Even in today's tough economy, entrepreneurs and small businesses across Colorado are looking for ways to expand, create new jobs and help our economy grow. But many of them are finding it difficult to secure loans, through no fault of their own. Under current statute, credit unions are required to limit small business lending to 12.25 percent of the credit union's total assets. This arbitrary cap has restricted many credit unions from extending credit to worthy small businesses. My amendment will allow credit unions to gradually expand small business lending in a responsible manner, following strict guidelines agreed on by a bipartisan group of Senators from across the country. Best of all, the amendment will not cost the taxpayers a dime. This is a simple way to create good-paying American jobs, without increasing our deficit.

In today's marketplace, consumers have a clear understanding of the price of gasoline and what their car mileage means for their pocket books. They also have ready access to the number of minutes remaining on their cell phone. But they can't get the same kind of clear, timely data related to their electricity use and its price. That is why I introduced the Electric Consumer Right to Know Act, which would establish consumers' right to access their own real-time electricity data. Defining this right is an important step toward helping consumers use electricity more efficiently and save money on their electric bills. And on top of that, I am proud to say that this idea came directly from a Coloradan at my Energy Jobs Summit in February 2010.

I introduced this bipartisan legislation, along with Senator Collins from Maine, in response to frustrations voiced by Colorado school officials who found that information about energy efficiency grants for schools is hard to find and scattered among many federal agencies. The Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act would coordinate information on all federal energy efficiency programs for schools through a central office in the Department of Energy so states and school administrators may more easily access the programs. It also connects schools together so they can learn from one another in improving the energy efficiency of our local schools. These reforms will ultimately save taxpayer dollars.

I introduced this bill to further develop the renewable energy industry by supporting the export of their innovative American products abroad. Specifically, the bill makes U.S. exports of renewable energy and energy efficiency products more competitive by providing technical trade assistance to small- and medium-sized businesses. The REMAP Act would strengthen the clean energy economy and create jobs here at home by finding new markets for U.S. renewable energy goods and services and making our products more competitive abroad. We must find creative and fiscally responsible ways to create new American jobs - today.

The passage of my bipartisan amendment to the Wall Street accountability legislation will give consumers free access to their credit scores.  Currently, many consumers have access to their credit report but not their scores, which affect their interest rates and terms on home loans and the ability to purchase a car or rent an apartment, among other examples.  Under my amendment, if a consumer gets turned down for credit, receives a higher interest rate on a loan, or unfavorable terms on a credit card, the individual will automatically be given disclosure of his or her credit score free of charge.  This common-sense amendment will give hardworking Americans who want to improve their financial standing more control over their financial well-being, while increasing consumer understanding and fairness in the financial marketplace.  Put simply, if your credit score is being used against you, you ought to at least be able to see it for free.

I was proud to support bipartisan legislation, S. 3244, which blocks members of Congress from receiving an annual, automatic pay raise this year, in an effort to balance our government's budget. I also helped lead an effort to urge Speaker Pelosi to promptly pass this bill, which was ultimately sent to President Obama for his signature on May 3, 2010. I fully believe that Congress shouldn't get a raise while so many Coloradans are struggling to find work and to keep their heads above water in this tough economy. This measure saved taxpayers a million dollars in total and is one small way I am working to fulfill my promise to Coloradans to support bipartisan efforts to get our federal budget under control.

On April 22, 2010, I introduced the bipartisan Fair Access to Credit Scores Act (S. 3247), legislation that would require credit-reporting agencies to disclose to consumers their credit score when they access their free annual credit report. Credit scores are critical for American consumers, especially in a struggling economy.  Higher credit scores often mean lower interest payments for credit cards, automobiles, and home mortgages.  Consumers who have taken advantage of their one free credit report per year, are often surprised to find out it does not include their actual score. The ability to obtain a free credit score will provide a more complete picture of a consumer’s creditworthiness, and inform consumers if they need to take action to improve their score.  Providing access to a free credit score will increase financial transparency, help consumers make better financial decisions, and lay a more solid financial foundation for millions of Americans.  This bill is cosponsored by Republicans and Democrats, and it has the support of a wide range of pro-consumer groups.

I supported the HIRE Act, which President Obama signed into law on March 18. The bill, which passed the Senate 68-29, with strong bipartisan support, will spur job growth and strengthen the private sector by encouraging businesses to hire new workers and invest in their companies and communities. The HIRE Act provides tax incentives for businesses to hire unemployed workers, encourages small businesses to invest in their future by permitting them to write off up to $250,000 in new equipment investments, jumpstarts highway infrastructure projects, and frees up investment capital for cities and states to create jobs and improve their communities with further infrastructure projects. These measures will grow our economy, strengthen Colorado businesses and create jobs for hardworking Coloradans.

