Mark Udall

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Constitution, Civil Rights, and Human Rights, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 19, 2012, at 2:30 p.m., in room SH-216 of the Hart Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Hate Crimes and the Threat of Domestic Extremism.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs', Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 19, 2012, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Investing in an Effective Federal Workforce.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I commend my colleague from West Virginia for his eloquent and articulate and powerful remarks about the importance of standing with our veterans. We have work to do, as Abraham Lincoln so powerfully put it. I want to acknowledge the great work of my colleague from West Virginia.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I am here, as I have been on many a morning over the last number of months, to urge all of us to work together in order to extend the production tax credit for wind energy. The PTC, as it is known, is going to expire in a few months. That impending expiration not only threatens the jobs of tens of thousands of Americans but also threatens the continued prosperity of an industry that has seen tremendous growth over the last decade. We simply cannot let that happen. But each day we fail to act--and, in effect, abdicate our basic responsibility to support job creation--we are allowing jobs to be exported and we are truly abandoning a part of the bright future of American manufacturing. I have had the opportunity over the last several months, as I mentioned, to come to the floor and talk about the benefits of the production tax credit in individual States. Today I think it is timely and appropriate to highlight the great State of Arizona--a State I have a special affinity for, as does the Acting President pro tempore. We were both born and raised in Tucson, and we both, I know, share a sense of pride because Arizona has adopted a renewable electricity standard such as we have in Colorado, such as we have in the Acting President pro tempore's State of New Mexico. The important part is not just the adoption of that standard but Arizona's commitment to renewable energy has truly produced results. When you think about Arizona, you think about solar resources. The Sun shines many a day in Arizona. But it is also home to more than ample wind resources. In fact, the studies show that Arizona has enough wind potential to provide 40 percent--40 percent--of the State's current electricity needs. That is according to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Arizona is not letting that wind go to waste. It completed its first commercial wind project in 2009, and it has been steadily adding capacity ever since. This first project was the Dry Lake Wind Project, which is a wind farm comprised of 30 turbines in Navajo County, which is up in the northeastern section of the State, familiar to the Acting President pro tempore, quite near his home State of New Mexico. But Arizona is not stopping with this one project. There are at least seven wind manufacturers in Arizona that are creating good-paying jobs, and I want to mention one, Southwest Windpower. It is a national leader in the small wind market, and it has a manufacturing facility up in Flagstaff, which is in Coconino County, in the center of the northern part of Arizona. These online wind projects already power over 33,000 homes, and, as I have highlighted, current projects under construction are likely to drastically multiply that number. Why is this important? Well, we have clean, renewable energy that creates American jobs. You talk about a virtuous cycle. This is one. There is a large wind project proposed in Arizona. It is the Mohave County Wind Farm. It is up in the northwestern section of Arizona. It will produce 500 megawatts of electricity. Mr. President, 500 megawatts would power 110,000 homes per year. As importantly, that is an investment of hundreds of millions of dollars and, conservatively, it would create nearly 1,000 jobs. Those are impressive numbers. Why do I bring up this proposed project? Well, I bring it up because this investment is at risk. The BLM, under Secretary Salazar's leadership, has fast-tracked this project, and it is scheduled to begin construction next year. But our inaction here literally will thwart those plans. Without an extension of the production tax credit, the future of this project and the jobs and the clean energy it will produce are in jeopardy. That is flat out unacceptable. We have to act here in the Congress in order for the immense potential of wind power to be realized. I want to talk today about something I have not mentioned previously on the upside. When we produce power from wind in the arid West, we save an enormous amount of water. Recent estimates project that for every 1,000 megawatts of new wind power produced, we save over 818 million gallons of water on an annual basis. I do not have to tell the Acting President pro tempore we are in a period of extreme drought not only in the Southwest but in the Midwest. When you add in the fact that Arizona has a very arid climate, fresh water supplies become increasingly precious. So when we take steps to reduce the demand for that fresh water, we make a downpayment on the future of the Southwest. Of course, we know that well in Colorado. We are the headwaters of some of the most significant major rivers that feed the water needs of the States all around us. But if we let the PTC expire, we risk all the jobs, the manufacturing, the water savings that would have really positive effects on our economy. I see my good friend from Arizona is here, and I want to