Now is the time to assess the Federal Government's response and make sure we are doing everything we can to protect the health of Gulf Coast residents.

Thank you, Chairman Harkin and Ranking Member Enzi, for convening this very important hearing.

I hope today they will be given an opportunity to talk, Senator Lieberman, about the balance necessary between what you said: The need for oil and the jobs that they represent from their parishes, but also the need to have a clean and…

Senator Landrieu can vouch for that. She has always been there for us.

the berms that are in place now are there because basically the President directed that they be built

That was an absolute insult. Does anybody really believe we are going to wipe every blade of grass to clean it off?

I also want to acknowledge the leadership of Senator Lieberman.

let us not make this in any way political. This is a national disaster.

We are letting the rules, the regulations, the contractors, and BP stand in the way of us saving our coastline.

we want to make sure that BP is responsive to the parishes

The fishermen that BP has hired under your direction to be on vessels of opportunity... want to come home to protect their island where the oil is.

the Coast Guard is the military, so this is an issue that we have to discuss

I think the scope outlined by you and the Ranking Member are right on point about what our Subcommittee should be focused on in this hearing and moving forward.

the only boom that works is the ocean boom. The other boom is not working well.

I have the greatest respect for Admiral Thad Allen, and he is doing a fine job under very difficult circumstances.

We will lose more coastline from this disaster in Louisiana than we lost with Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Gustav, and Ike combined.

Madam President, I stand to strongly support my amendment No. 4312, which I introduced today, along with Senators Gregg, Cornyn, Enzi, Alexander, and Hutchison, and I urge all of my colleagues, both sides of the aisle, to support this…

I ask unanimous consent to set aside the pending amendment to call up amendment No. 4312 to amendment No. 4301. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. The assistant bill clerk read as follows: The…