Chuck Schumer

We need a system that rewards products and firms that create wealth for American families, not one that rewards financial engineering.

Isn't another reason to have this financial product regulator... a way when the next new innovation comes up that there won't be a hole in the regulatory structure?

It is amazing to me that people say we don't need stronger regulation given that that has happened.

It will, as you say, create a level playing field across the board based on the product.

The present regulatory structure has been an abject failure.

I would argue that if we don't include this in our financial regulation bill, there will be a gaping hole.

I thought in this country that we sentence individuals, not crimes.

But I want to say that when we passed the America COMPETES Act, a very bipartisan effort a couple of years ago to increase stem education and more research in our country, we doubled the budget of the National Science Foundation for…

NASA has been starved of funds, and given too much to do with too little.

I think your point is very well taken, but maybe NASA has not done enough to pursue these options, and make it known what is available that is unique.

If we are going to do NASA, it has got to be done right.

The only person that can lead America's space program is the President of the United States.

I think we have to give an answer, and I think the answer is this unique facility that we have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to build.

Today we have to choose. Either we can invest in building upon our hard-earned world technological leadership or we can abandon this commitment.

I want to give you a gift, Polly Trottenberg, that is what he said.

He said we are going to be on the moon by 2020.

The government cannot fund everything that we need to do, but we can inspire and open the door for commercial entrepreneurial entities to become involved.

President Obama has nominated Polly to be Assistant Secretary for Transportation Policy at the Department of Transportation, and he simply could not have made a better choice.

If the President will give that bold strike, then that team right there, I believe, can implement it.

I want to pursue the International Space Station, because Senator Nelson and I, when we were Chairmen and Ranking on the Space Subcommittee, designated the American part of the Space Station as a national laboratory.

NASA is not what it was.

I ask each of you to join with President Obama, me and the NASA team that I hope to lead with your confirmation in partnership with Lori Garver.

Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent my entire statement be read in the record so I might confound your expectation.

It is not, and, it needs to be in order to hold its place, and to get proper funding.

Senator Schumer has indicated his interest in introducing legislation to remove this cap.