conclude. But I want to conclude on this note: This is not a partisan issue. On both sides of the aisle, we have strong support for the production tax credit. Just last month, the Finance Committee included an extension of the production tax credit on a strong bipartisan vote. Our good friend, Senator Grassley from Iowa, has led the effort here in the Congress, and we have support in both Houses. So I want to make a plea to all of us: Let's act in a bipartisan fashion. Let's renew the production tax credit. The production tax credit simply equals jobs. So we ought to pass it as soon as possible because the production tax credit equals jobs, and that is job one here for those of us in the Senate. In the House yesterday a group of Members--over a dozen of them--made this effort bicameral. They talked on the floor of the House about how the PTC has benefited their districts. Their remarks highlighted what I have been saying for months: Without the PTC, thousands of good-paying American jobs will likely be lost or shipped overseas. There is no reason that should happen. Let's pass the production tax credit extension as soon as possible. I thank the Acting President pro tempore for his interest and his support. I yield the floor.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 13, 2012, at 10:30 a.m.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, to conduct a hearing entitled ``Improving College Affordability: A View From the States'' on September 13, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. in room 430 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Indian Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 13, 2012, in room SD-628 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, at 2:15 p.m.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on September 13, 2012, at 10 a.m., in SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct an executive business meeting.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations of the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 13, 2012, at 9:30 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Social Security Disability Programs: Improving the Quality of Benefit Award Decisions.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 13, 2012, at 2:30 p.m.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance, and Investment be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 13, 2012, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled ``Holding the CFPB Accountable: Review of Semi-Annual Report to Congress.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Madam President, I have been coming to the Senate floor on a daily basis to talk about the importance of the wind production tax credit, and I intend to do so today. But before I bring up that important topic I want to speak to a situation, an incident, that is on everybody's mind; that is, what happened in Libya earlier today. I think all of us in the Senate adhere, or should adhere, to the concept that politics should cease at the water's edge. I hope in this terrible tragedy that philosophy will hold fast. I, along with all Coloradans, absolutely condemn the murders--and that is what they were--of Ambassador Stevens and other U.S. State Department personnel today in Libya. I am a member of the Senate Committees on Armed Services and Intelligence, and I know the men and women of our diplomatic corps do absolutely vital work under difficult conditions every single day. Ambassador Stevens was a dedicated public servant who was working in Libya to advance freedom and democracy, and we will continue undeterred in our pursuit of those goals. We salute the service and sacrifice of all those who were taken from us today, and their families are in our thoughts and prayers. Wind Production Tax Credit Madam President, as I mentioned when I first rose, I am here again on the floor of the Senate to urge all of us to take action on an issue that already has broad bipartisan support; that is, the renewal of the production tax credit for wind energy. I was back in my home State of Colorado for the August work period, as I know the Presiding Officer and all my colleagues were, and I saw firsthand the very positive effects wind energy has had on my State of Colorado. I also saw the sobering effects of congressional inaction, which only strengthened my resolve to have extended the production tax credit. I want to share some specific insights and developments in Colorado and then move to the State I am going to discuss today in a little bit. Xcel Energy operates in my home State. It has a wide area in the upper Midwest as well, but it announced it had set a record for the amount of electricity generated from wind resources. At one point Xcel's Colorado customers got over half--to be precise, 57 percent--of their electricity generated from wind power. This is a huge success, and it highlights in so many ways the potential that wind energy has to fill a larger and larger portion of our energy portfolio as this industry fully matures. Sadly, though, I also saw the negative effects of our failure to renew the wind PTC. Vestas Wind systems, which the Presiding Officer is familiar with, does business in Colorado. It announced layoffs last month affecting 2,300 workers worldwide who are manufacturing the turbines themselves, including about 100 workers at Vestas' facilities in Pueblo and Brighton, CO. This was both predictable and predicted, and it is time for us to act to protect American workers in the wind energy industry. Each day we fail to act to extend the production tax credit, more American jobs are put at risk, and we further cede more of our clean energy leadership to foreign competition. Look no further than Colorado for both the promise of wind energy but also the