I am thankful for the understanding of the chairman and the ranking member of the full committee. This is important to our Nation and especially Alaska, and I do appreciate your consideration. With that, I yield back the balance of my…

Mr. President, we often hear refrains of the need to make government policies more fair, clear, or simple--especially when these policies involve the collection of fees or taxes. Today I rise to introduce legislation to fix an inherently…

I offer an amendment on behalf of the gentleman from California (Mr. Denham). The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will report the amendment. The Clerk read as follows: At the end of the bill, before the short title, insert the following: Sec. __…

It's been said this is a simple bill. In a way it is simple, but it solves a great problem. As mentioned by the chairman and the ranking member, this bill probably wouldn't necessarily be passed if it wasn't because of the conflict we had…

This amendment has been adopted by the House twice unanimously, and so I urge the passage of the amendment. I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. President, I rise to recognize the importance of Memorial Day, a day that means so much to me and those I represent in Alaska. For so many of us, it means sunlight nearly all day, the unofficial beginning of summer, and enjoying the…

Madam President, I ask for support of the amendment that is before us. This is an amendment that will actually strengthen the role of NOAA as the Federal agency that has oversight over our fisheries. Currently the FDA is considering an…

Madam President, I rise today to speak to an amendment we will have on the floor tomorrow afternoon. This is an amendment that certainly has generated a fair amount of interest within my State, in fact, most of our coastal States, anywhere…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the reading of the amendment be dispensed with. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The amendment is as follows: (Purpose: To prohibit approval by the Food and Drug…

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to call up amendment No. 2108. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will report. The bill clerk read as follows: The Senator from Alaska [Ms. Murkowski], for…

Madam President, to mark the occasion of President Obama's Camp David G8 Summit focusing, in part, on the problem of food security in Africa, I want to take this opportunity to address the necessity for the United States to help foster…

Mr. President, I come to the floor today to commemorate the 150 year anniversary of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. I am pleased that my colleagues in the Senate have agreed the occasion is worthy of a resolution honoring this…

I thank the Senator. We look at those charts and reach the conclusion, inescapably, if we do not start doing oversight and start figuring this out, we are not going to solve this problem. My colleague's reputation as a watchdog of the…

Very clearly this body is saying, the Senate and the House of Representatives, when they vote on the President's budget, they are saying very clearly: The President's budget spends too much, it taxes too much, and it borrows too much. It…

Mr. President, I thank Senator Isakson. Senator Isakson referenced my time as Governor of Nebraska. But I speak on behalf of all Governors. The Governor has to deliver a budget. In Nebraska, we used a 2-year budget, and that is what makes…

Senator Kyl makes an excellent point. If I could call on my colleague, Senator Coburn, who, as much as any Member of the Senate, has been the watchdog when it comes to spending and programs that duplicate each other, he has been the person…

Mr. President, I rise today with my colleagues to talk about something I think is an issue that without a solution will affect every single aspect of life in our country. I am speaking about our debt crisis, the impending fiscal cliff, and…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to enter into a colloquy with my Republican colleagues: Senators Kyl, Coburn, Isakson, and Heller for up to 30 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection? Without objection, it is…