Madam President, I have come to the floor and talked many times of my constituents back home in Alaska and the importance of ensuring we have a balanced approach in how we deal with this incredible debt crisis we are in and how we manage…

I think about where we are today. My son has been watching this because I am not home. He has a phrase he likes to use, even though it is not the perfect deal, but it does create balance. He will say at times: ``Suck it up, buttercup.'' I…

Just for a question. The way I understand this is, for people who may be watching or listening, a filibuster requires 60 votes. All we are asking for is the same thing the House of Representatives did last night on their bill.

Mr. President, I thank the Senator from Louisiana very much. I am happy to join my friend from Louisiana and my friend from Minnesota. I am a small business owner. I have been from my teenage years. My wife is a small business owner. I…

A simple majority, allow an up-or-down vote so we can determine what plan or what action we take. That is all we are asking for.

Mr. President, I had hoped to be able to speak at greater length than 3 minutes this afternoon, but the message that Senator Coburn has been delivering is so incredibly important. I want to join Senator Kerry's remarks in thanking him for…

I thank the Senator from Oklahoma. It is my understanding we were bumping up against the vote at 5:30. Is that correct, Mr. President? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Republicans have 3 minutes 15 seconds remaining.

Madam President, I follow my friend from California, and I agree wholeheartedly with her that the United States of America cannot default on its debts and obligations. I would like to think that all 100 of us in this body would concur and…

Mr. President, we would never have done that. Had I walked into the unicameral for my State of the State Address and done things such as are being proposed here today, I literally would have been run out. The State senators would have…

I thank the Senator from Wyoming. It is my pleasure to be on the Senate floor with him and to talk about my experience in dealing with the reality of a balanced budget amendment. As I said a couple of weeks ago when I spoke on the floor…

That is exactly what the people of Nebraska want to see us focused on. The debate that is occurring now absolutely is one of the most important debates we have had literally in the history of this country. It was encapsulized in a…

Mr. President, I rise today to echo my colleagues in recognizing Dave Johnson for his commitment to public service. Having spent 23 years working on agriculture and food policy for the Federal Government, Dave has demonstrated a rare…

Mr. President, my friend and colleague from Colorado is always so passionate on the floor when it comes to the issues pertinent not only to his State and his country. He has laid out such a logical case on the debt of this Nation and why…

Will the gentleman from Washington yield? Announcement by the Acting Chair The Acting CHAIR. Again, the Chair requests that Members use proper yielding to each other for time. The gentleman from Virginia has the floor.

Again, this is Yukon Charlie, the Yukon River that was used by the Gold Rush people, has been used by Alaskans all these years without the Park Service. The State has authority over the waters. The Coast Guard has the authority for…

To answer the gentleman, the Coast Guard has all the authority for enforcement on all waters, including all rivers. In fact, sometimes the Coast Guard is too active on the river, as far as I'm concerned. I have been on that river. Like I…

The river is 2,800 miles long. This is one little tiny section. This is a river that's 5 miles wide and 2,800 miles long. It's the third largest river in the United States of America that carries transportation.

Just keep in mind that the Coast Guard has its authority. As soon as this happened, I called the Coast Guard because the Park Service said the Coast Guard had granted them that authority. The Coast Guard said, No way. That's our authority…