Tom Harkin

I have been greatly encouraged by what I have seen in Iowa, what you have done with the workforce development teams in Iowa.

I can't help but point with pride to what Iowa has done in green jobs and in renewable energy.

We have built our consumption based upon basically debt or bubble assets, that type of thing, rather than just earnings.

We are manufacturing every component.

I ask that you give States the maximum flexibility when setting the criteria for drawing down these funds.

We are moving these funds in an effective and efficient manner.

It is a great time to borrow money.

When I am working with fifth graders, I want them to see themselves in a future with a job that they want to do that is highly engaging.

I got $16 billion in the recovery bill for school construction, $16 billion.

Part of it was school construction and reconstruction.

I think it means we have to put having people earn a good living at the center of economic policy.

5,323 jobs were either created or saved with ARRA funds.

ARRA has had a positive impact in Iowa even during this economic downturn.

We are using a total of $591.6 million of ARRA funds.

I think we have to do whatever we can to really get things going.

I think it is something you should only do for a year or two.

That is massive redistribution of wealth.

I thank all of you for being here and for just excellent testimony from all of you.

They need to have that door opened for them.

I don't think the PBGC should be a hedge fund is not because the world can't live with hedge funds--that's not it--but because I don't think a government agency can do so, or should try.

Now, most American families are facing serious challenges in retirement, and I look forward to discussing these issues in depth with our nominee today, and also with my colleagues.

Senator Enzi has been a tremendous leader in the Senate on pensions. I look forward to working with him on these issues.

I want to thank Senator Mikulski, the chair of our Retirement and Aging Subcommittee, for her leadership, particularly with respect to PBGC.

Ah. I like what I hear. Thank you very much.

The firms that make these commitments... they need to hold capital, be forced to post margin against those commitments.