Al Franken

Here is a very, very, very profitable industry and yet this $45 million program is being footed by the taxpayers.

I think that maybe we should consider not including those veterans on the GI bill in the 10 but, rather, in the 90.

Your suit against them was for deceptive marketing practices, and I think that highlights a huge problem for the for-profit sector.

I think it's needed research to make sure that this, the fracking, is done in an environmentally friendly way.

Just yesterday Senator Sanders, myself and others introduced legislation that requires the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to invoke emergency powers to curb speculation.

In these difficult budgetary times it's important to be extra careful with taxpayer's funds.

I think that it's something. It just seems to me that these industries, this industry, that's going to benefit from the study of how to do fracking in a way that makes the fracking possible to do.

It seems to me that our tax dollars are at risk if we do not do something.

So, we want to be competitive in these technologies, which are clearly going to be an enormous part of our economy, and of the world economy, and the world energy economy, right?

It also includes what Mr. Allison referred to as investment so that we do not have the valley of death for all these things that are discovered at universities.

I think that is the best use of these hearings. I thank you, Mr. Secretary, for the tremendous job you are doing.

We should not ever put tax dollars at risk.

It is kind of ignoring that, to me, seems almost willful in not understanding where the world is going.

My feeling is, like, all off the above does not mean all of all of the above.

You know, for street lights that should be on in certain neighborhoods because for safety. It can reduce crime.

I think it is really important that we keep pace and do not fall behind China, and India, and Europe.

I think it is absolutely crucial for all kinds of reasons that we invest in clean and renewable energy for obvious reasons, for economic reasons, for climate reasons.

There is an actual cost to these taxpayer. Taxpayer money is at risk because of global climate change.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just got from my staff a statistic on Head Start for our conversation earlier.

We are failing our young people if we are certifying them.

50 percent of eligible preschool--eligible--that's low income--50 percent, but it reaches only 4 percent of eligible babies and toddlers, 4 percent.

How can that happen in America? We keep kicking the can down the road.

Proposals such as Senator Franken's Helping Homeowners Refinance Act of 2012 will help make it easier for homeowners to refinance.

I introduced the Helping Homeowners Refinance Act last month to expand access for eligible homeowners to refinance their mortgages.

The lending practices of Countrywide Bank were unlawful and unconscionable.