No objection, Mr. President, but may I ask--I see Senator Murray on the floor and Senator Stabenow is on the floor, so I ask unanimous consent that after Senator Hutchison from Texas, we recognize Senator Murray for 7 minutes and Senator…

I know Senator Portman is here on the floor, and under a previous order will be recognized in a few minutes. But before that, for clarification purposes on the previous agreement, I want to state that the next first-degree amendment in…

But we want to be careful as we are examining these things that it is really fraud that we are after and not honest disaster victims who made reasonable good-faith decisions in the aftermath of a storm.

I do think that we have to take seriously our responsibility to curb government waste where we find it, and to eliminate and prosecute fraud and abuse.

the reason that we are into this mess in the first place is because the Republican leadership, in my view, undercut funds to FEMA.

This is exactly the money that is necessary for FEMA to keep up their computer software and reporting mechanisms to cut down on fraud and abuse.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to proceed to a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

It does not make any sense to me that the House of Representatives would cut funding from these important programs, $1.5 billion in additional funding is needed just to meet the cost of eligible projects for this year.

We are going to find ourselves back in the same position we were before Hurricane Katrina struck, which is under-funding our preparedness for future disasters and not being ready when it happens.

I thank the Senator. I will comment, and I know the Senator wants to genuinely root out the waste and duplication. I only say that for programs that are operating under appropriations only. The Senator will know that that authorization is…

Most of the programs I am familiar with at the Federal level have built-in sunsets, because they have limited authorization. How does the Senator's amendment either override that or undercut that? Why is his amendment necessary?

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Tribute to Frank Buckles

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 16, 2011, at 10:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is…

Our intention is for Senator Casey to have an opportunity when he comes to the floor. Before Senator Cornyn speaks, for just one moment I wish to add a few comments about what happened this morning. We did get two amendment votes on the…

Madam President, I will speak for just a moment, if I could. I know people in Washington and people in America do not believe we can actually eliminate a program. We are getting ready to eliminate one now in a bipartisan fashion to cut…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 16, 2011. The Committee will meet in room SDG-50 in the Dirksen Senate Office Building beginning…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous that the Special Committee on Aging be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on March 16, 2011, from 2-4 p.m. in Hart 216. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To require contractors to notify small business…