Calling high unemployment a "grave concern," Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke signaled last Friday that the central bank soon may take steps to stimulate the economy. Bernanke was vague about what the Fed may do. Sen. Bernie Sanders has been specific. One year ago, Sanders proposed a $300 billion emergency lending program for small businesses. He said it would create more than 3 million jobs. "The Fed needs to act aggressively," Sanders said at the time. He noted that during the financial crisis in 2008, the Fed provided more than $16 trillion in low-interest loans to large financial institutions, foreign central banks, multi-national corporations, and some of the wealthiest people in the world. "It is time for the Federal Reserve to act aggressively to get low-interest loans into the hands of creditworthy small businesses - the real job creators in this country," Sanders added.   The senator discussed what the Fed could do to address unemployment during an exchange with Bernanke at an Oct. 4,  2011 hearing.

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