Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Texas will be postponed. Amendment Offered by Ms. Maxine Waters of California

Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to this amendment offered by our friend from Texas. This amendment outdoes his last one. We are now talking about eliminating nine routes, with a total ridership of over 2 million people: the Cardinal and…

Mr. President, I want to thank Matt Donovan and Stephen Barney of Senator McCain's staff for their patience and assistance in drafting this amendment. I also want to thank COL Anthony Lazarski of Senator Inhofe's staff and, of course my…

Mr. Chairman, I thank the subcommittee chairman for yielding. I simply want to underscore his opposition to this amendment. It would block Amtrak's loan request for $2.5 billion for new Acela high- speed train sets. This loan would make it…

It is a simple yes or no answer. Did the Senator from Oregon know the FISA Court existed?

Mr. President, I couldn't let the statements that were just made go without a degree of fact check. There is no secret court. A secret court means we don't know it exists. Every Member of the U.S. Senate and every American knows that the…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate remain in session for at least 5 additional minutes while I speak. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent for 1 additional minute before the Senate adjourns. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

The Senator asked his question, and I answered, and I still control the time. Thank you. Now, clearly, it is evident that if we say something wrong enough times, people start to believe it. It is not a secret court. It is not a secret law…

Well, no, you don't. I asked the question, but I did not yield the Senator from Oregon the time. Mr. President, regular order. I don't want to take any more of the Senate's time, and I certainly don't want to take any more of my…

Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote. The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Ohio will be postponed. Amendment Offered by Mr. Grayson

Madam Chair, I thank the gentleman for yielding. I, too, reluctantly oppose this amendment. The discussion we had earlier about this offset certainly pertains here. We really cannot afford to make this kind of cut--safety-related cut, I…

Madam Chair, we have an amendment before us that would strike a provision that has been carried in every transportation appropriations bill since 2009. The section simply grants the Secretary or his representatives the authority to engage…

Madam Chair, I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentleman from California (Mr. McClintock). The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes appeared…

Madam Chair, I appreciate the chairman's response. I, too, will work with you. This isn't acceptable. We will do our best to help you get the kind of response you need.

Mr. Chairman, I claim the time in opposition so as to raise objections about the offsets proposed in this amendment. The CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.

Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from California (Ms. Lee), one of those additional speakers, a member of the Committee on Appropriations.

Mr. Chairman, I move to strike the last word. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.