Mr. President, I am pleased to join the distinguished Senator from Louisiana in supporting this small business legislation. There is a growing chorus in Washington of national leaders and advocacy groups, concerned citizens who have all come together to call for financial reform. Across America, folks are demanding a return to accountability, commonsense regulations, and fair business practices. Each of us has been touched by this economic recession. Every Member of this body has heard from countless businesses and families back home who have had to tighten their belts and brace for the worst. We have all seen the raw numbers. We have heard the statistics over and over. Too often, we forget what is behind the numbers--real folks experiencing real pain. This economic crisis is far from abstract. It has touched millions of American lives. It has made people wonder when or even if our economic future will be secure again. It has shaken us to the core. Things are finally starting to look a bit better. Thanks to bold steps taken at the national level, America is back on the road to recovery. Key economic indicators are turning around. But we are not out of the woods yet. The national unemployment rate stands at almost 10 percent. Our economy is growing but more slowly than we had hoped. Some people, especially the elderly and racial and ethnic minorities, remain especially vulnerable. Their pain is real.…
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Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Montford Point Marines
Mr. President, we are in the process of debating the small business bill. I am so grateful to the distinguished Senator from Louisiana who has fought so hard to get this bill through the process of cloture, including an amendment attached…
Mr. President, very briefly, in terms of President Obama's speech last night on the crisis in the gulf, I just want to let it be known for the record that I support our President in that speech and every effort he has made in trying to get…
Mr. President, in early 1933, just after Franklin Roosevelt was sworn in as President, the Great Depression was at its worst. The American economy had been shaken to its core. Financial institutions had closed, people's life savings had…





