I'm also troubled with the proposals to cap inflationary cost and reduce the average award of competing research project grants below the fiscal year 2012 level.

Some people may say that this country cannot afford these investments--I say we cannot afford not to make them.

I recognize that the Corps has consistently been woefully underfunded, which presents great challenges in addressing the needs of Louisiana and the Nation.

We also have to be sensitive to the taxpayers that are picking up this tab.

There's no way around it. And until we can figure out a way to put more private and public money on the table, we're not going to get there.

We need to ask the Administration, starting with the thinking that's already done, to think with us, and provide a vision, an idea, for what we need to do about locks and dams and what we need to do about harbors.

And I agree with the Senator that we have to think big, but we're going to need a bigger budget to do that.

But right now, it's got to come from the Administration, and I've got to ask you all to be forceful and fight the fight, and we'll back you up.

This budget is wholly insufficient, and it's not your fault, Madam Chair. It's our fault as the general Appropriations Committee, and we have to say to the President, and to our leadership, we cannot take it, the country cannot.

I'm going to be on a tear this year to focus on our water transport because it's crucial.

At a time when NIH budgets are flat, and when the most heavily funded States will continue to be funded as they always have, why would the administration propose reducing the one pot of money that is specifically designed for States that…

I believe that the NIH funding should be a priority and that its benefits extend well beyond its research discoveries.

However, for the fiscal year 2013 budget year, the President proposes a $48 million decrease.

I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, it's a bittersweet honor to take the podium during this altogether appropriate recognition of House Parliamentarian John Sullivan upon his retirement. I recognize it as bittersweet because…

I don't get a chance very often to say that the Commerce Committee is working on truth and justice, but that's what we're doing today.

Mr. President, today I rise to speak about the subject our Nation is focused on as the Supreme Court takes up some of the constitutional provisions of the health care law that was passed a couple of years ago in this body. Obviously, the…

It hinders us enormously as policymakers.

I'm very concerned that NASA seems to be abandoning its plan to abide by the Federal acquisition regulations (FAR) in the commercial crew program