to commemorate February 2011 as Black History Month, I would like to acknowledge the contributions of African Americans to the cultural, technological, and social evolution of our Nation and American democracy. Each year, the Association…

if the Senator will yield, as someone who has been in the real estate business for almost 30 years, there is enormous opportunity. I know that when I was mayor, we put more of the lands--we are not talking parks; we are talking about just…

I mean, it is like if you receive a check and it sits there for 10 years, I can guarantee my colleagues, if you are in private business, as I have been, you have written that off already. It is gone. In this situation, what we are saying…

The justification seemed...

So how will you ensure that the Head Start program that is in Health and Human Services and your Early Learning Challenge Fund will not create a conflict and run very seamlessly, especially, again, in rural communities that are critical…

I agree with you in regards to States and bankruptcy that we should not go down that path.

Do you agree with his statement that it has to be spread among all agencies and discretionary cannot take the load that it is taking?

Will you be flexible to help us address those kind of communities that just do not have--it is hard to believe in this country that there are cashless in some cases or limited cash communities, and they are basically in Alaska.

In Alaska these teachers are doing amazing things in multiple disciplines, and yet because of the technical language, they are not highly qualified.

I apologize. I had to rush out and make a quick call, so thank you, Mr. Chairman.

If we are competing against the L.A.s and the Chicagos and the Seattles, we will not win that battle for dollars.

I want to take this opportunity to discuss an issue of importance to Alaska Native communities. The legislation currently under consideration would extend through 2011 the enhanced tax incentive for donations of qualified conservation…

I rise in support of the New START treaty. I do so for several reasons. First, of course, the treaty is essential for national security. It promotes transparency and stability between the two countries that possess the majority of the…

I signed on to the Sessions-McCaskill bill because I think we need to get somewhere with the deficit. The American people are losing every day that we have this bickering that goes on. I didn't come here to hear the bickering that just…

Thank you very much. Let me echo and associate my comments with all of the Members who have spoken previously, and thanks to Senator Warner and Senator Chambliss for their work in bringing truly a bipartisan approach to how we start the…

First, with all due respect to the Senator from Arizona, let's not cast shadows on either side. We are all in this together. You cannot blame one side or the other for delay. I could argue that the food safety bill took way too long…

I have aggressively talked about the issue of small business, I have lived small business, and I clearly understand what the 1099 is all about. I talked about this issue back in July and made it clear that we need to deal with it and get…

thank you very much. Earlier today I spoke on the Senate floor and talked about how the economy is fragile but going in the right direction and how many of us on this side of the aisle--as a matter of fact, all of us on this side of the…

The biggest one is on the economy. I sat here yesterday and heard some folks on the other side complaining that it took us a week to deal with the food safety law, and they wondered why. Well, it is because the other side continues to…

Keeping the tax rates where they are means millionaires and billionaires continue to get a bonus... Half of the businesses in this country, the small businesses, gross less than $25,000. That is a fact. So for us to just kind of continue…

I thank the Senator. Unless this bipartisan bill becomes law, many small businesses for which identity theft is not a threat could be required to spend time and effort to comply with the red flags rule implementing the FACT Act. This could…

I am introducing a bill to provide medically separated servicemembers and their family continued access to commissaries and exchanges. Unfortunately, these individuals lose many benefits upon their honorable discharge from the military for…

today I am introducing the Space Available Equity Act. Members and retirees of the National Guard and Reserve, their families, and surviving military spouses make great sacrifices for our Nation. However, too often these individuals do not…

Thank you, Chairman Udall and Senator Burr, for allowing me a few minutes.

It enables Kantishna Roadhouse... to construct a microhydro project and reduce their diesel usage by over 50 percent.