Joe Lieberman

I thank you, Chairman Lieberman and Ranking Member Collins, for your leadership in this area.

This is the moment to try to put into place systems that will stop a repetition of the infuriating behavior of GSA employees.

There is nothing that erodes the confidence of taxpayers more than reading of these scandalous examples of wasted dollars at a time when the public is struggling to put food on the table.

Yes, they are all outside of Western Region, but we also have criminal investigations in Region 9 as well.

It is my strong hope that before Congress adjourns this session that we give final passage to a bill sponsored by Senators Collins, Grassley, and me, which is S. 300, to require agencies to adopt better internal controls over the purchase…

So I thank you for that.

I urge you to go forward to figure out both how to reduce the fees to the agencies so in turn that will reduce pressure to raise those dollars by taxes.

GSA seems to be 'the most durable mess in Washington.'

Right. Is that one going on now?

Acting Administrator Tangherlini has put into place some controls that prevent problems like WRC from happening again.

This is outrageous and particularly so in the midst of what is supposed to be a freeze on pay in the Federal Government, a bad economy, and high unemployment.

I am encouraged by the Acting Administrator's actions so far, but aggressive congressional oversight must continue.

The time for patiently hoping for better days is over.

I think that is the situation we are in, because the vote is set to go off in a little more than 15 minutes. I have not spoken yet.

Nor do I. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so ordered. The Senator from Texas.

I understand the time is divided between the two leaders. But I think there is 15 minutes for the proponents and for those opposed. I would ask unanimous consent that that be the case. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there objection?

In the order of fairness, we yield to my friend from North Dakota. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from North Dakota. Energy

I thank my friend. And, of course, I agree. That is why we are legislating--but we are trying to legislate as minimally as we possibly can--to begin to solve this problem. I yield the floor. The Senator from Maryland is here. The Senator…

I would be glad to yield to my friend from Delaware for a question. He is the cosponsor of our main bill, S. 3414.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it adjourn under the previous order. There being no objection, the Senate, at 7:14 p.m., adjourned until Wednesday, August 1, 2012, at 9:30 a.m…

The majority leader filed cloture on the cyber security bill today. As a result, the filing deadline for first-degree amendments to S. 3414 is 1 p.m. on Wednesday. I want to indicate to my colleagues that we continue to work on an…

It strikes me, as I call you, Mr. President, that I once had the high honor to support a man who shared your name, indeed your father, for President of the United States. So it is nice to be able to call you Mr. President…

I thank the Senator. I want to make clear, as we finish, what we are talking about. What are we asking our government to do? We are not asking our government to put American troops on the ground in Syria. They do not need American troops…

This is an attempt to take a step, a significant step, to rebuild the lost trust that the American people feel today in members of Congress.

This is an attempt to take a step, a significant step, to rebuild the lost trust that the American people feel today in members of Congress.