I ask unanimous consent to speak for 5 minutes and then return the floor to Senator Durbin. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered

I was going to wait until the House actually sent over this extension before saying anything, but I was so impressed with Senator Durbin's explanation that I felt I should come to the floor and thank him so much. His leadership on this and…

Well, the question is very important. This is the worst possible time because now, if you can't enter into new contracts, you lose the building season. And it is particularly brutal right now on the businesses and on the workers. Let me be…

Reserving the right to object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.

Mr. Speaker, we all have our own ideas on how we should balance the budget, but missing in today's debate is a bipartisan approach to solve our Nation's fiscal problems. No one party has the answers. We can do this not through a…

I appreciate the FTC has used its report to once again bring attention to offline data collection.

I look forward to hearing from the witnesses about any potential ways we as Congress can help mitigate any shortfalls those moves have caused.

What you've done shows that a couple, one or two people with a lot of passion, a lot of energy and determination can make a difference.

I guess my only concern is in the details of how we make these selections, and I appreciate your saying how flexible you're willing to be about that.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The first thing I want to say is how impressive it is to see the passion of all the panelists this morning.

My concern is with how we're going to carry that out on a way that's fair, and it doesn't give a non-veteran benefits that they haven't earned.

It could be perceived as unfair?

I concur with the stakeholders that there are probably better requirements upon which to base qualifications to serve on this Article I Court.

I look forward to hearing more about H.R. 4168, introduced by Congressman Guinta, which would direct the ABMC to maintain Clark Veterans Cemetery in the Philippines.

I support several of these bills, especially the disability compensation COLA offered by you Mr. Chairman.

The purpose of today's hearing will be to explore the policy implications of eight bills, ranging on issues as varied as the disability compensation COLA to the residency requirements of the judges of the Court of Appeals for Veterans…

I think we need to all work together to properly honor and remember the individuals who are laid to rest at Clark Veterans Cemetery.

I am concerned about the cost growth with regard to the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN 78).