I introduced the Solar Uniting Neighborhoods Act of 2010 to support the financing of community solar projects.  This imaginative idea will allow every American to take advantage of the individual 30 percent federal solar tax credit, whether the solar panel is placed on their home or is part of a community solar project.

I introduced the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act in October of 2009 to prevent credit card companies from raising rates on responsible consumers and small businesses. The bill moves up the deadline for credit card companies to comply with the reforms mandated by the Credit CARD Act to December 1, 2009. The bill will protect hard working Colorado families from unfair interest rate hikes and deceptive practices during these tough economic times.

I co-sponsored the Credit Card Rate Freeze Act with Senator Dodd, Chairman of the Senate Banking Committee. The bill demands that the credit card companies immediately freeze interest rates on existing balances until the remaining provisions in the Credit CARD Act go into effect. It is another decisive step toward protecting hardworking Coloradans and small businesses from unfair credit practices.

In December of 2009, I introduced the Small Business Lending Enhancement Act with bipartisan support to allow credit unions to make more small business loans. Credit unions are currently limited from lending to small businesses in excess of 12.25% of their assets. My bill raises that cap to 25% of their assets and excludes small loans under $250,000 from counting against the cap. This bill will open up lending to small businesses ready to expand. Credit unions have acted responsibly before, during and since the economic crisis, and these are responsible ways to help Main Street without costing the American taxpayer a dime.

As a co-sponsor of the Banking on Our Communities Act (introduced by Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon), I am working to help community banks increase lending for small businesses. According to a U.S. Treasury Department report, the top-22 recipients of funding through the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) reduced their collective small business loan balances by $11.6 billion from April through October of 2009. Community banks, which did not receive government bailouts, have had trouble filling the void for small business lending. The Banking on Our Communities Act would use unallocated TARP money to create a fund for community banks to increase small business lending.

This bipartisan bill by Senator Olympia Snowe of Maine, which I co-sponsored, allows for a five-year carryback of Net Operating Losses (as opposed to the standard two years) for losses that businesses incurred during 2008 and 2009. It would enable businesses to better absorb losses incurred during the worst part of the economic recession and help them retain more workers.

This bipartisan bill, which I co-sponsored and which passed the Senate in 2009, is designed to increase international travel and tourism to the United States, including Colorado. It would establish the Corporation for Travel Promotion, an independent, non-profit corporation governed by an 11-member board of directors appointed by the Secretary of Commerce charged with developing and executing a plan to promote tourism.

On February 12, 2009, I joined with Senator Tom Udall to introduce legislation setting a national Renewable Electricity Standard (RES). The bill would require that 25% of the nation's electricity come from renewable resources by the year 2025. Colorado's RES, which was approved by voters statewide in 2004, has been a great success. In recent years Colorado's clean energy job growth has outpaced overall job growth by more than 2 to 1, and a national RES could increase Colorado jobs and boost the economy nationwide.

Since 2005, I have introduced several bills to protect hardworking Colorado families from predatory credit card practices, like unfair interest rate hikes, "universal default" and "double-cycle" billing. The reforms I fought for became the basis for comprehensive credit card reform, which was signed into law and becomes effective beginning on February 22, 2010.

The Ski Area Recreation Opportunity Enhancement Act of 2009, which I introduced in March 2009, would boost year-round activity in ski resorts, provide more opportunities for outdoor recreation in Colorado, create jobs and aid local economies. My bill would revise the 1986 law governing the permitting of ski areas on National Forests, clarifying that the Forest Service is authorized to permit year-round recreational activities where appropriate.

On December 9, 2009, I co-sponsored the Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action Act (S. 2853) with Senator Kent Conrad of North Dakota. This bill would create a bipartisan task force charged with studying the federal budget and recommending the politically difficult changes necessary to reduce the national debt. Congress would then have to consider the recommendations by an up-or-down vote. In January, this legislation fell just short of receiving the 60 votes required to pass it in the Senate. However, I have worked closely with the Obama Administration to create a bipartisan task force by executive order, which will produce similar recommendations for both Houses of Congress to approve.

I have long called for a law requiring that any new mandatory spending created by Congress be offset by spending cuts or adjustments elsewhere in the budget. A similar policy helped the federal government create budget surpluses during the Clinton Administration. As an original co-sponsor of the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act (S. 1600), which was introduced by Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri on August 6, 2009, I was proud to help the Senate pass statutory PAYGO rules in early 2010.

I co-sponsored this bipartisan bill, which was introduced by fellow Colorado Senator Michael Bennet on September 17, 2009. The bill would require institutions that accepted government emergency assistance (in particular, TARP funds and the Fannie/Freddie takeover) to pay the money back, freeing the federal government to use the money to pay down the federal deficit.