Mike Levin

I make a point of order that the motion violates section 303 of the Budget Act because it includes a change in revenue in FY 2011 before a budget resolution for that year has been adopted.

So as a result, not only do I think that that motion to recommit deserves to be defeated on its substance, but I now want to press my point of order that the motion violates section 303 of the Budget Act because it includes a change in…

Republicans have turned their back on the problems. Some of them have taken to saying health care reform makes us a different Nation; quite the opposite. Today, in the tradition of America, we will pass health care reform, and it will make…

Under H.R. 3590, as passed by the Senate, individuals are responsible for obtaining minimum essential health care or pay a small penalty. The Senate bill states that anyone with eligible employer coverage meets this requirement. The…

Today Congressman John Dingell of Michigan becomes the longest serving member in the history of the United States House of Representatives. As we observe this notable milestone in time, however, John Dingell's longevity is really a…

As the Senate works to boost our ailing economy, I want to clarify that funding provided to the National Park Service for trail projects would not be limited to only certain trails. The bill provides $158 million for the operation of the…

If you counted the people who are now exhausting their benefits, or have, and those who are likely, it would reach, the line, from here, this Capitol to Denver. So don't talk about energy policy. We have to face up to that. Don't talk…

I asked the gentleman from Illinois how he would respond to people in certain areas. I don't know how you do that. I asked the gentleman, and I didn't mean to get personal really, but just to raise the issue poignantly. If you're from the…

I want to read, Mr. Weller, the metropolitan areas with unemployment above 6 percent that would be left out under your so-called targeting, Danville, Illinois, these are among many, and Kankakee and Rockford. I just picked those three out…

While I am willing to proceed to the climate security bill so that the Senate can debate and amend it, I am opposed to this bill in its present form. I am hopeful that the Senate will amend this bill and significantly improve it as we move…

I support this bill and, in particular, the provisions that require the Department of Transportation, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, NHTSA, to set new fuel economy standards for vehicles that will reach an…

First, while the Senator from Pennsylvania is on the floor, let me congratulate him for an extraordinary first year in the Senate. He has made a real difference in his first year. We all are grateful he is present here to assist this…

It's interesting to listen to the minority. They don't defend this tax loophole. No one has gotten up and said people who should pay their taxes aren't paying those taxes and so it's okay. That's really what you're saying. You're saying…

I am also very interested in ensuring that advanced batteries and battery systems are fully developed and believe that loan guarantees for projects and facilities to develop lithium ion batteries could provide a significant boost for U.S…

For many of the same reasons I have cited in relation to natural gas markets, I believe--and it is certainly my intention, as one of the amendment's authors--that FERC's authority over RTOs would be unaffected. To my knowledge, no RTO…

Let me just, first, thank the Senator from Vermont for his willingness to work over the next couple of days to see if we can figure out a way to address the issues, which are very important issues, that his amendments incorporate. I…

Let me add my commendation to Senators Webb and McCaskill and the others who fought so hard for this amendment. The heart of this amendment has remained. There have been some changes in it. But the substance of this amendment, the crying…

I don't think working closely with the Commission collaboratively in any way means they are not going to report to us. They will continue to report to the Congress. There is no shift of the reporting function. As a matter of fact, the IG…

I wish to briefly thank and commend the Senator from Delaware for his ongoing leadership in a very critical area, and that is the area of federalism in Iraq. He has made it clear in his amendment, he has made it clear in his remarks that…

I thank my friend, and I don't view this at all as personal. A matter of fact, we had this interim report on July 15. What did it come in and say? It came in and said, on the political side, nothing has happened in Iraq; and on the…

But now it is our belief, those of us who support this amendment, that the earlier we put pressure on the Iraqi leaders to reach a political solution, which everybody agrees is the only hope, the earlier we put that pressure on them, the…

I think the Senate spoke also prior to adopting your amendment. We voted 51 to 48, adopted an amendment which said we will begin to reduce our forces and to transition to the new mission, and that we would begin that transition within 120…

I would hope that on this bill, given the absolute importance of this issue and the expression of opinion of the American people last November about this issue, that we would be allowed to vote up or down and to remove that 60-vote…

I can't think of a more appropriate place to be debating Iraq policy, frankly, than on an authorization bill. Whether I am right or wrong, that is what happened last year. I hope it will again be followed this year.

I hope so. And I hope people will want to speak, will come and speak on the amendment, because hopefully we can get to enough votes tomorrow so that we can actually have a vote on Levin-Reed, that we can get to 60 votes, to achieve…