the Postal Service is continuing their Universal Service Obligation.

I think that is--I have thought this for 18 months--what we ought to do.

It is not a heck of a lot of money because it goes away.

We are doing really exceptionally well by any measure.

What a number of us--Senator McCain and I, and others, including people sitting here to my right--have authored and co-sponsored...

Senator Snowe and I have offered legislation that provides for an investment tax credit, a 30-percent investment tax credit.

I rise this afternoon to speak in favor of moving ahead for progress in the 21st century, something that most Americans--almost all Americans--have to be in favor of, and if a lot of them knew about this legislation, I think they would be…

the Presiding Officer, my colleague from Delaware, has heard me say more than a few times that when I meet people who have been married a long time, I like to ask them: What is the secret to being married 50 or 60 or 70 years or more? I…

These are a couple of our ideas we wanted to share with you. They are not just Democratic ideas, not just Republican ideas, just smart ideas.

We must use every tool available to put our fiscal house back in order and to give the American people the government they expect and that they deserve.

A second but related line of questions is: Can mutual funds only gain access to commodities through these controlled foreign corporations or commodity-linked notes?

What we are hearing anecdotally is the deficit number continues to drop, down from 1.5 to 1.3.

Could I just ask if that is the case, then why not?

One of the things that the Chairman, Dr. Coburn, and I are very much focused on is deficit reduction.

Let me see if I understand this. We have these mutual funds that are, if you will, investing in commodities.

In my old job as governor of Delaware, from time to time we would suggest to the legislature what tax law changes we thought should be made to provide clarity in areas like this.

Another way is to maximize the income that we are trying to bring into the treasury by making sure that folks are paying their fair share.

The best thing that could happen with this debate is if the outcome desired is the outcome that this Subcommittee has been discussing.

Just a quick question for Dr. Apostolakis and Commissioner Ostendorff. It is my understanding that the NRC staff also recommended that the Commission quickly act on the implementation of spent fuel instrumentation.

there is not the absence of a quorum, but I appreciate my colleague mentioning that. I said to him earlier today, maybe yesterday, Senator Franken is a joy to have around here. Some of us know he brings a real special touch for trying to…

I ask unanimous consent that the period for morning business be extended until 8:30 p.m., with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. ____________________

we are supposed to be humble, that we should practice and act as remembering and trying to challenge us with humility.

treat others the way we want to be treated.

Where is the Commission on the licensing process of potentially new reactors and the relicensing process of current reactors, please?

Good. Thanks very much for that clarification.