Carl Levin

We have done a lot for the big banks, but the lifeblood of our local communities are these small banks, community banks.

I strongly support... programs like the one we have in Michigan to address collateral depreciation issues.

Your bill addresses the problem in a very important way, and I am pleased to cosponsor your bill, which I believe is S. 1822.

I would suggest to you the theory of 'too big to fail' now means that many of our businesses are too small to grow.

We have got to have the courage to attack the most popular programs in American history.

This was not a bailout. This was money that would come back to the Treasury.

We have to overcome that. We gradually are. Our whole strategy is to protect the public, to show them that we are not there to dominate.

A primary objective of our effort in Afghanistan is to strengthen Afghanistan's government and security forces.

If we fail to make sure that contractors like Blackwater play by the rules and live up to their commitments, we will be doing a disservice to our troops by making their already difficult and dangerous job even more so.

Asian carp represents a massive threat, and a number of important actions are required to deal with it.

Despite early success in improving conditions in the Great Lakes Basin, significant environmental challenges remain.

The Great Lakes are vital not only to Michigan but to the Nation.

But they were also very clear that they wanted not just a clearing, they wanted the 'hold' and the 'build,' and they wanted legitimate and responsive governance at the end of the day when it was all over.

I think it's really important to everybody.

I just hope that when you talk to our NATO allies and when we have these discussions that you can report two things, at least.

I've had some conversations where I've suggested we add the word 'transfer.'

I think it was the first time he had ever been asked, yes.

The idea that NATO has not carried out their commitments and they've only fulfilled 10 percent of their commitment as of the time we were there is, frankly, startling, shocking, and unacceptable to me.

This operation is being conducted by combined International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) and Afghan forces totaling around 15,000.

Is there not an advantage in having that list be public?

That is exactly what I am referring to, Senator.

I think you ought to ask them, where is that code of conduct in terms of the misuse of their accounts.

But you can't do that with real estate brokers or escrow agents?

So to make a change in that, Congress would have to make a change.

We have a bill which I have introduced with Senators Grassley and McCaskill, S. 569.