Congress enacts S. 509, Senator Mark Udall's Small Business Lending Enhancement Act.

I think that it is important that we take the time to examine this issue here in Committee, and provide the opportunity for all sides to fully express their views on the subject.

There are at least 140,000 reasons to let credit unions do more small business lending, and there are no sound public policy reasons not to.

The bankers say business lending is not a part of the credit union mission, but credit unions have been doing member business lending since day one.

Increasing the cap will have a profound effect on the hundreds of credit unions that will reach the cap in the next few years.

Last year Senator Udall made many changes to his legislation to give more control to the regulator.

In March, Senator Mark Udall introduced the Small Business Lending Enhancement Act.

It is hard to believe that the Government is telling credit unions they cannot help create jobs in their local communities.

Senator Mark Udall has introduced legislation that would raise the cap to 27.5 percent of total assets.

I rise to speak about the Department of Defense Energy Security Act of 2011 or DODESA, that I am introducing today. This bill takes a number of important steps toward addressing some of our most critical national energy security…

S. 509 is a well-conceived, balanced approach to making more capital available to small businesses.

I would, Madame Chair. Thank you for recognizing me.

today I wish to recognize the dedication and selfless service of Colonel Laura J. Richardson, who has served as the chief of the Army's Senate Liaison Division since October, 2009. As a member of the Secretary of the Army's Office of…

let me say once again, as does my colleague from Oregon, I oppose reauthorization of the existing provisions of the PATRIOT Act that we have been debating on the Senate floor without significant reforms. I also have to say I believe it is…

as we begin to end this important colloquy, I wish to acknowledge the leadership of Senator Wyden on this important matter. I also wish to acknowledge the involvement of the Senator from New Mexico, who is presiding at this moment in time…

I rise to speak about a bill that is born from the forward-thinking ideas of my constituents, a bill that will help spur our Nation's new energy economy and create jobs: the Solar Uniting Neighborhoods Act, or SUN Act. Over the last three…

I rise today in conjunction with my colleague from Oregon to discuss what is before us here on the floor, which is the extension of the PATRIOT Act. I rise as well to express my opposition to the extension of the three most controversial…

I thank the Senator from Oregon for his kind words. I also wish to echo his remarks about the leadership of the chairwoman of the Intelligence Committee and her focus on keeping our country safe and our citizens protected. I also wish to…

I think we have different expectations, different experiences, about how we can make our golden years really meaningful.

I rise today to speak about the role safe nuclear energy can play in moving our country toward a more secure energy future. Given the economic, national security, and environmental threats that we face, we need a comprehensive energy…

I haven't forgiven you yet, Senator Kohl. I want that to be on the record.

I rise today to speak in opposition to the proposed reauthorization of the expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act incorporated in S. 1038. I have to tell you, I find reauthorization especially troubling since we have waited until the last…

I thank the Senator for his question. I look forward to his comments in a few minutes. The Senator from Oregon, in effect, points out that these are just a few of the reform ideas we could debate. But without further debate on any of these…

The Senator from Oregon has put his finger on why it is so important to have a debate on the floor and not rush these provisions to the House because of a deadline that I think we can push back. We can, as you know, extend the PATRIOT Act…

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Casey). Without objection, it is so ordered.