Chuck Schumer

America is at a critical juncture in its history. We all know that we face an economic crisis like none we have experienced since the Depression.

This bill, which I have introduced with Senator Sanders, would set a national goal for energy savings from retail electricity and natural gas distributors between 2012 through 2020.

We need to put just as much focus on developing technologies and jobs to implement energy efficiency.

The bill I have introduced with Senator Sanders would set a national goal for energy savings for retail electricity and natural gas distributors between 2012 and 2020.

Until we address the demand side of the energy equation in a meaningful way, we are not going to be able to put our Nation on the right path toward a new energy economy.

I proposed legislation to do that with Senator Shelby, which we are going to try to do in the Appropriations Committee.

I think we have to look at this. I am for it.

More regulation for regulation's sake is not the answer. What we need is smarter regulation.

Thank you. So I see you need the money.

I think we need to move forward.

If the Fed hasn't been worried about systemic risk all these years, then people really should be fired.

The problems also did not arise because of 'outdated laws from the 1930s' or, except in limited circumstances, from 'gaps' in statutory authority in the banking or securities sectors.

To restore trust among investors in our financial system and government, we will need to make significant improvements in our existing regulatory programs.

What we need is an analysis to determine how we can effectively and efficiently promote honesty and transparency in our markets and ensure that criminality is not tolerated.

Millions of Americans will live with reduced retirement incomes and higher taxes for many years as a result of misbehavior in our financial firms, failed oversight by boards of directors, and ineffective government regulation.

If you saw yesterday's newspaper, the administration, correctly, doesn't want to reduce antiterrorism efforts in the Justice Department, but that squeezes new needs, such as financial investigators.

NextGen provides us with an opportunity to maintain that leadership.

If we do not act, we will relinquish that position.

Aviation's impact on the U.S. economy cannot be understated.

Given the fact that we only have an acting DEA, an acting ATF, you know, we do not have the people in place, would you consider a trip to the Mexican border, provided it is safe, to just figure out what is going on and visit it yourself?

So let me ask you, if we gave you more in the area of financial fraud, you could certainly use them.

Senator Leahy, Senator Grassley, and myself have put in legislation to increase the number of agents as well as the number of U.S. Attorneys to look into this.

I would urge some kinds of focused task forces, not just participation in the DEA, because it is a much broader problem than just drugs.

I have found that when the FBI has these task forces and other units, they really get the job done.

I think you will find cooperation on both sides of the aisle to get them, and it is something I will be working for in the new budget.