On the recordFebruary 3, 2016
Mr. President, first, I commend Senator Whitehouse, my colleague from Rhode Island, for his very thoughtful leadership on this issue of education and particularly the situation where so many young people are so deeply in debt after a college education. It was Senator Whitehouse who organized a meeting in Rhode Island. I was there and I listened to the story he just related. It is astounding, the debt these young people and in some cases middle-aged people are shouldering. We have to do something. I would like to commend and thank him for his leadership and urge a bipartisan effort in this regard. Mr. President, I was on the floor last week, and I spoke about a series of two amendments that I was working with Senator Heller on, and they are all focused on enhancing energy storage. I thank Senator Heller for his efforts in so many ways but particularly this bipartisan effort to enhance the Energy bill that is before us. Indeed, earlier this week, we were able to pass one of these amendments, No. 2989, that we introduced together to improve coordination of Department of Energy programs and authorities in order to maximize the amount of money that goes toward energy storage research and development. Let me particularly thank Energy and Natural Resources Committee chairperson Lisa Murkowski and ranking member Maria Cantwell for their great efforts overall and particularly for their help in getting the Reed-Heller amendment through.…





