the program has the potential to create or preserve 100,000 jobs per year, with contributions of $5 billion in foreign capital investment.

it is critical that Congress support U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which administers the program.

It just makes no sense, especially in these universities and colleges, whether private or public, we are subsidizing one way or the other.

If you have people who want to come into the country and create jobs, especially when most of the jobs go to Americans who are already here who could use the jobs, then we ought to be supportive.

Having a permanent authorization will give projects the opportunity to plan and develop good programs.

The EB-5 program has helped us build our company, but we are also making an impact on other businesses.

the benefits come at no cost to American taxpayers.

If you have a project that is funded directly through the Immigrant Investor Program and it is believed to be employing undocumented workers, Immigration and Customs Enforcement could investigate the employer, could they not?

I was one who supported former President George W. Bush's call for a comprehensive immigration bill

The number of millions you are talking about, I should just note for the record, Senator Grassley, we are a State of 650,000 people, so that has a multiplier effect.

I am not a witness here, but I am so struck by Mr. North speaking of these decaying ski resorts in Vermont and the suggestion that this is not creating jobs.

I think Congress has to show potential investors from around the world that America welcomes immigrant investors and values their contributions.

I commend Director Mayorkas at USCIS and Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano for making the program a central part of the Department's contribution to the President's broader job creation efforts.

I have worked with the Senator, as he knows, on a lot of different issues in the past.

We have got to fish or cut bait on this thing and say if we are going to do it, let us do it permanently.

We are already hearing that the uncertainty about the program's future is a drag on investment and on our economic recovery.

I see the distinguished Senator from New York on the floor, and I have a feeling that she will have a statement of support of this superb nominee. I yield the floor. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New York.

I understand morning business will now close. ____________________

some of the people I have heard who oppose Ms. Halligan were also some of the same people who successfully opposed an effort in the Congress to actually protect police officers a few years ago. So I want to put the opposition in context…

I ask unanimous consent that the Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Insurance of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on December 6, 2011, at…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 6, 2011, at 2:15 p.m. in S-115. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on December 6, 2011, at 2:30 p.m., in room SD-226 of…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 6, 2011, at 10:00 a.m., in room HVC-210 of the Capitol Visitor Center, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Tax Reform and…

I ask unanimous consent that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Contracting Oversight of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on December 6, 2011, at 10:00 a.m. to…

We in Vermont--again, a small State, but we have the State government involved with the Vermont Regional Center.