Carl Levin

It's better that we not sugar-coat it, however. It's better that we let them know, let the country know.

Affordability is no longer embraced as a core pillar.

We created a board, a Configuration Board it's called, to make sure that if there is a proposed change in a mission or in a requirement, it goes to the board for approval.

That is, as Senator LeMieux says, a painful bit of news that the taxpayers are not going to be particularly happy to hear.

I am proud to present Mark Allan Goldsmith, a nominee who will serve our judiciary with integrity.

The delta, the improvement in security, may not be worth the cost.

Will your experience in going and looking at those high-risk facilities give us some useful information, practical information to help us in the reauthorization issues?

How long do you expect it will take to approve the plans? And how long will it take to inspect the facilities?

There are many specific situations where it may not be worth the cost.

There are, as I understand it, a number of current standards which are inconsistent with the House bill.

Well, that is my personal view, too, but I did not see it in your formulation.

Thank you for inviting me to speak to you this morning about the important issue of ensuring that small businesses have access to the credit they need.

If we are going to create jobs, we need to let those small businesses grow.

When the Senate considers authorization of President Obama's Small Business Lending Fund, I hope we can take some of these funds and direct them toward programs, like the one we have in Michigan that would address these collateral…

If we do not act, and quickly, to help restore employment, the 'green shoots' for which we have so much hope will not blossom.

You have touched on a very, very significant problem in our country...

What we need to do is find ways to support the collateral of the borrower as well as to infuse more capital into the banks.

Michigan started a successful program in 2009 that targets businesses that may be good credit risks, but have collateral or cash flow shortfalls.

I think it is absolutely critical that we deal with both of those issues if we are actually going to begin to see lending occurring, as we all want to see it.

I think it can be used for that purpose as well.

We have a small business loan program. It is a loan guarantee program. It is very valuable.

We have got a 15-percent unemployment rate, and there is a connection between those two figures.

Unemployment in my State is almost 15 percent, and it is unacceptably high in most States.

The real lifeblood of many local economies--local banks--don't have it nearly so good.

The percentage of the reduction in the number of loans going to small businesses is dramatic.