I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded, and to speak for up to 15 minutes. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

I believe Larry Walther will do a great job, and I know we will be proud of his future accomplishments at the Export-Import Bank.

It is imperative that we have leaders with managerial experience who best know how to create jobs and help economies thrive.

Thank you, Madam Chair and Ranking Member Inhofe for having this really important hearing on the task force review.

Sometimes we make it very, very tough on you. I do appreciate you all being here and all that you represent.

And again, Crystal, we really do appreciate your testimony.

We have to put that infrastructure in place and then another problem, and you might comment on this, Crystal, is the fact that we do have stuff in place now and yet families do not know about it. It is not readily accessible.

throughout the course of this debt ceiling debate, the American people have watched in utter disbelief of what they have seen. They understand we need to get our fiscal house in order; they see what has gotten us into this mess; and they…

I really would encourage--in fact, I'd insist that we do that.

Motor carrier safety is an extremely important issue for Arkansas and for the Nation as a whole.

I'd very much like to encourage you to make this mandatory starting as soon, as quickly as possible.

The establishment of a national clearinghouse will make it easier for employers to ensure that they hire safe drivers and will prevent unsafe drivers from operating commercial motor vehicles on our Nation's highways.

I think that myself and Senator Nelson also feel like there's something very special in this field, and we'll be very supportive.

The field continues to have great potential in addressing some of the grand challenges facing our Nation in energy, defense, healthcare, water, and agriculture.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

There's no doubt that advances in science and engineering are essential for ensuring America's economic growth and global competitiveness.

The Federal investment in basic research in nanotechnology has been a striking success story.

This is a problem that I think is going to continue to grow. And it's not just this area.

Was that from scientists, or were these political people? How does anybody that is familiar with the scientific process, how do you deal with statements like that?

I think one of the things that is so important as we deal with the agencies and things, especially in dealing with issues that really do affect our health, economic matters in the sense that, trying to conform to some of the things that we…

Can you comment on that? Is that currently still a problem, or in the recent years been a problem?

You also have the problem, too, in the sense that you can have a false sense of security, can't you, in the sense that a test was supposedly performed and everything was OK?

it has been almost 800 days since the Senate Democratic majority produced a budget. I do not expect one to appear from the majority today, but at least the Democratic majority canceled the Fourth of July recess to work toward an agreement…

I move to reconsider the vote, and I move to lay that motion on the table. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. The bill (S. 679), as amended, was passed, as follows: S. 679 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of…

nearly every day we see scenes playing out in countries around the world where their financial security is in ruins. This is the last thing we want to experience in our great country, and that is why we need to reform our fiscal policy and…