fully recognize there are a lot of details that are going to have to be worked out.

If you have paid your mortgage all along through all these difficult times, and it is at a high interest rate, but you never missed a payment... you should be rewarded with a program like this.

This is such a win-win. Number one, Fannie and Freddie... actually make money on this... because it would stop many people from defaulting right away.

I ask the majority leader, before he leaves, I didn't hear all he said. Is this the fact that we are going to vote again on proceeding to a bill that will allow us to take up this emergency FEMA funding?

Thank you, Chairman Menendez and Ranking Member DeMint, for scheduling this important hearing and for the opportunity to address the Committee.