I think consumers will beat a path to the door behind which they believe are advantages.

If the Government supports this new path, if it helps to build these concentrations of electrification that are so crucial to jumpstarting a new, national transportation system, then that is a game changer.

Mr. President, later this afternoon, the Senate will consider a piece of legislation to try to create some jobs. I understand that the Federal Government, by passing legislation, doesn't automatically create jobs, although it can in some…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for as much time as I may consume. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered.

Your efforts to achieve a comprehensive solution to the Devils Lake flooding situation are greatly appreciated.

Why is it important that you continue that?

I can't speak for those people, but now they would maybe fatalistically accept that that was the right plan.

It was about the need to get water out, but also balancing that with water quality downstream.

I funded that and it is now going to be ready and available and it's going to give us very substantial capabilities here in the Valley and Devils Lake that we've never before had in terms of more storage.

It appears obvious to us that if adjustments to downstream water quality/quantity requirements are not made to allow increased flows from the lake, a natural overflow could result in extreme water quality and flooding impacts downstream in…

We in Valley City are appreciative of the combined efforts of Senator Dorgan and State Officials in North Dakota.

Please describe the context of raising levees and running an outlet and doing things to try to protect roads and keep the economy working.

Those in Devils Lake area feel that as much water as you can get out as quickly as possible is the way to go, and then we have the concerns downstream.

One of the interests of this subcommittee, because we spend a lot of money on water issues around the country, is where will that funding come from?

Senator Dorgan assisted in securing two $400,000 appropriations for a total of $800,000.

I support all the efforts that we can make to take water off of the lake as you know.

I understand but, you know, as I said it was just about 15 months ago that I stuck $90 million in to increase that levee.

I guess the question is why not? If the release of the outlet in Devils Lake moves water from the lake and increases sulfate levels and so on, whatever the consequences of that are, why would there not be at this point or moving forward…