the taxpayers of this country are just appalled.

But I think that these regions have gone wild. This region went wild on you. They went rogue.

You have to. You have no other option.

It is our job to prove to America that this agency is filled with patriotic, loyal Americans who want to do the right thing.

I support the Paying a Fair Share Act because it will help bring fairness to our Tax Code. In large part because of the irresponsible policies of President George W. Bush, the very wealthiest taxpayers have seen their tax rates drop by…

There are several of us who reserve our right to object. What the House has done is guaranteed job losses for this country. They are already dithering on the Senate bill. Their not taking it up for a vote has cost us about 100,000 jobs…

Reserving the right to object. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.

I know my colleague Senator Collins is waiting to speak. I will be very brief. Let's be clear what just happened. What just happened is the House sent us a 90-day extension of our transportation programs with not one dime of revenue in…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for 5 minutes and then return the floor to Senator Durbin. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered

I was going to wait until the House actually sent over this extension before saying anything, but I was so impressed with Senator Durbin's explanation that I felt I should come to the floor and thank him so much. His leadership on this and…

Well, the question is very important. This is the worst possible time because now, if you can't enter into new contracts, you lose the building season. And it is particularly brutal right now on the businesses and on the workers. Let me be…

What is the parliamentary situation at this time? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority retains 16 minutes in time.

Well, I would ask consent that I have an additional 5 minutes on the 16. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection? Without objection, it is so ordered.

Will the Chair advise me when I have 2 minutes remaining. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Chair will so advise the Senator.

So, Madam President, I think it is very important that we understand what we are trying to do here. The Senator from Alaska said it has been a good debate. Yes, it has been a good debate, but let me tell you what is not good. What is not…

I ask for the yeas and nays on the nomination. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the nomination of Miranda Du, of Nevada, to…

we all are watching what the Supreme Court is going to do in terms of the health care bill they have before them. What I want to do today is completely stay away from that argument and talk about what the health care bill is doing now…

I am confused a little bit because didn't the minority get extra time? Did they not get extra time? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator asked consent and no one objected.

So in Michigan it is the same story: 3,500 jobs. So I am saying to the House today--and I encourage my colleagues to-- and I know the Senator from New Hampshire is here and she is going to speak a little bit later about this--come to the…

I would like to thank my friend from Minnesota. Her leadership when she was on the Environment and Public Works Commission was amazing. We miss her leadership there. She is working so hard on other committees, but she still carries in her…

before they leave the floor, I thank Senator Coons and Senator Begich and Senator Shaheen for the very important words they gave today on behalf of the House taking up and passing the bipartisan Senate Transportation bill. It is…

I ask unanimous consent for 30 more seconds, and then I will turn it over to my friend. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I am going to yield in just 2 minutes because I know Senator Sanders is here. I really feel I need to respond because it is very important to note that under the leadership of President Obama--for decades we did not drill as much as we…

We are equally grateful to the chairman and the other members of this subcommittee and staff, for their continuing efforts in funding critically needed operations and maintenance funding of all our Nation's ports both large and small…

you know very well, because you are such a leader on the issue of jobs for America, that the Senate passed a very important bill last week. It is called MAP 21, Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century. What it did was reauthorize our…