I thank Senator Hagan. I appreciate her leadership on this issue. Again, I also appreciate her recognition of not only the Members who have been struggling with the bill for almost a year, but the staff members who help us put together the…

I thank the Senator. Thank you for your comments. Thank you for your leadership, particularly on a series of freshmen amendments that dealt with cost containment. And if time exists after my colleagues speak, I am going to go back to that…

I thank Senator Udall. I know our time is running out; just a final comment I wish to make. As many of my colleagues know, I had the honor of serving as Governor of Virginia before becoming a Senator. I think one of the differences between…

I thank Senator Merkley. Thank you for sharing those stories from real folks who are dealing with the current broken health care system. There are enormous stress, challenges, and burdens that our current system places on those families. I…

Mr. President, I rise today to express my strong concerns over efforts to expand service at Washington-Reagan National Airport-- National. I would first like to remind my colleagues that this Congress passed legislation in 1986 to create…

I think the President has chosen well. Someone with your unique background and qualifications, and I think you are going to be a great TSA Administrator.

As a former business guy and Governor, I am pretty focused on metrics as well.

I have not seen or heard anything from Richmond or anywhere else that there was any misunderstanding.

It takes 200 years to develop a tradition, and 2 days to destroy one.

I also wish to thank the Senator from Louisiana for yielding for this exchange. Amendment No. 3476, As Modified The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the amendment. The legislative clerk read as follows: The Senator from Texas [Mrs…

Mr. President, it was my understanding that the Ensign amendment was going to be called up at 4:30. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator is correct.

Would that not be the proper topic of discussion on the floor? I have been waiting since 4:15 when I was slated to speak.

May I ask for a courtesy from the Senator from Texas and the Senator from Louisiana? I have a commitment I cannot break back in my office that was supposed to begin at this moment. Would you feel it appropriate if I were to ask that my…

I appreciate that courtesy. If there is opportunity for me to come back later, I will try.

Mr. President, I want to thank Senate leadership for bringing this bill to the floor. Our Nation's air traffic control systems are in serious need of modernization, and this bill is the right step forward in addressing those challenges…

Mr. President, today I introduced a bill that speaks directly to the welfare of our military service members and their families. TRICARE, TRICARE for Life, and the nonappropriated fund health plans are the programs that provide health care…

I hope we can count on having this Wartime Contracting Commission make another visit soon into Iraq and come out with an idea on the contracting side of how this is going to look like.

I will work hand in hand as a partner with the embassy to ensure that we don't just hand off tasks.