Mr. President, I thank Senator Enzi, the senior Senator from Wyoming, for his good work on this legislation and for his always courteous demeanor. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to speak as in morning business for up to 8 minutes…

We do not just want to be a military power. We want to be an economic and diplomatic one and have influence in the region.

I think these comments are concerning to our allies in the region.

It is important that we clearly understand that the administration's promises include things that are new and innovative.

His comments talked about if the United States builds up militarily, there is going to be a counterreaction from China.

I do welcome the recent deployment of military assets to the region.

I ask unanimous consent to speak for up to 5 minutes. At that time, I wish to be able to turn it over to the Senator from Iowa. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

In 1998, Sylvia's last year in the White House and the first year at OMB, the Federal budget had a $69.3 billion surplus, the first surplus in a generation. Sylvia has been out of government for the last 12 years. But I am confident she…

Madam President, I rise to urge the Senate to confirm the nomination of Sylvia Mathews Burwell to be Director of the Office of Management and Budget. I do so with great pride because Sylvia Burwell is from my home State of West Virginia. I…

The Department strongly supports S. 360.

I authored this legislation initially to answer the desperate need in Lyon County for economic development and activity.

The validity of the underlying purpose of the bill has been confirmed through many iterations of the legislative process.

S. 256 corrects that anomaly, providing the same interest in submerged lands around the Northern Mariana Islands.

Thank you, Senator. Absolutely.

I understand that many of these bills have considerable support and are non-controversial while others are more complicated.

However the last 2 years the Forest Service has worked diligently with USDA, the Department of the Interior, Sealaska, the Alaska Delegation, members of staff of the committee and others, in particular, Senator Murkowski and her staff, to…

That will be duly noted.

I am very grateful that your Senate Energy and Natural Resources subcommittee is holding a hearing on this important piece of legislation for New Mexico on April 25, 2013.