Mark Pryor

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Foreign Relations be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 8, 2011, at 10 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on Health…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 8, 2011, at 10:30 a.m., in room 366 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building. The PRESIDING OFFICER…

I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Armed Services be authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on November 8, 2011, at 9:30 a.m. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Committee on Energy and…

we are considering some veterans legislation this week. I rise to recognize the men and women who have selflessly served our Nation as part of the Armed Forces. Veterans Day is approaching. It is one way to remind ourselves of the…

H.R. 1965 is designed to remedy a unique and specific problem that is today confronting certain community banks.

How much training is involved there? When we talk about fraud awareness training, what are we talking about?

Is that a fair characterization?

FEMA actually has now turned this over to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) for collection.

FEMA has wrongly paid out money to some people that have suffered damages and floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, et cetera.

I see that I have other colleagues on the floor. I will only be a couple of minutes. Today I rise to oppose an amendment offered by Senator Moran, amendment No. 815. I really do appreciate the intent of Senator Moran's amendment. I…

So to me, that is a breakdown in internal communication.

I am wondering if the way this got started in Arkansas was that FEMA was not talking to each other within itself.

So I am not trying to justify for Hurricane Katrina, but it was almost like the mind set may have been that if you get 10 people that are asking for a need and 9 of them need it, let's get it to the 9.

This is not going to be limited just to Arkansas. This is going to happen throughout the country.

in some ways, I hate to come to the floor and talk about this because I very seldom do, but I am announcing to all my colleagues and to the administration that I am putting a hold on all Treasury Department nominations until I get…

I ask that the quorum call be rescinded and that I be allowed to speak in morning business, although I believe we are in the Republican time. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

My goal is to review the organization and leadership of FEMA components, their emphasis on front-end accountability processes.

I think it probably was the case there when James Lee Witt was there, and then it went through kind of a period in the wilderness.

You have people that are in severe need and they need it very quickly, but at the same time you want to make sure there is not fraud and people trying to abuse the system.

So, that is going on now?

I want to make sure that FEMA has in the agency a culture of accountability.

I think it is a combination that initially people were trying to get a lot of aid out to the survivors.

I think it is an idea that we ought to talk about and think about and see if it is feasible and see if it would help.

I think it is critical that FEMA maintain and expand their fraud awareness programs.

In terms of the helmet itself?