Al Franken

In Minnesota, we have a lot of biomass resources.

Economic development is really the key to every community's success. If there is economic development, there are jobs.

I am not sure that is sufficient.

I would love to have my office work with you on this.

Less than 10 percent of residents in Tribal lands have access to broadband.

I have filed two amendments that I will offer at some time, and I will talk about them now. I am strongly opposed to the detention provisions in the Defense bill before us. I am disappointed that Senator Udall's amendment did not pass…

The power of the purse is the first power granted to Congress under our Constitution.

The judiciary will have no influence over the sword or the purse.

Nobody should have to choose between safety and shelter. Yet 48 percent of homeless women in Minnesota previously had stayed in abusive situations because they did not have safe housing options available to them. Twenty-nine percent of…

The amendment I offered, No. 1197, will help small businesses. Small businesses often serve as subcontractors, or suppliers, to large corporations that have a primary government contract. My amendment would help guarantee that small…

It is. Because the Senator from Maryland spoke to his amendment, I thought that process was over. I apologize. Mr. McCAIN. Not at all. It is no big deal at all. Maybe the Senator from Maine could make her amendments pending.

That seems like a pretty short timeline, since it sounds like very little consultation was done beforehand.

If that's the case, they were not keeping up with their obligations to the tribes.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I take the concerns raised by Indian tribes especially seriously.

I've heard from large and small companies in my State that your guidance relating to the modifications of the 510(k) process for devices is of concern.

FDA believes that 510(k) process should not be eliminated.

I believe this bill is a step toward making the process more efficient.

I've spent many hours talking with patients across Minnesota, and they tell me that they want access to the newest treatments for their conditions.

I introduced a bill earlier today that will get devices to the market faster and more safely.

I really appreciate your working with Dale Wahlstrom in Minnesota, in talking about creating a center for studying regulatory science because that's really what we're talking about here.

I think we'd all agree that patient safety is a priority of Congress and the priority of the FDA.

That's why earlier today, I introduced the Patient Access to Medical Innovation Act with my colleague, Senator Alexander.

Last month, I launched an initiative called Back to Work Minnesota aiming to create jobs in our State by implementing more energy efficiency retrofits.

The president has set a goal of making non-residential buildings 20 percent more energy efficient by 2020.