Tom Carper in 2018 DE Senate race

On Technology: America's Water Infrastructure Act :good for entire nation

U.S. Senator John Barrasso of Wyoming is the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works. He spoke on the Senate floor on the need to pass America's Water Infrastructure Act. Barrasso said that President Trump has called on Congress to take up major infrastructure legislation.

Last week, both Barrasso and EPW Committee Ranking Member Tom Carper, a Democrat from Delaware, announced a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the comprehensive water infrastructure legislation with the leadership from the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. The bill is the most sweeping infrastructure package to be considered this Congress. It grows the economy, keeps communities safe, cuts red tape and lowers the deficit.

On Budget & Economy: Let competition work instead of capping credit card interest

With a healthy 257-177 advantage, House Democrats had the numbers to force the federal cap through. But Democrats on the House Banking Committee wanted no part of significantly depressing credit card profits, having struck down this amendment almost unanimously in committee.

One young Democrat from Delaware stepped forward to urge a no vote. His name was Tom Carper. "The bill before us without this amendment is a good bill," Carper said. "But I think it's premature to try to make that point. We can do a lot of good things with this legislation and a free enterprise competitive system. Let's let that competition work."

On Corporations: 22-year history of pro-business support of banking lobby

Against an alliance of Banking Committee Democrats and pro-business Republicans, the amendment failed. It took two decades for a federal interest rate cap to be debated again, as part of credit card reform legislation called the CARD Act. This time, Sen. Bernie Sanders would fail to overcome the power of the banking lobby. Among the 60 senators voting no was the senior member from Delaware: Tom Carper. It was still, 22 years later, premature.

For nearly 40 years, banks have found a reliable ally in Carper. Carper has taken the side of the industry in virtually every policy debate over that period.