peril of congressional inaction. Of course, these effects are not limited to my State. I am biased. I think I represent the best State in the Nation, but every day I come to the floor and I highlight a different State and the positive impacts wind energy has had there. Literally every State in the Nation has a stake in this crucial wind industry space. Today, therefore, I would like to talk about the great State of North Carolina where wind energy has literally boomed in recent years. North Carolina--as have a lot of States--has seen a tremendous growth in its wind manufacturing sector. What are the numbers? Well, as of 2012, there are at least 17 wind manufacturing facilities in North Carolina that provide jobs to their local communities, and at least one more facility is scheduled to come online soon. The facilities produce everything from steel to lubricants and bearings. We can see all the green circles which designate where these facilities are all across the great State of North Carolina. Let me focus on one manufacturer in North Carolina. It is PPG Industries. PPG is a major supplier of fiberglass to the wind industry, and there are hundreds of jobs linked to its activities. Their fiberglass facilities are in Shelby and Lexington, which are outside of Charlotte and Greensboro, respectively. Their growing role has been good for not only the company but for North Carolina. In 2010 PPG expanded its presence and brought online an additional furnace and created another 1,800 jobs. In sum, across North Carolina there are over 2,000 good-paying jobs, and those jobs then create a ripple effect. If we want to look more broadly at North Carolina, they are manufacturing but they also have very significant wind energy potential in the State itself. Offshore wind resources are abundant. The American Wind Energy Association estimates that wind energy could provide enough electricity to power some 800,000 homes. That is not all: Onshore wind resources could also provide a substantial amount of power for the State. If we look at these numbers, this is an important industry in North Carolina. It certainly has made a difference. But if we do not extend the wind production tax credit, this strong growth in the manufacturing sector plus the potential to harvest the wind in North Carolina is at risk and the years of strong progress we have seen here toward a clean energy future in North Carolina could be literally dashed if the wind production tax credit expires at the end of the year. Here is the bad news. The wind industry in North Carolina, because they are anticipating the expiration of PTC, is beginning to downsize and shelve expansion plans, predictably. This story is being repeated potentially all over the country. It is heartbreaking. I remain hopeful, however. I am dedicated to extending the PTC. I know the Presiding Officer has been very helpful and very supportive and understands its importance. A little bit of good news. The Senate Finance Committee passed a bipartisan tax extenders package as we left for our August State work period and it did include an extension of PTC. I want to stress an important point about that effort: The package was bipartisan. I want to see the Senate take up the Finance Committee's legislation immediately and pass it immediately. In a few hours the House is going to see an interesting discussion. The Presiding Officer served in the House. So did I. They are an equal partner of ours in the Senate. Over a dozen Members in the House are going to take the floor today and express their strong support for American jobs and the extension of the PTC. I am pleased these members of the House Sustainable Energy and Environmental Coalition will be adding their voices to what has become a bipartisan and now bicameral push to extend the PTC. As I begin to close, let me also talk about the support that is out there in the country. It is a broad array of groups that have stood and said we think the PTC ought to be extended. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Governors Association, the Governors' Wind Energy Coalition, the American Farm Bureau Federation and many major national newspapers have all weighed in saying this is important to our country's future. Members on both sides of the aisle, as I have mentioned, have said the PTC should be extended because they know and they have seen the positive effects of the PTC on their communities and across the country. They also know that wind energy--and renewable energy more generally--is the future. It is the wave of the future. There is no question. All you have to do is look at the rest of the world--look at China, look at Spain, look at Denmark, look at every developed country and the developing countries in Asia and India. They are all investing in clean energy. This is not something they are doing just to feel good. It is where economic growth will occur. In sum, extending the PTC is a no-brainer. It is common sense. We ought to be doing the job we were sent here to do. We ought to be extending the PTC as soon as possible. PTC equals jobs. We ought to pass it as soon as possible. I am going to continue coming to the floor every day until we finish the job. I will not stop until we vote to protect American jobs. Failure to act has already hurt this vital industry. Continued inaction will result in the loss of thousands of American jobs which then has a ripple effect on the rest of the Nation's economy. Colleagues, stand with me, stand with the Presiding Officer, stand with American workers. Let's extend the production tax credit now, as soon as possible. I thank the Chair for her support and her interest. I yield the floor.