More than one-third of the world’s total energy usage relies on liquid fuels – primarily from fossil fuels. In the first quarter of 2013 consumption outpaced production, and the consumption trajectory is only expected to rise. Energy, especially liquid fuel, involves a global marketplace, and to our benefit in the U.S., Congress passed, and fomer President George W. Bush signed, legislation that not only fosters domestic energy production from more sustainable sources, but also provides a path for important green house gas emission reductions. So when frustration over that legislation – the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) – is expressed, and done so overlooking the policy’s fundamentals, history and future impact, it deserves to be addressed.

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Sens. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and James Inhofe (R-Okla.), the chairman and ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, have written to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel asking him to lay out in detail the consequences of the department having to reduce its fiscal 2014 budget from $526 billion, the level requested by the Pentagon, to $474 billion, the 2014 cap imposed by the sequester. This reduction in planned expenditures might be necessary should Congress and the Obama administration fail to reach a grand bargain that would repeal sequestration by the next fiscal year.

Some people, like former Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta and current Army Secretary John McHugh, argue that the reductions mandated by sequestration will be irresponsible and devastating, and cannot be allowed to happen. From their letter, it appears Levin and Inhofe feel the same way. However, if the Pentagon plans for the reductions and makes them in a smart way they can easily be absorbed. In fact, had they done that this year, they would not have to be furloughing people or cutting back training hours as they are now doing; there are at least four reasons why this is so.

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Last Friday, the president visited a manufacturing plant in Baltimore, Md., where he focused on the importance of economic recovery. He told the audience, “I’m going to keep trying to work with both parties in Washington to make progress – because our challenges are solvable.” But now that he’s back in Washington and his campaign-style rally is over, it’s time for him to fulfill that promise. It’s time for him to join House Republicans in focusing on real solutions.  

One of those solutions is an “all of the above” strategy to secure our nation’s energy independence from OPEC nations, create jobs and provide families much-needed relief at the pump. As part of the all-of-the-above strategy, House Republicans passed a bill to approve the Keystone pipeline that will create up to 20,000 jobs directly related to the construction of the pipeline and another 118,000 downstream. The Keystone XL pipeline is primed to give our economy a shot in the arm and make energy more affordable – and it won’t cost taxpayers a dime. For a president that talks a lot about economic recovery and job creation, signing the Keystone project into law would be an excellent place to start.

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For the past three decades, the battle to eliminate HIV/AIDS worldwide has brought together disparate groups from every possible walk of life. Scientists, chaplains, activists and people living with the virus have fought to end AIDS and for the rights of HIV-positive people in countries across the globe. We, too, have joined together: one of us raising a young family while living with HIV, the other leading the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), an organization dedicated to eliminating pediatric HIV and keeping mothers and babies happy, healthy and HIV-free. We are so very different, but our goals, and the goals of the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), have united us.

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The $20 billion proposed merger between U.S. cellular carrier Sprint/Nextel and Japan’s SoftBank seems like a good match. Sprint would partner with one of the most dynamic cellular companies in the world, whose latest claim to fame is the Advanced Extended Global Platform (AXGP), the fastest mobile broadband network serving Tokyo and other Japanese cities. But Sprint has another suitor, the TV satellite provider DiSH Network. DiSH would actually offer Sprint shareholders more money than SoftBank, and offer significant synergies that benefit consumers.

Yet there is more to this than innovative platforms, synergies and returns for shareholders. There is the potential for a SoftBank-acquired Sprint cellular network to serve as a convenient transmission path for malware and spyware, courtesy of SoftBank’s Chinese business partners or their government.

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The Senate began its confirmation hearings for Commerce Secretary nominee Penny Pritzker Thursday. If confirmed, it is vital that Pritzker promote growth in our ever-evolving, fast-paced innovation economy.
 
It’s been reported that the Internet economy accounted for approximately $68.2 billion in 2010. By 2016, that number could pass $100 billion. But there are many challenges to maintaining and growing this success, and this is where Commerce needs to focus its efforts.

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Every year, I serve thousands of tourists and residents of the Washington, D.C., area who are visiting the Air and Space Museum, one of the most popular attractions maintained by the federal government.
 
But this week, I went on strike, and I’d like to tell you why.

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In these times of budget cutbacks and sequestration, knowing how each tax dollar is spent is more important than ever.

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Americans don’t expect us to agree on every proposal to address the student debt crisis, but they certainly want us to be honest in staking out our positions.
 
Sadly, that’s not what they’re hearing in Washington. Many of my friends on the other side of the aisle have started to play a cynical game. Today the House passed a Republican proposal that will actually make college much more expensive for borrowers.

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