just 3 days ago, a bipartisan majority of the members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform endorsed a package of proposals to reposition our Nation on a more responsible fiscal course. I wish to commend my good…

If we were to make permanent--as some on the other side of the aisle have stated--all the Bush tax cuts, that adds another $4 trillion to our deficit; is that not correct?

I thank the Senator from Illinois for laying out the facts, but there is one additional fact--again, vis-a-vis the Bush tax cuts--that I think has been absent from some of this debate. The efforts of the Senator from Illinois--Herculean as…

Despite nearly $5 trillion of fiscal and monetary stimulus, we have 101,000 fewer jobs in America than when the recession officially ended.

Of course, the middle class needs to have these tax cuts continued, given the economic difficulties that we are now facing.

I was heartened to see that people from diverse political backgrounds, as Senator Durbin who is now supporting that report, as well as Senator Conrad and the Democratic side now joined by Senator Coburn and Senator Crapo, were able to say…

Yesterday's actions by the House to raise taxes on the very consumers and small businesses most likely to pull us out of this poor economy, I think, is more of the same failed economic policies that have hindered America's recovery.

I hope in this coming year we will get a chance to look at this issue more deeply and make sure that America takes an appropriate leadership role in this field.

I think the Deficit Commission concurred with those of us who believe that the commercial side... is going to be a critical part of our space future.

Madam President, I rise today to continue a recent tradition of the Senate--the tradition of honoring exemplary Federal employees--my friend Senator Ted Kaufman began last year. Senator Kaufman believes, as I do, that our Federal employees…

They had plenty of warnings from Congress.

These problems may have resulted in problems for borrowers who otherwise may have been able to pay their mortgages.

Let me echo what Sheila said on the issue of the housing market and just add to that something I noted in my written testimony.

Many Members up here--I mentioned Bob Menendez, among others in this Committee, going back a long time who talked about this literally.

It is important also to remember that while it was servicers who caused this problem, it is borrowers who are, of course, paying the price.

for a variety of reasons, turnover in the Senate has been more rapid recently than at almost any other time in our history. For some of us, the turnover has been the result of elections. For some, it has been the result of the passing of…

I commend my friend, the Senator from Illinois, for his comments, and I associate myself with his effort. This is recognition that is long overdue. I am pleased to support his efforts in this area. It is a part of American history that has…

I rise to offer new legislation that I urge all my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to support. The legislation we offer today, the Government Performance and Results Modernization Act of 2010, is directly aimed at improving…

The only way we are going to maintain I-80 or I-95 through Pennsylvania or through Rhode Island is if we have the right to toll it.

Whenever we get to the point where we say, that couldn't happen in America because of the processes we have set up, well, that is a very different America than I think either of us grew up in.

the regulatory overhaul--the appropriate environmental reviews, other process reviews--becomes such an added transaction cost.

the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has done some extraordinary things, but the real leader in public-private partnerships has been the Commonwealth of Virginia.

I would like to thank the panel for their very good comments.

Infrastructure, now becomes a competitive disadvantage vis-a-vis nations around the world.

If we do not do something about infrastructure in this country, we are cooked as an economic power.