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I rise today to pay tribute to a great Coloradan--Larry A. Mizel--on the occasion of his 70th birthday on September 14. There are few Coloradans who embody the spirit of the Centennial State as well as my friend Larry, and it is a privilege today for me to be able to share my thoughts about him with my Senate colleagues. Larry is many things to many people, but at root, I think of Larry as an independent thinker; a savvy businessman; a man who cares about the world, his community and his family; and a man whose philanthropic reach is as wide as the Rocky Mountains are tall. I ask my colleagues to indulge me while I talk a bit about Larry and recount some of his most notable accomplishments. The list is long, but his work stands as a model for others. Larry always has believed in the value of a good education, and his own educational history is impressive. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Oklahoma in 1964, and 3 years later, Larry received his law degree from the esteemed University of Denver College of Law. From there, Larry took off at warp speed. In 1972, Larry founded the company that became M.D.C. Holdings, Inc., which is one of the Nation's top homebuilders. MDC is the parent corporation to Richmond American Homes and is a New York Stock Exchange-listed company. Forty years after founding M.D.C., Larry still serves as chairman and chief executive officer of the company. That is an amazing run, with a lot more to come, I hope and predict. Under Larry's visionary leadership, M.D.C. consistently has maintained one of the strongest financial positions in the industry. But it is not just profits that distinguish M.D.C. M.D.C. also is known for its high-quality work. For example, M.D.C. has the distinction of being one of the few homebuilding-based companies to receive an investment-grade rating from all three rating agencies. Larry has never been one to rest on his laurels. In addition to M.D.C., he has pursued other business ventures. Larry was a founder and, until 1996 chairman of the board of Asset Investors Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange-listed real estate investment trust, as well as of Commercial Assets Inc., a real estate investment trust that traded on the American Stock Exchange. In addition, Larry served as chairman of the board of directors of Omnibank, a multi-bank holding company, until its sale to KeyCorp in 1995. Yet, Larry is known in Colorado for more than these business-world accomplishments, as impressive as they are. Larry stands as a shining example to Coloradans about how to enrich the communities in which we live and to give voice to those who sometimes cannot speak loudly enough for themselves. Larry has been actively involved in numerous charitable, religious, and community causes, some that reach beyond our borders. For example, there are few leaders in Colorado who care as deeply as Larry does about issues related to Israel and to Jews around the world. Larry is a member of the national board of directors of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee better known as AIPAC which works to ensure a strong United States-Israel relationship. Larry also is one of the founders of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international human rights organization, based in Los Angeles, CA. He has served as the International Chairman of the board of trustees of the Wiesenthal Center since 2003. As most of us know, the Wiesenthal Center helps to accomplish goals that Larry holds dear--namely, promoting tolerance and combating racism and anti-Semitism around the world. It bears noting that the educational arm of the Wiesenthal Center-- the Museum of Tolerance--is a recipient of the 2004 Tolerance Award given at the United Nations. It is a world-class human rights laboratory and learning center dedicated to challenging visitors to confront important contemporary issues. Closer to home, Larry also founded the Mizel Arts and Culture Center--known as the MACC--located in Denver at the Jewish Community Center. The MACC aims to illuminate the human experience through performing, visual, and literary arts for the Jewish community and the community at large. Larry's interests and expertise in international affairs extend far. For example, he is a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations, an independent organization dedicated to finding solutions to the challenging foreign policy choices facing the United States and other countries--choices made all the more challenging after the terrorist attacks of 9/11.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 12, 2012, at 2 p.m. in room 253 of the Russell Senate Office Building. The Committee will conduct a hearing entitled, ``The Path from LEO to Mars.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 12, 2012, at 9:30 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works and the Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 12, 2012, at 10 a.m. in Dirksen 406 to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Oversight Hearing: NRC's Implementation of Recommendations for Enhancing Nuclear Reactor Safety in the 21st Century.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 12, 2012, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing entitled, ``Update on the Crisis in Syria and Iran''.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 12, 2012, at 2:45 p.m.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 12, 2012, at 10 a.m. to conduct a hearing entitled ``Moving from Scandal to Strategy: The Future of the General Services Administration.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on September 12, 2012, at 10 a.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, to conduct a hearing entitled ``The Citizens United Court and the Continuing Importance of the Voting Rights Act.''

