Tom Harkin

Well, Madam President, I think we have had a good debate and colloquies on this bill. At noon we are going to be voting, as I understand it, on a cloture motion on whether we are going to have a bill on the floor. That is all we are…

I know we are still on our time; is that correct? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.

My friend from West Virginia made a statement a few minutes ago that resonated with me. He said we are trying to get the market rates because we always had the rates. When I first went to college in 1958, 1959, 1960, and 1961, I borrowed…

That is right. The reason I raise that is, Why were we so special? Why was my generation so special that this country was willing to subsidize my education, but for these young people here we are saying: No, no, you have to pay interest…

We made a commitment at that time to invest in a generation of young Americans so they wouldn't have a huge amount of debt hanging over their heads.

I know Senator Stabenow has an important meeting to get to, and I will yield to her in just second. I just want to respond to my friend from North Carolina as to why I objected since I don't believe in all of these reservations for…

That is really the vote tomorrow. Are we going to keep 3.4 percent or are we going to allow it to double? That is the essence of the vote tomorrow. There are a lot of different ideas floating around here about what to do and how to do…

I take the floor today to follow up on what my good friend and colleague Senator Reed from Rhode Island just spoke about; that is, the looming interest rate hike on student loans that is confronting us in this country. To recap a little…

I wish to announce that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will meet in executive session on Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at 10 a.m. in room 430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to mark-up S. 815, Employment…

I ask unanimous consent that Rachel Murphy, Alexandra Pena, and Lissandra Villa of my staff be granted floor privileges for the duration of today's session. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

on Monday, July 1, 2013, Joseph C. McQuaid was laid to rest, with full military honors, in the Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver, CO. A proud World War II veteran, Joseph ``Big Joe'' McQuaid will rest beside his brother John…

I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Rhode Island. ____________________

The jobless rate was a staggering 19 percent in 1938. Congress passed the Fair Labor Standards Act, President Roosevelt signed it, and employment went up.

Your testimony included the hypothetical case of a single mother working at minimum wage in Des Moines who would purportedly lose public benefits like child care subsidies if she received a raise.

I think it's been well settled in this country for a long time that we do have a minimum wage.

Yes, but the economy went down the toilet. Don't you think that had a bigger effect than the minimum wage?

Inflation has steadily eroded the value of the minimum wage, as you said, Senator, by 30 percent since 1968.

Let's assure a better future for Kizzie Simmons' daughter, who wants a college education; for Pattie Federico, who deserves a chance at the American dream.

I wish to announce that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will meet in open session on Tuesday, June 25, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. in room 430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing entitled ``Building a…

with the passing of Senator Frank Lautenberg this month, the Senate lost one of its most respected and accomplished members--a great progressive driven by a passion for justice and a deep love for this country. Indeed, Frank Lautenberg's…

I wish to announce that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will meet in open session on Wednesday, June 19, 2013, at 10 a.m. in room 430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing entitled ``Reducing…

I wish to announce that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions will meet in open session on Thursday, June 20, 2013, at 2:30 p.m. in room 430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to conduct a hearing entitled ``Developing…

Seventeen percent goes to instruction, even though that is supposed to be their mission.

I cannot, in good conscience, make that assertion generally about these programs.

Remember three numbers about for-profit schools: 12, 25, and 47.