I have introduced the Regulatory Capture Prevention Act to create an office within the Office of Management and Budget that would investigate and report on regulatory capture wherever it may appear.

I will just thank both of you for your interest in improving regulation for the American people and how best to regulate.

I appreciate the difficulty of that choice, and I appreciate the courtesy both of the Chairman, Senator Lieberman, and the Ranking Member, Senator Collins, in allowing me this time.

People may disagree about particular cases, but I hope that we can all recognize that powerful special interests have a constant interest in capturing our regulatory agencies.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be laid upon the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The resolution (S. Res. 135) was agreed…

Unfortunately for the Ranking Member, Oklahoma is one of the three States that has a higher percentage than Rhode Island of structurally deficient bridges.

I complimented you on the intensity of the effort you put into getting the Recovery Act funding out into Rhode Island.

One of the solutions that we have proposed in Rhode Island is to put tolls on I-95 to generate some of our own funding since the Federal funding is insufficient for these purposes.

Mr. President, later this week, we will consider a spending measure to fund the United States Government through the remaining 6 months of this fiscal year. While the majority leader is on the Senate floor, I want to thank him, as well as…

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Foreign Relations Committee be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 135. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The clerk will…

I would urge you to relook at those numbers.

NOAA routinely adopts these regulations for Federal waters, and we do have some activity, not as pronounced, but some activity in Federal waters.

Rhode Island lands more fish than any other State except New Jersey, and we don't have representation on there.

Madam Speaker, I rise today to recognize and honor the Disabled American Veterans, an organization representing our Nation's wartime disabled vets. Disabled American Veterans works to ensure our government fulfills its promise to those who…

It is vital across the country.

Are you looking in any way to try to improve the efficiency of these programs, their acceptance, and their legitimacy in the eyes of the fishing community?

It is, Madam Chairman. And we have tried in several different years to alter the composition, and we will try again.

I would ask if you would work with NOAA to start thinking in terms of more creative management of the species, working with the industry.