It is easy to tell that this certainly is a passion, and we really do appreciate that. We need a lot more of that.

as February came to a close, it left behind an unfortunate new record, $3.73 per gallon, the national average, for unleaded gasoline, the highest ever recorded during this month. Prior to this morning's drop of three-tenths of a cent, gas…

I continue to believe that the nation needs both a robust heavy-lift and crew exploration vehicle development to enable us to go beyond low earth orbit...

I share Senator Hutchison's concern that the Fiscal Year 2013 budget request for NASA... could undermine... the very careful balance established in the 2010 NASA Authorization Act.

It's our responsibility as policymakers and keepers of the American purse to ensure that we are spending America's hard-earned dollars efficiently and prudently.

To encourage entrepreneurial ventures in the scientific and technology community, we must begin bridging the gap in applied research.

We must prioritize our nation's precious and limited R&D dollars in a way that gives Americans what they deserve.

Advances in science and engineering are essential to ensuring America's economic growth and global competitiveness.

the EPSCoR program allows research institutions in my State and other smaller States to have a fair chance.

This business of taxation is very important.

Those who are watering it down now, it doesn't matter what regulation you put on them.

Half the Senate doesn't want very wealthy people, millionaires and billionaires, to pay any more taxes than they're paying currently.

I don't disagree with the problem. So much of that is just doing right.

The cruise industry truly is contributing many millions of dollars to the economy.

It's just trying to get some information out so that we can really help each other.

It's just hard to get somebody to wash their hands.

I don't think anybody on the panel is trying to say that the cruise industry is not paying what we as Congress have agreed on what they need to pay.

this country doesn't hold together, either individually or in terms of corporate behavior, unless we all do our fair share.

I thank the Senator from Missouri, and I appreciate his hard work and his leadership in bringing this amendment forward. President Obama's accommodation of religious liberty in his revised health care mandate covering contraceptives…

I mean, that's sort of what this country is about, paying your fair share.

I agree with the Chairman that, certainly, we need a fairer, simpler tax code.

This is a good example, perfect example, about how a port at a local level works with the Coast Guard.

The budget request includes operational efficiencies that are estimated could save $1.2 billion.

I have a lot of concern about spending a billion dollars in that direction.

Thank you, Madam Chair, and again very quickly I just want to thank the Secretary for being here and the team that he assembled, for your hard work.