I would like to thank my friend from Texas, Senator Cornyn. As the top Senate Republican member of the conference committee for WRRDA, I agree with his understanding and interpretation of the language in section 1046(a) of the WRRDA…

I urge a ``yes'' vote also. This is a strong bipartisan bill. There were only four ``no'' votes in the House and a strong positive editorial in the Wall Street Journal. Vote for infrastructure and jobs. The PRESIDING OFFICER. If there is…

I share Chairman Boxer's and Senator Whitehouse's understanding of section 4014, and will address subsection (d) of that provision, ``Request for Projects.'' Subsection (d) is an important provision because it requires approval by the…

I thank my friend from Alabama, Senator Sessions, for his work on the WRRDA conference report and on this long-running dispute in the Southeastern United States. As the top Republican on the Committee on Environment and Public Works and…

I rise today in strong support of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act. We are going to be considering the final conference report on that legislation and voting on it in a few hours. This WRRDA bill is a strong, bipartisan bill…

Senators David Vitter (R-LA) and John Cornyn (R-TX) are also original sponsors of this legislation.

The legislation would remove some aspects of federal oversight under the FPA that potentially could cripple the many benefits provided by the Project.

Certainly the regulations enforcing security and safety standards during decommissioning are very important to the country and certainly those who live and work right around these facilities.

I assume there are big differences between one and the other.

I think it is important since these three bills were just filed to focus on the ideas behind these three bills.

In terms of SONGS in particular, obviously the NRC has looked at this issue of the location of the fuel.

I think some of this is semantics. You could go about it a different way.

I object on behalf of myself and 43 other Senators. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.

a point of parliamentary inquiry. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator will state his parliamentary inquiry.

parliamentary inquiry. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator will state his inquiry.

I had a unanimous consent request. It has been objected to. May I reclaim the floor and reclaim my time? In doing so, I will be happy to respond to the Senator. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The request has not yet formally been objected to.

These groups agree with what Senator Sanders said last year and they agree with what I am saying today: Let us come together and move on those things we can agree on, and they specifically wrote the Senate leadership about these…

I come to the floor to speak about an issue we should all be concerned about, the State of veterans health care in our VA hospitals, our VA clinics, our VA system, and around the country. I have been concerned about this for some time…

I have a pending unanimous consent request and I would like to inquire how I proceed to have a ruling on that and, hopefully, have it passed through the Senate. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection to the request of the Senator from…

just to briefly repeat, I did object on behalf of myself and 43 other Senators about major provisions in this bill. I am happy to talk about it. I am happy to work on it. I am happy to work with Senator Burr, who is the ranking member on…

I would again ask unanimous consent that the Veterans' Affairs Committee be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 3521 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration; that my amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed…

If I may reclaim the floor and reclaim my time, I would like to respond. I think it is really unfortunate. As we all agreed to today and in previous appearances on the floor, there is absolutely no objection on the merits of this proposal…

Reclaiming my time, or reclaiming the floor, since my unanimous consent request----

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 3521

If not for any other reason but because of the substantive concerns with the bill. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objection is heard.