Sherrod Brown

For 9 months, the Committee has failed to carry out its duty to consider and act upon the President's nominees.

He is eminently qualified for this position and I welcome him here.

In June 2008, President Bush's National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice signed a memorandum with the P5+1.

The Bush administration laid the foundation for what became the Iran agreement: sanctions relief in return for strict limits on Iran's nuclear program.

I believe it is essential for U.S. sanctions law and policy to continue to evolve to meet any new security challenges presented by Iran.

Senators Sherrod Brown and David Vitter have proposed a scale for capital requirements, with greater focus on the leverage ratio.

Much like all of you are elected and you have a responsibility to the citizens that put you here in Washington, I have that same responsibility.

Not only would I be willing, but I would demand it in my county.

The unemployed are more than just statistics.

I continue to be concerned, as I know you are, that the economic recovery has not taken hold for all Americans, notably large numbers of women and in communities of color.

Wall Street reform did not ruin the economy. Wall Street gambling did.

Last month, the House Appropriations Committee passed a bill that kills the CFPB's independence.

The CFPB has proved over and over that its creation was one of the big success stories of Wall Street reform.

The argument that CFPB would be better led by a commission is clearly designed to cripple the Bureau.

We created the CFPB to fill this void to make sure that never again would consumers be an afterthought in our Nation's financial system.

These hearings are especially important, and I am appreciative that we have them so that we do not forget the cost of the financial crisis.

Congress does our country no favors when it lurches from one self-inflicted crisis to another.

I commend Senator Kirk; I commend Senator Heitkamp, for their bipartisan efforts to ensure that Eximbank is reauthorized with some reforms.

Killing a Bank is like telling an athlete he has to spot a competitor 10 yards in a race.

For all those reasons, we cannot afford to allow the Bank's authorization to expire at the end of the month nor can we do just a few months at a time.

The Bank fills gaps in private export financing to help foreign buyers purchase U.S. goods and services.

That is why reauthorizing Eximbank by June 30th is essential. It should be easy. It should be bipartisan.

I look forward to working with Chairman Shelby in addition to the two Members of this Committee who are here today, Senators Kirk and Heitkamp, to ensure that authority for the Eximbank does not lapse for the first time in its 70-year…

In today's global economy, we should support businesses when they sell their products around the globe.

I thank Senator Cornyn and Senator Leahy for their work on this important legislation and for working with me to clarify the scope of this bill. I hope Senator Cornyn and Senator Leahy continue to work on these issues with the financial…