Madam President, in a moment I am going to propound a unanimous consent request. Before I do, I would like to say what it is on so people will understand the time and effort that has gone into getting legislation passed. I am referring now…

Let me respond. This in no way has anything to do with safety because we are talking--the first arbitrator is the FAA. That is not what this is about at all. When we have had a chance to talk, as we have to almost all the Senators in this…

First of all, I am not aware that I was offered a hearing. But let me make sure I have in the Record, and I ask unanimous consent to have printed in the Record a letter dated September 15, 2011, which was 9 months ago, signed by 32 Members…

Mr. President, I don't think anyone is going to say we haven't done everything we could to go through the committee process to get a hearing. I just flat gave up. That is why we have this rule. I will be looking forward to taking the next…

I wonder if I might ask the leader a question through the Chair. It would seem to me the process we are planning now is that the leader is deciding what amendments we will vote on and what we will not. I wonder if he would be open to the…

If the majority leader would yield, I think the leader could eliminate motions to proceed very easily by saying that every bill that comes to the floor will have an open and honest debate determined by what colleagues and Members would…

It is not about second-guessing. It is about holding people responsible.

Well, I think that tells us one problem: No accountability, no responsibility, no consequence for failure.

Mr. President, I take the leader at his word. I will go back to my caucus and explain that I object to this group of bills, but I would also note we did get two amendments out of the way. The one amendment on sugar that had the potential…

If we were to block grant Medicaid to the States, making them fully responsible--not taking away any of their dollars, making them fully responsible, take the Federal laws, let them do it, what we will see is some States very successful…

We also had testimony on MSIS audits that they do not include provider identification. These audits are worthless if you cannot source data to the provider, because that is where it starts.

Mr. President, I wish to comment very clearly on what this amendment does. Farm and agricultural production in this country is vital both to the country and to our export markets. We have through the years tried many different approaches…

Mr. President, I will speak in conjunction with the majority whip for a short period of time. I don't have a long speech.

Mr. President, I just want to have it noted for the record that I would have voted no on this nominee had we had a recorded vote. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Indiana.

Mr. President, I think I have time reserved now for up to 30 minutes. I wish to first of all say that the subject we have been listening to is life threatening. It is critical. That is not why I am down here today because we have something…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized out of turn, and I will cease when Senator Blumenthal shows up. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Madam President, I come from the farm State of Oklahoma. The biggest threat to the future of farmers is burdensome and costly regulations. I have three amendments. The amendments I am proposing will provide significant regulatory relief…

Thank you, Chairman Boxer, for holding this hearing. One of the Senate's more important responsibilities is to offer advice and provide consent to the President's nominations.