Transportation is the circulatory system of our economy.

We need to take charge of our economic health, our economic future which means breaking our addiction to foreign oil.

APTA believes that the full family of services ought to be available, including bus rapid transit.

By meeting our transportation energy needs from domestic fuels we reduce economic and security risks.

The Promoting Electric Vehicle Act of 2011 represents a critical step in ending the very real economic and national security threats posed by our dependence on imported oil.

I rise to speak to S. 940. Tomorrow evening, we are going to have a vote on whether to proceed to debate this bill, which closes oil and gas tax loopholes, thereby raising a significant amount of additional revenue for important projects…

I ask unanimous consent that the time for debate on the motions to proceed to Calendar No. 42, S. 904, and Calendar No. 43, S. 953 be equally divided in the usual form. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I was very struck recently by hearing the statistic that China is investing 10 percent of their GDP in infrastructure, Europe, 5 percent and America 2 percent.

Do we want a country where families participate in the wealth of this Nation, where they are able to send their children to college, plan for their retirement, own a home, be part of an ownership society, or one in which essentially fewer…

So fundamentally, there should be an incentive to have that loan perform and to engage in some sort of modification.

I want to join my colleagues in thank you, Chairman Bair, for your hard work during an incredibly difficult time in America's financial picture.

I think just this short conversation shows how important this set of issues is in order to taking and restoring a healthy mortgage market, which is essential to working families being successful in home ownership and rebuilding their…

We have seen basically a doubling of the national debt under the Bush administration and then a tripling of the national debt as a result of the house of cards that was built in the mortgage deregulation by the Bush administration.

Yes, eliminate that conflict of interest. Thank you. That is helpful.

I simply deeply appreciate the folks who have come to testify on such an important issue to the health of our families and the health of our economy.

I want to thank you all for the work you are doing and I am out of time.

Yes. It is kind of the beginning of a much more in-depth conversation. Thank you.

We have now, thankfully, outlawed the undocumented loans.

I certainly echo the thoughts of my colleague from Rhode Island that it has been extremely disappointing to see how incredibly slow the action has been to address even these fundamental issues of process.

I ask unanimous consent that my intern, Eric Strod, be granted the privilege of the floor through the balance of the day. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 5; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed…

I ask unanimous consent that the Judiciary Committee be discharged from further consideration of S. Res. 151 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will…

You would be hard pressed to find a single family that bought their first house with a 20 percent down payment.

There is tremendous concern about the possibility of the QRM and a 20-percent down payment requirement...

I understand H.R. 1213 has been received from the House and is at the desk. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title for the first time. The legislative clerk read as follows: A bill (H.R. 1213) to repeal mandatory…