It is this Senator's understanding that they are taking that out, and pursuant to the clear legislative intent, that seems to be a step in the right direction.

We remain committed to addressing the devastating impacts of the BP oil spill.

The beautiful environment in the Gulf Coast and the vibrant economy go hand in hand.

It is hard to believe that it has been four years since the worst man-made environmental disaster in our Nation's history.

get on with it. And it is an opportunity to have some money.

The RESTORE Act is absolutely critical.

It is the RESTORE Act that provides hope to state and local governments and the constituents they serve along the entire Gulf Coast.

I fully expect that the Council will adhere to the letter of the law as it was intended.

Folks in the Gulf Coast region--they need help now.

As we already heard this morning from Senator Nelson, our economy is really driven by tourism and a healthy environment is paramount to a good economy in Florida.

We need to make sure that the administration is prioritizing large-scale ecosystem protection across science and research programs.

We need to ensure that our coastal communities are prepared for the next storm.