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be authorized to meet during the session on September 12, 2012, in room 418 of the Senate Russell Office Building beginning at 10 a.m.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Andrea Chapman, Claire Green, Sarah Weaver, Sterling Laudon, Owen Haacke, James Mathis, and Joseph Steffens, staff of the Finance Committee, be granted the privilege of the floor for the remainder of the 112th Congress.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. UDALL of Colorado. Mr. President, I return to the Senate floor to pick up where I left off when Congress adjourned 1 month ago and that is to continue with my daily efforts to urge this Congress, our Congress, the House and the Senate, to extend the wind production tax credit. I rise before the Senate to discuss an industry that has created tens of thousands of good-paying jobs for American workers and has contributed billions of dollars--literally billions of dollars--to our economy. I think the Presiding Officer knows this, and all our colleagues should know this: This is an industry that will be in grave trouble if we in the Congress don't act soon--I actually mean immediately--to extend the wind production tax credit. We return this week to Congress in the wake of really sobering news about recent layoffs of American workers in our wind industry, largely due to our congressional inaction on the wind production tax credit. I want to be very clear: The wind industry has already begun firing American workers because we have failed to extend the wind production tax credit. It is that simple. You ask: Why? Well, the PTC has been a driver of the wind industry's enormous expansion in the United States, as well as the growing investment in American workers that we have seen in the last several years. This critical tax credit expires at the end of the year, and if we do not vote to extend it, manufacturing facilities may shut down, thousands more Americans will lose their jobs, and the negative economic ripple effect--this is not a positive ripple effect; this is a negative ripple effect--will be felt in communities all across our Nation. Now, let me be clear in a further way. It has already happened; this is not conjecture. In my home State of Colorado, workers who had good- paying jobs in the wind industry just a month ago when I stood here no longer do. That is right. Over 100 Coloradans were let go of their jobs in the Colorado wind industry just in the last month. There are more job losses projected to follow. That is sobering to all of us. On a more upbeat note, I come to the floor to talk about the production tax credit, and each time I have come to the floor I focus on a particular State because there is good news all across our country when it comes to wind energy. Today I want to focus on Vermont where the wind industry has grown faster than in many larger States. As a matter of fact, Vermont has the second highest rate of new wind installations of any State in 2011, growing over 650 percent. That is right, 650 percent growth in Vermont. Vermont has numerous installed wind projects and wind manufacturing sites throughout the State that currently power over 11,000 homes and enough wind power potential to provide 160 percent of the State's current electricity needs. One of America's leading wind energy production companies is NRG Systems, which is based in Chittenden County, which is up in the northwestern corner of Vermont. For 30 years, NRG Systems has been a fixture in Vermont's energy and technology industry, and it serves the wind industry in particular by providing developers, utilities, and turbine manufacturers with the tools they need to measure the wind. But with the looming end of the PTC, NRG's future growth in Vermont is uncertain. This is very clear because for the first time in their history, NRG has had to lay off workers in Vermont, not once but twice this year. Their very capable CEO, Jan Blittersdorf, described these firings as ``deeply unfortunate, though necessary . . . to preserve our future in the face of a deeply unstable wind-energy industry.'' NRG's orders are off 50 percent from just a few years ago because of our inaction. The uncertainty about wind energy's future has encouraged them to look overseas for new opportunities, which then means we hasten the departure of good-paying jobs for skilled American workers who already are ready to go. So the point I am trying to make--and I see my colleague from Vermont has joined me; I look forward to hearing his remarks--the wind industry needs certainty. NRG is an example of a company that needs certainty. We can lead the world in sustainable, smart energy, but we have to extend the PTC to stay on track. As I have said for all these weeks I have been coming to the floor, this is not just about my home State of Colorado. I love my State of Colorado. I think we are the best State in the Union. But our country at large is threatened by the broad losses of jobs if we do not extend the production tax credit. I am not going to stand by idly and observe the outsourcing of American jobs. I do not want to cede the leadership in the clean energy future to any of our foreign competitors. That is why I keep coming back day after day to urge my colleagues to work with me to pass the production tax credit. It is pretty simple. The production tax credit equals jobs. We ought to pass it as soon as possible. It is common sense. We have support from both sides of the aisle. I mentioned my great friend, Senator Sanders. He has joined me. I also want to mention the esteemed chairman of the Judiciary Committee, the senior Senator from Vermont, Senator Sanders' colleague, was unable to join us this morning, but he is a strong supporter of the PTC, and he will be making a statement as well. So let me close by urging all of us, as soon as possible, to extend the wind production tax credit. Let's not let party affiliation or partisan politics interfere with what is right. Without the wind PTC, more Americans will be out of work, and we will have further neglected our duty to pass commonsense policies that help American workers build a better future for themselves and their families. Every day we do not act is a day that more companies like NRG Systems in Vermont are forced to lay off workers in our country. These companies are then looking overseas for better opportunities. That is just flat-out unacceptable. Mr. President, I conclude. I want my colleagues to know I will be back on the floor tomorrow to talk further about this opportunity but also this threat. I will be back to talk about jobs, our economy, the need for America to lead in the clean energy space, and the need for Congress to take action today. I thank the ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore for his attention. Again, I want to acknowledge the great leadership of my friend from Vermont. I look forward to hearing his remarks on this important production tax credit. With that, I yield the floor.