Madam President, I was very disappointed to learn recently that Senator Reid intends to bring up a very significant amnesty proposal next week known as the DREAM Act. It is disguised as an education initiative, but it will provide a…

I have to tell you I talk to these people every day and it sure as heck is not what they are telling me.

Just to clarify this point, do these numbers, does your report reflect the impact on the job losses of the de facto shallow water moratorium?

Remind us, and I know you testified about this, how many of those workers have been laid off to date?

What to date is the impact of the moratorium on federal revenue and the deficit, and what do you project it to be continuing into the future?

That is the de facto moratorium.

Thanks to our witnesses today.

No economic analysis of consequence was done prior to that dramatic decision?

So do you know how many rigs you anticipate being idled by the end of the month?

They quite frankly are pretty certain of the opposite when they look at shallow water.

Madam Speaker, I thank my friend and colleague from Florida for his kind words, and we share the same sentiments with regard to hurricanes, and we've both dealt with them. I appreciate his work as well and his leadership for the State of…

I am glad you all are finally here to do that.

Mr. President, could you acknowledge the vote we are about ready to take? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The vote is on invoking cloture on the substitute amendment No. 4594 to H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010.

Mr. President, the Senator from Virginia is absolutely correct. He has put his finger on two pending and very serious problems. One is the regulation direction being driven by some of the new legislation we have passed. Of course, he would…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous conent that the Select Committee on Intelligence be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on September 14, 2010, at 2:30 p.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered…

Mr. President, I thank the leader for his kind words, but the fact is we would not have gotten to this point this morning where 61 Senators raised their hands or their voices to vote yes for this important and substantial piece of…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs, be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate, on September 14, 2010, at 2:15 p.m., in room SD-226 of the Dirksen Senate…

Parliamentary inquiry: If we get 60 votes, we move forward with the bill; is that correct? The PRESIDING OFFICER. That is correct. Cloture is invoked on the substitute. Cloture Motion By unanimous consent, pursuant to rule XXII, the Chair…