The Department's intent is to focus on efficiencies that enable movement of resources from overhead activities to fund capabilities required to fight the current war and prepare for future conflicts.

Mr. President, I rise today to recognize an important milestone in the effort of delivering meaningful health reform for all Americans. Six months ago, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law, and the…

Mr. President, I also want to add my support for the FAA reauthorization bill which the Senator from North Dakota talked about. It is important that we get this done. We have been operating without an authorization since 2007. We had a…

Mr. President, if the Senator will yield, I say in response to that, that is absolutely true. Around here I think, traditionally, tax extenders have been something both sides have worked on. Generally, it tends to be kind of…

Madam President, I object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard. The Senator from Washington.

Madam President, reserving the right to object, will the Senator from Washington modify her request to substitute a Thune amendment regarding extenders, the text of which is at the desk? The PRESIDING OFFICER. Will the Senator from…

I would say, through the Chair, to my colleague, I think it is important that this Senate act in a way that provides some certainty and predictability for people in this country who depend upon public policy coming out of here that has…

I didn't know the precise number, Mr. President. I will say to my colleague from Montana if it is not, in fact, 130--and I will take his word for that--I know it is a lot. There are lots of provisions in law that need to be extended and…

I would say to the Senator, through the Chair, one of the things I think is hurting business and economic development in this country is a lack of certainty.

If I might continue, Mr. President, let me just say with regard to the observations of the Senator from Montana that I couldn't agree more that we need to get these things done, and we need to provide some long-term certainty for those in…

I hope we get this resolved as quickly as possible because this is one thing, and you were right about the signal.

It seems like--I visited Oak Ridge. I visited NREL. The testing has been going on for an awfully long time.

The Environmental Protection Agency has become public enemy number one of our farmers and ranchers.

Mr. President, the legislation before us is the small business bill, which includes a number of provisions. I have stated before in comments on the floor that there are a number of concerns I have about the $30 billion lending fund that is…

I think it is instructive to remember the state of the rail industry before the Act was passed.

I want to also thank you for holding this important hearing.

I want to express my concern about the Administration's latest proposal to spend another $50 billion on road, rail, and other infrastructure projects to stimulate the economy.

Many of the Administration's policies, including high-speed passenger rail, will benefit metropolitan areas, but do little, if anything, to assist rural communities.