Whether the underfunding of State and local pension plans is $700 billion or over $3 trillion, it is a serious concern for workers and retirees, for State and local governments, and for taxpayers in general.

The Subcommittee needs to understand how public plans are currently calculating their assets and liabilities...

Too often, governments have deferred difficult choices by pushing obligations off into the future without responsibly saving for the day when those obligations are due.

But too often, State and local governments have not kept their end of the bargain and are failing to adequately fund employee pensions.

It is clear that there is not enough money set aside to meet future obligations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to yield such time as he may consume to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Ruppersberger).

I don't know how to do this, but if we could do 3 minutes each and reserve at least 15 minutes for closure. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Time has been consumed during this debate. The Senator from New York.

Mr. President, I urge my colleagues to vote for cloture on this important bill. It is the Federal Government's largest research program for new technologies and innovation. It is a job creator. It is widely supported by many business…

Mr. President, I thank the Senator for answering my question. I would like to submit many more things for the Record. But, again, I wish to close, because we are 10 minutes extended from the vote, by asking the Senate to please consider…

Mr. Speaker, I am going to start something tonight in an attempt to engage more of our American people in the process. Mr. Speaker, I know that you know that it is no secret that America is still emerging from the recent economic downturn…

Mr. Speaker, I move that the House do now adjourn. The motion was agreed to; accordingly (at 7 o'clock and 52 minutes p.m.), under its previous order, the House adjourned until tomorrow, Thursday, May 5, 2011, at 9 a.m. ____________________

Madam President, reserving the right to object, I wish to remind the Senators this isn't the only debate on the floor. We are having a cloture vote on SBIR, and we would like some time to close that debate as well. So I am open to work…

I appreciate the gentleman yielding. This mantra that's thrown out there, frankly, for over 2 years now, yourself, myself, we've been clamoring for policies that actually create jobs. And then when we bring forward legislation, actual…

I thank the gentleman from Georgia for yielding. I appreciate the hard work that you have been doing for years, as I have, on this issue. I appreciate the comments from my colleague from Illinois who just talked about just what is…

I don't think any of us knows the answers to these questions, which is why I think we should first do no harm and not pass a bill that would actually make us and our transportation system less safe.

getting America back to work is a top administration priority.

I believe the American public wants us to focus on critical issues like mass transit security, passenger screening protocols for body scanners and pat-downs and rising international security standards.

the fiscal year 2012 budget request reflects the administration's policy priorities and remains a good starting point for developing funding levels.