Mr. President, I wonder if the Senator will modify his request so I might be recognized following his 15 minutes.

I would say to the Senator from Ohio that it is a business plan these days for too many companies. Not all, but too many. There are some companies--and I just described a company, a CEO, and I was giving him credit because what he said is…

I think it's really helpful to have had this hearing to keep pressure and pushing and try to understand how do we make this user friendly.

we've been enormously frustrated... the money doesn't seem to get where it's needed.

We are very appreciative that you have changed the standard in a reasonable way to protect health, to protect safety.

I do intend to support the nomination. I hope others will as well.

This is important to talk about and so critical for us as Senators up here and the Members of the House.

I have been a long-time opponent of biennial budgeting.

We need action and it is absolutely imperative that it be done in the interest of everyone, those in the basin, those downstream.

This debt is such a serious problem.

It just makes common sense to release more water.

I think deregulation--part of that toxic brew--has a central responsibility in the near collapse.

I do not think we have faced a more significant fiscal challenge in my lifetime, and we will be judged based on our ability to respond.

Revenue is the lowest it has been as a share of our gross domestic product in 60 years.

This issue is critically important. It is a national priority.

I think what is absolutely essential is we put the country on a long-term, sustainable fiscal basis.

It may well require that we move to a form of biennial budgeting so that we can assure there is a budget blueprint in place.

I believe it is so critical for us at this juncture in history to join together as Republicans and Democrats.