I think we need to put our resources to reduce the cost of electricity from offshore wind.

Which takes me to my next question and that is an issue I know that you have been working on, we worked with you on, but the concept of the smart grid and sustainable energy.

With that, I yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

Do you believe with new technology and new research that we can continue the decline of price in solar to make it competitive?

I happen to believe that from a global warming perspective, and energy independence perspective, and a job creating perspective there is huge potential in terms of transforming our energy system away from fossil fuel to sustainable energy…

I wish to say a few words about an issue of enormous importance to the people of the State of Vermont and people all over this country; that is, the issue of making sure that in America this winter nobody goes cold, that nobody freezes to…

I want to say a word about two amendments I have offered, both of which I think are important and both of which should be agreed to. As I think you know, this country has a recordbreaking deficit and a $15 trillion national debt. What many…

there are two issues I would like to touch upon this afternoon which I think are significantly important to the people of our country. On Sunday, 2 days ago, I held a town meeting in Montpelier, VT, on the issue of saving the Postal…

there has been a lot of discussion in the Senate, in the House, and in the media about what the supercommittee is doing and what they should be doing. The American people understand their responsibility in terms of trying to reduce our…

We have a nation in which millions of people are working longer hours for lower wages.

I want to say a word on another interesting issue which took place today. You may have noticed that Bank of America has decided to withdraw its $5 fee for debit transfers. Let me tell you, the Bank of America, like the other banks that…

I want to congratulate the members of the Senate who, by a very large vote today, passed the minibus legislation which, among many other important things, will provide $1.9 billion for the Department of Transportation's emergency relief…

$7.25 trillion--that is a mind-boggling number if you want to figure out one of the reasons why our economy is not jump starting very well--we lost that much wealth in the housing market, and that is terrible.

Housing was great for a while during the run-up, but it had a catastrophic collapse and a lot of middle-income and lower-income households really got creamed in it.

we should be forcing consumers to bear a part of that risk.

If a consumer sees something and it has terminology like LIBOR in the contract and they have no idea what it is, why did you sign it?

What I am saying is that the guarantee in the 30-year fixed, the low downpayment mortgages, when you combine that all into a ball, what we have done is we have really encouraged households to take on more risk than they ordinarily would…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To provide amounts to support innovative, utility- administered…

I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment and call up my amendment No. 816. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The assistant legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator…

Nobody can say, I believe, with a straight face that that's being done to really improve the accuracy of the COLA for seniors and people with disabilities.

ultimately these policies are about the lives of Americans and we lose that too often.

Thank you, Senator Franken, for all the work you're doing for seniors and for your contributions today.

we don't understand how the Government concludes that there has been no inflation in the last 2 years, that we're not getting any COLA

It's bad policy. It's also terrible public relations. Social Security is a promise.

I think until we know that it just becomes too easy for folks to stand up and say, 'well, we're going to cut Social Security.'