I think the whole notion that cleaning up the environment harms our economic growth is a myth.

69 percent of them want us to do tougher, tougher rules on air.

The control of air pollution is part and parcel of our national defense.

I think it is important that we understand that the support among the American people for the work you do and your predecessors did and those who will follow you is huge.

Because greenhouse gases fit well within the Clean Air Act's capacious definition of air pollutant, we hold that EPA has the statutory authority to regulate the emissions of such gases.

I hope they will see this as a win-win as they, yes, their consumers have to breathe clean air as well as pay their electric bills.

I don't understand why we can't come together.

It is not our primary job, but one of the happy, I guess outcomes, of an American public and a Congress who have always supported protecting clean air and our health, is that we have created an entire industry of Americans who lead the…

So I would ask you, in addition to the GDP growth, do you not see this as an economic benefit that is often overlooked in our Country?

When President Obama took the oath of office, we were bleeding 800,000 jobs a month.

And that is why Richard Nixon lauded it. And that is why George Bush lauded it.

When somebody stands here in this Committee and attacks the President of the United States for not doing enough on jobs...

Since the Clean Air Act was signed into law by Richard Nixon, our Nation's GDP has increased by 210 percent.

In 2010 alone, 160,000 lives were spared because of the work of the Clean Air Act.

I too was in that bipartisan trip to China, never saw the sun.

I think it is time to step up to the plate.

Well, it is time to help us with this rule and do even more.

All right. So that is what we will do, unless my colleagues would rather do it the way I said before. If not, I will just yield for questions. Either way. It is up to my colleagues.

So then I will yield to him for some questions. I can do that under the rules; is that correct? The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct.

I am happy to propound a unanimous consent request so that at the conclusion of my remarks Senator Brown will speak for, say, 10 minutes and then it would go to Senator Thune; is that all right?

I am not yielding time. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator can yield time but not the floor. The Senator from California.

I appreciate the passion with which my colleague spoke, and I could not disagree more with her when she says we are masquerading as if we are doing something. Were we masquerading when we brought the small business jobs bill to the floor…

I just want to thank my colleague for his remarks. I offer my deepest sympathies to these impacted by that terrible fire. Unfortunately, in this country we are witnessing so many disasters. It is so difficult for the people to deal with…

I have said I would offer a unanimous consent agreement. We are dividing the time between the two of us. It is my decision to yield to Senator Brown because Senator Snowe has spoken for a very long time and I want him to have some time and…

Thank you very much. I was close. I wish to let Senator Snowe know what my plan is at this time. First, I am going to yield some time on another subject--but it will be used on our time--to Senator Whitehouse, who has something very…